Elaine founded Career Sparks and currently leads the organization as President alongside some powerful, community-minded women. Elaine’s commitment to her community started early, as she was raised as a P.K. (aka Pastor’s Kid) in the disadvantaged neighborhood of South East Fresno, California. Her family dedicated their lives to serving their community by reaching out to those most in need on the streets, at rescue missions and at shelters for abused families. Elaine’s family helped their congregation, mostly migrant workers, discover the opportunities that higher education brings and the impact it has on the whole family.

She learned fast that community is not given to you, rather it is earned by daily personal connections.

As a student at U.C. Riverside, Elaine saw that disadvantaged students found it difficult to visit colleges and universities due to limited resources. Elaine created the Host Program which gave underprivileged high school students the opportunity to spend a night in a campus dorm, enjoy student life and the next day attend classes with a student with similar interests. She soon caught the eye of the Chancellor and the program was properly supported and is still thriving today, 25 years later.

Elaine was the first on both sides of her family to obtain a graduate degree and spent most of her executive experience in corporate marketing as Vice President of Fatburger Corporation. But Elaine couldn’t ignore her advocacy roots and soon returned to her first love. Elaine joined Women’s March Foundation in 2017 as Executive Director and alongside the Founder, grew a movement with over 2 million marchers that have annually lined the streets of Downtown LA. In addition to leading the organization’s diverse programming, strategic planning and communications, Elaine organized over 1,000 volunteers who she proudly calls her Warriors. Women’s March Foundation has grown into a national powerhouse, but it was in the small acts of empowering young girls to dream big that brought Elaine most joy. 

Elaine was able to share the stage at the 4th Annual Women’s March LA with her elementary aged girls and son — a moment she has treasured, as she gave her kids the biggest lesson of all…a united community can move mountains!  Raising her 3 children and carving out that time in her life to be their rock, has been one of Elaine’s most cherished accomplishments. But it was as PTA President of her kids’ neighborhood school that seeded her passion to empower children to rise.

Elaine’s passion to help children that have had limited exposure to developing career aspirations has become her life’s mission. By founding Career Sparks, Elaine is igniting wonder in the young lives that will shape our families, mold our future and ultimately create…community.

Julie comes to Career Sparks with a heart for children and a natural passion to see them succeed in their future aspirations. Julie is especially connected to disadvantaged children, as her and her husband are foster parents, continuously opening their home to children that need immediate care. Julie’s incredible spirit to help children has stemmed from her humble upbringing in Central California, where she grew up seeing the effects of child poverty first-hand. Serving disadvantaged children was rooted from her devotion to her family’s community church. During her teens she became a Sunday school teacher, later a community advocate for homeless children and today serves as Director of Youth Ministry alongside her husband at their neighborhood church. Together, the couple enjoys  leading year-around activities and programming for disadvantaged children, including an overnight summer camp. Julie is currently serving as the Secretary and Treasurer of Career Sparks and is honored to put her passion for children into action in a meaningful and purposeful way. 

Julie’s professional career at the University of California, Riverside, has been bountiful, as she serves as a Past President on the UCR Staff Assembly Executive Board, as well as the Co-Chairperson of the Chancellor’s Task Force on University Staff Engagement. She currently works as an Event Services Coordinator for the CHASS Facilities Management Department, overseeing major events and managing the Box Office operations for the University Theatre. A UCR alumna, Julie began her professional career as a high school teacher at Bethel Christian School, and she soon became deeply devoted to promoting the emotional health and welfare of children, helping to develop open-minded perspectives and self-esteem in today’s youth. After two years of teaching, she was offered an opportunity to go back to UCR and work directly with university student residents. Possessing more than 21 years of service with UC Riverside, she takes great pride in her work and the impact it has had on supporting diversity. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of California Riverside, and a Master of Arts Degree in Management from the University of Redlands. 

In 2014, she served on the UCR Staff Assembly Executive Board as the Director of Events for two consecutive years and in 2016, as the Vice President; in 2017, she served in a greater capacity as the President, and as stated earlier, she now advises the Executive Board as the Immediate Past President. While serving on the Executive Board for Staff Assembly she led the University’s Diversity & Inclusion Workgroup, in which she presented a white paper to University of California President, Janet Napolitano. 

Tiffany spent the first 10 years of her life in the Bay Area in California.  At the age of 11, she moved with her family to a small, rural town in Southern Oregon.  Tiffany experienced trauma in her home life and in combination with her strong faith, looked toward education as a way of coping.  As Tiffany grew up and attended high school in the poorest school district in Oregon, she realized she did not have the same resources and experiences as other students. She joined every club, activity and AP course that her high school had to offer.  This paid off when she was offered a full ride academic scholarship to attend college, which was otherwise out of reach for her.

In 2002, at the age of 17, Tiffany headed off to Oregon State University.  Her college experience opened her eyes to other cultures as she studied abroad in Spain, traveled around Europe, and majored in History with a minor in Spanish.  This also gave her the space she needed to start a long healing process from her childhood trauma.  As she graduated Oregon State, Tiffany realized how much education had helped her grow and escape her circumstances.  She knew that she wanted to help kids who may be going through similar circumstances and to show them that education could open new doors in their life.  Just as it had done for her.  She decided to attend Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and earn a Masters in Teaching.  Along with a Master’s Degree, she earned her Single Subject Teaching Credential to teach social studies in middle school and high school.

After graduate school, Tiffany left Portland in search of adventure.  That brought her to Hermosa Beach, California. Tiffany began her teaching career teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies at Marina Del Rey Middle School for the Los Angeles Unified School District. During her time at Marina Del Rey Middle School, Tiffany met her husband, who also works in education, and got married. She spent the next 4 years teaching and the subsequent x years raising her two daughters, Ava and Aubrey.  Tiffany discovered that although she may have had a difficult childhood, she loved being a mother.  She spent the next few years taking her girls to the beach, going to museums, reading books and spending quality time with her girls.  As she watched them grow up, she decided she wanted to earn a teaching credential that would allow her to teach elementary school. Tiffany earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, which allowed her to teach elementary school.  

When her girls returned to school, she returned to teaching.  She is now working as the 3rd grade teacher at Braddock Drive Gifted Magnet, which is  part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.  She is active in working with the GATE program and gifted education.  Her passion is integrating social emotional learning into each lesson she gives in her classroom.  She is currently serving on the Social Emotional Leadership Cadre for LAUSD, which comprises 24 teachers district wide.  She is currently writing lesson plans and providing support to other teachers regarding social emotional learning. She also serves as the College Awareness Month Chair and Musical Recital Coordinator for her school. Additionally, she leads the Wordmaster’s Student Club, the Noetic Math Club for her 3rd grade class and the Math Kangaroo Contest for her school.

Adding Career Sparks to her love of education feels like the perfect next step in a career dedicated to young people.  Career Sparks reflects Tiffany’s drive to bring resources and opportunities to children who may not otherwise have them.  She pictures herself in the rural classroom in Oregon, and how she would have felt  to experience a program like Career Sparks.  For Tiffany, working toward the goal of providing resources to all students, regardless of your socioeconomic status is a lifelong dream that stems from her own childhood experience.  Career Sparks perfectly aligns with her belief that all kids deserve the opportunity to learn, dream and create their best future.

Freya originates from Southern California, by way of Seoul, Korea. Being adopted and growing up in a time when international adoptees were rare, really meant that she had to learn how to lean on her family, friends and community in order to find her place. At a young age, she learned that truly the best way to immerse yourself in your community was to dive in and become active and involved. That meant — Student Council, Model UN, team sports, Girl Scouts, all of which taught her invaluable life lessons.

In 1997, after graduating U.C. Davis, she moved to Palo Alto to work for a new start-up during the tech boom in the Silicon Valley as employee number 2.  It was an eye-opening experience to see how a company developed from the ground up, grass-roots style and having to literally pound the pavement reaching out to the community for support.

In 2000, she helped start up a tech company in Los Angeles with her husband, but it wasn’t until having children that she truly found her way back to volunteering and connecting with her community. She served on the PTA board and the Community Council for her children’s neighborhood school for 5 years and served as PTA President for the last year. She also organized the school’s 1^st ever Earth Day Fair and truly learned the importance of working hand in hand with the school administration, families, students, and businesses within the local community in order to make the event a success as well as teaching the children the importance of trying to make the world a better place.

Today, she can be found leading her preteen daughter’s Girl Scout troop and helping her teenage son prepare for his SAT’s while trying to instill in them the importance of philanthropy and activism and the desire to be better, to do better and to understand that the world can only become a better place by being kind, giving and respectful.

Freya joins Career Sparks as a Board Member and leads Social Media efforts for the organization. Freya’s background in tech has equipped her for what lies ahead in communication and digital outreach on a national level. Freya’s mass communication skills, networking and organizing talents are crucial to the success of Career Sparks, but it is her passion to serve children in her community, that has shined.

Sonia is known for her exceptional work ethic and devotion to her community. Growing up in a humble household, Sonia quickly learned the importance of hard work. At an early age, Sonia helped her family work the fields of Central California as migrant workers. Her commitment to her family was her top priority and that quality has become a staple in her decision making as an adult. 

Although Sonia’s educational background derives from art and design, it is her philanthropic work that she is most proud of. Sonia devoted almost 10 years of her life improving her community by way of supporting her local neighborhood school. Sonia served countless years on the PTA Board of Directors and helped launched school-wide events, fundraisers and educational based programming. 

Sonia put her roll-up-your-sleeves attitude to work as Program Coordinator at Women’s March Foundation, where she helped organize, plan and execute the largest marches in US history. Sonia led the community partner program, merchandise and member communication for the marches and takes pride in the many women she has helped along the way.

Although Sonia is more comfortable behind the scenes, diligently working when most have tired out, Sonia boldly reminds Career Sparks Board Members that there is more work to be done. In her downtime, Sonia is happiest spending family time with her husband, 2 middle school aged children and their new puppy, who demands endless snacks and all of her attention!

Nishita comes to the Career Sparks Board of Directors with a vast background in art and graphic design, which will be well served as she leads the creative direction of the organization. 

Nishita graduated with an MFA in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University in 2002 and has since been evolving her craft.  In particular, Nishita held the position of  Art Director for the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, spearheading projects with multiple departments including development, education, press and sales, all while keeping the creative vision of the theater consistent. After 10 years with the Center Theatre Group, her entrepreneur spirit led her to launch her own consulting and designing business, where she has been fortunate to work with The City of Culver City, UCLA, and Harte Hanks. Nishita has also had the wonderful opportunity of working with Pentagram and MOCA-Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Apart from design, Nishita regularly spends her time volunteering at schools teaching art, gardening, and graphic design. She has designed spirit wear for multiple prominent private and public schools within Los Angeles and has been heavily involved with school wide events powered by the PTA. Like other board members, Nishita finds joy in supporting her community. Whether it be organizing local events for her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop to regularly volunteering for Taproot Foundation to more complex philanthropy of designing annual reports for The Soldiers Project, Outfest, and WIF-Women In Film.  

Nishita's passion for student development brought her to lead a course in UX design where she is currently working on a project related to teen anxiety called ‘Let’s Chat’-providing teens a safe place to vent.  Nishita’s heart for children is extensive and we are fortunate that she has found a home with like-minded women helping children find their futures.

Mona comes to Career Sparks with a long history in the legal field and a dedicated track record in nonprofit work.  Since having her own children she has focused most of her energy in the non-profit arena towards education and equality at every level.  Mona is passionately involved in her own children’s school, PTA, and with several charities to raise awareness and funds for education.  Education, and educational access for all, is her passion.  She believes that education is the single biggest investment one can make in oneself and the playing field should be the same for everyone.

Mona is currently a litigation attorney in Southern California where she has enjoyed a long and successful career representing clients in civil legal disputes of all kinds.  She is also a Lecturer in Law with USC Gould School of Law where she teaches legal ethics, as well as, courses for the Law School’s two-year LLM program for foreign lawyers seeking to study and practice law in the US.  For the LLM program, she has designed and teaches a course focusing on providing the same educational access to foreign lawyers as US born law students.  She teaches them the history of US law, explains nuances between varying international judicial systems, and helps navigate American legal culture.  She also has her own active mediation practice.   Mona received her BA in Political Science from UC Irvine, and her JD from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Mona is excited to be a part of Career Sparks with such a dynamic group of women all dedicated to the common goal of providing innovative programming for kids, teachers, and parents.  Mona's long legal career and nonprofit experience serve to grow, develop, and secure the newly formed organization.

In her free time, Mona can be found doing something active, or enjoying ‘family time’ with her two daughters and husband.  Whether they are cruising around town on their bikes or scooters, finishing a puzzle, or enjoying movie night at home there is nothing better to her than recharging together after a long week.

Dr. Christine Montanez is one of Central Valley’s (California) most influential educators, named Business Street’s 40 under 40 Outstanding Business Professionals in 2011. She has dedicated her full career advocating for at-risk students and has deliberately chosen schools within her community that serve this population. Dr. Montanez started her teaching career at KIPP Academy Elementary/Middle School where she served as Music Director, creating and launching their music program. At Big Picture Middle/High School Dr. Montanez served as a teacher and rose to Dean of Students and Vice Principal, as she wanted to implement policies that would allow for expansion of visual and performing arts programs for all students. 

Her responsibilities grew as CEO of Kepler Neighborhood School and Principal of Carter G. Woodson Charter School of Multimedia. Every single one of these schools were identified as Title 1, where more than 55% of the student population received free or reduced lunch. Many students were in need of mental health services, basic home necessities and positive human connection. Dr. Montanez relates to these children because she too grew up in a modest household, under government aide with limited opportunities. 

Dr. Montanez is a prime example that the vicious cycle of socio-economic influences can be broken and continues to bring this message to her students today. Having experience being a teacher and administrative leader gives Dr. Montanez the unique ability to develop standards based curriculum and assessments that are student-centered, rich with creativity and concepts.

Dr. Montanez often turns to her mentors from the Stanford Pre-Doctoral Program, where she spent a significant amount of time learning, training and developing a strife for excellence. Although Dr. Montanez received her B.A., Masters and Doctoral degrees from California State University of Fresno, it is her time in Palo Alto that has had the largest imprint on her academic career. Her research in utilizing music as a form of culturally responsive teaching and pedagogy has been implemented in national and international workshops, panels and conferences.

Today, Dr. Montanez serves as the Education Department Director for Table Mountain Rancheria where she enjoys the amazing community that has welcomed her so warmly. Although her plate has been full since the day she decided to pursuit higher education, her most challenging task so far has been a working mom to 2 toddlers. 

Dr. Montanez believes in the mission and vision of Career Sparks and its vital role in igniting passions for today’s knowledge seekers.

Brittany has a true passion for helping develop people whether that be adults in the career world or kids just starting to explore their futures. She has a true dedication to helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds as she experienced similar challenges growing up in San Diego, CA.  Her persistence to excel in higher education led her to the University of California, Riverside where she graduated and began her professional career. 

Brittany currently serves as the Conference and Events Coordinator for the University of California, Riverside in CHASS Facilities Management where she manages 7 event spaces, coordinating over 940 events a year. She manages a team of 6 student staff members and has discovered her passion for event coordination in this leadership role.

Although she graduated with a degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Development Biology, it is her interest in advising and motivating students that has driven her to further engage at the university. She now serves as a Wellness Ambassador for CHASS Facilities Management further aiding students as they cope with daily challenges.

Brittany comes to Career Sparks to lead the technical event and program editing so we can continue to bring amazing Spark Encounters to our Sparklers!