I moved from Mexico to Santa Rosa in 2000 with limited English and a bachelor’s degree in accounting, in pursuit of the American dream.

My first job was at Eddie Bauer in the receiving and stocking department. Living close to the Junior College, I enrolled in the ESL program to improve my speaking and writing skills. I stayed at Eddie Bauer for 11 years, eventually becoming Assistant Manager. After completing the ESL program, I continued taking prerequisites for the Nursing program. Unfortunately, my career in retail demanded most of my time as I transitioned to working for Gap Inc. at the Corte Madera location. I worked there for 5 years until the long commute became unsustainable.

In June 2016, I began working at Graton Resort & Casino as a Guest Service Ambassador in the Slots department and later advanced to Shift Manager. Seeking to broaden my knowledge, I transferred to Internal Maintenance in April 2022. There, I gained valuable experience as a team player and developed a deep appreciation for every member of my team. In July 2023, I was given the opportunity to become Operations Casino Manager, a role in which I continue to learn and grow.