Our Leadership

Board of Directors

Oakland Latino Business Association
501(c)(3) Pending | Building Equity, Creating Power, Delivering Results

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Ana Chretien – Chairwoman & Board President

Ana Chretien is a fearless woman of firsts — a business titan who didn’t break glass ceilings, she raised the entire roof. As the President and CEO of one of Northern California’s most respected security firms, Ana has spent decades transforming what leadership looks like in male-dominated industries. Under her stewardship, thousands have been employed, and millions in contracts have been delivered with integrity and community-rooted excellence.

But Ana didn’t stop at business. She has become a voice, force, and platform for Latinas, women of color, and working-class entrepreneurs who refuse to be boxed out of opportunity. As Chairwoman and Board President of the Oakland Latino Business Association, Ana brings not just experience — she brings legacy and vision. Her leadership defines the standard for what equity in action looks like.

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Cecilia Melendez – Treasurer

Cecilia Melendez is a powerhouse of precision, strategy, and results. With a career rooted in scaling companies across industries — from medical engineering and device manufacturing to real estate ventures totaling over $600 million in transactions — she brings unmatched financial insight to the board.

As a small business advocate and behind-the-scenes strategist, Cecilia has guided countless entrepreneurs to success, helping them navigate growth, compliance, and capital access. As Treasurer of the Oakland Latino Business Association, she ensures financial integrity and scalable vision are at the heart of our mission. She’s not just keeping the books — she’s setting the pace for how we grow.

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Jewhara Mesmer – Secretary

Jewhara Mesmer brings sharp execution, disciplined systems, and operational excellence to the board. Her background includes military service in her country of origin, where she developed a foundation of leadership, structure, and resilience under pressure.

With a deep understanding of contracts, billing systems, and performance metrics, Jewhara is a tactical backbone of any operation she supports. As Secretary of the Oakland Latino Business Association, she ensures that our communications, records, and internal systems run with clarity, accountability, and precision — reflecting the high standards our mission demands.

Mario Juarez – Executive Director

Delivering Results. Reshaping Power.

Mario Juarez is not your typical executive — he’s a strategist forged in the fire of real-world inequity, armed with a blueprint to deliver for those systems leave behind. As the Executive Director of the Oakland Latino Business Association, Mario is the engine behind the mission, overseeing day-to-day operations, coalition building, government engagement, and the relentless pursuit of measurable results.

A first-generation builder, Mario has launched companies, led political battles, and restructured public narratives around who deserves opportunity — and why. His career spans housing, infrastructure, business development, political strategy, and international trade, but his focus has always been singular: get results for marginalized communities that have waited long enough.

From exposing injustice inside government to scaling businesses across borders, Mario brings the rare combination of operational muscle, street instincts, and visionary leadership. He doesn’t do politics for optics — he does it for outcomes. Under his direction, the Oakland Latino Business Association isn’t just making noise — it’s making history.

“We’re not here to play the game. We’re here to change who writes the rules.”