Mujeres de la Tierra

IRMA R. MUÑOZ, President & CEO

Irma R. Munoz is a community organizer, activist, advocate, and the instiller of confidence and hope. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Irma is one of Josemaria and Josefina Muñoz’s seven daughters.  She was brought up in a home with strong family values, an unwavering commitment to education and a deep respect for their Mexican heritage and cultural traditions.  

She currently serves as co chair to LA Green’s Urban Ecosystems work group, Chairs the Alianza de los Pueblos del Rio, a board member of  the Southwest Voter Registration Project and an Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles’ Environmental Affairs Commission. 

Irma Muñoz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego and a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.

Angela Sambrano, Advisor

Angela is the President for The National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC) executive committee, representing Centro de Recursos Centroamericanos-Los Angeles (CARECEN).  NALACC seeks to improve the quality of life for Latinos and Latino immigrants in their communities both in the United States and in countries of origin. NALACC seeks to build transnational leadership capacity and increase immigrant civic participation, so that immigrants can advocate effectively for public policies that address the root causes of migration, as well as addressing the challenges faced by immigrants in the United States. NALACC aspires to become an entity recognized for its ability to articulate the challenges faced by transnational immigrant communities, as well as viable solutions to those challenges.

Matilde Reyes

Matilde Reyes has been involved with many different aspects of landscape architecture. Her extensive experience from design to management and execution spans across multiple project types from amusement
parks to streetscapes to residential design. In public projects, she has worked on city and county funded projects that involve both design and mitigation. She enjoys the challenge of creating a balanced eco system where wildlife and native vegetation may flourish. Her wide range of experiences makes her an asset on all projects, in which she participates with great interest and enthusiasm.

Matilde received her Bachelor of Science, Landscape Architecture, in 1994 at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and Permaculture Consultants Design Certification Course, 1995 at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture

Matilde is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and a member of the California Native Plant Society.

Adán Ortega, Jr., Chair 

Adán Ortega, Jr. has devoted most of his twenty-year career as a senior government affairs executive in strategic communications.  He is considered one of the most effective organizational crisis managers in California. 

Mr. Ortega is a partner in a variety of businesses involving  water.  Those businesses include Water Conservation Partners Inc., an enterprise helping land developers with water supply assessments through water conservation off-sets; AOA consulting specializing in water issues and organizational crisis management; and HydroHold® bottle holders for athletes. 

He worked from 2005 until 2009 for the public affairs firm of Rose & Kindel, a Grayling Company. He was Vice President for External Affairs of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (’99-05). Adán served as Chief Deputy Secretary of State under California Secretary of State Bill Jones during the late 1990’s and as Assistant General Manager of West and Central Basin Municipal Water Districts from 1994-1997.

During the 10 years ending in 1994, Adán operated in 25 states and 60 U.S. and Canadian cities on behalf of mostly agricultural clients at The Dolphin Group, a public affairs firm. Adán is a member of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, and former board member with the Audubon Society, Heal the Bay, The Hispanic Media Coalition, and a variety of others. He is a graduate of Whittier College.

Jean Garrett, Secretary/Treasurer

Jean is a longtime member of the Audubon Society, and served as president of the Santa Monica chapter for several years. She is a longtime avid bird watcher and environmental activist in the Los Angeles area.  She is a former president of the 99’s, a prestigious women’s pilots association in the state of Washington.  She graduated with a Bachelors in English from UCLA and later received her teacher’s credential from Cal State Fullerton. She is affiliated with the CPA firm of Klein, Mandleblatt, and Associates, Inc.

Carmen Sandoval Fernandez

Carmen is an innovative professional with extensive experience in the legislative and public sectors. She currently serves as the Director of Public Policy with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she oversees various policy areas.

Strongly committed to community service, Carmen has served on numerous Boards including the Girl Scouts of the USA, Travelers’ Aid Society, Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Commission and the Chicano Federation. She has been an active member of the Chula Vista Rotary Club since 1993.

Carmen received a Masters of Public Administration and BA in Public Administration from San Diego State University.

Samantha Omey

Samantha A. Omey is the Vice President of State Government Relations, for Honeywell
International. Ms. Omey joined Honeywell in 2001 to serve as the lobbyist and
government relations director based in Phoenix and covering all Honeywell business operations in the western states.

Before joining Honeywell, Ms. Omey served as the Director of Government Relations for
the Arizona Farm Bureau, Vice President of Public Affairs for the Arizona Chamber of
Commerce and State Director and chief lobbyist for the Arizona chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, representing small business.

Ms. Omey, a native of Eureka, California, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
1990 from Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska. When not working she enjoys
playing piano, riding horses, gardening, running and volunteer work on various children’s issues. She and her husband Jeff and daughter Vivian live in Austin, Texas with their three Jack Russell Terriers Roxy, Molly and Mia.