About

Mission

The Dominguez Dream Academy is dedicated to empowering children in underserved communities to achieve their full potential through Literacy and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics).

Vision

The vision of The Dominguez Dream is a world where every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive and grow.

Mission & Vision

Position / Role

Jesse Neimus

Dorene C. Dominguez – Founder and Board Chair

Chairwoman and CEO, Vanir Group of Companies, Inc.

Dorene C. Dominguez is Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Vanir Group of Companies, Inc., a national leader in program, project, and construction management and real estate development. Since assuming leadership in 2004, she has expanded Vanir’s national footprint and overseen the delivery of billions of dollars in capital project value for clients across the United States.

She is the Founder and Chairwoman of Dominguez Dream Academy, a nonprofit founded in memory of her father,

H. Frank Dominguez. The organization supports students and families through educational resources grounded in STEAM, literacy, social emotional learning, and family engagement.

Dorene serves on the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees and on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards, including KB Home, PRIDE Industries, and the Latino Donor Collaborative. She has been recognized among Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Latinas and holds a finance degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Certificate in Corporate Governance from Harvard University.

Our Legacy

Founded by Dorene C. Dominguez in honor of her father, H. Frank Dominguez, the organization is rooted in his belief that education is a pathway to success and that young people flourish when supported by family. His philosophy continues to shape everything we do.

Position / Role

Jesse Neimus

H. Frank Dominguez - Visionary Entrepreneur and Civic Leader

Founder, Vanir Group of Companies, Inc.

H. Frank Dominguez was a visionary entrepreneur and civic leader who founded the Vanir Group of Companies in San Bernardino in 1964 at the age of 25. Frank Dominguez served in the U.S. Army, being stationed in Germany, where he met his wife. From these modest beginnings, he built a successful firm in real estate development, design-build lease, and construction services across the nation.

Frank Dominguez’s legacy extends far beyond business. He was widely recognized for his philanthropic leadership; named Hispanic Businessman of the Year by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, appointed to the California Commission for Economic Development by the governor, and invited to advisory roles under multiple U.S. presidents. A founding board member of both the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the New America Alliance, he helped shape national conversations around Latino leadership and opportunity.

Throughout his life, H. Frank Dominguez remained deeply committed to uplifting underserved youth and educational access. His guiding philosophy: economic progress should be matched with giving back, which is materialized in scholarships, work programs, and support initiatives for disadvantaged schools. In recognition of his lifelong service, the New America Alliance posthumously awarded him their Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy and named their annual philanthropist honor after him.