Board of Directors

Dorene C. Dominguez – Founder and Board Chair

Chairwoman and CEO, Vanir Group of Companies, Inc.

 

Dorene C. Dominguez has served as the Chairwoman and CEO of Vanir since 2004. Continuing the legacy of her father, who founded the company in 1964, Dorene has successfully positioned Vanir as a national leader in program, project, and construction management and real estate development, delivering $30.8 billion in value to 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.

 

In addition to founding Dominguez Dream Academy and leading Vanir, Dorene is also an active member of various corporate and nonprofit boards and councils, including:

• Hesburgh Trustee for the University of Notre Dame

• KB Home Board Member and member of the company’s Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

• Douglas Emmett, Inc. Board Member and member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees

• Aspen Conexión Advisory Council Member

• Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Member

• American Mexican Leadership Council Board Member

 

Dorene is also the former Chairwoman of the University of Notre Dame Latino Studies Advisory Board.

An avid community supporter and sports fan, Dorene is a member of the governing group that aggressively pursued and ultimately purchased the Sacramento Kings professional basketball team in 2013. With the purchase, she became the first Latina to hold the distinction of NBA governor status.

 

Dorene graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in finance and holds a Certificate in Corporate Governance from Harvard University. She was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at the California State University, San Bernardino in 2023.

Sarah Ifrah - Secretary and Director

Real Estate and Asset Management Executive, Auerbach Realty Holdings

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Sarah Ifrah is a real estate and asset management executive with Auerbach Realty Holdings, where she supports financial reporting, portfolio strategy, and redevelopment initiatives across commercial and residential properties.

She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in finance and economics, and a Master of Real Estate Development from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. Her real estate background includes financial analysis and valuation experience with HFF, now part of JLL, and the Lighthouse Group.

Sarah has helped guide the company through complex market cycles, including the COVID 19 pandemic, by supporting cash flow modeling, loan forbearance negotiations, and refinancing work for major neighborhood shopping centers. She is advancing a development vision focused on LEED certified, active living senior housing that strengthens community ties. She is also a committed mentor who has trained interns and new analysts in valuation, modeling, and accounting systems.

Linda Thomas – Treasurer and Director

Chief Financial Officer, Vanir

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Linda Thomas is Chief Financial Officer of Vanir, where she leads the company’s financial strategy with an emphasis on long term growth, operational excellence, and disciplined financial management. She translates organizational goals into actionable financial plans that support alignment across departments and sustainable growth.

Linda oversees all financial operations, including accounting, internal controls, and audit processes. She is known for fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

With more than 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, much of it in the construction industry, Linda brings deep expertise across the full spectrum of corporate finance functions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting

from IBT.

Jerry Avalos - Director

President and Northern California Area Manager, Vanir

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Jerry Avalos is President and Northern California Area Manager at Vanir, where he leads regional operations, major capital programs, and corporate strategy across public and private sectors. Since joining Vanir in 1999, he has advanced through multiple leadership roles and is recognized for delivering complex projects, building trusted client relationships, and guiding teams through growth and transformation.

A U.S. Navy veteran and trained civil engineer, Jerry is a Certified Construction Manager, LEED Accredited Professional, and Engineer in Training. His leadership style is grounded in service, discipline, humility, and a strong commitment to people centered project delivery.

Raised in a rural farming community by immigrant parents, Jerry remains active in education and community leadership, including service through parish finance boards and parent associations supporting faith based schools.

Ana de Cardenas-Raptis - Director

President, Cacique Foundation

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Ana de Cardenas-Raptis is President of the Cacique Foundation, where she supports philanthropic investments connected to education, faith based initiatives, and community development. Her work reflects a long standing commitment to service and to strengthening the institutions that support young people, families, and communities.

Her career at Cacique, Inc. spans leadership roles in marketing, web development, dairy food production, engineering, research and development, and project management. This broad operational background gives her a practical understanding of business systems, product development, and organizational execution.

Ana serves as a Trustee at Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus and on advisory boards connected to the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. She brings a strong combination of business experience, philanthropic leadership, and community commitment to her board service.

Phil Fuentes - Director

McDonald’s Owner/Operator and Civic Leader

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Phil Fuentes is a McDonald’s owner/operator based in Chicago and has been a franchisee since 1989. He leads a multi restaurant organization serving the greater Chicago region and has built a respected career at the intersection of business ownership, civic leadership, and community service.

His civic and business leadership includes service on the Boards of the Regional Transportation Authority and Urban Partnership Bank, as well as prior leadership roles with the Smithsonian Latino Center, the McDonald’s Hispanic Operators Association, and the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Phil has received McDonald’s highest franchisee honors, including the Global Award for Outstanding Owner/Operator of the Year and the Ronald McDonald Award for exemplary community service. His impact has been recognized by organizations across the public and private sectors, including Chicago United, the Mexican Civic Society, and the Town of Cicero. His life story was featured in Think and Grow Rich: A Latino Choice by Lionel Sosa.

Liz Hernandez - Director

Director of Human Resources, Vanir Construction Management, Inc.

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Liz Hernandez is Director of Human Resources at Vanir Construction Management, Inc., where she leads enterprise wide HR strategy with a focus on organizational development, compliance, employee engagement, and inclusive leadership. She oversees planning, implementation, and management of HR operations across the organization.

Liz is recognized for building high performing, people centered workplaces and aligning HR practices with Vanir’s mission and values. Her work supports employee retention, operational effectiveness, and a workplace culture grounded in accountability, opportunity, and collaboration.

A proud Latina and daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, Liz began her career at Casa Central, the largest Hispanic nonprofit in the Midwest, which shaped her commitment to service and equity. She has lived and worked in multiple U.S. cities and returned to Sacramento to care for her mother, reflecting her deep commitment to family and community.

Timothy McIntosh - Director

STEAM Curriculum Designer and Educator

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Timothy McIntosh holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Chemical Engineering from MIT and a master’s degree in Education from Harvard University. He brings more than 20 years of experience in STEAM curriculum design, with early work rooted in MIT’s Office of Engineering Outreach Programs and hands on learning programs for communities with limited access to enrichment resources.

His career spans user experience research in Google’s Kids and Families group, classroom teaching, and STEAM workshop design. Timothy also co founded The Sweet Lobby, a boutique bakery in Washington, D.C., and won Food Network’s Cupcake Wars with his sister.

Now based in Spain, Timothy teaches mathematics and coordinates STEAM programming at Barcelona High School. He serves on the Board of Directors of Dominguez Dream Academy, supporting educational resources grounded in STEAM for communities with limited access to enrichment programs.

Adam Medrano - Director

Former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem and Civic Leader

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Adam Medrano is a longtime public servant who represented Dallas residents for more than 15 years as an elected official. He served as President of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees and later as a member of the Dallas City Council, where he was elected Mayor Pro Tem by his colleagues.

On the Council, Adam chaired the Public Safety and Quality of Life Committees and served on the Economic Development and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. He also chaired the Mayor’s Education Task Force and LGBT Task Force.

Adam has served on boards and civic bodies including Downtown Dallas, Inc., Visit Dallas, the Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the Urban Forest Advisory Committee, and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. A lifelong Dallas resident, he holds a biology degree with a chemistry minor from the University of North Texas and is known for his commitment to youth, neighborhood quality of life, and inclusive civic leadership.

Susan I. Santana - Director

President, AT&T California and Nevada

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Susan I. Santana is President of AT&T California and Nevada, responsible for statewide strategy in external affairs, public policy, philanthropy, and community engagement. Her work centers on legislative strategy, broadband expansion, innovation policy, and partnerships that strengthen connectivity across communities.

Previously, Susan served as Vice President of Legislative Strategy for AT&T California and as a member of AT&T’s Federal Relations team in Washington, D.C. An attorney by training, she has also held legal and government affairs roles at Dell Inc. and in private practice.

Susan serves on national boards including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the American Red Cross, and the Congressional Management Foundation. She has earned recognition including the CHCI Medallion of Excellence and repeated inclusion on Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees from UC Berkeley and a J.D. from UCLA School of Law.

Anna M. Sauceda - Director

President and CEO, Associated Construction Services Group

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Anna M. Sauceda is President and CEO of Associated Construction Services Group, a government and commercial construction firm she helped grow from a small residential contractor into a multimillion dollar enterprise. Under her leadership, ACS Group has delivered large scale weatherization and energy efficiency projects, including a Small Business Weatherization Contract that enabled the firm to hire and train local residents.

Anna’s career spans nonprofit leadership and corporate roles, with a consistent focus on community transformation, Latina entrepreneurship, and workforce development. During her leadership at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA, she played an important role in expanding childcare resources for youth and families.

She has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and its Foundation, where she helped launch and expand the Latina Initiative. She is recognized for her ability to build partnerships, mentor emerging business owners, and lead with integrity and purpose.