Who we are

President of IEYP

Paola Avendano holds over eight years of experience across the nonprofit, PR/communications, and social impact sectors. She has worked as a Senior Account Executive at Tzunu Strategies, Inc., where she led major accounts and expanded business development efforts. Her career also includes significant contributions to policy innovation and community engagement through her roles at the Center for Social Innovation and the California State Assembly. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Administrative Studies from UC Riverside and is currently pursuing her MBA at UCLA Anderson School of Management, where she holds director roles in multiple student organizations and is a recipient of a full-tuition scholarship from The Consortium. 

Julia E. Cabrera

Professional Development Chair

Julia Estella Cabrera is a dedicated leader in community engagement, recognized for her commitment to supporting local businesses through strategic partnerships and innovative chamber initiatives. Since joining the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2022, Julia has strengthened ties with local and regional entities, expanded business development opportunities, and led her team to successfully execute programs tailored to members' needs.

In addition to her chamber work, Julia serves on the board of the Chino Youth Museum, advocating for educational initiatives. Her achievements include being named a "40 Under 40 Chamber Executive" and earning awards for "Outstanding Chamber Programming" and "Business Advocacy" from the California Chamber of Commerce in 2023. Julia is also a scholar of cohort #2 of the LSAC PLUS guided journey which is a program dedicated to supporting students in their journey to law school. Julia holds a B.A. in Anthropology from UC Berkeley and an A.A. in Social Behavioral Sciences from Mt. San Antonio College.

Laura Pullen

Social and Events Co-chair

Laura Pullen is a Business Analyst II at Esri in Redlands, California where she leads division-wide analytics initiatives that guide product strategy and drive operational efficiency. Originally from Sacramento, she moved to the Inland Empire to attend UC Riverside where she earned her B.A. in Economics and Professional MBA in Finance and Business Analytics.

While at UCR, Laura led and supported innovative data-backed initiatives that created lasting, positive impacts on the campus community and culture. Most notably, she led campus elections and increased candidate filing by 30% and voter participation by 71%; meeting the required turn-out rate allowed student groups to secure critical funds for UCR’s “DEI” program offices.

Laura has also served the State of California through the creation and advocacy of legislation that supports the constituents of the 67th Assembly District, and assisted with economic statistical research that directly supports California economic policy and legislation.

She thrives at the intersection of data, leadership, service, and community-building. And believes that strong relationships are integral to the health and growth of a community. As Co-Director of Social Events for the IEYP network, Laura is thrilled to help cultivate a welcoming, meaningful, and fun space that brings young professionals together in the Inland Empire.

Nataly Sandoval

Social and Events Co-chair

Nataly Morales Sandoval, a first-generation Latina, is deeply committed to advancing clean energy, driven by her personal experience growing up without access to knowledge or opportunities in the field. This has fueled her dedication to educating and empowering communities like hers to become advocates for sustainable energy solutions.

She holds a Master of Public Policy and a Bachelor’s in Political Science with a Minor in Public Policy from the University of California, Riverside (UCR). As an Energy Programs Analyst at Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), Nataly connects local communities with energy programs, including rebates, educational grants, and incentives, ensuring they can access clean energy solutions. Before OCPA, she served as Community Engagement Manager at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), leading 10 programs introducing energy-efficient technologies to underserved communities in LA County. She is also the Advocacy Lead for the USGBC-CA OC Regional Lab, where she focuses on community connection and policy in the built environment.

Nataly is passionate about creating opportunities that drive both environmental and economic impact, empowering underserved communities in the clean energy transition.

Brian Covarruvias

Treasurer

Brian Covarruvias, a first-generation higher education graduate and working professional. As a young working professional, he has dedicated his professional career to serving the community through different local government organizations. As a Management Analyst for the City of Ontario Financial Services Agency, he manages, monitors, and analyzes the City of Ontario's enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, a system that contains all of the financial data for the City of Ontario. Furthermore, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Cal Poly Pomona and a Master of Arts in Public Administration with a Concentration in Advanced Practices in Public Finance from Claremont Lincoln University. As an active member of his community, he is excited to take part in a new role with the Inland Empire (IE) Young Professionals - a community that creates a space for young working professionals to connect. He hopes to bring his professional and educational experience to IEYP to provide financial stability and future growth.

Jaelen T. Spencer

Chair Position

Jaelen T. Spencer currently serves as a Senior district aide to Assemblymember Juan Carrillo and chairs the San Bernardino County Desert Region Homelessness Steering Committee. Jay also serves on the City of Adelanto Public Safety Task Force, and the San Bernardino County Homelessness Strategic Plan Planning Committee. As a world-ranked triple jumper, he represented the I.E. and the United States in international competition at the World Championships as a member of the U.S.A. National Track & Field Team, placing 11th.

Loreen Mendez

Social and Communications Co-chair

Loreen is a versatile and impact-driven professional with a background in fintech, customer experience, and product operations. With several years of experience supporting fast-growing startups, she has led initiatives that improve user engagement, streamline operations, and enhance digital products. Her expertise spans product development, technical troubleshooting, SQL data analysis, and building communication systems that scale with company growth.

Currently serving as Social and Communications Co-Chair for the Inland Empire Young Professionals Network, Loreen is also leading the design and development of the organization’s website. She also volunteers with Techquería, a nonprofit serving the largest global community of Latiné professionals in tech. As both a Community Engagement Volunteer and Communications & Social Media Volunteer, she supports inclusive community-building, amplifies Latiné voices, and helps others access meaningful opportunities in tech.

Born and raised in San Bernardino, Loreen is deeply committed to giving back to the region that shaped her. She believes in the power of community-building, especially for early-career professionals navigating life and work in the Inland Empire.

Loreen holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management, as well as a B.A. in Music with a focus on cello performance, both from California State University, San Bernardino. She brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and empathy to every space she enters. She is also certified in SQL and conversational Spanish, which she uses to connect across diverse teams and communities.

Shanika “Shay” Smith

Community Service Chair

Shanika “Shay” Smith is a licensed financial professional and media entrepreneur based in Rancho Cucamonga, with a background in banking, lending, personal finance, and media production. Shay is passionate about empowering first-generation professionals—especially mompreneurs and women of faith—to build generational wealth and financial confidence. She is the founder of Feminine in Finance, a newly launching podcast focused on financial literacy from a biblical perspective, highlighting the power of faith, stewardship, and legacy-building.

Emelia Martinez

Social and Communications Co-chair

Emelia Martinez has eight years of experience advancing communications, advocacy, and development goals in the nonprofit sector. She graduated from UC Riverside, and currently serves as the Communications Manager for California Latinas for Reproductive Justice. Emelia is especially passionate about highlighting the often-overlooked talent of the Inland Empire. After working in communications and policy with people from the area, she believes there are many young professionals who, for the first time, can pursue meaningful careers locally—opportunities that previously required relocating before the pandemic. Emelia is dedicated to contributing to a community that welcomes and supports young professionals from all walks of life.

Karla Hernandez

Secretary

Karla Hernandez is a first-generation working professional, who is passionate about supporting local communities and first-generation students. Her work experience spans through local government and nonprofit organizations. She currently serves as a Community Services Program Coordinator with the City of San Bernardino where she manages and coordinates center programming and operations of various services throughout the Parks and Recreation department. She co-founded the Oaxaqueño Professional and Educational Network (OPEN), a network dedicated to assisting students with college applications, job interviews preparations, and mentorship. She looks forward to contributing her leadership skills with IEYP and expanding resources to building a supportive space for young professionals in the IE community. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from UC Riverside and will be pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration at the University of La Verne.