Bertha is an accomplished nonprofit executive with over two decades of experience dedicated to broadening access into the STEM workforce. She has a proven track record of translating concepts into reality, driving strategic planning, and achieving high-performance management. Her career has focused on building STEM talent capacity through evidence-based full-cycle programs. A seasoned fundraiser, she has raised over $30 million for workforce initiatives.

As the Executive Director for NPower in California, Bertha leads operations across the state, serving over 350 people annually with both technical capacity training and tech-employment pathways. NPower is a California registered Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) provider and a member of the Southern California Apprenticeship Network (SCAN).

Bertha’s dedication and career trajectory within the national workforce system was recognized when she was honored as the 2023 Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) Woman of the Year. She holds both an MSPA and a BS from California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA). She is also an alumni fellow with the Southern California Leadership Network (SCLN) and has earned executive certificates from the University of Southern California (USC) and from Harvard Graduate School. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees for Cal State LA.