Maritessa Bravo Ares

Maritessa joined Valley Vision in July 2023 as a project leader focused on the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) program.

Professional Experience

Maritessa is a social impact professional with over 10 years of project and program management experience in Northern California. Most recently, she worked in the financial services industry managing a variety of projects and initiatives to help advance the field of socially responsible banking.

In 2018, she was selected as a Fellow at The Aspen Institute under its Program on Philanthropy & Social Innovation which strengthens the capacity of emerging nonprofit leaders. In addition, Maritessa earned a PMP certification in 2023 from the Project Management Institute.

As a daughter of a Central Valley farm worker, Maritessa is energized by big ideas for social change, justice and equity. She loves being a connector and helping others who are interested in social impact careers.

Affiliations & Awards

Project Management Institute – Sacramento Chapter (2023 – Present)

California Alumni Association – Lifetime Member (2005 – Present)

Chair, Commission on the Status of Women | City of Berkeley (2013-2015)

Education

Bachelor of Arts in History – University of California, Berkeley

Interests

Painting California’s beautiful landscapes using watercolor, nature journaling, planning new adventures, visiting craft breweries, reading historical fiction, attempting pickleball