Ileana Ortega Brunetti
Associate Director
As Deputy Director of Ventures, ileana Ortega Brunetti plays a key leadership role in building a compassionate and equitable local economy. She oversees daily operations and helps guide organizational strategy to ensure the success of programs that support community well-being.
ileana is excited to continue "making a real difference" through her role at Ventures and her service as an Associate Board Director at Bay Federal Credit Union. A lifelong resident of Watsonville and the greater Monterey Bay area, her career in the nonprofit sector has focused on environmental conservation, education, and economic justice.
She holds a B.A. in communication studies from UC Santa Barbara and earned dual master’s degrees in International Environmental Policy and International Business Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. In her free time, she enjoys reading, connecting with nature, and spending time with family and friends.