First Woman Board President Appointed in OLCC History
Meet the Newly Elected Board Officers
October 21, 2026
Oakland, CA – The Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce (OLCC) is pleased to announce the election of its new Board Officers, a milestone that coincides with Oakland’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. The Chamber proudly welcomes Aliza Gallo as the newly elected President of the Board of Directors.
Gallo, Principal of Gallo Advantage Consulting, an Oakland-based community facilitation and economic development firm, has served on the OLCC Board of Directors for more than a decade. She becomes the first woman to serve as OLCC Board President in the organization’s history, marking an important milestone for representation and leadership within Oakland’s Latino business community.
“I am honored to serve as President of the Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce,” said Gallo. “Our Latino business community is one of Oakland’s strongest economic engines. The Latino community represents nearly 30% of Oakland’s population, making it the city’s largest ethnic demographic. Consistent with state and national trends, Latino entrepreneurs continue to lead in business formation and workforce contributions. I look forward to working with our Board, members, and partners to strengthen OLCC’s governance and advocacy efforts, expand member engagement, and continue building a modern, effective Chamber that reflects the vibrancy of our community.” ”
— Aliza Gallo, OLCC Board President
Newly Elected Board Officers
President: Aliza Gallo
Vice President: Sarah Chavez Yoell
Treasurer: Emiliano Sanchez
Parliamentarian: Sharon Fonseca
Interim Secretary: Edward Vargas
Aliza Gallo, President
Aliza Gallo serves as Principal of Gallo Advantage Consulting. She brings extensive experience in economic and business development, public-private partnerships, community engagement, urban planning, and real estate development. Through her certified Oakland-based business, she provides facilitation, economic development, and relationship-building services that support diverse communities and businesses. She is also a member of the League of Women Voters Oakland, the Urban Land Institute, Latina Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce, and serves as a mentor to Oakland students.
Sarah Chavez Yoell, Vice President
Sarah Chavez Yoell serves as Government Relations Manager for Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Greater Bay Area Region. An Oakland native, she brings strong expertise in government relations, community outreach, communications, and nonprofit leadership. Sarah currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Youth Alive! She also serves on several other boards including The Unity Council, Latinas Lead CA and the East Bay Economic Development Alliance.
Emiliano Sanchez, Treasurer
Emiliano Sanchez serves as Director of Career Technical Education (CTE) Trades and Apprenticeships at Oakland Unified School District. He also supports the ACE Mentor Program’s Oakland team as a mentor, team leader, and school champion, helping students explore careers in architecture, construction, engineering, and the skilled trades. He is former Principal of Fremont High School in Oakland.
Edward Vargas, Interim Secretary
Edward Vargas serves as President and Founder of Vargas and Associates LLC. His work focuses on building collaborations among businesses, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and government agencies to advance community initiatives. E.g., Ed secured funding to have eight of the 2026 CHCC Convention workshops recorded to “share best practices” on the CHCC website, all California Hispanic Chamber’s websites and affiliate Chamber websites, total 135 websites for greater impact. He hosts Champions of Change, a coaching and leadership series on expandi TV and YouTube and serves as a mentor to entrepreneurs and emerging professionals.
Sharon Fonseca, Parliamentarian
Sharon Fonseca serves as the owner of SF BAY Area Realty, serving as a Real Estate Broker and Notary Public. With over twenty-one years of experience in both residential and commercial real estate, she specializes in serving clients throughout the Bay Area, with a focus on Alameda County. She is also the Business Development Director for MAR CON Builders, Inc., a local general contracting firm based in Oakland. Current construction projects include City of Oakland, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Unified School District, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, and Chinese Hospital. Sharon is passionate about helping our communities, establishing relationships, and uplifting others, especially the next generation.
Marlene Paiz, Administrator
Marlene Paiz serves as Administrator of the Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce, providing administrative support to the Board and assisting with member services, communications, and events. She brings valuable experience in organizational coordination and community engagement.
About The Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce (OLCC) is dedicated to advancing economic opportunity, strengthening business capacity, and elevating the visibility of Latino-owned businesses throughout Oakland and the East Bay. Through advocacy, partnerships, technical assistance, and community engagement, OLCC works to ensure that Latino entrepreneurs have the resources and support necessary to thrive. The Chamber is also conducting targeted outreach and support for Oakland Latino-owned businesses through a three-year grant from Kaiser Permanente. Through this initiative, more than 700 Latino-owned businesses have been identified and engaged.