Maria S. Salinas

President & CEO Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Maria S. Salinas is president & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the largest business association in Los Angeles County, representing member companies and serving the interests of more than 235,000 businesses across the Los Angeles region. She took the helm of the organization in August of 2018, becoming the first woman and Latina to lead the Chamber in its 132-year history. An accomplished businesswoman, entrepreneur and a determined community leader, Salinas’ business acumen and financial expertise provides her with the right experience to lead the organization.

Salinas, a steward of the Chamber’s new vision, “A Thriving Region for All,” has re-imagined the role of the Chamber. Under her stewardship, the Chamber looks to the future with a vision to build an inclusive economy and lead in three pillar areas of focus: advocacy work, global engagement and through community collaboration for economic growth and mobility. The Los Angeles region, which is the 14th largest economy in the world, and the Chamber membership represent a broad spectrum of industries, small businesses, corporations, academic institutions and nonprofits, which are all examples that the Los Angeles economy is diverse, dynamic and that business is a force for good.

Salinas is also an appointee to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Commission on the Future of Work and named to his Business and Jobs Recovery Task Force. She was appointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Committee of 100, a distinction reserved for the top 100 Chambers across the country.

She represents the Los Angeles business community in statewide policy initiatives with the Coalition of Regional Economic Association Leaders (R.E.A.L.). She is a member of the Board of Directors of Mobility 21, a regional transportation effort, and an appointee of Mayor Eric Garcetti to the MEXLA Commission, a foreign policy initiative between Mexico and Los Angeles. Salinas serves on the board of directors of The Music Center, Pacific Council, UnidosUS and Southern California Leadership Network, among others.

FINALISTS | NON-PROFIT CEO OFTHE YEAR

Chief Executive Officer 50/50 Women on Boards

Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire is the CEO of 50/50 Women on Boards, the leading nonprofit education and advocacy campaign driving the movement toward gender balance and diversity on corporate boards. Her commitment to advancing women began formally with her success leading the Los Angeles team for 50/50 Women on Boards, initially started as 20/20 Women on Boards, which sought to achieve 20% women directors on Russell 3000 boards. When the organization reached and exceeded their initial goal, it recalibrated to 50/50 Women on Boards to ensure gender balance and board diversity across corporate America.

Founder & Executive Director 2020 Mom

Joy Burkhard is the founder and executive director of 2020 Mom, a national nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles dedicated to closing gaps in maternal mental health care. Her work focuses on improving detection and treatment of maternal mental health disorders, which impact up to 20% of women and 50% of women living in poverty. These illnesses include depression, anxiety and postpartum psychosis. Founded in 2011 under Burkhard’s leadership, 2020 Mom is the go-to organization for systems-level knowledge with the aim of detecting these disorders and offering treatment to all women in need.

President & CEO Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles

Deidre Lind is an award-winning philanthropic leader with effective, impact-driven results. She served as the founding president of the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, which was created to build a diverse array of public/private partnerships focused on innovation and impact. Lind has built her career over two decades leading corporate responsibility and philanthropy programs, including serving for a decade as Mattel’s chief global social impact strategist, where she launched their two percent pre tax profit annual commitment, and delivered the Company’s first global sustainability assessment.

Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

With a relentless dedication to improving the lives of others, Nichol Whiteman heads the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF). The foundation tackles L.A.’s most pressing problems with a mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos. During Whiteman’s tenure, LADF has launched impactful programming, including Dodgers RBI, a youth development initiative serving more than 10,000 youth today. She is dedicated to using her resources to open doors and opportunities for youth from all backgrounds.