Tere Veloz is a seasoned organizational strategist, public affairs leader, and equity-driven communicator dedicated to advancing systems change, narrative transformation, and strategic collaboration. With over 15 years of experience across nonprofit, philanthropic, government, and public sectors, she brings a bilingual, bicultural lens to her work—connecting grassroots power with institutional change to ensure that historically excluded communities have the resources, agency, and belonging they need to thrive.

Her career reflects deep expertise in organizational leadership, communications, and stakeholder engagement. At ThinkPlace U.S., Tere partners with diverse clients to integrate human-centered design and equity into strategic initiatives. Previously, she played a pivotal role in launching the nation’s first ACEs Aware initiative in partnership with the Office of the California Surgeon General and California Department of Health Care Services. In that role, she co-managed a $30.5 million statewide grants portfolio, led advisory committee convenings, oversaw Spanish-language resource adaptation, and developed the Trauma-Informed Network of Care Roadmap.

Tere’s leadership journey also includes her tenure as a program associate at The California Endowment, where she supported narrative change storytelling campaigns, grassroots grantmaking, and initiatives advancing health equity, civic engagement, immigrant rights, and power building. She has designed and led high-impact bilingual public awareness campaigns, collaborating with media outlets such as Univision, Radio Bilingüe, and La Opinión to amplify community voices. Her portfolio includes mobilizing resources for immigrant services, health access, and tax equity programs, including CalEITC and DACA support.

A strategic convener with a coaching mindset, Tere anchors her work in authenticity, humility, and strengths-based development. She has held board leadership positions with Cien Amigos in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento, as well as the Sacramento Public Relations Association. She is a dedicated community volunteer and a trusted advisor to organizations seeking to deepen equity, build capacity, and foster collaborative impact.

Tere holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Education, a Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Management and Leadership, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership. A first-generation American and proud daughter of Mexican immigrants who worked in California’s agricultural fields, she is guided by her lived experience and a lifelong commitment to economic and social justice. Based in San Diego and the rural community of Laton, California, she lives with an empathetic heart and embraces her self-proclaimed identity as a Latina Coastal Cowgirl.