About our staff.

Leticia serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Regional Access Project Foundation.  Leticia served as District Director to Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit for 4 years. Prior to that position, she served as Chief of Staff to Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson for 11 years. During the time with the Fourth District Supervisor’s office, Leticia specialized in the areas of Social Service, Mental Health, Public Health, Affordable Housing, and Homelessness.  Leticia was a migrant farm worker until she graduated from California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She worked for the Department of Public Social Services for 10 years. She earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from CSUSB and completed the Riverside County Excellence in Leadership Academy and the University of Riverside Nonprofit Management Certificate Program.

Mireya Reyes is the Administrative Director at the Regional Access Project Foundation, where she also supports Special Projects. Mireya has completed the Nonprofit Management and Supervisor & Leadership Certification Program from the University California Riverside. She has also completed the Business Computer Certification Program through the Regional Occupational Program. Mireya has taken coursework at the College of the Desert. Mireya Lives in Indio with her husband Benito and their four kids. She was born and raised in the Coachella Valley and knows the needs and challenges of the Desert.

George has been a CPA for over 10 years and worked as an auditor for over 17 years for Maryanov Madsen Gordon & Campbell, APC. His specialization is Not-For-Profit financial preparation and 990 tax return preparation. He is a member of the AICPA, CalCPA, serves on multiple Not-For-Profit boards, and is currently the Controller for Regional Access Project Foundation.

Taly oversees the NPO Centric program. Taly enjoyed working as a consultant in the areas of marketing, philanthropy, and strategic planning prior to joining the RAP Foundation.

Taly has shared her expertise with many national health-related non-profit organizations including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the ALS Association. Taly is a native of California and loves to get to the beach when she can.

Taly is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

A native of Long Beach and raised in Indio, Vanessa currently lives in Palm Desert.  She holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Management from Cal State San Bernardino and is bilingual in Spanish.

For more than five years, she worked in the nonprofit sector, including local organizations: Olive Crest, Variety the Children’s Charity of the Desert, the Desert Cancer Foundation, and the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GCVCC). Her position with GCVCC as the program and member experience manager has prepared her for this position with RAP.

“Being a part of the RAP Foundation will allow me to continue my passion for helping the growth of the Coachella Valley,” she says.  “I’m specifically excited to have the opportunity to assist our nonprofit community. I’ve had the pleasure of working for amazing organizations and it gives me great joy to know that I can still help make an impact.”

Andres, an East Coachella Valley native, is a first-generation graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, specializing in Business and Media Technology Development. Bilingual in Spanish and conversationally Mandarin, Andres brings a global perspective and cultural sensitivity to his work.

Before joining NPO Centric, Andres gained experience in global value chains, manufacturing, media technology, business management, and digital marketing. He has a passion for making information accessible and creating innovative solutions to complex problems.

Growing up, Andres always wanted to be in a role where the key metric is the number of people helped. “Working with NPO Centric is the gateway for me to help the most people in my community, and I am proud to know that my efforts make a real impact,” he says.

Melissa Robles is a native of Santa Cruz, California, and grew up in Mexico. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Mexico, Melissa spent nearly a decade working in the nonprofit sector with the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC), where she focused on managing grants and programs.

Now, as a Grants Manager for the Regional Access Project Foundation (RAP), Melissa oversees grants and ensures strategic alignment with both community goals and RAP’s objectives.

A resident of La Quinta for over 10 years, Melissa is passionate about community development. She is eager to leverage her expertise to foster growth and opportunity in the Coachella Valley.

Committed to making a lasting impact, Melissa leads by example, inspiring others through her dedication to service and excellence.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys traveling, hiking, and savoring good food. She is always seeking new ways to explore and experience the world.

Stephanie is an award-winning fundraising professional, nonprofit executive, and strategic development coach with a track record of securing transformative grants and gifts for impactful nonprofit causes. With her proven strategies and forward-thinking approach, Stephanie equips nonprofits to stay ahead of emerging trends, empowering them to grow, strengthen their impact, and achieve lasting success.

In 2023, Stephanie was honored as the “Outstanding Fundraising Professional” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Desert Communities Chapter. In 2018, she earned the top prize for “Best Pitch” at the RAP Foundation’s Desert Fast Pitch while serving at Martha’s Village and Kitchen—a testament to her innovative approach and ability to inspire support for vital missions.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University, San Bernardino, and her professional development includes certifications in Major Gifts, Marketing, Social Media, Fundraising, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Certifications

Stephanie is certified in Results-Based Accountability® (RBA), a framework focused on achieving measurable outcomes and driving meaningful community impact. This expertise enhances their ability to align programs with RAP’s mission of fostering lasting change.

Diane earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from California State University San Bernardino. She is working towards earning her Master in Public Health and Health Policies from UC Berkley. Prior to joining the RAP Foundation, Diane worked as a Payment Processor for Lift To Rise, helping keep over 100,000 Riverside County residents housed during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Diane was born and raised in the Coachella Valley and strives to have a balanced lifestyle. She spends her time being active, participating in 5k races, but you can also catch her binge-watching Harry Potter movies. She aspires to lead with love and use her educational and professional experience to increase resources and equality for all Coachella Valley residents.

Certifications

Diane is certified in Results-Based Accountability® (RBA), a framework focused on achieving measurable outcomes and driving meaningful community impact. This expertise enhances their ability to align programs with RAP’s mission of fostering lasting change.

John Frank works as a Program Manager for the CV Healthy Living Project. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Economics. Before joining the RAP Foundation, he worked in agriculture, creating and implementing regulatory compliance programs for fruit and vegetable growers in California, Arizona, and Mexico. He is happy to be able to use his skills in program development and education to serve the Coachella Valley.

Ashlee Huesca-Arellano, a Coachella Valley native, is a committed professional in public health and community service. She is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at California State University, San Bernardino, and completed her Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration at California State University, Long Beach.

Currently, Ashlee is the Project Manager for RAP’s Coachella Valley Healthy Living program, where she applies her leadership and project management skills. For example, she leads projects that integrate healthy living support into community programs, providing critical resources and services to underserved populations. Prior to her current position, Ashlee served as the Programs Supervisor at FIND Food Bank, overseeing operations and collaborating with community partners.

Ashlee’s past experiences include mentoring students as a Fitness Coach for the Coachella Valley Unified School District and providing administrative support in roles with the Los Angeles County Office of Education and Kaiser Permanente. Bilingual in Spanish and English, she brings strong technical proficiency and leadership to her work in public administration, healthcare, and community programs.

Adam Lackie serves as the Staff Accountant for the Regional Access Project Foundation, bringing over a decade of accounting experience to support the team’s mission. Adam holds a master’s degree in physics and initially worked as a health physicist for hospitals in both Louisiana and California before moving into accounting. Originally from Southern Louisiana, he moved to California in 2007, spending 13 years in Long Beach before making the Coachella Valley his home. Adam’s unique background and dedication help to support the RAP Foundation so it can continue to strengthen community’s nonprofit organizations.

Angie Nieto, the receptionist at RAP, has a passion for customer service and has dedicated her career to helping others. Prior to joining the RAP team, Angie volunteered at the organization, which allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of its mission and values. She retired from the banking industry in 2008 after 39 years and continued to contribute to her community by volunteering at the McCallum Theater for six years.

 As a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley and alumni of Indio High School, Angie is deeply rooted in the community and has a wealth of experience to share. Angie enjoys working at RAP because it allows her to do what she loves most – providing exceptional customer service. She is an essential part of the RAP team and a valued member of the community.

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Vincent Morgan is a recent graduate of Shadow Hills High School.  He is attending College of The Desert full-time while interning at RAP.  Vincent hopes to continue on with his education to earn his bachelor’s degree.  His duties include front desk receptionist, administrative and technology support.

Vincent states that he is always willing to help, so “do not hesitate to email or call me for assistance or as a gateway to other members of RAP.