We are committed to serving our community with dignity and respect.
Leadership Team
Louis Powell
Executive Director
Alfonso Mendez
Director of Operations
Fernando Torres
Warehouse Manager
Jesús Gonzalez
Front Desk Coordinator
Board of Directors
Santa Maria Urban Ministry is grateful for the work of its Board of Directors. The Board is currently exploring new initiatives that will be meaningful and beneficial to our community.
Board Members
Rosalinda Aguilar
Barbara Fishman
More about Barbara
Barbara has volunteered at SMUM since 2023. She is a member of Rotary Club of Los Gatos which provides annual support to our neediest clients. The skills learned in her graduate studies in Communication Sciences have served her in careers in education, real estate and property management. Currently as a certified mediator Barbara provides weekly pro bono services in the Santa Clara County Superior Courts.
Victor Niemeyer
More about Victor
Victor began volunteering in 2023, supporting client intake and food distribution. He also volunteers at Country Lane Elementary and serves on San Jose’s Climate Advisory Commission. A retired energy and environmental policy expert, his upbringing in Mexico and Central America helps him connect with Santa Maria’s diverse community. He’s proud to support the mission as a Board member and work alongside dedicated volunteers helping families thrive.
Mike Orlando
More about Mike
Mike joined the board in 2019. He currently works as Director of High School Counseling at Helios School in Sunnyvale. As a former attorney and experienced nonprofit employee, Mike helps guide the board in making strategic decisions. A native of Orange County, CA, Mike is a graduate of Occidental College and the UCLA School of Law. He enjoys backpacking, traveling, and is rumored to be an accomplished Indian pure veg cook.
Lewis Pollard
Ken Rousseau
More about Ken
Ken has a background in physics, literature, and product development, with a career spanning aerospace, software, and finance. He’s served on educational foundations, advised San Jose schools, and supported teen mental health efforts. A longtime nonprofit volunteer, he also serves on the Finance Committee of the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank. Ken and his wife of 46 years have three daughters living across the country.
Susan Stanat
More about Susan
“It’s important to me to give back to my home community, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do so through SMUM’s remarkable program.” Born to first-generation immigrant parents and a San Jose native, Susan witnessed the challenges firsthand of living and learning in a foreign country. She holds a degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and had a successful career in the technology industry. Currently, she serves as an administrator in Bay Area schools.
Peter Troop
Anna Maria Valenzuela
More about Anna Maria
Anna María Valenzuela has called the Bay Area home since 1981. Born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, she immigrated to the United States at just five years old. Now, after more than 40 years of marriage—with four children and four grandchildren—she’s built a life deeply rooted in family and service.
A Notary Public and Real Estate Agent with more than two decades of experience, Anna María has dedicated her career to serving and empowering the Hispanic community. She has strengthened her leadership through active involvement in several real estate and community organizations and is a proud member of the Los Gatos Rotary Club and Vine Church in San José.
Most recently, she completed the Latino Board Leadership Academy program founded by Ron Gonzales. With deep pride and a strong sense of purpose, Anna María looks forward to contributing her experience and heart for service to Santa Maria Urban Ministry, where she hopes to be a voice and advocate for the Hispanic community—helping families protect their assets and build a lasting legacy for generations to come.
More about Louis
Louis joined the team in March of 2025. With more than 30 years of nonprofit and business leadership experience, Louis is committed to growing meaningful partnerships, strengthening community programs, and ensuring everyone who walks through our doors is welcomed with dignity, respect, and the opportunity to thrive. He is delighted to be part of Santa Maria and the strong and proud Guadalupe-Washington community.
More about Alfonso
Alfonso came to Santa Maria in 2001 as a volunteer, first working in the warehouse food pantry and then becoming a front desk volunteer. He joined us as an employee in 2010.
Alfonso trains and supervises our many dedicated volunteers. Alfonso is dedicated to both improving the lives of our clients and providing fulfilling volunteer opportunities at Santa Maria.
More about Rosalinda
Rosalinda joined our board in 2025 as a community leader who has long championed the work of Santa Maria. She has served on the board of the Guadalupe Washington Neighborhood Association (GWNA) for more than a decade and was elected President in 2022. Since 2021, she has been part of the San Jose Youth Empowerment Initiative. Her deep roots in the Guadalupe Washington neighborhood provide valuable insight into our community and help guide our mission with cultural understanding and authenticity.
More about Lewis
Lewis began volunteering at Santa Maria in 1998, serving first as an after-school tutor, which he continued to do for 15 years, and he joined our Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA) team in 1999. In 2002, Lewis became the lead volunteer for VITA and led this program for 25 years. Before retirement, Lewis served the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department from 1965 to 1998, providing family and individual therapy.
More about Peter
Peter is a retired communications executive who led business communications and financial investor relations at computer software companies. Peter is committed to sustaining Santa Maria as a force for transformative change. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Cupertino, supporting their work as an international sponsor of Rotary Foundation Global Grants. He is a board member and secretary of the Cupertino Rotary Housing Corporation that develops below-market-rate housing.
More about Fernando
Fernando began volunteering at Santa Maria when his daughter was three years old, drawn by the children’s programs offered at the time. After two years as a volunteer, he joined the staff part-time as Warehouse Manager, a role he quickly came to love. Four years later, he transitioned to full-time work, a position he has held for the past three years. For Fernando, Santa Maria is more than a workplace—it’s his second home.
More about Jesús
Jesus first came to Santa Maria in 2012, starting out by packing bread in the warehouse and helping front office volunteers with Spanish translation. His commitment and friendly presence quickly made him a trusted member of the team. In 2018, he joined the staff as Front Desk Coordinator, where he now welcomes new clients, helps them register for services, answers calls, and provides translation. Jesus’s warmth and dedication ensure that every person who walks through Santa Maria’s doors feels seen and supported.
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