Presentation Summary
Monique will share how Ventures is unlocking opportunity for Washington’s underestimated small business owners and how community-driven innovation can power inclusive economic growth.
Monique’s Bio
Monique Valenzuela is a proud Latina leader and barrier-breaker who serves as Executive Director of Ventures, a Seattle nonprofit that supports underestimated entrepreneurs with capital, coaching, and community. Monique has spent her career opening doors; from co-founding an award-winning Tacoma restaurant, to championing youth through hands-on maritime education, to serving as Chair of the Tacoma Public Utility Board, overseeing a $2 billion budget and critical infrastructure for over a million residents.
She has twice represented Latino Asset Builders at the White House and led Ventures to secure a $2.9 million federal award from the U.S. Department of Commerce – the only grant of its kind in Washington State. A former Rotarian with Tacoma Rotary 8, Monique also served on the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee and is now seeking a new club to call home.
