WATSONVILLE, CA – March 14, 2022. For Immediate Release
Longtime local education leader becomes CPO as part of Digital NEST’s regional expansion.
Digital NEST – a technology workforce development hub that provides youth in rural communities with high-demand skills, mentoring and hands-on experience so they can secure well-paying jobs– is proud to welcome Bronwyn Moreno as its first-ever Chief Programs Officer.
This long-awaited expansion in leadership marks a milestone in the organization’s ongoing strategic efforts to impact more youth in California through its free career development programs.
“We’re incredibly enthusiastic about having Bronwyn onboard. With her collaborative leadership style and expertise in cultivating cross-sector partnerships, I’m confident we will bring the NEST to the forefront of youth workforce development,” said founder and CEO Jacob Martinez.
Moreno has spent the last 20 years uplifting marginalized students in nonprofit, K-12 and postsecondary settings in the Bay Area and Monterey Bay. She is a trusted community leader and an expert in partnering with schools in the Santa Cruz and Monterey county area.
Driven by her passion for social justice and grounded in her belief that education is the key to strong families and communities, Moreno’s career began in after-school programs at the American Indian Child Resource Center in Oakland. After moving to the Central Coast in 2005, she directed the UC Santa Cruz Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) Schools Program, where she advanced educational partnerships in STEM with middle and high schools across Watsonville, Castroville, and south Monterey County.
For the past decade, she has created award-winning initiatives in the Salinas Valley as part of the Hartnell Community College District and most recently served as director of Hartnell’s Equity Programs, designing holistic programs and services to meet the needs of students and families whom societal barriers disproportionately affect.
Now she will spearhead the overall strategy and direction of Digital NEST programming.
“I am honored and excited to be joining the Digital NEST team during this unprecedented period of growth and expansion. I look forward to collaborating with staff and stakeholders to bring transformational opportunities to youth and foster economic prosperity for our communities.”
As Digital NEST continues amplifying its reach, and building new centers in communities across Northern California, the organization will also hire a chief financial officer in the near future.
About Digital NEST
Since opening its doors in 2014, Digital NEST has supported hundreds of youth along the path to higher education and well-paying careers. NEST youth are finding good jobs, internships, and entrepreneurial opportunities in technology and tech-related fields because of the mentorship and training they experience at Digital NEST. To learn more, visit www.digitalnest.org.
