Schedule & Speakers

U.S. Congressman Lou Correa (CA 46)

Keynote Speaker

U.S. Congressman Lou Correa represents California’s 46th District—Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, and Santa Ana—in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. As a member of Congress, he serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the Subcommittee on Immigration and Boarder Security, and the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. He is also a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management.

A native of Anaheim, and a son of working-class parents, Congressman Correa learned the value of a strong work ethic through his parents’ example. His mother, who cleaned hotel rooms across from Disneyland, and his father, who held a manufacturing job at a paper mill, encouraged their children to pursue an education. Watching his parents’ dedication to build the American Dream for their children, Lou became the first in his family to go to college and earn a degree. Before running for office, he worked in the private sector in the banking industry, and was also a licensed attorney and licensed real estate broker. He started serving in public office in Sacramento as a member of the California State Assembly for three terms. Later, he served as a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors before returning to Sacramento to represent Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster in the California State Senate. As a State Senator, the first-generation elected official supported local public health and safety services, mental healthcare, and health and safety programs for children. Lou created Operation Kid Prints, a safety program that partners with local schools to provide free finger printing and safety information for parents. And he also pioneered the statewide Young Senators Program which brought teenagers from all walks of life to learn about the California State Legislative process, and the importance of community service. He has served on numerous boards of the Orange County Family Justice Center, the Orange County Board of Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (G.R.I.P.), the California Small Business Board, and the Orange County Community Development Council, the county’s anti-poverty council. Prior to earning his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of California, Los Angeles, Congressman Correa earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from California State University, Fullerton.

The Congressman, who was named “Father of the Year” by the American Diabetes Association of Orange County, lives in Santa Ana with his wife and their four children and can be found at community events every weekend.

Victor Hugo Miranda

Latin American Spanish Language Specialist, Blizzard Entertainment
Irvine, CA

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Hugo immigrated to the United States at the age of 17. His family’s reason for landing in California: to help improve his performance in school. And it must have worked. After high school, he became the first member in his family to attend college in the United States. However, that goal was short lived when he became concerned for his legal status; he soon returned to Costa Rica. As he taught English there, he always kept his mind open for new opportunities. That’s when he applied for a language scholarship to learn Mandarin in Taiwan, and he got it. While continuing his studies in Taiwan, he soon returned to the United States. Teaching Spanish and Chinese while attending California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), Hugo earned his Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from CSUF. Before graduating from college, though, he was hired by Blizzard Entertainment, an American video game developer and publisher based in Irvine, CA. Today, the first-generation Costa Rican native works at Blizzard as a Latin American Spanish Language Specialist. He donates his time in the community by showcasing his work to bilingual learners at local schools as a way to empower them. Like the heroes in video games, Hugo believes that bilingual and bicultural students have a special ability, or super power, and embracing it is the key to success. In addition to being a native Spanish speaker, Hugo is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and English.

Marcie Perez

Principal & Founder, Agency M Media
Los Angeles, CA

Born and raised in Anaheim, CA, Marcie Perez is the first person in her family to go to college. Today, she’ a marketing communications executive who has taken her heart—compassion for causes—together with her talent—executing successful communications campaigns—to impact social initiatives throughout Southern California and abroad. Marcie began her career working at various award-winning public relations agencies overseeing campaigns for a variety of clients. She was later tapped to work in-house at corporations overseeing communications strategies. Today, she runs her own public relations and marketing practice, Agency M Media in Los Angeles, where she is responsible for developing social impact, consumer lifestyle, and marketing communications campaigns for national foundation, non-profits and the County and City of Los Angeles. Her work in the public sector has given her the opportunity to apply her expertise to cause-related public awareness campaigns and social impact initiatives. As a proud Latina, Marcie understands how her radio, television and print media experience as on-air and staff talent gives her valuable insight into what consumers want, and what media and influencer platforms need for inspirational content and meaningful connections. Some of her clients include the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Consumer & Business Affairs, Koreatown Youth + Community Center, and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Marcie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in public relations from California State University, Fullerton and her Master of Science degree in Leadership & Management from the University of La Verne.

Roberto Saldivar

Principal, Anaheim High School
Anaheim, CA

Roberto Saldivar has two firsts to his name. As the son of immigrant parents from Zacatecas, Mexico, Roberto is a first-generation American. And as the first member in his family to attend college and earn a degree, he’s a first-generation college graduate. Though his parents never attended high school after immigrating to the United States, much less earned their college degrees, the support at home and from his parents, combined with perseverance, inspired Roberto to cross that finish line and earn his first college degree in 2001—a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a minor in Health Science from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). He later earned his Master’s degree in Education, as well as his teaching credential, from Azusa Pacific University. Roberto launched his teaching career at his alma mater, Anaheim High School, where he taught and coached various sports teams. Soon after, he earned his administrative credential from CSUF allowing him to become an assistant principal at local junior high schools, and most recently he was appointed principal of Anaheim High School where he’s been serving since 2014. But Roberto’s proudest accomplishment is marrying his high school sweetheart, a fellow Anaheim Colonist, where together they are parents to three young children.