Sharon Martinez
Mayor of Monterey Park
&
President, SMART Staffing Services
Sharon Martinez received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She also received her Master’s of Science Degree in Public Administration in Management from the University of Southern California. During her college career, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain and also received a fellowship to study at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Policy in Austin, Texas.
Ms. Martinez is founder and president of SMART Staffing Services, a woman and minority owned employment agency that specializes in clerical, bi-lingual and promotional staffing. The company was founded in Monterey Park and is now located in Alhambra. SMART Staffing services the greater Los Angeles area including Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Ventura County.
Sharon is active and devoted to community service. She is currently an appointed/elected Board Member of the California Association of Councils of Governments(CALCOG), Los Angeles County Commission on Local Government, Vice President of San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), Southern California Association of Governments-Transportation and Communications Committee, SGVCOG - I 710 Corridor Committee, The San Gabriel Valley Animal Joint Powers Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority(Metro) San Gabriel Valley Service Sector Governance Council, Chairwoman of Boy Scouts of America - Mission Amigos District, E1 Financial Credit Union, and the Monterey Park Hospital.
Sharon is also involved with the Monterey Park Rotary, Monterey Park/Rosemead Soroptimist, Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, Monterey Park Library Foundation, National Association of Latino Elected Officials(NALEO), National League of Cities – HELO(Hispanic Elected Local Officials) and the Latin Business Association(LBA).
She is a former Board Member of West San Gabriel Valley YMCA, Former Chairperson of Monterey Park Art & Culture Commission, Former Chairperson of Monterey Park Library Board, Former Member League of California Cities Community Services Committee, Former Member of West San Gabriel Valley Rebuilding Together(formerly Christmas in April), Former Elected National Vice President of Young Adults of the League of United Latin American Citizens(LULAC), Former Secretary of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality(HOPE) PAC, and Former Member of United States Commission on Civil Rights-California Advisory Committee.
Sharon has received several awards including Congressman Adam B. Schiff’s 29th District Woman of the Year 2006, Assembly Member Judy Chu’s 2003 Latina Business Woman of the Year, Monterey Park Woman’s Club Woman of Achievement 2007, Business and Professional Women’s 2003 Business Woman of the Year, Woman of Promise, Hispanic Family of the Year, Latina Entrepreneur of The Year, and she was featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the “20 Up & Coming Latino Women”, and has been recognized from Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, State and Federal Legislators.
Sharon Martinez was born, raised and educated in Monterey Park, California. Her devotion and appreciation of Monterey Park inspired her to start her staffing agency in the city so she could help the residents find jobs in their neighborhood. Sharon’s energy, passion and determination proved effective as she simultaneously worked as a field deputy for an assemblyman and later as a chief of staff for a state senator while expanding SMART Staffing Services.
Sharon Martinez enjoys the political arena. Sharon won a seat on the Monterey Park City Council on November 6th, 2001, beating her opponents by a 2 to 1 margin. She was re-elected in March 2005. Councilwoman Martinez is the former Mayor of Monterey Park and will be proudly sworn in for the second time as Mayor on October 10th, 2007. Sharon’s vision and goal as an elected official is to have a direct voice in improving the quality of life for our community and especially to see improvements in the employment industry as well as the health and welfare of the community.
