Rudy Vargas

President

Rudy Vargas is United States Senator Kamala D. Harris’ District Director for the San Diego and Imperial counties. As a proud San Diego State Aztec, he double majored in Political Science and Environmental Studies. Prior to joining Team Harris, Rudy served as a representative for the San Diego City Council.

Working alongside City staff, he was able to steer multi-million dollar infrastructure projects including parks, a new fire station, and the first community skate park in City Heights, the neighborhood where he grew up. Rudy has also worked at a number of local non-profits providing resources to some of our most underrepresented communities. Rudy is currently on the Ocean Discovery Institute Board of Directors, served as the director of service and is currently the president of City Heights Rotaract Club.

Genesis Maganda

Vice President

Genesis is native to San Diego and has called City Heights her home for 23 years. She is a proud Hoover High School alumna and attended the University of San Diego where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in International Relations in 2016.

She has been a member of City Heights Rotaract since 2016 and has previously served as Club District Representative and Director of Membership. Genesis currently works in property management at Price Philanthropies and also regularly attends local community meetings. In her free time, Genesis enjoys taking dance lessons, coffee, traveling and spending time with family. 

Josefina Lopez

Treasuer

Lizette has been a member of the City Heights Rotaract Club for the past two years. This is her first year serving on the Board of Directors and previously served as a member of the Service Committee. Lizette is a San Diego native and first generation college graduate. Lizette graduated

from UCSD with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology with emphasis on Social Inequalities. Lizette has been involved as a social justice advocate and community organizer since the age of fifteen and continues serving communities as a social worker. During her free time Lizette is involved with various organizations and nonprofits throughout San Diego County. Lizette also enjoys practicing Jiu jitsu, boxing, hiking and spending time with her dogs.

Lizbeth Pastenes

Secretary

Liz is a chartering member and current Treasurer of City Heights Rotaract. She has held board positions in the club since its inception and has been recently honored as a Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions as Past President. Liz is a native San Diegan who grew up and

currently resides in the community of City Heights. She is a proud Aztec, obtaining her Masters of Public Administration from San Diego State University. Liz is passionate about giving back to City Heights and does so by working with youth in the community with the Price Philanthropies Foundation. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, wine tasting, and is a fitness enthusiast.

Tristen Cain

Director of Service

Tristen is a student at SDSU studying Civil Engineering with a goal of becoming a professionally licenced engineer in the transportation industry. He is an Aaron Price Fellow and a former Price Communities Scholars mentor.

He currently holds the Director of Service position for City Heights Rotaract and is ecstatic about making a difference in his community by planning community service events for the club. When he’s not studying or planning events you'll find him surfing at the pier in PB, tent camping with friends in southern California, or getting a sandwich from Windmill Farms.

Yesenia Barragan

Peace Chair

Yesenia is a San Diego native raised in the vibrant neighborhood of City Heights. After becoming Hoover Alumni, Yesenia pursued higher education at San Diego State University where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Women's Studies with a minor in Spanish. She is hoping to return to school to 

pursue a Master’s in Social Work. Yesenia is very passionate about social service work and community enrichment, particularly in City Heights. She currently works for a non-profit located in City Heights dedicated to supporting, empowering, and advocating for youth and families in San Diego. Through City Heights Rotaract Yesenia is given the opportunity to give back to her community through service events and she is very grateful for that.

Jesus Herrera

Director of Professional Development

Jesus is a proud San Diego native and claims he never plans on leaving his hometown! Born and raised in the community of City Heights, Jesus attended all the local schools and proudly graduated from Hoover High School in 2016.

After high school, Jesus made the decision to pursue a path in residential real estate where he tapped into a passion for luxury homes. Currently for work, he manages his father’s business, a residential painting business, where Jesus has the opportunity to run a small business and prepare to be the best business leader he aspires to be. In addition to serving as Director of Professional Development, you will most definitely find Jesus exploring restaurants, hanging out at the La Jolla beaches, visiting exotic car shows, or doing some work at his community garden.

Stephanie Perez

Immediate Past President

Stephanie has called San Diego home her entire life. She attended Hoover High School and went on to pursue higher education at Point Loma Nazarene University where she double-majored in Spanish and Sociology.

Currently, she works for the Immigration Center for Women and Children and hopes to return to school to pursue a law degree! In addition to serving as president, she is serving a second term as Director of Finance for Rotaract District 5340. Outside of Rotaract, she is a board member of the City Heights Community Development Corporation and is the D9 representative on the Citizen's Advisory Board on Police/Community Relations. In her spare time Stephanie enjoys reading, traveling and cheering on Real Madrid!

Marge Cole

Advisor

Marge Cole is a Native Californian who grew up in the Los Angeles area. She graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and earned a Master’s Degree at Syracuse University in New York. She returned to California to teach high school Social Studies and English

and served as high school principal and Director of Student Services before retiring in 2004. While serving as high school principal, she joined the Santee/Lakeside Rotary Club in 1996. Marge is currently a member of the Mission Valley Sunset Rotary Club and serves as International Service Chair and Rotary Foundation Chair for the Club. She is an advisor for the City Heights Rotaract Club.

Pamela Gutierrez

Advisor

Pamela Gutierrez is a native San Diegan who grew up in City Heights. After attending Hoover High School she went on to San Diego State University where she received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration-Management. She worked in the banking industry for many years

before joining the Price Philanthropies - Cardinals Interact Program in 2007, where she is now the Assistant Director. Pamela earned her Master’s Degree at the University of San Diego in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Pamela worked alongside Cardinals Interact Alumni to help charter the City Heights Rotaract Club in 2015.  Pamela is a proud mother of two children and is an Honorary Rotarian of the Mission Valley Sunset Rotary Club.  

Mia Harenski

Advisor

Mia Harenski is a CPA who works with small to medium sized businesses and nonprofits for their audit, tax and accounting needs. She is a third generation Rotarian, having been introduced to Rotary by her grandfather. Mia joined the San Diego Rotary Club in 2012 at 8 months pregnant – probably a

first for the club!  Since then she has served on several committees, hosted two Rotary Youth Exchange students and is a board member for the 2018-2019 Rotary year.  Her favorite part of being a Rotarian is the interconnectedness that comes from being in an organization that is both locally and internationally focused and has over 1 million members throughout the world.  She is proud to be a part of a group of people who band together to get so much done.Mia is married to Drew, has two sons, Jack and Nolan, and an old stubborn beagle named Satchel Moe.