In recognition of her outstanding entrepreneurial contributions to the community, Gina, a highly accomplished tech and business leader with 31 years of entrepreneurial experience, serves as Hacker Lab’s founding CEO, established in 2012 in Sacramento, CA. Hacker Lab has emerged as a renowned entrepreneurial, educational, and workforce organization, positively impacting over 1100 community members annually and over 300 micro businesses annually.

Gina’s visionary leadership has driven Hacker Lab’s impressive growth, resulting in national recognition as a leader in. the Maker Space movement. Her remarkable achievements have earned her a multitude of prestigious awards, including:

• Recognition as one of Sacramento Business Journal’s 25 Business Leaders of 2012 and 2013.
• 2012 International Women’s Day award honoring her exceptional contributions to the Sacramento community.
• 2014 Valley Vision’s Legacy Feast award for fostering Economic Development.
• The 2013 Women Who Mean Business Award acknowledges her significant regional leadership.
• The National Latina of Excellence in Information Sciences and Technology award was given in 2015 by LISTA. – Latinos in Science and Technology Association
• The 2019 Hispanic Chamber Salud Business Award for Community.
• The Unsung Hero title was bestowed upon her by California Senator Richard Pan in 2020.
• Inclusion in Sacramento Magazine’s list of Sacramento’s Most Influential Business Leaders in 2020.
  
• Sac Bee Equity Lab’s 2024 Top 20 Latino Changemakers Of Sacramento

In addition to her impressive array of awards, Gina has also received special recognition and awards from the California State Assembly, Senate, Congressional Representatives, and the House of Representatives. These accolades have been bestowed upon her in acknowledgment of her exceptional excellence in entrepreneurial contributions to the community.

Gina’s contributions have been celebrated widely, earning her features in prestigious publications like Reuters, TechCrunch, and Forbes, as well as being a TEDx speaker.

Gina’s influence extends well beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors. She has successfully collaborated with major corporations such as Intel, VSP, Hewlett Packard, AT&T, SMUD, and Kaiser, forging innovative partnerships and solutions. Gina and her team have worked on undisclosed projects for Northrop Grumman AS and Toyota as Innovation Consultants, contributing significantly to their technological advancements.

Moreover, Gina co-founded Code For Hood, a nonprofit dedicated to educating underserved youth through hackathons and STEM workshops. In 2018, this initiative received accolades and awards from Congressional and State Legislators for Civic Engagement and was honored as Non-Profit Of The Year by The State Of California. She stepped into civic service by volunteering as a Commissioner for the City of Sacramento’s Measure U from 2019 thru 2023.

Hacker Lab has evolved into a nonprofit hub, overseeing impactful programs like MADE Studio and MAKEHERS. Gina also actively participates in various committees and is committed to fostering community growth and equity, including her role as a Board Member of Valley Vision. Hacker Lab’s dedication to innovation garnered national recognition when she and her team were invited to the White House during the Obama administration for a closed-session meeting on the Nation Of Makers.

YouTube Video: Interview For Success Equity Success Initiative
YouTube Video: Women Who Mean Business Award 2013