Phillip Saldana, Operations Manager

Phillip Saldana, Operations Manager
Phillip Saldana (He/They/Them) is the Operations Manger at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Phillip has been working for different non-profits for the past 15 years. They started their career as the Guest Service Manager and Membership Manager for the National Steinbeck Center, a museum dedicated to the life and works of John Steinbeck. They later became the Director of Operations for the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in Central California. It’s important for them to work for organizations that are fighting to make a difference, whether that’s in a school, in a community, or helping create policies and laws for local government.
Phillip is very politically active and focuses a lot of their time and attention on helping young LGBTQ+ people of color in the foster care system and volunteers at Queer Youth Centers. Phillip was born and raised in Central California and is of Mexican heritage. They proudly identify as ChicanX. One of their favorite topics is discussing the difference between Latino, Hispanic, and Chicano and what these distinctions mean.
Phillip is an avid trivia night participant and focuses their attention on staying up to date on what’s happening in pop culture, which includes movies, tv shows, and Broadway. They also try to stay active by playing tennis, volleyball, or riding their bicycle.