RITA CRUZ GALLEGOS  

Rita Cruz Gallegos is founder and managing partner of Genesis Consultants.  She started this consulting firm specializing in government and public affairs, political campaigns, special events, public relations, marketing and fundraising for elected officials.   The firm now focuses its efforts in the health care field, including but not limited to international health, business administration and management, program development and implementation, strategic marketing, public relations, public affairs and grass-roots outreach. 

Rita was born in Leon, Guanajuato Mexico and moved permanently to the United States at the age of 11.  She graduated from East Los Angeles College and attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and California State University in Fullerton. She completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Applied Management from Azusa Pacific University and graduated from Glendale University College of Law.  

Prior to starting Genesis Consultants, Rita was a partner and Chief Operations Officer for Gallegos Chiropractic Clinic in Baldwin Park, California for fifteen years.  In 2000, Rita joined Health Net of California as the Sr. Program Director for Latino Programs.  Her main responsibility was to oversee and market Health Net's cross-border product "Salud con Health Net" which is a group of affordable medical plans specially designed to meet the needs of the Latino families and small business owners in California and in Mexico.  Rita’s duties encompassed promotion of all lines of business  (Medicare, State Health Programs, Commercial and Salud Con Health Net) throughout California.   She maintained public and governmental relations statewide as well as represented Health Net in the business community, chambers of commerce and other associations in the Latino community. 

 
Community service is very important for Rita. She sits on a variety of non-profit Boards.  She currently serves on the Executive Board for “Padres Contra El Cancer” and sits on the Board of Directors for the National Latina Business Women Association, Board of Directors for the Latin Business Association, Board Member for Latino Health Access, Health Committee member of the Greater L.A. Chamber of Commerce, and on the Advisory Board Member of “Taking The Reigns” organization. 

Rita has received numerous awards for her community involvement, including the "Friend of Baldwin Park" Award and the "President's Award" from the Baldwin Park Chamber of Commerce. She is a past recipient of the prestigious award "Citizen of the Year" from the City of Baldwin Park and received commendations acknowledging her community involvement from The U.S. Congress, The California State Legislature and the City of Los Angeles. The Mexican Consulate has recognized Rita for her involvement in the Binational Health Week as part of the US-Mexico Health Initiative. 

As a small business owner and community leader, Rita truly believes in the importance of volunteerism, helping the less fortunate and expanding access to healthcare in underserved communities.  Rita lives in San Dimas, California with her husband Dr. Martin Gallegos