Speakers

Brenda is the founder and Executive Director of the i-5 Freedom Network (i5FN). Their mission is to engage business and community leaders to fight human trafficking through differentiated training, education, and legislative advocacy. Since beginning their organization two years ago, they have educated over 2000 people, 15 hotels, the Outlet Mall and presented at numerous business and community groups such as the the California Hotel and Lodging Association, Loyola Marymount School of Business and Ethics, San Clemente Rotary, Dana Point Rotary, Shared Hope International, Academy of of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, Kiwanis, and Laura's House to name a few.

Also working in legislative advocacy, the i5FN consults on relevant city and state bills and mandates, collaborating with the City of San Clemente on strengthening ordinances on Illicit Massage Parlors, and participates on Congressman Royce's anti-trafficking advisory council as well as the Human Trafficking Collaborative in San Diego. The i5FN is a training partner with the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF), and and has developed a training program tailored to the hospitality industry that is offered in both English and Spanish.

Brenda is also a Corporate Trainer and certified through Dale Carnegie in Sales, Leadership, Presentations, and Communication Skills.

For her work fighting human trafficking in the community, Brenda was awarded Chamber of Commerce 2016 Citizen of the Year and Farmers and Merchants Bank 2017 Compassion Award.

Sara McNamara joins The Commit Foundation as a Director of Corporate Education, initially focusing on Pursue Your Purpose (PYP) online personal development program, Digital Resource Library and the COMMIT Corporate Education initiatives. She is a recent graduate of the George Bush Presidential Institute’s Stand-To Veterans Leadership Program and former Program Manager of the Hiring Our Heroes DOD Skillbridge Transition Assistance Program for the United States Marine Corps. Prior to her work in military transition and veteran talent management, McNamara spent over twenty years in corporate America with accountabilities in Business Development, Marketing, Leadership Programs and Employee Engagement with corporations including Verizon and T-Mobile, USA. McNamara holds a Master of Science Degree in Global Organization Development (MSOD) from Pepperdine’s Graziadio Business School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from San Diego State University. Sara is a twin mom, stepmom and proud military spouse of a retired USMC Veteran. She lives in San Clemente, CA where she enjoys beach bonfires and the adventures of raising middle schoolers.