Melinda Guzman
Member, Board of Trustees (2004-12)
The California State University
Melinda Guzman is a partner of the law firm of Goldsberry Freeman Guzman & Ditora, LLP. Ms. Guzman is a former partner of Diepenbrock, Wulff, Plant & Hannegan, LLP, where she became the first Latina to be named partner in a majority owned firm in Sacramento and in most of Northern California. Ms. Guzman’s practice focuses on tort, labor, insurance, and commercial matters. She has significant experience representing private and non-profit corporations, foundations, several media interests (radio, television and print media), venture capital firms (in acquisitions, financing, and collections), employment matters, insurance, and other business areas.
Ms. Guzman was appointed by Governor Gray Davis to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and served until November 2003. Ms. Guzman is also General Counsel of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Chairwoman of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and a Past President of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Guzman serves on the Board of Directors of Pac-West Telecomm, Inc., one of the largest competitive local exchange carriers headquartered in California. She also serves as Chair of the Nehemiah Corporation of America, one of the nation’s largest down payment assistance programs for new home buyers, and as a member of the Board of Trustees for the U.C. Davis Foundation. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Make A Wish Foundation and the Davis Community Television Board of Directors from 1990 to 1995, and served as its President in 1995. Ms. Guzman provides on-air talent for DCTV productions, including Davis Dialogue, and has provided commentary for DCTV's campaign coverage. She has also served on the Comstock's Club and KVIE Channel 6 Board of Directors where she chaired the Community Advisory Board and serves as talent for special on-air productions.
Ms. Guzman is also a member of the Sacramento County Bar Association; State Bar of California (Member: California Minority Counsel Program; Former Member: Executive Committee, Law Practice Management Section); La Raza National Lawyers Association (Vice President, 1989); and Women Lawyers of Sacramento (former Board member).
Ms. Guzman has been named one of “The 100 Influentials” by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2004. She has also been honored by the National Association of Women Business Owners with the Luminary Award for her leadership in business, by the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as its 1999 Business Woman of the Year, by the Sacramento Business Journal as its Top "40 under 40" dynamic young achievers and by Univision and McDonalds Corporations for her leadership in the Hispanic Community. She is a well-respected business leader for her ethics and integrity and is known for creating and developing programs that promote education and business growth and development.
Ms. Guzman was born and raised in Fairfield, California and is the daughter of Amado and Anita Guzman of Fairfield. Ms. Guzman is a first generation graduate of the University of California at Davis (B.A., 1985; J.D., 1988). She resides in Fair Oaks, California with her husband and their 20 year old daughter, a student at CSU Sacramento.