Executive Team - The Immokalee Foundation

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

Meet Our Executive Team

Noemi Y. Perez

President & CEO

Noemi Y. Perez is the President & CEO of The Immokalee Foundation, a 32-year-old, non-profit organization benefiting the children of her hometown of Immokalee, Florida. With a 100% focus on education, career readiness, and professional development, the Foundation offers students the tools, opportunities, and support they need to succeed at each level of their education—whether they choose college, technical programs, or certifications.

Perez began her employment with The Immokalee Foundation in 2008 as a student advocate. Raised in Immokalee and forced to deal with many of the same struggles Foundation students encounter, she uses her experience and connections to help Immokalee’s brightest young people on their journey to meaningful careers and financial independence.

Perez graduated from Hodges University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a minor in Management. She was also a member of the Class of 2016 of Associate Leadership Collier and was named to Gulfshore Business’s 2016 “40 Under 40” and Business Observer’s 2020 “40 Under 40” lists.

Perez was named Florida College Access Network’s 2022 College Ready Florida Innovator. She was selected for the award based on her leadership in redesigning The Immokalee Foundation’s college-preparatory programs to ensure every student acquires the technical skills, hands-on experience, and credentials that lead to a professional career and financial independence.

For four consecutive years, Perez has earned a spot on the “Naples 100″—Naples Illustrated list of Collier County’s Most Influential Business Leaders. In 2023, just months after receiving a Latino Lideres Award from Latin Times Magazine, she was one of only 10 business leaders selected for Gulfshore Business Magazine’s annual “Top Women in Business” list.

She is also on the Board of Advisors at the Florida College Access Network (FCAN), an Advisory Council member at the Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University, and proudly serves on the Youth Leadership Collier selection committee.

Perez was most recently honored with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Greater Naples Chamber Leadership Collier Foundation.

She is a member of the 2023-2024 Leadership Florida Education Class where she joins 43 other education leaders from across the state—including superintendents, school board members, educators, Florida Department of Education professionals, education foundation representatives, and other public officials—to intensively focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with vaulting Florida’s K-12 public schools to national prominence.

The Immokalee Foundation subsequently received the 2024 Florida Impact Award — a statewide recognition of a business or nonprofit organization that has created a specific project or body of work whose impact is currently transforming the future of its region or beyond and has the potential to transform Florida as a whole.

Noemi’s leadership most recently led to The Immokalee Foundation’s Career Pathways program receiving national recognition as a 2024 Example of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education. This is the only national, data-driven effort to identify, aggregate, and promote evidence-based practices increasing Latino student success in higher Education.

Her primary ambition is to help others accomplish their goals, whether family, co-workers or community members. She has always believed that, even if you help one person, you have helped the world.

As Perez continues her personal and professional development, she hopes to continue to make connections with others and build relationships to help guide and connect those in need.

Yasmin Mohammed

Chief Financial Officer

Yasmin brings over 30 years of experience working with companies small and large in finance and human resources. She began her career in Trinidad working for the Texaco Oil Company. In 1988, she migrated to the United States, where she worked in financial positions with various companies in Naples before joining The Immokalee Foundation in 2016.

With a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management, she is also a Certified Community Association Manager. Along with financial and compliance duties, Yasmin oversees payroll and insurance.

Diane M. Allenbaugh

Chief Human Resources Officer

Diane brings over 25 years of diversified human resources experience working with large and small companies of varied industries, including nonprofits. Her early career was in healthcare and over time, transitioned her profession to human resources. Diane has continued her passion for those in need by serving of the Boards of Hudson Valley Hospice, American Heart Association Go Red, and Vasser Warner Home for Senior Living.

With a bachelor’s degree Human Resources Management, she is also certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and by the Society for Human Resources Management as a Senior Certified Professional. Diane is responsible for creating an engaging employee experience, recruitment, employment law compliance, employee relations, compensation, and benefits for The Immokalee Foundation staff.

Ruth Rios, MBA

Chief Advancement Officer

Ruth Rios, MBA, serves as Chief Advancement Officer at The Immokalee Foundation, where she leads fundraising, donor engagement, and advancement strategy in support of the Foundation’s mission to build pathways to success for the youth of Immokalee. She brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit development, advancement leadership, and board partnership across education- and child-focused organizations.

Ruth began her career advocating for children and families in the child welfare system, a calling deeply shaped by her own lived experience. Having spent eight years in foster care, she understands firsthand the power of education, mentorship, and consistent support in creating opportunity and economic mobility. This perspective has guided her lifelong commitment to mission-driven work centered on equity, access, and long-term outcomes.

Throughout her career, Ruth has partnered closely with executive leaders and boards of directors to strengthen advancement efforts through donor-centered strategy, thoughtful stewardship, and strong governance. She is known for building authentic relationships and helping organizations align their fundraising efforts with purpose, accountability, and impact.

Ruth currently serves as a Board Member of Florida Foster Care Review and previously served on the board of PhilanthropyMiami. Her prior board leadership includes serving as Chair of the System of Care Committee for Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc., as well as Board Member of the Miami-Dade Community Based Care Alliance. Earlier in her career, she was a Cause Ambassador for the CHARLEE Program of Dade County and a founding member of Florida International University’s Fostering Panther Pride program, launched in 2014 to support former foster youth and students experiencing homelessness in higher education.

Her leadership and advocacy have been recognized with several honors, including the Path Finder Award from Voices For Children (2018). She is a graduate of Florida International University’s Worlds Ahead Graduate Program and was a recipient of the National Society of Hispanic MBA Foundation–Lincoln Motor Company Scholarship, along with merit scholarships from Florida International University and The Zyman Foundation.

Ruth holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Florida International University. She believes that when organizations are resourced with intention and guided by strong relationships, they are best positioned to change lives and strengthen communities for generations to come. As a leader and a mother, Ruth is deeply committed to creating pathways of opportunity so that every child has the support, education, and encouragement needed to realize their full potential.

Walt Buchholtz

Career Pathways Strategist

Since 2018, Walt has been working with The Immokalee Foundation to develop and implement new career-oriented educational programming. With his guidance – and with extensive collaboration with local middle and high schools, industry professionals and higher education institutions – The Immokalee Foundation has successfully launched its innovative Career Pathways program.

During Walt’s 37-year career at Exxon Mobil Corporation, he held various executive positions providing leadership in the areas of public and government affairs, strategic planning and operations management, communications and media relations, corporate social responsibility, and public policy advocacy.

Sebastien Saitta

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Since 2022, Sebastien has led all tactics and strategies to spread awareness of The Immokalee Foundation’s goal of empowering children and young adults in Immokalee to change the course of their lives, helped deepen relationships with current donors, engaged new prospects, and recruited volunteers who align with the Foundation’s values and goals.

Before joining the Immokalee Foundation, Sebastien served as the Director of Marketing for Blue Zones Project, a community-wide well-being improvement initiative to help make healthy choices easier for residents of Southwest Florida. Since his involvement, Southwest Florida has become a certified Blue Zones community solidifying its status as one of the healthiest and happiest places in the country to live, work and play.

He also served as System Director of Marketing and Communications at Physicians Regional Healthcare System during times of growth and revitalization, overseeing the marketing strategy for two hospitals and four walk-in clinics throughout Naples and Marco Island. During that time, he helped start The Purple Jacket Foundation, a local 501(c)(3) that directly supported The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and served as a member of their 250 Men and More Campaign.

Sebastien brings additional non-profit experience having served as Marketing Director of Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, spearheading all communications and branding initiatives while helping to meet and exceed all fundraising and development goals each year.

Dr. Wendy Lugo Gallegos

Director of Program Services

As Director of Program Services, Dr. Gallegos oversees the implementation, coordination and administration of all aspects of ongoing programs, including planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling program activities.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Spanish Education from Niagara University (NY) in 1993 and a master’s degree in teaching English as a Second Language from Nova University in 2000. Her commitment to excellence was recognized in 2007 when she achieved National Board Certification in World Languages and received the Golden Apple Award.

Dr. Gallegos’ 31-year career with Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) in Southwest Florida included teaching positions in Immokalee elementary, middle and high schools. She also held TSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) roles supporting English Language Learners, mentoring new teachers, and facilitating Response to Intervention.

In 2022, she embraced the role of CCPS’ Migrant Graduation Mentor, guiding agricultural migratory juniors and seniors toward graduation and post-graduate planning.

Dr. Gallegos received her Ed.D. in Education from Florida Gulf Coast University with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction in February 2025. Her research focused on agricultural migratory students, a group significantly represented in The Immokalee Foundation’s student population.

Whistleblower Policy

The Immokalee Foundation requires directors, officers and employees to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. As employees and representatives of The Immokalee Foundation we must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling our responsibilities and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Reporting Responsibility
This Whistleblower Policy is intended to encourage and enable employees and others to raise serious concerns internally so that The Immokalee Foundation can address and correct inappropriate conduct and actions. It is the responsibility of all board members, officers, employees and volunteers to report concerns about violations of The Immokalee Foundation’s code of ethics or suspected violations of law or regulations that govern The Immokalee Foundation’s operations.

No Retaliation
It is contrary to the values of The Immokalee Foundation for anyone to retaliate against any board member, officer, employee or volunteer who in good faith reports an ethics violation, or a suspected violation of law, such as a complaint of discrimination, or suspected fraud, or suspected violation of any regulation governing the operations of The Immokalee Foundation. An employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

Reporting Procedure
The Immokalee Foundation has an open door policy and suggests that employees share their questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints with their supervisor. If you are not comfortable speaking with your supervisor or you are not satisfied with your supervisor’s response, you are encouraged to speak with [insert here another title, such as Executive Director, or a board member, if the organization is very small and involving the board would be appropriate]. Supervisors and managers are required to report complaints or concerns about suspected ethical and legal violations in writing to the Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints. Employees with concerns or complaints may also submit their concerns in writing directly to their supervisor or the Executive Director or the organization’s Compliance Officer.

Compliance Officer
The Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director is responsible for ensuring that all complaints about unethical or illegal conduct are investigated and resolved. The Compliance Officer will advise the Executive Director and/or the Board of Directors of all complaints and their resolution and will report at least annually to the Chair of the Finance Committee on compliance activity relating to accounting or alleged financial improprieties.

Accounting and Auditing Matters
The Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director shall immediately notify the Chair of the Finance Committee or Executive Director of any concerns or complaint regarding corporate accounting practices, internal controls or auditing and work with the committee until the matter is resolved.

Acting in Good Faith
Anyone filing a written complaint concerning a violation or suspected violation must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

Confidentiality
Violations or suspected violations may be submitted on a confidential basis by the complainant. Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.

Handling of Reported Violations
The Immokalee Foundation’s Human Resource’s Director will notify the person who submitted a complaint and acknowledge receipt of the reported violation or suspected violation. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective action will be taken if warranted by the investigation.