2017 Latina of Influence | Brissa Sotelo-Vargas
Hispanic Lifestyle is pleased to recognize Manager of Public and Government Affairs at Tesoro Refining Brissa Sotelo-Vargas as a 2017 Latina of Influence. Ms. Sotelo-Vargas along with our entire list of 2017 Latinas of Influence are invited to participate in Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2017 Latina Conference taking place April 5 – 6, 2017 in Ontario, California.
Brissa Sotelo-Vargas is the Manager of Public and Government Affairs at Tesoro Refining and Marketing in Los Angeles where she manages and coordinates the full range of communication and stakeholder management activities including, but not limited to, government affairs, community relations, and media relations to crisis communications. A part of these duties involves remaining current on all salient industry-related issues occurring in the local area and on a global level monitoring and analysing the business, political, and regulatory environment. She then develops strategies and implements tactics in response to these factors. She is also committed to company social investment activities—empowering the community to work with private industry in achieving mutually beneficial results.
Ms. Sotelo-Vargas began her work in the petroleum industry as Manager of Public Affairs in 2006 under Shell Oil Company, whom later sold their Southern California assets to Tesoro Refining and Marketing in 2007. She holds two Masters degrees: a Masters Degree in Communication Management from the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism and a Masters Degree in Public Policy, with a Certificate in Government Management from the Sol Price School of Public Policy both from the University of Southern California. Brissa earned a Bachelor of Arts double majoring in International Affairs and Spanish with a minor in Political Science from Holy Names University.
Active on several professional and community boards, Brissa is Chair of the Energy, Water and Environment Sustainability Committee at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, including the Executive and Board of Directors at the LA Chamber, BizFed Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Energy Committee, Board Member and Mujer del Año 2009 of the Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Carson Dominguez Employers Alliance. As an Advisory Board Member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and Institute graduate, she is focused on helping carry out the HOPE mission of ensuring political and economic parity for Latinas through leadership, advocacy and education to benefit all communities and the status of women. She also serves as an Economic Development Commissioner of the City of Carson.
Externally, Brissa also serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Montebello. As a graduate of the University of Southern California. In 2010, she was a recipient of the USC Widney Alumni House Awards, which honors Trojan volunteers for their dedication and service to USC. She also served on the Latin American Alumni Association Young Leaders Council.
Brissa lives in Montebello with her husband Mauricio, and their three children; Brooklyn, Anthony and Reese Vargas.
Nominated by 2016 Latina of Influence Rose Elena Sauceda
