2026 ANNUAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY MAY 13 at 3:30 PM
CEART
3:00 pm –REGISTRATION
3:30 pm – MEETING BEGINS
RSVP AND VOTE BELOW
3:30 pm – MEETING BEGINS
RSVP AND VOTE BELOW
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CANDIDATE BIOS
Marsha Baker is a long-time resident of Rosarito and has lived in San Antonio del Mar since 2005. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Psychology from Northern Illinois University and spent 20 years teaching mathematics. In addition, she worked for 15 years as a loan officer in the banking industry. Marsha is the mother of one son, Matthew, and a proud grandmother (“Bubbe”) to Anna, Luke, Emilia, and Graham. While living in Baja, she has been an active community volunteer with the Cruz Roja Thrift Store, Flying Samaritans, and the Baja Scholarship Foundation. She is comfortable speaking Spanish and currently serves as Treasurer for the Friends of the Library and board member since 2013.
Sharon Collins, a native Californian, grew up in the Bay Area and her 40-year career in the banking industry brought her to Los Angeles and San Diego. Sharon provided cash management consulting to a wide range of mid-size to large corporations working with CFO’s and their finance teams. Sharon was also very involved with the bank’s employee volunteer program and led the Habitat For Humanity annual campaign. She retired from banking in 2021 and moved to Rosarito with her partner, Mark Burt. Sharon has a daughter, son-in-law and grandson living in Valley Cottage, New York. She has always been passionate about helping others and, once settled in Rosarito, became involved with Baja Spay & Neuter, Baja Scholarship Foundation and most recently, Friends of the Library. After attending an FOL annual meeting and several fundraising events, Sharon became a Board Member in early 2025. Along with her dedication to Friends of the Library, Sharon spends her free time reading, quilt making, learning Spanish and traveling. And, now with a grandchild, she’ll enjoy as much time as she can visiting him.
Carmen Dominguez, born in Calexico, California, and raised in Mexicali, attended both Mexican and American schools in the Imperial Valley and Mexicali areas. She moved to San Diego in 1979, built a career in banking, and retired from Wachovia Bank International Banking area in 2010. While in banking, Carmen helped charter the Hispanic Bankers Association of San Diego, served as chapter president for two years and later chaired the organization’s national board as well. She also served on the board of the International Visitors Council San Diego and was active in other organizations, including the SD Visitor’s Council, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Latin Professionals, and was Board Secretary of the Unity Center of San Diego. Carmen moved to Rosarito in 2010. She is bilingual, bicultural, and speaks both English and Spanish fluently. She joined Friends of the Library of Rosarito in 2012, served as board president from 2013 to 2015, and has served again as president since 2023. For several years, she has chaired the Holiday Home Tour and hopes to do so again this year.
Alyce Gruel is originally from Mexicali, where she spent her childhood. After completing her university studies at Cetys University with a degree in Business and Marketing, she lived in Mexico City for over eighteen years. There, she worked in financial marketing for several institutions, including Citicorp and GE Capital. In 2000, she relocated to San Diego, and later in 2006 settled on the Baja Coast. Upon retiring in 2019, she devoted herself to volunteer work with various nonprofit organizations, including Promotora de las Bellas Artes, Flying Samaritans, and Friends of the Library, where she has served on the board as Treasurer and currently as Vice President. She is certified in Spanish-English translation (UCSD) and is also a meditation instructor (Apurva Institute). In her free time, she enjoys amateur photography, working out at the gym, salsa dancing, long silent walks, and participating in silent retreats. She is honored to continue serving on FOL’s board for another 3 year term.
Irene O’Brien is a second-generation California Hispanic and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, a California lifetime teaching credential, and a Master of Science in Education and School Administration. She retired after 37 years as a public-school educator. She and her husband, John, currently reside in San Antonio del Mar. While working and living in California, they lived part-time in Campo Torres so have been part of this community for more than 40 years. They have two children, John and Colleen. Irene has served on the Friends of the Library Board for more than 15 years, currently as Secretary. She has also volunteered with Flying Samaritans and other nonprofits. She would be honored to serve another term on the Board and continue supporting the Friends of the Library mission: “Promoting the love of reading through access to books, shared reading, and training to spread that love to others.”