This MFG Month, we proudly honor Linda Renteria’s lasting impact with the inaugural Linda Renteria Legacy Scholarship.

Established in 2021 by the Association of Manufacturers Bay Area (AMBayArea) in partnership with Bay Area Community Colleges (BACC), the AMBayArea Manufacturing Student Scholarship Fund supports community college students pursuing careers in manufacturing and skilled trades. Since 2021, AMBayArea has awarded 25 scholarships to local students. With your support, we can empower even more students to achieve their goals and strengthen the manufacturing workforce. To donate, click the orange button for the Peralta Colleges Foundation* website and enter your donation amount (such as $500, $1,000, $2,000, $5,000) to the scholarship fund.

Companies and individuals who donate at one of the recommended giving levels will be recognized on AMBayArea’s social media and website. *Donations to the AMBayArea Manufacturing Student Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible through the Peralta Colleges Foundation (Tax ID #23-7091547).

Announcing the Linda Renteria Legacy Scholarship

The Association of Manufacturers Bay Area (AMBayArea) is proud to announce the Linda Renteria Legacy Scholarship, established to honor the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Linda Renteria on Bay Area manufacturing and the next generation of manufacturers.

Linda served on the AMBayArea Board of Directors for several years, where she was a passionate ambassador and connector within the Bay Area manufacturing community. An active member of the food manufacturing industry and a strong advocate for workforce development, Linda was the COO of Casa Sanchez Foods and Co-Owner of the family business alongside her husband, CEO Robert Sanchez.

Linda believed deeply in the power of education and opportunity. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico and a Master of Science in Engineering and Construction Management from the University of California, Berkeley. At the time of her sudden passing in August 2026, she was pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice at California State University, East Bay.

Her commitment to education extended far beyond her own academic achievements. Linda dedicated hundreds of hours to visiting local schools, speaking with students, and introducing young people to careers in manufacturing. Through Casa Sanchez Foods, she welcomed students into the facility, giving them firsthand exposure to food manufacturing and encouraging them to explore the many career paths available in the industry.

To carry forward her passion for manufacturing, education, and opportunity, AMBayArea has established the Linda Renteria Legacy Scholarship as a permanent scholarship in her honor. The scholarship will help ensure that Linda’s commitment to inspiring and supporting the next generation continues for generations to come.

Established in 2021 by AMBayArea, the AMBayArea Manufacturing Student Scholarship Fund supports Bay Area community college students pursuing careers in manufacturing and the skilled trades. Moving forward, the Linda Renteria Legacy Scholarship will be awarded as part of the AMBayArea Manufacturing Student Scholarship program, providing financial support to students while carrying Linda’s legacy of education, workforce development, and opportunity forward.

Linda’s impact on manufacturing was measured not only by what she accomplished, but by the people she inspired. This scholarship ensures that her legacy continues through the students and future manufacturing leaders she believed in so deeply.

This October, AMBayArea has a month-long fund drive to support the AMBayArea Manufacturing Student Scholarship Fund and honor Linda Renteria’s legacy of investing in the next generation of manufacturers. Funds raised will support scholarships across the program, including the Linda Renteria Legacy Scholarship, which honors Linda’s passion for education, workforce development, and Bay Area manufacturing.