Our Team
Emily Benavides - CEO
Emily began her career in education over 25 years ago and has a passion for supporting students in their journey to find their voice. She believes when students participate in Speech and Debate, it gives them an avenue to build their futures through words. She brings experience in education, administration and small business growth to B.E.S.T Foundation.
Jenel Edlund, Ed.D.
COO/CFO
Jenel has been an advocate for young people since starting her career as a high school teacher 30 years ago. She brings a variety of non-profit , university and K12 experiences to her role as the COO, including extensive experiences developing, implementing and evaluating innovative multi-million dollar programs that change the trajectory of young people’s lives. Dr. Edlund has made these programs possible for hundreds of thousands of students across California as a successful grant writer, shares her expertise and passion as an Adjunct Faculty member in the School of Education at UCI and can’t wait to bring the speech and debate experience to thousands of more students across the country!
Our Board
Sal Tinajero
Salvador ‘Sal’ Tinajero holds a 26-year career as a California credentialed teacher with 33-years of experience in forensics. His forensics career began at Orange Coast College where he won the National Championship, among the first first-generation students to reach that triumph. As a teacher at Fullerton Union High School, in 2001, Mr. Tinajero launched a new speech program that started with a small-but mighty group of 20 students, which quickly multiplied to over 100 students within three months. He has also brings over 25 years of public service as an elected official as a school board member, city council member, and currently Rancho Santiago Board of Trustees, President.