Christopher Almaraz

Christopher T. Almaraz is a community and regional development specialist with experience in youth development, workforce development, Career Technical Education (CTE), small-business support, and community-based program design. He currently serves as a Project Manager with the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, where he supports initiatives focused on strengthening communities, expanding economic opportunity, and advancing regional collaboration across the Monterey Bay region.

Prior to joining MBEP, Christopher served as the CTE Program Coordinator at Rancho Cielo, where he led Career Technical Education programming and worked closely with educators, employers, colleges, and community partners to expand career pathways, work-based learning opportunities, industry partnerships, and postsecondary transitions for youth. His professional background also includes experience in food systems, agricultural technology, small-business development, housing, and entrepreneurship, giving him a broad perspective on the systems and partnerships that shape economic mobility and community opportunity.

Christopher earned a bachelor’s degree in Community and Regional Development from the University of California, Davis, as well as associate degrees in Communication Studies and Psychology from Hartnell College. A bilingual English and Spanish speaker, he is excited to bring his experience into this new role and expand his impact by advancing collaborative initiatives that foster economic opportunity and strengthen communities throughout the region.