Rene Jimenez is a Southern California native dedicated to service, environmental stewardship, and youth workforce development. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served five years and becamee a 6176 MV-22 Osprey Crew Chief. In that role, he was responsible for aircraft maintenance, flight safety, and the safe transport of troops and equipment. He was honorably discharged in 2013, carrying forward the discipline, accountability, and mission-driven leadership instilled during his service.
Following his military service, Rene attended Mt. San Antonio College, where he served as Student Body President. During his time at Mt. SAC, he developed strong mentorship relationships that helped shape his leadership philosophy and deepen his commitment to community service. It was there that he discovered his passion for environmental stewardship and the transformative power of education and opportunity.
Rene now serves as Associate Director of the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps (SGVCC), where he leads workforce development and environmental initiatives serving young adults ages 16–26 across the San Gabriel Valley. He oversees programs that provide paid job training, industry-recognized certifications, and hands-on experience in urban greening, forestry, hazardous fuels reduction, watershed restoration, graffiti abatement, and organic farming.
His work focuses on connecting environmental resilience with economic opportunity — ensuring that local youth can earn wages while gaining skills that lead to long-term careers.Rene has helped implement large-scale tree planting and climate resilience projects throughout Los Angeles County, particularly in disadvantaged communities.