Finalist: Maricela Rios-Faust

Chief Executive Officer
Human Options

Maricela Rios-Faust, CEO of Human Options, is a leader in preventing and ending relationship violence. Under her strategic leadership, Human Options has seen significant growth, increasing its budget to $7 million and expanding its presence in high-need communities. Her expertise on relationship violence has led to partnerships with business, government, and nonprofit partners, addressing the issue on local and state levels. She co-chairs the Domestic Violence Death Review Team, which assesses data on domestic violence fatalities in Orange County. In collaboration with UCI, Rios-Faust released a groundbreaking study on domestic violence trends. Her leadership has resulted in essential training for HR professionals to recognize abuse among remote employees during the pandemic. Through strategic partnerships, she has expanded Human Options’ services to eight locations and initiated housing programs for victims and survivors of relationship violence. Rios-Faust’s efforts demonstrate her commitment to making a positive impact on vulnerable communities.