Staff
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Jessica E. Martinez
Executive Director
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Ms. Jessica E. Martinez brings over two decades of leadership and expertise in advocating for the safety and health of workers across the U.S. Her commitment to workers' rights is at the heart of her work. Currently, as Executive Director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH), Ms. Martinez leads a dedicated team and spearheads national organizing, public policy, and education initiatives. A nationally recognized movement leader, she champions language justice to ensure that National COSH’s programs are accessible and inclusive for diverse worker populations. Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Ms. Martinez has built groundbreaking coalitions that empower workers to secure critical workplace safety improvements.
Before joining National COSH, Ms. Martinez served as Program Specialist for UCLA’s Labor Occupational Safety and Health (LOSH) Program and the Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (SoCalCOSH), where she led educational programs and advocacy efforts for worker safety. She has also worked as a labor organizer in California and Illinois and supported international human rights and public health initiatives.
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Eva Barreda
Finance and Operations Manager
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Eva Barreda is National COSH’s Finance and Operations Manager. She supports the COSH network by overseeing financial management, budgeting, and operations.Eva brings over a decade of private sector experience in accounting, human resources and operational management. She has a proven track record of enhancing organizational efficiency, driving financial performance and cultivating a culture of stability.
Eva is deeply committed to excellence and continuous improvement and is drawn to National COSH’s mission of inspiring and empowering individuals to create a positive change in their communities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas State University and is a proud Texas State bobcat.
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Jessica Samara Cruz Pineda
ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
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She specialized in public transformation, leadership building, digital experience, change management, and operational efficiency. She has experience with international and bi-lateral labor contract negotiotions, non-profit administration, multicultural outreach, growth strategy for social businesses/projects, and digital organizing by working in non-profits like America Solidaria, TECHO and The National Hispanic Intitute where she developed and coordinated leadership projects for youth, young adults and executive professionals in México, Panamá, Finalnd and Estonia. She has served as leadership and career mentor for Latinx highschool, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as for young professionals with interest on research and data strategy for the past 10 years for Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Estado de México (ITESM CEM) where she has been awarded with the "Golden Ram Award for Leadership" in 2018.
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Brittney Jenkins
WORKER AND NETWORK ORGANIZER/ SOUTHERN REGION COORDINATOR
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Brittney is a Houston native whose passion is to empower Houstonians to fight for change to improve their community for all. Brittney brings direct community organizing experience in environmental justice and political campaigns across the South. In addition, she has experience in power building, community outreach, volunteer management, event coordination, and leading direct actions. As an organizer, she has been able to increase community involvement and participation in the legislative process. Her inspiration to organize comes from seeing communities living in environments that harm them and knowing the only way to see a change is to bring people together to fight for change.
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Tochtli Garcia
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
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Tochtli Garcia serves as the Communications Coordinator at the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH). With over 20 years of experience in digital communications, media strategy, and advocacy, Tochtli has been a dedicated advocate for worker rights, social justice, and public health across Latin America, the Caribbean, and New York City.
Throughout his career, Tochtli has worked with organizations such as the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the Consortium for Worker Education (CWE), and the International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR). His expertise includes developing and implementing strategic communication plans, digital campaigns, and community outreach initiatives to uplift marginalized voices and drive social change.
At National COSH, Tochtli leads efforts to amplify worker narratives, manage media relations, and execute digital advocacy campaigns that promote safer workplaces and stronger labor protections. He is committed to using communications as a powerful tool to inform, mobilize, and empower workers and their communities.
Tochtli holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Science from Universidad del Valle de México and is fluent in English and Spanish.
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Katelyn Parady
Development and Strategic Programs Liaison
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Katelyn Parady serves as National COSH's Development and Strategic Programs Liaison, building COSH's capacity through fundraising and strategic programs work. Based in Phoenix, she plays a key role in supporting the COSH network's fight to advance extreme heat protections.Katelyn was born and raised in the mining and oil & gas town of Rock Springs, Wyoming and is passionate about supporting worker powerbuilding in the Interior West. She was previously the Associate Director of Justice at Work, a Boston-based law and organizing nonprofit that supports workers in low-paying jobs and their worker centers.
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Susi Nord
Administrative Synergist
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She has worked for National COSH since 2016. She has a background in administration and marketing, focusing on non-profit administration for the past 15 years. She cares deeply for social and economic justice having applied her administrative skills to organizations working for gun violence prevention, peace and disarmament, labor, and workplace health and safety. She even served 2 terms in the NH House of Representatives earning her the title of 'honorable'.
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Marianela Acuña Arreaza
SPECIAL PROJECTS CONSULTANT
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She is a Venezuelan immigrant who had dedicated herself to social change in Houston for over a decade and started to work with National COSH when she moved to Atlanta before the COVID pandemic. With a strong background as a community educator, organizer, and social researcher, Marianela has always loved facilitating participatory decision-making, designing and implementing educational curriculum, and moving networks and groups into action. While studying sociology and arts in college, she organized student/worker solidarity groups at the University of Houston and volunteered with Fe y Justicia Worker Center, which she later served as executive director. With National COSH, she has coordinated and helped strengthen the Southern region’s worker safety and health partners and supported other educational programs, like monthly webinars and COSHCON. She built her experience through participatory advocacy research projects with Data Center, Food Chain Worker Alliance, and the National Domestic Worker Alliance national survey. She also has led civic engagement and voter protection campaigns with organizations such as Mi Familia Vota, Common Cause, and VoteRiders. Her work as Organizing Director at Young Invincibles taught her much about the role of advocacy and workforce development.
