Twenty-five years after September 11, Rebecca Contreras reflects on serving in the White House during one of America’s darkest moments and the lessons in resolve, faith, service, courage and leadership that have shaped her life and career ever since.

The Girls of Legacy 2026 celebration was about far more than scholarships—it was a celebration of promise fulfilled. As our inaugural scholars reached college graduation, we reflected on the life-changing power of mentorship, community, and investing in first-generation young women who are building legacies that will impact generations to come.

Girls of Legacy celebrated its first college graduates during the 2026 Annual Fundraiser, raising more than $43,000 to provide scholarships, mentorship, leadership development, and life-changing opportunities for first-generation college students.

Enterprising Women Magazine Features Rebecca Contreras on Leading Through Change Rebecca Contreras, President and CEO of AvantGarde, LLC, was featured in Enterprising Women magazine with her leadership article, "Pivoting with Purpose: Turning Disruption into a Strategic Advantage." In the feature, Rebecca shares how leaders can navigate uncertainty by embracing change with intention rather than fear. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey, she explains that disruption i

Latina Legacy Nomination

Rebecca Contreras served as Master of Ceremonies for the Hispanic 100 Foundation's A Night of Distinction Gala, where AvantGarde proudly served as a sponsor. The evening celebrated outstanding Latino leaders while raising more than $300,000 in scholarships and mentorship opportunities for the next generation.

As America celebrates 250 years, Rebecca Contreras shares her journey from adversity to opportunity and why investing in the next generation keeps the American Dream alive.

Rebecca Contreras recently joined The Fallen State with Jesse Lee Peterson, an interview series that features conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and public figures on topics related to leadership, culture, and personal growth. During the interview, Rebecca shared her journey from a difficult childhood and early adversity to building a successful business and leading one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-owned staffing firms. She spoke about the experiences, mentors, an

Rebecca Contreras recently joined community leaders, advocates, and elected officials at Girl Scouts of Central Texas in Austin to support a new online safety initiative launched through Not on Our Watch TX, an initiative of Texas Women in Business in partnership with Girl Scouts of Central Texas and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The initiative aims to equip young girls with practical tools to safely navigate today's digital world. Through a new online

Investing in the next generation is one of the most important investments we can make. Rebecca Contreras and Girls of Legacy were proud to support Shine Your Light Christian Youth Leadership Camp as a sponsor, helping invest in a program dedicated to developing confident, purpose-driven young leaders. Founded by Evelina Solis and her daughter Hope, the camp provides mentorship, leadership development, faith-based programming, and meaningful opportunities for students to grow

Childhood trauma can become our blueprint for relationships, leadership, and life. Rebecca Contreras shares how healing, self-awareness, and resilience can break generational cycles and create a different future.

This year marks a major milestone for Girls of Legacy as we celebrate our first group of students earning their college degrees. These young women joined Girls of Legacy as high school students with big dreams and a determination to build brighter futures. Through years of mentorship, leadership development, coaching, and unwavering support, they have grown into confident, purpose-driven leaders ready for their next chapter. Today, we proudly celebrate Lily, Alaiysha, and Ran

There are many conversations about leadership that focus on titles, influence, and professional impact, but some of the most important leadership work happens quietly, inside the home. It is formed in the day-to-day rhythms, in the way values are lived out consistently, and in the environments we create for the people closest to us. For me, motherhood was never separate from leadership—it was one of the most important expressions of it. As I reflect on raising my children,

Rebecca was honored to serve as a keynote speaker at the 2026 Young Enterprising Women National Leadership Conference, a gathering dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young women across the country. The Young Enterprising Women program is a national initiative that organizes mentoring events across the United States, each designed to empower high school girls with a passion for STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math. These events connect ambitious young

AvantGarde LLC gathered its leadership team in Washington, D.C. last month for its Spring Managers Meeting, bringing together Project Managers and senior leaders from across the firm. The meeting, led by President & CEO Rebecca Contreras, served as a key moment to align on the company’s 2026–2027 Pivot Plan—focusing on strategic execution, collaboration, and positioning the organization for continued growth and impact. A CEO’s Vision for Intentional Growth At the center of th

There are parts of our story we never get to choose—where we’re born, who raises us, and the circumstances we inherit before we ever have a voice. Some people begin life surrounded by stability and opportunity. Others are born into environments defined by uncertainty, hardship, and dysfunction. I was born into the latter. From the very beginning, I had several strikes against me that were completely outside of my control. I was born to a mother struggling with addiction a

This Women’s History Month, I wanted to do something more intentional. In past years, I’ve highlighted the stories of women across industries—leaders I’ve admired and respected. This year, I chose to focus on something more personal by spotlighting three women I know—women whose impact is not only reflected in their success, but in the lives they’ve touched and the doors they’ve opened for others. Each of these women is building, leading, and creating opportunity not just for

Rebecca led a session at the ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., where she facilitated an Emerging Leaders Workshop focused on “Leading in Unprecedented Times.” The summit brought together small business owners and industry leaders from across the country to engage in conversations around policy, workforce development, and the future of the cleaning and facility solutions industry, which supports millions of workers across the U.S. economy. During her session, R

The Girls of Legacy Annual Spring Luncheon and Coaching Development Session brought together our students for an impactful, hands-on learning experience centered on one of the most critical life skills: communication. Led by Cherie B. Mathews, the session focused on both verbal and non-verbal communication and how these skills directly influence opportunities, relationships, and long-term career success. Rather than a traditional lecture, the experience was intentionally desi

Rebecca Contreras was selected as an Honorary Leadership Award Recipient for the She Leads Texas Gala, an event that recognizes women across Texas who lead with purpose and create lasting impact through their work and service. Rebecca was nominated for her leadership, integrity, and the influence she has had on others through her professional and community efforts. Her work as President and CEO of AvantGarde, LLC, along with her commitment to mentorship and initiatives such a

Rebecca spoke at the F.I.R.E – Business Leaders Conference in Belton, Texas, a gathering that brought together entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, and nonprofit leaders for a day focused on purpose-driven leadership and business growth. Hosted by a network of faith-centered business leaders, the conference created space for meaningful dialogue around leadership, impact, and aligning professional work with deeper purpose. During the event, Rebecca delivered a keynote cen

At our core, I believe every young person deserves access to opportunity, guidance, and a safe space to grow—regardless of where they start. I’ve seen firsthand how unclear the path forward can be when resources are limited and support is missing. Too often, potential goes untapped simply because no one stepped in. That’s why we built LaunchPad – The Center. As Co-Founder, my commitment is to create a place where youth and young adults are not just supported, but truly seen,

This Women’s History Month, we will see the quotes, the spotlights, and the polished headlines celebrating progress. And we should celebrate. Women have built companies, led movements, reshaped industries, and carried and nurtured our families while doing it. But history is not built on applause. It is built on experience — on wins, losses, perseverance, and yes, scars. If we are honest, too often we have reduced mentorship to something soft and ceremonial. A calendar invite.

Rebecca recently joined the Trustedpreneur Podcast with hosts Madeline and David Ricci , a dynamic entrepreneurial duo known for building and scaling businesses with intention and impact. In this conversation, Rebecca shares insights from her journey—from deep poverty to the White House and now leading a thriving multimillion-dollar company—offering perspective on how those experiences shaped her approach to resilience, accountability, and people-first leadership. Together, t