Olivia Fonseca

Deputy Director
Civil Rights

Olivia Fonseca was appointed the Deputy Director of Civil Rights, for the California Department of Transportation on July 31, 2003 and is responsible for ensuring participation of small and disadvantaged businesses in contracting activities, as well as Equal Employment Opportunity compliance within the Department. Ms. Fonseca previously served as Assistant Deputy Director of Civil Rights, Department of Transportation and has served as a State employee since 1977.

Ms. Fonseca re-engineered the Department of Transportation, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification program in 1982, and was responsible for streamlining the Department's certification and appeals process and procedures.

She also developed and deployed the Department of Corrections, Planning and Construction Division, Minority/Women/Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program in 1986, and during this time elevated the M/W/DVBE Program to the best in the State.

Olivia has re-engineered three program areas in the Employment Development Department: the Monitor Advocate Office in 1992; the Equal Employment Opportunity Office in 1995; and the equipment Inventory/Asset Management Unit in 1998. In each instance, she streamlined the program processes and procedures, and effectively and efficiently implemented new program perspectives and initiatives with the objectives of meeting regulatory compliance.

In addition, she led and deployed the Department of Transportation Small Business Task Force in 2001. This statewide task force was responsible for raising the small business participation level from a low of 9.1 percent in 1999 to 23 percent in 2002 and 27 percent in 2003.

Ms. Fonseca received an A.A. in Criminal Justice from the College of the Sequoias at Visalia in 1976, and a B.A. in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento in 1981