Vera is a partner with the Claremont, Calif., law firm of Vera & Barbosa. Before starting his private practice, he was with two nationally recognized public interest law firms where he litigated seminal cases in civil rights and education. He now advises education foundations and nonprofit entities, in addition to representing businesses, school districts and postsecondary institutions on a variety of matters. He serves on the boards of the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Fair Association, the California Consortium of Education Foundations. During his 30 years of practice, he has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, and was honored with the Sierra Club Community Service Award for his pro bono work on environmental projects in Southern California. A native of Southern California, Vera earned a BS from Michigan State University and a law degree from UCLA.