Linda Sarno is a registered US Patent Attorney and a Chemist. As a chemist, she held various supervisory or managerial positions with Baxter Healthcare Corporation. She is a patentee on the field. She is a founder, board member, officer, council member or adviser of various religious, social, local and national business organizations and government agencies. She has gained the reputation of being a small business advocate and has received numerous awards and recognition for her civic involvement in the community including the SBA Small Business Advocate Award in 2005, the Citizen of the Year Award by the Lions Club in 2007, the Southern California Edison Leadership Award in 2010 and the Community Heroes Award in 2011 by Sen. Lou Correa and OCAPICA. She is an active member of her church and has recently been selected for a special award as an outstanding volunteer. Academically, she finished all her academic degrees with cum laude honors. She has been recently awarded as a 2011 Outstanding Thomasian Chemistry Alumni at the 400th anniversary and 80th anniversary of the Department of Chemistry of UST, one of her alma mater.
Linda is a tireless community leader at ABAOC and FACCOC. Among her many contributions and legacy to FACCOC are:
- Served as FACCOC president in 2004 and 2005 and continued to serve actively as board member until 2011. Currently, she serves as director emeritus and advisor.
- Initiated the solicitation of sponsorship from corporations
- Started the Advisory Board made up of the corporate sponsors and Filipino business owners in 2005
- Started the Fil-Am Outreach Day to show case Filipino-American businesses, culture and cuisine to the community
- Introduced the Certification program to the Fil-Am business owners who were not informed about this or had little information.
- Started the annual 21st Century Business Opportunity Day to promote the advantages of the Green technology, Health and Conservation both in business and everyday life.
- Started the annual Secrets to Success event to recognize the achievements of successful Filipino American entrepreneurs.
- Advocated the leadership succession of the chamber to the young entrepreneurs.
- Started to involve the legislators on FACCOC’s activities and goals.