Originally from Peru, Rosario Reyes migrated to the USA in 1985 and began a career in organizational management. She worked for a time with Seamar (www.seamar.org), a health services cooperative in King County, Washington. Within a few years she and her sister Perla Reyes had founded Las Americas Business Center, which specializes in business services to the Spanish speaking population of South Snohomish County.

Observing the need to close the achievement gap between native-born English speakers and hispanic immigrants, Rosario founded Latino Educational Training Institute in 1989. She has served as its guiding light since then, recruiting both hispanic and other interested individuals to LETI's board and operational projects.