Staff and Board

James Martinez brings over two decades of nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and advocacy experience to SALSA. His career highlights include raising millions of dollars for organizations across Texas.

James was the first Texan and Hispanic to be awarded the Vilar Fellowship at the Kennedy Center, later serving as Manager for International Programming, where he directed global cultural exchanges such as the Festival of Puerto Rico (2004) and the Festival of China (2005). He also played a key role in Smoke-Free San Antonio, leading advocacy that resulted in the passage of the city’s 2009 smoke-free ordinance, and later advanced statewide clean air policies as State Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association.

A Gulf War era (wartime) veteran of the U.S. Air Force, James served with the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron at McChord Air Force Base and supported logistics and humanitarian airlift missions during his service. James attended the San Antonio College and The University of Phoenix, where he studied Business Marketing with a minor in Fine Arts. He has been recognized as one of the San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars. Outside of work, he has coached girls’ soccer with Alamo Heights Fort Sam Houston for over 15 years and enjoys spending time with his children: Skylar, Annika, Bella, Jules, and Maverick.

Patti Oviatt was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School, The University of Texas at San Antonio, and St. Mary’s Law School.  During law school, she served as a staff writer for the St. Mary’s Law Journal and was President of the Women’s Law Association.  She received the Dean’s Leadership Award for 2002 and 2003 and was named the school’s Outstanding Woman Law Graduate by the National Association of Women Lawyers for 2003 

Patti has built her career on a simple but powerful belief: the law matters most when it makes a real difference in people’s lives. With decades of experience spanning complex trial work and highstakes appellate advocacy, she has earned a reputation as a lawyer who brings both exceptional skill and genuine humanity to every case she touches.  Whether in the courtroom or on the page, she is known for her meticulous preparation, sharp analytical instincts, and unwavering commitment to excellence. 

Beyond her legal accomplishments, Patti is driven by a passion for mentorship. She has guided countless young lawyers, paralegals, and students, offering the kind of practical wisdom that only comes from years of handson experience. Her approach is grounded in generosity and candor—she believes in lifting others up, demystifying the profession, and helping emerging advocates find their voice.  

Patti Oviatt brings a broad range of life, trial, and appellate experience to her role as Managing Attorney. She has spent over twenty years serving as a passionate and effective advocate for her clients and 15 years as a paralegal before deciding to go to law school.  Both her father and husband, Chris, served in the United States armed forces and both of their two grown daughters were born while Chris served on active duty, giving her a deep appreciation of the unique challenges of military members and their families.   

At the heart of Patti’s work is her dedication to helping real people facing real problems. She approaches every client with empathy and respect, recognizing that legal disputes often intersect with some of life’s most stressful moments.  This same passion is demonstrated in her volunteer work, where she has served in many capacities throughout the legal and local community.   

A native of San Antonio, Sam Davis graduated from Winston Churchill High School and earned his bachelor’s degree at Texas State University in 1997.  

After a career in higher education, Sam earned his J.D. at St. Mary’s University School of Law.  After working as a solo practitioner in the Bexar County Children’s Courts, advocating for children and parents in abuse and neglect cases, Sam shifted his focus to the Probate Courts, specializing in guardianship, probate, and estate planning.  He joined the legal services department at Catholic Charities in 2017, where he advocated for families, providing low-cost legal services in Bexar and surrounding counties.  

Sam has been an active volunteer with SALSA and volunteered previously with Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA).  He is a former president of the Probate, Guardianship & Estate Planning section of the San Antonio Bar Association.  

In his spare time, Sam enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, reading, running, and cheering for the Spurs!

Tashawna Campbell is a pro bono coordinator with SALSA’s Veterans Legal Services program. Tashawna joined our team in 2018 and has been the backbone of the program during our transition to a full-service pro bono organization. Tashawna has over five years experience exclusively working with underserved residents in Texas, beginning her pro bono services career with Houston Volunteer Lawyers.

Tashawna takes pride in helping veterans, as she comes from a military family. She completed the University of the Incarnate Word Paralegal Certificate Course in 2020.

Cara Villarreal brings a strong background in office management, legal operations, administrative support, and community engagement. Shaped by her experience in both military and legal environments, Cara has worked closely with attorneys in fast-paced legal settings, where she successfully led the development and implementation of workflow reporting systems and process improvement initiatives.

Cara is a U.S. Army veteran with over a decade of service, including assignments with the 10th Mountain Division and 1st Infantry Division, as well as overseas service in Italy, Korea, and Afghanistan. During her military service, she managed logistics, coordinated operations, and supported command teams in high-tempo environments while planning and executing programs and events. Her work contributed to strengthening morale, resilience, and overall mission readiness across diverse and demanding settings.

In addition to her professional career, Cara co-owns Ferocious Fitness Boxing Gym in San Antonio with her husband. Together, they have built a community-focused foundation that supports youth, veterans, and underserved populations through fitness programs, outreach initiatives, and amateur boxing events that promote discipline, confidence, and personal growth.
 
Cara is passionate about giving back to her community and creating positive spaces where individuals can find support and growth. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her family, staying active, and remaining involved in the boxing community.

Miranda McCardle is SALSA’s Communications & Outreach Manager. She earned her BA in Marketing at University of the Incarnate Word. Her upbringing in San Antonio impassioned her to give back to her community by empowering artists, small businesses, and non-profits through her marketing and digital design capability.

She has over seven years of legal experience from working as a legal assistant and business manager in a small law firm. Miranda aims to use her multifaceted skill set to help facilitate SALSA’s rapid growth and commitment to closing the justice gap though creating connections to vital legal resources for those in need.