Brenda Martinez

Brenda Martinez began her musical journey at the age of eight, first on piano, then branching out to horn and guitar, all while performing in bar bands by age fourteen. Her love for Latin and punk music fused into a unique style, leading her to form her own band. By day, she is the manager at Santa Cruz Guitars, mentored by the founder, Richard Hoover. As the company’s wood buyer, Brenda’s keen eye for quality has elevated the craftsmanship of their guitars. Her passion also extends to mentoring aspiring female luthiers, encouraging them to build guitars and break new ground in the industry. Brenda participated in the 2024 Women of NAMM (WoN) leadership summit, a yearly event designed to foster leadership development and expand participants’ professional networks.