As an international student at California State University, Fresno, Dora Westerlund was given an opportunity to work for a year in the United States. Dora was employed with Bank of America for six months and was then hired by the Mexican Consulate in Fresno where she served as the executive assistant to the Consul of Mexico for four years. In 2002, she accepted the position of president and chief executive officer for the Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and in 2004 led the creation of the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation. In 2011, Dora was instrumental in the design, creation, and launch of the Downtown Business Hub, which fosters the growth of business in the community.