Ricardo Lopez Valencia is an executive, strategist, and civic leader whose career has focused on education, workforce development, and expanding access to opportunity for students, families, and communities.

Valencia is Founder and Managing Partner of Luna Valencia Strategy Group, a Phoenix-based consulting firm that advises organizations across the education, nonprofit, health, and business sectors on strategic growth, community engagement, and culturally responsive outreach. His work focuses on helping organizations align mission, strategy, and impact while strengthening relationships with diverse communities.

Most recently, served as Chief Global Impact Officer at CEA CAPA Education Abroad, where he led efforts to expand access to international education and internship opportunities for underserved students. In this executive role, he advanced initiatives connecting student success, global learning, and workforce readiness while helping students develop the skills and experiences needed in a competitive economy.

Valencia has extensive leadership experience across the corporate, nonprofit, education, and community sectors. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Vice President at ING, leading strategic and operational initiatives focused on diverse markets and community engagement. He also served as Director of Education for USA TODAY, where he expanded national education partnerships and programs designed to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences and career pathways.

His longstanding commitment to education and workforce development includes leadership and board service with organizations across Arizona and the nation. Lopez Valencia was a founding governing board member of Expect More Arizona and played an advisory role in the merger that created Education Forward Arizona. He also has served on the boards of Children’s Action Alliance, WestEd, and Ambassadors Group, helping guide initiatives focused on educational opportunity, student success, and workforce preparation.

In addition, Valencia serves as President of the Board of Directors for Xico, one of the nation’s oldest Latino and Indigenous arts organizations. Under his leadership, the organization strengthened its financial position, expanded programming, and relocated to a prominent arts and cultural space in Phoenix.

His additional national leadership and advisory experience includes service with National PTA, National 4-H, National FFA Foundation, DECA, the White House Millennium Youth Initiative, and the U.S. Department of Education’s Partnership for Family Involvement.

Valencia is a resident of Gilbert and is a founding member and volunteer administrator at The Gathering Church in Gilbert.