Abraham López Email & Phone Number

The Florida Debate Initiative is Florida’s premier nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding and enhancing civic knowledge and reinvigorating public debate and civil discourse in Florida classrooms and beyond. I work shoulder to shoulder with Board of Directors and leadership team to set the organization’s strategic direction and translate the vision and organization's goals set by the Board of Directors, into effective, operational strategies and actions to meet programmatic and financial goals. Develop, execute and am held accountable for ensuring the achievement of our overall strategic plan. Coordinate and lead annual budget reviews, monthly and quarterly reviews, and periodic updates with the Florida Department of Education, Florida Education Foundation, and other stakeholder partners. Spearhead fundraising efforts and resource procurement to ensure continuance and expansion of the initiative; establish and maintain relationships with key legislators, briefing committees on the progress of the initiative; establish and maintain relationships with key educational leaders at the local, state and federal levels; and work with board of directors to create a communications plan to increase awareness of speech and debate and the efforts of the initiative.

Let’s Party, LLC is a father and son owned business based in Oviedo, FL. When you rent from us you’re not just renting the “stuff” you need to throw a great party or event, you’re gaining an experienced partner there to make your event a stress-free experience for you and an unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience for your guests. So Let’s Party! It’s what we do.

Orlando, Florida, Us

Proprietor of a boutique consulting firm that helps clients share their stories and advance their mission, vision, and short and long-term communications, public relations, and organizational development goals.

Orlando, Florida, Us

Prepare and implement cost-effective public relations plans to help improve the company's value proposition and drive park attendance; working in concert with the company's president and divisional vice presidents, board officers and all retail units in portraying and promoting the company's image in a positive mannerGarnering $2.2M in positive news coverage for Discovery Cove through traditional and non-traditional channels, a 254% increase over the prior year Develop editorial calendar and shape stories through words and pictures to communicate new attractions, events, shows, promotions and offers, animal/environmental conservation initiatives and community relations efforts; positioning the company as authentic and transparent in its public communications and external relationsAs a result, positive coverage sentiment increased by 181% over the prior year Manage the celebrity, influencer and third-party blogger partnerships program to generate positive coverage of the parks and maximize awareness of the company's charitable, environmental, and volunteer efforts

Mountainside, New Jersey, Us

Developed, managed and directed proactive community relations strategies statewide, to help the candidate and his campaign become more deeply engrained in the communityActed as the campaign's liaison to community leaders and diverse stakeholdersResponsible for the campaign's philanthropic community givingStrategic direction of a $150K print media advertising and $50K community relations marketing budget; responsible for managing bilingual communication channels and messaging platformsAttained 125% growth in persuadable voter contact in 4 months by producing differentiated marketing materials and building relationships with diverse opinion leaders and community stakeholders

Serve as elected municipal legislator and policy maker. Establish positive relationships with multiple and varied stakeholders. Fiduciary responsibility of the townships $10M+ budget. Supervise Township Administrator and township professionals. Serve as liaison to township's Land Development Board, Historical Preservation Committee, Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department; Municipal Courts and Public Works Department. Lead contract negotiating with numerous union negotiating teams. Organize events and meetings. Carry out any other duties and projects appropriate to the post as required by law. Review municipal, county and state laws and regulations. Track the progress of bills, contract agreements and other parliamentary activity. Researching, forecasting and evaluating the effects of municipal, county and state public policy on the township, using public sources, political intelligence and personal contacts.

Recognized as the youngest and first American of Hispanic ancestry elected into office in the township’s history. Proactively assumed mayoral duties during the mayor’s absence, and served as the liaison with the township’s police department, fire and emergency medical services department, and the mayoral interfaith advisory committee. Co-founded the township’s business association.• Oversaw a successful transition committee’s report serving as a key tool in allowing leadership in the drafting of two consecutive no tax increase budgets in 2016 and 2017, the first budgets without a tax increase passing in the township in more than a decade, and without reducing service offerings and quality, eliminating $600K in wasteful spending.• Guided the upgrade of the township’s website and town hall A/V technology, developing and introducing social media platforms and live streaming of township committee and board meetings to stakeholders.

Served as a senior advisor to the lieutenant governor and the chief of staff in addition to assisting the chief of staff with operations for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Oversaw the Department of State’s Division of Programs staff, and managed daily operations of the division, leading the Directors of the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and the Office of Volunteerism.Delivered direct oversight of all directors and grant-in-aid disbursements totaling $4MM+ annually.Managed civic engagement for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, and maintained technical excellence while managing all activities relating to increasing authentic public participation in governance through civil engagement activities at the community, regional and state levels.Improved networking and greater policy engagement, and collaborated with other Department of State program teams and intergovernmental departments to coordinate and leverage activities to jointly achieve Office of the Lieutenant Governor goals and objectives.Led the coordination of the Administration’s diversity & inclusion recruitment efforts, helping 400+ individuals secure gubernatorial appointments, employment and or executive internshipsLed the state's Hurricane Maria disaster response and relief effortsCreated a community collaboration that raised $250K+ benefiting the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico Worked cross functionally with the Governor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

Trenton, Nj, Us

Directed operations on a daily basis for the governor and lieutenant governor’s outreach to all Hispanic communities, the fastest growing demographic in the state. Designed and implemented a Hispanic outreach and engagement strategy.Proactively communicated the administration’s goals, vision and values to the state’s largest minority community, and served as a liaison to Hispanic leaders, stakeholders and community-based organizations.Represented the governor and lieutenant governor at over 250 events, and briefed the governor, lieutenant governor and/or cabinet members on Hispanic policy matters.Authored briefs for the governor and other staff officials to utilize in forming policy decisions.Served as the primary contact between the administration and multiple Latin American consulates, chambers of commerce and foreign delegations, frequently traveling to meet with regional staff and conducting outreach activities.

Managed daily operations of the New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development (CHPRD) with a mission of improving the quality of life and empowering the state’s Hispanic community using CHPRD’s model of community development.• Guided the successful transition of the agency from the Department of Community Affairs to the Department of State.• Directed the performance of three team members and managed a $1.4MM budget.• Identified and shared best practices with 21+ directors throughout the state, serving as a key resource for eight regional outreach directors.• Actively recruited participants for statewide CHPRD events and grantee educational seminars in addition to staff seminars as needed while establishing advisory boards, preparing grant applications, and developing program plans/curriculum.• Managed requirements to develop various community outreach programs/activities through an evaluation of the needs of community groups and the general public.

Managed daily operations within the governor’s outreach initiative to all faith-based communities in the state, designing and implementing a faith-based outreach and engagement strategy, and serving as a liaison to faith-based leaders, stakeholders and community-based organizations.• Actively attended various statewide and regional faith-based events on the governor’s behalf.• Analyzed political trends in the faith based community, performed research and prepared background materials/documents, and developed/maintained relationships with statewide/national religious leaders.

Bridgewater, New Jersey, Us

Collaborated with coalition members in targeted areas for the purposes of messaging, policy, press surrogacy, voter identification and fundraising while overseeing and securing major minority and non-traditional political endorsements for the candidate.• Played a key role in expanding and managing over 20 coalitions throughout the state with 2K+ members.• Utilized coalition organizations of non-traditional party voters to increase support and awareness in urban areas, delivering the candidate’s message of urban revitalization and education reform.

Chicago, Il, Us

Managed the division’s communications and international service failure response efforts for Europe, North/South and Latin American counterparts, and served as the employee relations liaison between senior managers and 500+ staff.• Directed the performance of 12 team members operating in the cargo sales support office.• Engaged in bi-annual meetings with the company CEO and CFO to discuss employee/management matters and issues.

Master'S Degree, Executive Leadership

Bachelors, Political Science