I am the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Student ACES (ACE), an organization I’m incredibly passionate about that my dad, Buck Martinez and I started in 2013. For over 15 years, I’ve held leadership roles in the nonprofit sector, dedicating my career to inspiring the next generation of leaders. Since starting ACE in 2013, we have been fortunate to help grow the program from a small pilot program to an organization that impacts thousands of student-athletes across South Florida. We’ve been able to consistently increase our fundraising efforts and significantly increase the number of students we serve, which has been truly rewarding.One of my proudest moments was when Bank of America donated a building in Belle Glade to us in 2018. We transformed it into The Student ACES Center (The SAC), an afterschool program that serves teenage student-athletes from the Glades Region. The SAC is a safe, stable, and nurturing environment offering innovative programs focused on academic success, career readiness, college prep, health and wellness, mental health, character development and entrepreneurship. Through the dedication of our staff, community leaders, and mentors, The SAC helps students reach their full potential in the classroom, on the field, and in their communities.The SAC is just one of our 4 research informed program offerings. The Flagship Program joins high school student-athletes from across Palm Beach County to further develop their leadership skills. The program is a 20-hour course that takes place on 4 distinct days throughout the school year.Captains Summits - dives into the roles and responsibilities of a team captain while helping student-athletes understand the expectations of their role and how to achieve success as a team leader. Using real-life examples and shared experiences, captains work together through common challenges and address how to overcome them on and off the field during this one-day seminar.Leadership Workshops - Using the ACE Champions curriculum, customized group workshops are developed in partnership with high school coaches, administrators, and athletic directors to address identified focus areas.When I’m not working with students, you’ll likely find me on the softball field coaching my twin daughters’ 12u Aces Elite travel team. My passion for youth development is unwavering and I want to help create strong leaders for the future, not just for my own daughters but for the country. I believe our programs prepare students to be champions in every aspect of their lives. Visit our website www.studentaces.org