Background

John Valencia, currently completing his doctoral degree in education leadership at San Diego State University, was born and raised in San Diego. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of San Diego with a minor in Non-profit Management. John received his Master’s in Nonprofit Management and Organizational Leadership from Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio, Texas after leading many nonprofit organizations.

In 2001, John founded A Joyous Moment, an international manufacturing company, and served as CEO until it was sold in 2009. As a founder and investor, John advocates for social service, technology, environmental sectors, and education, and has extensive (B2B/B2C/B2G) marketing, operations, education, and leadership experience. He has raised over $1,00,000,000 to support nonprofit organizations and sold $750M in consumer products.

After serving as CEO of the San Diego Oceans Foundation, John worked at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District as a Vice Chancellor of Workforce & Organizational Development. At the college district, John created the East County Education Alliance, launched the award-winning tuition-free college and career readiness program, and grew grant funding to $35M annually.

In 2020, John served as the Interim Vice President of Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness, the Acting Vice President of Instruction, and the Acting Vice President of Student Services at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

Current Projects

John is the President & CEO of Good For Others, a unique consulting firm that supports nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions in developing in-demand regional workforce development projects. Additionally, he serves as the Executive Producer & Head of Strategy of Cultural Institutions for Building Inc., where he focuses on supporting colleges to increase their enrollment and marketing efforts through meaningful student engagement.

Passionate about creative initiatives that empower individuals and businesses to leverage the potential of their workforce, John believes that building meaningful and genuine relationships are crucial in building lasting support. Throughout his career, John has managed annual operating budgets of over $500M and coached hundreds of employees. He strives to create strong teams that exceed goals and expectations, placing a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to build a healthy, proactive, and positive workplace culture.  

When John is not busy supporting regional workforce development projects, he enjoys spending time with his three dogs, spending time with family and friends, and living up to his appointment as Kelly Clarkson’s OG fan.