Armando Loza

Armando Loza currently serves as Executive Director of the Miguel Contreras Foundation. He is a dedicated, results-driven executive with a wealth of experience in workforce development, bringing over 15 years of leadership to the field. Born to immigrant parents and raised as a first-generation Mexican-American in Southeast Los Angeles, Mr. Loza’s journey began at the young age of 14 when he started as a youth worker with the Los Angeles County Workforce System. This early exposure to community service ignited a passion for helping others and laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to improving the lives of those in his community.

Throughout his career, Mr. Loza has demonstrated exceptional skill in managing multi-million-dollar budgets, orchestrating operational turnarounds, and spearheading strategic growth initiatives that profoundly impact workforce development. At the Miguel Contreras Foundation, his leadership has been pivotal in securing substantial grants and funding, which have fueled impactful programs designed to uplift and empower individuals in the community.

Prior to this role, Mr. Loza managed an impressive budget exceeding $10 million across 12 county-funded programs at Community Career Development, where he consistently exceeded performance goals. Armando's strong financial oversight, compliance, and program expansion background has equipped him to lead high-performing teams and forge partnerships beyond traditional boundaries.

Mr. Loza earned a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, where he focused on social impact strategy and innovative approaches to workforce development. His journey from youth worker to executive reflects his unwavering dedication to service and belief in the transformative power of education and employment.