Executive Team

Salvador (Sal) M. Valdez
Managing Director, Aventa Group, LLC

Mr. Valdez is Aventa's Senior Consultant and Analyst, bringing over 30 years experience of working at all levels of government administration. Mr. Valdez's broad experience spans from an Economic Development Specialist at U.S. Department of Commerce, a Senior Urban Planner for the City of Fort Worth, and recently a Director for the Business Services Division of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission.

For Aventa, Mr. Valdez supervises the production of our clients' strategic plans, goals and objectives; developing policy; reviewing guidelines, procedures, establishing priorities, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals; and coordinating and evaluating program activities. Mr. Valdez is extensively involved in the development of operational plans, staff assignments and supervision and evaluation of the work of assigned personnel. Mr. Valdez is also the primary Legislative Affairs Liaison for client consultation at federal, state and local government levels.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Aventa Group, Mr. Valdez worked at all levels for the Texas Building and Procurement Commission. Charged with diverse responsibilities over a decade, Mr. Valdez functioned as Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Intergovernmental Services, as Director of the Business Services Division, and Deputy Executive Director for Support.

Mr. Valdez has extensive experience in the development and implementation of policy and programs at the state and local government levels. With a diverse background in development of enterprise budgets, Mr. Valdez has developed business plans and feasibility studies for both government and private enterprise, and managed the implementation of various state initiatives including the Council on Competitive Government, state agency reorganizations, state enterprise outsourcing assessments and the State of Texas Historically Underutilized Business Program. Mr. Valdez has proven public speaking and writing skills, and proficiencies in government procurement, marketing and intergovernmental relations. Mr. Valdez also brings the Aventa Team his Direct Texas State Legislative experience in key committee and organizational assignments.

Mr. Valdez also previously served at the Texas Department of Commerce in a Senior Executive Management Position as Deputy Executive Director for Business Development. He provided direct management of personnel and budgets for an array of statewide business development and retention programs including; business finance, industrial location, international and domestic marketing and small business initiatives. Mr. Valdez also was responsible for the oversight of staff that provided direct technical assistance to business across the state in the development of business plans, financial analysis, market analysis and development.

Other notable prior experience: the Texas Department of Agriculture / Economic Development Director responsible for the design, implementation, management and on-going evaluation of an array of business development and technical support programs, the Texas Industrial Commission / Business Development Consultant providing direct technical assistance to a diverse base of business across the state, and U.S. Department of Commerce / Economic Development Consultant in Washington, D.C., and City of Fort Worth / Urban Planner.

Education

Mr. Valdez earned his M.S. from Worden Graduate School and B.A. from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.

A graduate of the Governor's Executive Management Program, Mr. Valdez continues his studies through Post Graduate courses and continuing education courses in areas of Finance, Marketing, Public Speaking, Strategic Planning and Total Quality Management. Mr. Valdez is also Certified as a Mediator / Arbitrator.