Executive Director

Luz Flores has over 30 years of leadership experience with national nonprofit organizations. Throughout her career, Luz has successfully steered organizations, such as the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto, the United Way of Greater Houston, and SER Jobs for Progress, through periods of substantial growth and transition. Luz joined AVANCE-Houston in 2009, serving in several management positions, and assumed her current role in 2016.

In her work, Luz has developed strong partnerships in the community. Her advocacy for education and her passion for helping others have lead her to volunteer roles in numerous boards and committees with organizations that help at-risk families in the Greater Houston Area. Luz also served on the Investing in Impact Committee with the National Head Start Association in Washington D.C. Her volunteer efforts and many years of experience working with diverse communities have equipped her with a wealth of knowledge in the nonprofit sector. 

Luz is originally from Puerto Rico. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters in Non-Profit Management from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio Texas, and a Human Resources Certificate from Rice University. She is an American Leadership Forum (ALF)-Senior Fellow Graduate of Class XXXII.

Luz has been honored by Houston Woman Magazine with the Wise Woman award for her contributions to the Houston community. She was the recipient of the Paper Plate Award in 2018 from the National Head Start Association (NSHA) for exceptional advocacy on behalf of Head Start and Early Childhood Education.  Most recently in 2021, Luz was honored as a finalist for the Bold Leadership Award by NHSA, for her strong leadership during moments of crisis, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.