Introducing Our New Managing Director of Operations, Tony Lucero!
We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest team member, Tony Lucero! If Tony looks familiar, it’s because he is—Tony was a Cohort 4 Moonshot Fellow! Get to know more about Tony’s journey and what he’ll be working on now that he’s on the Moonshot team.
introducing TONY
As Managing Director, Operations at Moonshot, Tony Lucero leads operational functions, including finance, fundraising systems, HR, and facilities, while managing a team and translating strategic goals into effective, equity-centered execution. Tony’s career in education began when we served as an AmeriCorps member at City Year Philadelphia mentoring and tutoring a 6th grade classroom. Since then, Tony’s experience in education includes serving as a founding staff member at City Year Denver, recruitment for DSST Public Schools, and teaching high school Business at Northfield High School. During his teaching career, Tony joined Moonshot as a fellow to launch First2Lead, an organization focused on cultivating first-generation students to become the next generation of business leaders.
Tony’s work in operations includes the nonprofit sector as well as city government, where he was tasked as an appointee to Mayor Mike Johnston to oversee labor and construction for the city’s “All In Mile High” initiative to help 1,000 people experiencing homelessness get indoors. Tony holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Management from Colorado State University and an MBA from Regis University. He sits on the board of RiseUp Community School and serves on the City and County of Denver’s LGBTQ Commission.
What is a project that you are especially excited to work on during your first year at Moonshot? Why?
I’m excited to partner with Kevin Castaneda (another new team member—an intro blog post coming soon!) and the team to continue building out Moonshot’s coworking space, The Station, including adding more tenants to our beautiful space. One of the best parts of Denver is our community, and the collaboration between leaders and organizations who are doing incredible work in our education spaces. My goal is for The Station to become a central hub in Denver where leaders come together to network, partner, and build upon each other’s work to serve our many communities.
What is a local and/or small business that you love?
YAMZ WORLD is what I love most about business—independent folks who enrich our community in unique ways. Brayan Montes-Terrazas’ shop has some of my favorite art out there and I’m always excited to see what’s new and how he is using his art and business to cultivate and activate communities, including LGBTQ and immigrant spaces. (Brayan also did the colorful rocket illustration you see on our work sometimes!) The Colorado Heart Print is a must-buy.
What is a book that you think is inspiring that the Moonshot community at-large might benefit enjoy?
I’m currently reading Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, and I can’t recommend it enough. This book is a call to action for us to make a significant change to our approach in housing, mass transit, and climate change efforts and to build more of a future orientation.
TELL US ABOUT AN IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCE IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR.
One of my favorite experiences is when I taught high school Business at Northfield High School for four years. I built so many amazing relationships with students and staff, and was able to see really cool opportunities come together, such as becoming an adjunct professor and providing college credit for free to students. It’s also the place where I started my Moonshot venture titled First2Lead, a program that focused on empowering first-generation students of color with the entrepreneurial skills to become the next generation of business leaders. This chapter of my life will always be filled with beautiful memories of laughter, hard work, and figuring out solutions to give the best possible experience to students.
OUTSIDE OF WORK, WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?
A hobby I really love is running. This photo was taken after I finished a half marathon, which is technically my first—the other year I trained for it, the Colfax Marathon was shut down due to COVID. What I love about running is charting different paths through the city and having my mind clear to only what I’m passing by or maybe a question I’m working through. It’s become such a form of mental wellness for me.
What does Moonshot’s mission and vision mean to you? How does it personally resonate with you, your experiences, and your identity?
Moonshot is about cultivating community talent to solve some of the toughest challenges in the youth-serving space and to build pillars of joy and learning. Moonshot’s mission resonates deeply with me—I consider my experience as a fellow in Cohort 4 to be the best personal + professional development experience I’ve ever had. During this time, I met incredible people imagining incredible solutions to enhance Denver and I was able to pilot and launch my own venture. Coming back to Moonshot as a staff member is such a beautiful full circle moment in my life and I’m grateful to stay connected to this special ecosystem.
