2022 Rising Stars: Alex Lugo | Rising Stars

Immediately after graduating in 2005 from the College of Texas at Austin with a degree in economics and authorities, Alex Lugo searched for a work that aligned with his values.

Just after his 1st task at a monetary firm in Austin did not dwell up to that standard, he moved to a placement with a condition agency.

But in 2008, he observed the great employer: the United States Anti-Doping Agency in Colorado Springs.

“I understood I would hardly ever be requested to do something in opposition to my values,” Lugo explained. “Values are something that genuinely are living and breathe there.”

The company is the nationwide anti-doping firm for Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American activity. It’s charged with in- and out-of-opposition tests, results administration and athlete training, and contributes to the progression of clear sport via investigation and outreach initiatives.

Lugo and his spouse decided to “pick up and move” to Colorado Springs since they had previously visited the space and appreciated it. His spouse, an educator, acquired a position right here two months prior to they still left Texas. and Lugo joined USADA two weeks just after they arrived.

He began as an accounting specialist and moved up as a result of positions as accounting supervisor and senior supervisor of finance and technological innovation. In 2018, after earning an MBA in accounting and finance at UCCS, he was appointed controller.

“Alex has generally shown management even if not in a leadership role,” mentioned his nominator, Tucker Pettigrew, communications coordinator for USADA. “Alex believes neighborhood involvement is very important and that everyone ought to participate in a function in bettering their surroundings.”

Lugo serves on the board of directors of The Prosper Network is treasurer for COSILoveYou and has been a member of the CityServe steering committee and the 1st Presbyterian Church’s town engagement workforce.

“It would be challenging for me to reside someplace and not be concerned,” Lugo mentioned. “It’s an ecosystem, and we’re all in it — because when one component of the group is not executing very well, we’re all likely to suffer in the long term. So I feel it is vital for business leaders, and any one who has the time and/or sources, to be involved.”

Lugo explained leaders, first and foremost, should possess a higher amount of integrity and lead by example.

“They should really generally be modeling the conduct they want to see in their groups,” he explained.

Almost as critical as integrity, he said, is that “they have to genuinely treatment about the folks that they lead. They should really usually been conversing with them, listening and encouraging to establish their roles and careers.”

Other critical attributes are adaptability, great conversation skills and regard, he said.

Lugo, who was born in the Dominican Republic and lived there till his household moved to Texas when he was 7 a long time old, strives to build a varied group.

“When employing, I generally like to cast a broad net,” he reported. “I want somebody who’s going to enhance the lifestyle and deliver a distinctive background and point of view to factors.

“It’s not just who is likely to healthy,” he reported, “because I experience like at times that basically variety of does the opposite. The big price of variety is that, without having it, you are lacking out on inventive suggestions and enriching your operate surroundings.”