About Us.
A Part of the Solution.
ACE is comprised of individuals, businesses, community leaders and organizations who genuinely care about community and the individuals within it. With diverse, compassionate, experienced, and professional mindsets coming together to find solutions, ACE seeks to establish solid vibrant and thriving communities thru proven principles, key partnerships, and like-minded individuals.
ACE exists solely to serve as a dynamic community resource covering all facets of positive community development and enhancement. ACE will recognize, coexist, support and identify with all entities that have established measures or the desire to create intentional efforts to enhance communities from a physical, material, psychological, economical and ethical standpoint, especially and specifically, when driven by proven processes, mechanisms, policies and principles.
Meet the team.
LaKia Flores
President & Co-Founder
LaKia Flores, leads the organization and has helped to bring her husband's vision and dreams of a community advocacy group to fruition. Although ACE is a young organization, it is backed by many decades of combined professional and personal community experiences between LaKia and Mike which will continue to propel the organization and champion the various areas of community that ACE will seek to enhance.
LaKia is a native of the Washington, DC area and is a graduate of Bowie State University (Bowie, MD), where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
She brings over 25 years of experience in several professional capacities to include: executive-level administration, senior analytical experience, incident management, human resources administration, payroll management, accounting, and database administration.
She also has over 14 years of service in the federal government (Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)) with respect to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts, and specialized experience in Incident Management and Training & Outreach, which yielded remediation/management of thousands of data breaches of all levels and the training of thousands of agency employees. In addition to her federal service, some other notable organizations/companies she worked for include: Marriott, Amtrak, Snyder Communications (formerly owned by Daniel Snyder, current Owner of the NFL's Washington Commanders), Howard University, Pepsi-Co. and Cassidy & Associates Lobbying Firm.
In addition to LaKia's vast professional background, in her spare time she simultaneously and independently assists individuals in need - from giving advice on legal matters to event planning. She has always had a special place in her heart for those that are less fortunate and has given from her own personal resources to help rebuild lives, whether it was feeding, clothing, providing financial help, or assisting with job searches - the list goes on and on.
LaKia strives to ensure senior citizens' rights are honored and adhered to and that they are not mistreated or forgotten about, and the same goes for our Veterans who proudly serve/ or have served our country. Her life motto comes straight from the 'Bible', and is her golden rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you', Matthew 7:12.
From the moment her and Mike began this journey of their passions to be an Advocate of the community in 2019, they understood that by working together they could overcome challenges and make strides and accomplishments much more efficiently and effectively. With the range and wealth of knowledge, experience and education between them both they expect to impact community in a great and positive way - changing the landscape and bringing about new/improved partnerships, innovation and revitalization where needed, and just ultimately be that positive change in all of our pursuits.
During LaKia's spare time, she loves to bake, cook, decorate, garden, take scenic walks, and spend quality time with her husband and children.
FAVORITE FLOWER (GLADIOLUS)
Mike Flores
Founder, Managing Partner & Lead Advocate
Mike Flores, a former NFL player conceptually birthed ACE 15 years ago through the lens of team sports, where he saw and understood the positive residual effects of individuals who came together for the sole purpose of accomplishing a goal in common. Although Mike was a gifted athlete, he gives credit to his ability to understand and appreciate the vast importance of teamwork and ascribes its principles to his success on and off the field.
Because of his natural inclination to lead, Mike's past employers benefited from his ‘lead by example’ style, and his inherit ability to read personality and character traits. Subsequently, this led him to several oversight positions and stoked his desire to help shape, and design thriving communities. Having been an Urban Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for the City of Youngstown in Ohio where he’s originally from, Mike was able to synergistically combine the efforts of three proven organizations which resulted in increased camp attendance at FCA sports camps, as well as Christian community awareness at the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), and highly attended youth bible studies and mentorship programs at the Youngstown, OH YMCA.
Mike wanted to encapsulate the concept of team/community and make it applicable as an organizational model that would positively and greatly impact the whole of society. The person Mike is today and the things he aspires for in the community was shaped through personal mentors by men like Lenny Lyles, who is a 14-year NFL All Pro, and a very successful business owner and community leader in the Louisville, KY area; Kevin Shurn, an excellent communicator and community leader, from St. Louis, MO and owner of one of the largest African American janitorial companies in America; and many other successful community leaders, entrepreneurs, political figures, military leaders, university presidents, deans, coaches and even celebrities. In short, anyone who was involved in community and had proven track records, Mike desired to meet with and even be under the tutelage of some. Having served and shadowing in many of these capacities, he gained direct hands-on experience while broadening his perspective on these matters. These experiences have allowed him to acquire a keen sense of processes that affect human behavior and lends itself toward community success or failure. With so much involvement in leadership roles, especially in individual character and team development, Mike personally envisioned his life as an urban missionary passionately pursuing relationships, resources and opportunities to genuinely impact vibrant communities. His passion for people, especially the youth, have turned his focus to intentionally being a role model and sharing his Christian faith.
Mike is happily married to his beautiful wife, LaKia, whose brilliance and like-mindedness has propelled his vision for ACE even further. Her advanced and seasoned proficiencies, skills and experience in large scale community efforts, government, and private industry have added much depth, resourcefulness, value, knowledge and capabilities to the organization.
Mike is naturally talented in fine art and graphic design and enjoys spending time with his wife and children, observing nature, loves good food and music, and welcomes opportunities to mentor.
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FAVORITE PASTIME (SCENIC WALKS)
FAVORITE ANIMAL
"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all." romans 12:13-17
FAVORITE HOBBY (ART)
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, for not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. phillipians 2:3-5
We see the value in everyone and every organization and want to be a catalyst for positive change. Since our beginnings several years ago, we’ve been driven by the same ideas, principles and methodologies that we initially formed our organization upon which includes: support, advocacy, empowerment, equity, patience, kindness, respect, consideration, perseverance, preparedness and progress/results.
ACE is a non-profit LLC and is not a church or religious institution, but our core principles are predicated on biblical/Christian values and its’ founding members are devoted Believers. Like Chick-Fil-A, Hobby Lobby, Tysons Foods, Forever21 and many other Christian led businesses. ACE expresses its’ faith through the employment of high character staff, quality service, products and fair policies and practices.
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Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. Advocates for Community Enhancement emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words.
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