Ricky has over two decades of experience supporting youth in the Bay Area and abroad. His career has been diverse, including roles as a Teen Mentor in San Jose, Surf Instructor in Santa Cruz, and Director of Junior High at WestGate. He has also served as Interim Program Manager at City of Refuge in Ghana, where he managed operations to rescue children from slavery, trained staff in crisis counseling, and collaborated with local leaders to develop prevention programs. As a Behavior Therapist Assistant in the Menlo Park City School District, Ricky supported students with autism, diverse learning differences, and emotional challenges. There, he utilized his extensive training in de-escalation, positive interventions, and emergency response to assist students during crisis situations.
Ricky tends to lean into adventure, having led teens mountaineering across glaciers in British Columbia, surfed with stingrays in Costa Rica, and once ridden his bicycle from Santa Cruz to San Diego. His professional roles have developed his creative problem-solving skills and underscore his commitment to social justice and community advocacy. All of his experiences have helped shape his core attributes of adventure, empathy, and positivity.
