Manuel F. Valencia

As founder and partner of CONNECTIVE Agency, Manny’s superpower — and the inspiration for the company’s name — is in making meaningful connections that unite clients and partners. He loves helping organizations create forward-looking solutions and develop authentic relationships that foster growth, prosperity and community engagement.

Manny oversees CONNECTIVE’S team development, operations, and new client relationships. His biggest reward is hearing that clients feel a true sense of partnership and trust working with the CONNECTIVE team at every step of a project.

Since he founded CONNECTIVE in 2014, Manny has been involved in working with clients at every stage of business — from early-stage companies to private, public, municipal and nonprofit organizations in the B2B, B2C and B2G sectors.

Manny leads with his heart, taking great pride and care to ensure every team member has the tools, resources, opportunities and meaningful direction needed to be successful. He’s most proud of building a values-driven, culturally rich and diverse team of dedicated, talented professionals who help organizations do important things in the world.

His entrepreneurial spirit comes from growing up watching his father run his small business with fervor and dedication. Manny learned from a young age that entrepreneurship is about client service and building relationships.

Previously, he held corporate executive positions in New York, New Jersey and Louisiana. He’s worked with a wide range of founders, executives and businesses from fast-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies. In each situation, he employs his key strengths, including needs assessments, opportunity identification, problem-solving and operational efficiency.

Manny holds a Bachelor of Science in management science and information systems from Rutgers University Business School and an MBA in marketing and corporate strategy from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Manny enjoys HIIT workouts, watching international soccer competitions and listening to podcasts. Most of all, he loves spending time with family and supporting and participating in the passions and sports of his two daughters: equestrian eventing and competitive team dance.