Orlando Lopez

Orlando was born and raised in South Texas in a hardworking Mexican-American family. His parents instilled in him and his siblings the values of hard work, honesty, selflessness, and personal responsibility. He was also deeply influenced by his maternal grandmother, a strong matriarchal figure who guided the family with love and wisdom. Members of his family within the LGBTQ+ community have further shaped Orlando’s commitment to equality, inclusion, and standing up for those whose voices are too often overlooked. A graduate of Hidalgo High School and Texas A&M University, with a degree in Construction Science, Orlando has spent more than a decade working in the construction industry.

In 2020, he became the youngest project manager at his former company, leading teams and managing complex development projects focused in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. His leadership experience and background in infrastructure give him a grounded understanding of the challenges and opportunities in rapidly growing communities. Orlando lives in Heath, Texas with his wife, Carolina, a former public school teacher and counselor, and their daughter Clara. Their family’s connection to public education, through experience and profession, informs Orlando’s commitment to keeping public schools strong, fully funded, and safe for all.