Portrait of a man in a navy suit, white shirt, and patterned light blue tie, smiling against a light background. This portrait is of Ashley Martinez, Founder and Principal of CPRA Strategies.

Ashley Martinez

Principal and Founder

Ashley Martinez is a California lobbyist and strategic advisor with nearly two decades of experience helping businesses, nonprofits, local governments, and trade associations navigate government, advance policy priorities, and secure funding through grants, government budgets, and public contracts. He founded CPRA Strategies in 2022.

Ashley’s work spans legislative and regulatory advocacy, grant writing and administration, government procurement, and community engagement. His approach combines funding strategy with government and stakeholder engagement, helping clients understand agency priorities, position projects competitively, build support among elected officials and community partners, and establish relationships with government decision-makers before applications or proposals are due.

Before founding CPRA Strategies, Ashley represented businesses, nonprofits, and trade associations as a contract lobbyist at California Advocacy LLC in Sacramento, where his work focused on state and local legislative and budget matters.

Previously, Ashley served as Manager of Government and Community Relations at the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, operator of San Diego International Airport. He directed the Airport’s state and federal legislative program, managed outside state lobbyists, and developed the legislative agenda and reports for the Board. He also helped secure federal grant and congressional funding for airport infrastructure and other priorities and led public outreach for the New Terminal 1 project, earning an Airports Council International–North America award for outreach and communications.

Earlier in his career, Ashley spent a decade at SEIU Local 1000, advancing through legislative and policy roles and ultimately serving as a Legislative Advocate representing approximately 95,000 state employees before the California Legislature, Executive Branch, and state agencies.

Ashley is a registered California lobbyist and holds a B.A. in Government from California State University, Sacramento.

Background Experience

  • Manager of Government and Community Relations, San Diego International Airport

  • Contract Lobbyist, California Advocacy, LLC

  • Legislative Advocate, SEIU Local 1000

  • B.A. in Government, California State University, Sacramento

  • Project Management Certification, Kepner Tregoe

Memberships and Board Service

  • Board Member, Pacific Crest Trail Association

  • Member, Grant Professionals Association

  • Member, East Sacramento Community Association

  • Former Board Member, Linda Vista Planning Group (2019–2025)

Certifications

  • Google AI Essentials Specialization, Google, 2026

  • Generative AI: Governance, Policy, and Emerging Regulation, University of Michigan, 2025

  • AI for Grant Writing, Kennesaw State University, 2025