Lorenzo Romero is one of Arizona’s leading figures in finance, public policy and strategic management, and has extensive experience working in the private and public sectors.
Lorenzo is President of BASIS Educational Ventures, a role in which he oversees the strategic planning, financial management and growth of the nation’s highest-rated network of public charter schools, which includes 44 campuses and affiliates across Arizona, Texas, Louisiana and Washington, D.C. Lorenzo also is President of the Board of Directors for Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Arizona’s first and only tuition-free network of public charter schools focused on the educational needs of students with autism.
Earlier, he served under then-Gov. Doug Ducey in multiple roles, culminating with Lorenzo’s appointment as State Budget Director. During his tenure, the State of Arizona passed prop 123 and improved its credit rating; turned a $1 billion budget deficit into a $450 million fiscal surplus; acted on $7 billion worth of economic development and infrastructure projects; created an innovative, $350 million credit-enhancement program to help public schools reduce their borrowing costs; and created a $1 billion technology-transfer initiative for Arizona universities. Prior to serving in the Ducey administration, Lorenzo was legislative Director of Fiscal Policy under three consecutive Arizona House Speakers.
Lorenzo has taught upper division finance and accounting courses at Arizona State University’s WP Carey School of Business, overseeing academic projects on homelessness among veterans and other topics. He also is an advisory board member for ChildHelp USA, an Arizona-based non-profit organization devoted to helping children who have suffered neglect and abuse; a board member with First Place AZ, empowering neurodiverse adults for employment and independent living; and an advisor to EVelution Energy, the nation’s first solar-powered, carbon-neutral, cobalt processing facility, located in Yuma, Arizona.
Lorenzo earned his MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, has a master’s in accounting and bachelor’s degrees in finance and accounting from ASU and Barrett, the Honors College. He lives in Phoenix with his wife, Monica, son, Cruz, and daughters, Mia and Livie.