As MDRC’s first Vice President for Evidence to Practice, Martinez is responsible for developing and executing a vision for MDRC’s capacity-building technical assistance practice. That practice brings together the organization’s unique capabilities: a deep understanding of the evidence base across a range of domains; expertise in how organizations and systems operate; capacity to develop the infrastructure and tools needed to support data-driven decision-making, including providing support to access highly secure cloud-based database platforms; and expertise in behavioral science and human-centered design approaches. Martinez also plays a central role in new business development, including raising the external visibility of MDRC’s technical assistance services, identifying and engaging potential government or organizational partners, and raising resources to advance the work.
Prior to his current role, he served as director of program development where he played a key role in creating projects across MDRC’s policy areas and centers and oversaw MDRC’s grants management and funder relations. Before that, he served as deputy director of MDRC’s Youth Development, Criminal Justice, and Employment policy area. Martinez currently serves on the board of directors of Slingshot Memphis, was president of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management in 2022 and is a former chair of the board of directors of the National Youth Employment Coalition. Martinez holds a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia.
