Alex Montoya

Alex Montoya, Ted-X speaker and author

Inspiration. Inclusion. Feeling good.

 
These are the messages delivered powerfully by Alex Montoya. This thought leader is the director of the Alex Montoya Foundation in San Diego and an award-winning Ted-X author and speaker.
 
Both the Alex Montoya Foundation and Alex Montoya Podcast provide education on disability and immigrant communities.
 
He has carried the U.S. Olympic Torch and received a Medal of Honor from the Colombian government. He has published eight books, including one for children, all available on Amazon:
  • Swinging for the Fences  (2008)
  • The Finish Line  (2012)
  • See the Good    (2016)
  • Wolfpack             (2017)
  • Living Inspired  (2018)
  • Here Comes Cannonball: Reflections on 40 Years at Anderson Plumbing, Heating, and Air (2018, co-written with Mary Jean Anderson)
  • Alex Masters the Monkey Bars (children’s book) (2020)
  • You Got This: A Sacred Journey to Wellness (2020)
  • I Am Not A Robot (2022)
His career highlights:
  • 2022 Knute Rockne Society “”Inspiration” Award (National)
  • 2022 “Community Hero” award from the San Diego County Fair
  • 2020 Launched The Alex Montoya Foundation and Alex Montoya Podcast
  • 2019  Medal of Honor award from the Colombian government
  • 2019  Latino community outreach consultant for San Diego Sockers
  • 2018  MiraCosta College “Reading Festival” featured author
  • 2017  “San Diego Award” for life coaching
  • 2013   San Diego City Schools Hall of Fame inductee for disability mainstreaming
  • 2012  “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • 2010  “Community Visionary Award” by the San Diego Cesar E. Chavez Commemoration Committee
  • 2015-2018 member of California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
  • 2014  Rotary International “Paul Harris Fellow” for leadership 
  • 2014  KPBS-TV “Community Hero” selection
  • 2013  San Diego High School “Wall of Honor” inductee
  • 2013  San Diego Metropolitan Magazine “40 Under 40” winner
  • 2000  San Diego Magazine “50 People to Watch” selection
  • 1996  “Distinguished Student” Award winner at Notre Dame
  • Appeared in the films Artificial Intelligence and Minority Report
  • Endurance-sport participant who has completed two half-marathon relay-team races
Alex has spoken nationwide at places like Google; NASA; Harvard; Wells Fargo; the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI); the Denver Broncos; the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors; and the Ford Motors “Ford Driving Dreams” tour.
 
He has shared stages with Drew Brees, Soledad O’Brien, Oscar de la Hoya, and Imagine Dragons; and been featured on NPR, PBS, NBC.Com (Los Angeles), and the Huffington Post.
 
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame; Master’s Degree from the University of San Francisco; and a Personal Development certification at Harvard.  
 
In addition to creating his own foundation, Alex is on the Board of Directors for the Gurmilan Foundation, which supports people with disabilities in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. A native of Medellin, Colombia, Alex immigrated as a youth to San Diego, California, where he resides. Reach him at:
Instagram - @alex_montoya619
TikTok - @alex_speaks2