Throughout my career I have been fortunate to work at some of the most highly respected and profitable global corporations in the areas of Community Relations, Government Affairs, Public Affairs, Philanthropy, and Diversity & Inclusion.
Private Sector
Carnival Corporation & PLC
Recruited by Carnival Corp CEO to create company’s stakeholder program, providing support to key internal business units, as well as establishing the company’s relationships and reputation with key civic, diverse and public policy organizations at the local, regional & national levels.
Additional responsibilities include working closely with corporate communications and community relations, and leading the company’s efforts in Diversity & Inclusion. Also serve as the company’s Spanish media spokesperson.
www.carnivalcorp.com
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Charged with re-establishing company’s brand and presence/reputation in the Latino market, Western Region. Directed all community outreach efforts in the region (AZ, CA, NV); forged relationships with new and emerging communities. Responsible for holding accountable independent distributors and WODs on annual community relations plans.
www.anheuser-busch.com
Ford Motor Company
Promoted to manage key relationships in Southwestern Region that covered 11 states—lobbied state legislatures and local governments on diverse manufacturing and business interests. Chaired company’s local philanthropic community relations committee. Served in the role of Civic Affairs Manager for the Ford Motor Company Fund, the company's charitable giving foundation. Started at Ford as an Assistant Regional Manager on the Corporate Affairs Staff.
www.ford.com
Waste Management, Inc.
Oversaw the company's outreach in Miami-Dade County with elected, local government officials. Developed and executed government affairs strategies that advanced the goals and objectives of the company. Prepared and presented a variety of verbal and/or written reports. Also managed the company’s local government franchises agreements, and worked our with legal office to draft and negotiate new and renewing franchise agreements, and managed local political giving.
www.wm.com
Public Sector
My introduction to public service began in the summer of 1988 when I worked in the office of then Florida State Senator Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Later that summer I worked on a state-wide campaign and in early 1989, I began working for the Florida House of Representatives as a Legislative Aid to two former State Representatives.
Between 1993 and 1996, I served as Executive Director of the Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation. I served at the pleasure of four Delegation Chairs, including State Representatives Rudy Garcia (R-Hialeah) & Alex Villalobos (R-West Dade), as well as State Senators Bill Turner (D-Miami) and Ron Silver (D-North Miami Beach).
Nonprofit Sector
My first nonprofit Board of Directors experience, Kids Voting, Inc. (Miami Dade County) came when I was early in my career. Today, I a honored to serve as Chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, in its 111th year.
Since then I have served on several nonprofit boards, including chambers of commerce, advocacy, educational and business related organizations. I also had the opportunity to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of a nonprofit for almost 8 years. Today I have the honor of chairing the Board of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR)
From April 2006 to February 2014, I served as President & CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). Under my leadership, revenue and corporate memberships nearly doubled, several new programs and initiatives were created, the HACR Research Institute was revitalized, and the organization produced an award-winning, short documentary film series calledInsider Game. Visit www.insidergame.org & www.hacr.org for additional information.