Carlos Garcia a civic leader willing to take on challenges

Carlos Garcia a civic leader willing to take on challenges
Carlos Garcia a civic leader willing to take on challenges
Carlos Garcia

Currently serving as chair of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Carlos Garcia has earned a reputation as a civic leader who is willing to take on challenges that require a major commitment of time and talent.

Born at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, Carlos graduated from Belen Jesuit and the University of Miami before continuing his MBA studies at Florida International University. Carlos began volunteering as a member of Key Club in high school and then as a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity at the University of Miami. He continued his outreach early on in his accounting career when employed by Deloitte & Touche.

Now a partner at Goldstein Schechter Koch, Carlos serves on the firm’s management committee and has more than 20 years experience in public accounting and private business. In fact, for 10 years he was an adjunct professor at the University of Miami.

Over the years Carlos has received numerous awards that speak his willingness to volunteer his time and employ his vast leadership skills to countless non-profit, business and service organizations. He is on the executive committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and is a former treasurer; board member and marketing committee chair of the Zoological Society of Florida; member of Leadership Florida, and a member of the Orange Bowl Committee.

For many years, Carlos served on the board and as vice president and treasurer the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and spearheading Carnaval on the Mile for several years. He also is a board member of Rhythm Foundation; a member of Florida International University’s School Accounting Advisory Board, and a member of the BDO Seidman Alliance APAC Board (Alliance Partners’ Advisory Council (nationwide organization), the board of directors of the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School Alumni Association, board member and treasurer of Friends of WLRN and member of Mercy Hospital Foundation Ambassadors Board. In addition, he is a radio host on a weekly music show on Wynwood Radio in Miami on Friday nights.

His interests are as varied as the organizations in which he is involved. In fact, he is a part owner of the live music and cultural center known as The Stage in the Miami Design District. A few of the numerous awards he has received reflect his dedication to the community. In 2005, he received the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana’s Kiwanian of the Year Award; in 2008, the March of Dimes Building our Community Award; in 2009, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Rising Star Award; in 2009, South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award; in 2009, South Florida Business Leaders Movers and Shakers Award; in 2010, Miami New Times Best FM Radio Personality for his work on Sound Theory Live radio show on WDNA; 2006 Florida Business Journal Key Partners Award, and in 2011, Business Leader Magazine’s Movers.

On the home front, Carlos is engaged and has three great children: Nicolas, 21, studying at University of Florida; Dannielle, 19, studying at Loyola University in New Orleans, and Amelia, 12, in seventh grade at St Thomas the Apostle.

When Carlos is not working and giving of his time, talent and treasure to various charitable organizations, he loves attending live music performances, cooking with his children and participating in various sports including organized leagues around the county.


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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.