United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc.

Founding President, June 1999 through December 2001. Created and brought funding to an organization that had been mandated by the Board of Directors several years earlier to serve the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as an educational arm. Created an original "Youth Entrepreneurship Program" to serve as national models in the different states where potentially those of the 250 affiliate Chambers were active could serve their local youths with interest in business. Organized two major National Biz Fests, three day training and competition with 100 selected youth participating in each, as part of the USHCC National Conventions in Washington DC and Atlanta Georgia. In addition, organized a Regional Biz Fest in the Bronx New York for 60 students. These students all ranged from 16-20. Major fundraising event organized as a Gold Outing in Atlanta GA raised $180,000 for the foundation, not including additional programmatic funding from foundation and corporate donors.

Robert Garcia & Associates Inc.

Lobbyist, consulting and public relations firm organized in 1991-to date by former Congressman Robert Garcia in Washington DC serving a broad range of clients and interest. Corporate Event Planning on a very selected basis is also one of our services.

Leesonia Enterprises

President of New York based consulting business with national client base: Searle Pharmaceutical, Pearle Vision, McAndrews & Forbes (private holding company that took over Revlon Cosmetics), and Consolidated Cigars. I did work relevant to the 936 Tax Code affecting mainland firms with subsidiaries in Puerto Rico.

1985-1990 Owned and operated 4 Bennetton clothing franchises in Puerto Rico

1985-1990 Owned and operated 4 Bennetton clothing franchises in Puerto Rico

Spanish International Network

1985-1987 managed the Washington office Sales Department, sold T.V. advertisings, conceived and prepared several T.V. "Specials" for national Spanish language network including the Annual Congressional Hispanic Gala Awards and the Hispanic Designers Show.

Congressional Staff, U.S. House of Representatives

1980-1985 Administrative Assistant Coordinated all Congressional offices both in New York (District) and Washington. Responsibilities included, preparation and review of legislation, speech writing, & press.
General issues for this office were banking oversight, urban and housing matters, economic development, foreign affairs, national Hispanic issue such as immigration, EEOC, civil rights and issues affecting Puerto Rico.

Census & Population House Sub-Committee

1979-1980 Staff Assistant Prepared field hearings, screened witnesses, wrote reports and legislative agendas for congressional hearings on the 1980 Census in over 25 cities and Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico 1965-1978

Prior to arriving in Washington owned and operated a large 700-acre Thoroughbred horse-breeding farm on the south coast of Puerto Rico. This was the oldest established commercial breeding operation in the Caribbean, which sold an average of $500,000 annually in yearling racehorses.
Potrero Matos Thoroughbred breeding farm was considered a virtual showplace and photographed several times by the national leading industry magazines, The Thoroughbred Horse and The Blood Horse published in Lexington Ky. It received many awards including: Top Breeding Farm 1967,68,69,70, 71, 71, in production, money earned, and stallion index statistics. Our horses won in all major Stakes races including several times the Cl?sico International del Caribe among the Caribbean nations including, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. Ms. Garcia received the "Woman of the Year" award 1976, was President of the Asociaci?n de Mujeres H?picas for 3 consecutive years.

Volunteer Activities

Bronx Museum of the Arts (New York)

Served on the Board of Directors from 1980 to 1988,
President of the Board from 1984-1987.
During my tenure I raised 5.2 million from government, foundations and private sector corporations to refurbish an abandoned synagogue and turn it into the showplace of the Bronx where it served to deter the urban erosion of the Grand Concourse, one of the two remaining national sites of architectural testimony to the Art-Deco period of the 30’s.I also was able to obtain funding for The Latin American Experience, a historical first in the US., an exhibition of collected contemporary Latin American painters and artist from all the different countries.

Member New York State Council on the Arts

Named to the Board by NY Governor Mario Cuomo 1985-1987 this organization distributed 50 million in states arts funding.

New York City Advisory Council on the Arts

Named to the Council by Mayor Ed Koch I served as an active and functional representative committee to the Commissioner for the Arts for the City of New York, Bess Myerson.

Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)
1985-1988 served on the Community Advisory Board

Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission

Named to the Commission by President Ronald Reagan 1985-1992, elected Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations in 1986.This Commission was officially established by the Congress to oversee the commemoration of the 500-year of the Discovery of America. 24 members were appointed by the President to represent the US to Italy, Spain and all of the Latin American countries in a worldwide celebration.

Hispanic Designers Inc.

Founder and President 1982-1985 of this Washington DC Annual Gala and Fashion Show, it is still today one of the major nationally known celebrations during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 12–Oct 12) traditionally held in September during Hispanic Heritage Month .

Education

Châtelard Ecole International, Les Avants, Switzerland
Rosemary Hall Preparatory School for Girls, Old Greenwich, Connecticut
Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto Rió Piedras, Puerto Rico