ALPFA, formerly known as the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, has named Charles P. Garcia as its new CEO, succeeding longtime CEO Manny Espinoza.
ALPFA is a 42-year-old organization that began as an association of finance and accounting professionals and has expanded to other professions. It supports Latinos in all industries through its 41 chapters across the country and more than 100 student chapters at major colleges and universities. Espinoza led the organization for 12 years to its highest membership numbers. The group now has 23,000 members and business partners.
"Manny leaves a true legacy of outstanding service to the Latino community,” Garcia said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing the great work he did and enhancing the value we provide to Hispanic professionals in all sectors of the American economy.”
ALPFA's mission is to create life-long professional opportunities for its members and business partners through leadership development, networking, mentorship and community engagement.
"After an extensive search, we are thrilled to welcome Charlie, who is passionate about our mission of developing Latino business leaders and driving value to our constituency,” said ALPFA national chairwoman Yvonne Garcia in a statement. “Our organization will truly benefit from his experience as a Fortune 500 board member, leadership at the highest levels of government and success as an entrepreneur focused on Hispanic consumers.”
Garcia has served in the administrations of four presidents of both parties. He most recently served as CEO of Garcia Trujillo Holdings LLC, a merchant banking, private equity, and consulting firm where he was recognized as one of the leading advisors to companies that do business in the global Hispanic market.
Prior to that role, he was the CEO of a financial services firm with 60 offices in seven countries and $2 billion in assets, named by Inc. magazine as the # 8 fastest growing privately held company in the country. He is also a Columbia Law School graduate, a former White House Fellow, and a bestselling author of two books on leadership.
"America's baby boom generation is retiring at the rate of 10,000 a day for the next 18 years, while during that same time period over 1 million Latino youths will turn 18 each year," said Garcia. "Today, more than one-in-four children in the U.S. under age 18 are Latino, and the strength of America's future economy is linked to the promise of these young men and women whom ALPFA seeks to develop into leaders of character for the nation."
While distinguishing himself as a thought leader in the business community, Mr. Garcia has also devoted himself to a variety of public service initiatives. He is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a highly decorated military officer who was appointed by President Obama and President Bush to oversee all Air Force Academy operations as chairman of the Board of Visitors. The 15-member board comprises four U.S. Senators, four U.S. Congressmen, and seven Presidential appointees.
After five years of service as chairman, the Secretary of the Air Force awarded him the Distinguished Public Service Medal for leading "a historic transformation of the Board of Visitors and increasing candidate diversity at all service academies."
In recognition of his contributions to expanding Latino influence and reputation, Hispanic Business, Latino Leaders and PODER magazines have all recognized Garcia as one of the most influential Hispanics in the U.S. Additionally, Univision Network selected him for their series "Orgullo Hispano," a feature that spotlights Hispanics who have made an exceptional impact on the culture and life of American society, and the book Hispanics in the USA: Making History featured him as one of 14 Hispanic role models for the nation.
Garcia will be formally introduced at ALPFA's National Convention in Orlando, Fla., in August. ALPFA retained Susan Medina, partner at the national executive search firm Battalia Winston, to lead the national search.
