PROFESSIONAL:

 

Carlos is a transformational architect of strategies, organizations, and movements that drive impact. Whether building bold new initiatives from the ground up or elevating established platforms to unprecedented success, Carlos brings a rare blend of vision, execution, and influence.

 

With deep expertise across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors—and a career defined by advancing the U.S. Latino community and its leadership—Carlos is widely recognized as a strategic force and trusted advisor. His work has earned honors from esteemed institutions and media outlets, including a CINE Golden Eagle and two Bronze Telly Awards for his acclaimed documentary series Insider Game, as well as a national PR Council award for an innovative in-house DE&I campaign.

 

Carlos has held senior leadership roles at five global Fortune 500 companies—Anheuser-Busch, Carnival Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Tyson Foods, and Waste Management—shaping impactful initiatives that span government relations, communications, DE&I, ESG, philanthropy, and nonprofit strategy. He currently serves as CEO of The Latino Coalition and is the former President & CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), where he led from 2006 to 2014.

 

In April 2024, Carlos released his first book, From Havana to DC: The Rise of Cuban Americans in Florida Politics—a powerful exploration of identity, influence, and political ascension. A passionate lifelong learner, he is pursuing a master’s degree in Liberal Studies at Georgetown University and holds executive education credentials from Harvard Business School (Corporate Governance), Cornell University (DE&I), and UCLA (Latino Leadership Initiative).

 

Throughout his career, he has remained committed to empowering diverse leaders, strengthening institutions, and driving equity at scale.

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PERSONAL:
Born in Havana, Cuba, Orta's parents moved to the United States in 1971 after a brief two-year stay in Madrid, Spain. He was raised in a middle-class neighborhood in Miami, Florida, and attended public and private schools. He and his wife, Mary Ann Gomez Orta, now reside in the greater Washington, D.C. area. 

 

His favorite words of wisdom/quotes are:

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• "If you think you can, you will. If you think you can't, you won't. In either case, you're probably right." - Henry Ford

• There comes a time when silence is betrayal." - Martin Luther King

• "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." - Helen Keller

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