Charles Patrick Garcia, 43, founded Sterling Financial Group of Companies at age thirty-six with three people—and has seen the company grow to more than fifty offices in seven countries. The media characterizes Garcia as a “Jack of all trades” for his success across many fields as a highly decorated military officer, community leader, author, philanthropist, attorney and former White House Fellow. In 2002, Sterling Financial was named the number one fastest growing Hispanic-owned business in the country by Hispanic Business magazine and number eight on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing privately held companies in the nation. For his success across many fields, Chalres Garcia was named one of the nation’s 100 most influential Hispanics and his leadership abilities have earned him a role in the administration of three U.S. Presidents, a Cabinet Secretary and a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander.

In January 2003, Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to a four-year term as one of seven members of Florida’s State Board of Education responsible for overseeing the state’s K-20...