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Management
Carlos Garcia, President, CEO and Owner Carlos Garcia was born in Havana, Cuba on August 15, 1959. His 1n 1987, as a 27 year old, he founded KIRA with starting capital of just $2,000. In order to save money during the company's infancy, he lived in his sister's home. Forty miles away was his first office, a desk in the offices of an elderly gentleman who offered him free working space, "Until his company could afford to pay rent." The Department of Defense has a sophisticated system for measuring contractor performance as well as calculating award fees. During the company's entire 20-year history, KIRA has an average award fee score of 98%. This is highest average score ever achieved over a 20 year period of performance. Incredibly, KIRA has succeeded in becoming the low cost producer in his industry while achieving these results. This has resulted in an unheard of 90% win rate for KIRA bids. KIRA had revenue of $30 million in 2005, $60 million in 2006, and is forecasting $70 million for 2007. In addition, KIRA has minority interests in joint ventures with CH2M HILL, Agility Logistics, Wackenhut Services, Inc., and All Star Maintenance. In addition, KIRA has won numerous safety awards, awards for commitment to diversity and the city of Miami officially proclaimed October 20th as "KIRA day." In 2007 Carlos Garcia was named the Hispanic Business magazine's "Hispanic Entrepreneur of the Year." Recently the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce awarded KIRA with the Top Business for Diversity in 2007. KIRA is also ranked #104 on Hispanic Business Magazine's Top 500 Hispanic Owned Businesses in 2007 and finally the company has been ranked by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the nation. In 2007 Bank of America nominated Carlos Garcia for the Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. KIRA's research and development program, which includes innovative use
of GPS and information technology, is another example of Garcia's willingness
to take risk. Garcia was an early adapter of technology. Many of KIRA's
competitors believe that the Mr. Garcia finds time and resources for charitable endeavors. He is the founder of the Garcia Family Scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania, which is awarded to a student of Hispanic decent. At Columbia University Mr. Garcia was a major contributor to the Robert Lear Auditorium. More recently he contributed to the Professorship named for his former professor Steven Robuck. In his letter of thanks to Mr. Garcia, Professor Robuck notes that Mr. Garcia received the highest grade in his class, a rather remarkable achievement at Columbia University. In addition to his contributions to academia, Mr. Garcia is involved in a variety of other charitable causes and organizations. Garcia regularly supports One World Running, an international program promoting an awareness of health, fitness and nutrition by providing running shoes to those in need in the United States and around the world. In Colorado he donates money, as well as his frequent flyer miles, to nurses who travel to Latin America to volunteer their time and medical services. Mr. Garcia has also provided funds for as many as 20 young Central American orphans at a time to attend summer athletic camps. Smaller in size, but of special interest to Mr. Garcia, is KIRA's involvement in the housing of Hurricane Katrina victims at vacant military family houses in South Carolina. Having survived a direct hit from Hurricane Andrew, families made homeless by Katrina hold a special place in Mr. Garcia's life. Employees of KIRA's Mississippi project site also spent several of their weekends assisting Biloxi residents with relocating their personal belongings and reestablishing their homes that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Garcia has appeared on national television shows including CNN and HGTV's Restore America. He has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Investor's Business Daily, Bloomberg's El Nuevo Herald, as well as regional publications. He has lectured at the Wharton School of Business, Columbia Business School, University of Colorado Business School as well as numerous industry conferences. KIRA's Corporate Management Team
KIRA's Field/Project Management Team
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family immigrated to the United States in 1960. Mr. Garcia attended the
University of Pennsylvania, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981.
Immediately thereafter he attained his Master's in Business Administration
from Columbia University in 1983.
facilities maintenance industry is too low tech to benefit from technology.
Garcia has proven them wrong, and actually has patent applications underway
on some of these innovations.
