Flora Maria Garcia became president and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida—a 501-C-3, $5.8 million, local arts agency for the four-county region and the City of Orlando. Since its inception in 1989, United Arts has invested more than $136 million in local cultural organizations and individual artists. Previously, Garcia was CEO of the Metro Atlanta Arts & Culture Coalition. During her tenure, statewide legislation that would significantly fund arts and culture was introduced and as result, received the Georgia Shakespeare, Spirit of Will Award for Advocacy. On the national level, Garcia has served on the boards of the National Assembly for Local Arts Agencies and Mid-America Arts Alliance, numerous committees for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and on several panels for the National Endowment for the Arts. She served for two years as Vice President of Americans for the Arts’ Urban Arts Federation, an association of the 60 largest arts councils in the country. In addition to more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit arts management, Garcia has a Master’s in Business Administration and Arts Administration from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and Modern Languages from Saint Mary’s College. Garcia was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. in the early ‘60s