Fred Garcia
Fred Garcia has come a long way since 1989, the year he first came to the United States as an immigrant from El Salvador. Fred has led Garcia Roofing to more than 300% growth. He successfully started three other companies—Roofing Solutions, Louisiana Roofing Supply and Roof Corp.—in that same period of time.
The area’s largest residential roofing company, Garcia Roofing ranked No. 320 among Hispanic Business Magazine’s 500 largest Hispanic-owned businesses in 2009 and No. 844 among Inc. magazine’s 5,000 fastest growing companies in the country that same year. Garcia, who was named as one of Hispanic Enterprise’s top Latino entrepreneurs in 2008, finds success through strenuous effort and strong faith.
Garcia is pastor of Iglesia Centro de Vida [Center of Life Church] in Gonzales, which is one of the largest Hispanic churches in Louisiana. He has also served as the United Pentecostal Church’s Hispanic ministries director for the state, planting churches, training ministers, and overseeing pastors.
“As an immigrant, you have to work twice as hard because you have to learn the language and culture of a new country,” Garcia says. “You also go to sleep at 2 a.m. every night.” After graduating from high school in Pearland, Texas, Garcia attended LSU. He initially started in electrical engineering but switched to business administration. Now he spends his time creating new ventures in the roofing industry and watching them grow. He maintains a dynamic daily schedule, engaging in strategic planning, automating processes, training, and meeting with company leaders. “No one can be successful unless he can select, retain, and work with great leaders,” Garcia says. “I’ve always consulted people who are smarter and have more experience.