You know those behind-the-scenes go-getters? Andrea Garcia is one of them.
The vice president of operations for New Mexico Start-Up Factory, Garcia does as much as she can to assist entrepreneurs in building their businesses.
That work appears to be paying off for one tech company, ORC Technology, which Garcia spent more than a year helping to form. Since joining the Start-Up Factory in 2018, Garcia has aided the launch of four startups.
Outside of the office. Garcia serves on the board of directors for All Faiths Children's Advocacy Center and has volunteered with LifeROOTS and the Harbour Dream Center. She also makes sure to get her children involved in community service with the goal of raising "leaders to carry on good deeds," she told Albuquerque Business First.
What makes you one of New Mexico’s most outstanding professionals under 40? I have stepped into several leadership roles throughout my career with the main focus of developing a team around a tangible goal. From my experience, I have learned that every plan needs to have steps that contribute to an overall positive impact. My goal is to discover that impact and continue to help my team members achieve the mission.
Give us an example of a tangible action you have taken that demonstrates leadership and explain its significance. I have successfully applied my leadership skills in multiple areas of my current position, especially while hosting office hours for the New Mexico Start-Up Factory. I dedicated much time to meeting with aspiring entrepreneurs and discovered a technology vetted by a young professional with a desire to develop a technology created by scientists at NASA. From that meeting, we spent over a year forming the company and negotiating licensing agreements. I am proud to say that ORC Tech is now a New Mexico-based company with all manufacturing goals to stay in our great state.
