INDULGE

the movers
“I like how Miami keeps
growing and isn’t stagnant.
It’s dynamic and has changed
so much in the 30 years that
I’ve been here.”
policy so anyone can come up to my office and talk about anything
including personal issues. I know everyone’s name in the warehouse,
and it’s the same with my family at our Puerto Rico factory, where
some employees have been with the company for 50 years.”
BEST DAY ON THE JOB “I thrive on the day-to-day challenges. Issues
come up all the time from sales to suppliers, like a shipment is late
due to traffic or rain, so the receiver at the grocery store won’t allow
the truck driver to unload, and he has to return to the warehouse.
A rainy morning can really mess up the whole process. You may
have the best plan, and then it all changes in seconds. I may come
in planning to sit down with the sales team and end up dealing with
distribution logistics all day.”
VITALS The eldest of Francisco and Diana’s four children celebrated
his 53rd birthday in January. The New Jersey native grew up in
Puerto Rico, where his grandparents, Prudencio and Carolina,
emigrated from Spain, before founding Goya Foods in New York in
1936. After studying at Bradley University in Illinois, and Universidad
del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, he moved to Miami for a summer
job in 1985 and never left. Divorced, he’s the father of 16-year-old
Francisco and 15-year-old Gabriela.
CURRENT POSITION As both the president of Goya Foods of Florida
and sister company Sazon, Inc., in nearby Doral, oversees 500
employees at distribution centers in Miami, Orlando and Buford, Ga.
FIRST PAYING JOB “When I was 16, I worked on the tomato sauce
line at our Puerto Rico factory for a summer. It was before there were
automated palletizers, too. We had human machines back then.”
BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED “During my high school years, family
dinner conversations often turned to what we were going to do with
our lives. My father would say it didn’t matter what we studied in
college but just that we were the best at it. He also stressed to pick
a job that you love so it isn’t work.”
MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU HAD MADE IT “As more responsibilities are
thrown your way, you suddenly realize one day that you’re running
real businesses and managing 500 people.”
AS A KID WANTED TO BE “I always wanted to work with my dad,
and it just turned out to be in the food industry. When we were little
he’d take us to the factory on Saturdays. It was a big treat.”
BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB “The people. We have an open door
WORST DAY ON THE JOB “When there’s nothing to do. I get a little
worried when it’s too peaceful and quiet. It doesn’t happen often
though since we stay pretty busy around here. We don’t get much
of a break.”
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT “Working my way up the ladder.”
GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE “Sports cars, though I’m not on Jay Leno’s
level. It’s an obsession that began when I was a little kid with my dad’s
Corvette. I don’t collect vintage cars since they require too much
maintenance. I just like to drive and have even tried out some race
tracks in Europe.”
SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU “I hate horror films.
If you want to watch gore, just turn on the news.”
IF YOU COULDN’T DO WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING, WHAT ELSE WOULD
YOU DO “I get asked that question all the time, and I can’t answer it.
But I could never work in corporate America with all its reports and
meetings. When do people actually get any work done? We don’t
operate that way.”
BEST THING ABOUT DOING BUSINESS IN MIAMI “Florida in general is
business friendly, and we have great relationships with our accounts
from big grocery stores to independents. I like how Miami keeps
growing and isn’t stagnant. It’s dynamic and has changed so much
in the 30 years that I’ve been here.”
LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING NEW FOR THE FIRST TIME “I took a
snowboarding lesson in Colorado a year ago, and after two hours of
falling on my hands and rear end, I decided to stick with skiing.”
ZEN MOMENT “The first half hour when I get home from work and have
the house all to myself, and there’s complete silence.”
PERSONAL MOTTO “Treat others as you like to be treated.”
44 INDULGE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | www.miamiindulge.com