Carmen Garcia, Director of Community Affairs, State Fair of Texas

Carmen García accepted the new position of director of community affairs for the State Fair of Texas, September 2001.

In her role as community emissary, García represents the State Fair at various public meetings and events. Additionally, she is active in a broad spectrum of groups by serving on committees and participating in organizational projects.

The State Fair’s Speakers Bureau and special events such as the Scholarship Luncheon and Heritage Hall of Honor fall under García’s direction, and she provides research and recommends projects for State Fair participation.

The Houston native graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in public administration. García began her career in governmental affairs with ARCO and later directed programs and special projects in the offices of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Texas Secretary of State in Austin. She returned to Dallas to manage Ron Kirk’s campaign office in his successful bid for mayor.

After the election she opened her own business, ABRAC Consulting, specializing in marketing, public relations and event management. Her relationship with the State Fair of Texas was established at this point, when she took on the annual event as a corporate client.

García sits on the boards of the Dallas Zoo, Greater Dallas Planning Council, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, African American Museum and Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers (TAMACC). She is the Past President of Hispanic 100 and currently serves as Vice Chair Women’s Issues for TAMACC , Chair-Elect of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, and co-chair of the Legislative Committee for the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber. She remains actively involved in numerous community organizations locally and throughout the state. She has received numerous awards such as 2004 President’s award from the Dallas/Fort Worth Network of Hispanic Communicators; 2003 TAMACC award as Minority Advocate; 2001 Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Council Minority Advocate; 2000 Co-chair of Mayor Ron Kirk’s Census 2000 Committee.