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CARLOSARBOLEYA.COM |
| Carlos J. Arboleya, Vice Chairman-Retired of
Barnett Bank of South Florida, N.A., the largest affiliate of
Barnett Banks, Inc., today Bank of America.
He is a past Chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and serves on its Executive Committee. He arrived in Miami exiled in 1959 from Cuba with his wife Marta and two-year old son. Carlos Jr., and has lived in Greater Miami ever since. He received degrees in Business Administration, Commercial and Administrative law, Accounting and Commercial Sciences from the University of Havana. Upon his arrival, unable to find employment in the banking field where he had 16 years of experience, he was forced to take a job as an inventory clerk In a shoe factory, where soon he worked his way up to Vice President. At that point, he was finally given the opportunity to reenter the area he held closest to his heart, banking. In the short period of seven years, he rose to be named the first naturalized Cuban-American President of a national bank in the United States. Subsequently, he founded his own bank, the Flagler Bank, now Bank of America. After selling his interests in that financial Institution he joined Barnett Bank in 1974. He rose to the position of Vice Chairman in 1981 for the Southern Region while simultaneously holding the Presidency of Barnett Leasing Company and the Presidency of Barnett Visa and MasterCard operations for the Southern Region, a position he held until his retirement In 1994. He subsequently held the position of Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee. In addition to his successful banking career, Carlos J. Arboleya has dedicated his energies to working for the advancement and guidance of youth in our community, his greatest passion and concern. His involvement in the scouting movement is proof of his tireless commitment. The Carlos J. Arboleya Camping and Picnic Grounds were named after him in recognition of his 40 years of adult leadership in scouting. He is the recipient of scouting's highest award, the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope and the St. George Award of the Catholic Church. The Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement was presented in recognition of his outstanding example in inspiring youth. In 1995 he became President of the Boy Scouts of America South Florida Council and currently serves on the local, Regional and National Boards of the Boy Scouts of America. Arboleya's fervent civic involvement has cultivated national as well as International attention. He has received the coveted Invest in America National Council's American Eagle Award for his living example of the American Dream. He has also received the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge George Washington Honor Medal five times for Americanism activities and for his exceptional achievements in bringing about a better understanding of the American way of life. In 1981 f his name was placed before the President of the United States for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He received the Ellis Island Statue of Liberty honor medal in 1995. For his dedicated efforts in the field of education, Arboleya received in 1976 the very prestigious Horatio Alger Award of the Horatio AIger Association of Distinguished Americans and of the American Schools and Colleges Association. He holds Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Florida International University, St. Thomas University, Universita Leonardo Da Vinci in Italy and Universidad International Monctezuma In France, among several others. His biography is covered in five public school textbooks as an example of the achiever of the American Dream. Arboleya has received numerous other acknowledgments from a wide variety of associations, institutions, etc, at which he has served as Chairman, Director, Trustee, President, Member, and other capacities. Among these are the Herald's Spirit of Excellence, El Premio Don Quijote from the Hispanic Heritage Council, the Silver Medallion of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. Most recently, Arboleya received the honor of having a portion of Southwest Eight Street in Miami, Florida named, "Carlos Arboleya Boulevard."
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