A Life Shaped by Resilience

Julio Garcia, CFO for Clayens USA, inherited his enduring strength from his dad

Julio Garcia, CFO, Clayens NP, US Division

BY KEITH LORIA, HISPANIC EXECUTIVE

Julio Garcia, the Chief Financial Officer for the US division of Clayens NP, leading a finance team and overseeing operations across the country. His path to this role was shaped early on by the resilience and entrepreneurial drive of his father and grandfather, who emigrated from Cuba after enduring political persecution, as well as by the analytical mindset and tireless work ethic of his mother, a trained economist. Together, their example instilled in him both the vision to lead and the discipline to excel.

Garcia’s father grew up watching his own father endure political imprisonment multiple times—an experience that left a lasting impression. His grandfather tried to leave Cuba several times, during each attempt he tried to smuggle the family out by fishing boat or other means, only to be caught and sent back to prison.

Over the years, the family’s farmland was taken away, piece by piece, until it was gone entirely. In 1980, when the Cuban regime opened the door for those who wished to leave, the Garcias seized the opportunity.

Julio Garcia, Clayens USA

Julio Garcia with the Clayens finance team. Photo by Jack Robert

Garcia explains that his father and grandfather applied for various visas, with the first approval coming from Venezuela. Only the two of them left Cuba—leaving behind Garcia’s grandmother and aunts—with the purpose of establishing a foothold abroad so the rest of the family could follow. Rather than wait for a US visa, they took the earliest opportunity to begin a new chapter in the first country that welcomed them.

About a year after their arrival, tragedy struck when Garcia’s grandfather died in a farming accident. At just seventeen, his father suddenly faced the challenges of life as a young immigrant without his parent for support. During this time, he met Garcia’s future mother, whose family took him in and provided stability. Four years later, they married, and Julio was born.

Garcia describes his father as deeply entrepreneurial, having built several successful businesses in Venezuela. Fifteen years after leaving Cuba, he was able to bring his mother and sisters to join him—a long-awaited family reunion. Soon after, however, political shifts in Venezuela began to mirror the circumstances they had once escaped. Recognizing the warning signs, his father began preparing to relocate again—this time to the United States. Garcia joined him a year later, after he completed high school.

Julio Garcia, Clayens USA

Photo by Jack Robert

At fifteen, Garcia arrived in Naples, Florida, under political asylum and with a path to citizenship. Speaking no English, he re-enrolled in high school and, during this time, met his future wife. He went on to attend the University of Central Florida, earning a degree in accounting. He credits his aptitude for numbers and interest in finance to his mother’s training as an economist and her example of hard work. The transition was challenging, but it strengthened his resilience and determination.

He began his career with Cobham, a UK-based defense contractor, as a junior staff accountant while completing his master’s degree. After gaining experience in several roles, he and his wife moved to Boston for a position with FLIR Systems, another defense contractor. When they learned they were expecting their first child, they returned to Florida to be near family, where he took his first management role at Mitsubishi Power Systems.

A few years later, they relocated to Colorado, where he served as corporate controller for Envirofit International—a small engineering firm focused on improving cooking appliances in developing countries. There, he traveled to India, Africa, and Central America, contributing to solutions that improved lives while managing teams across multiple continents, an experience he credits with shaping his growth as a leader.

In 2019, Garcia joined Parkway Products, which was later acquired by Clayens NP—a global leader in high-performance polymers, composites, and precision metal parts serving industries from automotive and aerospace to healthcare.

Today, as CFO for the US Division, Garcia leads a finance team that oversees operations at eleven manufacturing sites across the country, driving Clayens NP’s growth and integration strategy in the US market. “I’ve had the opportunity to build my team from the ground up,” he says. “Mentoring them and fostering a culture rooted in collaboration and trust has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my role.”

That culture, Garcia explains, emphasizes autonomy and work-life balance. “I focus on empowering my team rather than micromanaging,” he says. “I trust them to deliver results and encourage them to maintain fulfilling lives beyond the office.”

One of his most significant achievements came in 2023, when Clayens NP had recently acquired several US companies. Garcia was tasked with uniting them into a cohesive division—standardizing processes, controls, and compliance while fostering trust among previously independent teams. “It was a challenging mission, but we succeeded,” he says. “That’s something I’m incredibly proud of.”

In 2025, two more plants joined the portfolio, and Garcia is applying the same integration approach—aligning processes, establishing and implementing compliance standards, and rolling out a unified ERP system across the US perimeter.

Looking ahead, the company is focused on continued expansion and long-term growth, with ambitious goals for further market presence and operational efficiency.

Outside of work, Garcia prioritizes time with his wife and three children, often exploring national parks, hiking, and reading. He also enjoys friendly chess matches with colleagues to connect outside of formal settings. He is currently pursuing a long-held goal of writing a book.

“It’s a life that honors my family’s journey,” he reflects, “and one I hope will inspire my children just as my parents inspired me.”

Hispanicexecutive.com