Armando Gutierrez is a Cuban-American banker, political consultant and entrepreneur.

Background

Gutierrez was born in Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

, then moved to the United States, where he spent several years in New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

 and eventually settled in Miami, Florida

Miami, Florida

Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...

. He spent several years in the banking industry, serving as Senior Vice-President of the Central Bank and Trust Company.

He has been Director of the Latin Chamber of Commerce and a delegate of the Cuban Patriotic Junta. He also served as Chairman of South Floridians for the Statue of Liberty, a fundraising group that supported the statue

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...

's 100th anniversary restoration campaign. Gutierrez was a member of the Diversity Action Council, an organization created and funded by Miami-based Burger King

Burger King

Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...

 to promote and support diversity among its franchisees.

Elian Gonzalez

He acted as spokesperson for the family of Elián González during the Elian Gonzalez affair. Gutierrez supported the efforts in Miami to prevent Elián from being sent to live with his father in Cuba. Gutierrez organized the legal team and negotiated with the US government, the night of the entry to retrieve Elián Gonzalez, Gutierrez and attorneys were in the house speaking to the Clinton administration.

Personal life

Gutierrez is owner of several businesses including consulting companies and a utility company. In May of 2009, Gutierrez sold his 50% interest in WQXM

WQXM

WQXM is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Variety format. Licensed to Bartow, Florida, USA, the station serves the Lakeland area. The station is currently owned by Florida Broadcasting Media, LLC.-History:...

, an AM radio station in Bartow, Florida

Bartow, Florida

Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...

.

External links

• Gutierrez Elian Press Meeting
• New York Times, Gutierrez involved in Florida Recount
• New York Times, Gutierrez during Elian Gonzalez
• New York Times, Cuban Leaders Bitter over Elian Saga
• New York Times, Delay in Cuba
• CNN , INS Speaks to Gutierrez
• CNN , Gutierrez Appeals Gonzalez Decision
• NPR, Gutierrez Interview
• Discovery Channel Special
• TIME MAGAZINE Elian Movie