Jose Luis Garcia

Assurance director, McGowen Hurst Clark & Smith PC 

Age: 31

Wife: Susana Garcia

Children: Camila

Reasons he is a Forty: Under Jose’s leadership, the MCHS assurance team has experienced very low staff turnover, in large part due to his exemplary people development skills and his genuine caring about others. He was selected from an 89-member accounting association to address and speak on various topics related to people management and generational change.

He has been instrumental in the growth and success of the firm, including serving a highly functional construction and real estate niche that is a key part to the firm reaching its highest revenue in its 75-year history.

He is a founding member of the Iowa Chapter Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA).

Through his volunteer efforts at Home Inc., he has helped the organization through the process of restructuring the accounting procedures and practices and transitioning the financial reporting.

What are your goals in your role at your company? To continue the growth and success of MHCS by providing unmatched client service and continue developing, growing and retaining the people in our team. Additionally, my team's goal is to continue to expand the construction and real estate client base.

What are your goals for your community involvement? Improving the lives of underserved and Latino communities. Through the Association of Latino Professionals For America board, our goal is to continue the growth of the Iowa chapter that launched January 2023. Through ALPFA our goal is to engage the Latino communities and empower Latino men and women of Iowa to engage in business sectors, be part of the Iowa economy and become leaders in their industries.

What's your biggest passion, and why? Development and growth of people, including the team I work with and those who I'm involved with in the community. I'm a firm believer that as an individual you can mark other people's lives by helping them succeed or providing the appropriate tools for them to grow. As a Little for Big Brothers Big Sisters, I was positively affected by my mentor and have been lucky to find an influential mentor in each of the professional roles I've been involved with. I'm passionate to invest into others what others have invested in me.

What is it that drives you? My wife and my daughter are my rocks. They motivate and push me every day to be better. Additionally, my family and my culture have molded me into who I am. I'm a first-generation immigrant to the U.S. and have been presented with unlimited opportunities that my parents did not have. The struggles my family went through to get my siblings and me to where we are today gives me strength and drive to succeed at my job and the community I serve. I strive to be someone that can help those who were in similar situations as my parents and provide resources that can help immigrant families.

What are your future aspirations? At my core, I am a husband and father who wants to help raise my daughter to be kind, bold and a thoughtful person. At MHCS, I aspire to be a resource and partner to clients I work with and assist them in reaching their business goals. Additionally, I aspire to develop my team and help them succeed in their personal and professional goals. In the community, I aspire to help the Iowa Latino men and women reach their full potential through ALPFA and help provide more housing opportunities and financial literacy to Des Moines families through Home Inc.

Three hobbies: Traveling, playing/watching soccer and ATV riding.

Fun fact: Jose is not your typical CPA. He likes adrenaline – riding ATVs/motorcycles, skydiving, zip lining and bungee jumping. Outside of work he remodels houses and is currently working on his eighth project.

One word to describe you: Resilient.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? My wish for the Central Iowa business community is to continue to move Central Iowa forward. Let's focus on supporting local and Iowa-based businesses and industries. Iowa businesses are being acquired by others outside of our state. I would love to see Iowa-born businesses flourish through organic growth.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? Develop a growth mindset early on, which to me is the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication and learning from mistakes. Seek out mentors and role models who can offer guidance and advice based on their own experiences. Additionally, aim for a realistic work-life balance. Work hard and play hard; excel in your profession but maintain healthy boundaries to enjoy life outside of work.

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? I wish additional focus was put on housing and financial literacy to assist Central Iowans in becoming homeowners. I believe a big part of people's success starts with having a stable home, as it provides a supportive and nurturing environment in which to grow and develop. Research has shown that children who grow up in stable homes are more likely to succeed academically, professionally and have more fulfilling relationships later in life.

Anything else you haven’t addressed that people should know about you? My wife is the reason why I'm in Iowa today. Susi deserves a lot of the credit for this recognition as she has been my pillar since day one in my professional career. She has supported me and encouraged me to grow even through traveling weeks at a time for work, taking on new projects with home remodeling and having to deal with my high-energy personality.