Gloria Romero Roses

Gloria Romero Roses (born 1971) is a Broward County businesswoman and candidate for United States House of Representatives for Florida's 26th district, encompassing parts of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Early life and education
Gloria Romero Roses was born in Colombia in 1971 and moved to South Florida at eight years old. She graduated from South Broward High School in Hollywood, FL. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Florida International University. In 1995 she received her MBA from the University of Miami.

Career
Romero Roses has built her career in real estate and development. She is currently managing partner at Nexus Homes, a firm that focuses on bringing new investment into South Florida’s assisted living developments to allow seniors to continue living in the communities where they built their lives and raised their families.

She has also worked at a number of large real estate management firms in Florida, including the Related Group and the Continental Group. At the Continental Group she served as an employee relations officer.

Controversies
Romero Roses worked for Continental Group when that company was the unsuccessful target of union organizing by SEIU. As Director of Employee Relations for The Continental Group, Romero Roses was in charge of modernizing human resources processes to enroll more individuals in the company's benefits programs. She claims no connection to the company's position and interaction with the union. In an investigation of the company and its anti-union practices, the National Labor Relations Board found that the company wrongfully terminated one employee due to pro-union sentiments. The SEIU has expressed deep concerns about Romero Roses' candidacy.

Romero Roses has been criticized in the media for running for office with no previous electoral experience. She also lives outside the district, though the other major candidates live outside as well. Romero Roses lives in a different county from Florida's 26th District.

Activism
When her daughter began attending schools in Miami-Dade county, Gloria was shocked to learn about overcrowding and out of control class sizes. She built a coalition of parents, educators and neighbors that worked closely with the Miami-Dade school district to find short and long term solutions. The effort she participated in led to the district hiring a new facilities management expert, identifying efficiencies in funding mechanisms, and thereby opening six new public schools in two years.

Gloria Romero Roses affiliations include the Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade. She was Vice Chair of the Workforce Housing Committee and Task Force Co-Chair for the Education Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. She also Chaired the FIU College of Business Dean’s Alumni Circle and was recipient of FIU’s Torch Award for 2010 and is a member of the Dean’s Council of the College of Business. Most recently, Romero Roses was Statewide Vice Chair of Ruth’s List Florida, an organization focused on identifying, supporting and electing women to office statewide.

Other affiliations include:

FIU College of Business, Dean’s Alumni Circle – Chair 2008-2009

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce: Workforce Housing Committee, Vice-Chair

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce: Education Committee, Co-chair of Forums 2009-2010

ArtSpring, Inc., a 501(c)3 corporation providing arts-based intervention for underserved and institutionalized women and girls – President 2004-2006

Community Advisory Board, FDJJ, Miami Dade Regional Juvenile Detention Center - Secretary/Treasurer 2004-2005

Committee to Incorporate Northeast Dade – Secretary 2006

M. Krop Feeder Pattern Coalition – Founding member 2005-2006

Casa Valentina Coalition for Young Women Aging Out of Foster Care – Visionary and member of Real Estate Committee – 2005

Ruth’s List Florida – Advisory Council 2010 & 2011

Women’s Fund of Miami Dade – Donor’s Council 2009, 2010, 2011

Community Based Organization Advisory Board to Miami Dade County Board of County Commissioners – Representing the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 2008 - present

Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs – Youth Arts Enrichment Program Grant Reviewer 2007

The Children’s Trust - Grant Reviewer 2006, 2007

Dade Community Foundation’s Miami Fellows Initiative – Fellow, Class III (2004-2005)

Florida Community Association Manager (C.A.M.)

Urban Land Institute – Associate Member

Personal life
Gloria Romero Roses is married to Tom Roses. She has a thirteen year old daughter.