Richard “King” Garcia was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Miami, Florida. He was led to Laudisi by his love and passion for tobacco. He wanted to be a part of a well-established, growing company in the industry, and after the Caldwell acquisition, he knew he wanted to get involved — it is always nice to represent something you genuinely enjoy and believe in. He has been a cigar smoker since he hit puberty, and his passion for tobacco deepened when he entered the industry in 2018. He admires his father who arrived in this country in the 1980s during the Mariel boatlift, who believed in the American Dream and worked hard to build a comfortable life for his family. He strives to lead with the same humility and determination his father exemplified.
Being of Cuban descent, he has strong relationships in southern Florida that he hopes to nourish and maintain in his position. He is deeply passionate about building a strong personal brand and is committed to continuous learning and self-improvement. A few fun facts about him are that he is skilled in cooking Cuban cuisine, is a fan of the Chicago Bears, loves salsa music, and his favorite book is The Count of Montecristo. When he was a kid, he was pretty sure he would be Mayor of Hialeah when he grew up, and he shot up to 6’6” by the age of 11. He enjoys spending his free time smoking a cigar and cannot live without his radio, which plays music that helps him throughout the day. Passionate, creative, and humble, he never fears failure and loves his family deeply; with these inspirations, he is motivated to succeed.