Meet Carla 

Carla began her career at Ernst & Young (EY), working with small, community hospitals to develop strategies to deliver care most effectively to their neighbors and with large, for-profit hospital systems to build networks to serve patients across the country. Beyond her client work at EY, Carla was an advocate for people and culture. In collaboration with the Managing Partner of the Southeast region, she developed programs to help new hires join the practice and to increase communications and engagement between consulting staff and the partners.

Afterwards, Carla developed the concept for an online apparel marketplace serving tall and petite women. While the idea won a business plan competition held by TL Ventures, the combination that TL proposed with an emerging software development company did not come together. With a group of former colleagues, she founded another marketplace,a business-to-business concept designed to bring together buyers and sellers in the manufacturing space. While well funded, this effort fell short in securing consumer adoption.

Always curious about real estate, Carla became a licensed real estate agent and her first day with Coldwell Banker in Lincoln Park was Tuesday, September 11, 2001. In spite of the market conditions, her love of the Chicago market and her tenacity resulted in Carla becoming the rookie of the year in her office.

Three years later, Carla and her husband moved to Miami and joyfully welcomed a son in 2005 and a daughter in 2007. In early 2008, Carla joined United Way of Miami-Dade, serving as a senior marketing and development executive. At United Way, Carla created the organization’s volunteer engagement team, led all marketing and communications activities, and conducted a feasibility study investigating a $300 million endowment campaign.  She is proudest of launching the United Way Community Cupboard, a food pantry that serves families across Miami, and the Volunteer Reader Program, which matches volunteer readers with early education students across the city.

Now, as an advisor to for-purpose organizations, Carla has served as Interim Chief Marketing Officer, developed and launched marketing and communications strategies and campaigns, mentored non-profit leaders and boards, and developed social responsibility programs.

Beyond work, Carla’s interest in community engagement spans nearly three decades and four cities. She is a past board member of The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Planned Giving Council of Miami-Dade, and has served as a board member of Philanthropy Miami since 2008.  A believer in social entrepreneurship, Carla is a founding partner of Social Venture Partners Miami and a recent board member of Goodwill Industries of South Florida, the largest social enterprise in Florida. A long-standing advocate for elevating women, Carla has served Junior League of Miami as 2015-2016 Designer Showhouse Chair, Vice President of Development, Executive Vice President/COO, and President-Elect.

For project inquiries or speaking engagements, Carla can be reached at 305/338-1735 or carlacrossno45@gmail.com.