Carlos Manzano

Carlos Manzano Bio Photograph

Diverse perspective and curiosity make a great strategic communicator

Carlos Manzano is a strategic communicator with experience in the public sector, academia, and consulting. He is also an active citizen involved in community and government affairs. Carlos grew up experiencing the challenges of every day New Yorkers and attributes his professional and academic successes to the values imparted by his parents and to great mentors and friends who helped shaped his life and career.

After finishing high school at Martin Van Buren, Carlos worked full time at Bear Stearns & Co. and Commerzbank on Wall Street while pursuing part time at night a Bachelor degree in Spanish Literature and Social Studies at Queens College. The 1980s brought major political changes that affected millions of people, and Carlos witnessed how policy changes added to the widening disparities and uneven playing field for working and middle class Americans. This led him to veer his career toward the public sector, to pursue advanced studies in Public Administration, and to become a community organizer. Carlos started in public service at the New York City (NYC) Department of Education as a teacher's assistant. Then, he worked in Section 8 housing as a recertifier. Later, he transitioned to the NYC Board of Elections as a manager in the Poll Site Management Unit, followed by the NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) as a Project Manager.

During the 9/11 crisis, Carlos was working as Assistant Commissioner at the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. In that role, Carlos assisted communities across New York, managed crisis communications, and troubleshooted at the emergency center. The lessons learned from his professional and personal experiences led him to open a consulting firm handling web and other technology projects. Carlos used emerging technologies to support small businesses by having them implement new processes, procedures, and policies to improve customer service and acquire new customers online. In 2007 Mayor Bloomberg appointed him as Executive Director of the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission where he was instrumental in attracting major companies to New York City, increasing tourism, creating new events, and generating new revenues. In 2016, he joined DoITT as Director of Partnerships where he was instrumental in developing communications plans and strategic partnerships.

While working in these professional roles, Carlos pursued in 2000 a Master degree in Public Administration and in 2007 a Master in Public Relations and Corporate Communication at New York University. In 2022, Carlos received his Ph.D. in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Also, in 2022 Carlos rejoined NYC government as Deputy Executive Director of Communications & Public Engagement for the NYC Commission on Gender Equity where he develops and manages internal and external communications and marketing plans, public education and engagement, partnerships, and intergovernmental relations.

Making time to serve people was also important. For over 20 years, Carlos served on community-based organizations’ boards and did pro bono constituent service to help working class parents, seniors, veterans, union workers, LGBT, immigrants, small business owners, and other groups. In 1994 he was elected State Committee Member on the Westside of Manhattan where he served 14 years and advocated for changes in policies affecting the lives of New Yorkers. Moreover, in 1999 Carlos ran for the City Council and in 2005 for Manhattan Borough President.

Carlos has taught graduate courses at Columbia University in the M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management and at New York University in the M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communication. He also teaches an undergraduate course in Public Relations at LIM College. Carlos’ commitment to transformative changes in organizations and communities across New York and the country will continue in a new chapter in years to come.◆

Experience » Education »


Strategic Planning and Management

Strategic Planning &
Management

Certified Project Management Professional,
Executive Director Media & Entertainment...

Communications &
Marketing

M.S., Public Relations and Corporate Communication, M.P.A., Management & Policy...

Government and Community Relations

Government &
Community Relations

Former State Committeeman (New York State Democratic Committee), Community Board 4...