Born and raised in Miami, Florida, a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, the University of South Florida and the Harvard Executive Education Agri-Business program.
Carlos is a fifth-generation Cuban American sugar executive with 27 years in the industry. Throughout his career, Carlos has directed the Sales and Marketing effort for retail and industrial sugar brands, Florida Crystals, Domino Sugar, C&H Sugar and Zulka Sugar.
In 2008, Carlos joined Zucarmex as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. During Rionda’s tenure, Zucarmex has become the largest sugar company in Mexico and a leader in the North American Sugar Industry.
Carlos was very instrumental in the planning and creation of a 300,000-ton state of the art sugar refinery in San Diego, California which now has 160 full time employees.
In addition to his accomplishments in sugar, Carlos and his wife Xiomara answered the need for investment in youth sports for girls by investing over $400,000 in the development of volleyball dedicated indoor facilities and a now eight event annual tournament series in partnership with 3Step Sports held in convention centers throughout Florida and Texas.
Carlos also currently serves as the President of ROC Enterprises LLC which since 2023 has donated over seventy-five thousand dollars to numerous charities and non-profits.
Carlos and Xiomara Rionda, have two children Carmen Carolina a sophomore in the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University and son Charlie Rionda a student at the Miami Learning Experience.