President Reagan appointed Alicia Casanova to serve as Comptroller of the Peace Corps. Later, President Bush Sr. appointed her as Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for the Department of Transportation, giving millions of dollars in DOT loans to minority and women-owned businesses until she retired in 1994.

​I learned about politics, campaigning, and civic duty at their side at an early age. I volunteered on national campaigns, attended RNC National Conventions, and honed my strategic planning, campaign management, grassroots development, and communications skills. Eventually, I received a BA in Political Science from Catholic University, interned for Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and worked at the national offices of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. I was an administrative assistant to San Diego Mayor Susan Golding in 1995. In 2000, I worked for the Vermont Republican Legislative Election Committee as a campaign consultant. I supervised 40 state house candidates, where I learned the stark difference between national campaigns and rural politics. Professionally, I've spent over 30 years in the association / non-profit world in several roles, including legislative aid, lobbyist, membership director, and program manager. I've served on the board of Cuban Cultural Heritage and the Cuban Sugarmill Owners Association. I am an Alternative Committeewoman for the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, the second Vice Chair and Director of Membership for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida, and the National Secretary for the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. Most recently, I was honored to be part of the Latinos for Trump Coalition. Professionally, I am currently a guest faculty member for the Leadership Institute, a national non-profit organization dedicated to training conservative leaders. I am also the Chair and Founder of Citizens First, a 501c4 dedicated to educating voters, mentoring citizens who wish to run for office, and empowering them with the tools necessary to run a campaign. Most recently, I became editor of The Miami Independent and the conservative media platform CD Media. I am involved in several political and philanthropic projects, and I invite you to explore my ongoing projects here or visit my LinkedIn page. If you'd like to connect with me or volunteer, contact me.