Nelson Carlos

Carlos Nelson

Chief Executive Officer, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation

Carlos Nelson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) having joined the upstart organization in 2003. He is a mechanical engineer and certified project manager focusing on construction and real estate development. Carlos has been a long-time stakeholder in the Auburn Gresham community; a community he has been a part of all his life, a place where his grandparents have resided since 1963. While working in Chicago’s Loop as an engineer and living near 79th & Racine during the 1980’s and 90’s, Carlos had a strong desire to help people in need. He tutored in the Cabrini Green Tutoring Program, then in April 2002 became more involved in his own community. He began volunteering for the newly formed not-for-profit organization whose executive director left in December 2002 to relocate to Michigan, Carlos accepted the position of Executive Director in January 2003, leaving corporate America behind. Carlos often says that he ‘has not worked a day since 2003 as working to rebuild his people and community is not working at all.’ And joyfully proclaims, “not many people are blessed to do what God put them on earth to do.”