"Make a difference. Have a purpose. Shine a light." Address by Jorge Mas Santos, Chairman of The Cuban American National Foundation, before the Inter-American Dialogue, Washington, D.C.,  February 7, 2001

Jorge Mas Santos

Jorge Mas Santos is Chairman of the Board of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), a non-profit institution founded in 1981 dedicated to the promotion of a free and democratic Cuba. The CANF provides information on the political, economic, and social status of the Cuban people, both on the island and in exile

As chairman, Mr. Mas directs the CANF’s general programs in support of freedom, democracy and human rights for Cuba and an end to Fidel Castro’s dictatorship, and spearheads the institution’s policy of working with congress in support of a bipartisan consensus on a strong U.S.–Cuba policy. Since its creation, the CANF has been successful in passing important legislative initiatives, which include Radio & TV Martí — U.S. government broadcasts of uncensored news and information to the Cuban people — the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, and the Cuban Liberty & Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996.
 

Under Jorge Mas’s leadership, the CANF is poised to enter the 21st century as a solid and reputable institution that will continue to uphold the ideals of CANF founder Jorge Mas Canosa, while building on its impressive legacy with intelligent strategies that have become the organization’s hallmark.

Mr. Mas has also met with great success in the entrepreneurial sector as Chairman of MasTec, Inc. (NYSE:MTZ), a publicly traded telecommunications services firm which under his guidance has become one of the preeminent network service providers in North America. It is widely regarded as one of the leading growth companies in the United States and was recently named Largest Hispanic Owned Business by Hispanic Business magazine. Jorge Mas is also the founder and Chairman of Neff Corporation, the third largest equipment rental company in the country.

Cognizant of the importance of an educated society in the preservation of democratic principles, Mr. Mas and his family are committed to excellence in education through the Mas Family Scholarships, a private fund for meritorious Cuban-American students of limited financial resources, of which he is Executive Director. Since the fund’s creation in 1996, the Mas family has awarded scholarships in excess of $500,000.

Jorge Mas is equally passionate and committed to bringing to fruition his late father Jorge Mas Canosa’s dream of turning Miami’s beloved landmark, The Freedom Tower, into an educational center and museum chronicling the Cuban-American experience. The Freedom Tower — acquired by the Mas family in 1997 and currently undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration project scheduled for completion in May 2002 — holds more than symbolic significance for the Cuban exile community, as evidenced by its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Among his civic and community activities, Mr. Mas is a member of the University of Miami President’s Council and is on Nova Southeastern University’s Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of First Union National Bank. His charitable work and contributions benefit children’s and religious charities including Junior Achievement, Legatus and his local parish as well the United Way, and the League Against Cancer, which recently inaugurated a chemotherapy wing named after Mas family patriarch Jorge Mas Canosa.

An experienced public speaker, Mr. Mas has appeared on national television programs including One on One with John McLaughlin, Frontline, Dateline NBC, and the Early Morning show with Bryant Gumble, among others.

He has presented testimony before the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.

Mr. Mas graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1984 and a Masters in 1985.