Damian Pardo

Damian was born to a family that traces its roots to Spain. His parents, Dr. Victoriano “Victor” Pardo and Maria Amelia Pardo-Garcia, instilled in him the values of humility, compassion, hard work, and a profound commitment to service. With a deep appreciation for their shared immigrant journey, Damian understands our community’s struggles and potential opportunities. Damian’s professional journey started at Southeast Bank in its Management Training Program, after which he specialized in corporate lending for the cruise line industry. He later transitioned to private banking and trust. His career took him through various leadership roles in reputable institutions such as Gibraltar Private Bank, SunTrust, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley, and today he is a Regional Director at First Horizon. His experiences starting two small businesses and as a certified financial planner in banking and wealth management have given him a comprehensive understanding of family planning, managing small businesses, and developing complex budgets and financial arrangements. Damian attended St. Hugh School in Coconut Grove and graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 1981, winning a National Forensics competition, attending Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, rowed crew, and ultimately graduated from the University of Miami School of Business with a Master in Management. As an activist, Damian has been advocating for equality, diversity, and inclusion in South Florida and beyond, with over 35 years of volunteering in efforts to unite communities, including founding SAVE– Safeguarding American Values for Everyone–in 1993 while serving as a two-term President of the largest AIDS Health Organization, CareResource (formerly known as Health Crisis Network). In 2015 he cofounded 4Ward Miami (and the Gay8 Festival), dedicated to uniting South Florida’s diverse communities. He served on the Miami Dade Equal Opportunity Board (12 years), the Board of Trustees of the Miami Foundation, the Celia Cruz Foundation, and various national and local non-profit boards. Most recently, Damian has served on the Board of Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Damian is a 30-year resident of District 2. He is dedicated to his immediate and extended family and currently resides in Morningside with his two dogs and a cat.