Cynthia Bowles was born and raised in Hialeah, Florida, to Cuban immigrant parents who arrived in Miami during the Mariel Exodus in 1980 with little more than hope, determination, and a willingness to work. Her father’s first job in the United States was selling fruit on the corner of 49th Street in Hialeah. That fruit stand eventually became a truck, and over time, through relentless sacrifice and perseverance, grew into a successful family restaurant business.

By the age of seven, Cynthia was growing up next door to the restaurant her parents had built from nothing. The business became her classroom. She spent her childhood working alongside her family after school and on weekends, learning firsthand the value of hospitality, hard work, and service. At just ten years old, she was translating for vendors and helping her parents navigate life in a country they were still learning themselves. She watched her father greet every customer personally and occasionally, follow unhappy guests into the parking lot to make things right because, to him, every customer mattered. Those early experiences shaped the foundation of who Cynthia would become as a leader and business owner.

Despite building a successful business, her father always encouraged her to dream beyond the restaurant industry. He would tell her, “Your job is to go to school. I want you to be a professional and one day do big things.” Cynthia carried that responsibility with her and went on to graduate from Florida International University with a degree in Management and International Business.

Following graduation, Cynthia dedicated more than a decade of her career to Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization focused on creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Inspired by her younger brother Chris, who has Down syndrome, Cynthia developed a deep passion for serving that community and creating meaningful opportunities for others. During her time with the organization, she experienced tremendous professional growth and ultimately became the National Director of the housing program, helping create and expand the initiative nationally.

Driven by both her entrepreneurial spirit and her heart for service, Cynthia later founded Dream Team Group Home, a residential care business for individuals with disabilities. Starting from the ground up, she successfully developed and expanded the operation to two group homes in a short period of time. Throughout every stage of her career, her mission remained consistent: to create meaningful experiences, serve people with dignity, and build environments centered around care, compassion, and hospitality.