Augusto Sanabria

Augusto Sanabria is the President and CEO of Prospera, an economic development, nonprofit organization that since 1991 helps start, sustain, and grow Hispanic-owned businesses to achieve community prosperity.

A native of Argentina, Augusto attended the University of Central Florida for his undergraduate and graduate studies. In 2003, he began his career at Prospera and advanced through the organization’s ranks until becoming its chief executive in 2009.

As President and CEO, Augusto has led the nonprofit organization to achieve significant growth, expanding its reach across three states, increasing the budget from one million dollars to six million, and growing the staff from nine to over 40 employees who sustain programs for the growing number of entrepreneurs served across all service areas. Furthermore, he has developed valuable partnerships and collaborations with national organizations such as the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Aspen Institute, U.S. Small Business Administration, Hispanic Federation, NALCAB, Ascendus, and National League of Cities.

Prospera’s service area has grown exponentially, from the I-4 Corridor to three states. In 2011, it expanded beyond Tampa and Orlando to establish a presence in South Florida. In 2014, thanks to funding from the State of Florida, Prospera began delivering services periodically in other areas of Florida. In 2016, Prospera began providing services in North Carolina, and by July 2017 opened its office in Charlotte. Between 2021 and 2023, Prospera opened new offices to deliver year-round services in Atlanta, GA, Raleigh, NC, and Jacksonville, FL. Most recently, in 2024, Prospera opened an office with local full-time staff in Palm Beach County, FL.

A third-party economic analysis commissioned by Prospera concluded that in its first 30 years—with Augusto at the helm for 12 of those—Prospera generated $4.9 billion in economic impact, including over $116 million in local and state tax revenues, $1.6 billion in labor income, and impacting over 47,000 jobs.

In 2023, Augusto was named Leadership Florida Board Secretary/Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair and recognized among the Orlando Business Journal’s Power Players. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Augusto was appointed to Mayor Jerry L. Demings’ Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force. In 2016, he received the Orlando Business Journal’s CEO of the Year Award and in 2015 the Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. In 2013, he was recognized with Governor Rick Scott’s Award of Excellence and named among “Orlando’s Power Brokers” by the Orlando Sentinel. In 2012, he was recognized with the “Compadre Award” by the Kissimmee/Osceola County Hispanic Business Council and by Telemundo Orlando in their “Triunfadores” Hispanic leader and influencer spotlight series. Also in 2012, HCCMO’s Vision magazine recognized Augusto as one of Central Florida’s 25 most influential Hispanics.

Augusto holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UCF. His wife María Jesús is also Argentinian and they live in Central Florida with their three children.