Who Is Carlos B Roundy?

Latino and All Youth Advocate

Who is this guy Carlos Roundy, and why does he seem to be preoccupied with helping Latinos? Here are some things I think you should know about me:

1) First, it’s true, I’m a gringo.

2) Second, I’m a gringo who loves kids.

3) Third, I’m a gringo who loves Latino kids.

4) Fourth, I’m a gringo who sees the tremendous potential that Latino kids have.  

5) Fifth, I’m a gringo who thinks that Latino kids, as much or more than any other group, can make great strides with just a little intervention.

6) Sixth, I’m a gringo who has worked with Latino kids in a variety of settings, including serving for 18 years as a scoutmaster for Latino troops. I’ve seen their work ethic. Their families support them. Often when they discover the options available to help finance the specialized training or college education they seek, they reset their goals and head toward a more rewarding career.

7) Seventh, I believe we can draw on strengths of the Latino culture to help them find the success they seek.

8) Eighth, I’ve spent more than $700,000 of my own money on programs for Latino youth. I have listened to parents and their children. I gained some insight and developed strategies that I think can help unlock potential and create a more positive future for not just Latinos but all of us.

9) Ninth, I have no ego investment in what I’m proposing.  I want to do what works. There are others who are better qualified to contribute to this cause and I seek their help.

10) Tenth, I estimate that in the last six years our programs have motivated more than 7,000 young Latinos and helped raise their self-expectations for what they can do with their own lives. We are now ready to widen our tent to helping all young people in need.

11) Finally, in spite of everything else, I’m just a plain old guy who is stepping forward to try and make a difference.

Won’t you join me? I believe ordinary people working together can do extraordinary things I need your help.

I have had some exposure to the benefits of higher education. I earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Utah State University, a doctorate in Electronic Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from University of Phoenix.

I founded my own business, Spiricon Inc, and ran it successfully for 28 years. In 2008 I sold it to Ophir Optronics. (Spiricon Inc was the world leader in our field, which was making instruments that measure laser beams.)

So, you see, I love Latino kids, I’m experienced working with Latino kids, but there’s so much more I can learn when it comes to effectively serving not only Latinos but all young people we want to help at Youth Discovery.

I have eight kids, all of whom have at least a Bachelor’s Degree from a university. Six of them, five boys and one girl, served 1 1/2 to 2 year volunteer humanitarian missions for our church.  I raised good kids. 

Even though I’m older than dirt, and getting slower at it, I love the outdoors, and still hike in the mountains every few weeks, 

Here is a picture taken of me with some of our scouts when we hiked to the 8,000 foot level up Spring Hollow in Logan Canyon. The other picture is me with a couple of my grandkids, outside of Seattle.