Alton Garret, Jr. Biography

Archon Alton L. Garrett, Jr., is the Managing Partner, Garrett Management Group (GMG), LLC. GMG is a full-service company that is unique in its approach to all its clients. GMG develops, executes, and manages festivals for clients and also produces a variety of events under the banner of GMG. For several years, GMG has managed the stages for the annual National Orange Show Citrus Fair. GMG has also provided the entertainment for the annual Ronald McDonald House fundraiser. Archon Garrett is an expert in the field of entertainment, event planning and execution and brings vast experience in the procurement of talent and the security of personnel involved with events and also those attending. GMG also manages the bookings and activities of several bands and musicians and also served as Executive Producers on a recent released CD from one of the managed bands. Garrett Management Group, LLC was established in 2013 and is the combination of Garrett Management Enterprises (est. 1995), an event planning company and the desire to move the organization into the festival/concert management arena. Archon Garrett also serves as a Small Business Consultant and a Political Advisor.

Archon Garrett previously served as an Incident Management Cadre of On-Call
Response/Recovery Employee (IM CORE) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In this position he served as External Affairs Congressional Affairs Manager in response to emergencies declared by the President. He was responsible for developing and coordinating congressional strategies to provide information to and build relationships with constituencies involved in agency disaster response and recovery programs and activities. In addition, he coordinated over twenty-five (25) CongressionalDelegation (CODELs) visits to declared disaster areas. As a part of these visits, he wasresponsible for securing all transportation, security, lodging arrangements and the preparation of all briefing schedule and materials for each member of the CODEL. The position requireddeployment to the Joint Field Office (JFO) in support of declared emergencies. He was deployed numerous times in support of Hurricane Matthew (North Carolina), Hurricane Maria (Puerto Rico) and also Hurricane Michael (North Carolina).

Prior to this position, He served as Senior Advisor to U. S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Archon Garrett advised the Senator on matters relative to Military and Veterans issues. In addition, he also advised her on matters relating to the African American communities statewide. He served the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino as their representative from Senator Boxer’s office. In this capacity he frequently met with constituents, local government representatives, monitored issues and community projects, and developed, designed, and executed events for Senator Boxer when she traveled to Southern California.

He previously served as Dir, Special Projects, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) located in Americus, GA. In this capacity he was responsible for managing, coordinating, and guidingthe programmatic and logistical activities for all special events of HFHI. He also served asChairman of the Special Opportunities Committee, which was responsible for reviewing any new fundraising, marketing or promotional ideas brought in from unknown, untested outside sources. Prior to this position he served as Director, Outreach, Admissions and Placement, Inland Empire Job Corps Center, San Bernardino, CA. In this position he was responsible for the promotion and marketing of programs at the job corps center, admissions to the center and placement of graduates. Immediately prior to this, he was Director of Development and Alumni Relation, College of Business and Public Administration, California State University, San Bernardino.

Archon Garrett is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino, with a Masters Degree in Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. He has also completed the Fund-Raising School (Basic Principles of Fund Raising), conducted by Indiana University Extension, San Francisco, California.

Archon Garrett retired June 1, 1989, after serving over twenty-seven (27) years of faithful service to his country. Archon Garrett retired in the grade of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9). He received numerous decorations and awards during his military career, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with one silver star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

He is also the recipient of the Outstanding Airman Ribbon as a result of being selected the United States Air Force Academy’s Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 1979 and was nominated to compete in the 12 Outstanding Airman of the United States Air Force program for calendar year 1979.

Archon Garrett holds certificates as Registered Meeting Planner (RMP), Certified Event Planner (CEP) and Certified Meeting Consultant (CMC) with the International Society of Meeting Planners and is also a member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP), where he previously served as a member of the National Board of Directors. He previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for the African American Health Institute-San Bernardino County (AAHI-SBC) where he served as the Chairman of the Board and Interim President. He is also the President of the Westside Action Group (WAG). Archon Garrett is a chartering member of Epsilon Tau Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, where he serves as the Thesauristes (Treasurer).