Mario was born and raised in Puerto Rico until the age of 8, when his family relocated to Ocala, Florida. Growing up in Central Florida, he knew he wanted to be a Gator early on. As a recipient of the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars (MFOS) program, he was able to attend UF without carrying the financial burden of a post-secondary degree. He quickly became involved with Student Government, the Hispanic Student Association (HSA) and the Florida Cicerones. 

During his undergraduate career, Mario served as an ambassador to the MFOS Program, President of HSA, and as Student Body Vice President. He also became a member of Florida Blue Key and was tapped into the UF Hall of Fame. While working on his undergraduate degree focused on law, he undertook and invested in several real estate ventures, fueling his passion for real estate. 

He received his Master’s in Real Estate Finance from the #1 program in the nation, at the University of Florida. During graduate school, he served as the Graduate Assistant for MFOS. Mario now works at a commercial real estate investment firm in Boca Raton. He currently serves as the youngest member of the MFOS Leadership Council.