Janette Garcia was born in La Paz, Bolivia, South America. She received two Bachelor degrees in Social Communications and Tourism at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and a postgraduate certificate in Marketing at the Center of Studies in Barcelona, Spain.

Janette worked at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Bolivia) for four years.

She moved with her family to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1998 and worked at Holy Rosary Church in the inner city of Minneapolis. She was the church’s Outreach Coordinator. Janette has been living in Columbia since November 2001 and currently works as a Membership Specialist at the Girl Scouts - Heart of Missouri Council since 2002. Recipient of an Honor Pin award of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America in recognition of service of exceptional quality.