Marco Barcena was 10 years old when he immigrated from Mexico along with his family to form a new home in the City of Bell Gardens. He attended local public schools, Suva Intermediate and Bell Gardens High School where he graduated top 7th in his class and received the science medallion. He graduated from the University of California Berkeley, designing his own Interdisciplinary Studies Field Major with an area of concentration in Technology and Consumer Behavior and wrote a major thesis in The Rationalization of Emerging Marketing Trends.

Marco has dedicated his life to serving the residents of Bell Gardens. He feels a strong connection with his community as it is mostly comprised of disadvantaged hard working families trying to make ends meet. He began working in Bell Gardens as a teenage lifeguard and swim instructor and gradually progressed towards supervising staff, managing programs, writing grants, and improving services as a full time administrator. Some of his more recent work includes guiding the City into the digital age by establishing online presence, creating award-winning management systems, developing policy that supports community health and wellness, rebuilding parks and playgrounds, and increasing staff productivity. With over 15 years of experience working in local government, Marco felt he could have a greater positive impact serving the community as a council member and ran for office in 2018.

Marco’s interdisciplinary education is reflected in his approach to local government. He believes that in order to better serve his constituents in a fast-changing world, council and staff need to work together, stepping out of their comfort zone to develop creative and affordable solutions to modern-day challenges.

In his free time, Marco enjoys spending time with his family, skateboarding at the Bell Gardens Skate Park, swimming, creating art, and composing music. He also volunteers for Toastmasters International, a non-profit organization that helps individuals develop their leadership and public speaking skills, and has served in various capacities including Area Director.