Title: Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Company: De Gracia & Estevez Cigar Trading, LLC
Location: Lakeway, TX
Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Information Technology, Universidad Domínico Americano (1998); Diploma, Data Management
Career History: Founder, Chief Executive Officer, De Gracia & Estevez Cigars, LLC (2024-Present); Head of Customer Experience, MOD (Present); Senior Vice President of Client Services, VML; With, Wunderman Thompson (Now VML), Miami, FL
Mr. De Gracia has established a distinguished career spanning more than 20 years, combining expertise in marketing technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and customer experience with leadership experience to support major brands and maximize their digital marketing investments. He currently serves as founder and chief executive officer of De Gracia & Estevez Cigars, LLC, while also acting as head of customer experience at MOD, where he helps companies develop effective multichannel customer experiences, map customer journeys and implement strategies for communicating with customers.
Established in October 2024, De Gracia & Estevez Cigars is a manufacturing and distribution company based in Tamboril, Santiago, Dominican Republic, a community recognized for its longstanding tradition of cigar production. The venture represents a return to a family heritage, as Mr. De Gracia’s grandfather previously grew tobacco in the region. Although the tradition did not continue through the intervening generation, Mr. De Gracia revived it through his partnership with his brother-in-law, Hector Estevez, combining an appreciation for traditional cigar craftsmanship with his professional background in systems engineering, technology and marketing.
Under Mr. De Gracia’s leadership, De Gracia & Estevez Cigars has developed approximately 16 blends and established distribution primarily to the United States, with additional plans for strategic international expansion. One of the company’s most significant milestones occurred when a private equity firm invested in the brand, an achievement that Mr. De Gracia reached considerably earlier than anticipated. He initially expected the investment milestone to require another four or five years; however, it was achieved before the end of the company’s second year. The company also has one customer in Mexico and intends to expand its international reach as its operations develop.
In addition, Mr. De Gracia has incorporated artificial intelligence and cloud technology into the company’s operations. The company uses AI algorithms to match consumer preferences with appropriate cigar offerings, resulting in a recommendation platform designed to connect customers with products suited to their tastes. Mr. De Gracia also developed Cigar Forge, a program intended to assist emerging cigar entrepreneurs with establishing their own brands, including fulfillment, tracking and shipping capabilities that allow cigars to be delivered directly from the factory in Santiago to customers in the United States.
In his corporate career, Mr. De Gracia has held leadership positions with prominent marketing organizations. As the head of customer experience at MOD, he assists companies in designing multichannel experiences and determining how customer interactions should be structured across platforms. Previously, he served as senior vice president of client services at VML, where he oversaw program managers and account directors supporting clients across multiple industries. Prior, he worked with Wunderman Thompson in Miami beginning in 2010, managing marketing consultants and marketing operations teams serving clients in the travel, pharmaceutical and retail sectors. Throughout his corporate career, colleagues have recognized his leadership, integrity and ability to help clients achieve their objectives while supporting the professional advancement of team members.
Mr. De Gracia earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology from UNIBE in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 1998, and a diploma in data management. He has further strengthened his expertise through various leadership certificates from WPP, a certificate in executive leadership and negotiation techniques, and certifications in Salesforce and Adobe. His professional focus includes helping organizations establish the foundation, structure and governance necessary to adopt and use artificial intelligence effectively.
Looking ahead, Mr. De Gracia hopes to transition fully into the cigar business, expand De Gracia & Estevez Cigars internationally and support the Tamboril community. Together with his wife, he has begun a fundraising initiative to provide school supplies, and he aims to support a larger project, such as a community center, hospital or school. Mr. De Gracia attributes his success thus far to determination, competitiveness, responsibility and integrity, values instilled by his parents. He remains committed to preserving tobacco traditions while helping ensure that the craftsmanship is carried forward to future generations.