Charles LaPradd was born into a local pioneer family and was raised in Homestead, FL.  Mr. LaPradd has worked at all levels of agriculture, including growing, sales, marketing, shipping and importing.  In May of 2005, County Manager George M. Burgess appointed Mr. LaPradd as Agricultural Manager for Miami-Dade County.  In his new position, he acts as an advocate for Miami-Dade County's agricultural interests and serves as a single point of contact between the agriculture industry and Miami-Dade County. 

In 2000, before his appointment, LaPradd worked at the City of Homestead as the Communications & Marketing Manager and in 2003 became the Planning & Economic Development Administrator. In 1996, he was Vice-President & General Manager of Kendall Foods Corporation. Before that, in 1994, he worked at the South Florida Growers Association as the Marketing & Communications Director.  

While attending college, he also worked with the Miami-Dade County Farm Bureau, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, and the Ag Institute of Florida.

LaPradd holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Central Florida and an Associate of Arts from Miami-Dade Community College. He resides in the Homestead area with his wife Cynthia, son Charles John and daughter Carly Jeanette.