Lissette McPhillips Perez-Carrillo

Lissette Perez-Carrillo McPhillips (born 1973) is a Cuban American cigar maker who resides in Coral Gables, Florida.

Biography

Career in Cigar Industry

Lissette Perez-Carrillo founded EPC Cigar Company LLC in 2009 with her father Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and her brother Ernesto Perez-Carrillo III.

Although still in its infancy, EPC Cigar Company has been highly acclaimed by the cigar industry. Their first cigar, E.P. Carrillo Inaugural EDition 2009, and their approach to marketing, has created an excitement in the cigar industry not seen in decades.

Lissette is not new to the cigar business as she grew up working in the El Credito Cigar Company located on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. Although many celebrities paid homage to El Credito and their stellar cigars by visiting the factory, a few of the more notable celebrities were Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. One of the most famous brands manufactured by El Credito was La Gloria Cubana (cigar brand), a brand which was eventually sold to Swedish Match in 2000.

After the sale of El Credito and prior to forming EPC Cigar Co., Lissette was graduated with honors from Columbia Law School and worked at the prestigious New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. She also holds a graduate degree in clinical psychology.

Pioneer for Hispanic Women

Even though Lissette was only one of two Hispanic females at the powerhouse lawfirm of Paul, Weiss, she was considered to be a leader of her class and was expected to attain partnership level prior to her departure to pursue other goals. And now, while Lissette is one of only a handful of women in the male-dominated cigar world, she has already established herself as a dominant figure in the industry.