[1] He attended Indiana University Southeast, but his college education was interrupted by his military service.

[2][3] Garten served his country as a United States Marine between 2001 and 2021, which included two combat tours in Iraq.

[4] In 2007, shortly after returning home from his second deployment, Garten founded Signature Countertops, Inc. in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and remains the company's owner and president.

He previously served as Vice-President of the Scott County Chamber of Commerce and on the Indiana Builders Association Board.

[13] In 2022, Garten was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Indiana Bankers Association[14] and the Disabled American Veterans.

In 2012, the Indiana Southeast Business Development Center recognized him as "Young Entrepreneur of the Year.