Speakers 2022
The Panamá Texas Business Summit® will count on the participation of featured Speakers & Moderators leaders of local industry, government and personalities that will share the most interesting lectures and business opportunities with the attendees.
Panama Speakers
Eric Paz
Panama Conference, 9/27/2023
CEO and Chairman, Panama Texas Business Summit
Eric Paz
CEO & Chairman, Panama Texas Business Summit
Lives in Austin, Tx for 20 years. Spend several years working in his home town Panama, became a successful publicist & marketeer, running both an advertising agency & production services, (D’Arte Publicidad, full service advertising agency & Vogue Promociones, pre-production & billboard company), in the 90’s, starts his journey in hospitality (Hotel Rincon Vallero, Panamá) & president of APATEL (Panamanian Hotel Association) for 2 periods. Moved to USA in 2002 with amazing wife and two beautiful babies, “The best years of my life,” he always said. Starts working in media as a Commercial Director for the largest Hispanic Newspaper in Central Texas (El Mundo Newspaper), then moved to TV as a General Manager (Azteca America Television), few years later founded Speed Marketing Services and starts producing AutoShow TV, the only Spanish speaking automotive TV in Texas. Member of the Texas Autowriters Association, TAWA. Always fascinated & obsess with culinary and more adventures, became a Chef and launched a line of food products, among them, the popular “Paella Mix, The Easiest way to cook Paella”, a popular Paella Rice for sale in important food markets (Whole Foods, Central Market, Online, etc), opened a very popula Spanish Restaurant in Austin, “La Bodega Gourmet”. Founder of “the PAZ Family foundation” during the Pandemic year in 2020 to help feed poor families in Panamá. Continuing with a marketing spirit, create the Panama Texas Business Summit®, an Iconic business trade event in Texas in 2021& 2022.
The vision is simple
“Look for any opportunity in life you where you can see success & feel real joy doing it”
Rogelio Arias
International Peak Performance Coach
Rogelio Arias
International Peak Performance Coach
Peak performance coach with 26 years experience.
His coaching education has been, mainly, with Anthony Robbins, considered one of the world’s expert in psychology of change, personal and professional growth, leadership, and negotiation.
Certified coach by the European school of coaching TISOC.
All started with the need to gain back his health, witch he had neglected due to 10 years of hard work in building he own business.
As a result he lost 105 pounds (48 kg) and has keep it off for more and 20 years. He learned the skills to be happier and in peace, and to lower stress and anxiety, and most importantly to discover the purpose of his life.
Is the founder of his flagship program BREAKING THROUGH – THE FIRE WALK EXPERIENCE, where his guides people to walk on fire and tear down their limiting believes so they and reinvent themselves.
Founder of the REINVENT YOURSELF 2.0 methodology.
Throughout his carrier he has been personal coach to Olympic level athlete, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, high level banking executives, psychologist, nutritionist, and high level coaches.
His passion is to help people unleash their full potential and help them get the result they desire faster and easier.
Rogelio Arias is proud father of Maria Cristina and Maria del Mar. Lives in Panama City, Panama with his beloved wife Ceci.
Iván Eskildsen
Minister of Tourism of Panama
Tourism Summit
Mr. Iván. X. Eskildsen A.
Minister of Tourism
Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá
Summa Cum Laude, Bentley College, Boston, Bachelor of Finance.
Panamanian, entrepreneur with experience in the development of projects focusing on Panamanian culture and sustainability.
Had created and managed enterprises that seek to awaken young people interest in our custom. Especially strengthen community support, teamwork and changes behavior-
Before the age of 30 he founded and managed the Cubitá Project, a hotel, residential and commercial real estate complex, inspired by the architecture and traditions of the Azuero region which has cultural elements, it is the most important project in the area and has its private museum.
He has been founder and leader in different organizations, chambers and associations of private companies.
Avid volunteer engaged in regional organizations, focused on sustainable development, community projects and for many years dedicated to the study of practical philosophy and history.
Jaime Sosa
Panama General Consul in Houston
Jaime Sosa
Jaime A. Sosa was appointed by president Laurentino Cortizo as Consul of Panama in Houston. A graduate from the University of Texas in Business Administration and an MBA from Universidad del Valle in Colombia, Consul General Sosa has a distinguished career in marketing and communications having working as Marketing Manager of Cerveceria Nacional, the largest brewery in Panama, as Marketing Director of Philipp Morris Company, and as Vice President for the advertising agency BBM / Mullen Lowe. He has also directed his own market research and polling firm.
With over 40 years’ experience in business fields and attendance to conventions and symposiums in more than 20 countries, Consul Sosa brings a results-oriented approach to his government functions
Juan Carlos Sosa
Vice Minister, Foreign Trade
AMBASSADOR JUAN B. SOSA
In July 2019, Mr. Juan Carlos Sosa Quintero was appointed Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Panama by President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen.
He has more than 23 years of experience in the areas of international business, marketing, business administration and franchising. He has worked in hierarchical positions in local companies such as Importadora Maduro, S.A. and Super 99, in addition to serving in regional positions in Samsung Electronics Latin America and Dell Latin America and the Caribbean, where he has managed business units for all Latin America. He has served as a partner and CEO of distribution companies and world renown international restaurant franchises.
Mr. Sosa has also been a Director of International Consultative Councils for international franchises and Director of various national governing boards.
Vice Minister Sosa has a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from The University of Texas at Austin, as well as an MBA in International Business from Royal Holloway, University of London. Other studies include a certification program in Innovation Management from The University of California Berkeley and a certification program in Advanced Marketing from Northwestern University.
Carlos Berguido
Executive President, Panama Banking Association
Carlos Berguido
Managing Partner of KBK ABOGADOS (since 2005), which is a Law Firm specializing in Insurance Law, as well as Corporate, Commercial, Tax, Real Estate and Estate Law. Formerly, Executive Director and General Counsel to the Panamanian Association of Insurers (2003 – 2017)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Major in Accounting from the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business Administration, University of Richmond, (Virginia, USA), 1987. He is an Attorney at Law from the Catholic University Santa Maria la Antigua, Panama, Cum Laude Honors, 1994. He also has the technical certification of Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) by the Insurance Institute of America / American Institute of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters. Fluent in English and Spanish.
During his professional career, Mr. Berguido held several leadership positions in insurance companies in Panama, as well as in the largest savings and loan bank in Panama. Since 2015 he has been included into the AM Best Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys; and was a Professor of Insurance Law at the Catholic University Santa Maria La Antigua in Panama.
Francisco Cheng
President, Panama’s Real Estate Association (ACOBIR)
Francisco R. Cheng
Francisco R. Cheng, currently President of the Panamanian Association of Real Estate Brokers and Developers (ACOBIR), is founder and General Manager of the company Norte Promotora Inmobiliaria.
He has worked in different sectors, highlighting his experience as Vice President and Financial Controller at Cable & Wireless Panama. Cheng has more than 15 years of experience in real estate development.
He is a Civil Engineer graduated from Texas A&M University, has an MBA from the University of Houston and a Master of Finance from Boston College.
Adolfo Fabrega
Vice President & Director, Panama Chamber of Commerce
Adolfo Fabrega
ADOLFO FABREGA
VP & Director, Panama Chamber of Commerce
Miguel De Puy
CEO, De PUY & Associates, Legal Services
Miguel De Puy
CEO, De PUY & Associates, Legal Services
Graduado de la Universidad Santa María La Antigua y Franklin Pierce Law Center (ahora Universidad de New Hampshire), Miguel A. De Puy III trabajó durante doce años como asociado senior de la prestigiosa firma de abogados Morgan & Morgan antes de abrir su práctica legal personal.
El principal campo de especialización del Lic. De Puy es el derecho de la Propiedad Intelectual, especializándose en el registro y protección de marcas, patentes de invención, modelos de utilidad, diseños industriales y derechos de autor. Es experto en solicitudes, nulidades y cancelaciones de marcas y acciones penales contra los infractores. El Lic. De Puy redacta contratos y licencias de patentes de marcas, y maneja asuntos relacionados con franquicias y transferencias de tecnología.
Su área de práctica incluye la presentación y obtención de aprobaciones de acuerdo con los requisitos regulatorios locales, relevantes para productos tales como productos farmacéuticos, cosméticos y alimentos/bebidas. El Lic. De Puy también tiene experiencia en asuntos inmobiliarios, corporativos, turísticos y de inmigración.
El Lic. De Puy ha dado conferencias durante muchos años como profesor de derecho de propiedad intelectual en su alma mater, donde escribió una tesis muy elogiada sobre los canjes de deuda o naturaleza en la legislación de Panamá. También realiza seminarios regulares para personal de aduanas y otras organizaciones.
Como abogado ha sido identificado por Who´s Who como experto en patentes y marcas en Panamá y ha sido reconocido por su labor en negocios y operaciones internacionales de propiedad intelectual.
Participo en la modificación de Decreto Ejecutivo 123 de 1996 y el 466 del 2015, sobre medidas de Fronteras.
Ha pertenecido y pertenece a la comisión de Propiedad Intelectual del Colegio Nacional de Abogados de Panamá.
Tanto el Lic De Puy como su firma de abogados han sido seleccionados dentro de los mil (1000) como los mejores abogados a nivel mundial por la publicación World Trademark Reporter (WTR) de los años 2019, 2020, 2021 y 2022.
El Lic. De Puy también es corredor de bienes raíces con licencia.
Gloria Morales
Vice President, Panapark
Gloria Morales
Vice President, Panapark
Expert in International Trade and Supply Chain solutions, with more than 13 years of experience in Latin America, focusing on the implementation and transformation of logistics platforms and free trade zones. Her work is based on the search for operational and cost efficiencies, understanding the importance of the supply chain and how its close relation with strategic planning, manages to generate and transform cost optimization proposals into E2E implementations.
Gloria has great experience in negotiations related to air, sea, and land transport, as well as logistics operators, across management indicators and Service Level Agreements (SLA). Additionally, provides advice to companies regarding locations and the creation of productive ecosystems which promotes the generation of value chains by means of strategies in the supply chain, maintaining the holistic vision of the client.
In the new reality and regionalization of supply chains, companies must focus on the re-localization of its operations closer to the destination markets, which will give them flexibility and timely reaction to chain break.
Felipe Sánchez Gómez
CEO Erco Energy (Erco Energía USA Branch)
Felipe Sanchez Gomez
Felipe Sánchez Gómez – CEO Erco Energy (Erco Energía USA Branch)
Felipe is a Mechanical Engineer with a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a specialization in Project Management. He has a record of 10 years of experience in the energy industry, mainly focused on areas such as sales, customer relationships, project development, and business management. Felipe’s been leading the company’s expansion from Panama to Texas, building and leading the path for Erco’s international growth.
David Fonseca
Keynote Speaker, CEO Velocity, TX
David Fonseca
David Fonseca – Keynote Speaker, CEO Velocity, TX
English
David Fonseca is an accomplished CEO and business leader with over a decade of experience in launching and growing organizations. Currently serving as the CEO of VelocityTX, the innovation and venturing arm of the 10-acre Downtown Innovation District development, David has overseen and successfully completed several funded initiatives for renowned institutions, including the Economic Development Administration, the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, UT Health, and the Military (Institute of Surgical Research & 59th Wing).
David is also an active member of several boards, including Alamo Angels, a local angel network with over 100 members, Geekdom, a private incubator located in the heart of downtown San Antonio spanning 45,000 square feet, The Health Cell San Antonio, and the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), which has members in over 50 countries.
As an ecosystem builder, David is a professor in the Magister of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, where he is committed to promoting entrepreneurship on a global scale. He is also an advisor for Growth Wheel Inc. and has conducted speaking engagements across 12 countries.
David’s educational background includes a BBA in Finance and an MBA from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Young Alumni Award from Texas A&M and the Doctorado Honoris Causa from Pontificia Universidad de Huatusco, Mexico. David was also selected for the Texas 100 List, recognizing influential professionals to watch in 2023—40 under 40 for San Antonio Business Journal, and was appointed as the 502d Air Base Wing Honorary Commander.
Spanish
David Fonseca es un consumado CEO y líder empresarial con más de una década de experiencia en el lanzamiento y crecimiento de organizaciones. Actualmente se desempeña como director ejecutivo de VelocityTX, el brazo de innovación y riesgo del desarrollo del Distrito de Innovación del Centro de 10 acres, David ha supervisado y completado con éxito varias iniciativas financiadas para instituciones de renombre, incluida la Administración de Desarrollo Económico, la Ciudad de San Antonio, el Condado de Bexar , UT Health y las Fuerzas Armadas (Instituto de Investigación Quirúrgica y Ala 59).
David también es miembro activo de varias juntas, incluidas Alamo Angels, una red local de ángeles con más de 100 miembros, Geekdom, una incubadora privada ubicada en el corazón del centro de San Antonio que abarca 45,000 pies cuadrados, The Health Cell San Antonio y International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), que tiene miembros en más de 50 países.
Como constructor de ecosistemas, David es profesor en el Magíster de Innovación y Emprendimiento de la Universidad del Rosario en Colombia, donde está comprometido con promover el emprendimiento a escala global. También es asesor de Growth Wheel Inc. y harealizado conferencias en 12 países.
La formación académica de David incluye una licenciatura en finanzas y una maestría en administración de empresas de Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Ha recibido numerosos elogios a lo largo de su carrera, incluido el Young Alumni Award de Texas A&M y el Doctorado Honoris Causa de la Pontificia Universidad de Huatusco, México. David también fue seleccionado para la Lista Texas 100, que reconoce a los profesionales influyentes para observar en 2023: 40 menores de 40 años para el San Antonio Business Journal, y fue designado Comandante Honorario del Ala de la Base Aérea 502d.
Sebastian Garzon
Workshop, CEO Alamo Angels
Sebastian Garzon
Workshop, CEO Alamo Angels
Juan “Sebastian” Garzon serves as Executive Director for Alamo Angels and Programs Manager for VelocityTX. In these roles, Sebastian supports early-stage companies by providing them access to funding and resources to accelerate their growth. Sebastian is also an adjunct faculty member at Trinity University, teaching their student-managed venture fund course. He also owns Passport2Fluency, a company that helps people improve on their Spanish skills.
Jorge Saa
President MICROSOFT Panama
Jorge Saa
Jorge Saa – President MICROSOFT Panama
Jorge Saa, un veterano de la industria tecnológica con 28 años de experiencia trabajando para diferentes organizaciones, es el Gerente país de Microsoft para Panamá. Jorge inició su recorrido por el mundo tecnológico, liderando las operaciones de tecnología de Carvajal en México; posteriormente, lideró equipos de desarrollo de software para Cocelco Colombia (hoy Movistar), de donde pasó a ser parte del grupo de consultoría y servicios profesionales de Microsoft. Allí creó una práctica que, en conjunto con los socios de negocio, lideraron procesos de modernización de entidades bancarias en el Caribe y Centroamérica. En el 2009 se vinculó a la multinacional Ericsson donde tuvo la responsabilidad de liderar el negocio de soluciones de OSS/BSS para Latinoamérica, alianzas globales con socios tecnológicos y el proceso de transformación de esa organización entre los años 2009 y 2018. Regresó a Microsoft en 2019 para liderar la unidad técnica de preventa para las grandes cuentas de Centroamérica. En este rol, Jorge ha llevado el poder de la nube de Microsoft a organizaciones de toda la región, desarrollando un potente ecosistema de personas, habilidades, socios y soluciones, que han sido determinantes para afrontar la nueva realidad a la que se han visto abocadas las organizaciones y mediante la transformación digital, permitir la continuidad de negocios para un mundo híbrido.
Jorge es Ingeniero Eléctrico, formado en la Universidad de los Andes en Colombia. Ha complementado esta formación con programas de negocios, gestión e innovación en el Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, INALDE Business School en Bogotá y la Universidad de Boston en los Estados Unidos. Adicionalmente, ha asistido al programa de formación de líderes y coaches de Coaching Hall Internacional. Esta pasión por el aprendizaje se ha reflejado en su dedicación al apoyo a instituciones del sector educativo, para sacar provecho de los beneficios de la transformación digital en la educación, así como el impacto de las tecnologías en la sostenibilidad y la reducción de la huella de carbono de las instituciones, mediante el uso de las soluciones en nube de Microsoft.
Carmen Gisela Fernandez
Carmen Gisela Fernandez
Carmen Gisela Fernandez
A lawyer by trade, Ambassador Carmen Gisela Vergara has more than 20 years of experience in business development, exports, trade negotiations, competitiveness and facilitation of international trade, among others. She is the Executive Director of PROPANAMA, Panama’s national agency responsible for the attraction of foreign investment and promotion of Panamanian exports.
Ambassador Vergara has previously served in roles such as Secretary General of the Central American Economic Integration System (SIECA), Executive Director of the Federation of Chambers of Industry of Central America (FECAICA), Panama’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, Director for Panama at the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Manager of Panama’s Technological Business Accelerator, and has represented Panama in roles such as Alternate Delegate to the OAS.
Abogada de profesión, la Embajadora Carmen Gisela Vergara tiene más de 20 años de experiencia en desarrollo empresarial, exportaciones, negociaciones comerciales, competitividad y facilitación del comercio internacional, entre otros. Es la Directora Ejecutiva de PROPANAMA, la agencia nacional de Panamá responsable por la atracción de inversión extranjera y promoción de las exportaciones panameñas.
La Embajadora Vergara se ha desempeñado anteriormente en cargos como Secretaria General de la Secretaría de Integración Económica Centroamericana (SIECA), Directora Ejecutiva de la Federación de Cámaras y Asociaciones Industriales de Centroamérica y República Dominicana (FECAICA), Ministra de Comercio e Industrias, Viceministra de Comercio Exterior, Directora ante la Junta Directiva del Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica en representación de Panamá (BCIE), Gerente del Acelerador Tecnológico Empresarial de la Ciudad del Saber, y ha representado a Panamá como Delegada Alterna ante la OEA. (512) 577 – 5251 www.panamatexasbiz.com eric.paz@sbcglobal.net
USA Speakers
Jenna Saucedo-Herrera
CEO, Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership
Jenna Saucedo-Herrera
CEO, Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership
Jenna Saucedo-Herrera is the CEO of greater:SATX, a regional economic partnership charged with growing and diversifying the eight county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. In this role, Jenna and her team work closely with the regional business community and government to recruit new companies, foster global business relationships, help local companies grow, and build the local talent pipeline.
During her five-year tenure at the helm of San Antonio’s economic development team, greater:SATX has secured over twenty three thousand jobs for the region through recruitment and expansion projects that include: Ernst & Young, Victory Capital, Navistar, and Aisin.
Robert Cowes
President & CEO
SmartTouch® Interactive
Robert Cowes
President, CEO SmartTouch® Interactive
A native of Panama, and long time resident of Austin, Robert Co-Founded SmartTouch® Interactive in 2010. He leads marketing strategy for agency clients and overseas software product management for SmartTouch® NexGen as well. Former baseball player and retired surfer sports nut, he brings a BBA in Finance and Marketing from St. Edward’s University and MBA from Southwest Texas University and 20+ years of accountable real estate marketing experience helping to drive over 5 Billion in real estate sales from marketing programs he has lead in his career. He loves real estate marketing and green SO MUCH he started a firm dedicated to All Lines In!
Jesus Saenz
Director, San Antonio Airports
Jesus Saenz
Director, San Antonio Airports
In January 2020, Jesus H. Saenz Jr., IAP, was appointed to serve as the city’s Director of Airport’s. In this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the San Antonio Airport System, made up of the San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport. Combined the airports account for economic impact of more than $ 5.2 billion annually and support approximately 46,000 jobs in the region.
Mr. Saenz brings a strong focus on strategic planning initiatives to enhance customer experience, shepherd the airports capital improvement projects and increase the international airports air service, both domestic and international.
Previously, Mr. Saenz was Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Houston Airport System (HAS). As the COO, Mr. Saenz oversaw strategic and business plan development, business process re-engineering, implementing of technologically complex projects and airport operations.
He has held a wide range of positions, including General Manager for William P. Hobby Airport Assistant Director of Administration and Customer Service at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Assistant Director of Transportation at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Acting Assistant Director of Operations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Senior Superintendent, Superintendent and Customer Service Manager.
During his nearly 20-year aviation career he has become an accredited executive of the Global ACI-ICAO Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP-IAP). He is designated as an International Airport Professional. He is also an active member of the Airports Council International Facilitation Team and AAE member. Mr. Saenz obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from University of Houston-Downtown.
Dan Geddes
President Frost Bank
Dan Geddes
President Frost Bank
Dan Geddes was born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and raised in Katy, Texas. He is a 1996 graduate of Trinity University earning a BS in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance. Dan started his career with Frost Bank in January 1997 in San Antonio as a Credit Analyst in the Credit Department. Dan worked in the Commercial Real Estate Lending Group in San Antonio before moving to Houston in 1999. In Houston, he was a commercial lender focused primarily on commercial real estate lending until 2012 when he moved to Credit Administration as a Production Credit Officer. In October 2014, Dan became the Sales Manager of the Commercial Real Estate Group in Houston. Beginning in October 2018, Dan became the Houston Expansion Execution Leader responsible for the completion and performance of the 25 Branch expansion effort. Currently, Geddes serves as the San Antonio Regional President.
Dan married his high school sweetheart, Missy. They reside in Boerne, Texas and have four children after living in Katy, Texas for the last twenty years. While in Katy, Dan was a member of Church of the King where he served as an Usher and Small Group Leader while his hobbies focus on family activities, personal fitness, golf, reading and enjoying their family cabin in South Fork, Colorado.
Mabel Guzman
ABR, NAHREP, CIPS, AHWD, Real Estate International Specialist
Mabel Guzman
ABR, NAHREP, CIPS, AHWD, Real Estate International Specialist
Mabél Guzmán (ABR, CIPS, AHWD), is a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States as a child and raised in Chicago, where she is a REALTOR® for more than 21 years. She is the NAR 2020 Vice-Chair for the Insurance Committee and Chair for the Business Insurance Work Group and Government Affairs Director for NAHREP Chicago North.
Mabél is a broker at Coldwell Banker in Chicago, where she specializes in residential real estate, works with investors on rehabbed properties focused in under-served communities and first time home buyers and sellers.
Economic development, housing advocacy, and public policy are Mabél’s passions. At the national level, she has been a member of NAR’s Board of Directors on and off since 2009 and has previously served on the Executive Committee. On behalf of the National Association of REALTORS®, Mabél testified before the House Financial Services Committee in 2019 about the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.
In 2020 she served as Vice President of Association Affairs of the National Association of REALTORS®, where she collaborated with six Committee Liaisons, and had purview of 53 committees, councils, forums, advisory groups and boards.
In 2014 she served as Chair of the Conventional Financing and Policy Committee, where she also testified on behalf of NAR’s more than one million members before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Urban Affairs and Banking on “Inequality and Opportunity in the Housing Market.”
At the state level, Mabél served on the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors from 2009 to 2011. In 2014, 2015, and 2018 she received the Illinois REALTORS® President’s Medallion for Outstanding Service. In 2020 received the Distinguished Service Award from Illinois Realtors; the last Distinguished Service Award was given by Illinois Realtors in 2013. In November 2021 she represented Illinois Realtors and testified before the Housing Committee regarding American Rescue Plan funding and using these funds to spur housing development and redevelopment of abandoned properties.
Mabél is also a member of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and served as its Treasurer in 2009 and President in 2011. In 2012, the Chicago Association of REALTORS® named Mabél their REALTOR® of the Year. In 2016, she received the Community Service Award and in 2021 She received the Realtor Achievement Award for her work in the industry.
Mabél cares deeply about community service and has frequently partnered with Habitat for Humanity, One Hope United, and the First United Methodist Homeless Ministry called Hope’s Table. She is a longtime member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and was recognized in 2012 with a Community Service Award. She was named 2009 Member of the Year by the Women’s Council of REALTORS® (WCR) of Chicago.
Robert Miggins
CEO, Big Sun Solar
Robert Miggins
CEO, Big Sun Solar
Robert co-founded Big Sun Solar to be a part of the future of energy. He believes moving to more renewable energy is not just the right thing to do, but it creates opportunities, jobs and growth. Prior to founding GSS, he spent 15 years in executive leadership roles at high growth web hosting and cloud computing companies – first at Rackspace as Vice President Sales and Product Development and then at Peer1 Hosting as Senior Vice President Business Development. He holds a BA in economics from Washington and Lee University and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business. A native Houstonian, Robert lives in San Antonio with his wife and 4 kids.
Angela Chao
CEO, Foremost Group
Angela Chao
CEO, Foremost Group
Angela Chao is Chair and C.E.O. of Foremost Group, an American shipping company with headquarters in New York. Foremost Group is an industry leader in incorporating fuelefficient designs and technology in its fleet of modern and ecofriendly bulk carriers and has a worldwide reputation for its commitment to reliability, exceptional performance and high ethical standards. Before taking the helm of Foremost Group, Angela Chao worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Department of Smith Barney, now a part of Morgan Stanley. She holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard where she graduated magna cum laude in three years and earned her MBA degree from Harvard Business School. After Harvard Business School, she rejoined Foremost Group, first concentrating on the fundamentals of ship operations and ship management while overseeing the implementation of Foremost’s Safety Management System to comply with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and then in later years, the fleet’s Vessel Security Plans in compliance with the IMO’s International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. In 2019, she was named Chair and C.E.O. of Foremost Group. Angela serves on a number of public and nonprofit boards, including Bank of China, CoChair of The Asian-American Foundation’s Advisory Council, Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors, the American Bureau of Shipping Council, Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s International Maritime Business Department Advisory Board, the Founding Board Council of the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Chairman’s Council of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theatre’s Global Advisory Board, Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy Board of Advisors, the Hospital for Special Surgery’s International Advisory Board, the Shanghai Mulan Education Foundation, and Foremost Foundation. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, serves on the “The Young Leaders Forum” of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and is an international advisor of Wuhan Municipal People’s Government as well as the Honorary Chairperson of the Chiao-Tung University Alumni Association in America. Previously, Angela served on the Boards of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Lincoln Center Global’s China Advisory Council, Museum of Modern Art PS1, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Executive Committee of the Baltic International Maritime Council (BIMCO). Her philanthropic activities are a natural outgrowth of her parents’ upbringing who instilled in their six daughters a strong work ethic and sense of obligation to give back to the community. As a Texan, she is an ardent supporter of many of America’s most iconic cultural institutions, especially in the arts and opera.
Marina Gonzales
President of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Marina Gonzales
President of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Marina Gonzales serves as President & CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC), overseeing and executing its mission to serve as the leading resource, advocate and access point for Hispanic Businesses and Hispanics in business. As the oldest and largest Hispanic chamber in the nation, SAHCC serves over 900 corporate, locally owned and non-profit businesses.
Prior to her role at the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Marina served as President & CEO of Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA), the only non-profit in Bexar County providing trained court-appointed advocates to foster children recovering from abuse and neglect, with over 45 staff members and 600 volunteer Advocates. Marina joined CASA from CentroMed, where she served as an executive overseeing government and legal affairs.
Jorge Canavati
President of Canavati & CO. LLC. Logistics
Jorge Canavati
President of Canavati & CO. LLC. LogisticsDe PUY & Associates, Legal Services
Marc Anderson
President & CEO of Visit San Antonio
Marc Anderson
President & CEO, Visit San Antonio
As President and CEO of Visit San Antonio, Marc Anderson is a leading figure in San Antonio’s $15.2 billion hospitality industry, the third-largest business sector in the community. San Antonio ranks as the top tourism destination in the state of Texas, attracting more than 40 million visitors in 2019.
Anderson, who joined Visit San Antonio in May 2021, has nearly three decades of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, including work in global sales, marketing, public relations and e-commerce. For six years before heading to Texas, Anderson was Chief Operating Officer for Choose Chicago, the sales and marketing entity for the City of Chicago, and McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America. When he arrived at Choose Chicago in 2015, he implemented a short-term leisure and group marketing strategy that dramatically increased short-term business in a 36-month window for McCormick Place and city hotels.
Most recently, Anderson was critical in the rebuilding of Chicago’s hospitality industry by designing and implementing a tactical COVID-19 Recovery Plan that included dynamic sales, marketing and media relations initiatives to generate new short-term group and leisure opportunities. He is introducing a similar proactive strategy in spearheading the rehabilitation of San Antonio’s impactful travel landscape.
Anderson, a graduate of Drake University, owns extensive international experience, promoting the United States as well as developing new territories with influential relationships in Canada, China and the Middle East. Prior to Choose Chicago, Anderson was the Regional Director of Marketing for The Peninsula Hotels, for which he oversaw the regional sales, marketing, public relations and e-commerce office for all the company’s business development in the Midwest and Canada.
Anderson is currently on the Board of Directors for the United States Travel Association (USTA), an Executive Committee Member of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition, co-Chair of the USTA CEO Roundtable and is a member on Destination International’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In addition, he was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). In September 2018 and October 2019, he was named one of the Top 500 Leaders in the Events Industry/Top 20 DMO Leaders in North America.
Anderson has completed Executive Edge programs with The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
Anderson and his wife, Brooke, are parents to college-age daughters, Avery and Lily. They all join him in relocating to San Antonio.
Eduardo Beraim
Executive VP, International Business, Frost Bank
Eduardo Beraim
Executive VP, International Business, Frost Bank
Eduardo M. Beraim is the statewide manager of Frost’s private banking, international private banking and consumer residential lending groups. He joined Frost in 2002 and has more than 28 years of experience in the financial industry. Eduardo received a Bachelor of Science in agribusiness from Texas A&M University and attended the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.
In addition to his work at Frost, he is a member of the investment committee of the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation and previously served as board member and treasurer of San Antonio Mexico Friendship Council and as a board member of Ronald McDonald Houses Charities of San Antonio. Eduardo is also a life member of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
He enjoys outdoor activities with his family including fly fishing, hunting, skiing, playing golf and horseback riding.
William Jang
Sole Practitioner, Immigration Legal Services
William Jang
Sole Practitioner, Immigration Legal Services
William Jang is a sole practitioner who has focused on immigration law since he opened his law firm in Austin, Texas in April 1999. His firm assists clients to obtain and renew various U.S. nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and citizenship. He and his wife, May, are parents of twin boys who are now attending universities.
Antonio Calzada-Rovirosa
Advisor & Leader, Professional Services
Antonio Calzada-Rovirosa
Advisor & Leader, Professional Services
Advisor and leader, delivering and managing professional services to organizations, including private corporations, government, donors, foundations and non-profit organizations across North & Latin America, and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Extensive business development and export experience, Thought leader given program presentations and conferences across the world in the development, international markets & exporting (FAO/United Nations, USAID, World Bank, Interamerican Development Bank, National & Provincial Governments, Corporations).
Chris Corso
Director of Client Development, Joeris General Contractors
Chris Corso
Sebastian Garzon
Executive Director for Alamo Angels and Programs Manager for VelocityTX
Sebastian Garzon
Executive Director for Alamo Angels and Programs Manager for VelocityTX
Juan “Sebastian” Garzon serves as Executive Director for Alamo Angels and Programs Manager for VelocityTX. In these roles, Sebastian supports early-stage companies by providing them access to funding and resources to accelerate their growth. Sebastian is also an adjunct faculty member at Trinity University, teaching their student-managed venture fund course. He also owns Passport2Fluency, a company that helps people improve on their Spanish skills.
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