Incoming President at the Centro Unido de Detallistas (United Retailers Assn.)

President at Barquin International and Owner, Barquin International

Chairman- Atlantic University College

C-type level executive with domestic and international engagements. Solid experience in management, entrepreneurship, government, and international business t

Incoming President at the Centro Unido de Detallistas (United Retailers Assn.)

President at Barquin International and Owner, Barquin International

Chairman- Atlantic University College

C-type level executive with domestic and international engagements. Solid experience in management, entrepreneurship, government, and international business transactions with global management skills. Direct experience in all business cycles, founding, growing, capitalizing, and managing multimillion dollar enterprises. Founder/manager of over a dozen companies. Advisor to chief executives in the public and private sectors. Interested in sound business opportunities in the information and communications technology sector, as well as early-stage startups.

Specialties: Core Competencies: Globalization, Foreign Markets, Communications, C&IT, P&L, Budget, Strategic Planning, Forecasting, Turnaround, Mergers/Acquisitions, Leadership, Public Affairs, Marketing, Sales, Service Quality, Advertising, Supply Chain, Finance, Accounting, Management, Information Systems & Technology

Currently Juan is the President of the Florida Hispanic/American Chamber of Commerce in Palm Beach County.  In which our mission is to improve and expand the relationship between Large and Small and Minority Businesses, while interacting and learning about our business member’s products and services. Promote business opportunities for our

Currently Juan is the President of the Florida Hispanic/American Chamber of Commerce in Palm Beach County.  In which our mission is to improve and expand the relationship between Large and Small and Minority Businesses, while interacting and learning about our business member’s products and services. Promote business opportunities for our members locally, statewide and across the Nation. Create new and better ways to bring together the businesses and the community in Florida.

·  Juan J. Pagan is an Executive Search consultant with Global Recruiters of West Palm Beach with over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry with Eli Lilly and Company. While working within Eli Lilly, Juan worked and lived in Puerto Rico, Philippines, and the US. He had numerous cross-functional experiences within the USA and Latin America/International markets. These ranged from sales management, sales training in the domestic USA and Latin America, managed care leadership roles, marketing management and human resources in both the United States and International markets.

Former President PR CPA's in FL, PR Chamber of Commerce of CFL

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Major Accounting) from the Univ. of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, Notary Public in the State of Florida, Certified Public Accountant in Puerto Rico and Florida State and with more than 25 years as a

Former President PR CPA's in FL, PR Chamber of Commerce of CFL

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Major Accounting) from the Univ. of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, Notary Public in the State of Florida, Certified Public Accountant in Puerto Rico and Florida State and with more than 25 years as a Strategic Multidisciplinary Certified Public Accountant (CPA), (CGMA), Federal Funds Consultant, Financial Statements Audits, Single Audits Compilations, Mergers, Acquisitions, Tax Compliance, Bookkeeping Services, Controllership Services and Financial Auditor with an eye for solutions to complex issues within the Industry.

Areas of Expertise:

± External Auditing
± Insurance Claim Litigation Support
± Tax Compliance
± Bookkeeping Services
± Controllership

What to expect:

± Professionalism
± Personalize Service
± Integrity
± Clarity
± Efficiency

Luis Torres Llompart is a Director at Alvarado Tax and Business Advisors since December 2020. Luis has more than 30 years of experience in private and public accounting and has specialized in providing consulting in business, financial and operational areas, auditing, accounting systems, financial reporting and others. His exposure is var

Luis Torres Llompart is a Director at Alvarado Tax and Business Advisors since December 2020. Luis has more than 30 years of experience in private and public accounting and has specialized in providing consulting in business, financial and operational areas, auditing, accounting systems, financial reporting and others. His exposure is varied, including, among others, manufacturing, hotel (leisure time), retail and wholesale, insurance, pension and welfare funds and construction. He has been in public accounting starting at Laventhol & Horwath International Firm.

Member of
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants , Puerto Rico State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Public Accountant (Puerto Rico, Florida, New York and New Jersey) , Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) , Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Participant in the Executive Education Program of the Hispanic Association of Corporate Responsibility Alumni in Harvard Business School, and Thunderbird Executive Education Entrepreneurial Mentorship Program at Arizona State University.

Professional Activities:
Vice-Chair of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2005-2006), Chair of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (2000-2001), Chair of the Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants (1996-1997), Member of the Puerto Rico Board of Accountancy (1999-2000), Delegate of the White House Conference on Small Business Administration (SBA) (1998-2001), Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Former part-time professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan

Recognitions:
International Trade Award – Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (2010), Top Management Award – Association of Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) (2009), Ambassador of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (2008), Figura del Momento (Top Personality Recognition), El Nuevo Día Newspaper, Puerto Rico (1999 and 2005), University of Puerto Rico Distinguished Alumni Award in Business (2001), PR Society of Certified Public Accountants, Distinguished Award in Puerto Rico Economic Development (2001) , among others.

Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. 

Skilled in Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Advisory, Restructuring, Financial Advice, Corporate Financial Planning, Securities, Debt Structures, Tax Credit Advisory, Consultancy, Asset Management, and Management. 

Strong leade

Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. 

Skilled in Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Advisory, Restructuring, Financial Advice, Corporate Financial Planning, Securities, Debt Structures, Tax Credit Advisory, Consultancy, Asset Management, and Management. 

Strong leader with a strong focus in developing business, assisting clients with complex matters. Member of the Association of Insolvency and restructuring Advisors (AIRA), Healthcare Financial Management Association,and Advanced studies in Risk Management and Chief Lending Officers Advanced Program among others. 

Author of the weekly financial column Think Strategically published weekly in Caribbean Business. Author of the monthly newsletter The Zenith Investor.

President & Chief Executive Officer

Birling Capital Advisors LLC

Previously:

Managing Director

UBS

President and CEOPresident and CEO

Banco de Desarrollo Económico para Puerto Rico

Vice President, Chief Lending Officer, Corporate & Commercial Banking and Investment Banking.Vice President, Chief Lending Officer, Corporate & Commercial Banking and Investment Banking-

Oriental Bank

Presidents Award Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce 2010
Caribbean Business Person of the Year 2009.
Presidents Award for Outstanding Service 2009, Puerto Rico Products Association.
Home Builders Achievement Award 2009
Presidents Award for Outstanding Service 2008- Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce
El Vocero Newspaper Leaders Award 2008.
Top Management Award 2006, SME Banker of the Year.
Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Zenit Awards Banker of the Year 2006 9. Banker of the year 2004 Puerto Rico Products Association.
Zenit Award Public Service 2004 Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce.
Mercury Award Banker of the Year 2004, Centro Unido de Detallistas.

As a researcher and consultant, he has specialized in economic issues and international relations in Latin America with emphasis on the Caribbean Basin and Cuba. 

He holds a PhD in International Business and is Professor and Director of the Graduate Program at the School of Business of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropoli

As a researcher and consultant, he has specialized in economic issues and international relations in Latin America with emphasis on the Caribbean Basin and Cuba. 

He holds a PhD in International Business and is Professor and Director of the Graduate Program at the School of Business of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus. His articles have been published in specialized journals in Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States and Europe. He is the author of several books including The Caribbean in Cuba's Foreign Policy, published in the Dominican Republic in 1991, Intellectuals vs. Revolution? published in Canada in 2001, Business Opportunities in Cuba. What can Puerto Rico expect?, published in Puerto Rico in 2010 and Tourism in the Caribbean: Past, Present and Future, published in the United States this year. He has given lectures and courses at several universities in the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean.

In turn, Gerardo González was President of the Puerto Rican Association of International Relations.

He presides  the Puerto Rico - Cuba Future Committee and is the Board Mentor to the Economic Development Committee.

Luis G. Rivera-Marín is Of Counsel at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. Luis brings extensive experience in both the private and public sector, having practiced law in the private sector for more than two decades. Before entering public service, Mr. Rivera-Marín litigated commercial cases and served as counsel for several local and internat

Luis G. Rivera-Marín is Of Counsel at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. Luis brings extensive experience in both the private and public sector, having practiced law in the private sector for more than two decades. Before entering public service, Mr. Rivera-Marín litigated commercial cases and served as counsel for several local and international firms in Puerto Rico. Rivera-Marín has advised Puerto Rico’s principal financial institutions in compliance and secured transactions issues, and has served in the Board of Governors of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Rivera Marín also served in various corporate positions leading the expansion of businesses in Puerto Rico. 

Rivera-Marín served as the island’s 25th Secretary of State. He was a member of all Executive Branch councils and, in coordination with the US Department of State, the official representative of the US territory of Puerto Rico in all international and consular affairs. Additionally, Rivera-Marín held the position of Chief  Economic Development Advisor to the Governor. 

Rivera-Marín served as secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs, which regulated the island’s housing, commerce and energy sectors. He also served as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, where he promoted the island as an investment and travel destination, and regulated the gaming industry. Concurrently, he chaired several government boards, including the Hotel Development Corporation, the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, the Tourism Development Fund, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, and the Administration of Traffic Accident Compensations. Rivera-Marín led the committee that steered the successful San Juan International Airport public, private partnership concession, the first in the nation awarded by the Department of Transportation of the United States.

Director, Mission Integration (SES) at Office of the Secretary of Defense / Former Lt Governor / Secretary of State / Secretary of Public Safety of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, USA / Commanding Officer, NR ONR 214

Progressive executive leader, operational strategist, proven crisis action manager, and trusted advisor with record of soun

Director, Mission Integration (SES) at Office of the Secretary of Defense / Former Lt Governor / Secretary of State / Secretary of Public Safety of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, USA / Commanding Officer, NR ONR 214

Progressive executive leader, operational strategist, proven crisis action manager, and trusted advisor with record of sound leadership in state and federal government. Driver of innovation in government and programs to support military and civilian missions. Exceptional collaborator who quickly dissolves obstacles to gain cooperation with national and international partners to reach national interest goals.

Elmer Roman serves as the Director of Mission Integration (MI) for Mission Capabilities (MC) in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E). In this role, he directs MI in developing mission-based inputs for the requirements process, improves Joint Force capability integration and experimentation, and informs the development and maturation of joint warfighting concepts and operational plans. He is focused on bringing together the technical infrastructure and expertise for mission engineering analysis. This includes the data, modeling and simulation, and training, to evaluate and address end-to-end mission-based capability gaps to guide key enterprise technology investment decisions.

Prior to assuming his current duties, Mr. Roman served as Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Public Safety of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He was also the Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor of Puerto Rico. His experience includes serving as Director of the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) Program within OUSD(R&E), for which he directed the planning and transition of new capabilities to the Joint Forces and National Security Agencies. He served as Oversight Executive for International Cooperation and Asymmetric Warfare programs, implementing Department of Defense efforts in security cooperation, humanitarian assistance, disaster management, fighting transnational organized crime, and capacity building for allied countries. From 2005 to 2010, he served in a diplomatic assignment as Regional Director of the Office of Naval Research Global at the United States Embassy in Santiago, Chile. 

Mr. Roman holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He graduated from the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School, the United States Navy Senior Engineering Duty Officer School, and the Federal Executive Institute of the United States Office of Personnel Management. 

Nationally recognized as an "entrepreneur in the business of helping entrepreneurs," Dr. Tom O'Neal is dedicated to creating and supporting successful and sustainable innovation ecosystems in Florida, USA and worldwide. Tom's efforts focus on building strong research programs at UCF and the transfer and commercialization of research resul

Nationally recognized as an "entrepreneur in the business of helping entrepreneurs," Dr. Tom O'Neal is dedicated to creating and supporting successful and sustainable innovation ecosystems in Florida, USA and worldwide. Tom's efforts focus on building strong research programs at UCF and the transfer and commercialization of research results into the marketplace. This work helps to build an innovation based economy for Central Florida.

Currently, Tom is the Associate Vice President of Research & Commercialization at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He also serves as the Executive Director of the UCF Business Incubation Program (UCFBIP) and the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (FEGI). Some of his areas of responsibility include the sponsored programs office, technology transfer, compliance, the venture lab, the UCF Business Incubation Program and the Florida's Economic Gardening Institute. Tom has been part of UCF's Office of Research & Commercialization team working to help UCF become a leading metropolitan research university since 2000. He also serves as a core member of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

Tom has assisted in the formation of numerous companies and the commercialization of technologies developed at UCF. In 1999, Tom established the UCF Technology Incubator of which he serves as the Founding Director. Under Tom's leadership, The UCF Business Incubation Program (UCFBIP) has expanded to 10 locations. The UCF Business Incubator earned "Incubator of the Year" by the National Business Incubator Association (NBIA) where he currently serves as a board member and has "helped more than 170 emerging companies that create more than $500 million in annual revenue and accounted for more than 1,650 new jobs in the local area in 2009, with an average salary of $59,000." firstMONDAY magazine. (December 3, 2010).

Tom joined the UCF staff as the Associate Director for the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) in 1991. In this capacity, he was responsible for the business and administrative functions of the Center. The Center has become one of the nation's top centers for education and research in optical sciences and engineering.

Since 1975, he has been an active member of the business community in Florida. He founded his first start-up company at age 18, which he successfully operated until pursuing a full-time college career. Tom then entered the high-tech business arena as a project engineer for a computer manufacturing company. Prior to joining UCF, he served as a Technology Specialist and Financial Director for a $40 million project with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency for Florida's state university system.

Tom's research interests include the subjects of business incubation, entrepreneurship, and economic development; his dissertation was on effective incubation practices. He has secured funding from the Kauffman Foundation, the NSF, the NCIIA, the DOE, and many state and government agencies and others to support entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives. He is the current president of the Florida Business Incubation Association (FBIA) and serves on the board of the National Business Incubator Association. The latest initiative under his direction is serving as the Director of Florida's Economic Gardening Institute, a program designed to assist second stage growth companies.

Tom earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, a Master of Science in Engineering Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida.

With support from organizations like GrowFL and the entrepreneurs they serve, Florida will be a stronger and more resilient state. In fact, a recent report by Florida Tax Watch noted that continued investment in GrowFL programs to help scalable growth companies would produce an added 43,000 private sector, non-farm jobs statewide, with an average salary of over $97,000. Also, these efforts would help to produce more than $4.6 billion in added personal income for Floridians. Entrepreneurial support and advancement are indeed good for all of Florida, the USA and the world. 

Jorge brings vast experience in senior PR & US governmental affairs and international business to our board. 

A graduate of Yale, UPR, Copenhagen Business School  & Texas McCombs with an MBA, International Marketing & JD degrees.

🎓 Interim Dean of CUNY's School of Professional Studies in NYC, with over 4,000 Bachelor's and Master's student

Jorge brings vast experience in senior PR & US governmental affairs and international business to our board. 

A graduate of Yale, UPR, Copenhagen Business School  & Texas McCombs with an MBA, International Marketing & JD degrees.

🎓 Interim Dean of CUNY's School of Professional Studies in NYC, with over 4,000 Bachelor's and Master's students and over 32,000 workforce development participants. SPS is ranked #10 nationwide by US News & World Report for online Bachelor programs.

🎓 Previously, Provost at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I lead its transformation to a remote teaching institution with a full conversion to the Canvas LMS, integrating Zoom, Panopto and various AI/ML edtech tools.

🎓 For the last eight years I have also taught business and entrepreneurship at Hostos Community College (CUNY), Sagrado, & NYU.

🏛️ Before academia, he served as President Obama's appointee as SBA Administrator for Region II in NYC, leading SBA’s programs in NY, NJ, PR & USVI => over 2.7 million small businesses, and portfolio of over $6.1 billion in guaranteed loans.

🏛️ Before SBA, served as Chief of Staff to Puerto Rico's Governor Acevedo Vilá and held senior government positions, including Secretary of Economic Development & Commerce, Executive Director of the PR Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) and President of the Economic Development Bank for PR (EDB). Served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of PRIDCO, PR Tourism Company, PR Commerce and Trade Company and PR Science and Technology Trust, among others.

 Previous to government roles, spent 13 years in the private sector: as brand manager at Procter & Gamble; VP at Citigroup; and attorney at O’Neill & Borges.

Dr. Arleen Hernández-Díaz is a full professor of Human Resources Management at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She received her doctoral degree in Industrial Relations with specialization in Collective Bargaining and Human Resources Management at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In 2011 she earned a post-doctoral 

Dr. Arleen Hernández-Díaz is a full professor of Human Resources Management at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She received her doctoral degree in Industrial Relations with specialization in Collective Bargaining and Human Resources Management at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In 2011 she earned a post-doctoral degree in Management and Marketing at Tulane University in New Orleans.  During her thirty years career as a full professor at the University of Puerto Rico, she has served in several academic management positions, such as Director of the Department of Management, Assistant Dean of Students Affairs, Assistant Dean of Graduate Students, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, and Coordinator of Enlace Program at the College of Business. Dr. Hernandez-Díaz is the Coordinator of the Bank of America Jobs Initiative at UPR from 2021. In August 2022, she became the Director of Academic Strategic Planning at UPR-Central Administration as a member of the Academic Strategies Team of the Office of the President. Her research interest and publications are concentrated in the areas of human resources management, part-time employment, labor management relations, entrepreneurship and mobility.