Panel Speakers

A Changing America: Challenges and Opportunities in Catering to the Hispanic/Latino Growth Market

LESLIE HEREDIA Panel Director

MBA Candidate, 2005

Moderator FERNANDO VALENZUELA

Institute for Enterprise Development IDEAS

Founder & Director

Founded in 2003, IDEAS brings together the academic and business world helping Latin American / Hispanic businesses develop creative approaches to address: 1) Corporate Governance and Ethics in business 2) Benefits derived from technology such as outsourcing, mobility, CRM, IT-on-demand. 3) The US Hispanic and Latin America market’s growth and integration opportunities.

Mr. Valenzuela has 9+ years consulting and work experience in establishing businesses serving Latin America and US Hispanic markets for companies: Hewlett-Packard, EDS, Ticketmaster, Telmex, Codetel, Verizon, AT&T, Terra, Teletech, Qwest, Telefonica, America Movil, American Express, Capital One, Santander, Banamex, Ford, Volkswagen, Cemex, Xerox, Aeromexico, US Embassy, Siebel, Oracle, SAP.

Fernando has a B.S. in Computer Science from Universidad Iberoamericana, MBA from University of Miami and member of the Society of Wharton Fellows.

JOSE RAUL PEREZ

People en Español

Consumer Marketing Director

People en Español launched in 1998 and is the best-selling U.S. Hispanic magazine with over four million readers.

José Raul Pérez joined People en Español as the Consumer Marketing Director in 2002, leading the magazine’s circulation and consumer marketing staff.  Mr. Perez is responsible for subscription and retail marketing, publication profitability and expanding the universe of potential subscribers.

Mr. Pérez began his career at Time Inc in 1983 as Fulfillment Manager for Sports Illustrated.  During his tenure, he pioneered the use of video premiums and increased SI’s DRTV volume by 400%.  As a result of these efforts, he was named Time Inc.’s Marketer of the Year in 1986.

Mr. Pérez received a B.A. in Psychology and Consumer Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania.

REBECA VARGAS

Citigroup US Hispanic Markets

Vice President

Ms. Vargas has been instrumental in developing and implementing Citigroup’s strategy to better serve the growing US Hispanic Market.  She has been critical in developing products tailored to the needs of the Hispanic segment, such as the new Access Account from Citibank and Citibank Global Transfers. She also has acted as coordinator between Citigroup’s Banamex and US businesses operations in Mexico to leverage cross-sell and cross-border opportunities. 

Rebeca joined Citigroup in 2000 as a member of the Latin America Audit and Risk Review team.  In 2001 Rebeca joined Citigroup’s Strategy and Business Development Group to work in Mergers and Acquisitions activities.

Rebeca holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Tulane University and a Bachelor degree in Accounting from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)..

GEORGE HERRERA

Herrera-Cristina Group, Ltd.

President & CEO

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Former President & CEO

George Herrera is the founder and President & CEO of the Herrera-Cristina Group, Ltd, a Hispanic-owned, multidisciplinary management firm, specializing in marketing, communications, corporate diversity, public affairs, event planning, and research.  Founded in 2003, the Herrera-Cristina Group has an impressive clientel consisting of Fortune 100 companies and national organizations.

Mr. Herrera was formerly the President & CEO of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC).  As president, Mr. Herrera was responsible for communicating the interest of over 1.5 million Hispanic-owned businesses to both the private/public sectors, and addressing critical economic issues that impact Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Prior to joining USHCC, George served as President of David J. Burgos & Associates, Inc., for 17 years.  Named 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America by Hispanic Business Magazine, (2002)

MARYAM BANIKARIM

Univision

Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing

Maryam Banikarim joined Univision in 2002 as Senior Vice President to establish a strategic marketing department for the leading Spanish-language media company with a $1.3B portfolio that includes television (Univision, Telefutura & Galavision), radio (Univision Radio), internet portal and music group. This division is charged with connecting Hispanic consumers, clients’ brand/business objectives and Univision’s assets to create integrated marketing platforms.

Maryam has over 10 years experience and prior to joining Univision provided management and marketing consulting services to a variety of clients including: Time Warner, Deutsche Bank and Bacardi Ltd.  Her experience includes roles as Publisher at Macmillan Publishing and Marketing Director for CitySearch.  

Maryam earned a B.A. in political science from Barnard College and M.B.A. and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University.

Entering the U.S.: Latin American Firms Exporting and/or Operating in the United States of America

FLAVIA CORTES, Panel Director

MBA Candidate, 2005

LUIS MIGUEL PALOMINO BONILLA

Southern Peru Copper Corp.

Board Director

Luis Miguel Palomino Bonilla is a Board Director at Southern Peru Copper Corporation (SPCC) and has been the principal and senior consultant of Proconsulta International (a financial consulting firm) in Maryland since 2003. Previously, he was First Vice President and Chief Economist, Latin America for Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, New York (investment banking) from 2000 to 2002. He was Chief Executive Officer, Senior Country and Equity Analyst of Merrill Lynch, Peru (investment banking) from 1995 to 2000. Mr. Palomino has held various distinguished positions with banks and financial institutions as an economist, financial advisor and analyst.

He has a PhD in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and a degree in Economy from the University of the Pacific, Lima, Peru.

BEATRIZ RANGEL

AMLA Consulting

CEO

A Venezuelan native, Ms. Rangel held a number of government posts in her home country, including ones at the Ministries of Foreign Relations and of Education. Later she joined the entertainment conglomerate Cisneros Group of Cos. When the company relocated to Miami four years ago, she moved with the company as a vice president and senior advisor to its chairman. Ms. Rangel will continue to advise Cisneros Group on matters regarding the Free Trade Area of the Americas and Miami’s Performing Arts Center.

Throughout her professional career, Ms. Rangel has held a number of advisory positions both in the private and public sectors. Under the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Venezuela, Ms. Rangel served a Third Secretary, the Office of Protocol from 1970 to 1972, and as advisor to the Minister of Foreign Relations from 1978 to 1979, and again in 1984. From 1975 to 1977, Ms. Rangel was the Foreign Affairs Coordinator for the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICIT), becoming Director in 1977 and Advisor to the President the following year.

In 1984, Ms. Rangel was also Advisor to the Minister of Science and Technology; Advisor to the Finance Commission of the Chamber of Deputies—National Congress—in 1981 and 1982; From 1986 to 1989, she was Advisor to Mr. Carlos Andrés Pérez, former President of Venezuela and in 1983 Ms. Rangel was elected Alternate Deputy of Congress for Miranda State before the National Congress in Venezuela. In 1985 Ms. Rangel served as General Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Venezuela and in 1986 became Executive Secretary of the Presidential Commission in charge of drafting the National Education Reform Project. From 1989 to 1991, Ms. Rangel served as General Director of the Ministry of the Secretariat of President Carlos Andrés Pérez, and from 1991 to 1992 as Minister of the Secretariat. From 1991 to 1993, Ms. Rangel served as General Director for the Teatro Teresa Carreño, Venezuela’s Cultural Complex.

Ms. Rangel graduated with a BA in International Affairs from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. In addition, she holds a MS degree in Development Economics from Boston University and a MA degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.

ALONSO MARTINEZ

Booz-Allen Hamilton

Senior Vice-President

Alonso Martínez is a Senior Vice President with Booz·Allen Hamilton based in New York.  He currently leads the Consumer Products team in the Eastern United States and across Latin America.

Mr. Martínez joined Booz-Allen Hamilton in 1982 in our Sao Paulo office. He opened the Buenos Aires and Bogota offices, and managed the Andean Region and Mexico. He moved to the United States in 2000. Mr. Martínez has worked with many of the world’s largest multinationals and leading local groups in the consumer products, pharmaceutical, retail, media and construction materials industries.

Mr. Martinez has served on the Board of Booz·Allen Hamilton and is currently a member of several corporate and advisory boards. Prior to joining Booz·Allen, Mr. Martinez worked at the Wharton Applied Research Center. He was also Assistant General Manager of the Floor Tile Division of Pavco S.A., a leading corporation supplying housing materials for the Andean market.

Mr. Martinez has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Colombia, a B.A. in Business Administration from the Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, and received a M.B.A. and a M.S. in Operations Research from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Martinez is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Success in the face of Uncertainty: Multinational Companies’ Perspective on Latin America

AGUSTIN KORMAN, Panel Director

MBA Candidate, 2005

Moderator OLIVIA S. MITCHELL

University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School of Business

Professor

Olivia S. Mitchell is the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor of Insurance and Risk Management, the Executive Director of the Pension Research Council, and the Director of the Boettner Center on Pensions and Retirement Research, at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Mitchell received the MA and PhD degrees in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the BA in Economics from Harvard University.

Mitchell recently served on President Bush’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security (www.csss.gov); she also served on the Board of Directors of Alexander and Alexander Services, Inc., and she is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.   She has spoken before the World Economic Forum and the International Monetary Fund; she has also testified for the US Congress, the UK and the Australian Parliaments, and the Brazilian Senate. She has lived and worked in Latin America, Europe, and Australasia.

MERCEDES POTTS

Burger King Corporation

Director of Human Resources & Training for Latina America,Caribbean/Mexico Region

Ms. Potts currently serves as Director of Human Resources and Training for all of Latin America, Caribbean and Mexico Region at Burger King Corporation. Ms. Potts joined Burger King in 1994 as Legal Assistant of Labor Relations. Since then, she has taken ever-increasing responsibilities in the Human Resources Department. Before joining Burger King, Ms. Potts held positions in law, human resource management, and training at different private and public organizations.

Ms. Potts holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and English from the University of Miami, a Masters of Science Degree in Human Resources Management from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Nova S.E. University, and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Science Degree in Psychology at the Graduate School of Psychology, Carlos Albizu University.

Ms. Potts has been a key member of the leadership team which has taken the Burger King brand for the first time into Brazil.  Finally, she has led the industry in QSR Franchise support in the area of Human Resources.

DIANA MONDINO

Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Head of CreditMarket Services for Latin America Region

Diana Mondino is Latin America Region Head for Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services. Previously, as Office Head in Argentina, she was instrumental in the growth of the Standard & Poor's franchise. Before joining S&P, she was principal and one of the founding members of the leading credit rating agency in Argentina which Standard & Poor's acquired in 1997.

Previously, Diana held various advisory positions in marketing and strategic planning for local companies and was dean of studies for the M.B.A. program at CEMA - Buenos Aires. She reports to Vickie Tillman, executive vice president, Credit Market Services.

Diana holds an M.B.A. from Instituto de Estudios Empresariales, in Spain. She received her B.A. in Economics from University of Cordoba, Argentina.

IVAR PETTERSON

C.A. Electricidad de Caracas S.A.C.A – EDC

General Manager

RUBEN A. ROTULO

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Vice President for Latin American Region

Private Equity in Latin America: Identifying Opportunities and Realizing Value

ALEX JUNG, Panel Director

MBA Candidate, 2005

Moderator STEPHEN M. SAMMUT

Burrill & Company

Venture Partner

Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs

Senior Fellow

Mr. Sammut is Venture Partner, Burrill & Company, a merchant bank and venture capital fund focused on the life sciences.  Mr. Sammut has been involved in the creation or funding of nearly 40 biotechnology, Internet, and information technology companies globally. He is on numerous Boards of Directors and serves as an advisor to Mitsubishi Corporation, and the International Finance Corporation.

Mr. Sammut currently holds appointments as a Senior Fellow, Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs. Mr. Sammut also teaches in the School of Engineering and Applied Science of the University of Pennsylvania. His courses include: venture capital and private equity management, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions for technology companies, biotechnology entrepreneurship, intellectual property strategy, the use of private capital in economic development, and a special seminar on public initiatives and public-private partnerships in international health.

Mr. Sammut previously held the positions of Vice President of Development of Teleflex Incorporated and Vice President, S.R.One, Ltd., SmithKline’s venture fund.

He has also been Managing Director of the Center for Technology Transfer at the University of Pennsylvania, and held a similar position at Thomas Jefferson University. At the start of his career, Mr. Sammut co-founded and served as CEO of the Delaware Valley Organ Transplant Program.

He holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in biological sciences and humanities from Villanova University, attended Hahnemann Medical College for two years, and holds an MBA from the Wharton School. 

RODRIGO AMARÉ

Zephyr Management

Principal

Rodrigo Amaré, is a Principal of Zephyr Management, L.P. and has been a New York-based member of the ZN Mexico Funds investment team since he joined the firm in 2002. Mr. Amaré has several years of Private Equity and Investment Banking experience having worked for TCW/Latin America Partners, a New York-based private equity fund focused on making investments in Latin America and for Goldman, Sachs & Co. in its Investment Banking Latin America Group.

At Goldman, Mr. Amaré worked both in Mexico-related transactions such as the sale of Banamex to Citigroup for US$12.5 billion in 2001, and throughout Latin America like in the raid defense of CANTV in Venezuela. Before receiving his M.B.A., Mr. Amaré worked in Mexico City for Banco Nacional de México (Banamex) and for Arthur Andersen & Co. in its Business Consulting Division.

Mr. Amaré is a Member of the Board of the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce/ Northeast Chapter in New York City. 

Mr. Amaré holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and received two undergraduate degrees from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in Mexico City, a B.A. in Business Administration and B.S in Public Accounting.

EDUARDO CAMPIANI

Advent International Corp.

Director

Dr. Campiani received a degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.  He also received a PhD in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires.

Dr. Campiani spent 22 years with Xerox Corp., where he held a variety of management positions.  Based in Stamford, Connecticut, he was Operations Director for Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru.  In 1974 he was appointed President and CEO of Xerox Argentina.  In 1992, he joined The Exxel Group, an Argentine buyout firm, as a principal focusing on health care and service industries.

Dr. Campiani joined Advent in 1996 and focuses on investment activities in Argentina, Chile and Brazil.  He is a Director of Cardsystem Upsi S.A., Universal Assistance S.A., Pemco Emelier S.A., Fada Pharma S.A. and S.A. Oca.

GUILLHERME LINS

Capital Group Companies, Inc.

Partner