GDEI Trade Mission to Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia

Cynthia Aragón serves as the Executive Director for the Advocacy Center. In this role, she oversees U.S. government advocacy coordination to advance the interest and global competitiveness of U.S. firms seeking to enter new markets and win public contracts in foreign markets around the world. Additionally, Aragón oversees the Multilateral Development Bank Liaison program focused on connecting U.S. companies with opportunities arising from Bank funded projects.

She joined Biden Harris Administration on January 2021 as the White House Liaison for the Department of Commerce. In that role she built and recruited a highly qualified, diverse team of appointees to lead Commerce to foster equitable domestic and international economic growth.

As a former Chief of Staff for the Arizona House of Representatives Democratic Caucus, Cynthia guided and organized the Democratic caucus towards establishment of goals and defined an inclusive legislative agenda. She managed a team of policy advisors, analysts, and administrative specialists to create policy proposals that benefited Arizonans. Aragón uses her leadership skills to foster bipartisan relationships and build coalitions.

Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Aragón was raised by a single mother in Phoenix, Arizona, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams and always be a leader, even in spaces where people like her had been historically excluded. As a first-generation graduate, Cynthia earned her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and her MBA from the University of Arizona. She is also a graduate of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership Program, the National Hispanic Leadership Institute, the Center for Progressive Leadership, and the Flinn-Brown Leadership Academy.

Mari Carmen Aponte is a distinguished lawyer, civic leader, and the first female Puerto Rican Ambassador. She served as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador (2012-2016) and as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. She was confirmed as Ambassador to Panama by the U.S. Senate on September 29, 2022.

After earning a BA in political science from Rosemont College, she taught in Camden, New Jersey and became aware of underrepresented educational needs of minority students. Aponte enrolled in Temple University Beasley School of Law and earned a JD in 1975. She was one of few Puerto Rican women enrolled in a U.S. accredited law program at that time and, subsequently, the first Latina lawyer in Pennsylvania. Aponte moved to Washington, D.C. in 1979 to serve as a White House Fellow.

She continued practicing law in Washington, D.C. and cofounded one of the first minority-owned law firms. In 1984, Aponte was elected the first woman president of the Hispanic National Bar Association. She continued to hold leadership positions for the next 25 years, advocating for women and the Latino community. From 2001-2004, she was Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. She has also served on District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, chaired the Minority Women Subcommittee of the ABA’s Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession, as well as served on the board of directors for the National Council of La Raza and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Aponte is the recipient of numerous honors, including honorary doctorates of laws from Temple University and the District of Columbia School of Law, the Graciela Olivarez Award from UnidosUS and the 2015 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association, in recognition of her community service.

Prior to her time as U.S. Ambassador to Panama, Aponte worked as a consultant in Washington, D.C. She is fluent in Spanish and French.

As Executive Director for the Western Hemisphere, Diane Jones oversees a network of 24 field offices throughout the region that are responsible for strengthen the United States' commercial position in the Western Hemisphere.

Diane Jones is a Senior Foreign Commercial Service Officer with over 20 years of service representing the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Diane served as the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embass in Nairobi from August 2019 – July 2022, where she strategically developed new areas of cooperation on key infrastructure projects, supported FTA discussion and successfully resolved several long standing commercial disputes.

Diane served as the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Manila Philippines from August 2016-2019, where she was instrumental in implementing the Administration’s IndoPacific Commercial Strategy.  Diane spearheaded an initiative to connect U.S. companies with Japanese JICA subcontract opportunities.

Diane served as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Commercial Service office in Cairo, Egypt from 2014 – 2016. Prior to Egypt, Diane served one year in the SelectUSA office at the Department of Commerce, working to develop a federal program to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the United States.  Preceding her work in SelectUSA, Diane served as a Commercial Officer at the Northern Virginia U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) from 2010-2012, assisting U.S. companies to enter foreign markets.

Diane served as the Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Commercial Service in Tripoli, Libya from 2008 – 2010, where she successfully opened the first Commercial Service office in the country following nearly 20 years of U.S. sanctions.

Prior to serving in Tripoli, Diane concluded a 3 year tour of duty as the Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Commercial Service in Accra, Ghana and also served as a Commercial Officer in Moscow, Russia from 2002-2004.

Prior to joining the U.S. Commercial Service, Diane served as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan, where she worked extensively on U.S.-Uzbek trade and investment issues in the country. Diane also served as a Business Development Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan

Diane holds a BA from SUNY Stony Brook and an MBA from the University of South Florida.

As the Latin America, Canada, and Caribbean programs team manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Abby Daniell is the executive responsible for implementing education, workforce development, diversity and inclusion, disaster prevention, cybersecurity, and other programs in the Latin America, Canada and Caribbean market. With more than 25 years of global private and public sector business experience, she has created this dynamic programs team to enable the AWS Public Sector organization to expand into these regions.

Abby is quoted in international press and speaks at public sector and industry events regarding cloud technologies and education, innovation, and workforce development.

She previously worked as the commercial director at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica where she formed part of the management team and assisted U.S. companies doing business in Latin America. Before joining the U.S. Embassy, Abby was the associate publisher of The Tico Times, Central America’s leading English-language newspaper. She represented the newspaper at the Inter-American Press Association. She lived and worked in Costa Rica for two decades and is a fluent Spanish-speaking professional. 

Abby moved to Costa Rica after working as a communications director on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for a member of congress from Seattle, Washington.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Washington in Seattle. 

Abby loves the outdoors and is an avid hiker, runner, and PADI certified Open Water Diver. She has served on several nonprofit boards of directors, including the Costa Rican North America Cultural Center.

Adolfo Fábrega is president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) for the period 2023 – 2024.

He served as first vice president of this business association and main director of Group No.6 - Information and Communications Technology. In addition, he was the main director of this group in the periods 2020 - 2021, 2021-2022; and substitute director 2019-2020.

Also, for eight years he was an adviser at the CCIAP, in addition, a member of the Technology Committee of the CCIAP for five years. During this time, he promoted internal modernization projects for the Chamber and represented this business group at the National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENACYT).

This renowned businessman has more than 15 years of professional experience in the information and communications technology sector, mainly in corporate software development and computer security.

Currently, he is President and General Manager of Pensanomica, S.A., an enterprise software development company and manufacturer of the Flexio ERP platform, as well as Arion Intelligence Corp – an information security consulting company.

Fábrega has been an active member of various boards of directors of private enterprise, in the National Congress of Science and Technology (CONACYT), in the board for the Creation of Laws and Regulation of cyberterrorism and cybercrime, as well as the founding committee - UDITec: Annual Technology Conference, among others.

The CCIAP president has a BSE in Information Systems Engineering from University of Notre Dame (IN).

Adriana is a highly accomplished professional with over 25 years of experience in the logistics and transportation industry. Has worked across manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain, material planning, production control and logistics roles. She is a professional freight forwarder with areas of expertise in sea freight and air freight.  Her understanding of the industry’s trends and challenges spans the client and provider sides of logistics; she uses her deep subject matter expertise to provide a high level of customer service to carriers, brokerages, and shippers. 

Adriana Johnson’s lifelong passion for entrepreneurship led her to capitalize on an opportunity in 2006 when she bought EMI DBA TAMO LOGISTICS.  Tamo is a Freight Forwarder based in Miami, FL, warehouse, and offices just a short distance from Miami International Airport and The Ports of Miami and Port Everglades. Tamo specialized on the Latin America, the Caribbean and Brazil markets, becoming one of the best courier companies in B2B to Colombia. Tamo has a network on 5 continents for all modes of transportation.  Tamo domestic and international clients includes retail, automotive, energy, infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, special cargo, and hazmat business using a wide range of logistics solutions.

Adriana is responsible for driving revenue growth, developing, and managing customer relationships, contract negotiation with major carriers. She oversees the coordination of all logistics functions including production, planning, packaging, transportation, special cargo, hazmat, customs, warehousing, and distribution. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has been instrumental in Tamo’s growth and success.

She holds a Bachelor of Economics, Finance and International Business, and an MS in Logistics Management from Sergio Arboleda University in Bogota- Colombia.  She speaks English and Spanish fluently and has a deep understanding of the Latin culture. She believes family is the most important venture. She lives in Miami with her husband, Travis, and her sons Owen and Max. She is also a marathoner.

With more than 20 years of experience in the logistics and maritime sector, Ana Margarita Reyes led the Secretariat of the Logistics Cabinet of Panama (2015 – 2022), where she managed to incorporate a Permanent Committee of the Private Sector, as part of the official structure of the Logistics Cabinet and led the development of the National Logistics Strategy 2030.  From 2019 to 2022, she held the position of Deputy Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority.   Until 2015, Ana Margarita Reyes was part of the Vice Presidency of Corporate Affairs of the Panama Canal Authority, where she developed innovation and strategy projects, being responsible for the balanced scorecard of the Panama Canal.

Graduated in Information Systems from the University of Texas, Ana Margarita Reyes obtained a master's degree with honors in Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in business administration from NOVA Southeastern University.

Currently, she is a member of the Advisory Board of the Georgia Tech Logistic and Innovation Center, Panama Branch.  She was President of the Transportation Committee of the Association of Caribbean States (2021-2022), member of the Board of Directors of the Colón Free Zone (2021- 2022), member of the board of directors of MI Bus (2018 – 2021) and member of the High Construction Commission (2018 – 2019) of the Ministry of the Presidency.

Ava is an Online Business Manager with IBT Online and in this capacity nurtures and liaises partnerships with diverse economic development agencies across the U.S. states and Canadian provinces to support exporters. After completing a Masters’ Degree in South Africa, Ava worked in the film industry, notably in film financing, and gained hands-on experience in Feature Film Production. Ava joined IBT Online in 2021 and focused on helping clients with their digital marketing and online sales growth strategies. Today, Ava’s organizational and partnership skills help clients navigate the digital landscape and choose the right business development solutions to ensure sales and brand growth internationally.

Ava has a Bachelor’s degree from Bristol University (UK) and a Master’s degree from the University of Cape Town (South Africa), and currently heads up the Canadian branch of IBT Online from Montreal.

Goble joined the Association of Women's Business Centers as CEO in January 2019 and is charged with bringing about enhanced sustainability and increased capacity to the association and its members.  When AWBC and the national network of Women's Business Centers were confronted with effects of a global pandemic in early 2020, Goble and the advocacy team sprung into action. While Women's Business Centers responded tirelessly to small business concerns in their communities, Goble and the team championed their efforts to secure resources.

Thankfully, members of Congress foresaw the important role that Women's Business Centers would play in an economic disaster and appropriated record-level emergency funding (CARES Act) to be administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). In addition to $150,000 awarded annually to each Women's Business Center, centers could access up to $420,000 of CARES Act funds giving them access to $570,000 in a single fiscal year. In addition to their own annual fundraising efforts, this unprecedented combination of funding is the highest level of funding than at any other point in history. Women's Business Centers leveraged this infusion of funds into tremendous impact.

Goble and the full AWBC team will remain steadfast in their commitment to the growth and strength of the Women's Business Center network. Her immediate priority is the modernization and re-authorization of the Women's Business Center program while building capacity throughout the growing network of 145 Women's Business Centers.

Adjacent to and in support to this work, Goble serves in a variety of collaborative efforts that directly support small businesses in their efforts to get started and grow, whether in procurement, digital skills, access to capital or international trade. She's a Founding Member of the USMCA Small and Medium Enterprise Counselor Network consisting of counselors in Mexico, Canada, and the United States that collaborate to help small businesses find success through exports.

She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, attended high school there and studied abroad in Spain where she received a dual Spain-U.S. high school diploma. Having graduated with honors, she earned her BA International Studies from the University of Evansville in Indiana. She attended graduate school in Washington, DC at The George Washington University and has never stopped learning, even completing her Business Spanish Certificate from the University of Wisconsin. She enjoys outdoor adventures like hiking the Badlands of North Dakota, long runs along the C&O Canal in D.C. and Maryland, and sunny afternoons on her stand-up paddle board. And, she loves raising her two children, Reid (16) and Adaliz (11) in Louisville, Kentucky to be entrepreneurs one day, too.

Daniel Gaines is assigned to Georgetown, Guyana as the Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (CS).

Prior to this assignment, Daniel served as a Commercial Officer in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Nairobi, Kenya.  He has also served stints as the Acting Senior Commercial Officer for CS Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

Within the United States, Daniel served as the Director of the CS Phoenix Export Assistance Center (USEAC), as a Senior International Trade Specialist in the Northern Virginia USEAC, and has experience in Washington, DC from his time in the Office of the Assistant Secretary & Director General in Commerce Headquarters.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from the University of Alabama and a Masters in Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.  

Daniella coordinates ConnectAmericas for Women, a digital platform that promotes the export capacity of women entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean. With a passion for empowering women and advocating for diversity and inclusion, she leads training and technical assistance programs to support the expansion of women-owned and led SMEs, fostering their participation in value chains and international trade.

Boasting an MPA degree from Columbia University and over eight years of experience in both the public and consulting sectors, Daniella has been at the forefront of driving positive change. She collaborates with private companies, offering strategic tools for gender-focused management, leading initiatives to bridge gaps between men and women, and conducting impactful workshops, trainings, and conferences on gender equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Dany has dedicated his professional career – 30 years – to the world of Technology in different roles and industries (Technology, Banking, Import/export, Government, Real Estate Development, etc..) both in Panama and in the United States. For the last thirteen, he has been the Vice-President of Technology for Credicorp Bank. He has served for several not-for-profit organizations and is a current member of the Board of Directors of CAPATEC (The Panamanian Chamber of Technology).

Mr. Perez is a seasoned executive in supply chain business development with a rich background spanning over two decades. His expertise lies in crafting regional distribution solutions and optimizing operations for global corporations. With an unwavering commitment to fostering the growth of companies in Latin America, he pioneers innovative logistics strategies to expedite market access, enhance safety, and improve overall efficiency. His strategic approach involves aligning logistics processes seamlessly with business objectives.

Demonstrating proficiency across diverse areas, Mr. Perez excels in regional warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution services, offering inventive logistics solutions, value-added services, light assembly, light manufacturing, business development, management, government affairs, trade consulting, and business advisory. Education is part of his pillars, he collaborates with well known US Universities in the Supply Chain field.

As the Founding Partner and Chief Commercial Officer of IPL Group, a leading logistics solutions integrator, he specializes in establishing regional distribution operations and facilitating seamless business activities. IPL Group excels in warehousing, value-added services, order fulfillment, order management, light assembly, and light manufacturing, all aimed at supporting customer sales and marketing strategies throughout the Latin American region.

Mr. Perez's career boasts a track record of active involvement in over 200 regional distribution projects for prominent enterprise accounts, solidifying his reputation as a driving force in the industry.

Other roles in the industry:

• Board member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals CSCMP

• President of the Board of Directors of GS1 Panama (www.gs1.org)

• Vice-Chair of the Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee at the International

Chamber of Commerce (ICC-Panama) 2022

• Member of the board of directors of COEL (Panama Logistics Council) 2016. Elected President for 2017-2018. During 2019 served on the board of directors as past president.

• Member of the Advisory Board of Georgia Tech Panama Logistics Innovation & Research Center 2017-2018.

• Among other relevant roles in local industry organizations and direct involvement in different educational projects.

Domingo Latorraca is founding Partner of ELEMENTE, an advisory firm specializing in Strategy and Transformation, Corporate Governance, Financial Advisory and Digital Transformation.

Previously, he was regional director of Strategy and Analytics Consulting Services for a Global Consulting Firm, and was CEO of the Panama office.

Domingo was President of Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and served as Deputy Finance Minister for the Republic of Panama.

He was member of The Rotary, and was part of the Board of Directors of United Way Panama.

Domingo holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University.

Mr. Ivankovich is currently the Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications for AES' businesses in Panama. In recent years he has been Director of Social Development for the AES Natural Gas project in Panama. He has been Director of Operations in Hydroelectric facilities of the AES Group and Administrative Manager for the construction of the Changuinola I Hydroelectric Project.

Eng. Ivankovich is a graduate of the Santa Maria la Antigua University with the title of Electronic Engineer with an emphasis on communications, he maintains a post degree in senior management and a master’s degree in business administration and business Strategy from Universidad Latina, as well as a Diploma in Finance and Administration from INCAE Business School. He has more than 30 years in the industrial area and 23 of them in the Energy sector.

During his professional career he has overseen different management positions, both local and regional, in the areas of operations, logistics, administration and sales. He has been former President of the Energy Committee of APEDE (2016-2017), former President of the Energy Commission of the American Chamber of Commerce AMCHAM (2019), former President of the Natural Resources and Environment Commission of APEDE (2023-24) and is currently a member of the board of directors of Industrial Union of Panama (SIP) and President of its Energy & Water committee.

Experienced Commercial Officer with a demonstrated history of working in international trade and commercial diplomacy, mostly in Latin America. Skilled in negotiation, policy analysis, business development, consulting, government, and international business. Strong diplomat with a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations with a focus on international trade and economics from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Relations and German from the University of Denver.

Colombian, strategic business advisor to Executive Committees and Corporations about Strategic Planning, Financial Models, and D.E.I. Issues.

In 2012 with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, Co-founded the Colombian LGBT Chamber of Commerce, since then this organization has enabled economic empowerment programs for +500 LGBT Business owners as well as supporting +200 major corporations in Latin America to advance in their Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Strategies.

Joined IGLTA as Ambassador for Colombia in 2013 and since 2017 is a board member of the Association in which acted as Treasurer for 4 years. In September 2021 was elected Board Chair as the first South American and Colombian in this role.

He has more than 10 years of work experience in project management, start-ups, and associations. He has facilitated the growth of organizations in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Holland, Belgium, Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina. 

Francesca Fermín joined the Foreign Commercial Service in the United States Embassy of the Dominican Republic in August 2022. She serves as a Commercial Specialist covering the following sectors: Energy and Renewable Energy, Information & Communications Technology (ICT), Environmental (Pollution Control & Water Resources), Oil & Gas, Consumer Electronics, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Mining Industry Equipment, Plastic Production Machinery, Industrial Equipment and Supplies, Metalworking equipment, Fertilizers and Agriculture Chemicals as well as General and Financial Services.

Ms. Fermin is a Cum Laude graduate in Business Administration from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santo Domingo. She recently finished her Masters’ Degree in International Business from the Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI) based in Madrid, Spain.

Prior to joining the US Commercial Service, Ms. Fermin worked in the Commercial Section of the Korean Embassy (KOTRA – Korea Trade Promotion Agency) for 7 years, managing different sectors such as Automotive, Construction, Industrial among others.

She also worked in a private bank of the DR as a Human Resources Analyst and as an English Teacher for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT).

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and cooking.

Jean Pierre de Roux is the Commercial Director of Tropical Energies Corporation (TRENCO), a Panamanian conglomerate with more than 60 years of experience in the commercialization of gas, water and renewable energies in Panama. In his 12 years with the Group, Jean Pierre has also held roles as Corporate Director for New Business and Innovation (2015-2022) and Marketing Manager of PetroPort, S.A. (2011-2015).

Previously, Jean Pierre served at the Embassy of Panama in Washington, D.C., as Commercial Attaché (2008-2009), Commercial Counselor (2009-2010) and Deputy Chief of Mission, 2010-2011. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) of Panama (2022-2023).

Jean Pierre earned his BA in Economics from Duke University (2002-2006) and his MA in Philosophy and International Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (2009-2011). And in 2019, he graduated with High Distinction from the Executive MBA at INCAE Business School. He is currently a Member of the National Committee of INCAE in Panama.

In addition to his professional career, Jean Pierre has been involved in corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, and volunteer work. As a member of the Activo 20-30 Club of Panama and treasurer of the Activo 20-30 Foundation, he dedicated time and effort to advancing the well-being of children and youth with physical disabilities in Panama (2007-2020). Currently, Jean Pierre is a Member of the Board of Directors and the President-Elect of the New Generation Movement Foundation, a social community organization that focuses on comprehensive prevention for children and adolescents in situations of vulnerability to violence, drugs and gangs, through social, cultural and sports activities (2015-2023).

Jennifer Chicoski serves as the intellectual property (IP) attaché based in Lima, Peru and covers the Andean Community – Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia – as well as Chile. She advocates for IP policy interests on behalf of the United States, assists U.S. businesses seeking to protect and enforce their IP in the region, and advises U.S. government officials on IP matters. Ms. Chicoski promotes high standards of IP protection and enforcement by educating foreign government officials, students, entrepreneurs, as well as small and medium size enterprises.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Chicoski served as an attorney-advisor in the Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Her responsibilities included participating in the development and implementation of trademark laws and policy, providing foreign governments with legal and technical assistance to comply with their IP obligations, and serving as a technical advisor to the China IP team at the USPTO. Her previous positions with the USPTO include tenures as the Administrator for Trademark Examination Policy & Procedure in the USPTO’s Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks and the Administrator for Trademark Classification Policy & Practice unit. She oversaw staff attorney advisors in the areas of Trademark Petitions to the Director, Trademark Examination Policy, and International Trademark Classification.

Ms. Chicoski has also provided technical advice to the USPTO’s delegation of the Legal Development Working Group for the Madrid System at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland. She has attended several sessions of the Working Group on the Legal Development of the Madrid System, the Standing Committee for Trademarks, Geographical Indications and Industrial Designs, and meetings with the Committee of Experts of the Nice Agreement on Classification of Goods and Services.

Ms. Chicoski holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and a juris doctorate from Georgetown University. She is a member of the state bars in Maryland, Florida, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jorge Barnett Lawton is Managing Director of the Georgia Tech Panama Logistics Innovation & Research Center, a joint initiative of the Government of Panama and Georgia Institute of Technology. From that role he leads local and regional projects related to the advancement of logistics and transport, digital transformation, logistics cluster performance, supply chain and distribution network design, and process innovation.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the Technological University of Panama; a masters in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA; and a masters and Ph.D. in logistics and supply chain management from the MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program in Zaragoza, Spain.

Over two decades he has developed his experience in the private and academic sectors in Panama, Spain, Mexico and Argentina, occupying various roles in the fields of manufacturing, project management, technology, logistics, research and teaching. Every day he’s thankful for his amazing wife and daughter, and the opportunity to work alongside an unrivaled team of professionals for the advancement of his country.

Kate Isler, a true pioneer and advocate for gender equality. With a career spanning over 20 years, Kate has been a driving force in reshaping the landscape for women-owned businesses and challenging gender norms.

As a co-founder of WMarketplace, an innovative ecommerce accelerator and online sales channel, Kate has passionately championed women-owned businesses, providing them with the support they need to thrive in today's competitive market. Her commitment to fostering change doesn't stop there – Kate is also the co-founder of Be Bold for Change, a non-profit organization with a clear mission: to empower and activate change-makers who are working to bridge the gender gap, both today and in the future.

Kate's journey to leadership has been a remarkable one. With a background that includes executive roles in Fortune 100 companies and startups alike, she has shattered glass ceilings and challenged the status quo. Early in her career, she rose to leadership in the male-dominated technology industry, proving that determination and skill know no gender boundaries. Not only did she overcome adversity, but she also upended gender stereotypes by relocating her family to the Middle East in the 1990s for a position at a time when women taking on sole income-earner roles were few and far between.

Her global perspective is deeply rooted in her experiences living and working around the world as an executive for Microsoft. She navigated the complexities of both developing and mature economies, ultimately taking the helm of a global integrated marketing organization for Microsoft Windows. This unique vantage point provides her with a wealth of real-world expertise and tangible examples, making her an influential voice in conversations about gender equity and balanced management practices.

Kate is the mother of three sons, is happily married, is a lifelong learner, enjoys travel and cooking (AKA eating), and is living her dream of building a business that supports women in a tangible way and enables them to achieve economic prosperity while closing the gender gap.

In 2021, Kate shared her extraordinary journey and insights with the world through her memoir, "Breaking Borders" (HarperCollins Leadership). This book not only showcases her personal growth and achievements but also serves as an inspiration for anyone striving to challenge norms, break boundaries, and create a more inclusive world.

Khatiya has more than fifteen years of experience providing legal advice to local and international clients on Administrative Law, Commercial Law, Intellectual Property, Special Economic Zones, Telecommunications and IT.

Her expertise has been instrumental in facilitating the entrance of multinational companies into the Panamanian market, spanning industries such as retail, telecommunications, and construction. Khatiya's advisory roles have significantly impacted commercial transactions and real estate ventures.

She graduated summa cum laude from the Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua (LL.B, 2007) and obtained an LLM Degree at Harvard Law School, Cambridge Massachusetts (2008). Khatiya is admitted to the Panama Bar (2007) and the New York Bar (2009), and is licensed as a real estate broker and translator.

She is the author of the Doing Business Guide of Patton. Moreno & Asvat, and co-author articles for the most prestigious legal guides, such as: “Benchmarking PPP Procurement”, published by the World Bank; the Panama Chapter of the “International Comparative Legal Guide to Shipping Law” and the Panama Chapter of  “Aircraft Finance”.

Khatiya's excellence in legal practice is recognized by prestigious legal directories, including:  Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Leaders League, among others. She is also is a member of the Panama Bar Association, International Bar Association (IBA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - Panama Chapter, Harvard Club of Panama, serving as Secretary from 2013 to 2015 and as President from 2019 to 2020.

Larissa Barrios has worked for over 12 years in the maritime and logistics sectors, specializing in business development and supply chain. She currently serves as Business Development Manager at Manzanillo International Terminal-Panama, S.A. (MIT Panama). In her role, Larissa leads the evaluation of value-added initiatives, negotiates contracts with clients, and provides invaluable support to the company in navigating data-related challenges. Furthermore, her entrepreneurial spirit shines through as she is the founder of a successful startup, dedicated to supply chain optimization and business intelligence tailored for imports and exports. Larissa earned her Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the Technological University of Panama and her Master's degree in Supply Chain Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Additionally, she has pursued studies at Harvard Business School and INCAE Business School, providing the foundation for her analytical mindset and global perspective on the business environment.

Laura Krishnan is the Sr. Policy Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Over the course of her 10-year career, she has covered the Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Chile Desks, promoting trade and investment and enforcing U.S. trade laws and trade agreements with these countries. Her work has focused on the promotion of good regulatory practices and the removal and prevention of trade barriers that result from standards and conformity assessment policies or practices. Prior to her time at ITA, Ms. Krishnan worked for a financial consulting firm specializing in energy and renewable energy project finance in developing countries. She also previously worked as an Economic Analyst at the Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce in Santiago, Chile. 

Ms. Krishnan completed her Master of Arts degree in International Trade and Investment Policy at the George Washington University. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Ms. Forbes is a Senior International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce and has worked for the agency for 22 years.  Her duties include counseling Florida companies on exporting and developing markets abroad.  Her mission is to assist U.S. manufacturers/service providers and their representatives in South Florida establish distribution channels around the world, through Commercial Service operations in over 80 countries.  Her current industry responsibilities include Architecture, Construction & Engineering; and Automotive and Ground Transportation.

Commercial Officer Lisa Foss joined Global Markets after serving as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Enforcement and Compliance.  While in E&C, Lisa helped U.S. exporters facing foreign governments’ antidumping and safeguard investigations by providing guidance and insights into foreign trade remedy processes, coordinating inter-agency activities and ensuring that concerns were raised in high-level fora including the World Trade Organization. During her time in E&C, Lisa participated in several technical exchanges with foreign governments to promote best practices and increase transparency in the application of their trade laws.  Lisa previously served as a Commercial Officer in Bangkok, Thailand, and began her assignment in Santiago, Chile in July 2023

Lisa has received several Department of Commerce awards including two Gold Medals, the highest civilian award given by the Department, for outstanding achievement in federal service.  In 2022, Lisa received the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award for her work during a Secretary of State visit to Thailand.

Lisa has a Master of Arts in European Studies from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and German Studies from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Lidia joined the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador in 2002, beginning with the Economic Section, and moved to the U.S. Commercial Service in 2003, when the Department of Commerce opened operations in El Salvador. Her portfolio of industries includes Medical, Pharmaceutical, Dental, Textiles & Apparel, Agribusiness, and Energy; and leads projects in Trade Facilitation.

Lidia has a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from the Salvadoran University Escuela Superior de Economia y Negocios (ESEN), and an MBA from the University of Catalunya in Barcelona (Spain) with a specialization in Finance and Projects.

Lisa White joined the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in 2020 and is currently Commercial Attaché at U.S. Embassy Bogota. She manages FCS services to assist U.S. businesses develop their export sales in Colombia and SelectUSA for Colombian investments in the United States. Her prior posting was at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Seattle where she advised Washington businesses on how to grow international sales and developed special programs to accelerate women-owned businesses.

Lisa has more than 15 years of combined federal service with experience at three previous agencies. Previous roles include the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) where she worked as an Economic Development Specialist and Public Information Officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) where she worked as an Immigration Services Officer, and the U.S. Peace Corps where she worked as a Regional Recruiter. Prior to that, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea and Mali in West Africa where she supported small business development and developed French proficiency.

Lisa graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BS in Business Administration with a focus on marketing and communications.

Desai, a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, joined the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2007. He is currently on his second tour of duty in Brazil at the U.S. Consulate General, Rio de Janeiro, where he supports U.S. commercial activities and interests. 

Mr. Desai previously served in Brasilia, Rangoon, Chennai, and in Istanbul, where he and his team     received the Silver Medal, the second highest honor award in the Department.

Prior to beginning his diplomatic career, Mr. Desai worked as a management consultant for various Fortune 500 companies in U.S., Latin America and East Asia implementing productivity  initiatives through business process re-design, change management, and strategic use of information technology.

Mr. Desai is a graduate of Northeastern University and the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He speaks Gujarati, Hindi, Portuguese, Turkish, and Spanish at varying degrees of fluency.

Manuel leads on the CoST Latin America strategy, identifying opportunities for CoST within the region and providing technical support and advice to the region’s country managers and multi-stakeholder groups. Manuel also works with members of the CoST International Secretariat to lead on CoST’s global learning and development strategy which ensures that the initiative’s learning cycle is inclusive of all members’ needs.

Manuel is a lawyer and has specialised in public contracting, public administration and governance, transparency, and anti-corruption policies. Prior to joining CoST, Manuelworked for the Panama National Procurement Office leading the implementation of transparency and open government reforms, including those such as CoST. He helped develop the first Anti-Corruption Risk Map with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime. He has an excellent knowledge of Latin American countries, having studied, and worked in Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, and Uruguay.

Marcela Galindo De Obarrio is Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Board Member since 2016 for Corporacion Impa-Doel, a family business with more than 75 years operating in the import, distribution and sales of pharmaceutical and consumer products in the private and institutional markets in Panama.

She was a board member for the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama for five years, where she ultimately became the first female President, in over a century, to occupy the position.

Currently she serves in the board of directors of BANISI, a private commercial bank in Panama, and in the board of directors of Fundacion Jesus Luz de Oportunidad, an NGO formed by Catholic business people that works to provide therapy and rehabilitation to inmates, seeking their successful reinsertion into society, once freed.

Before Impa-Doel she served as Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Mallol & Mallol Architects, Panama’s largest Architecture firm, and Vice-President of Operations for CSA Group a multinational company dedicated to architectural and engineering design, project management and construction management of infrastructure and building projects at a national and international level (United States, Puerto Rico, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Haiti and Argentina).

Marcela has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University, and a Master’s of Science in Geo-Information Sciences and Earth Observation, with specialization in Water Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

Mariana is the President of DOOIT, a boutique firm specializing in communication and influence education, with an elite global clientele that includes Presidents of prestigious institutions like FC Barcelona and international CEOs. She is a member of the Forbes Advisory Council in the United States, where she leads the group of European Coaches and is the Founder of Women Who Have Something to Say, the first Public Speaking and Emotional Intelligence program for Spanish-speaking female leaders. After 20+ years of corporate career, Mariana was recognized as one of the 200 most innovative minds in the world by the UK's The Future of Innovation organization and is the Author of the Best-Seller "Bitch Corporate Life.

Marlyn Narkis Assis is a partner in MDU LEGAL. During her practice, Ms. Narkis has obtained valuable experience as a corporate attorney, specializing in corporate and commercial law, real estate, insolvency and government procurement and contracting. Her practice is focused on providing legal counsel and support to local and foreign companies at all stages of business.

She also assists clients with the legal aspects of real estate transactions and development, and serves as off counsel for a bank institution, overseeing its due diligence procedures. In the Public Procurement sector, she has advised clients in all legal aspects of government contracting, including public offers, bidding process, defending client interests before the corresponding instances, providing legal support in revising and negotiating government contracts, and legal support during the development of projects, including their relationship with contractors and public institutions.

Marisol Vallarino Arrocha is actually the Commercial and Marketing Director for Cesar Arrocha Graell y Cia., S.A.; a holding company from "Empresas Arrocha, S.A."; a family business with 89 years expirience in the import and distribution of consumer goods.

She has been working for the family business since 1993, where she started as an administrative assistant for the general manager's office. Later, she was promoted to sales director, then Marketing Director and currently Commercial and Marketing Director. She manages marketing and commercial strategies, overseeing more than 60 brands. Her team of nine brand managers implement strategies, which include distribution channels nationwide, wholesalers, retailers, marketing strategies and perform development activities identifying and pursuing new potential clients and service opportunities while maintaining revenue metrics.

Marisol has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing from Texas Christian University, USA. A Master's in finance from "Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencias y Tenologia de Panama, ULACID" and certification in Social Responsibility from the Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile.

Marissa Lasso de la Vega Ferrari retired as a Partner at the firm and Head of the Intellectual Property Department. She played an active role in our Litigation Department regarding antitrust and consumer protection disputes, and intellectual property enforcement.

Marissa has a Law and Political Sciences degree and a Master of Commercial Law, both from the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua. She also completed the Studies in U.S. Legal Methods at the George Washington University Law School and in Fashion Law at Fashion Law Institute Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Described by Chambers and Partners as “a very talented IP lawyer” and in Latin Lawyer 250 as “one of the best IP lawyers in the country”. She has also been voted by corporate counsel as a leading practitioner in LACCA for her work in Intellectual Property.

Marissa is member of the Panama Bar Association and the Panamanian Association of Industrial Property (APADEPI) where she occupied a place on the Board of Directors from 2008-2012 and acted as President (2017-2019).  She is also member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and has acted in various committees since 2005. Marissa is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama (AMCHAM) where she has been Secretary of the Board of Directors and also the Chair of the Legislation and Taxation Committee. She is also member of the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIYAP) where she has continuously acted as legal counsel to the board of directors since 2009.  Member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), where she is since 2018 chair of the KnowledgeNet in Panama City.

Marissa was one of the founders on 2016 of the Panamanian Public-Private Alliance against Illicit Commerce (smuggling, counterfeit and pirated products)  and she is actually the Chair.

She is professor of Intellectual Property at the University.

Mercedes is the Chief Marketing Officer at Grupo TX, a company that has been a part of the IT space in Latin America for the last 40 years. As such Grupo TX has been pushing the envelope  leading the e-government space. Having implemented solutions geared towards digital government, process automation, IoT monitoring, urban data infrastructure, and citizen services, Grupo TX bridges the gap between innovative solutions and local governments and paves the way for sustainable technological advancements in the Americas.

With 10 years of experience as a Communicator, Mercedes excels at weaving stories that conveys the added value of the company and engages stakeholders. By starving to comprehend the unique challenges and aspirations of governmental partners, and citizens, Mercedes brings the know-how necessary to connect with and influence diverse audiences.

Mercedes is passionate about customer stories and how their results can be replicated across multiple fields. Understanding that the stories of clients and their successes serve as powerful testimonials, Mercedes strives to highlight the transformative power of Grupo TX's solutions and how they can drive positive change in similar contexts.

Pam Confer, Ph.D., is an international, award-winning, bilingual professional speaker, business consultant, public relations guru, and sports clay enthusiast. She explodes with confidence— teaching everyone how a simple smile can move the world!

With a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University, Dr. Confer is a TEDx Women presenter, corporate humorist, and master soft-skills trainer. She is published in the area of cross-cultural literacy and globalization, and is highly sought after for her on-point perspective on how "good differences" can be activated to restore harmony. Dr. Confer is a certified Six Sigma Diversity and Inclusion Yellow Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt. Along with serving as a Gallup Strengths Coach, Dr. Confer is also a certified Crucial Conversations, a certified Franklin Covey, and a certified Myers-Briggs practitioner. She is the author of the theory of "Circle-Shifting," influencing the movement of personal and professional circles from within. Her open mind, personal stories, and amusing training style are unmatched.

Dr. Confer has a certification in online learning from the National Institute of Online Learning (NIOL). She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the Association of Talent Development, and the National Speakers Association.

Dr. Confer serves as the owner and lead consultant of Confer Consulting and Communications, LLC, a global workforce development company specializing in professional development, employee retention, and strategic DE&I training and consultations for the public and private sectors. Services are provided in English and Spanish, and can be facilitated in-person, virtually, or as integrated web-based programs. She has over 20 years of successes in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, education, engineering, food, financial services, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, media, retail, technology, and transportation.

Where there are possibilities for progress, you’ll find Dr. Pam Confer. Learn more at www.pamconfer.com

Pamela Ward is the newly arrived Senior Commercial Officer for Canada.  She is arriving in Ottawa after serving as the Regional Senior Commercial Officer for Southeast Europe, based in Bucharest, Romania.  Ms. Ward has extensive prior experience in Europe, having previously served as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer for Trade Policy at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium (2015-2017), where she provided policy and strategic direction for the 23 CS operations in the European region; as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Paris, France (2012-2015), as the Senior Commercial Officer in Zagreb, Croatia (2008-2011); as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in The Hague, The Netherlands (2002-2004), and as Commercial Attaché in Budapest, Hungary (1999-2002).  Immediately prior to her posting Bucharest, Ms. Ward served in Johannesburg, South Africa as the Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs and Regional Senior Commercial Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, leading over 50 trade professionals from eight Commercial Service posts (South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Mozambique) and providing oversight to 24 partner posts in one of the Commercial Service’s largest and most diverse regions.  This was her second assignment in South Africa, having served there as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer from 2004-2007.

Prior to joining the Foreign Commercial Service, Ms. Ward served in the United States Commercial Service’s Export Assistance Center network as the Manager of the Eugene (Oregon) Export Assistance Center and as an International Trade Specialist in Newport Beach, California.  Ms. Ward entered government service as an Import Compliance Specialist investigating unfair trade practice allegations for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Import Administration. Prior to her government service, she worked in the international trade and shipping logistics departments of several multinational firms.  Ms. Ward holds a degree in Business Administration and International Marketing from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and completed Stanford’s Graduate School of Business LEAD program in 2022.  She is married with two children.

Pat is a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service, with the mission to help American companies succeed in overseas markets. This work includes providing strategic advice and practical assistance to American businesses seeking to enter or expand in their business abroad and attracting foreign direct investment to the U.S.

Prior to his posting as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Mexico, Pat was the Senior Commercial Officer in Peru. Pat served eight months as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Japan during a domestic assignment at the U.S. Export Assistance Center, San Diego. His other assignments include Senior Commercial Officer in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Commercial Attaché positions in New Delhi, India and Tokyo, Japan.

Pat entered the Commercial Service after a career of 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  His military background includes service in Infantry, Intelligence, and Foreign Area Officer billets, focused on Asia-Pacific security issues. He served multiple tours of duty in Korea and Japan.

Pat is a graduate of The Citadel, Golden Gate University, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Airborne, and Ranger Schools.

Philip has been with the U.S. Commercial Service since May 2015.  Prior to his current posting in Lima, he was stationed at the U.S. Consulate-General in Istanbul, 2018-2021.  Prior to that he was attached to the U.S. Export Assistance Center in San Diego, CA.  He has held a number of positions encompassing commercial promotion and trade policy, including Sr. Manager for European Affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Sr. Trade Policy Advisor with the British Embassy (Washington DC) and Business Development Associate with the British Consulate-General (Chicago, IL).  He has also worked for state and local government in New York spanning budget analysis, human resource development and legislative research.  Philip has a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, both from the University at Albany, New York.

Ricky is the Economic/Commercial officer at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau.  He has served in Washington, D.C., Guadalajara, Mexico, Harare, Zimbabwe, and Nassau, The Bahamas.  Prior to joining the State Department Ricky was an executive in the private sector and managed international development programs.  He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California at Riverside, a Masters in agronomy from Texas A&M University, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Robyn Garfield is a career U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Most recently, he served as Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Mission to the European Union, where he led a team covering energy, transportation, and climate. In this role, he founded a global whole-of-government initiative to address climate and energy transition needs in Europe and Eurasia. Robyn previously served in the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of China and Mongolia and as Commercial Consul at the Consulate General in Shanghai overseeing transportation, aviation, travel and tourism, and environmental technology. In Shanghai, Robyn established the U.S. Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Working Group, the U.S. Travel and Tourism Working Group, and the award-winning China Industrial Park Environmental Initiative. Prior to joining the U.S. Government, Robyn managed large multi-cultural teams in five countries as a corporate strategist, general manager and entrepreneur. Most recently, he advised Samsung Group’s global business units on international strategy from its headquarters in Seoul. Prior to that, he held executive roles in Washington, D.C. and founded a company in Beijing. Robyn holds an MBA from INSEAD, an MA from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in Business and Intercultural Communication. He, his wife, and their two children (and their dog) have lived in the U.S., Belgium, China, Korea, Germany, and France.

Roy Fernandez was born in 1970 in San Jose, Costa Rica.  He is a graduate of both LaSalle High School (Costa Rica, 86) and Sheboygan (Wisconsin 88) North High where he was a Foreign Exchange Student from 1987-88. Upon his return to Costa Rica, he worked as a bilingual tour guide for a few months. From 1992-95, Mr. Fernandez worked part time with American Airlines while completing his B.A. at Universidad Fidelitas.  From 1996-1997, he worked at Banex Bank and continued his studies for the Business Certification/Licenciatura from Universidad Fidelitas Business School. Later, Mr. Fernandez worked as an information analyst at Veritas CA, part of (1997-2000) Veritas Business Information, a credit reporting company where he was in charge of report quality control, client service, training of all contracted personnel.

Roy Fernandez joined CS San Jose office in 2000 and he is the institutional memory and the team member with the longest time of service under seven different U.S. Ambassadors. He started as a Commercial Assistant and has done every job in the office from the bottom up until becoming a Commercial Specialist for the last ten years.

Roy has covered almost all the sectors at one point and has done all the services from the early catalog shows all the way to the Virtual B2B meetings and Virtual Trade Missions in 2020. During his job tenure with the Commercial Service, he has received many awards and kudos from clients for his extra effort when conducting services.

With over 26 years of experience in sales and leadership at FedEx, I have developed a wide range of skillsfocused on strategic planning, data management, and customer-centricity. I have successfully led and motivatedsales teams across 28 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, achieving sales objectives and exceedingcustomer expectations.

As a District Sales Manager, I was responsible for cultivating relationships with key accounts, fostering teamcollaboration, and providing valuable input in sales strategies. I also excelled in maintaining sales data,interpreting market trends, and ensuring policy consistency. Additionally, I have a Master's degree in Big Dataand Business Analytics, which enables me to leverage data-driven insights and solutions to optimize salesperformance and customer satisfaction. My mission is to apply my expertise and passion for sales and leadershipto create value and impact for any organization.

Sofía has extensive experience in banking and commercial and financial services in Latin America.  She has functioned as an associate for a venture capital firm in the United States, and as financial analyst and credit risk analyst for major banks in Ecuador.  At U.S. Embassy Quito, Sofía develops strategies to promote trade between Ecuador and the United States.  She manages a portfolio of Ecuador’s strategic sectors including oil, energy, electricity, mining, construction, transportation, automotive, water, and waste management.  She also conducts trade and business counseling to help U.S. firms understand Ecuador’s business climate.  Sofía performs business matchmaking services to help U.S. companies identify potential distributors in Ecuador.  Sofía graduated with two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Finance and Hospitality Management from Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador.  She earned her MBA from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business, where she was a Fulbright Fellow.

Tamara Maxwell, a native of Washington, DC, since July 2021 has been the Acting Senior Vice President (SVP) of the Office of Small Business at the Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).  In her current capacity she has oversight of six divisions within EXIM to include two banking units that manages a 4.3B dollar portfolio. Prior to the acting SVP appointment Mrs. Maxwell was the Vice President of the Minority and Women Owned Business Division (MWOB). Mrs. Maxwell’s personal knowledge of owning a small business is a key factor in her successful creation and implementation of the MWOB Division, which was established in 1999.

Ms. Maxwell extensive knowledge of EXIM programs has given her the ability to expand the MWOB Division to include the Regional Export Promotion Program (REPP) and the creation of the Client Care Unit (CCU) which focuses on customer service for EXIM customers.  

Prior to creating the outreach program, her primary focus was working with the Latin American and Caribbean Market. During that time, she also expanded on her experience in assisting small businesses in structuring international transactions to meet EXIM Bank program requirements.

Before joining the Bank, Mrs. Maxwell served in the US Army during the Gulf War. She is a graduate of Bowie State University.

Timothy Cannon has been with the Department of Commerce since 2003. Prior to joining the Commercial Service, Tim was a Marine at the barracks in Washington, D.C. where he served as a Presidential Honor Guard. After the Marines he worked as a Personal Protection Officer. He then pursued a career in sales with Gallo Winery, Miller Brewing, and Red Bull. After the beverage business, Tim accepted a position with an aerospace company and while attending the Paris and Australian Airshows, Tim utilized the services of the Commercial Service. He was impressed with their assistance and decided to return to the service of the government as a Commercial Officer himself. Since then, Tim has served in Fargo, North Dakota on a domestic tour, Russia, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia and will be in Panama for the next four years.