The Global Business Council is an organization founded by professionals that have over 30 years of combined experience in business consulting, chamber of commerce operations and International event management.

With our strategic partnerships with business organizations and chamber of commerce in Florida, the US and around the world, we will provide the business community wit the most comprehensive calendar of events in Florida.

Al Otero - President

Al Otero has successfully promoted international trade in South Florida and abroad through a series of conferences, trade shows, seminars and trade missions. He has built strong strategic alliances with trade, business leaders and organizations in the US and abroad. From seminars, conferences ribbon cutting ceremonies and grand openings, to meetings with high-level government officials and international events. He has established a solid foundation to build a highly successful global organization to serve the international trade needs of the world business community and is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for his service to the business community.

Al Otero has many years experience in sales, marketing, business development, management and ownership of small businesses. Al has over 15 years experience in the development and operations of Chambers of Commerce, as International Chair of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber, as Vice Chair of The International Business Council of Florida, and Chairman of the Bolivian Business Council. Al has served on the Boards of the World Trade Center Ft. Lauderdale, the Florida Foreign Trade Association; He was the founding President of the South Florida Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director of the Broward County Chamber of Commerce, and the Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce. Al was also an active member of Sister Cities International and serves on the Broward County Diversity Advisory Council.

Recognitions

• Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Broward County “Hispanic Business Leaders Award”
• Broward County, Florida Hispanic Bar Association - Hispanic Leader Award
  Portada Magazine “Business Organization Empowering Hispanics in South Florida” Leadership Award
• Empresarios Magazine “South Florida Hispanic Business Organization Leaders”
• In Focus Magazine “Executive Champion of the Year Award”
• In Focus Magazine “Multi Cultural Organizational Leadership Award”
• Melgar, Colombia “Key to the City” for bringing the first U.S. tourism mission to the city Carmen de Apicala, Colombia “Key to the City” for bringing the first U.S. tourism mission to the city
• In Focus Magazine “Hispanic Achievers Award”
• Ms. Latina International Pageant “Man of the Year”
• Cronos Magazine “Movers and Shakers” Hispanic Community in Broward
• Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau & Cronos Magazine
  “Top Hispanic Leaders in Broward County”

Maria-Renee Davila - Director

Maria-Renee Davila is a proven international entrepreneur with extensive corporate experience and solid leadership skills and a partner of the Global Business Council. With over 15 years experience, she is a highly sought-after executive in her industry. She is also co-founder of the Bolivian Business Council and professor at Ana G. Mendez University in South Florida where she teaches Business Administration courses including; International Marketing, Marketing Management, Marketing Communications, Public Relations, Labor Relations, Business Management, and Sales Management. She is speaker at workshops to business people, community leaders and students on various topics. She has received Public recognition from local, national and foreign governments, Non Public Organizations, and various multinational companies for successfully executing events. She was a Board Member of Latin Women business organization, Member of event committee for Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce. She has been interviewed and featured on magazine covers and international publications and was a TV host and model.

She holds a Masters of Business Administration, along with other accreditations. She served as executive director of Enigma Group Marketing and Advertising Company where she managed advertising campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, was responsible for coordinating and marketing annual expo with 200+ international exhibitors displaying a wide variety of goods and services. Managed numerous fashion shows and charity events where she was in charge of marketing utilizing mass media that included TV, radio, and printed media always under budget and on schedule. Produced, managed and promoted world-class business events including International Business Expos, Trade Missions, and International Conferences for alternative energy initiatives, bio-fuels, government, Non Public Organizations and privately held multi-national corporations in several countries.

Max G. Macias - Chief Investment Officer

Max G. Macias is Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for the Global Business Council. A Tallahassee native, he finished his Business education at Florida State University and used that knowledge to create a successful advertising agency. Max unknowingly began his investing career in 1997 when he purchased his first two stocks, as a "hobby", TRUK-Builders Transport and FTEL-Franklin Telecom. FTEL at the time was pioneering the use of telephony over the internet, today it’s known as VoIP. On September 29, 2008, the day congress was to reject the $700 billion bailout, Max advised all his clients to go 100% cash and ride out the downward slope with ease. For the end of 2010 and beginnings of 2011, Max is recommending refineries and gasoline related securities as the next bullseye and alternative (green) energies are on the menu for the end of 2011. Investing in securities, mainly in stocks, he has averaged a solid 12% yearly rate of return, "...put simply, stocks are like my employees. If you’re not making me money then you get a pink slip or in this case a sell order." He has been an active retail day trader for the past 3 years and continues to openly advise and guide new investors which have recently included new businesses and entrepreneurs just like him. His use of interaction, insight, imagination and initiative driven tactics to all situations at hand are a winning combination for the Global Business Council and its clients.

Karlene Facey, MBA – Chief Marketing Director

Karlene has extensive experience in market research, focus group moderating and general marketing. She specializes in the area of customer acquisition and retention. Ms. Facey holds a marketing degree from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Moore Hall England. She has also achieved the prestigious designation of Chartered Marketer. Karlene has extensive knowledge in the financial services industry having spent 16 years working with banks and Credit Unions. She has received the designation of Fellow of the Credit Union Institute of Canada (FCUIC). She holds a MBA from one of Europe’s leading universities – University of Liverpool in England.

Public Relations and Business Development


Eliana Sasics

After working for some of the top companies in South Florida, like City of Homestead, The Miami Herald, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Department of Children and Family, Eliana Sasics is projecting her carrier as an international entrepreneur, PR and community leader. Eliana Sasics work and experience as part of the Executive board of Directors of the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce, had take her to be one of the most passionate promoters of the Colombian fashion industry in South Florida. Eliana Sasics expertise is in exotic and exclusive goods for clients all over the world.

Ivelisse Santana

Ivelisse Santana holds a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts. Has been a Real Estate broker in Florida for thirteen years with a solid background in commercial and residential transactions. Worked in the fashion industry in New York city in sales, manufacturing and also purchasing. Has a solid background in sales and management. Experience in purchasing a broad variety of items for a spanish T.V. shopping network and retail chain. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Knowledge of French and italian.

Mary Nguyen

Mary Nguyen was born in Houston, Texas, where her Vietnamese father and Thai mother met to pursue the American Dream. Having high expectations for their five daughters, Mary Nguyen was always an “A” student throughout her school years. She acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at the University of Houston. Upon graduation, Mary landed a prominent position with Lanier Worldwide, where she was quickly promoted to Healthcare Sales Representative and gained significant successful experience in outside sales. Looking to take the next critical step in her career, Mary moved to South Florida to facilitate tradeshows and events for the fitness and nutrition industry, despite becoming what her parents wanted, a doctor. From her past experience, Mary learned that true success comes from loving what she does, and knowing that each day brings its opportunities and challenges. Mary Nguyen is a forward thinker, anxious to have an impact on meeting the continuing challenges and emerging technologies of the new millennium!

Rosemarie Allen

Rosemarie Allen is a Public Relations and Business Development Professional, with more than 20 years combined experience in Customer Relations, Telecommunication, and Human Resources. A daughter of the Caribbean Rosemarie was born in Bahamas, relocated to Florida in 1993. A current student in Global Business Management and, a partner in small business Rosemarie understands the complexities of connecting in global markets because of limited knowledge and resources. Her role is to educate and inform businesses of the opportunistic events that will allow businesses to promote their agenda, thereby defusing the effects of the recession and boosting the economic interest of their organizations, through globalized strategies.

Oskar Mondacca de la Barra

Born in Potosí, Bolivia, resident in Germany, Strategic Business and Management Consultant, International University Lecturer, author of books and other specialized publications in these topics, more than three decades experience in the international market. University Lecturer in several well known academic institutions, e.g. INCAE, Institute of the Harvard Business School in Alajuela, Costa Rica; EADA, Escola d’Alta Direcció i Administració in Barcelona, Spain; ESAE, Institute of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ICDA Institute of the Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina; WBS, Management Training Institute, Berlin, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Coauthor of the Programme MBA-SMSE within a cooperation between the Bolton University, Manchester, United Kingdom and the University of Cooperative Education, Horb am Neckar, Germany; coauthor of the Programme MBA-SMSE within a cooperation between the University of Northumbria, New Castle, United Kingdom an the AIM Acagemy for International Management, Stuttgart, Germany; CENTRE, Institute du Management Superieur, Colmar, France a.a.m.