Jean Pierre de Roux

President
Commercial Director, Tropical Energies Corporation (TRENCO)

He previously served as Commercial Counselor and later Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Panama in Washington, D.C. (2008-2011).

He earned his Bachelors in Economics from Duke University; he earned his Master's in Philosophy and International Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; and recently obtained his MBA from INCAE Business School.

He has been actively involved in corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, and volunteer work. As a member of the Active 20-30 Club of Panama and treasurer of the Active 20-30 Foundation, he has worked extensively in advancing the well-being of children and youth with physical disabilities in Panama.

Served as Energy Committee Chair of AmCham Panama in 2020.

Niurka Montero

Vicepresident

General Manager - Dell Technologies Panama

Electronic Engineer with more than 20 years of experience leading teams and developing business strategies in multiple transnational companies with regional responsibilities.

Niurka started her career at Dell Technologies in 2004, leading the transition of Corporate sales from Austin, TX, to Panama; Thanks to her passion, vision, and results, she has led different segments in the company, from online sales and Call Center businesses to SMB (Small and Medium Business), the PartnerDirect Channel Program for South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and since 2014, is responsible for Government, Commercial, and SMB as Senior Director of Sales for Regional Accounts in NoLA (North Latin America).

She is passionate about STEM careers and the opportunities they open up for in-demand jobs within the technology industry, as well as gender equality. She is involved in programs that promote the development and mentoring of the next generation of leaders and STEM studies, focusing on diversity and female talent. She has a degree in Electronic Engineering specializing in Digital Systems from USMA and an MBA in Business Administration specializing in Marketing from ULACIT.

Mariela de la Guardia Oteiza

Secretary

Partner - Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán

Mariela is a lawyer specializing in Commercial Law, Intellectual Property, Estate Planning, Personal Data Protection, among others. She has assisted multiple foreign companies in their establishment process in our country, as well as several multinationals under the SEM regime. She has also participated in several fusions and acquisitions of local and foreign companies. Serves companies in infrastructure projects and mega works. She is a member of the Intellectual Property team at Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán. She was recently elected as a member of the Brand Restrictions Committee of the International Trademark Association (INTA) for the 2022-2023 terms. She has participated in the debate and drafting of several Law Projects.

She is part of the Board of Directors of Verdes & Co., a company dedicated to the development of hydroponic crops and is secretary and Director of the IGRA Foundation. She is a member of the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property (APADEPI), the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Directors Association of Panama, WIP Panama, the National Bar Association and the Panamanian Institute of New Technologies (IPANDETEC). Additionally, she is an Electoral Delegate.

Mariela was Chair of the AmCham Legislation and Tax Committee in 2017 and 2018, has been a member of the AmCham Board of Directors since 2019, holding the vice presidency in 2020 and the secretary for the periods 2021 and 2022.

 

 

Malcolm Muñoz

Treasurer

Director General of Citi since April 2023. Prior to assuming this position, he held the role of Director of Corporate Banking for nine years, providing global solutions to institutional clients, including Capital Markets, Project Financing, Derivatives, and Risk Management Structures. He also led significant transactions with clients in the Public Sector and Local Enterprises, expanding operations throughout the Latin American region. As part of Citi's commitment to the community, Malcolm actively participated as a mentor in Junior Achievement programs to promote financial education in official schools. He has over 23 years of experience in the banking industry.

Jorge Barnett Lawton

Director

Director General of the Georgia Tech Panama Logistics Innovation and Research Center, a joint initiative between SENACYT and the Georgia Institute of Technology. From this institution, he leads local and regional projects related to the advancement of logistics and transportation, digital transformation, cluster performance, supply chain design, distribution networks, and process innovation. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the Technological University of Panama, a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Master's and Doctorate degrees in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program in Zaragoza, Spain. His professional trajectory spans two decades in various roles in the fields of manufacturing, project management, logistics, research, and technology.

Jonathan Díaz

Director

Business Director – City of Knowledge Foundation

Bachelor of Law and Political Science from the Universidad Latina. He has a Master's in Business Administration from Francisco Marroquín University and Tulane University, with a concentration in entrepreneurship.

For the last ten years he has been working to attract FDI (foreign direct investment) to Panama, from both the public and private sectors. He has been working for the City of Knowledge Foundation since 2018 as Business Director and is mainly responsible for attracting new organizations (companies, universities, NGOs and international organizations) and their evolution in the project.

In 2021 he was Chair of the Education Committee of AmCham Panama.

Thomas Kenna

Director

President & General Director - Panama Canal Railway Company

Has worked the ast 35 years in various positions related to the maritime industry, international business and multimodal transport. Before joining the Panama Canal Railway Company, he worked on various shipping lines, where he held positions as CEO and President. He joined PCRC in 2000 as Chief Marketing Officer and was appointed President and CEO in 2008.

He has a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.

He was Director of the Asociación de Aerolíneas de Panama (ALAP). He is a founding member of the Board of the Consejo Empresarial Estados Unidos-Panamá (USPA) and of the Asociación del Ejército de los Estados Unidos (AUSA). He has been an active member of the Board of Directors of the Cámara Marítima de Panamá and served as President of the organization in 2003 and 2004. He is currently VP of the Board of Directors of Florida State University Panama. He has served on the Board of Directors of AmCham Panama since 2006, was Secretary in 2007, VP in 2008 and President in 2009. He was part of the Executive Committee of AmCham Panama. In 2015 he was elected president of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean (AACCLA). He currently represents AmCham Panama as a member of the COEL Board of Directors. He served as Trustee of the Fundación Panamericana para el Desarrollo (PADF), established by the OAS in 1962 to implement socio-economic development and disaster assistance programs in Latin America and the region.

Alyssa Lince

Director

Senior Partner - Arden & Price

She graduated from Psychology with a master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She worked in the United States of America as a Training and Organizational Development Coordinator and Ethics Officer.

In 1995 she founded the company Arden & Price, Inc., dedicated to Organizational Development and Strengthening. As head of the firm, she has led projects in both the public and private sectors, executing strategies to create and maintain healthy and cost-efficient operating structures.

In the same way, she has implemented systems for Human Resources planning, taking into consideration the client's organizational goals, costs, budgets, and occupational hygiene. In terms of technology, she has been a pioneer in virtual reality and artificial intelligence offering evaluation and training solutions.

Sandra Miró Navarro

Director

General Manager - DHL Express Panama

Sandra has a track record of more than 20 years in the Deutsche Post DHL group, holding several positions for the division of the courier group DHL Express, including the General Management of DHL Express Chile for 4 years.

In 2004 she assumed the position of Commercial Director for DHL Express and DHL Freight Fowarding Panama, under an integrated scheme of Multimodal Logistics services. In 2006, she assumed the General Management of DHL Express Panama, position that she held until 2012, becoming the first woman to occupy the position of Country Manager, marking an important step in the leadership style of the company. Currently General Manager of DHL Express Panama. She has a degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Panama, with an MBA from Universidad Latina.

Additionally, she acts as a facilitator of the internal CIM Leadership program (Certified International Manager), which she teaches several times a year in different places in the region, directly sharing our strategy with the new leaders who join the DHL family.

Marcela Perilla

Director

President North Latin America & Caribbean – SAP International Panama, S.A.

President of the Northern Region of Latin America and the Caribbean made up of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean. She is responsible for the entire operation in those countries.

One of its objectives is to consolidate the leadership of the German subsidiary in the different markets, promoting the digital transformation of clients and accompanying their evolution towards the cloud.

Marcela has worked in the technology industry for more than two decades, where she has excelled in promoting medium and large companies in the region. Before joining SAP, she held various leadership positions at Dell Technologies, IBM, and Unisys, among others.

She has a degree in Systems Engineering from the Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia and an MBA from the same institution. She is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Patricia Planells de Rengifo

Director

CEO - Banco Lafise Panama

With more than 25 years of experience in banking and teaching, Administrative Industrial Engineering from Universidad Santa María la Antigua and has an MBA with a specialty in Finance and Human Resources from the Latin American University of Science and Technology; Additionally, she has studies in Leadership, Coaching and Higher Education.

She served as VP of Business Banking at BAC Panama. She is the President of PR Consulting Corp, a company with more than 10 years in the area of ​​training and consulting. She is the representative in Panama of Texas A & M in its Distribution Management program, of CMI International in the Negotiation Project of Harvard University and of the Brian Tracy Franchise in the subject of Sales Techniques and Emotional Intelligence.

She is currently a facilitator of the Women's Chapter of the Executive Forum of Panama and belongs to the sixth generation of the Central America Leadership Initiative (CALI VI) an initiative of the Aspen Institute and Incae. Holds Certification as a Coach of the International Coaching Institute. She is the President and founder of the Transition to Life Foundation. Vital Voices Mentor and Innovation Center of the City of Knowledge in the Acceleration for Startups program.

Mariana Scelza Perata

Director

Managing Director Central America and the Caribbean - Johnson & Johnson

Industrial Engineer with more than 17 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in areas such as strategic planning, supply chain, marketing, commercial excellence, sales and foreign trade. She was certified in Production and Inventory Management, has a postgraduate degree in Finance and Financial Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires and a postgraduate degree in Pharmaceutical Marketing from the University of Belgrano. In 2016 she assumed the Commercial Management of Janssen Latin America South and since 2020 she leads the company's operation in Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mariana is a proud daughter, wife and mother of two. Her interests range from promoting diversity, leadership and inclusion inside and outside the workplace. A passionate reader and traveler, Mariana enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, and recently getting to know her new home: Panama.

Luis Laguerre

Ex AACCLA Chair

Partner Director- KPMG Panama

For more than 30 years, he has provided advice in tax accounting to companies from various industries, as well as natural persons. He has gained experience in international transactions involving Panamanian tax structures. He has also participated in tax planning contracts for multinational clients as well as for local groups.

From 2009 to 2012 he served as Chief Negotiator for the Republic of Panama for the signing of double taxation agreements with Mexico, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Singapore, North Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, among others.

He is a member of the Universidad Especializada del Contador Público Autorizado (UNESCPA) and of the Technical and Accounting Board, an entity attached to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. He was President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Certified Public Accountants of Panama for the years 2003 to 2005. He is also an individual member of the Interamerican Accounting Association (IAA). In 2015, the IAA awarded him the Diploma of Honor for Professional Merit. Currently, he is a member of the Interamerican Tax Commission of the IAA.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Universidad Santa María La Antigua and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencias y Tecnología.

In 2012, he was President of AmCham Panama and is currently Vice Chair of the AACCLA Board of Directors for the period 2020-2022.

He is the AACCLA Chair for the 2021-2022 period.

Freddy Rodríguez

AACCLA VICE CHAIR

With 28 years of experience in the aviation industry and 3 years in the meetings industry, he held prominent roles, including General Manager of United Airlines and Commercial Director at the Panama's Convention Center. Throughout his career he strategically led initiatives to enhance air services, passenger experience, and event management.

Timothy Cannon

Commercial Counselor

Commercial Counselor  -  US Embassy

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.  

Juan Antonio Fábrega

Advisor

Representative - Cervecería Nacional, S.A.

Graduated from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana USA, BA in Mechanical Engineering in 1975.

He was Vice President of Corporate Affairs of Cervecería Nacional S.A, From 2004 to 2010 he was 5 years in the position of Commercial Vice President and previously two years as Commercial Vice President in the area of Beers, he also held the position of Marketing Manager and Soft Drinks Manager.

He is a Board Member of the Industrial Union of Panama, Advisor to the Presidency of the Board of Directors of APEDE and a Board Member of ANDA (National Association of Advertisers)

Dacil Acevedo

Advisor

Partner, Strategy & Sustainability - Sinergia507

Disciple of Dr. Bernardo Kliksberg, father of social management and pioneer of social responsibility in Latin America. She is a Senior Consultant in Sustainability and Social Responsibility, with 25 years of international experience advising governments, companies, foundations, international organizations and universities on these issues.

At an academic level, with a 20-year career as a Professor of economics, international business and corporate social responsibility (CSR) at universities in the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Panama.

Member of the Technical-Scientific Committee of the International Center for Sustainable Development (CIDES) of the City of Knowledge 2017-2021. Senior Consultant of the Center for Sustainability and Responsible Leadership of IESA. Member of the ADEN School of Government Think Tank and founder of the Latin American Center for Innovation in Public Policies (CLIPP).

Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Amcham) in 2018. President of the Private Sector Council for Educational Assistance (COSPAE) in 2019 on behalf of Amcham. Since 2020, she has been the Vice President of the National Council of Former Presidents of Private Sector Unions (CONEXPA).

In 2021, for the second year in a row, it emerged in the MERCO ranking among the leaders with the best corporate reputation in Panama. Of the total of the 75 leaders in this ranking, only 14 women were mentioned, with Dacil Acevedo occupying the No. 8 position among the leading women.

Miguel Bolinaga

Advisor

President - AES Panamá

Country President of AES Panama, a position that began in June 2013 after having vast experience in the energy sector. Prior to his arrival in Panama, he worked under the position of Corporate Commercial Director and later as Vice President of Electricity Market and External Relations in the AES subsidiary in El Salvador. He worked from 2002 to 2007 at La Electricidad de Caracas (Venezuela).

Miguel is a graduate of the Venezuelan Naval School with a degree in Administration and Logistics. He also has a Systems Engineer degree from the National Armed Forces University Institute (Venezuela) and a master's degree in Information System Development from Simón Bolívar University. He has a Postgraduate - Customer Experience- from the Higher Institute of Economics and Business Administration of El Salvador and a Diploma in Business Finance from FEPADE (El Salvador).

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), Union of Industrialists of Panama, CEPAVEN, United Way (President 2019-2021), as well as AmCham (president 2018 and vice president 2021).