Development Director BACKGROUND: Mr. Rovira has 35 years of experience in the fields of hospitality, manufacturing, and retail in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America. His experience in multiple senior positions and consulting has led to expertise in finance and budgeting, management, manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing, strategic planning, corporate global sales programs and human resources management. Mr. Rovira specializes in mergers and acquisitions, capital budget planning and management, process improvement and procedural development, sales and product mix analysis, new market development and cash flow. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Mr. Rovira has extensive operational and development experience, focusing in the last ten years on industries including retail development, hotel and casino development, tourism and manufacturing. As Executive Director he strategized, negotiated and implemented multiple facets of the largest private investment project in Puerto Rico in the last decade. This involved participating in the concept design process, identifying and securing retail tenant and hotel franchise agreements, navigating the global financial downturn, addressing permitting and legal process strategy and coordinating public relations. Other projects include development and management of a world-renowned golf course and associated off-site residential and hotel facilities. As CEO/President of a bread manufacturing and distribution company, Mr. Rovira dramatically increased sales, improved quality control measures, raised ratings from governmental agencies, strengthened customer service and created effective succession plans. As President of a company manufacturing products for the hospitality industry and industrial markets he negotiated mergers and acquisitions, achieved double-digit sales growth and improved product mix margins. Mr. Rovira has received numerous industry awards and serves on the Boards of Directors of professional, business and charitable organizations including the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, Hotel Pierre/Double Tree Hilton, SER de Puerto Rico, San Jorge Children’s Hospital, Fundación Infantil Ronald McDonald and Young Presidents’ Organization. He is fully bilingual in English and in Spanish. EDUCATION: Mr. Rovira earned an MBA in Finance from Interamerican University and a BA in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico. His continuing education courses include a Hotel Management summer course at Cornell University, Information Systems management courses in Puerto Rico and the US, and marketing course at Sagrado Corazón University. He led a course on management for the Caribbean Hotel Association.
