Directors

Jeffrey J. Hanson
President
26 years of business operations in Brazil
Graduated with an International MBA from IMD, Switzerland and a Mechanical Engineering degree with an Environmental Engineering minor from the University of Minnesota. Travelled the world extensively with the International Division of Donaldson Company covering engineering, sales and marketing before moving to Brazil. While in Brazil managed subsidiaries for 2 Minnesota multinational companies for 8 years and also owned and operated a Brazilian importing, manufacturing and sales company in Brazil for 18 years. Married a wonderful Brazilian woman and raised 2 children in São Paulo through high school. Still passionate for Brazil, moved back to the USA in 2004 where I continue to work for stronger and better ties between Brazil and Minnesota.
Robert H. Scarlett
Vice President
40 years of experience in Latin America
Rob Scarlett has had a 40-year career in international sales and manufacturing; and although still active in business, has shifted more of his time into service as a director and/or advisor to several small and medium-size companies and philanthropic organizations. Shortly after graduating from Carleton College in 1966, he became part of a private NGO team in Venezuela, Brazil and Peru that created some of Latin America’s first microfinance institutions. Building on that experience, he began a decades-long business career that kept him active throughout Latin America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In addition to his international business consulting work, Rob currently serves as a board member or advisor for a number of Minnesota organizations; including, the AVEKA Group, Inc., Minnepura Technologies, PBC; Clearwater Biologic, LLC: Venn Foundation; and the Sundance Family. In recent years, Rob also served as Board Chair for Global Minnesota and President of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas. He speaks German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, and has also lived and worked throughout Europe, South Africa, and throughout most of Latin America. Rob is co-author, with Dr. Lawrence Koslow, of Global Business: 308 Tips for Taking Your Company Worldwide (Oxford UK 1999).
Eduardo Martins
Treasurer

Patrícia Ribeiro
Secretary

Richard Weiner
I practice in the International Law Group at Fredrikson & Byron assisting clients with international business transactions. My practice focuses on international joint ventures, partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, distributorships, licensing, franchising, contract matters, dispute resolution and customs regulations. I speak and read French, Spanish, and Italian and read Portuguese.
Specialties: lawyer, attorney, law, international, clean tech, green tech, renewable energy, alternative energy, biodiesel, ethanol, biofuels, manufacturing, equipment, design, supply, agreements, contracts, licensing, technology, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions

Jordana Mattos

João Moura
Over 40 years of Brazilian marketing, sales, and business experience
A businessman, advertiser, journalist, and consultant, João Moura has over 40 years of direct experience in Brazilian marketing, sales, and business development, as well as more than 30 years of experience in international business. João is the cofounder of DBD Filtros Group (owner of LAFFI Filtration and LAFFI Water), L3 PPM: Publicidade, Propaganda e Marketing, Ltda. (a market intelligence, research, and recruitment company for companies interested in the Brazilian market and publisher of Revista Meio Filtrante and Revista TAE: Tratamento de Águas e Efluentes magazines), and ABRAFILTROS (Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Filtros e de seus Sistemas Automotivos e Industriais), for which he is serving his 7th term as president.

Karyna Walsh
Contributing Members

Juliana Junqueira Panetta

Adriano Bonazio
Previous Directors

João Medeiros

Douglas Engen
Doug Engen started his involvement in Brazil in 1969 when he joined the Peace Corps in Pernambuco. He and his wife returned to Brazil where he had a 20-year career with KPMG and Cargill. They raised four children there. Doug has worked as an independent consultant since 2001 offering financial, tax, accounting, and interim management services in various organizations worldwide.

Paula Kanne

Isabel Gomes

Paulo Telles Moraes
Brazilian with engineering and international business experience
Paulo Moraes graduated in electronic and mechanical engineering specializing in project engineering and industrial processes design. He also received an MBA at Mackenzie University in Brazil and completed a short MBA from the University of St. Thomas. A native of São Paulo, Paulo has worked in various technical, commercial and management positions throughout South America, in Denmark, and in China before moving to the United States. He currently works for Crown Iron Works Co. for which he initially managed startup operations in Brazil. He now focuses on sales for oil and oleochemical processing plants and refineries, biodiesel, as well as servicing, spare parts, and technical support worldwide.

Lucas Cortese
Communications Director
21 years of experience in Family Business
Lucas Cortese is the CEO of ITEB - Indústria Técnica de Borracha, a rubber and consulting company. He is a member of the Advisory Council for Rubber Products and Retreading Industries of the State of São Paulo - SINDIBOR and Member of the Council - Young Entrepreneurs Committee - CJE of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo - FIESP. Founder of Toys4Dog - Entertainment for dogs, L15 Consulting Company and Luca Latorre Music in Brazil. Brazilian and Italian nationality, graduated in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, with a Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration and an International MBA with Residency Programs in Mexico, Canada and the United States. In his free time, Lucas is a singer, songwriter and musician. Winner of talent contests: American Idol Experience at Walt Disney Studios and Talent Move in Italy, and joined bands in Brazil such as Vera Cruz, Supersonics, Kippis and now with his solo project - Luca Latorre. He dreams of working and living in Minnesota in the near future.