The Alliance Team
José E. Martinez, Interim President & CEO
210-229-9036, extension 25
Mr. Martinez is President & CEO of J.E. Martinez & Associates. The firm's clients benefit from his decades of experience with defense, appropriations, international trade and finance issues. He has significant experience with cross-border and Latin American issues, and has a record of success in building public and private-sector coalitions to address important policy issues.
Prior to this position, he was a Senior Principal with The Loeffler Group, a full-service consulting firm specializing in government relations. Prior to this position, Mr. Martinez served as President and CEO of Free Trade Alliance San Antonio. He led the Alliance's efforts to promote San Antonio as an inland port and center for international trade in the Americas. Prior to joining the Alliance, Mr. Martinez was the President of a national and international management consulting and marketing firm based in San Antonio and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Martinez has a long history of public service, holding senior government positions, including Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Special Assistant and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel for National Security and International Affairs for President George H.W. Bush. From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Martinez was a Professional Staff Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. His responsibilities included the authorization for the Department of Defense requests for other procurement, military construction and ammunition. This followed 20 years' service in the U.S. Air Force in various positions, including Congressional Liaison Officer for the Secretary of the Air Force and country manager for foreign military sales.
Mr. Martinez received an M.A. from the Catholic University of America and a B.A. from Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio, Texas.
Rogelio Garcia, Interim Vice President
210-229-9036, extension 23
Rogelio Garcia is Interim Vice President of Free Trade Alliance. In this capacity, he is the chief operating officer for the organization.
Free Trade Alliance is a business organization that coordinates and leads the San Antonio community efforts related to international business, trade and investment. Rogelio has been a part of Free Trade Alliance since 2000 and has been involved in various activities for the organization such as developing and promoting the Alliance and its programs locally and internationally, coordinating trade missions and events, membership recruitment and services, providing international expertise to members, serving as the liaison between the organization and its members and providing oversight and guidance to projects of high importance.
Prior to this promotion to Vice President, Rogelio served as Director of Business Development and led the Alliance’s foreign direct investment initiatives with his team. Rogelio helped attract foreign based companies to invest and do business in San Antonio through the International Business Development Center (IBDC) program and other trade related services. Since 2003, he has also been an adjunct professor at the University of the Incarnate Word teaching the Importing & Exporting business course.
He has traveled to Mexico, Central America, South America, Canada and China to promote trade and investment and takes pride in promoting economic development and connecting individuals and businesses with international resources.
A first generation Mexican-American and native of San Antonio, Rogelio earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration majoring in Finance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration majoring in International Business from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.
Rogelio and his wife Carmen are the parents of two children, Juan Pablo and Emma Paola
Peter Albarian, Director Education Foundation
210-229-9036, extension 27
Peter joined the Free Trade Alliance Education Foundation as the Director in the Fall of 2011. He has a contagiously enthusiastic, high energy style with a constant drive to make a positive difference. Developing leaders that can compete and collaborate globally is at the center of everything he works toward for the Alliance. His responsibilities include the leadership and growth of the International Business Plan Program, Women in International Business Initiative, International Internship Program, Future Global Leaders Summit and Foundation Fundraising. .
Prior to joining the Alliance Team, Peter’s background includes a varied array of careers in business education, logistics and operations management, sales, marketing, public relations, theme park management and design, training and the planning and implementation of large-scale special events including PGA Tournaments and multiple National and International Conventions. His experiences include the start up of the San Diego Convention Center, hotels and most recently Morgan’s Wonderland where he was the Park Director.
Peter was born and raised in San Diego, California by his mother who is from Copenhagen, Denmark and father whose parents immigrated from Armenia. His unique upbringing always had him aware of how small our World really is, with globalization and technology continuing to shrink it and make borders less important. He has traveled extensively through North America, Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean and appreciates experiencing and learning about cultural similarities and differences. He graduated with honors from San Diego State University with a degree in Business emphasizing Marketing. .
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, enjoying nature and the great outdoors, traveling and enjoying his antique car restoration hobby.
Raul Rodriguez, Foreign Investment Specialist
210-229-9036, extension 21
Raul Rodriguez works on attracting foreign investment to San Antonio. Before he joined the Alliance, Raul was the International Marketing Specialist for the City of San Antonio’s International & Economic Development Department. During his time with the City, Raul was responsible for managing the San Antonio Export Leaders Program (SAELP). The program was designed to provide the necessary tools and training to local companies to expand internationally. Raul worked with the City of San Antonio for 10 years and in 2004 he was sent to Monterrey, Mexico to manage the Casa San Antonio Trade Office. As Director some of his responsibilities were to administer the City of San Antonio Trade office in Northern Mexico and promote the City of San Antonio as the place to invest in and do business. Conduct market research and promote the City of San Antonio’s target industries. Conduct presentations to potential Mexican investors, companies, universities and other regional organizations/institutions on San Antonio’s business climate. Coordinate incoming/outgoing trade missions from both U.S. and Mexican firms wanting to do business in either country. Coordinate official visits by the Mayor of San Antonio and other public and private officials to the Monterrey region. In December of 2009, Raul was brought back to San Antonio where he remained overseeing the educational, cultural and business relationship with Northern Mexico.
He is a graduate of the City of San Antonio Leadership Development Program where he developed projects that would benefit the community, that were presented to the City Manger and City Council for implementation. Raul also participated in the Bottoms Up Program that was created by the City Manager to find ways where the City could cut costs, save money or save city resources any other city programs. He is also involved with Cultural Affair events in South-Texas and Mexico. Raul was also former Foreign Trade Agent for the Trade Commission of Mexico in San Antonio, TX where he worked with international trade between the U.S. and Mexico.
Raul received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in International Business at the University of the Incarnate Word. During Raul’s spare time, he enjoys spending time on his ranch enjoying the outdoors.
Carlos Jarquin, International Business Development Center Coordinator
210 229 9036, extension 22
Carlos assists foreign companies in establishing their businesses and promoting their services or products throughout the city of San Antonio. His duties include market research, coordinating training seminars and developing trade missions for IBDC clients. Carlos has been very successful in establishing companies from Mexico, France and is currently assisting companies throughout the globe.
Before joining the Alliance as a staff member in 2009, Carlos was an intern for the Alliance in 2006. He has received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in International Business Management and a minor in Marketing from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is currently a graduate student at Texas A&M University in San Antonio pursuing his MBA. Carlos has also spent two months abroad in the European Union studying international trade and European Business strategies. Carlos is fluent in English, Spanish, and conversational French.
Carlos was born in Mexico City, and has lived in the United States since 1996. His goals include expanding business operations with Latin America, the European Union, and Asia through the IBDC.
Laura E. Martinez, Member Programs & Outreach Specialist
210-229-9036, extension 20
Laura is responsible for assisting outreach efforts in membership, program planning, special event planning, e-promotions and also assists with organization’s administrative tasks. Laura’s professional backgrounds consist of business operations in the construction industry and information technology with USAA for eighteen years. She has also served as PTA President for MacArthur High School and Membership Chair for Mac Arthur Booster Club.
Laura is a San Antonio native and in her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys staying active with her favorite hobbies of scuba diving, hiking and fishing.
