Kyle Burns
President and CEO
(210) 229-9036 | kburns@freetradealliance.org

Kyle joined the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio in April 2007 as the President & CEO.  The Free Trade Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting San Antonio as an international trade center.  Kyle’s road to the Alliance began in May 2000 when the U.S. Congress House Ways and Means Committee relied upon Kyle’s testimony in regards to China’s ascension into the World Trade Organization.  This opportunity impressed upon Kyle how his experience could make an impact on an entire community or nation and sparked his interest in one day joining the Alliance to further their goals.

Kyle began his career at Columbia Industries, Inc., a local sporting goods manufacturer, in 1993, where he continued until 2007.  During this time, Kyle progressed up the ranks from the international customer service representative to Director of Sales-Asia/Pacific and ultimately to the Vice President of International Sales.  During his tenure at Columbia Industries, Kyle was responsible for the international sales and marketing efforts for as many as five brands of sporting goods.  Due to the majority of Columbia’s exports being to the Asian and European markets, Kyle has extensive experience working and traveling throughout Asia and Europe.  Most recently Kyle implemented a distribution center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands to distribute Columbia’s family of brands throughout Europe, with strategic focus on the fast growing Eastern European markets. 

Born in Wiesbaden, Germany and having lived in England for seven years as a child, Kyle gained a global perspective early in life.  His father’s military career eventually landed the family in San Antonio where he graduated from Central Catholic High School (1989).  Kyle later earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in International Business from St. Mary’s University (1993), during which Kyle studied the European Union for one semester in Innsbruck, Austria and traveled throughout much of the European continent.  In 2002 Kyle earned a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

In his spare time, Kyle spends his time with his daughter, Calista and is a competitive triathlete, marathoner and ultra-marathoner.

Rogelio Garcia
Director, Business Development
(210) 229-9036, ext. 23 | rgarcia@freetradealliance.org

Mr. Rogelio Garcia is the Director of the Business Development at Free Trade Alliance San Antonio.  In this position, Mr. Garcia manages and oversees the business development area as well as supports the marketing, development, implementation of the Alliance’s programs and services. 

Mr. Garcia has been with the Alliance since June of 2000 and has also served as Staff Assistant, Member Services Director, Director of the International Business Development Center and Membership Director. 

Prior to the Alliance, he worked for American Funds Service Company, a mutual fund company as a shareholder account representative.  

A native of San Antonio, Mr. Garcia earned an MBA in Finance and a BBA in International Business from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. 

Noel Olguin
Director, Foreign Investment
Mon & Fri (210) 229-9036, ext. 22; Tue-Thur (210) 928-0220 nolguin@freetradealliance.org

As the Director of Foreign Investment, Mr. Noel Olguin is responsible for the marketing, management and promotion of the Internationa Business Development Program (IBDC).  He is also responsible of client recruitment as well as providing current IBDC participants assistance in the areas of market research and analysis, development of a customized marketing plan and entry strategies, identification of prospective customers and/or distributors, guidance and meeting facilitation between IBDC companies and prospective customers.  Mr. Olguin also coordinates the marketing function of the Foreign Trade Zone Program.

Mr. Noel Olguin has been with the Alliance since February 2007 and also served as Member Services Coordinator, IBDC Services Coordinator and IBDC Program Director.

Prior to coming to the Alliance Mr. Olguin worked as an intern and under contract as an International Affairs Specialist for the City of San Antonio’s International Affairs Department. He also worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center. His experience includes market research, database management, and export counseling.

Mr. Olguin earned his BBA in International Business and BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a dual citizen from Mexico and the United States and fully bilingual and bicultural. 

Joseph Marks
Director, Events & Marketing
(210) 229-9036, ext. 27 | jmarks@freetradealliance.org

Mr. Marks serves as the Director of Events & Marketing for Free Trade Alliance San Antonio where he oversees all conference and workshop creative and logistical planning as well as all of the marketing needs and brand management of the Alliance and its various programs.

Mr. Marks joins the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio from the National Hispana Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. where he served as the Event Coordinator, planning and managing all of the Institute’s events in cities across the country as well as in the nation’s capitol. Prior to this move, he was the Business Development Manager for The Cartel Group, a Latino advertising agency based in San Antonio. In addition, he has almost ten years of experience planning in both public and private industries with a special focus on the non-profit sector.

Mr. Marks is a native San Antonian who attended Brackenridge High School and the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a member of the Network of Latino Meeting Planners.

Wei Wei Wu
International Trade Specialist
(210) 229-9036, ext. 24 | weiweiwu@freetradealliance.org

Ms. Wei Wei Wu began her career at Free Trade Alliance as the Communications Coordinator in charge of the overall marketing and promotion of Alliance events, trade missions, conference, and activities. Her current role as an International Trade Specialist with a focus on Asia Pacific involves international trade development activities such as in-bound/out-bound trade mission activities, trade leads, coordination and development of trade development programs, events and the China Steering Committee.  

Coming from an international background, Ms. Wu was born and raised in Guangzhou, China and has lived in the U.S. since the age of 9.  She enjoys traveling, learning foreign languages and cultures, and has studied and lived abroad in Kyushu, Japan as an exchange student.

Kathryn A. Dinnin
International Policy Specialist
(210) 229-9036, ext. 26 | kdinnin@freetradealliance.org

Kathryn Dinnin is the Coordinator of International Policy and Advocacy for Free Trade Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to making San Antonio and the US a center of trade. 

Prior to the Alliance, Dinnin worked for Fleishman Hillard, Inc., an international communications firm.  Her work included multiple projects for AT&T, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and many other Fleishman clients.  These projects spanned from corporate relations to media relations; the most rewarding being: assisting AT&T executives in preparing for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and taking the lead as project manager in preparing the Susan G. Komen organization for their Race for the Cure.

Dinnin has also worked for the Executive Office of the President in the White House.  In this capacity she represented the Presidential Scheduling Office communicating with constituents on a daily basis and helping to coordinate the President’s schedule when necessary.

Dinnin earned a BA of Communications from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  She has also participated in national public relations competitions.  She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the Association of Women in Communication.

Cynthia Sutton
Office Administrator
(210) 229-9036, ext. 28 | csutton@freetradealliance.org

Mrs. Cynthia Sutton joined the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio as the Office Administrator.  Her background in the non-profit sector extends over seven years with experience in administration, human resources and financial management.  Mrs. Sutton is responsible for these same areas at the Alliance and will provide continuous support to other areas within our organization.

Mrs. Sutton’s most recent tenure at San Antonio’s own Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, Museo Alameda Smithsonian, has provided her with first hand insight into the influence that San Antonio plays in the globalization of arts and culture and is eager to convey that knowledge to the Alliance.

As a third year student at The University of the Incarnate Word pursuing a Bachelors in Accounting.  Mrs. Sutton is well on her way to obtain her goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).  She is a student member with the Texas Society of CPA's and the American Institute of CPA's.

When she is not at work or at school, Mrs. Sutton enjoys spending time with her husband and family.

Erika Vergara
Intern/Office Assistant
(210) 229.9036 | intern@freetradealliance.org

As a student at the University of the Incarnate Word,  Ms. Vergara is pursuing a bachelors in International Business and Economics.  She is aspired to write about important topics in economics and business.  Some of her interests include international business, economics, research, reading, analytical writing, blogging, theatre and traveling.

Alma Vega
Intern/Office Assistant
(210) 229.9036 | intern2@freetradealliance.org

A native of Brownsville, Texas, Ms. Vega graduated from Lopez High School, a creative Fine Arts Academy and is currently a student at the University of the Incarnate Word pursuing a bachelors in Marketing and minor in International Business in the HEB School of Business. She has studied abroad for a semester in London, England at Schiller International University.  In her spare time, Ms. Vega enjoys traveling and learning about foreign cultures.