Commercial Manager - Vopak Venezuela, Terminal Puerto Cabello.  Latin America

I graduated as an Industrial Engineer from the Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia in March 2004. I started my career in Vopak in April 2005 as Management Trainee at the Barranquilla Terminal.  The first months were very exciting.  After the required orientation and introductions I was involved in a very interesting and complete commercial Project that allowed me to know the region´s customers, products, market and commercial trend.  This project gave me the basic preparation to face my next challenge, when in December 2006 a reorganization of the local structure created the Sales Department, previously handled by the GM. As Sales Manager in Vopak Colombia, I was able to consolidate the commercial position of the company, working together with all the other areas to review processes, procedures and job descriptions required to organize the newly formed department, and at the same time keep up the sales level and work on important market research projects required to support the expansion needed in Colombia.   After exactly two years with the company I was appointed to my current position: Commercial Manager at the Puerto Cabello Terminal in Venezuela. This new responsibility implies facing completely new challenges! Now, not only am I involved in a bigger scale of business but also with handling the commercial aspects of a terminal that by the end of 2007 will have 114.222 cbm distributed in 159 tanks, besides the dry bulk business which is by itself more complicated than liquids. However this is what makes it fun to come to work every day: the opportunity to prove oneself against new difficulties or problems.  This and the opportunity to travel, meet interesting people in a diversity of businesses and share and learn from the Top professionals who are dedicated workers with years of experience in their areas of expertise is what makes my work so interesting.   As for the future I can only expect to be able to consolidate my position within the company (and the company's position within the market), continue my professional development in Vopak and achieve all my current goals and the many more to come.