Juan Carlos has extensive experience in establishing and operating international ventures in the United States, Europe (France, Monaco, UK, Switzerland, Italy), the Caribbean, Central and South America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Panama, Chile), locations in which he has held positions for entities such as TIG Capital Group, Interfinancial Insurance, Inc., TRB Texas, and Stanford Trust Company, Ltd.

Mr. Contalba initiated his career in the hospitality industry during the early days of Benchmark Hospitality International at The Woodlands Inn and Conference Center. Later, he was asked to participate in Benchmark's first opening of a property, The San Luis Resort. Afterwards, he joined Hyatt Hotels Corporation with assignments in Houston, San Francisco, Monterey, Puerto Rico, and New York. His tenure at Hyatt was seven years.

Mr. Contalba has also devoted many years of his professional life to other endeavors in the financial and legal fields. He served on a negotiating committee during the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the governments of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Simultaneously, he represented foreign companies and individuals doing business in the United States as well as US entities and individuals doing business abroad. He attended Rice University, and the South Texas College of Law. A frequent lecturer on international financial crimes and money laundering issues, he has taught at institutions of higher education in Mexico and Chile. He is an active member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the American Bar Association, and has provided his expertise to private financial institutions and government entities in the United States and abroad in resolving international financial fraud and crimes, as well as on FCPA and Sarbannes-Oxley Act matters.

Mr. Contalba's bicultural and multilingual abilities have been essential tools to set up operations for companies in the Caribbean, the United States, Mexico, and Chile, countries in which he has worked and resided.