Mr. Carlos Paiz

Biography

Mr. Paiz is Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive of La Fragua, S.A. He began working in the family retail business immediately following his graduation from the University of Fordham in 1962. Under his direction, the company has become the most important retail organization in Central America, with over 8,000 employees. The company operates supermarkets, novelty, convenience, specialty and discount stores.

As well, he is President of CARHCO (Central American Retail Holding Company). He represents the Joint Venture formed by the Paiz Family, Royal Ahold, and CSU of Costa Rica that operates the largest chain of supermarkets in Central America.

Finally, Mr. Paiz is Promoter and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AVANCE-EPSILON PUBLICIDAD, S.A. Twenty seven years ago, he founded PUBLICIDAD AVANCE, which later joined EPSILON and in two years achieved the number 7 spot among Guatemala's 60 advertising agencies. Today, Avance-Epsilon is one of the most successful advertising agencies in Guatemala.

Among the community work he has done, includes the presidency of FUNDACION DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DEL VALLE DE GUATEMALA; he is also Vice-president of FUNDACION PAIZ PARA LA EDUCACION Y LA CULTURA (Paiz Foundation for Education and Culture); At FUNDESA (Foundation for the Development of Guatemala), he is one of the founders and was the first Chairman of the Board of Directors. FUNDESA is a non-for profit foundation aimed at promoting Guatemala as an investment opportunity and improving its image abroad.

Besides these, he is also part of:

	FAFIDESS (Foundation of Financial Consulting for Development and Social Service Institutions) - Founder and first Chairman of the Board of Directors. Non-for profit foundation created to advise charitable institutions on how to obtain financial aid and donations from foreign foundations.
	FUNDACION EDUCATIVA GUATEMALA (Guatemala Educational Foundation) - Co-founder and former Treasurer. Non-for profit foundation that operates the Interamerican School, which is non-denominational, co-educational and private.
	CLUB ROTARIO DE LA CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA (Rotary Club of Guatemala City) - Occupied various important positions and in 1986 was President of his Club.

DISTINCTIONS

	One of the 200 most influential people in the Central American region, according to “Estrategia y Negocios” magazine – July, 2003
	"Armando Diéguez Pilón” Award – Managers Association of Guatemala – October 13th, 2002
	Leader of the Year 2001 – Guatemalan Entrepreneurial Council – June 10th, 2002
	Member of the Notables Commission, to counsel international commercial negotiations, designated by the President of the Republic, Mr. Álvaro Arzú, by Gubernatorial Agreement No. 692-97 of September 30th, 1997

EDUCATION

	INCAE, Managua, Nicaragua - Top Management Development Program (1972)
	International Marketing Institute, Boston, Massachusetts  - Marketing Management, Summer Program (1966)
	University of Fordham, New York, N.Y. - Business Administration, B.S. in Marketing (1962)

Finally, Mr. Paiz is a renown photographer who has had six Individual and five collective exhibitions of his work.

Panels

	Panel #5 - Approaching the consumer market
	Saturday March 6th, 2004 - 2:20 to 3:50 PM