Education

(MBA), Marketing, 1970; University of California at Berkeley, California, U.S.A.
Bachelor of Foreign Trade, 1968; Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management

2003 - present
Proprietor:"Leland W. Miles - Mister Emerald"
Pierino Gallo Plaza, Upstairs #210, Cartagena, Colombia
Purchase and mount loose emeralds in 18k gold and sterling silver. Custom design, true quality control, honest information and advice. Retail store.
www.MisterEmerald.com

1980 - present
Publisher of tourism guides for Cartagena in English and Spanish ("Destination Cartagena", annual, full-color tabloid, 20-32 pp. press run: 90-120,000 issues)
www.DestinationCartagena.com

1979 - 2003
CEO, Greenfire Emeralds S.A.
Bogota and Cartagena, Colombia.
Hands-on responsibility for all aspects of general management, planning, purchasing and design, retail sales, quality control, and customer relations of the dominant retail emerald company in Colombia.

1972 - 1978
Founder and Proprietor, Makens, San Rafael, California, U.S.A.
Purveyor of precious metals, gemstones, and jewelry supplies

1980 - 2003

Entrepreneurial Activity

Startup and management of shops selling premium leather goods (Bag and Baggage) and coffee (Coffee And). Travel agency that operates tours and shore excursions for cruise lines (Convi Ltd.). Cattle rancher and experimenter with crops that will yield oil for bio-diesel.

1970 - 1971
First National City Bank (now Citibank)
Management, International Banking Division II, Planning.

A few words about living in Colombia

Why would anyone want to live in Colombia, you might ask? A visit to the romantic and historic city of Cartagena should be sufficient answer to that question. My marriage to a Cartagena lady from a prominent local family and raising a son here has cemented relationships; and the proximity to the Caribbean has permitted the discovery of a passion: coastal and open-ocean sailing, both cruising and racing. Native language skills and a lifetime of living in South American environments has provided good ‘protective coloration’ and excellent contacts with everyone from emerald miners to the black-tie set. While for most of you these might seem to be dangerous waters, they are familiar ones to me. My presence here is an opportunity for you. Please take advantage of it.