International business professional with 20 years of market development, project management and marketing/communications experience in the non-profit, government and private sectors. In-country experience throughout North and South America, fluent in Spanish, with a Master of Business Administration degree.

Co-founder / co-owner @ Co-founder of UPSCAPE, a tour operator located in Santiago, Chile, offering exclusive tours -- largely bike, wine and ski -- throughout Chile and to the wine regions of Argentina and Uruguay for English-speaking clientele. Awarded Travel + Leisure's 2014 & 2015 'Top Chilean Travel Specialist'. Our “Bikes, Wine & Patagonia” tour was chosen by National Geographic Traveler magazine as one of '50 Trips of a Lifetime 2013' part of the “most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided and most sustainable” tours in the world. [www.UPSCAPEtravel.com] From November 2003 to Present (12 years 2 months) Director of Executive Education @ Managed partnerships with Berkeley Center for Executive Development, Chicago GSB, Kellogg School of Management, Michigan Ross School of Business and Yale School of Management for Latin America's top executive education provider. Developed annual program content taught to Latin American executives. * Created three new alliances with Babson Executive Education, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, and the University of Notre Dame. * Managed four employees, and increased the division's commercialization to USD $2 million, doubling previous year's bottom line. From July 2005 to October 2008 (3 years 4 months) Private Sector Development Specialist @ Worked as a consultant for the Resident Representative (Head of UNDP Chile) in the development of programs to strengthen micro, small and medium-sized Chilean enterprises. * Developed the work plan for the Private Sector and Development Mission to implement in 2005. * * * Authored a white paper on increasing growth of enterprises through IT, financial services, training and social networks. * Analyzed the market needs and recommended platform for developing an IT/Communications Center through an open-source software lab for micro, small and medium sized businesses. From January 2005 to June 2005 (6 months) Consultant @ * Developed research study of all business development services (BDS) available to small / micro enterprises in Chile. * Presented the first comprehensive research on BDS in Chile to facilitate future sector growth. Worked with over 200 institutions that deliver business services. * Organized seminar to release study findings and broaden public and private sector provision of BDS. From January 2004 to December 2004 (1 year) Consultant @ * Developed initiatives for this government agency to improve competitiveness of Chilean small businesses. * Designed the work plan for a Business Development Unit in SERCOTEC that also signaled its principal courses of action for 2004 in support of tourism, commercial fishing and artisanship. * Proposed a work plan to encourage micro enterprise participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade meetings being held in Chile during October-November 2004. From September 2003 to January 2004 (5 months) Facility Manager @ On assignment from temporary agencies, managed the daily operations of the following healthcare organizations: * Martin's Point Healthcare -- Portland Clinic (9 months), * HMO clinic comprised of 18 physicians, and * Personal Health Services (3 months), home health network overseeing 40 healthcare workers. From January 2002 to January 2003 (1 year 1 month) Portland, Maine AreaInternational Project Manager @ * Generated new business and identified new markets for clients in Brazil, South Africa and the U.S. * Wrote in-depth market assessments for Brazilian and South African clients in telecommunications, wine and software industries looking to enter the U.S. market. * Developed new business and visibility for Lee International through a variety of marketing channels. From September 1999 to December 2001 (2 years 4 months) Analyst, Strategic Planning Division @ Awarded one of five highly competitive 18-month graduate fellowships to work with the Bank's senior management during full-time graduate school studies. Focused on the Bank's small business products. * Evaluated the effectiveness of the Bank's Credit Guarantee Facility (CGF) program. * Influenced management's decision to continue the CGF program by presenting an analysis of similarities between the impact of the Asian financial crisis and the 1994 Mexican peso crisis. * Designed a survey to provide the Bank with information about U.S. small business exporters in the absence of current and reliable data. From January 1998 to June 1999 (1 year 6 months) Washington D.C. Metro AreaConsultant @ Designed a microenterprise (employing 50 people or less) marketing pilot project in St. Lucia. The enterprise sold local agricultural crafts to docked cruise ships. * Analyzed the economy, dominant industries, and business climate to identify a viable project. * Secured financial support for the project within the OAS, through other member-country OAS delegates and from a St. Lucian Bank. From January 1997 to July 1997 (7 months) Washington D.C. Metro AreaConsultant @ Analyzed 177 global institutions that provided business development services (BDS) to small businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean. * Developed dimensions of the business profiles and collaborated with information technologist to implement using Access software. * Database remained a resource used by Bank staff. From June 1996 to January 1997 (8 months) Washington D.C. Metro AreaCommunications Officer @ Designed marketing and communications materials for African, Asian and Latin American divisions of this international development organization. * Developed, managed and presented "In the Picture" (global photo contest unveiled at UN Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China and at Harvard University. Interviewed on national news. * Created a new partnership with Rotary International to invest in the ATI/Latin America coffee roasting project in Central America. * On-site assessment of Nepali office's marketing needs and developed a quarterly newsletter for potential investors. From May 1994 to May 1996 (2 years 1 month) Washington D.C. Metro AreaScheduler/Special Projects for US Senator Christopher J. Dodd @ Coordinated and managed Senator Dodd's Washington-based schedule. * Interfaced with the Senator, other Congressional members, staff and the public on a daily basis. * Organized all Washington-based activities for Connecticut constituents during the 1992 Presidential Inauguration. * Reorganized curriculum of the semi-annual "CT Week in Washington" for high school students. From September 1991 to May 1994 (2 years 9 months) Washington D.C. Metro Area

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations / International Business @ University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business From 1997 to 1999 Bachelor of Arts (BA), Spanish Language and Literature / Latin American Studies @ Bowdoin College From 1987 to 1991 Junior Year Abroad @ Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Quito, Ecuador From 1989 to 1990 Manchester High School, Manchester, CT From 1985 to 1987 Sira Berte' is skilled in: International Business Development, Marketing Communications, Strategic Planning, Spanish-speaking, Market Analysis, Negotiation, Organization, Adventure Travel, Project Management, Marketing Strategy, Spanish, Strategy, Training, Leadership