1. Richard M. Peña
P. O. Box 4796
Springfield, Missouri 65808
417.830.9888-Phone
richardmpena@aol.com
http://agribusinesslac.com
Biography
Richard Peña is the Area Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) for Paul Mueller
Company. Richard joined Mueller in March of 2003 and is responsible for managing Mueller’s
sales, marketing and service operations in the LAC region. During his tenure, Richard has
increased sales to more than $4 million per year from less than $1 million and has increased gross
margins to 50% from 35% and increased net profits to 20% from zero. Richard reached these
goals by creating a new distribution network focusing on sales and service in LAC resulting in
meeting Mueller’s financial, market penetration and branding metrics in the region. Richard is
also responsible for LAC’s budgets, pricing and business policies.
Richard has more than 30 years’ experience in international business management with
increasing responsibilities in operating and P&L positions with a focus on international
agribusiness. Richard’s professional experience is concentrated in international management,
business development and creating acquisition and investment opportunities with global
companies. During his career, Richard has developed a unique understanding of global economic,
financial and political risk policies that affects agribusiness.
Richard’s former professional management roles have been with the Dallas based Hill family’s
private office as Managing Director of International Business Development and as Director of
International Marketing and Trade for the Texas Department of Agriculture. During his tenure
with the TDA, Richard was then Commissioner Rick Perry’s designated representative to the
North America Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
Richard also worked in Washington during the 1980s as a Staff Analyst for policy and planning
responsible for Latin America and Caribbean economic and security programs for the U. S.
House of Representative’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Richard managed over $1billion in
economic and security assistance for the region.
Richard earned a B.A. in History from the University of Texas Pan American and an M.B.A. in
International Management with Honors from Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of
International Management. Richard is a native Spanish speaker and has traveled extensively in
Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Europe where he has significant contacts and
business relationships with leading agribusiness and industrial companies and senior government
officials.