José is a strategic thinker and a bridge builder among stakeholders. He is a senior policy and management expert with over 17 years of experience in global development and private sector engagement. With a diverse career in fieldwork, leadership, and consulting roles, José has led initiatives related to climate change, economic growth, public health, youth empowerment. He is particularly interested in exploring the intersection between the private sector and the public good. In 2019-2020, he was an Edward Mason Fellow at Harvard University's prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he earned a Master in Public Administration degree. He also holds a Master's degree in Project Administration from Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana and a Bachelor of Science degree in Socioeconomic Development and Environment from Zamorano University in Honduras. José is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Ara Policy & Management Group, an U.S. based socially oriented firm that employs problem-driven approaches to tackle complex development challenges and guide forward-thinking organizations towards achieving real impact and sustainability. Recently, José joined the International Cooperative Research Group, a think-do tank that serves as the technical arm of the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC). In his capacity as Senior Research Translation and Application Manager, he plays a key role in bridging the gap between theory and action, fostering partnership development, and advancing policies on economic growth in emerging markets through locally led development models. His work extends across 10 countries in the Americas.