Carlos J. Valderrama is the Senior Vice President for Global Initiatives at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for developing and implementing programs to create employment and economic growth by fostering global trade and investment for Los Angeles Metropolitan Area businesses.
Carlos has served as the Director of Latin American Operations for two prominent law firms in Los Angeles. He was responsible for structuring joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, exporting, importing and investment business relationships between U.S., European, and Pacific Rim and Latin American firms.
Mr. Valderrama was appointed by and represented Governors George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson as the California Trade Representative in Mexico and Latin America. He was assigned with the opening and organization of the California Trade and Investment Office in Mexico City where he promoted state exports and joint ventures between California and Mexico. He also served as the Director of the Office of Export Development, managing programs promoting California products and services worldwide, in addition to overseeing the operational activities of the state’s overseas trade and investment offices. He has held executive positions with General Telephone Electronics, GTE Overseas Groups in Brazil and Panama, as the Marketing Manager and General Manager respectively.
Carlos has worked closely with former Mayors James Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa, and currently working with Mayor Eric Garcetti in developing, organizing and implementing foreign trade missions, and attracting foreign investment to the region. He is one of the founders of the Los Angeles Regional Export Council (LARExC), an outcome of the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program.
Mr. Valderrama was recently appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown to the International Trade and Investment Advisory Council. The council will advise the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) on strategies to expand international trade and investment for California businesses.
