The DR-US Economic Strategy Advisory Group

About the group

The Atlantic Council’s Dominican Republic–United States Economic Strategy Advisory Group brings together experts, business leaders, and former government officials to analyze and enhance the bilateral economic relationship between the Dominican Republic (DR) and the United States. As part of its work, the advisory group identifies roadblocks to deepening economic ties and discusses how to build on the relationship’s solid foundation to increase new investment and commercial linkages. By leveraging insights from advisory group members and partners, this project will develop and then act upon actionable recommendations that enhance the strategic value of this relationship for both countries.

Impact goals

The DR-US Economic Strategy Advisory Group identifies opportunities to deepen the mutually beneficial relationship for the benefit of both countries and the wider Caribbean region. In doing so, the group builds consensus among stakeholders in the DR, United States, and beyond; provides innovative recommendations; and moves the needle on critical policy priorities regarding DR-US relations.

Members of the DR-US Economic Strategy Advisory Group

Jessica Bedoya

Founding partner of the LARA Fund

Robin Bernstein

Former US ambassador to the Dominican Republic (2018-2021)

Alex Ceballos

President and chief financial officer of Auger Inc.

Samuel Conde

Founding chairman of the ADD+USA Business Council

Christopher D. Hess

Vice President of global public affairs at Eaton

Alejandro Peña Prieto

Managing partner at Squire Patton Boggs

Pedro G. Brache Álvarez

Chief executive officer of Grupo Rica

Claudia Pellerano

President and chief executive officer of Las Americas Free Zone

Steven Puig

President of Banco BHD

Felipe Vicini

President of Grupo Inicia

Elena Viyella

President of Inter-Química

Gabriel Zaourak

Senior economist at the World Bank Group

About the members

Jessica Bedoya
Founding partner of the LARA Fund

Jessica L. Bedoya is a founding partner of the LARA Fund, focusing on private equity investments in Latin America and the Caribbean. She has held senior roles, including chief strategy officer at the Inter-American Development Bank, managing director at the US International Development Finance Corporation, and senior advisor at the White House National Security Council, where she led US economic policy in the region. Bedoya has also served as a US diplomat and an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency.

Robin Bernstein
Former US ambassador to the Dominican Republic (2018-2021)

Ambassador Robin Bernstein is a seasoned diplomat and public servant who served as the US ambassador to the Dominican Republic from 2018 to 2021. With a background in business and government, she has held various leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including positions at the US Department of Commerce. During her tenure as ambassador, she focused on strengthening DR-US relations, advancing economic ties, and promoting democracy and human rights. She is known for her dedication to fostering international collaboration and enhancing bilateral partnerships.

Alex Ceballos
President and chief financial officer of Auger Inc.

Alex Ceballos is the president and chief financial officer of Auger Inc., an AI-powered supply chain company. He is a tech leader with over sixteen years of experience, including as vice president of Worldwide Corporate Development at Amazon, where he led acquisitions and partnerships such as Amazon’s purchase of Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics). He later served as chief corporate development officer at NuBank and president at Wyze Labs Inc. Ceballos holds a BS in electrical and computer engineering from West Point and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Samuel Conde
Founding chairman of the ADD+USA Business Council

Samuel Conde is the founding chairman of ADD+USA Business Council, established in 2022 to advance the US alliance for development in democracy. In 2001, he also led the founding of DPWorld Caucedo, a private maritime port and logistics hub in Dominican Republic. In 1986, he co-founded Itabo Industrial Park, a private free-trade economic zone employing a labor force of twenty thousand people. Since 1974, he has presided over S.S. Conde & Asociados. He has served multiple civil society organizations, including as president of Business Action for Education (EDUCA).

Christopher D. Hess
Vice presiden oft global public affairs at Eaton

Christopher D. Hess is the vice president of global public affairs at Eaton, where he leads the company’s strategic position on global regulatory, legislative, and government issues. He advises on a wide range of policy matters, including aerospace, defense, the energy transition, and trade, and he works with Eaton’s technology teams to secure government research and development funding. Hess serves on multiple boards, including the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the Ohio Manufacturers Association, and he is active in several trade associations.

Alejandro Peña Prieto
Managing partner at Squire Patton Boggs

Alejandro Peña-Prieto is the managing partner of the Santo Domingo office of Squire Patton Boggs and leads the Latin America Practice, advising clients on corporate, mergers and acquisitions, energy, finance, taxation, and regulatory issues in the Dominican Republic. Recognized by Chambers Global, Latin Lawyer, and IFLR1000 for his expertise, he has advised US, Latin American, and European investors in the region. Peña-Prieto has served in leadership roles including as president of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic and is currently president of the Association of Investment Companies of the Dominican Republic.

Pedro G. Brache Álvarez
Chief executive officer of Grupo Rica

Pedro G. Brache Álvarez is the chief executive officer and president of the board of Grupo Rica, a leading company in the Dominican Republic, where he has worked since 1989 in various roles. He served as president of the National Council of Private Enterprise from 2017 to 2023 and has held leadership positions in several organizations, including the Agroindustrial Business Board and the Popular Group. Brache is actively involved in social responsibility initiatives and charity work, including directing the Sanar una Nación program and being a member of Young Presidents’ Organization.

Claudia Pellerano
President and chief executive officer of Las Americas Free Zone

Claudia Pellerano is a systems and computing engineer with extensive experience in the telecommunications and industrial sectors. She has held various leadership roles, including president and chief executive officer of Las Americas Free Zone, where she worked for over twenty-five years, and currently serves as chairperson of the board. Pellerano is also the vice president of the Dominican Association of Free Zones and the first female president of the Association of Free Zones of the Americas.

Steven Puig
President of Banco BHD

Steven Puig is the president of Banco BHD in the Dominican Republic. Prior to joining BHD in 2013, he held leadership roles in various financial institutions, including vice president of the private sector at the Inter-American Development Bank and managing director at Citibank. Puig also has experience in the private sector, having served in executive positions at companies such as Grupo Reid y Pellerano, Autogermánica, and Santo Domingo Motors. He is currently involved in multiple organizations, including the Business Council for the Alliance for Democracy, the Financial Alliance for Women, and the Dominican Bankers Association.

Felipe Vicini
President of Grupo Inicia

Felipe Vicini is the president of Grupo Inicia, with a strong track record in managing strategies and investments. He holds a degree in communications from Northwestern University. Initially focused on trade and agribusiness, Grupo Inicia has since diversified into heavy industry, manufacturing, and sugar mills, and in recent years, expanded further into finance and asset management.

Elena Viyella
President of Inter-Química

Elena Viyella is the president of Inter-Química, SA; Monte Rio Power Corp; and Jaraba Import, SA. She also leads Business Action for Education (EDUCA), a nonprofit focused on improving education quality, and serves as a board member of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, the world’s largest crop nutrient company.

Gabriel Zaourak
Senior economist at the World Bank Group

Gabriel Zaourak is a senior economist at the World Bank Group, currently serving as the country economist for the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. He has extensive experience in fiscal policy dialogue and economic growth research, having worked on projects in Brazil, Guatemala, Myanmar, and Central America, among others. Zaourak holds a PhD in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and specializes in economic growth, macro-modelling, trade, and financial crises.