Maria Barona, Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Maria Barona co-founded i-advize in 2000 after managing the Latin American Investor Relations Group at a major international financial products company. Seeing the need for an IR firm dedicated to the region, she began i-advize to be the first Latin American-focused agency based in New York.

Ms. Barona works with companies throughout the region in establishing, running and revamping their market communications programs in order maximize stock as well as shareholder value. A solid IR plan is essential for issuers in reaching their maximum potential and to ensure that their “message” reaches key investors.

While she oversees programs for many of the firm’s clients, she is also an account manager and works directly with the following accounts: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, Compartamos Banco and Almacenes Exito. Maria also works on various investor site visits locally and abroad.

Ms. Barona has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Fordham University in New York City and is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Melanie Carpenter, Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Melanie Carpenter co-founded i-advize after managing the agency investor relations programs for Latin America’s largest oil and gas companies, Petrobras and Perez Companc. 

Since the inception of i-advize in 2000, she has worked with dozens of companies across various sectors; she is considered a generalist who applies her knowledge of financial analysis, investor relations best practices and key market contacts to assist clients establish and improve their IR programs.  She established i-advize’s Fixed Income IR practice and implemented the top technologies in the industry into i-advize’s programs.  Ms. Carpenter provides strategic advisory for clients while overseeing account managers and managing internal operations.      

BBA in International Business from Hofstra University Zarb School of Business MBA in Finance from Hofstra University Zarb School of Business. Fluent in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Peter J. Majeski, Vice President

Peter Majeski has been a consultant for i-advize since 2003, implementing and managing investor relations programs for several clients in the financial, mining and telecom industries within Latin America.  Mr. Majeski’s expertise in composing and fine-tuning investor relations’ materials such as annual reports, earnings releases and press releases has made him a valuable member of the i-advize team.  Peter’s current clients include Bladex, Buenaventura, Interbank Financial Services, LAN Airlines and Axtel.

Prior to i-advize, Peter worked as a Senior Research Analyst at Thomson Financial.  Peter received a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs, with a concentration in Latin America and a secondary field in Spanish from The George Washington University’s Elliot School in 2000.

Peter is fluent in English and Spanish.

Kenia Vargas-Trent, Senior Associate

Kenia Vargas-Trent joined i-advize in 2007. Prior to i-advize. Ms. Vargas-Trent worked at a premier Mexican homebuilding company, where she was responsible for managing their internal investor relations programs as well as special projects, such as corporate share buy-back programs and producing one of the industry's first annual Social Responsibility Report.

Ms. Vargas-Trent is i-advize's Mexico expert and is responsible for assisting clients in the most important investor relations activities,including quarterly earnings, peer analysis, shareholder research and the coordination of investor events. Her clients currently include Megacable, SARE Holdings, Grupo Senda Autotransporte and Grupo KUO.

Ms. Vargas-Trent has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana in Mexico City, Mexico.  Ms.  Vargas-Trent is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Rafael Borja, Associate

Rafael Borja joined i-advize in 2008. Rafael manages the corporate communications and investor relations needs of clients in Chile and Peru, primarily Embotelladora Andina, Entel and Interbank. By applying his skills in planning and logistics, he assists clients in the coordination and execution of investor events at the New York Stock Exchange and locally, in other venues.

Prior to i-advize, Rafael was a New York-based Latin American Finance Specialist, recruiting individuals for positions within the finance industry. In his native Peru, Rafael's experience included business development, client management and operations; most notably for Telefonica del Peru, one of Spain's largest telecommunications holdings in the region.

Mr. Borja holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business from the Universidad Internacional de las Americas, in San Jose, Costa Rica. Mr. Borja is a native Spanish speaker and fluent in English.