In June 2006, Jose Carlos (“Charlie”) Sarmiento joined Allen F. Johnson (AFJ) & Associates as Regional Manager.  In this role he is working with Ambassador Johnson and the rest of the AFJ team to service AFJ clients and customers in the region and identify business opportunities for AFJ and its business partners.  Jose Carlos brings a strong background in banking, finance, and business, as well as in-depth knowledge of the Latin American region and economy, to AFJ & Associates.  His professional and educational experiences have permitted him to create, strengthen, and maintain long-term government and private-sector relationships throughout Latin America.  In addition, his communication and negotiations skills and business knowledge allows him to successfully respond to clients’ needs.

Jose Carlos has extensive business and consulting experience in a broad range of sectors.  Recently he worked for the Dutch company Stork Wescar, N.V., which operates in the Caribbean and is dedicated to the construction and maintenance of pipelines and tanks for the chemical, oil and gas sectors.  As part of his work he developed an entrance strategy for the Andean region, especially the Colombian market.  He facilitated negotiations between South American, Caribbean, and Dutch company officials and successfully expanded the company’s international network.

Previously, Jose Carlos worked as a Regional Financial Analyst for Navega.com, a communications (video, voice and data) company in Central America and Panamá created by 4 multinationals partners: Iberdrola, Teco Energy, Energías de Portugal and Comcel.  He had the lead role in developing financial statements reports, projected and historic, for the parent company located in Spain. He also worked with some of the most important banking and other financial services that operate in Central America.

In addition, Jose Carlos has served as a Corporate Banking Assistant for a financial institution, named Banco del Café, in Central America, where he analyzed financial statements and evaluated projects, including feasibility studies, business plans, and other financial projects such as trusts and escrow accounts.

Jose Carlos has a Masters in Business Administration from the INCAE Business School, where he specialized in marketing.  He also has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with minor in Finance from University Francisco Marroquín.   Jose Carlos has also assisted business courses at University Francisco Marroquín, at the request of one of the advisors of the current Guatemalan President Oscar Berger.

Jose Carlos, who is of Italian-Guatemalan descent, is an avid sportsman.  He played for the Guatemalan National Baseball team for 5 years and also played on the U-17 National Soccer team.  He continues to play soccer in his spare time.

Jose Carlos is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian.