Welcoming Cuban entrepreneurs to review best practices
While in Havana to witness the raising of the US flag over the US Embassy, WTDC President & CEO Ralph L. Gazitua had an opportunity to meet a number of Cuban entrepreneurs. Over dinner at Atelier restaurant in Havana, Mr. Gazitua learned much about their opportunities as business owners but also the challenges they face in Cuba.
Ralph L. Gazitua knows how hard it is to survive in the restaurant industry; his nephew is Carlos Gazitua the successful CEO of Sergio’s Restaurants, a Cuban restaurant chain with over forty years in business in South Florida. Sergio’s is the first national Cuban restaurant franchise in the U.S. with plans to expand nationally.
Sergio’s founder Blanca Cabrera is the first Hispanic woman on the National Restaurant Association Board. Like Blanca, Niuris Higueras is a passionate entrepreneur with big goals of growing her small business in Cuba. Niuris runs Atelier, a small restaurant in Havana.
Niuris Higueras (Left), Owner of Atelier Restaurant of Havana, Cuba, pictured with Carlos Gazitua (Right), CEO of Sergio’s Restaurants of Miami, Florida, USA.
This week Carlos Gazitua and Nuiris Higueras had lunch at Sergio’s restaurant in Doral to exchange ideas and best practices of running a small business. Carlos shared Sergio’s organization of product sourcing, employment, labor, and technology which helps maintain each location. They even discussed how to maintain a clean restaurant, synergy opportunities, and of course, Cuban food.
Carlos Gazitua enjoyed his conversation with Niuris. “The private small restaurant business in Cuba is in an early stage and has many challenges,” Gazitua said. “Sharing best practices with industry leaders can have a significant impact on the sector in Cuba. Hopefully, meetings like today urge Cuba’s entrepreneurs to demand more access to information, goods, services, and products from the Cuban government; and in turn, grow local economies for the Cuban people”
USA Today features WTDC
As formal relations between the United States and Cuba continue to evolve, so do the business opportunities that exist for U.S. companies within Cuba. Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO, was quoted in the August 24th USA Today article ‘Cuba and Iran not quite open for business’ by Charisse Jones:
“I jumped on it,” he says of the new opportunity. “We want to be able to break ground… That’s why we decided to go there.”
To read the USA Today article in its entirety, please click here
For more information on WTDC Cuba Consulting services, please click here
New Video for MDC’s School of Supply Chain Management
This week a new promotional video was released to promote Miami Dade College’s BAS in Supply Chain Management. Ralph L. Gazitua, WTDC President & CEO, makes a cameo in the video and highlights MDC’s goal to make its program one of the best in the country. Currently, Mr. Gazitua is Chair for the Miami Dade College Supply Chain Management Advisory Committee. Click the pic below to jump to video…
WTDC welcomes new Intern
We are pleased to introduce a new intern at WTDC: Mr. Matthew Hertzog. A native of Miami, Hertzog is a recent Florida State University (FSU) graduate and is pursuing a Masters in International Business. He is currently working in Sales and Marketing focused on international business development. WTDC has worked with 47 student Interns over the last 5 years, preparing them for careers in management and logistics.
