Marco A. López Jr.
Marco Antonio Lopez (born April 7, 1978) is an Arizona politician. He has served in both elected and non-elected public offices, including Mayor of Nogales, Arizona, Executive Director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, Policy Adviser to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano for Mexico and Latin America, and Senior Adviser for International Affairs to the Governor. He is best known as a previous Chief of Staff of United States Customs and Border Protection who served from 2009 to 2011 under CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin, and as Senior Advisor to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.[1][2][3]
Marco Antonio López Jr. | |
---|---|
Chief of Staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection | |
In office January 21, 2009 – 2011 | |
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Thad Bingel |
Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce | |
In office January 6, 2008 – January 20, 2009 | |
Governor | Janet Napolitano |
Preceded by | Jan Lesher |
Succeeded by | Kent Ennis (Acting) |
Personal details | |
Born | Nogales, Mexico | April 7, 1978
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | University of Arizona |
Early years
Family, upbringing, education
Born in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and raised in Nogales, Arizona, United States, Lopez became a United States citizen through naturalization. Lopez earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies and political science, graduating from the University of Arizona.
Entry into politics
In 1994, Lopez gained his first experience in politics, working in Washington, D.C. as a congressional page for U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Phoenix.
Gore Presidential campaign
Lopez served on the advance team for Al Gore's Presidential campaign in 1998. He joined the Presidential campaign in 1999.
Elected and appointed positions in Government
Mayor of Nogales, Arizona
Lopez won his first election in 2001, becoming mayor of Nogales, Arizona, a border town with a population of approximately 21,000.[4] He served as Mayor of Nogales until 2004, earning the distinction of "America's youngest mayor."
The Napolitano years and entry to D.C.
In December 2003, Lopez was appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as the Executive Director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. He was designated as state Policy Adviser for Latin America, which is a Cabinet-level division of the Governor's office responsible for overseeing and coordinating all international Latin American affairs for the State of Arizona. In late 2006 Governor Napolitano promoted Lopez to be her Senior Adviser where he advised her at the Arizona State Capitol on the State's political relationship with other countries and Arizona's trade relationship with Mexico, Canada, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and Japan. In late 2008, Lopez was appointed by Napolitano to serve as Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, overseeing the state's economic development efforts and managing Arizona's investment policies.
A few months after Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was announced by President Barack Obama as the third United States Secretary of Homeland Security,[5] Lopez was appointed to serve as the Chief of staff for United Customs and Border Protection.[6]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
In March 2009, Lopez was named Chief of Staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with 54,000 employees.[6]
Professional career
Intermestic Partners
In 2011, Lopez founded Intermestic Partners, one of the top international business development and political advisory firms in North America. Through Intermestic Partners, Lopez represents numerous Fortune 100 companies doing business between the United States and Latin America. Aside from advising top businesses and executives, he has worked with numerous political leaders in the United States and Latin America.
International Business Solutions
Lopez also serves as President and CEO of International Business Solutions, Inc., a business advisory firm that provides consultancy services to domestic and international organizations.[3]
Senior Advisor to Carlos Slim
According to multiple references in print and online media, since 2011, Marco Lopez has served as a Senior Advisor to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu,[1][2][3] who was ranked from 2010 to 2013 by Forbes magazine as the richest person in the world.[7]
Lopez is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
References
- Garcia, Uriel (February 14, 2011). "Arizona groups send supplies to Mexico after 3 disastrous earthquakes". azcentral.com. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
I think most of that tension is driven out of (Washington), D.C, said Marco Lopez with the Carlos Slim Foundation
- "Marco Lopez, Sr. Advisor to the Chairman, Grupo Carso". Verde Xchange website. May 18, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
Marco A. López, Jr. is. . Senior Adviser to the Chairman of Grupo Carso and The Carlos Slim Foundation.
- "Valle Del Sol, Marco López, 2016 Profiles of Success". Valle Del Sol website. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
Marco A. López, Jr. is President and CEO of International Business Solutions, Inc., a business advisory firm that provides strategic business development, market access and international policy counsel to both international and domestic organizations. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as Senior Advisor to the Chairman of Grupo Carso and The Carlos Slim Foundation.
- "NOGALES" (PDF). Arizona Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- "Obama names Napolitano to Cabinet post". Tucson Citizen. December 1, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- Duarte, Carmen (March 2, 2009). "Ex-'boy mayor' of Nogales takes vital border slot". arizona daily star. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
Customs and Border Protection employs 54,000 in southern, northern and coastal borders of the United States. It oversees Border Patrol, the ports of entry, air and marine interdiction, agricultural and trade specialists, said López.
- "Carlos Slim Helu & family". Forbes. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
External links
- Arizona Republic: Marco Lopez
- Nogales International: Ex-Mayor Lopez Jr. advising governor on international issues
- Mexicano asesora a Gobernadora Napolitano
- Es mexicano y nació en Nogales, Sonora. Funcionario de Arizona lleva la realidad binacional a las oficinas públicas
- Pinal County's first Cesar E. Chavez Celebration Dinner Friday included inspirational words from the grandson of the famed labor and civil rights leader and Marco Lopez