Speakers

Andrea Espinosa

Real Estate Agent and co-founder, Mexico Luxury Estates, Cuernavaca

Andrea Dolch Espinosa is the co-founder of Mexico Luxury Estates. A Canadian with over 12 years of experience in the field and 30 years in Mexico. Andrea understands the culture, value systems, social attitudes, business practices and legal structures of México and North America making  foreign and local clients feel secure, and comfortable in their real estate relationships. Andrea understands the    essentialness of confidentiality, privacy and honesty as the real estate pillars of professionalism.

Alma Pietra

Founder, Vallarta Dream Rentals

Originally from Chihuahua, Alma moved to Puerto Vallarta in 2009. Passionate about the ocean and the kindness of Puerto Vallarta’s people, Vallarta was a natural choice for her. With the encouragement from family and friends, Alma started Vallarta Dream Rentals in 2012 with a goal to help foreigners and native Mexicans alike find a new home in Puerto Vallarta. In her free time, Alma loves to go to the beach with her son and husband. Whenever she has spare time, you will find Alma undertaking a do it yourself home decor project.

Bryant Palma

Private Banking Manager, Grupo Financiero Monex

At Monex, we are committed to the constitution of a Financial Institution that is renowned for the services, confidence and transparency it provides; as well as for the meeting and exceeding the expectations of our clients; offering profitable and high-quality products and services in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations through a philosophy of constant improvement.

Cindy DuChateau

Founder of BNC Tax & Accounting Services

At BNC Tax, we specialize in taxes for US Citizens and green card holders living in the US and abroad. Our client base includes many expats living full-time or part-time in the Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico area. Our tax services include tax preparation and planning. If you own a foreign business or have other foreign investments, such as rental property, our staff has extensive knowledge and training in all the reporting required by the IRS on your US tax return.

Dr. Israel Blanco

Dentist, Big Sonrisa

Dr. Israel Blanco is the founder of Big Sonrisa dental clinic in Puerto Vallarta. 

Dr. Blanco’s commitment and passion in offering exceptional service garnered him a reputation as one of the leading dentists in the city, catering to clients from all over the world, including USA, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the middle east, and more. 

Dr. Blanco took English and French classes just as he was opening up his own clinic, adding another layer of better communication and comfort with some of his non-Spanish speaking clients. 

Dr. Fernando Marquez

Joya Hospital, Puerto Vallarta

Dr. Marquez is currently the Medical Director of Hospital Joya Marina, Hospital Joya Riviera and Clinic Sanmare in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He also works at the Regional Hospital (public hospital) as night shift sub-director and Emergency Room physician. Dr Marquez is one of the only emergency medicine specialists in the area and is completely bilingual. He attended medical school at the University of Guadalajara with a specialty in Emergency medicine.  He heads up the company, Safecare, which provides home visits by physicians and nurses 24-7, 7 days per week. Dr. Fernando participates regularly with the English-speaking community providing speakers programs, informational videos and much more.

Dr. Lalo

Veterinaria Wolf’s

Throughout the years, Wolf’s has become one of the more popular veterinary clinics in Puerto Vallarta, due to their great service and bilingual staff.  One of the lead vets at Wolf’s since 2013 is Dr. Eduardo Alquiciras Madrigal, otherwise known as Dr. Lalo. Born in the state of Sonora, Eduardo moved to Guadalajara, where he graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine and zootechnics. In recent years, he’s received additional diplomas in medicine and surgery, imaging, ophthalmology, and continues his passion for animal care by taking additional courses in other areas of specialization in small species. Eduardo has three dogs that he adores and has fun teaching them tricks.

Jessica Riedesser

Founder of Riedesser y Asociados, S.C.

One of Puerto Vallarta’s leading and trusted real estate lawyers, offering professional services helping locals and foreigner investors to purchase and seller real estate. Services include real estate counselor, bank trust adviser, corporation, diversified, and immigration services. 

Pamela Thompson

Healthcare Specialist and Consultant

Pam Thompson has lived in Puerto Vallarta for many years and has worked in the healthcare sector for nearly 20 years including performing air evacuations, international patient services coordinator at several hospitals. She has worked with the Hospital Joya hospitals and Clinic Sanmare for the past 5 years. She handles everything from making a simple physician appointment to assisting family members with the death of a loved one. Best described as “the go-between between the English speaking community and the medical community,” she coordinates monthly screening clinics, weekly speakers programs (pre-Covid), insurance information, emergency information and more to the English speaking foreigner community.

Risa Morimoto

Founder and CEO of Modern Aging

After caring for her sick parents for 19 years, Risa was inspired to launch Modern Aging exploring holistic approaches to health, lifestyle and longevity.  Modern Aging shares new interviews, ideas and information weekly on the YouTube Channel, podcast and blog.  She is also a TV and documentary producer/director having produced works for PBS, HGTV, A&E, among many others.

Susana MacDonald

Real Estate Agent, Riviera Maya region

Born in Bogota, Colombia, she lived in the U.S. for over 25 years.  She used to vacation in the Riviera Maya region for years before moving her family to Tulum over 10 years ago.  She has been a real estate agent in the Riviera Maya region for several years as well as a certified yoga instructor.    

Taniel Chemsian

Real Estate Agent, Timothy Real Estate Group, Puerto Vallarta

Taniel Chemsian is the Senior Sales Associate with Timothy Real Estate Group, representing some of the finest residential properties and developments in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He joined the firm in 2006 and has had over 400+ successful transactions to date. Taniel has frequently been featured on HGTV’s House Hunters International. Taniel is a long-standing member of AMPI (Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals) – Puerto Vallarta Chapter, and is a member of the Pre-Construction/Development Committee, and a registered International REALTOR® with NAR International. Raised in Los Angeles, he relocated to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 2003.  

Terence Reilly

CEO, Mexlend: Mortgage, Escrow & Insurance

For 15 years, MEXLend has been the #1 residential mortgage broker in Mexico. Our strong partnerships with realtors, banks, private lenders, legal counsel, escrow agencies, trust banks and local closing teams, means that MEXLend gives you, our clients, the best service and the most options. We can provide mortgages for any city in Mexico. MEXLend is a proud member of AMPI Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos MLS and International Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA).

Veronica Alvarado

Real Estate Agent, San Miguel de Allende

Veronica is a certified Realtor with a degree in business. San Miguel Real Estate, Property Management & Home Construction & Renovation is a 20 year old family-owned and operated company with a heritage in San Miguel de Allende that dates back six generations.  As such, our mission is to serve the best interests of our clients, as well as the best interests of our community.  Our time honored connections & relationships within the community are essential in providing the very best services for our clients with honesty, transparency, reliability, accountability, and no surprises. 

Warren Metcalfe

Real Estate Agent, Los Cabos Engel Volkers Snell Real Estate

Warren was born in Los Angeles, and raised in Los Cabos which has been his home for the past 23 years. Formerly a professional surfer, Warren began his promising career in luxury real estate 6 years ago and recently earned his position within the Engel & Volkers Snell Real Estate President´s Circle as one of the Top Ten Producers.

Growing up in the Los Cabos area has provided Warren with a wealth of local knowledge and insight, and the opportunity to examine all movements of market growth for more than two decades. His alignment with prominent and original land owners make him a stand out in finding unlisted developer parcels in the Baja California peninsula.

Expats

Bren & Shelly Ennis

Shelly and Bren were teachers in Alberta, Canada for 30 years. After retiring 7 years ago, they moved to Puerto Vallarta to retire.  “It’s such an amazing lifestyle and a dream come true,” says Shelly.

Randy Bennett & Craig Strong

Randy has been called a guru of improvisational comedy. He has taught over 3,000 students in his 35-year career and is one of the original members of The Groundlings, LA’s premiere Improv Theatre Company. Randy and his husband of 40 years, Craig Strong, have a son, Alexander, who they adopted from Romania when he was 3 in 2003.  They moved to Puerto Vallarta in 2017. 

glen and tracey muir

Tracey and Glen Muir

Glen and Tracey originate from South Africa and have two wonderful children: Savannah and Michael. Their love for travel and adventure is a constant, having lived and worked in multiple countries around the globe. They have also gained citizenship in Canada and the USA over the past 20 years. They also have a penchant for beautiful homes and recently move to the Cabo San Lucas area.  Often referred to as G&T, they work as the Dynamic Duo, they obtained their real estate licenses and now help others find homes in the Cabo area.

Georgette Marin

As an Ayurvedic therapist and an integrative holistic practitioner Georgette has created various massages techniques aiding the body to reach deep levels of relaxation and healing. After getting divorced, she left her home in Chicago and traveled the world for 5 years. Georgette decided to move to Xalapa, Mexico to fulfill her dream as a yoga instructor and holistic healing practitioner.

katie and garo expat

Garo and Katie Kochounian

Garo is 42, Katie is 36 and live in Berkeley, CA with their 2 young sons. Garo works for Elevate Capital Management in San Francisco and Katie is a sales executive for an IT company.  They were first introduced to Puerto Vallarta 10 years ago. They stayed at Barcelo in Mismaloya, about 20 minutes south of downtown, and fell in love with the lush mountains and the gorgeous ocean views. They invested in a condo and now split time between Berkeley and Puerto Vallarta.