Management

Lucie Amiet

Deputy R&D Manager

Lucie Amiet

Deputy R&D Manager

Lucie Amiet is a French agronomist engineer graduated from ESA and ISTOM (Angers, France).

She started as an agricultural production technician at the ESA where she completed a two-years apprenticeship in a plant nursery and farming in France.

After her first degree, she worked in the Ecuadorian Amazon to start a cocoa plantation in agroforestry where she was trained for its management, from the nursery to the fermentation. Back in France Lucie extended her studies at the ISTOM, engineering school specialized in tropical agronomy and international agricultural development.

During her engineering course, she worked in Peru, the Commonwealth of Dominica and in the Dominican Republic mostly on cocoa but also on palm and diversified production system. Meanwhile, she also did a bean-to-bar class in France to learn about the making of chocolate from the sourcing of the beans to a chocolate project management.

After achieving her master’s thesis and internship focused on experiments of cocoa fermentation processes in Bayacao, she joined the factory as an assistant manager and research and development manager.

Correo electrónico:lucie@bayacao.com

Joaquin Velez

Assistant Factory Manager

Joaquin Velez

Assistant Factory Manager

Joaquín Vélez is originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He currently works in the field of drying processes and industrial machinery operation, with specific experience in the procurement and drying of cocoa in Quevedo, Los Ríos, and El Carmen, Manabí. He is a student of Industrial Engineering, committed to his professional development and strongly oriented toward teamwork. Joaquín is known for his dedication to the growth of his colleagues and the development of his community, values that guide his daily work both professionally and personally.

Correo electrónico:joaquin@bayacao.com

Bienvenido Then

Gerente Nacional de Compra de Cacao

Bienvenido Then

Gerente Nacional de Compra de Cacao

Bienvenido Then Almonte, Dominican, holds a Law degree from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (2005, Cum Laude) and a Master’s in International Relations and Business from San Pablo-CEU in Spain (2007).

He began his career in the public sector, working as an analyst and consultant on socio-economic development projects, collaborating with organizations such as the World Bank and the UNDP.

In 2010, he transitioned to the cocoa industry, joining Cortés Hermanos & Co., S.A.S., where he progressed from Cocoa Supply Chain Supervisor to Director of Cocoa Purchasing over a 13-year tenure. He managed procurement, optimized supply chain operations, and oversaw quality control, contributing to the company’s growth and market expansion.

Bienvenido joined Bayacao in 2025 as National Manager for Cocoa Purchasing. He leads procurement of the raw material (fresh and semi dry, and dry cocoa) and participates in the strategy of the trading operations, focusing on expanding the farmer network, strengthening value chain transparency, and ensuring high-quality standards. Rich of his national market knowledge, he participates in company's certification achievements, including USDA Organic, EU Organic, and Rainforest Alliance.

With additional personal certifications in cocoa grading, flavor profiling, and international business management, Bienvenido combines strategic expertise with practical leadership. He plays a key role in driving Bayacao’s expansion and sustainable sourcing initiatives.

Correo electrónico:bienvenido@bayacao.com

Fredy Pacay

Assistant Field Manager

Fredy Pacay

Assistant Field Manager

Fredy is a Guatemalan agronomist who graduated in 2020 from EARTH University in Costa Rica. He also completed advanced studies in Forestry Engineering at Rafael Landívar University in Guatemala, where he studied from 2010 to 2015.

From 2013 to 2015, he began his professional career working with the Guatemalan government for the Land Information Registry (RIC). As a cadastral and registry information analyst, he played a key role in land legal security in the province of Alta Verapaz. In 2016, he joined Industrias Chiquibul, a Guatemalan company dedicated to African palm production and oil extraction over an area of 17,000 hectares. There, he worked in the agricultural engineering unit, applying his knowledge to improve processes and operational efficiency.

As part of his academic training in 2019, Fredy worked at Agrícola El Cántaro in Guanacaste, Costa Rica for six months. At this company, he served as a supervisor in various areas such as dairy farming, sugarcane, rice, and coffee, demonstrating his versatility and ability to adapt to different crops.

In 2021, he took on the role of Agricultural Administrator at Holdegua in Guatemala, a company dedicated to dairy farming. His responsibilities included personnel management, herd management, forage cane planting, improved pastures, and sorghum, significantly contributing to the company's growth and sustainability.

Since 2024, Fredy has worked in BAYACAO as an assistant manager in the Irrigation Department and later grabbed the precision agriculture sector. He currently resides in Bayaguana, Monte Plata.

Correo electrónico:fredy@bayacao.com

Niurka Alexandra Sánchez Núñez

Contadora

Niurka Alexandra Sánchez Núñez

Contadora

Niurka Sanchez is a seasoned professional from San Felipe de Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, with extensive expertise in accounting, finance, and operations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), earned in 2005, and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Universidad Dominicana O&M, completed in 2009. To further strengthen her financial acumen, she pursued several specialized diplomas in Corporate Taxes, Strategic Finance, and Internal Auditing. In 2023, she completed an MBA in Logistics and Operations Management from Tech Institute.

Her professional journey spans over two decades across diverse industries. She began her career at Vinícola Del Norte, S.A. (2001–2009), where she held roles in Human Resources, Sales and Promotion, and Credit & Collections. Later, she managed Procurement and Accounts Payable at United Nearshore Operations (UNO) in Santiago from 2014 to 2016.

.Between 2016 and 2020, she expanded her accounting expertise, working at Financiera Credifacil, Torniacero SAS, and Amber Concessions, handling Factoring, Accounting Assistance, Accounts Payable, and Cost Management. She then joined Geo Heinssen SAS as Head of Accounting from 2021 to 2023.

In April 2024, Niurka joined Bayacao as an Accounting Clerk in Las Terrenas. By October 2024, she was promoted and transferred to Cruce de Pajón, Monte Plata, where she now oversees factory accounting.

Niurka’s career reflects her dedication to continuous learning, versatility, and leadership in financial and operational management..

Correo electrónico:niurka@bayacao.com

Mario Carela

Cocoa Factory Accountant

Mario Carela

Cocoa Factory Accountant

Mario R. Carela Mota holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Universidad Dominicana O&M (La Romana campus) and a Master’s degree in Financial Administration from Universidad Central del Este (UCE). He brings over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance across national and international companies in multiple sectors. He has held senior accounting and finance roles with a strong focus on financial control, cost management, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. He is experienced in ERP systems including SAP, Peachtree, and ADM Cloud. At Consorcio Azucarero Central, S.A., he served as Assistant to the General Accountant and Cost Accountant, overseeing cost calculation and control for key products such as sugar and molasses. He later worked as Controller for the Samaná and Río San Juan region at Hotel Bahía Príncipe El Portillo (Privilege Club), managing accounting operations for affiliated companies. His responsibilities included bank reconciliations, monthly closings, financial reporting, tax compliance (DGII), asset and inventory control, payroll, and supplier payments. Earlier in his career, he held accounting positions at Palmera Turística and Costa Farms, Inc., where he was responsible for financial statements, reconciliations, payables and receivables, and warehouse controls. Mario is recognized for his leadership, strong communication skills, and results-driven approach, consistently contributing strategic value to the organizations he serves.

Correo electrónico:mario@bayacao.com