2) BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
- NATIONALITY: British (Scottish)
- MARITAL STATUS: Wife Liliana)
- CHILDREN: 3 (step-children)
- PETS: A dog (Milo) and a cat (Sky)
- HOBBIES: Hiking, traveling, reading, writing, play the drums
PLACES I HAVE LIVED :
My father is Scottish and my mother is American. I was born in Panaga, Brunei and when I was 4 years old, we moved to Port-Gentil, Gabon. We had to evacuate Gabon for a year due to the Gabonese revolution and lived with my grandparents in New Orleans, USA.
At the age of 8, we moved to Muscat, Oman where we lived for 4 years. During that time, when I was 10, I went to a boarding school in Scotland. When I was 12 years old, my parents moved to the Netherlands for three years and then returned to Muscat, Oman.
I lived at my boarding school for 7 years and when I was 19 years old, I moved to Glasgow, Scotland where I studied at Strathclyde University. In 2006, when I was 23 years old, I left Scotland and came to Mexico. Initially, I lived in Guadalajara for 3 months, then Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for 1 year and have been in Puerto Vallarta since 2007.
Many people ask me, "Why Mexico?" The answer could be divine intervention or simply coincidence. As I was preparing to graduate from university with a degree in English Literature—a major that doesn’t tie you to any specific industry—I faced the inevitable question of what comes next. At a birthday party, a chance encounter with my roommate’s sister, who had just returned from teaching English in Japan, sparked an idea. I could go abroad, teach English for a year or two, travel around Asia, and then return to Scotland to start a 'serious' career.
While studying for my exams in the university library, I decided to take a break and started looking for job offers in Japan and South Korea in the computer room. Just as I was about to click on an interesting opportunity, a pop-up appeared and I accidentally clicked on it. It took me to a job offer in Mexico. The name 'Mexico' caught my eye and intrigued me. Later that day, I bought a travel book on Mexico and another on South America, and spent the entire night studying them. This led me to formulate a ten-year plan to travel around South America teaching English.
The plan was to return to Scotland afterward and settle into something more traditional. But since arriving in Mexico in 2006, starting in Guadalajara, moving through Zihuatanejo, and finally settling in Puerto Vallarta in 2007, I have found my new home and have been here ever since.
3) ABILITIES
PERSPECTIVE
One of my strengths is the ability to see situations from multiple perspectives, which allows me to offer a variety of solutions to my clients. This skill has proven invaluable in my work.
PATIENCE
I have always been a patient person. Since the year 2000, I have been working in the field of education, where I have had the opportunity to cultivate and perfect this patience. Moreover, as I mentioned earlier regarding perspective, this has allowed me to empathize with my students and thoroughly understand the difficulties they face. Learning complex or difficult concepts can be frustrating, and if I insist on remaining rigid in my logic, I will fail as an educator. The true role of a teacher is to guide their students to overcome obstacles and achieve a deep understanding.
TEACHING
I consider myself an excellent teacher and look for fun ways, such as metaphors, analogies, and games, to guide my students on their learning journey. Currently, I am focused on training work teams in the use of digital platforms, which requires applying the tools I have acquired over a career spanning more than 20 years. My goal is to help my clients quickly overcome resistance to change and adopt new technologies in their businesses.
OTHER ABILITES
- Speak English and Spanish.
- 20 years of experience: Expert in teaching techniques and learning proceses.
- Language teacher trainer.
- Develop learning materials.
- Develop Curriculumns.
4) OBJECTIVES
100 DIGITALIZATIONS
Generate $1,500,000.00 from BNI in a period of 12 months (100 Digitalizations).
WHITE LABEL FRANCHISE
I offer my language school as a white-label franchise. (A "white label" refers to a product or service produced by one company that other companies purchase and sell under their own brand.)
EXPAND
At Lucion, I plan to add accounting, legal, and marketing areas to offer a more comprehensive solution to my clients. This way, we can achieve a complete 360-degree implementation that covers all essential aspects for the success of their businesses.
AUTO-SUFFICIENT
My goal is to document and standardize processes to facilitate the opening of more online businesses that are self-systematized.
5) RELATIONS
Grupo Emprendedor Moctenson
I belong to a civil association dedicated to secondary and higher education, with a network of schools distributed throughout Mexico.
BNI
As the Executive Director of BNI, I have direct access to and have gained the trust of other directors, which allows me to facilitate valuable contacts for my clients and members in my region.
Lingua Franca / Axon Nova
With nearly 20 years of experience in the educational field, I have established numerous regional contacts and have taught thousands of students, who today hold important positions in the business sector and government.
6) ACHIEVEMENTS
My first business here in Mexico.
Photography on the left: first location in 2008. Photography on the right: sixth and current location in 2019.
I started my first business in Mexico facing the considerable challenge of not speaking Spanish. However, thanks to my determination and quick learning ability, I managed to overcome the obstacles and set up a company that is still operating successfully today.
Co-Owner of the BNI Jalisco Oeste region.
As a BNI franchisee, together with my partners Dora Luz Luna de Dios and David Sierra, we acquired a region that was in decline. We have completely transformed the dynamics of this area, turning it into a growing region, full of good vibes and brimming with opportunities.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
- I have a BA Hons in English Literature from Strathclyde University.
- I played the drums in a rock band. (I have been playing the drums since I was 10 years old.)
- I hold an official certification and license as a language teacher.
- I have certified more than 500 people with official certifications. I have helped approximately 5000 people with the English language since 2008 in Puerto Vallarta.
- I directed a play in university theater (and acted in other theater plays).
- I have traveled to 24 countries.
7) INTERESTS
Technology
I have always been somewhat of a nerd; I am fascinated by topics related to technology, human advancement, science fiction, and the possibilities of artificial intelligence. Additionally, I am passionate about exploring what these innovations mean for human creativity.
Music
I have been playing the drums since I was 10 years old. I won't say I'm the best, but I really enjoy doing it; it's an excellent way to relieve stress. I love playing rock, but for some reason, funk has been my specialty.
I have played in live bands, but nowadays, it's not something that particularly appeals to me.
OTHER INTERESTS
- Discussing philosophy
- Reading and writing
- Hiking
- Traveling and exploring other places and cultures
- Fine dining and wine
- Painting and drawing
8) CLIENTS & SUCCESS STORIES
To give you a better idea of the types of clients we can assist, here are some examples of our current clients, the specific challenges they faced, and how we have supported them.
Challenge: Print PV faced a common problem in many businesses: the use of multiple, non-integrated tools, which led to communication errors similar to the game of "telephone." Additionally, they lacked an effective tool for managing their inventory supply, causing delays in deliveries to customers.
Solution: It was decided to consolidate their entire operation into a single digital platform and implement material controls in production along with an inventory control system.
Result: The implementation of these solutions had a significant impact on Print PV. They recorded a 30% increase in sales in less than three months, primarily attributed to improved inventory control. After two years, they reported a 176% growth in the company.
Challenge: Lumek was struggling with the use of multiple disconnected systems to manage their sales and operations. Additionally, due to high staff turnover, they suffered from information loss and task tracking issues.
Solution: It was decided to consolidate all their operations into a single digital platform to achieve effective control of information.
Result: Lumek has now taken control of their client portfolio. It is possible to assign tasks to a new salesperson or operator, and they can continue seamlessly with the necessary follow-up. This improvement in controls and visibility has allowed Lumek to expand their business to other cities.
Thanks to the automation of quotations and improvements in communication, response times, formality, and efficiencies in operations and quality controls, Lumek experienced significant growth in sales comparing 2022 with 2023.
Challenge: Cu29 relied on Excel spreadsheets for their quotes and operations management. This method prevented them from having clear visibility into costs and sales outcomes, and they were seeking a more efficient way to manage their company.
Solution: We decided to integrate their entire operation into a single digital platform that allows for quoting, invoicing, and managing production in a cohesive manner.
Result: The operation has become more efficient and faster. Now, Cu29 can make decisions based on real-time, accurate data.
Challenge: VentanasMx, a well-established company moving towards digitalization, faced the major challenge of using several non-integrated systems that complicated their operational management.
Solution: It was decided to consolidate the entire operation of the company into a single system, automating processes and tasks to improve efficiency.
Result: The implementation of this unified system has significantly improved communication within the company, providing a clearer view of customer status and more effective task tracking.
Challenge: The clinic was not satisfied with its current patient management system. They were looking for a more comprehensive solution that not only improved financial management but also enabled the automation of notifications to their patients.
Solution: We implemented a customized ERP system specifically tailored to the clinic's needs. This includes patient management, reminders and medical prescriptions, automated appointment notifications, and inventory control of medications.
Result: The solution has provided greater control and access to real, up-to-date data, significantly improving patient tracking. As a result, the clinic has achieved a 20% growth in its customer base.
Challenge: Innova Gourmet was seeking a solution to launch a new e-commerce project.
Solution: We implemented an online e-commerce solution using the Odoo system, tailored to meet the specific needs of Innova Gourmet.
Result: The project is still ongoing.
Challenge: Don Chonito has attempted to digitize its operation several times without success, facing issues such as information leaks and financial losses due to the lack of detailed control in each sale.
Solution: We consolidated their entire operation into a single platform, ensuring that the sales and production areas are perfectly aligned.
Result: The project is still in development and has not been delivered yet.
Challenge: Artisan Bakery, a startup company, has experienced impressive growth that has begun to affect its quality controls. They are seeking to implement more efficient controls to handle the high demand they face.
Solution: To address this challenge, we have proposed automating the order-taking process, production lists, and delivery controls.
Result: The project is still in progress and has not been delivered yet.
Challenge: TSI was looking for a way to simplify its quotation and billing process. Additionally, due to staff turnover, it was essential to consolidate customer and project tracking information into a single platform to maintain continuity and efficiency.
Solution: We implemented the Odoo ERP, which facilitates streamlining quotation processes, commissions, inventory control, and billing.
Result: They have achieved robust control over their finances, sales, and employee turnover, thus optimizing business management and improving operational efficiency.
9) IDEAL REFERENCE
SUPPLIERS THAT HAVE FAILED YOU
If you have stopped working with suppliers due to late deliveries or significant errors, allow me to offer you a solution. I can use those cases as a reference to demonstrate the importance of having robust internal controls. By improving the efficiency of your processes and systems, I will help you avoid these situations from recurring, thus optimizing your operation and reducing future risks.
LISTEN FOR...
- Loss of Customers:
Entrepreneurs face the problem of salespeople leaving the company, taking clients with them, affecting the continuity and stability of the business. - Communication Issues:
Many business owners report organizational chaos due to failures in internal communication, complicating daily operations. - Lack of Rest:
Some entrepreneurs haven't taken vacations in years because they feel they can't leave the company alone, which affects their personal and professional well-being.
- Errors in Pricing:
Mistakes in selling products or services at too low a price have resulted in significant losses, negatively impacting the company's finances.
LOOK FOR...
- Entrepreneurs who Use Excel for Business Management:
These entrepreneurs are ideal candidates for our services, as they often use Excel for quoting, accounting, cash flow management, and financial projections. These activities are essential but can be significantly enhanced with more integrated and automated solutions that we offer.
10) NON IDEAL REFERENCES
- People who don't distinguish between investing in their company and spending on their company.
- People who only seek a digital system without opting for the consultancy and advisory services we offer. Based on our experience, digitization without proper advisory support is not effective.
11) CONTACT SPHERE
Who is a good ally/connector for me?
- Business Coaches and Managers: Professionals who advise companies on development strategies and continuous improvement.
- Web Developers: Specialists in creating digital solutions and online presence for businesses.
- Training Professionals: Experts who offer training and skill development within organizations.
- Accountants: Specialists in financial and tax management for companies.
- Recruitment Specialists: Professionals dedicated to the selection and management of human talent.
- Lawyers: Experts in legal advice for companies in various areas.
- ISO Implementation Consultants: Professionals who help companies obtain and maintain ISO certifications.