Meet the Via Team

Jacques is the Co-founder and CEO of Via Trading. After gaining his BSc and MSc. in Management from the London School of Economics, Jacques spearheaded the growth of the Bonjour chain in East Europe, helping it achieve a prominent position in the Bulgarian market. As a keen entrepreneur, Jacques also worked closely with key Fortune 500 organizations as the official distributor for P&G, Gillette and Wrigley in Bulgaria, achieving a notable presence across both the retail and wholesale landscape.

He achieved his MBA from Harvard University where his final dissertation was core to the founding of Via Trading. He is married with 3 children and lives in Beverlywood, California.

Alain is the co-founder and President of Via Trading. Following his time at Gillette, Alain led the strategic development of the Bonjour chain in addition to the distribution business in Bulgaria. His entrepreneurial nous was further honed by fronting an e-commerce company in Europe selling a variety of goods to end consumers.

His creativity and flair for business was further evident in the establishment of the retail chain TAG in Cyprus which quickly expanded and became a household name in the local market. Alain earned a BSc. from London School of Economics.

Alex Antypas joined the Via Trading team as the Chief Operating Officer in July 2010. Prior to Via, Alex was Division Sales Manager for Wrigley/Mars in the United Kingdom after leading prominent growth across their Middle East markets for 12 years.

Alex's standpoint on customer service is firm. "If we don't take care of our customers, someone else will. That's why we have a relentless focus on taking care of our customers and are committed to continuous improvement."

Alex believes the opportunities in the liquidation industry are endless, and this is why we focus on the training and development of our team. "The more skills we have, the better we are at what we do, the greater the opportunities for us and for the customers we educate."

Alex lives in Calabasas with his wife and two daughters. Their weekends are spent on the sidelines of various sports games, snowboarding or body boarding at the beach! Alex speaks English, Greek and has a working understanding of French and Arabic.

Orlando Avalos joined Via Trading team in December 2005. He is currently the Business Development Manager, having worked his way up from Account Manager over the last few years. Before working at Via Trading, Orlando was a manager in the retail merchandising industry.

Orlando believes that customer service plays a major role in defining the reputation of any organization. “It’s more than just a positive attitude, a smile. It’s about recognizing the unique needs of each customer and utilizing the organizations resources to fulfill them”, he says. He thinks that the opportunities of the liquidation industry are enormous. “It’s a fifty billion dollar industry with practically no barriers to enter, anyone can be a part of it”, explains Orlando.

Orlando speaks both English and Spanish. He enjoys watching movies, listening to music, bike riding and reading in his spare time.

Jenny Franco joined the Via trading Team in 2007. She started out as an Account Manager and became Sales Manager in 2009. Before coming to Via, Jenny was a sales manager for a wine cellar company.

Jenny believes customer service is a key factor in maintaining a successful business that has a long term vision. “Satisfaction is our number one priority”, she says. She believes that the opportunities in the liquidation industry are endless for those who are willing to put the time and effort into having a profitable long-lasting business.

Jenny enjoys spending time with family, bike riding, watching movies and reading in her spare time. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Bob Bernard has been working with Via Trading since August 2006 as a Sales Manager. Before Via Bob owned his own Closeout Business, and has held several other entrepreneurship ventures throughout his career.

To Bob, customer service is vital to all businesses and is always well appreciated. He believes that the liquidation industry offers one of the best ways to make extra money and become one's own boss.

Bob has an incredible sense of humor, always bringing laughter and joy to the office and to those he spends time with. He enjoys watching sports and going to different restaurants.

Adan Sanchez has been an Account Manager at Via Trading since November 2010. Before joining Via he was employed as Electrical Estimator.

Adan believes that a good culture of customer service is one of the most important assets of a company that wants to grow. He believes that the opportunities it offers are countless. “There is plenty of money to be made if you are willing to make the time and the effort,” he says.

Adan knows both English and Spanish. He enjoys golfing and hanging out with his family in his spare time.

A Guayaquil Equador resident, Carolina Valle started as a sales rep at Via Trading in March 2009, and has since been promoted to Senior Account Manager. Before Via, Carolina worked for a Recycling Company and spent some time working in her family business as well.

She enjoys going to the movies and to the Gym. Carolina speaks English and beautiful Ecuadorian Spanish.

Luis Nunez started with Via Trading in July 2007 as an Account Manager and has since been promoted to Senior Account Manager. Luis enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends and always looks forward to quick weekend getaways in his spare time.

Luis believes that customer service is vital to any growing company, especially in this industry! He thinks that the opportunities in the liquidation industry are huge. "It's one of the few industries that grows regardless of the economy, the current growth is exponential!" he says.

Luis speaks both English and Spanish.

A Southern California native, Steve Balmer joined the sales department at Via Trading in August 2009. Before Via, Steve performed various roles in the computer, printing, insurance and hospitality industries.

Steve believes good customer service is the vital difference between good and great in business, and the service he delivers his customer base always lives up to this standard.

Steve is a passionate devotee of The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. He loves USC Football, Raiders Football, Lakers Basketball, Sevilla F.C, opera, reading, travel and food.

Steve speaks English and Spanish and lives in Los Angeles with his family.

Jose Contreras joined the Via Trading team in June 2010 as an Account Manager. Before Via Jose owned his own Liquidation Business, and actually started out as a Via Trading customer before becoming a team member!

Jose believes that customer service is an awesome way to help and interact with customers. He believes that the opportunities in the liquidation industry are at their best at the moment. "This is the best time to start a liquidation business, selling branded products from major departments is a great opportunity in today’s economy," he says.

Jose speaks both English and Spanish. He enjoys spending time with his 10 year old daughter. Jose loves anything that involves God, Family and Friends.

Norberto Martinez joined the Via Team in 2007. Prior to joining us, Norberto ran his own business, but decided to seek full time employment when the economy began to falter. An entrepreneur at heart, Norberto loves the liquidation industry for the opportunities it presents for people to become their own bosses. "I like sales, and I like to help people," he says, making his position as Account Manager personally and professionally satisfying.

Norberto worked as Floor Supervisor of the warehouse before being promoted to Account Manager in 2010. He enjoys playing guitar, reading books and playing basketball.

Ruth Hernandez joined the Via Team in December 2010 after working in marketing for over 15 years. Ruth believes that there is no excuse for not doing your best, and lives by this motto in everything she does. "As long as you put forth your best effort with every step you take, you will be a step closer to achieving your goals. Once you set a goal, ask yourself 'Are you proud of your efforts?' If the answer is yes, you did your best."

Ruth believes customer service is what separates a mediocre company from an extraordinary one. Attitude, desire and follow-up are the key ingredients to success.

Ruth enjoys long rides in the country mountains or along the shore, hiking, reading and watching movies.

Ruth speaks English, Spanish and is learning Mandarin Chinese.

Chad Corzine joined the sales department at Via Trading in 2010 after graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor's in Global Economics.

As an Economics graduate, Chad enjoys the fact that the liquidation industry gives people the opportunity to start their own businesses and take control of their financial situations.

A Los Angeles native, Chad enjoys reading, spending time with his family, and is a big sports fan.

Crystal Lopez join the Via Trading team in August 2011 as a Sales Rep. Before joining the Via team she worked as a Customer service manager for a large garment distributing manufacture.

Crystal believes that it is very important to establish a strong solid customer base by exceeding the customers’ expectations. She believes that the liquidation industry opportunities are endless. "I'm excited to be part of an industry in which hard work, dedication and skills can allow a person to become a successful entrepreneur", she says.

Crystal speaks both English and Spanish. She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends in her spare time.

A Paris France native, Mike Stambouli joined the sales department of Via Trading in June 2012. Before Via Mike was a Assistant Director of a discount outlet retail chain in Cyprus.

Mike believes customer service is a huge part of any business. "My goal is to have my customers succeed, I act more as a consultant to my customers than a sales person" he explains. He thinks the opportunities in the liquidation industry are endless and that this is a secondary market which can help countless people in this tough economy.

Mike enjoys watching his favorite soccer team Manchester United play, spending quality time with his wife and pets. He also enjoys listening to all types of music from Jazz to Hip Hop.

Nora Espain joined the accounting department of Via Trading in 2007. Prior to Via, Nora worked in the accounting department of a wholesale swimwear company.

Nora is a Los Angeles native and a proud mom of two. She enjoys spending time with her kids and taking family trips in her free time.

Nelly Palma has been the receptionist Via Trading since 2008. Prior to joining our team, she worked in retail, assisting customers with their purchases. Nelly's friendly face is one of the first you will see when visiting our facility.

Nelly believes in the opportunities the industry and Via Trading present to customers. "There are so many ways to sell merchandise," she says. "We are always getting in fresh items that allows our customers to keep their inventory exciting."

Nelly spends most of her free time with her husband and two sons.

Griselda Morales has been working at Via Trading since April 2011 as a Receptionist. Before Via Trading Griselda used to work in the wholesale industry as a Customer Service Representative so working at Via came natural to her. She is excited to learn more about the industry and grow from it.

Griselda believes that customer service is critical to a business and should include personnel that have excellent people. She feels that the opportunities in the liquidation industry can provide BIG opportunities in the long run.

Griselda is a proud young mother of 2 girls and enjoys having fun with her family and friends on her spare time. She also speaks both English and Spanish.

Sonia Villagomez join the Accounting department of Via Trading in September 2011. Prior to joining the Via Team, Sonia worked as a Sales Rep at another wholesale company.

Sonia believes that customer service is a key element to a growing company. "Customer service plays a major role in a company's success," she says. She believes in the power of the liquidation industry to give people an opportunity to start a new business from virtually nothing.

Sonia enjoys spending time with family and also likes to volunteer at senior homes and homeless shelters.

Angelica Munoz joined the Accounting department of Via Trading in September 2011. Before joining the Via Team she worked in a LA County Office doing clerical work.

Angelica belives that customer service should always be considered the #1 priority in any business. She believes that the liquidation industry can allow people with low incomes to make money, presenting a great opportunity for people to turn their lives around.

Angelica speaks both English and Spanish. She enjoys reading and spending quality time with her kids.

Fred Ponce joined the Via Trading team in July of 2008. He is part of the Administrative team of Via, in charge of the logistics department. Before joining Via Trading, Fred worked in construction installing hardwood flooring in commercial and residential properties.

Fred feels that one should always provide the highest quality of service to a customer. In his opinion, the liquidation industry offers a high potential for earning a living. "It's up to you how much money you make," he says.

Fred speaks both English and Spanish. He loves watching sports in his spare time. Go Raiders!

Edwin Cortez joined the Via Trading team in October 2008. He is part of the Administrative team of Via handling certain aspects of account and logistics. He worked in the processing and floor departments of the warehouse for a year prior to being promoted to administration in 2009.

Edwin feels that customer service should be the number one priority in every business - without it the company would not go far. He believes the liquidation industry is truly open to anyone with a willingness to succeed.

Edwin loves spending time with his kids, friends and playing sports. He speaks both English and Spanish.

Jose Ramon (a.k.a. Jr) began working at Via Trading in 2010 after leaving his position as Night Crew Chief at Food4Less.

Jose currently works in the Administration department of Via Trading, fulfilling account, logistics and customer service roles. "I feel great providing good customer service. I love to socialize with people, get to know them and help them out with their main needs."

Jose enjoys going to the gym, surfing the web, playing soccer and writing poetry.

Nathania Stambouli has been the Marketing Manager for Via Trading for several years, joining the company shortly after finishing her Bachelor's Degree at The American University of Paris in France. Nathania, backed by her dynamic team, handles all aspects of the company's marketing efforts, website development and trade show appearances.

Nathania enjoys the challenge that Via Trading presents and has been motivated by the changes the company has seen in the years she has seen it develop. "It's an honor to be part of a company that grows so quickly and continuously commits itself to excellence and providing real opportunity and excellent service to its customer base," she says.

Nathania speaks English, French, Spanish, Hebrew and Italian, and also assists international customers with orders and inquiries whenever necessary.

In her free time, Nathania is an avid Yoga practitioner, loves singing with her A'Capella group, boating and reading.

Fernando Amezquita has been at Via Trading since October 2008. Fernando is the lead graphic designer for Via and has been in this position since 2010, after working in the processing and floor departments of the warehouse.

Fernando is currently studying at Platt College. He obtained his Associates Degree in Graphic Design in 2010 and is working towards his Bachelor's in 3D Animation and Web Development.

Fernando believes that good customer service is the key to a successful business. "The way we treat our customers reflects on the way we do business," he says. He believes the liquidation industry provides a great opportunity for anyone trying to supplement their income.

Andrew George joined the Via Trading Marketing team in June of 2011 as the Web Developer and IT Manager, bringing a solid set of web development skills to our growing team.

Andrew believes that customer service makes the difference between a one-time customer and a customer for life. He believes that the opportunities the liquidation industry present are immeasurable with hard work and imagination.

Aside from English, Andrew is fluent in the computer languages of HTML, CSS and PHP. He enjoys watching Galaxy soccer games, playing FIFA 12 and taking care of his twins.

One thing you may not know about him is that he loves chocolate and would much rather eat a pie on his birthday than a cake.

Brenda Castellanos has been working at Via Trading since October 2010. She started out as a receptionist and was recently promoted to Marketing Associate. Prior to joining the Via Team, Brenda managed the C.A.R.E program at the Gas Company.

She enjoys working out, hiking and trying new foreign restaurants.

Brenda believes that customer service is an integral aspect of life and business at Via Trading. "It is our job to make customers feel comfortable working with us," she says.

Brenda believes in the opportunities the liquidation industry present. "You can start off as a weekend seller at a flea market and before you know it, you can turn this into a real living." Brenda speaks English and Spanish.

Adrian Morales joined Via Team in April of 2005 as the Warehouse Manager. After serving as the warehouse manager for seven years, Adrian identified a new opportunity for growth and joined our Sales Department in December of 2012. He is eager to bring his extensive knowledge of the products and industry to all of his dealings with customers.

Prior to joining our team, he was an Account Manager in the beer sales industry for 9 years.

Adrian believes that customer service signifies making a commitment to our customers. "It is an essential business practice reflecting a company's desire to continuously improve and maintain a high level of satisfaction for our customers," says Adrian. He believes that the liquidation industry can be a great potential source of income with a minimal investment for those willing to put the time and effort into it.

Adrian enjoys spending time with his family and friends in his spare time, and also enjoys helping others with anything they might need.

Jose Lizarraga has been at Via Trading since 2008. He started out in the processing department and worked his way up to Floor Supervisor of the walk-in warehouse since 2010. Prior to joining Via Trading, he worked at a vehicle auction lot.

Jose believes customer service is not a department but an attitude. "I am always here to answer any questions customers may have - it's my pleasure to help in any way I can," he says.

Jose spends his days on the sales floor of the warehouse managing the floor department, maintaining order in the warehouse and ensuring customers are loaded quickly and efficiently.

Josue Martinez has been a Via Trading team member since April 2000. He started out as a member of the processing team and worked his way up to Processing Supervisor, his new position since January 2013. Before joining the Via team, Josue was focused on his college studies in Telecommunication Engineering.

Josue believes that his new position has helped him think more analytically when it comes to customer service and the liquidation industry itself. He believes that the liquidation industry offers many opportunities due to the fact that there are different kinds of merchandise to work with for every type of market.

Josue Speaks both English and Spanish and likes to work out and explore different cities. He likes to challenge himself to learn new things and enjoy life/time to the fullest.

Rebeca Ocegueda has been working at Via Trading since November 2011. She initially joined our team as part of the processing department, but in January 2013, she was promoted to Shipping and Receiving Supervisor as a result of her dedication and attention to detail.

She enjoys quality time with her friends and family as well as some "Me" time shopping.

Not only is Rebeca the Shipping and Receiving Supervisor, but she also has regular opportunities to put her great customers service skills to work during Via's monthly events. On any one of those days, you would find Rebeca greeting customers, registering them for events and assisting them with any questions they might have.

Rebeca is fluent in both English and Spanish and looks forward to many more successful years at Via.