Gender

Female

Location

New York, NY

Birthday:

June 26

What's your role? Network Creator (NC) or Admin?

In November 2005, Bisila Bokoko-Echols became Executive Director of The Spain-US Chamber of Commerce located in New York City. The Chamber is a bi-lateral private U.S. non-profit organization with a $1.7 Million budget and a staff of 14 dedicated to fostering trade, investment and institutional relations between Spain and the United States. As Executive Director, Mrs. Bokoko-Echols provides day-to-day operational leadership, including supervision of staff across four departments: Foreign Trade, Publications, Events, and Professional Exchange Program; secures financial resources through membership fees and fundraising events; and develops long-term and short-term sustainability strategies with the Board of Directors. Mrs. Bokoko-Echols travels internationally to visit with foreign government and business leaders to discuss ways to enhance trade and promote Spain exports. Mrs. Bokoko-Echols structured and secured partnerships with media and entertainment giant Disney to promote products from the region of Valencia in the US market, resulting in a 25% increase in the demand for exported wines from Valencia. Her most recent major partnership includes the Public Broadcast Station (PBS), where she helped structure a deal to air two televised shows: “On the Road Again” featuring Iron Chef Mario Batali and Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Spain’s famed chef Jose Andres in “Made in Spain” to promote the food, wine and tourist industry in Spain. As a result of her efforts, Spain has recently been featured in several publications including Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, Food & Wine and Oprah. Prior to joining the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Bokoko-Echols had a six-year tenure with IVEX NYC, a Spanish agency dedicated to developing trade and investment opportunities between the Spanish region of Valencia and the United States. Here, she worked her way up the ranks from International Trade Specialist to Director. Mrs. Bokoko-Echols developed and implemented more than 100 international business projects to enter the US market. She played a key role in securing Valencia as the host city for the 32nd Annual America’s Cup, outbidding Portugal's Cascais, France's Marseilles and Naples in Italy. While travelling to Ghana in summer 2009 she realized the need for libraries in Ghana, that is why she created in October 2009 the Bisila Bokoko Kumasi Literacy Project. A non-profit organization to create libraries in Africa with a solar energy system. Mrs. Bokoko-Echols received her Masters in International Relations from the City College of New York, her Masters in Business Administration and Degree in Law (J.D. Equivalent) from the Universidad CEU of San Pablo. She is on the board of directors of the Global Information Network, member of the Africa Development Institute, Spain Law Board, Black National Organization of MBA’s, and the National Association of Female Executives. Mrs. Bokoko-Echols resides In New York City with her husband and 2 children.