GUEST CONTRIBUTORS

IN OCEAN BLUE WORLD WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A GROUP OF PERSONALITIES THAT PROJECT THE CONCEPT AND IDENTITY THAT MAKES US UNIQUE.

DANIEL J. PENSEYRES

Daniel Penseyres, currently a Switzerland-based recruiting consultant with MP Executive Consultancy, has an extensive background in international banking, including working as chief investment officer of HSBC in Monaco and chief executive officer of fund management for the Bank of China in Geneva. Penseyres began his banking career in 1991 at the Republic National Bank of New York’s Swiss office and has also worked for two Fortune 500 companies as head of foreign exchange trading and risk management.

RAFAEL MICHA

Rafael Micha is chief marketing officer and managing partner at Grupo Habita, which owns 16 posh lifestyle hotels located in Mexico and the U.S., and Mexico City’s trendy Downtown Beds hostel. Micha’s hotels, the latest of which Hotel Terrestre in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, have been featured in Wallpaper*, Vogue and The New York Times, and are a favorite of prestigious guests including Madonna, Kim Kardashian-West, Katy Perry, Bono, Viggo Mortensen, contemporary artists Shirin Neshat and Gabriel Orozco, and architects Wolf Prix and Richard Meier. Micha is on numerous art museum boards and is deeply committed to the contemporary art scene.

Sonia Falcone

Sonia Falcone is a Latin American contemporary artist from Bolivia. Her exhibits include two editions of the Venice Biennale. Sonia is also the founder of AMA – Saving the Oceans Foundation – which she created in 2019 to support marine conservation and community care initiatives
in Baja California, Mexico, where she has her atelier and home. In 2020 Sonia made her debut as a fashion designer launching her label, AMA Designs by Sonia Falcone, with “Cabo Chic;” her first collection in support of projects including the San Jose Down Syndrome Center

Roberto Valle

Le Cordon Bleu-graduate Roberto Valle has delighted guests and friends in cities like Paris, New York, Montreal, Los Angeles and Los Cabos as a successful restaurateur, chef and host in a career that has spanned 40 years. His love of posh and nosh is coupled with a welcoming heart, keen aesthetic and unique savoir-faire from a man who has truly never met a stranger. A gourmand with an effervescent joie de vivre, Valle is a natural guide to the finest things in life. #epicureanomad.

Alison Deyette

CEO of AlisonDeyetteMedia, Alison is a seasoned media trainer and brand strategist with 20 years of experience on camera and behind the scenes. Her expertise lies in equipping a diverse clientele from executives to entrepreneurs and athletes to actors with the necessary skills and techniques to effectively navigate media interactions, enhance communication strategies, and uphold a positive public image. She’s held prominent roles in television, journalism, production, directing, and contributing to numerous successful series, segments, and brand focused projects for TV, digital and print for companies like Amazon, TJ Maxx and The Home Depot. She appears on camera regularly for TV shows including EXTRA, The Kelly Clarkson Show and KTLA Los Angeles and contributes to various publications including The Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, The New York Times and USA Today. @AlisonDeyette

Melina Deyá

Melina Deyá, founder of The System Productions, LLC, is a Puerto Rican photographer with over 20 years of experience in fashion, lifestyle, and still life photography. She has collaborated with major brands like Netflix, Nike, and Dickies, leading creative teams and producing impactful visual stories. Specializing in apparel and luxury markets and drawing inspiration from her own life experiences, Melina brings a unique blend of editorial expertise and creative direction to every project she undertakes. @melinadeya

Carlos Zatch

A connoisseur of luxury and premium hospitality, exclusive wellness brands, and top-tier tourism destinations, Carlos Zatch is a dynamic presence in both the travel and music worlds. With a background in Cinematography and a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Entertainment, Carlos brings a unique artistic flair to his role as a Travel Blogger and Content Creator. Influencing a global audience of over 600K devoted followers, he curates compelling content that offers a glimpse into thrilling travel adventures and refined experiences. Since 2020, he has also enriched the music industry with his distinctive tropical style, seamlessly merging his passions for travel and creativity into an unparalleled lifestyle. @carloszatch

Michael Darko

Founder and CEO of Farringdon Jets, “The World’s Most Security-Focused Jet Charter Company”. Following an international career in property and wealth management, Michael became familiar with the needs of High- and Ultra-High-Net-Worth-Individuals. Combining his experience and network with his lifelong passion for aviation to launch Farringdon Jets. Farringdon Jets is a luxury charter jet service that fills a gap in the market by prioritizing safety and security, not just in the air but on the ground, too.

Carlos Jalife

Jalife has a master’s degree and a PhD from the American University in Washington D.C. His prior experience includes: FASTmag magazine editor, Televisa’s F1 commentator, Racing Program Director, and the first nonnative English author to receive the Dean Batchelor Ward Book of the Year award for his English ‘Pulitzer’ of racetrack literature, The Brothers Rodriguez. He is the only Latin-American motor racing specialist worldwide and as such, he is a consultant to endless organizations on this subject.

JACQUIE BATE

“Jacquie is a daydreamer” was written on all my school reports by several frustrated teachers. Eventually, they just let me learn in my own way! I have a passion for reading, general knowledge and playing with words. I’m a blogger, published poet and a former winner on Weakest Link, South Africa. I grew up in the South African Lowveld, enjoying my own company most of all and reading everything that fell into my hands – from cereal boxes to encyclopaedias. Enid Blyton taught me to write, my father taught me to keep on learning, and my mother taught me to love the world around me. Home is in Durban on the KwaZulu-Natal East Coast, but now that our sons are grown up, my husband and I are becoming digital nomads – camping and road tripping across South Africa as we continue our web & graphic design business. I am happiest at the coast or surrounded by wildlife, but can live anywhere as long as there is wi-fi and chocolate!

DEBORAH MCCORMICK

Deborah McCormick’s wanderlust for far-away places led her to pursue a travel-writing career. She was managing editor for in-flight magazine Wild Blue Yonder, and then brand director working with East West Resorts. McCormick has bridged the architect’s vision with compelling branding for resorts including one of the top 25 spas in the world: Spa Anjali at the Westin in Beaver Creek. Under the tagline “Where Nature Nurtures” McCormick created a positioning platform intrinsically tied to the inspiring Colorado Rocky Mountains.

JONATHAN STEIN

Jonathan Stein graduated from McMaster with a combined Honors B.A. in Philosophy and Spanish while playing varsity tennis. Stein has taught for nine years in award-winning hotels in Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, Thailand and Costa Rica. Currently the Tennis Professional at the illustrious Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort, he recently founded Los Cabos’ leading tennis pro company TOP 10’S, managing programs at luxury resorts and residences. His motivational attitude and philosophy are portrayed in his book LOL: Loving Our Lives by Living Our Loves, published in 2016.

LUIS VAQUERO

Luis Vaquero graduated in International Commerce at both Valladolid University and Southampton Solent University. He has lived and worked in Barcelona, London and Los Cabos and has a true passion for business and traveling around the globe. Mexico became his home in 2014 as International Accounts Manager with CS Imports and Cofer Studio, focusing on growing the domestic market for international leading high-end brands in the world of interior design, such as Clarke & Clarke and de Gournay.

NEIL SANTOS

Neil Santos is a Travel and Lifestyle Specialist with Element Lifestyle. He is an easy-going adventurer from Fullerton, California with a live-in-the-moment mentality. Having graduated from California State University in Communications, he went to Italy to further his studies where he immediately caught the travel bug. His fascination with different cultures, fashion, entertainment and incredible places around the world are what drew him to Element Lifestyle. He believes in making the best of any situation by always staying humble and hungry while on the lookout for the next adventure.

NICOLE SCHUBERT

Born in Miami, Nicole Schubert is a journalist and diplomat with a focus on politics, lifestyle, and human interest stories. She holds an MA in multimedia journalism from New York University and a BA in communications, international development, and ballet from Tulane University, including a semester at the London School of Economics. Her career spans roles in Miami, FL, and Manhattan, NY. Currently, she serves as the Digital Diplomacy Director and Speech Writer for the Consulate General of Israel in Miami, focusing on a broad spectrum of affairs. Additionally, she contributes to Ocean Drive Magazine, Polo & More, and NY Daily News, writing on culture, fashion, and lifestyle.

NOEL PETERSON

Noel Peterson is an Arizona MBA graduate with an unconventional yet exceptional history in client managment and promotion. He has worked with major entertainment companies such as Warner Music Group and E Networks, as well as the consulting firm, Mint Lifestyle in Beverly Hills. His expertise is currently engaged at Element Lifestyle where he is the Director of Client Management.