Luis Avila

About Luis Avila

Global Business Builder | Sales & Strategy Leader | Connector of Markets and PeopleWith over 15 years of experience driving growth across food, agriculture, fintech, and logistics, I’ve built my career on unlocking opportunities where others see barriers. From leading $200M+ portfolios across the Americas to scaling fintech solutions that transformed produce trade, I’ve consistently delivered results that fuel both revenue and long-term partnerships.What defines me is not just the numbers, but the impact: expanding into new markets, building high-performing teams, and creating strategies that stick. Fluent in Spanish and deeply connected across the Americas and Europe, I thrive at the intersection of cultures, industries, and innovation.My journey—from professional baseball player to global business development executive—has taught me discipline, resilience, and the power of teamwork. Today, I bring that same competitive drive to the boardroom, partnering with C-suite leaders to design strategies that win. I believe in bold vision, relentless execution, and empowering people to achieve more than they thought possible.

Experience

1. Director of Sales and Business Development

   Yummy Açaí

   Nov 2025 — Present · Elizabeth, NJ, US

   Lead national sales strategy for premium, ready-to-serve superfruit blends across foodservice, retail, and private-label channels.Drive new business development by identifying high-value partnerships and expanding distribution with cafés, juice bars, CPG brands, and wholesalers.Develop customized blend solutions for clients, helping brands create signature açaí and superfruit offerings tailored to their flavor, texture, and functional needs.Manage full sales lifecycle — prospecting, outreach, product demos, contract negotiation, onboarding, and long-term account growth.Collaborate with R&D and operations teams to innovate new blends, streamline production, and deliver consistent quality for partners.Build and execute go-to-market strategies that increase market penetration, improve margins, and accelerate revenue growth.Strengthen client relationships through proactive communication, reliability, and a deep understanding of customer needs in the foodservice and CPG industries.Represent Yummy Açaí at industry trade shows, distributor meetings, and strategic brand presentations.Analyze market trends and competitive data to refine pricing, positioning, and product development initiatives.

Education

• University of Oklahoma

  Master's degree, Public Administration

  2010 — 2012

• University of Hawaii at Manoa

  Bachelor's degree, Economics

  2004 — 2007

• Eastern Oklahoma State College

  Bachelor's degree, Computer Science

  2002 — 2004

Skills

• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Consulting
• Salesforce.com
• New Business Development
• Negotiation
• Sales Process
• Recruiting
• Account Management
• Contract Negotiation
• Strategy
• Business Development
• Leadership
• Employee Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Networking
• Bilingual-English/Spanish
• Marketing Strategy
• Management
• Cold Calling
• Consumer Goods
• Project Management
• Computer Proficiency