THE
TEAM
Ricardo Hellmers is the CEO and Founder of Gema Guaraní, a visionary entrepreneur and seasoned business leader with a proven track record of building and scaling successful ventures. He is also the founder of Rahl Capital, a company focused on acquiring and strengthening businesses through capital investment and strategic expertise. With Gema Guaraní, Ricardo is committed to bringing the best of Paraguay to the U.S. market, showcasing the country’s richness, quality, and potential on an international stage.
Ever Zalazar is a seasoned professional and entrepreneur with over 15 years of multinational business experience across Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Asia. As Managing Director and co-founder of Gema Guarani, he excels in business development, strategy, and customer experience. Gema Guarani brings a variety of premium spirits—including rum, gin, and other liquors—from Paraguay to the U.S. market, with the mission of introducing and distributing high-quality Paraguayan products to American consumers. Ever’s broad international background, sharp business acumen, and entrepreneurial drive continues to fuel his success across diverse industries.
Mauricio Alfaro is a visionary business owner and serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of building, scaling, and leading successful ventures across diverse industries. With a keen eye for identifying market opportunities and a passion for innovation, he combines strategic thinking with creative leadership to drive growth and lasting impact.
Known for his ability to turn ideas into actionable, profitable businesses, Mauricio thrives at the intersection of creativity, commerce, and purpose, continually pushing boundaries to create value for customers, partners, and the communities he serves.
Born in Paraguay, Ariel studied in the US, where he met David and Andrew. The 3 bonded over rugby and drinks, the latter still unifying their friendship 30 years later.
Ariel's father started the first organic sugar mill in the world, after seeing the organic market in its infancy in Europe in the early 1990s. He returned to Paraguay and started OTISA. Ariel has held the reigns as Director of the mill since 2002 and has overseen the company's substantial international growth, now exporting to over 24 countries.
Ariel manages the day-to-day operations of the sugar mill and distillery and frequently travels to the US and Europe to maintain relationships with our clients.
David was born in Louisville Kentucky and to this day, has bourbon running in his veins. Though he has had a diverse work history, ranging from working as a lineman, as an arborist, as a Director of Planning for one of the largest cities in the US and as an entrepreneur, fate and the call of his heritage brought him to finally be the Master Distiller for the Legado Organic Craft Distillery, the distillery that he founded with 2 college friends, Ariel Felippo and Andrew Hatfield.Nearly 30 years after the 3 met, David moved with his family from Mexico to Paraguay in 2019 to start Legado from the ground-up. After nearly 20 years of working with his 2 friends exporting organic sugar and alcohol from Paraguay, the 3 saw that there was an underdeveloped supply in the global market place for a truly premium rum. The 3 were so convinced that this void should be filled by a genuine organicand authentically premium rum, that they opened the doors of Legado to produce the world's finest organic and Fair Trade certified rums (and other spirits).David returned to the US in 2023 to oversee the company's US and UK launches and will be 'boots on the ground' to support the launch here in Florida and beyond.