ENTREPRENEUR, DIPLOMAT, RACONTEUR, BON VIVANT
ENTREPRENEUR
Tour Operator. Owner of See-Spain.Com offering unique tours of Spain.
Realtor. Sold Florida properties to Europeans
Wine Merchant. Partner in wine importing business in Washington, DC. Selected wines to import, arranged financing, and prepared plans.
Fashion Trade. Partner in clothing company catering to young women, London, UK
Stock Broker. Financial services with Wall Street brokerage.
Export/Import. General Manager, South African Trade Center, Orlando, Florida. Services for South African exporters to the US market.
Consultancy. Owner of business providing advice, assistance and guidance to American businessmen in Southern Africa.
Public Relations. First Managing Director of Hill and Knowlton Turkey, a joint venture between the original American PR firm and Turkish partners.
DIPLOMAT
Foreign Service Officer, US Dept. of State for 25 years
POSTS
Deputy Principal Officer, Monterrey, Mexico. Second man at this very large consulate general. Also headed up post reporting program.
Consul for Economic Affairs, Johannesburg, South Africa. Implemented the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, monitored disinvestment by US firms and kept Washington informed, assisted to establish new black owned enterprise.
Economic Officer, Washington, DC. Negotiated first American investment in Mozambique. Wrote part of Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986.
Commercial Attache, Madrid, Spain. Created innovative program for promoting and supporting US service industry exports to, and investment in, Spain. Major accomplishments were clear barriers to US insurance firms doing business in Spain, clear barriers to export of US entertainment products – films, videos, recorded music, put on first American tourism show in Spain.
Counselor for Economic Affairs, Helsinki, Finland. Headed economic reporting program, monitored Finnish trade with Soviet Union, brokered major sale of US commercial aircraft.
Commercial Attache, Ankara, Turkey. Kept American business alive during worse economic slump for Turkey in the 20th Century. Brought first US investment mission to Turkey. Provided key assistance to new US investment in military aircraft manufacturer.
Economic Officer, Madrid, Spain. Wrote, negotiated and concluded new agreement with Spain for continued US participation in Spain’s nuclear power industry which at the time accounted for the largest exposure of US Eximbank financing in history. Arranged several trade missions and trade show participation’s.
Economic Officer, Washington, DC. Produced analytical analysis of Chinese economy during President Nixon’s reopening of relations with that country. Produced analysis and current intelligence on worldwide petroleum trade during the “Oil Crisis” of the 1970s.
Development Officer, Saigon, Vietnam. Adviser to the central districts of the Saigon Municipal Government. Deputy commander of a US military advisory team.
Economic Officer, Panama, Panama. First tour diplomat, worked in all phases of mission. Brought exhibit on “Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy” to Panama, blocked an illegal export of US military aircraft, investigated and reported on local bank laundering funds from the USA.
PEACE CORPS
Peace Corps Volunteer, Asmara, Eritrea (then Ethiopia). Taught high school geography and coached the school’s soccer team to two league championships.
National Peace Corps Association. Former member of the Board of Directors and also Chair of Audit Committee and Peace Committee.
Ethiopia & Eritrea Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Vice President.
MEMBERSHIPS
MENSA
Imperial Constantinian Order of St George, Madrid, Spain. Knight Officer of this oldest order of chivalry.
Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired. Audit committee.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Who’s Who in America
Who’e Who in the World
Ruppe Award. Highest award given by the National Peace Corps Association. Given for E&E RPCV project headed by me to help resolve the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1998-2000.
Outstanding American. American Club of Spain
Special Achievement. Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, Ankara, Turkey.
Special Achievement. City of Saigon, Vietnam.
Outstanding Young Men of America
EDUCATION
Univ. of Maryland, BS Economics
LANGUAGES
English, Spanish, Turkish, Italian, Portuguese
TRAVEL
Lived in 16 countries and seen over 100 more, from Tromso, Norway to the Cape of Good Hope and around the world. Seen six of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, including climbed the Great Pyramid, and six of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World. Gazed at Macchu Picchu, Taj Mahal, and Angkor Wat by moonlight. Drenched by the mightiest waterfalls of hte world – Niagara, Victoria, Iguasu, Tissiset. Stared into the depths of the greatest cuts in the earth’s crust – Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon, Fish River Canyon. Swam in all the seas except for Antarctic. Ran with the bulls in Pamplona (eight times and counting) and climbed Mt Kilimanjaro (thank you Mr Hemingway). Rode motorcycles from Panama City to Mexico City and from Florida to Alaska and back.
SINGER
Sang in musical productions in several countries, including on stage in New York City. Greatest role, Caiaphas in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Windhoek, Namibia. Latest performance, the bishop in “Tosca,” Naples Opera (Naples, Florida that is).
JOB TITLES
Bookkeeper, newsboy, iceman, carpenter, grocer, mailman, statistician, tutor, teacher, coach, diplomat, adviser, commander, spin doctor, contultant, manager, clothier, wine merchant, realtor, tour operator.
WEB SITES
www.leocecchini.com
ADDRESS
USA – 17264 San Carlos Blvd, Unit 302, Ft Myers Beach FL 33931
SPAIN – Pueblo Maritimo 1, D-4, 07579 Betlem (Mallorca)
PHONE
1-239-770-3950