CaribPR Wire

Chairman and managing director of Blue Equity, LLC., Jonathan S. Blue

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Feb. 24, 2012: “There are many opportunities for well capitalized, foreign investors entering into the emerging economies of the Caribbean.”

That’s the word from one of the top 50 powerful Louisvillians and chairman and managing director of Blue Equity, LLC., Jonathan S. Blue, one of the speakers of this year’s Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum in New York City.

Invest Caribbean Now forum is the brainchild of Hard Beat Communications CEO, Felicia Persaud, and aims to showcase the Caribbean as a great investment option as well while connecting investors with entrepreneurs and ministers of governments.

The June partnership presentation by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Hard Beat, a digital media company,  is set for June 6, 2012 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square and will feature the Blue Equity head along with President and co-founder of Solamon Energy Corp, Jay Yeo and Lisa Lake, head of The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean. A special honoree will be announced shortly.

The event earned rave reviews in its inaugural years in 2011, secured significant media coverage for its impassioned appeal from Hard Beat CEO, Persaud, and presentations from Wendell Dave Dowrich, Vice President, Goldman Sachs; David Brillembourg, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Brilla Group and Martin Mohabeer, Managing Director, Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital and was attended by some 300 delegates, who included ministers of governments, Wall Street money managers, hoteliers, architects, real estate developers and entrepreneurs.

Blue, who heads the private equity firm with a diverse and innovative portfolio of business enterprises with concentrations in oil and gas, media, healthcare, defense, financial services, real estate, manufacturing, art commerce, sports and entertainment, is looking forward to being a part of the panel at this year’s event. In his role as chairman, Jonathan Blue oversees the management of the current holdings in the company. He also serves as the chairman and CEO of Cool Petroleum. Cool Petroleum Ltd., the licensed operator of Shell brands in Jamaica, is an integrated downstream petroleum products business operating in the captive Jamaican market.

“At Blue Equity, we believe that our management and business processes transcend industries and regions and are universally successful in the development and growth of companies worldwide,” said Jonathan. “Our initial entry in the Caribbean market has led us to more progressive and larger scale opportunities in which we are investing or are continuing to evaluate.  We look forward to expanding our Caribbean presence in the very near future.”

“Invest Caribbean Now is honored to have Jonathan as part of this year’s panelists,” said Persaud. “His investment in the Caribbean helps us to make the case that the Caribbean, like emerging markets globally, is definitely a lucrative investment option as well.”

Invest Caribbean Now 2012 sponsors to date include the PR Newswire, WSEE TV, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Damoola Inc and The Affiliated Lawyers of the Americas (”ALTA”). For additional partnership opportunities log on to the sponsorship section of investcaribbeannow or call 646-820-5694.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Feb. 3, 2012: Find out this June when the second Invest Caribbean Now power forum returns to New York City.

 “The first Invest Caribbean Forum in June 2011 was a pivotal moment in developing interest in a new era of entrepreneurship and investing in the Caribbean. This year’s forum promises to be even more significant in advancing U.S. and worldwide interest in emerging opportunities throughout the Caribbean,” said Felicia Persaud, the convener of Invest Caribbean 2012 for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, in announcing this year’s forum.

Coming on the heels of an ultra successful event in 2011 that featured over 300 money managers, investors, hoteliers, ministers of governments and real estate developers, the Invest Caribbean Now power forum will return to New York City this June as part of Caribbean Week in New York.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization will again partner with digital media company, Hard Beat Communications, to present the second investment forum on June 6, 2012 in New York City.

The event earned rave reviews in its inaugural years in 2011 and secured significant media coverage for its impassioned appeal from Hard Beat CEO, Persaud, and presentations from Wendell Dave Dowrich, Vice President, Goldman Sachs; David Brillembourg, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Brilla Group and Martin Mohabeer, Managing Director, Spackman Group and CEO of Spackman Capital.

2012 is set to be more exciting as the event will feature private equity investors in the region, telling their “Why Caribbean” story to other investors and attendees. This year’s confirmed speakers are CEO and founder of the award winning firm, McKinney Rogers, Damian McKinney; President and co-founder of Solamon Energy Corp, Jay Yeo; and Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity, LLC., Jonathan S. Blue. 

In just ten years McKinney, a former British Royal Marine has built a global organization with offices on every sub-continent. Today, McKinney Rogers is a premiere global consultancy, specializing in business execution. The firm has delivered tangible and sustainable results for such respected global organizations as Walmart, Bacardi, Grohe and Diageo. McKinney was also the winner of the coveted Executive of the Year Award for 2011.

Solamon Energy Corp is a renewable energy developer providing Caribbean and Central American clients with cost effective and reliable RE power generation solutions. Jay and his team work recently announced plans to build the Caribbean’s largest solar power plant in Jamaica. It is expected that the program, estimated to cost 450 million dollars, will enhance and improve Jamaica’s energy infrastructure, as well as help attract additional investment in the ICT and green tech sectors.

Blue Equity is a private equity firm with a diverse and innovative portfolio of business enterprises, with concentrations in oil and gas, media, healthcare, defense, financial services, real estate, manufacturing, art commerce, and sports and entertainment. Jonathan and Blue currently are already investing in the Caribbean through Cool Petroleum Limited, the licensed user of Shell brands in Jamaica and Island Ice & Beverage Company Limited, which manufactures and distributes packaged ice in the Caribbean. Blue Equity LLC says it will be expanding the network of gas stations in Jamaica under the Cool Petroleum brand and also hinted at another acquisition later this year, saying it remains optimistic about Jamaica’s prospects as an investment destination. 

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization is proud to team up with Hard Beat to present this event for the second year, since in these tough economic times, investment in the Caribbean and Latin America is critical and the CTO believes strongly in continuing to boost the tourism sector of this vibrant region by presenting investment opportunities for its members,” said Sylma Brown Bramble, director of CTO-USA Inc.

Partners to date include the PR Newswire, WSEE TV, CaribPR Wire, News Americas Now, Damoola Inc and The Affiliated Lawyers of the Americas (”ALTA“).

For partnership and exhibitor opportunities log on to the sponsorship section of http://investcaribbeannow.com/ or call 646-820-5694.