Principals

Ramón Torres is the founder and managing partner of EGI. He has a diverse background in specialty & duty free retail, communications, government/community affairs, logistics and international trade. Ramón is responsible for the company’s overall activities including strategic and business development.

Ramón has been involved in specialty/travel retail for most of his life. He began his career in duty free at Amwar Duty Free Stores in Calexico, CA while still in high school and held just about every position in the company. Ramón also served as logistics coordinator for various freight forwarding companies in Southern California responsible for coordinating critical cargo between Asia and North America. Ramón owned and operated The Cigar Lounge, an upscale, full service, premium cigar retail store in Las Vegas. He also created the Noró Fine Leather line of luxury leather accessories manufactured in Spain and available throughout the US and abroad. Ramón served as Community Relations Officer for the city of Las Vegas where he represented the mayor and officials in promoting the city’s diversity efforts, diplomatic affairs and protocol. Prior to this appointment, Ramón managed the city’s national award winning television station.

Mr. Torres is active on a local and national level. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Latin Chamber of Commerce of Nevada where he chairs the International Trade Committee and is a member of the Latin Business Association in Los Angeles. He is a member of several leading trade organizations including the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores, Airport Minority Advisory Council and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. He served for many years on the executive board of the Nevada Minority Supplier Development Council and is a past member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. He is the 2010 Asian Chamber of Commerce of Nevada Member of The Year, is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Las Vegas and has received numerous recognitions from local, federal and international agencies for his efforts to promote cultural and business relations.

Margarita Pimentel is partner and Regulatory Compliance Officer for EGI. Margarita has a unique and extensive career in travel retail, duty-free, import/export, logistics, sourcing, and Foreign Trade Zone operations. Licensed as a U.S. Customs Broker since 1996, Mrs. Pimentel excels in developing innovative solutions for her international clients with a special focus on trade between Asia, Canada, United States and Mexico. She specializes in the areas of duty free retail, textile industry, footwear industry, clothing, product sourcing, and USDA/FDA/BATFE regulatory compliance.

Mrs. Pimentel is also president of Pimentel Group, Inc. where she is responsible for the company’s U.S. Customs Brokerage services, Bonded Warehouse and Foreign Trade Zone operations in San Diego and Calexico, California. Mrs. Pimentel established and operates Foreign Trade Zone 257 in Imperial County, California at the Calexico Port of Entry and established the first bonded warehouse there as well. Margarita also offers highly specialized strategic sourcing services for companies throughout Latin America and Asia, with an emphasis on clothing, textiles, and footwear. Her Coronado Island, CA location serves as the company’s showroom and buying office facilitating communication and logistics for their international clientele.

Mrs. Pimentel is one of the first women to be licensed as a duty free store operator in the United States. Starting in 1980, Margarita established and operated Amwar Duty Free stores in Calexico, California, the first duty-free stores in that market, serving Southern California and Northwest Mexico. She later purchased the business and expanded until eventually selling to U.E.T.A. Duty Free in 1996. Margarita remained active in the industry as a consultant assisting clients with branding and distribution of various products including distilled spirits. She was instrumental in the licensing and startup of Image Duty Free Inc. in the highly competitive border crossing of San Ysidro, CA.

Margarita is a member of several leading industry organizations including the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association, San Diego Customs Brokers Association, Latin Business Association in Los Angeles, International Association of Duty Free Stores, Airport Minority Advisory Council, and the Latin Chamber of Commerce of Nevada.

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