Mission: Creating Opportunities. Building Partnerships. Connecting People. Aligning Resources.
Vision: We are building Guyana’s future through strategic partnerships that elevate our local and international clients, partners, and the communities that we serve.
Values: We are building a diverse team, committed to working with integrity for all of our stakeholders.
For more than three decades, our leadership team has been consulting with companies in the Caricom region. Knowing what it takes to succeed, we help our foreign partners find opportunities and become a contributing presence in Guyana. Our goal is to help make your company work more efficiently and effectively.
Our relationship with the local government and the business community helps our clients —
Our managers deeply understand Guyana’s government and social framework, providing you with a well-established network of resources.
Kris Sammy oversees the Excel Guyana team and serves as Excel’s Government Relations liaison with Guyana officials and local agencies.
His role stretches from overseeing Excel’s day-to-day operations to collaborating with his team to develop and implement operational policies and set strategic plans for the company’s expanding operations in Guyana.
As a resident of Guyana, Kris has helped new and foreign companies establish profitable local business investments. He is passionate about creating jobs, supporting the local economy, and sharing all that Guyana has to offer to foreigners new to this specific business climate.
Kris is also Co-founder of AlphaGold Corp, a mining project generator focused on the Guiana Shield. He was Co-Founder & COO of Avalon Investment Holdings, which was based in Barbados, a company which completed a successful RTO on TSX Venture Exchange in 2020, for a public listing in Canada of the renown Omai Gold Mines project, located in Guyana. He was instrumental in negotiating the Omai project, land-package deal with the Guyana Government in 2017.
He is also Vice-Chair for AmChan Guyana Trade and Investment Committee, and, a Trade & Investment, and Green Economy Committee member with The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kris worked for over twenty years in business and financial markets and served as a liaison with Canada’s largest investment and banking firms. He studied at York University in Toronto, and through the CSI Global Education, earned his designations as a Chartered Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Management Advisor (FMA) and a Certified Investment Manager (CIM) and was a Fellow of the Canadian Security Institute (FCSI).
With over twenty years of lesson’s learned behind him, Kris brings the innovation and understanding needed to advocate your goals and bring your business to the forefront with Excel Guyana.
Over the past three decades, Michael Smith has launched multiple startup organizations in the United States of America, Canada, and the CARICOM Region.
As an international entrepreneur, Michael has a broad vantage point to identify business opportunities ahead of the curve. He has a solid track record of bringing together the strategic partners, leadership teams, and local government organizations to successfully capitalize on market opportunities and generate shareholder wealth. In North America and the CARICOM Region, he has taken the time to develop relationships with key government and business leaders. He has extensive knowledge of cultural, infrastructure, local talent, and the right channels for successful projects.
As a co-founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Excel Guyana Inc., he works directly with foreign investors seeking to capitalize on Guyana’s economic boom resulting from the Oil & Gas and Mining Sectors. Michael’s experience with Fund Management, Infrastructure and Development projects in the CARICOM Region provides invaluable background for Excel’s strategic partners.
Michael’s experience in the CARICOM region also includes managing Dynamic Equity Fund II Ltd., a registered fund in Trinidad & Tobago in addition to forming Capital Acceleration Fund Ltd. Both funds secured equity funding and made successful investments in a portfolio that included investments in private and public companies operating in the exploration/mining and technology sectors.
Michael is a graduate with High Distinction from Babson College with a B.S. in Economics / Finance / Investments. He currently resides in Naples, Florida with his family.
Norman McLean is an internationally-trained expert in security management, recognized with numerous awards for exemplary service. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, he has been a leader, building a stronger Guyana.
His career began working for the British Guiana Public Service. He was quickly promoted to Platoon Commander, where he was responsible for Training and Operations for the British Guiana Volunteer Force. In 1958, he transitioned to the Guyana Police Force, where he honorably served as a Deputy Commissioner/Area Divisional Commander, overseeing activities in all areas of Crime Prevention, Court Prosecutions, and Mobile Care Patrol Systems and Riot Control.
In 1974, McLean was appointed the Founding Director General of the Guyana National Service. He was responsible for the designing and implementation of the National Youth Program, developing the talents of Guyana's youth in service to the newly formed nation. He was later promoted to Major-General/Chief of Staff to the Guyana Defence Force, where he was responsible for the design, development and training for the Defence Force of the State of Guyana
In 1991, Norman entered the private sector as a security and human resources consultant. He honed his skills at one of South America's largest producing gold mines, Omai Gold Mines Limited. Since then, he has consulted with a variety of government agencies and private sector corporations including the United Nations, University of Guyana and ETK Sandspring Resource.
He is a past-chairman of the Guyana Manufactures and Services Association and the Private Sector Commission.
Major General (ret.) Norman McLean holds a Master of Science in Security Management from the University of Leicester, England. His training includes public safety and police academy training through Guyana, England, and the United States.
As a member of the executive leadership team, Mr. Shanks is responsible for growing the organization’s local and international recruitment division to support businesses expanding in Guyana.
Prior to joining the Excel Guyana team, Shanks honed his skills working with two of the largest and most successful executive search firms in Toronto. After leaving a position as Senior Corporate Recruiter with IAMGOLD, a Tier One global mining company headquartered in Toronto, Shanks became a partner for a search firm in Toronto, focusing once again on the mining sector. He returned to Guyana in 2013, continuing to build the qualified labour pool for foreign corporations beginning operations in Guyana. He has worked for two of the largest and most successful recruiting firms in the oil and gas sector in the CARICOM region. As an entrepreneur, Shanks also launched a successful international recruiting firm in Guyana.
He is skilled in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive searches, headhunting, direct sourcing, customized and unbundled recruiting services, as well as permanent and contract placement.
Shanks is trained in Structural Behavioral Interviewing and has a keen eye for identifying top talent in the marketplace. He excels at managing client relationships and delivering results on time, and under budget. He holds a Certified Professional Consultant (CPC) designation through the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing (ACSESS), along with Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and Investment Funds in Canada (IFIC) Certifications.
In his position with Excel Guyana, Eugene Gonsalves strategic role is to ensure clients have access to a dependable, established supply chain of resources for both machinery and provisions.
Eugene Gonsalves brings with him extensive experience in the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors. He has worked on projects of great magnitude and has helped local and national companies establish efficient operations.
His impressive track record in the construction of gas and petroleum refineries, oil and gas drilling operations, aluminum refinery and gold mining concession, and hydroelectric dam construction equips him with abundant experience to guide investors in establishing their businesses in these key industries in Guyana. Gonsalves is also proficient in procurement, logistic, contracts, and project execution planning, giving him a macro perspective in business operations from production to sales and everything in between.
Gonsalves has degrees in Superior Technician of Industrial Relation and Administration of Financial Resources and Inventory which he earned from Simón Rodriguez National Experimental University in Venezuela.
Lisa Wong is an experienced HR Administrator, familiar with organizational development and experienced in the medical field as well as occupational health and safety.
Lisa previously worked in the mining sector with a focus on the full-employee life cycle needs.
Lisa holds a degree in Effective Human Resources Administration & Modern Human Resources Management as well as a Certification in Occupational Safety & Health.
She is licensed in many beneficial pieces of training including, CPR, Quality Management, Prevention & Needle Stick Injuries, Waste Management, Fire Safety, Modern HRM, Recruitment & Selection Process, Business Intelligence & Knowledge Management Systems, Fundamentals of Quality Standard, Introduction to Pharmacy Practice, Modern Project Management, and 30 hours of OSHA. She is a dedicated individual who goes beyond the traditional elements of Human Resources Management in working with clients and project teams.
Malhotralall Persaud is a resourceful accounting professional with more than 8 years of experience in job cost accounting.
He is responsible for preparing the monthly budgets, accounts and financial statements for Excel and Excel’s clients.
Rayana Khan has more than 7 years of experience as an administrative professional, providing clerical and bookkeeping support.
She is responsible for preparing the monthly budgets, accounts and financial statements for Excel Guyana’s clients.
Rayana enjoys working with a diverse team of business professionals to achieve our clients goals. She is also pursuing higher education at the Accountancy Training Center, seeking a degree in Business Management. She is excited to grow with Excel Guyana.
Shazim Ali serves as the Marketing Manager within the Marketing Department.
He fosters Excel Guyana's recruitment pipeline by researching, sourcing, vetting, and onboarding employees for all their clients whiles ensuring employees are productive and poised to achieve their dream jobs.
Prior to joining Excel Guyana, Shazim sharpened his professional skills in the Marketing and Business Development. He has extensive experience in cutting edge technology to streamline the client's journey. His passion for technology ensures he provides the best-recruiting experience for candidates and the hiring manager by implementing and using our state-of-the-art database and recruitment process.
Graduating from Nations University with a Diploma in Marketing Management, he is currently enrolled in the University of West Indies (Open Camus) where he is reading for a bachelor’s degree in Political Science minor Economics.
Kofi Akpan has a combined professional experience of thirteen (13) years in the oil and gas and gold mining industries.
Prior to owning and operating a medium scale gold mining company in Guyana, South America, for nine (9) years, he worked as a production engineer at Teck Cominco, Trail, BC, Canada and Canadian Natural Resources, AB, Canada.
His role in the mining industry includes a hands-on approach in areas of strategic, operational and project management. His activities include, among other things, development of joint ventures alliances, control systems, and negotiation approaches. His involvement at the operational levels involves ensuring strategic objectives are effectively executed. Currently, Mr. Akpan serves as the project manager in the rehabilitation of Omai Gold Mines’ camp site in preparation for the commencement of the drilling program. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of British Columbia (UBC), BC, Canada.
Dr. Haimwant Persaud is an expert Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing specialist, with more than 12 years of experience working in the Natural Resources Sector.
He served as the GIS Manager at the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Natural Resources, working on many developmental projects in Guyana.
Dr. Persaud has a Ph.D. in Forest Resources Management, a Master’s Degree in Geographical Information Systems from the University of Redlands, an MBA in Project Management, and a BSc. in Forest Engineering from the University of Pinar Del Rio. He is also a Certified GIS Professional by the GIS Certification Institute in Illinois.
Daniel Sammy is an innovative professional with extensive experience in business administration, international sales, and corporate marketing with Canadian-based businesses.
He leads Corporate Development initiatives and executes strategies to support the backend of new business opportunities, bringing a fresh edge to Excel.
His interests in technology and global issues lends a hand to Excel’s promise of 100% transparency as your single-source consultant in Guyana.
Since 2014, IA Realty Solutions has been assisting businesses in Guyana with employee relocation, residential real estate rentals and purchases, commercial real estate leases and property acquisitions, as well as seller services.
Leveraging its extensive, global network and mastery of the city's most desirable neighborhoods, IA Realty Solutions now serves as an invaluable resource to a diverse set of buyers and sellers across Guyana.
As a leader in the Guyana real estate industry, IA Realty Solutions, an affiliated company of Golocal Relocation has served clients such as IDB, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, Haliburton, Saipem Guyana Inc., Baker Hughes, Scotiabank, SBM Offshore, Repsol, and ECO Lab.
With its resources and depth of knowledge in the industry, IA Realty Solutions stands ready to support the sustainable growth of Guyana's economy working with all levels of executive management to facilitate employee relocation support, housing acquisition, and property management. You can trust that your employees will be safe and well taken care of as they support the launch of your business.
When beginning to bring your people to live and do business with Guyana, we work with Guyanese property owners to ensure that properties are prepared efficiently and effectively for your comfort and security.
In addition to residential experience, IA Realty Solutions has extensive experience in commercial real estate services. From industrial and manufacturing space, to commercial office and retail services, with a vast portfolio of services to help business seamlessly transition into Guyana.
Excel Logistics and Management is committed to operating in Guyana with integrity and in full compliance with the Foreign Corruption Act. Our team has taken efforts to meet and exceed all legal and regulatory requirements.
We strive to support our communities. This includes helping our clients provide direct and indirect benefits to the people and places we work with. Establishing relationships that benefit the regional workforce and elevate the local community, we recognize and actively engage in opportunities for our Guyanese neighbors to benefit from our business developments. This in turn increases the potential for local education, occupation, and income.
Adhering to the strictest governmental regulations, we aspire to work within environmental interests. This allows us to engage with the resources in a responsible manner while returning investment to our clients and their shareholders.
