Meet the EcuaAssist Team

Overview

EcuaAssist is a company dedicated to providing comprehensive assistance services to expats in Ecuador, with emphasis on efficiency, punctuality, transparency, and the dissemination of complete, detailed information.

Mission

To improve the expat’s experience of Ecuador and bolster the national economy by making the investment process easy, enjoyable, and enriching, providing high-quality, personalized customer service, and fostering community involvement as a pathway to cross-cultural understanding.

Marcos Chiluisa

Founder / General Manager / Attorney

Legal Practice Area(s): Corporate, Real Estate, Immigration, Labor, Administrative

Marcos Chiluisa is a business development advisor and licensed attorney. Marcos’ legal practice focuses on Real Estate¸ Corporate, Labor, Administrative and Immigration counseling. With the Ecuadorian Ministry for the Environment’s “Forest Administration System”, Marcos has served on numerous committees, including the Policy Committee, Nominating Committee, Business Development Committee, and New Environmental Legislation Committee. Marcos began practicing professionally in 2004 as a Real Estate development litigator and counselor. He has litigated over 150 trials for tax collection and has tried numerous cases in administrative courts. He also has extensive experience in drafting original business contracts.

Prior to starting EcuaAssist, Marcos and a group of colleagues founded Ambientar, an environmental consulting firm. He was also the main Attorney for NGO Centro de la Niña Trabajadora [Center for the Girl Laborer] where he resolved family conflicts for disadvantaged families who could not otherwise access the justice system.

At EcuaAssist, Marcos has been very active in Immigration counseling. He has advised over 1000 foreign investors on a wide variety Immigration issues, ranging from the creation of new businesses and corporate mergers to financial management of “Foreign Investors with New Capital in Ecuador”, Ecuador’s most recent property tax benefit.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Bar Assn.: Colegio de Abogados de Pichincha, Lic. No. 9891

B.A., cum laude, Universidad de Las Américas, 2004

HOBBIES

Running cross country, hiking, surfing, kitesurfing, biking, ping pong.

Ana Icaza

Office Director - Salinas

Specializes in Customer Service and

Public Relations

Engr. Romina Cuvi

Office Director - Manta

Specializes in Customer Service

Ana was born and raised in Guayaquil. In her early childhood she lived in Tampa, Florida and then returned to Ecuador. While she was living in Guayaquil she found the love of her life Marcos Goncalves (at that time he was a local surf champion and international professional surfer). After they got married, they decided to improve their quality of life and move to Salinas, a beautiful beach town 90kms away from the city. Now they have two lovely daughters, Moana and Petra.

Ana and her husband own GONCALVES SURFCAMP. Together they have made a great team. Ana is the manager, Marcos with his crew teach this awesome sport to people of all ages and places. This experience by far has been very fulfilling to her, "A family that works together, grows and stays together".

On her free time she loves being at the beach with her family, reading a good book, being with friends or paddle boarding. She also practices pilates and yoga.

It has been 14 years since Ana and her family moved to Salinas. Everything has been beautiful, the beaches, the climate, the people, etc. Salinas isn't just a winter vacation town; people from around the world come just for a quick trip and end up living there forever. As she did :)

As the Office Director at EcuaAssist Manta, you'll find Romina at the heart of every operation, blending a passion for customer service with a genuine love for people and pets alike. With a background in environmental engineering, she brings a unique perspective to her role, approaching challenges with a holistic mindset and a keen eye for detail. Beyond her professional expertise, Romina is known for her friendly demeanor and approachable nature, making clients and colleagues feel at ease from the moment they walk through the door. She always ensure that every task is completed with precision and care.

But it's not just her dedication to the job that sets Romina apart—it's also her sense of humor and their love for dogs, cats, and nature. Whether lighten the mood in the office or spending their weekends in the great outdoors, Romina brings a sense of joy and positivity to everything she does. And when they're not busy advocating for clients or caring for their furry friends, you'll often find her at the beach participating in environmental clean-up efforts.

In her role as Office Director, Romina is more than just a leader—she is a mentor, a friend, and a source of inspiration for everyone around her. Her workaholic nature drives her to constantly push the boundaries of excellence, but she never lose sight of what's truly important: making meaningful connections, both with people and with the world around her. With Romina at the helm, EcuaAssist isn't just a place of business—it's a community where empathy, compassion, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of life converge to create something truly special.

Serena Macías

Office Director - Quito

Specializes in Due Diligen, Research,

Public Relations and corporate clients

Danna Encalada

Office Director - Cuenca

Specializes in Research and Statistical Analysis

Danna Encalada - Cuenca Office Director.

Serena was born in Manta- Ecuador. She spent her teenage years in the US where she studied high school and got an Associate Degree in Accounting. She moved back to Manta and starting immediately working as a translator at a law firm. Because of her schedule, Serena left work and focused in school. In 2014, she started working for EcuaAssist and as an ESL teacher at the University in Manta. Serena stayed in EcuaAssist for 3 years. She moved to Quito to work on her thesis. She worked at a camp in Pastaza with students from the UK who came to Ecuador to do volunteer work. After an unfortunate event in her family, Serena and her mom decided to travel to different countries for a few months.

Thanks to her favorite sport, which is swimming, she could go back to her old life step by step. In December of 2017, she graduated and got a degree in Economics. In 2018, Serena started working in Zamora Chinchipe Province at a Canadian Mine, she was in charge of the Maintenance Department personnel, and hour meters of surface and underground machinery. This was a completely enriching experience for her, where she met great people and made many friends. Life at work was completely different to what she was used to, working 14/14 shifts. Serena got married in 2019, and because of being homesick during all her shifts, she decides to change jobs to a Hospital in Guayaquil to be close to her loved ones. In February 2020, Serena moved back to Quito and came back to EcuaAssist to work as Office Director.

She has 5 pets: 3 jack Russell’s, 1 stray dog and her little cocker Spaniel. She is currently looking around for a good swimming pool to do what she loves the most, swimming! Serena’s priority is to get settled in Quito completely and a year from who knows, a baby maybe.

Danna Encalada was born in Loja, however, she has lived with her family in Cuenca since the early age of 3. Although she loves Cuenca, she never forgets her hometown where part of her family still lives. That is why she travels to Loja to visit them whenever she has an opportunity.

Danna holds a BA in International Studies from the Universidad del Azuay in Cuenca. In addition, in 2008 she obtained her English Degree Certificate at the CEDEI institute and in 2012 she obtained her French Degree Certificate at the University of Cuenca.

From 2010 to 2013 she was a founding member, active member and secretary of the Trade and International Business Club (CCYNIUDA) at the Universidad del Azuay.

Also, in 2012 she was part of the English Education program in communities, and from 2011 to 2012 she was a columnist and area coordinator for the Matices Journal at the Universidad del Azuay.

For Danna, the most important thing in life is her family, and because she has a child, her greatest challenge has been to educate her son with great empathy and a deep sense of justice and responsibility. In her free time, for Danna there is nothing better than reading a good book with a steaming cup of coffee while sharing and enjoying life with her loved ones.

Emilio is originally from Bahía de Caráquez and is known to everyone there as “Vientito”, or little wind in English. There is some speculation about where this nickname name comes from; most people say it is because as a child he was so thin they thought even a little wind would blow him away

Now that he’s older, that name can be applied differently as he is the best at getting a variety of jobs done quickly, “like the wind”. Emilio is known as a star athlete of EcuaVolley and he was part of the team representing the province of Manabi.

He graduated from High school in Bahia and has since been working in a variety of jobs and is well known for his ability to be a good mediator, his honesty and his work ethic, qualities that have contributed to the spirit and operation of the Bahia EcuaAssist office.

Juan Carlos Busten

Office Assistant - Bahía

Jamie Muentes

Office Assistant - Manta

Customer Service

Fernando Calderon

Office Assistant - Manta

Fernando was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and raised in Manta. When he was 14 years old he started working part-time at a printing press with one of his uncles.

He graduated from high school in Manta and has since been working in a variety of jobs, including in the dining facility of the American military base, and in the dining facility of the German NATO camp in Afghanistan. After this, he returned to be with his family in Ecuador.

He loves music, enjoys good movies, likes to walk on the beach, and thinks life is unique and must be enjoyed.

Melina Encalada

Office Assistant - Salinas

Specializes in Translations and market research

Jamie is a passionate soul born in Manta back in 2001. Having graduated in accounting and auditing in 2023, Jamie's real strength lies in human connections.

Known as the number one addict for romantic comedies, Jamie is the go-to planner for adventures with friends. When not exploring new destinations, there is a genuine appreciation for cozy moments with family, who are regarded as Jamie's greatest treasure.

Being a sea lover, Jamie enjoys going to the beach, finding solace not just for relaxation but also for creating indelible memories with loved ones.

In the professional realm, connecting with clients and collaborating with colleagues isn't merely about business for Jamie; it's about building relationships and fostering an environment where everyone contributes to shared success. At EcuaAssist, the team isn't just a group of coworkers; they're a family, and that, to Jamie, is the secret sauce behind their prosperity.

Romina, was born and raised and Manta, where she has lived her entire life. Romina graduated from high school when she was 17 years old, since then she had had different jobs seeking to improve her skills, get new knowledge and experience.

Romina is studying Environmental Engineer at Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí. She is in love with nature, animals (especially dogs), She likes to travel, music, go to the movies, spend time with her family and friends and learn new languages.

Romina likes to take photos of everything, as the best way to preserve memories in time.

Betsy Prado

Office Assitant - Cuenca

Market Research and Customer Service

María Rodriguez

Manta office

Maintenance and General Services -

Marisol was born and raised in Bahía de Caráquez. She has a degree as a certified public accountant, with vast experience in accounting, taxes, financial reporting, personnel management, portfolio compiling, and digital media. A positive, responsible, proactive, and serious person with good human resources management, Marisol loves collaborating with others and looks forward to contributing her knowledge and experience with EcuaAssist.

The most important things to her in life are her children, parents, husband, and grandparents. Her free time is spent sharing and enjoying with these wonderful people. She also loves to read and watch movies.

Maria was born in Tumaco Nariño, Colombia. She has been working since she was 10 years old. Her first job was as a housemaid, but, she was treated like part of the family. At the age of 13, she moved to Cali and worked as a cook in a factory. 5 years later, she went back to her hometown.

Maria got married at 18 and had 4 children. in 2005, Maria and her family moved to Manta-Ecuador and since then, she has been working so hard to give the best to her children.

She became part of our team on April 1st, 2014. She currently has two jobs and helps us not only with office cleaning but many errands outside the office.

During her free time (Sundays only), she goes to church and spends time with her family.

Maria enjoys going to the beach with her children. Her favorite hobby is dancing... especially salsa, as the good Colombian she is.

EcuaAssist had never met such a hardworking woman, who puts her family first rather than her own well-being.

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