Mario Maffei has spent more than four decades as chief executive officer and president of Verla International Ltd., a manufacturer of private-label cosmetics and a contract packaging and filling company. The company has expanded since its founding in 1980 and now manages more than 50 production lines for a range of products, including lotions, creams, and nail polish. Prior to launching the company, Mario Maffei served as vice-consul of Panama in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During this time, he became very familiar with the Panama Canal’s relationship to international commerce and was invited to serve on the advisory board for the Panama Canal alongside a group of distinguished advisors representing a range of industries.

Mr. Maffei is also quite interested in philanthropy. While managing his company, he has served as finance committee chair for the George Jackson Academy, a school that educated high-achieving boys regardless of their financial means. He also serves on the board of directors for the Global Cancer Institute, a nonprofit that strives to improve treatment for underserved cancer patients.