Antonio Romano
Entrepreneur, Mechanical Engineer, B.A. Economics
Founder, President - Financing, Acquisitions
and Dispositions
Bio
A professional in Mechanical Engineering (1977) and bachelor
in Economics (’80), Romano also holds an academic extension
degree in Public Transportation (’86).
Antonio started as a Field Engineer at Ford Motor Company
in Brazil (1977-80), leaving to pursue an entrepreneurial
career. From 1980 to 1984, he worked as a business consultant
for the Public Transportation industry as an appraiser, broker
and fleet management expert, amassing considerable know-how
and capital.
From 1984 to 1996, Romano acquired and disposed of several
businesses, including twelve transportation companies. Among
those companies which he owned and operated as sole proprietor
in Brazil are:
• Viação Itú -
City bus company in Itú, State of São Paulo
(SP), with 260 employees which carried 1.6 million pax/mo.
• Empresa Guaratuba - Intercity and interstate public
transporter reaching 6.310 pax-kilometer (±3.910 pax-mile)
• Viação Esplanada - Charter buses, with
150 motor coaches in the City of São Paulo and 700
scheduled daily routes.
• Locarauto Rent-A-Car – The 4th largest vehicle
rental company in the Country, with 28 branches including
18 airports, either corporate operated or franchised.
• Saturno Chocolate Factory – The second oldest
traditional chocolate manufacturer in Brazil, with 280 employees
and a 20,000 sq. ft. factory in Blumenau, Santa Catarina State.
Antonio Romano’s know-how in freight operations was
acquired as the owner of Distribuidora Pentágono Ltda.,
a distribution company with sales in excess of $12 million
/year over his administration.
In the late 90’s Antonio was invited to acquire TRANSBRASIL
Airlines with a 26 airplane fleet, including two 767’s
which operated the Orlando-São Paulo-Rio de Janeiro
route. In the early 90’s, he had already received an
offer from the Uruguayan government to purchase PLUNA SPA,
the international airline connecting Uruguay to Argentina,
Brazil and Europe. Another potential deal included CATA, a
domestic Argentinean airline.
Antonio Romano, now an American citizen, first moved to
the Unites States in 1996. In Florida he opened and operated
a few small businesses, including Native (passenger) Transportation
Company. In 2000 he was hired as the owner’s local representative
and property director of Sandy Lake Towers, a $30 million
/ 460,000 sq. ft. hotel development on Carrier Drive &
Universal Boulevard near International Drive.
After two years working as a business and real estate development
consultant, the multi-talented entrepreneur acquired his Realtor
license in 2005 and has been creating business opportunities
and directing commercial real estate developments since then.
Romano lives in Orlando with his wife, close to his three
kids and two grandchildren.
His hobbies include playing tennis, going to the beach and
traveling to Europe. Since 2012 he has been contributing with the Brazilian community newspaper Nossa Gente. Check out his articles on real estate and inverstments here.