about

Bio Jorge R. González – Producer and Host of “Reflections” on Allegro WIPR 91.3 FM, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Program Description

I have produced and hosted the weekly hourly program “Reflections” on Allegro WIPR 91.3 FM since September 2021 that airs at 6 pm on Thursday and is repeated at 8 am on Friday [Program Summary]. 

JRG NOTE: not sure is we should use link to the program summary, repeat the summary here as set out below, or provide something else on the program]

Something significant that I see, read or experience will evoke analysis and reflections based on my relatively long (80 in April 2024), intensive and varied past with a message for our wellbeing. My goal is for us to continue working on our wellbeing. With few exceptions, I avoid political and religious topics that can be divisive, and concentrate on providing an uplifting, positive program.   

My previous radio experience was producing and hosting two hourly weekly radio programs for a number of years on Radio WOSO 1030 AM until it ceased operations. One was on business transitions in which I interviewed businesspersons in order to understand their past and future challenges and goals; the other was a call in program co-hosted with Carlos Suarez in which we discussed in depth areas relating to Puerto Rico’s economic development.        

Legal and Business Experience

My initial legal practice was with McConnell Valdés where I worked the two summers of law school and then full time after graduation from law school. I retired as Capital Member from McConnell Valdes on May 31, 2011 at the age of 67 in line with the firm’s mandatory retirement policy, thus ending 42 fruitful years of law practice and involvement on the executive and policy committees. I initially started in the tax department and after two years moved to the litigation department for approximately 2 years. With experience in taxes and litigation I transferred to the corporate department in which my practice was intense and varied in the areas of commercial contracts, real estate, government contracts, mergers and acquisitions, international trade, franchising and distribution, tax exemption/IRS Section 936, and mediation.

My greatest satisfaction as an attorney for a client or as neutral mediator has been helping negotiate and document a mutually satisfactory settlement and agreement. I took my first mediation course in 1992 sponsored by our law firm as part of the Lex Mundi College of Mediators in what I believe was the first course on the subject for practicing lawyers. I have continued to take courses in the negotiation and mediation area, including courses sponsored by Harvard and Pepperdine Law Schools as well as the course given by Attorney Daniel Nina at Sagrado Corazon University. 

For 6 years commencing in January of 2008, I taught a one week seminar at the University of Puerto Rico Law School on “The Effective Lawyer – Beyond Legal Expertise” emphasizing the need for lawyers to be responsive and persuasive with exercises in verbal presentations, writing, negotiation and mediation.  I have given Seminars on Effective Persuasion and Negotiation to private company employees and the general public through organizations as the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce. 

Since the early ‘80’s, I have served on the Boards of numerous family companies operating dairy farms (Altamira, Borinquen and Elena), milk pasteurizing and ice cream plants (Caparra Dairy and Caparra Milk Products), industrial gases and related products distribution (GP Industries), and commercial real estate entities managed by Empresas Caparra including those having properties in San Patricio Village, comprising of approximately 20 sites, such as San Patricio Plaza, Galería San Patricio and T-Mobile Center.  I am an honorary member of the Board of Anglo Holdings, Inc., owner of Anglo Puerto Rico Insurance and Antilles Insurance as well as Ochoa Realty, Inc. 

I majored in Latin American Studies via the Spanish Department at Harvard (my senior thesis was on the Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes) and have maintained great interest in legal and business developments internationally with Board positions from the early ‘80’s in United Way International and Caribbean Latin American Action.  From 1991 to 1995 I was a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Lex Mundi during its initial years, and which today is an organization composed of over 165 independent law firms throughout the world.  In 2002-3 I served as the first Chairman of World Services Group, a global multi-disciplinary association of independent service providers.  

I have also been involved in fomenting Puerto Rico’s export of products and services.  In 1994 I co-founded the International Trade and Services Association that I presided from the beginning until its termination in approximately 2011 when I retired from McConnell Valdés. From 1994 to 1996 I chaired the International Trade Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and in June of 1995 I received the Exporter of the Year Award. 

Civic Experience

In the early ’70’s I joined the Board of the YMCA of San Juan whose major project was its relocation from Old San Juan to its modern facilities in Santurce. From there I went on to chair the United Way of Puerto Rico from 1984 to 1988 taking it from its rented offices to its new facilities contiguous to the YMCA. From 2004 to 2007 I chaired the American Red Cross – Puerto Rico Chapter and from 2009 to 2023 I have chaired the Puerto Rico Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America.

I have been active in Rotary since the mid-1990’s.  In fiscal year 2014-15 I was president of San Juan Rotary, which I will again preside in 2024-25. In San Juan Rotary I helped develop the Proyecto Rotario PRoPaz that has been adopted in 2023 as the emblematic project of Puerto Rico Rotary District 7000 with me as coordinator. I was named Rotarian of the year by San Juan Rotary for the three e fiscal years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.

I am presently Trustee, Secretary and Director of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court Foundation and head its Civics Committee. 

I co-founded and helped organize the Coalición Comunidad San Patricio, Inc, (“CoSPI”) in 2014 serving on the Board and as Vice President until December 2020 when I became President. CoSPI is a community based non-profit with the goal of improving the quality of life of those residing and working in the San Patricio Community of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. 

I am an active member of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.  

I have received various awards for my civic involvement, including the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award in 1987, the United Way of Puerto Rico Rafael Fábregas award in 1993, and the United Way/Alexis de Tocqueville Society award in 2009. 

Academic, Sports, Hobbies and Family Background  

I am an honors graduate of Phillips Andover Academy, Harvard College and Harvard Law School. At Andover I was awarded the Keyes Prize as the outstanding Lower Middler {sophomore] in academics, leadership, character and athletiecs and the Shweppes Prize as a senior for cooperation and friendliness.I now prize more the Shweppes Prize.  

Sports have always been important to me. I was on the Andover varsity teams in football, ice hockey and baseball from my sophomore year. At Harvard at concentrated on ice hockey and was on the varsity from my sophomore year. 

I now enjoy golf, jogging, bicycling, boating, horseback riding, swimming, scuba diving, skating, hiking, and snow skiing. In both 2015 and 2016 I came within the top 5 in my age group in the Puerto Rico Half Ironman and in 2019 competed in the Tupper Lake Tinman. My principal hobbies are traveling, photography and classical music.

My wife and I are presently developing an agroecotourism project on two farms totaling approximately 125 acres in Cayey that were part of the farm purchased in 1911 by my wife’s great grandparents Jorge Bauermeister of Hildesheim, Germany and Asbilda Sureda of Utuado, Puerto Rico.  

I married Eva Luz (Pinky) Picó after graduating from Harvard College in 1966 and we have 4 children – Eva María (Evy) ‘67, Jorge Luis ’70, Jeannette Marie (Janie) ’73 and Maria Alexandra ‘’89 – and 9 grandchildren (the youngest, Marisabel, born on March 10, 2021).  

December, 2023