About the Presenter: Esther Luongo Psarakis

In her role as the Senior Market Linkages and AGOA Expert (African Growth & Opportunity Act) for USAID’s West Africa Trade and Investment Hub, Esther Luongo Psarakis assisted the successful market entry of partner companies into the US market. This expertise has been honed over 30 years. Creator of Foodpreneur®, a strategic sales/marketing and educational consultancy, she saw a need to better address the business needs of entrepreneurial food, beverage, consumer, and personal care companies. With international companies, ranging from Italy, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire, Tunisia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Jordan, Mexico, Australia and other countries, she has crafted effective sales/marketing strategies for US launch.

She is an advisor with the US Small Business Development Centers. Her strong skill set on mentoring, concept development, business plan and sales strategies and execution has been applied to a wide range of companies. Examples include extra virgin olive oil, olive products, bakery products, espresso coffee, cashews, cocoa, shea butter, spices, healthy frozen meals, baby food, ethnic foods, healthy beverages, popcorn, jams, dips, and vegan foods, toothpaste, oral care and natural skin care. One of her business plans was selected for publication in the “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Business Plans” As a coach and mentor with Rising Tide Capital, she has worked with numerous early-stage companies. She has created a special curriculum for food and consumer centric product launches for their clients.

Esther founded a Meetup group specifically focused on New Jersey’s Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs and Professionals creating networking and opportunities. Her TV Show, Foodpreneur-Tasty Tales Climbing Up & Down the Gourmet Food Chain had aired on Princeton TV. She is a founding member of the New Jersey Policy Think Tank for the Food Industry & Restaurants based at Montclair University. Esther has been a speaker/educator for organizations, including the US State Department, Specialty Food Association, Institute of Food Technologists, St. Joseph’s University, Rutgers University Food Innovation Center. She has been featured in The New York Times, New Jersey Monthly, USA Today. Awards include, NJSBDC Success Award, Somerset County Business Partnership Small Business Economic Vitality Award, BPeace VERA Award, NJ Association Women Business Owners Leading Women Entrepreneur, and Sam’s Club Emerging Women Entrepreneur.

Esther held leadership roles in international sales, strategic planning, training, and global account management with American Express and Citigroup. As an entrepreneur, Esther launched Taste of Crete, which imported Greek food products. She holds a Certificate in International Market Entry from the US Department of Commerce. She has a BA in Communications from Douglass College, Rutgers University and is a graduate of the Rutgers Graduate School of Business Entrepreneurial Pioneers Initiative Program. She has an MBA/ Master’s in Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University. From Cornell University she completed a Certification in Rethinking Retail and Brands and another Certification in Agrotech and Food Tech with Innovation Experience Israel 360. Esther is a life-long learner who seeks to stay on top of the latest developments that can be beneficial to the success of her clients.