Ramón Calá
Ramón A. Calá – established The CALPRO Group (TCG) in 1997. TCG was founded to provide event planning, management, marketing & entertainment services for Conferences, Conventions, Tradeshows and all Special Event programs. Ramon currently co-partners TCG with his brother, Socrates A. Calá. Ramón’s experience extends back into the early 1980’s, while as a high school student, he had the chance to work as an event assistant for the Newport Cool Jazz Festival in New York City. There is where he developed his profound interest in special event planning and the hospitality industry. Upon graduation from Power Memorial Academy in New York City, Ramon traveled upstate where he began his college education at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. While studying at Cornell, Ramon honed his skills by serving as an intern at the then world famous Windows of the World restaurant and the Observation Deck of the World Trade Center, as well as the Helmsley Palace in NYC and several local New York City restaurants located along Restaurant Row. Following the successful completion of Cornell’s rigorous School of Hotel & Restaurant Administration program, Ramon received his Bachelor of Science Degree, in May of 1989. After college his travels led him to Washington, DC where he set sail for his professional hospitality career with the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. There he served as a Food & Beverage Manager. Having experienced first hand the hospitality industry, Ramon decided to pursue alternate career opportunities which ultimately led him to the Washington Convention Center, as an Account Executive in the operations department where he planned meetings, conferences, conventions, expositions, concerts and all types of special events. Shortly there after, he was promoted to the Sales Department and became a Sales Manager. While at the Washington Convention Center, Ramon attended OGLEBAY - School for Public Assembly Facility Management, a hospitality management program sponsored by the International Association of Auditorium Managers located in Wheeling, WV.
Realizing that to move up sometimes means having to move out, Ramon indeed moved on and accepted an offer to sell/promote the island of Puerto Rico. In his new role at the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, Ramon served as co-developer of the Bureaus’ Group Travel Industry Partnership. Here he was given the opportunity to travel the country, as well as make numerous visits to the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico and present the many benefits and services that the Bureau had to offer. After 2 years with the Bureau, Ramon got the “Entrepreneurial Itch” and decided to follow his heart and start his own company. With the support of his previous meetings and association clients, he started “The CALPRO Group”, a full service Special Events/Destination Management & Marketing Company. Ramon continues to provide approximately 25 years of experience and service in the hospitality, convention/conference, and special events planning industry. His areas of expertise include: Convention & Conference Management, Exhibits and Tradeshow Management, Marketing Consultation, On-site Meetings & Exhibition Floor Management, Promotions & Advertisement Consultation, Site/Venue Selection & Negotiation, Special Events Management, Food & Beverage Events Management, Exhibit Display Management, Project Management, Event Concept Development, Brochure/Program Development, and Safety & Security Management, among many other services. His many years of experience also include operational and logistical management with: Convention Centers, Convention Bureaus & Tourism Corporations, Hotels & Restaurants, Decoration Companies (General Contractors), Security Companies, Audio/Visual Companies, Special Event Venues, Corporations & Associations (Show Management) and many contractors & vendors.
Ramon has provided consultation to governmental and educational institutions, public service agencies, as well as private firms and corporations. He has served as liaison to legislative and local officials for press and media related outreach coverage and has assisted with the development and implementation of several community and social service programs. Ramon lends his experience to various professional groups and organizations such as the Washington Convention & Tourism Corporation, the Hotel Association of Washington, DC, the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals, the Greater Washington IBERO/American Chamber of Commerce, the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Network of Latino Meeting Professionals. Ramon is active in many civic organizations where his philanthropic efforts are exercised. He believes in giving back to the communities that have helped mold and shape his character. His travels have allowed him the opportunity to work in various Convention Centers and meeting planning facilities throughout the country. Ramon is bilingual and is fluent in speech, writing and reading in Spanish and English.
Ramon aims to provide quality and personal attention to all his clients’ needs by assisting them with every detail and aspect of their event. Whatever the size, venue or length of event, the management team at TCG will personally oversee it, to ensure its success.
TCG’s motto is: "YOUR VISION IS OUR CREATION".