Prior to establishing The Plaza Group in 1994, Velarde spent 13 years in commercial management and market development with a focus on the intermediate and solvents business at Shell Chemical and Texaco Chemical. 

In 1999, Velarde was appointed by former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, to serve on the National Petroleum Council. Velarde currently serves on the University of New Mexico Department of Engineering Board of Visitors and the Board of the St. Thomas University in Houston. He previously served on the Advisory Council of Baldwin-Wallace Graduate School. Velarde has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by Hispanic Business magazine and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

 

Mentorship and corporate and community responsibility are priorities for Velarde, who has served as a mentor in Spring Branch ISD in Houston and at the University of Houston, College of Entrepreneurship. He has served in the Business Development Board of Sterling Bank, Young Entrepreneurs Organization and Houston Minority Business Council, is a partner and Board member in the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Director in the Heathlake Community Board and a Corporate Partner of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility. 

 

Velarde is an expert in the sales, marketing and supply chain management of refining and petrochemical commodities. He recently spoke at the 2008 National Petrochemical and Refiners Association convention and has been used as an industry source by Chemical Week, Chemical & Engineering News, Chemical Market Reporter, Hydrocarbon Processing and Hispanic Business magazine. 

 

Velarde received a Master of Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of New Mexico. He resides in Houston, Texas with his wife, Vicki and their four children, Garrett, Vincent, Jaclyn and Diana.