L. Ronald Scheman

L. Ronald Scheman is the Director General of the recently created Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development.

Mr. Scheman, who has worked extensively in inter-American affairs, served as Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) from 1993 to 1999. His relationship with the Organization of American States began in the 1960s as a staff member of the Department of Legal Affairs. He later served as a Planning Specialist during the administration of Galo Plaza from 1968 to 1970. Five years later he became Assistant Secretary of Management, a post he held for 9 years during the administration of Alejandro Orfila.

In the academic field, Mr. Scheman played a leading role in creating new patterns of financial and technical to small businesses and low income communities. This concept evolved into the creation of the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), of which Mr. Scheman served as Executive Director from 1964-1968. He also served as board member from 1968 to 1993 and president of the board from 1977 to 1982.

In addition to having held important posts in the private sector, Mr. Scheman has authored several books, including The Inter-American Dilemma (1988) and The Alliance for Progress in Retrospect (1989). He is also the author of numerous articles and editorials in different international publications.

The Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development was created in January of this year in order to formulate strategies, attract external resources and promote the development of the member states of the OAS. Ron Scheman was U.S. Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank from late 1993 until April 1998. He has more than 40 years of experience working throughout the Western Hemisphere.

 Significant Representation:

- Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December, 1993, as President Clinton’s appointee to serve as Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank, where he was instrumental in raising the bank’s capital base to $101 billion. President Clinton also appointed him to represent the United States on the Board of the Inter-American Investment Corporation, for private sector lending and equity investment.
- Led efforts to develop Inter-American Development Bank programs for direct private sector lending without government guarantees, venture capital funds for small and medium enterprise, and to expand bank programs to address the modernization of the state.
- Served as an advisor to the Latin American Integration Association on its restructuring.
- President of Porter International Co., where he advised numerous Latin American governments and corporations on financial and public affairs.
- Served in the Organization of American States as Assistant Secretary for Management (1975-83); as planning officer (1968-70); and as a member of the Department of Legal Affairs (1961-64).

- President of the Uruguayan-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA 1999-2000.
- Served as the first U.S. staff member to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
- Founded the Pan American Development Foundation in 1964, where he pioneered programs in micro-enterprise lending.
- Founding Executive Director of the Center for the Advanced Studies of the Americas.
- Adjunct Professor in international relations at George Washington University.

 Proffessional and Community Involvement

- Washington Foreign Law Society, Former President
- American Foreign Law Association, former Vice President
- From 1990 to 1993, President of the Fund for Democracy and Development, with former President Nixon and Vice-President Mondale, the major U.S. program to provide humanitarian assistance to the nations of the former Soviet Union.
- Chairman, Board Directors, Museum of the Americas Foundation.
- Advisory Board, Council of the Americas.
- Board of Directors, Greater America Business Coalition and the Caribbean-Latin America Action Committee.
- Trustee, Federal City Council of Washington, D.C.
- Recipient, Order of Bernardo O’Higgins, Government of Chile, for outstanding work to assist in earthquake relief
- Recipient of decoration from the Government of Russia for humanitarian relief efforts
- Served on the Boards of the Pan American Development Foundation, the Inter-American Bar Foundation, the Inter-American Management Education Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation for Electoral Systems, the Americas Fund for Independent Universities, and Big Brothers

 Articles, Publications & Lectures

- The Alliance for Progress in Retrospect, 1989
- The Inter-American Dilemma, 1988
- The Foundations of Freedom, 1965
- Numerous journal and op-ed pieces on U.S.-Latin American relations

 Education

- J.D., Yale Law School
- B.A., with distinction, Dartmouth College; Rufus Choate Scholar; Member of Phi Beta Kappa

 Admitted to Practice

- District of Columbia
- New York

 Languages

- Spanish
- Portuguese

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