Podcast with Carlos Villalobos and Tania Kaimowitz Rodríguez

Passing on the Regional Director’s torch

For over 16 years, Carlos Villalobos has led FLOCERT's operations in the Americas from San José, Costa Rica, leaving a lasting mark through his knowledge, relationships, and calm leadership. With his retirement in March 2026, Tania Kaimowitz Rodríguez will take over as Regional Director Americas on January 1st. In our latest podcast, Carlos and Tania talk about the transition, share their experiences, and their plans. Listen in!

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Find out more about this episode's guest!

Carlos Villalobos has led FLOCERT's operations in the Americas since 2009, based in San José, Costa Rica. Over more than 16 years, he expanded responsibilities from Central America and the Caribbean to South America, the United States and Canada, overseeing certification across the entire region. An agronomist engineer from the University of Costa Rica, Carlos also holds MBAs in Quality & Productivity and Finance from the Technological Institute of Costa Rica. His career spans leadership roles in banana production, cut flowers and horticulture, including serving as General Manager at BALL Horticultural before joining FLOCERT. Born in Golfito, Puntarenas province, Carlos is married, father of three daughters, and grandfather of a lovely granddaughter.

Tania Kaimowitz Rodríguez is Certification Manager for the Americas at FLOCERT and will become Regional Director in 2026. In her current role, she oversees certification evaluations and decisions, manages part of the Americas team and a portfolio of customers, and contributes to process optimisation whilst fostering a positive work environment. Before joining FLOCERT in 2021, Tania worked with social and environmental NGOs and co‑directed a public‑private partnership in education. She holds a bachelor's degree in Science, Technology and International Affairs from Georgetown University and an MBA from INCAE Business School. Tania considers herself a citizen of the world — born in Nicaragua to parents from the USA and Mexico, naturalised in Costa Rica, and raised across Indonesia, Senegal, the Netherlands, and Costa Rica. She enjoys dancing, reading, exploring nature, playing team sports, and spending time in good‑hearted company.