Nela - 100% natural, unrefined & unprocessed panela sugar

Ravi Chhatani

Chief Executive Officer

Nationality: Peruvian/American

Born and raised in Lima, Peru to an Peruvian/Indian family, Ravi came to the U.S in 2006 and randomly ended up in Baltimore, Maryland. After some time in the finance world, he started travelling the world and working with small businesses to help them improve their finances. Ravi loves to dive, surf and paraglide. He loves his morning cup of coffee with panela!

Countries Visited: Canada, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay,
Brazil, Bolivia, U.K, Russia, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore

Rogério Marques

Chief Marketing Officer

Nationality: Brazilian

rogerio@nelanature.com

Rogerio was born in the busy city of São Paulo, Brazil and has worked for over 20 years in the graphic design industry for many large companies, yet Nela has fulfilled his dream of working for himself. After living in England for 4 years and meeting his wife, Paula, Rogerio moved back to São Paulo and had his first son, Pedro. Life took an unexpected turn, and he ended up in Baltimore where he met Ravi and Dan. Together, the team dreamed about bringing panela to the U.S. and now the dream has come true. Outside of Nela, he spends his free time playing the guitar and hanging out with Paula and Pedro.

Countries Visited: Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, England, Scotland, France, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Uganda, USA

Dan Smith

Chief Information Officer

Nationality: American

dan@nelanature.com

Dan’s just American (a native Baltimorean at that, go Ravens!), but LOVES panela in a chocolate chip cookie or in his espresso. He’s an experienced technologist, communications professional and designer. By popular demand, he is again growing out the Tarzan-style hair pictured here.

Countries Visited: Cambodia, Canada, China, Honduras, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil

Natalia Welch

Chief Operations Officer

Nationality: Colombian/English

natalia@nelanature.com

Natalia is Colombian and truly passionate about panela. She moved to tropical England in 2010 to study English, begin a master’s degree in international criminology (while learning to appreciate ale and complaining about the weather). Years later, after desperately missing panela, she decided to bring the taste of Colombia to Europe. Now, she works hard to enable people to have the sweets and treats that they love, in a natural and healthier way.

Nancy Barboza

CAO (Chief Accounting Officer) & General Finance Counsel

Nationality: Salvadoran

nancy@nelanature.com

Nancy Barboza is Nela’s CAO (Chief Accounting Officer) & General Finance Counsel. Originally from El Salvador, Nancy is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park, and a member of ALPFA, the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting. She’s passionate about sustainability and of course, any chocolate made with Nela.

Sunny Chhatani

Chief of Staff

Nationality: Peruvian/American

sunny@nelanature.com

Sunny was born in Lima, Peru and came to the U.S when he was 10 years old. He has an economics degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. A soccer-player his whole life, he captained the varsity St.Mary’s soccer team. At Nela, Sunny serves as the chief of staff and takes care of all of the operational activities in the U.S. – don’t worry, he always stays well hydrated with agua panela lemonade!

Countries Visited: Peru, Germany, Netherlands, France, India

Rohan Piple

Social Media Director

Nationality: American / Indian

rohan@nelanature.com

Rohan was born to immigrant parents from India and Uganda and raised in the D.C. metro area.

A student athlete at Southern Vermont College, Rohan plays collegiate basketball and is pursuing a degree in Sports Management. In his free time, he’s usually watching movies playing or listening to music – or dominating on the basketball court (after drinking some panela, of course).

Meet the whole Nela team

MADE ON A FARM
NOT IN A FACTORY

NOW AVAILABLE

What is Panela?

Did you know...

The finest panela in the world

Add Panela to your favorite recipes

HARMONY, WISDOM & PASSION

Our Team

We are Nela^™

Ravi Chhatani

Chief Executive Officer

Nationality: Peruvian/American

Rogério Marques

Chief Marketing Officer

Nationality: Brazilian

Dan Smith

Chief Information Officer

Nationality: American

Natalia Welch

Chief Operations Officer

Nationality: Colombian/English

Nancy Barboza

CAO (Chief Accounting Officer) & General Finance Counsel

Nationality: Salvadoran

Sunny Chhatani

Chief of Staff

Nationality: Peruvian/American

Rohan Piple

Social Media Director

Nationality: American / Indian

Nela in Your Inbox

Main Content

MADE ON A FARM NOT IN A FACTORY

NOW AVAILABLE

What is Panela?

Did you know...

The finest panela in the world

Add Panela to your favorite recipes

HARMONY, WISDOM & PASSION

Our Team

We are Nela™

Ravi Chhatani

Chief Executive Officer

Nationality: Peruvian/American

Rogério Marques

Chief Marketing Officer

Nationality: Brazilian

Dan Smith

Chief Information Officer

Nationality: American

Natalia Welch

Chief Operations Officer

Nationality: Colombian/English

Nancy Barboza

CAO (Chief Accounting Officer) & General Finance Counsel

Nationality: Salvadoran

Sunny Chhatani

Chief of Staff

Nationality: Peruvian/American

Rohan Piple

Social Media Director

Nationality: American / Indian

Nela in Your Inbox

MADE ON A FARM
NOT IN A FACTORY

We are Nela^™