Biographies
Jim Gale - jim@paradisebrokers.com
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Gale is co- founder and CEO of Paradise Brokers. Jim has spent over three years purchasing and managing property in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. He lives in San Isidro del General, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Prior to Jim founded Mortgage & Investment Consultants
mortgage company in 1999. By 2003, the company
had grown to 480 brokers and written loans
for over $1.3 billion dollars, at which time
he sold the company. Mr. Gale spends the majority
of his time in Costa Rica. Jim has lived throughout the world including Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, on a boat in the Bahamas, Minnesota and his favorite, Costa Rica. Jim was a 4x All-American and NCAA National Champion in wrestling while attending Minnesota State - Mankato (Div. II). He earned his B.A. from Minnesota State - Mankato. Click here for Jim's Costa Rican blogs.
Nick
Halverson - nick@paradisebrokers.com 
Chief Operating Officer
Learn more about Nick's professional background:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/costaricarealestate
Mr. Halverson is co-founder and COO of Paradise Brokers. He and Mr. Gale have known each other for over 20 years and between the two of them oversee all company operations. Nick
spent 10 years doing marketing work for several
businesses in international development (Australia,
New Zealand), investment banking and sports
marketing where he worked with clients such
as Wal-Mart, BP-Amoco, Kellogg’s and
Fujifilm. Nick earned his MBA from the Kelley
School of Business at Indiana University and
his BS in Applied Economics and Management
from Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
Read Nick's blogs
Duane Halverson - duane@paradisebrokers.com
Chairman of the Board
Mr. Halverson leads the company's business development and strategic planning. Duane spent over 30 years at Land O’Lakes,
Inc. holding Senior Management positions for
over 25 years and the last ten years as
Chief Operating Officer. He is also owner
of D. Halverson & Associates Management
Consulting firm and owns farmland and agribusinesses
throughout the upper Midwest. Duane has been a member of the Board of Directors for several organizations and companies including United Way, Unity Hospital (Fridley, MN) and CF Industries (Chicago, IL). Duane earned
his BS and MS from Iowa State University.
Click here to read Duane's blogs on his thoughts about and his trips to Costa Rica.
Ben Vaughn: Send Ben an e-mail 
Partner - Costa Rica Sales Associate
Mr. Vaughn has extensive knowledge of the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. He and his family moved down to San Isidro del General back in 1999. Over the past eight years Ben has started his own real estate company and several websites.
Jesse Angel: Send Jesse an e-mail
Partner - Costa Rica Sales Associate
Mr. Angel arrived in Costa Rica in 2005 after trading in his legal career for some 
adventure in the Costa Rican jungle. He joined Paradise Brokers as a Sales Associate in 2006. He holds a B.A. in Literaturefrom the University of Colorado, an M.F.A in Creative Writing from Naropa University, and a J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law. He currently lives in the Dominical/Uvita area with his wife and two children and enjoys reading, writing, hiking and spending time with his family.Recommendation from client: "Jesse and Paradisebrokers made the process of buying so simple. I explained the qualities I wanted in a dream home and how much I had to invest and within a day I was shown my dream property, within weeks it was mine...MINE!!! Now i can look forward to watching baby whales 400metres from my land.......thank you so much." Client: Teresa L.
Duncan Anderson -
Costa Rica Sales Associate - United States 
Mr. Anderson was born in Canada and has also lived Brazil, Hawaii, Chile and Australia. Duncan originally started his real estate
career in San Francisco, California in
2000 after teaching high school in Los Angeles for five years. He lived in Costa Rica for three years before moving his real estate business back to California. Duncan earned his B.A. from the University of C\aliforna - Santa Barabara.
Christina Avery
Costa Rica Sales Associate - United States
Ms. Avery has been selling real estate since 2000 and has her broker's license as an 
owner of the Realty Executives Top Producers office in Burnsville, MN. She worked in Human Resources, Inside Sales and Administration for a subsidiary of Dow Chemical for nine years prior to choosing to become a real estate professional. Based on her experience and personal investments in Costa Rica, she has been able to hold seminars, educate her contact sphere and the investors in her area on how to invest international real estate. "I have also been able assist people in the buying process and provide them with contacts to help them while visiting Costa Rica to buy their retirement home or investment property." Christina, has a degree in Business Management.
Kathy Breau
Costa Rica Sales Associate - United States
Mrs. Breau was born in Canada and later immigrated to the USA where she has run a successful Real Estate business for the last thirty years. She has been involved with real estate booms in New Mexico, Seattle and Florida. In each one of these locations she was fortunate to arrive during a "slump" market and leave after a booming market We also started investing in land in Costa Rica. "The day Larry and I set foot in Costa Rica I knew we had located another "sleeper" market and I couldn't wait to learn more about the country. After some research we decided the Soth Pacific area was where we wanted to be and we haven't looked back. Our plan is to be living in CR within the next 18 months and marvelling at the beautiful golf course community we'll be viewing
from our Tropical Sunset Estate home."
Larry Breau
Costa Rica Sales Associate - United States
Mr. Breau was born in Canada where he was a member of the Canadian Air Force (flew fighters in Canada and Europe). During this period he gained very useful experience as the President of two golf courses (Germany and Canada). He was involved in every aspect of the golf course including redesigning / rebuilding of golf holes, budgets and daily operations. Kathy and I naturally gravitated to Real Estate investing after we moved to Florida in 1992. As she would tell you - we could just "smell the profits to be made" because the market was fertile for rapid growth - just like Costa Rica today. The South Pacific region of Costa Rica "smells like profits to be made" and has greatly aroused our excitement in Real Estate development and investing. We can see the awesome potential of Real Estate ownership and investment in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica - can you? Larry is now a USA citizen and has a degree in Civil Engineering.
Wayne Byrd : Send Wayne an e-mail 
Costa Rica Sales Associate
Wayne E. Byrd is a classic successful entrepreneur. With business ownership experience in a wide variety of industries from banking, real estate, construction, real estate development and mail order.
He grew up in Minnesota, but moved to Arizona in the early 1980’s. In 1994 he moved to San Diego. He and his wife, Pam Fagelson, are holding seminars in Southern California to those interested in investing in Costa Rica. Wayne is also a partner in Worldwide Lending Group. They can provide loans for those looking to finance their purchase in Costa Rica. Wayne and Pam moved to the Dominical area of Cost Rica in July 2007 to live their dream. “We have traveled around Costa Rica and feel Dominical is the nicest area of the country.”
Lily Driver : Send Lily an e-mail 
Costa Rica Sales Associate - Speaks Spanish and English
Lily grew up in San Isidro del General, Perez Zeledon, just a short distance from the Paradise Brokers San Isidro office. At the age of eighteen she moved to Dominical to work at a local hotel where she met people from throughout the world. After several years in Dominical she moved to California and lived there for seven years and worked in real estate. Recently Lily decided to move back to Costa Rica and joined Paradise Brokers in 2007 where she will leverage her local knowledge, real estate experience and extensive network in California. She is extremely proud to be from Costa Rica due to the beauty and wonderful people and will be splitting her time between Costa Rica and California.
Pam Fagelson : 
North American Sales Associate/e-marketing
Pam was born and raised in Southern California and has been involved in the Real Estate industry since 1986. Pam prides herself on learning all about the Real Estate industry and keeps up to date on the newest and most efficient practices and procedures. She received her Real Estate license in 2002 and joined the Paradise Brokers team in 2007 after spending an incredible month in Costa Rica.
Jon Halverson -Send Jon an e-mail
North American & Costa Rica Sales Agent
Jon began his real estate career in early 2005 and completed CCCBR training in October 2006 in San Jose, Costa Rica.. He makes several trips a year to Costa Rica and assists in sales presentations in the United States. Jon is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota and is currently studying entrepreneurship at St. Paul College.
Joni & Scott Knee Send an e-mail
North American Sales Associates
Joni Reiman and Scott Knee (and their son Zach) have spent the last four years traveling
throughout Costa Rica researching investment opportunities and investing in Costa Rican real estate. They have watched the incredible growth in the development of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and have settled on the Dominical/Uvita area as their primary area of interest due to its incredible unspoiled beauty and the growth potential of real estate investment in the area. Joni and Scott deliver a unique buyer’s perspective, providing invaluable information on the diverse investment opportunities Costa Rica offers and the process involved in securing your piece of paradise.
Jordan Loesser
Costa Rica Sales Associate 
- Speaks Spanish and English
Jordan graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL with a Bachelors in Business Management and a concentration in International Marketing and the spanish language. Over the past 5 years Jordan has immersed himself in the Costa Rican culture and the business sector and is also happily married to his wife in San Isidro de Perez Zeledon. At home where the mountains meet the sea, Jordan has come to find the ultimate parallel to his studies, experience, and dreams and is more than glad to share the potential and beauty that Costa Rica offers
Ian Lynch : Send Ian an e-mail 
Costa Rican Sales Associate - Speaks Spanish and English
Mr. Lynch first came to Costa Rica to train in whitewater kayaking for his sponsor in Colorado. He immediately fell in love with the country and traded his career of buying/renovating/selling houses in Colorado for the 'Pura Vida' lifestyle. Ian has lived in the Dominical area for 4 years now, and knows the surrounding areas very well After purchasing his second property in Dominical in 2006 he started his real estate career and joined Paradise Brokers in 2007. Ian enjoys surfing, kayaking, exploring the many beautiful waterfalls of the area and spending time with his son and family. " I have found where I belong in life. A place that makes me a stronger, healthier person. A place that nurtures my heart and soul and strengthens every aspect of my mind and body. Allow me to share my passion for this area and help you find a place in paradise that you truly belong." Ian graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Business Administration.
Andrea Madriz -Send Andrea an e-mail 
Paraidise Rentals Coordinator/Concierge 
- Speaks Spanish & English
Andrea was born and raised in San Isidro del General. She spent several years in San Jose while earning her B.A. in Teaching English at Latin University of Costa Rica. During her time in university, she also helped manage her father's transportation business and took additional courses at the National University of Costa Rica to study Social and Economic Planing. Contact Andrea with any hotel, car rental or tour requests.
Rod Martin: 
Sales Associate (Uvita office)
Mr. Martin first visited Costa Rica in 2002 and immediately fell in love with the warmth of the climate and people. He was formally educated at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a B.A. in English and plans to publish his first book, a collection of stories inspired by his travels abroad in January. He has served as an officer in a start-up company, an international marketing manager and a certified Realtor® for the top real estate company in Santa Cruz, California. As a land owner and resident of Costa Rica's Southern Zone, he now looks to share his knowledge of this emerging area with those who want to purchase their own piece of paradise.
Jonathan Pehl : Send Jonathan an e-mail 
North American Sales Associate - Speaks Spanish and English
Mr. Pehl joined Paradise Brokers in 2007. In 2001, he moved to Costa Rica to study Spanish and explore all the natural wonders and surprises that the country offers. While there, he met his wife (a Costa Rican citizen), established his Costa Rican residency and naturally fell in love with the country. Jon currently lives in Boston, MA, with his wife and two children, where he markets Costa Rica real estate in the Northeast region of the United States and runs a Geothermal/Solar design and build firm. He returns to Costa Rica every high season to pursue the promoting of the country’s ecological diversity to folks who dream of paradise and living amongst its wonders. Mr. Pehl earned his degree from Emerson College, Boston, MA.
Eduardo Ramirez Send Eduardo an e-mail 
North American Sales Associate
Eduardo is a Salvadorian-American and real estate investor since 1993. He is a California Real Sales Person licensed since 2003 in good standing and valid until 2011. He serves the Sacramento area through OakTree Home &Loans. He also exports Solar Energy products to Central America. He can be reached at 877-277-6927
Kelly Reyes Schmidt Send Kelly an e-mail
North American Sales Associate
Kelly Reyes Schmidt is a Realtor residing in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. After Kelly
and her husband visited Costa Rica for the first time in 2006, it was evident they had found paradise! "We sought out developments in areas such as Hermosa, Playa del Coco, Ocotal, Coyote and Dominical." She has represented investors from the United States who have purchased real estate in both Guanacaste and the Osa/Puntarenas regions of Costa Rica.
Hannah Vaughn : Send Hannah an e-mail
Paraidise Rentals Coordinator/Concierge - Speaks Spanish & English 
Ms. Vaughn has spent the past seven years living in San Isidro del General, Costa Rica. She is originally from Colorado, but moved down with her family in 1999. She previously ran her own tour business where assisted visitors in their recreational plans. Hannah joined our team in early 2007.
Paradise Brokers real estate agents in front of the offices of hte Costa Rican Chamber of Real Estate Brokers. Pictured Jon Halverson, Duncan Anderson, Tina Salaverry, Nick Halverson and Juan Antonio Ferarro.
We also work with a slect group of real estate agents and brokers throughout the United States. Click here for more information.
We also own a van that will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel from Palmar Sur regional airport. 