Juana Lopez recognized for cross-border trade leadership

Juana Lopez, an International Foods & Non-Foods Business Manager with ADW Acosta, is being recognized for helping companies navigate Mexico-U.S. trade, compliance and supply chain pressures. Her work centers on cleaner-label products, stronger supplier relationships and practical solutions for a more volatile global market.

Why it matters: - Juana Lopez works in a part of the economy where compliance, logistics and pricing can change whether products reach shelves. - Her focus on international trade, product compliance and supply chain strategy affects food and consumer goods sold across borders. - Lopez also represents women advancing in a field she describes as historically male-dominated.

What happened: - Influential Women recognized Juana Lopez for her work driving international business growth through trade leadership. - Lopez serves as an International Foods & Non-Foods Business Manager with ADW Acosta. - She is based in the San Diego Metropolitan Area and works across cross-border markets tied to Mexico. - Lopez has more than a decade of experience in sales, international trade and account management.

The details: - Lopez manages multimillion-dollar accounts and has overseen portfolios representing more than half of the Mexico region’s business. - Her account work has included relationships exceeding $17 million. - Her expertise includes international commerce, product compliance, supply chain strategy, account development and business optimization. - Lopez began her career building expertise in Mexico’s NOM compliance standards. - That work included product certification, labeling requirements and export readiness for food and non-food consumer goods. - Lopez earned her bachelor’s degree from the Autonomous University of Baja California in Tijuana. - She graduated at the top of her class and received a lifetime scholarship opportunity for graduate studies. - During college, Lopez joined an international program with The Walt Disney Company in Florida. - She says the experience strengthened her understanding of customer service, operations and global business practices. - Lopez also mentors team members and helps companies identify expansion opportunities. - Her work includes consulting on product viability, regulatory compliance and supply chain performance. - Lopez often handles difficult accounts because of her ability to work with manufacturers, buyers and business partners. - She promotes “Better For You” products and clean-label innovation. - Her responsibilities include presenting solutions to buyers, guiding manufacturers through product development and addressing tariff concerns and supply chain disruptions. - Lopez says honesty and integrity are central to her approach in international business. - She says transparency is necessary to determine whether products can be imported successfully into different markets. - She cited ingredients such as poppy seeds as an example of how small details can create regulatory issues in Mexico. - More information is available through Lopez’s Influential Women profile.

Between the lines: - Lopez’s career reflects a broader shift in cross-border commerce toward cleaner-label products, tighter compliance and more resilient sourcing. - Her emphasis on relationships suggests that in international trade, trust can matter as much as pricing and logistics. - Her comments on gender barriers point to continued pressure on women seeking leadership roles in trade and brokerage. - Her focus on tariffs, material shortages and freight disruptions shows how global politics now flow directly into consumer prices.

What's next: - Lopez expects international businesses to keep facing shortages, transportation disruptions and higher costs. - She says companies will need to explore more sustainable materials and natural fiber packaging. - She expects businesses to keep adapting to tariff pressure and other cost increases that reach consumers through the supply chain. - Lopez says essential commodities such as rice and beans should remain affordable even as market conditions tighten.

The bottom line: - Lopez’s recognition highlights how trade leaders now have to combine compliance, strategy and supply chain management to keep products moving and affordable.