Juan J. Brea

Juan Brea is a Co-founder and Principal of Avance Global Advisors, a strategic advisory and fractional leadership firm specializing in AI transformation, operational efficiency, and capital access strategy for nonprofits and growth-stage businesses. He also serves as a Business Counselor with the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at William Paterson University. With 38+ years of executive leadership, he pairs executive breadth with operational depth, having served as COO or C-suite leader across industries including healthcare, hospitality, consumer goods, and legal services.

Juan's career spans founding and scaling companies, leading turnarounds, and driving enterprise-wide transformation. He directed the $40M development of Gulliver's Gate in Times Square, scaled HealthCorps from $3M to $10M in revenue, co-founded a social networking startup that raised $2M+, and built a national orthodontic brand with operations across Latin America. Earlier in his career, he rose from File Clerk to Global Director at American Express, earning the President's Club Award for top 1% performance. Before entering the business world, Juan served as a Medic in the U.S. Army Reserves — an experience that instilled the discipline, composure under pressure, and mission-driven mindset that define his leadership approach today.

Juan advises executives and organizations navigating AI adoption, operational modernization, and sustainable growth, including as a fractional COO. He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship & Finance from Baruch College and a BA in Psychology & Economics from NYU, and is known for his process-first philosophy, structured thinking, and ability to translate complex challenges into executable strategy.