The Trail Blazer behind Bella Dama Cigars.

Military Background: Mario is a retired Army Warrant Officer with operational experience in special operations and intelligence, participating in combat campaigns across the globe, including Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Balkans, Iraq, and many others.
Senior Government Roles: He served in high-ranking positions, such as the Director of the Department of Defense Counterintelligence HUMINT Center, managing espionage counterintelligence and efforts to safely recover U.S. nationals held hostage abroad.
Private Sector Expertise: Mario has provided personal and corporate security solutions for business leaders, diplomats, and ultra-high-net-worth families. He has also managed over 100 kidnap and high-risk crisis response events worldwide.
Advisory Roles: He has acted as a military and police academy advisor in various countries, including Honduras, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia, Panama, and Peru.
Educational Background: He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the State University of New York and a Certificate in Leadership and Emergency Disaster Management from Penn State University.

S5E124
1:26:39
June 25th 2024

Tonight, we had the immense pleasure of interviewing Chantel Leavitt, CEO of Bella Dama Cigars, a renowned premium cigar manufacturer and proud member of the Boutique Cigar Association. In this inspiring session, Chantel shares the story behind her business, the sources of her inspiration, and what drives her to craft some of the finest boutique cigars in the industry. Her journey and passion are truly remarkable, and we are thrilled to share this special interview with you. For more information, visit Bella Dama Cigars.

Protecting the Legacy

Sponsored by the Boutique Cigar Association of America (BCAA) With hosts Founder Dr. Gaby Kafie and President Armen Caprielian. For more information visit the BCAA at www.boutiquecigarassociation.com. If you are interested in being a guest on our podcast please send us an email.

(The views and opinions expressed on Protecting the Legacy are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Boutique Cigar Association of America (BCAA) or any of its member companies. The podcast is sponsored by BCAA, but the content and opinions expressed on the podcast are independent and separate from BCAA and its member companies.)

Support Us

Welcome to Protecting the Legacy, a podcast sponsored by the Boutique Cigar Association. Our Association was developed to create a unified voice for small family owned boutique cigar companies. Each week we will publish a new podcast to go over topics that affect each and every one of us.

For more information please take the time to visit our website www.boutiquecigarassociation.com