Strategic Trade SolutionsSTRATEGICTRADE SOLUTIONS

Physical commodity trading

Where trusted connections become successful trades.

Decades of experience, deep market insight, and a global network—working together to deliver secure, efficient commodity transactions.

Discuss an opportunity Explore our expertise
01 / ABOUT STS

Clarity. Discipline. Results.

Commodity trading, redefined.

With more than 20 years in global commodity markets, Strategic Trade Solutions brings seasoned judgment to the physical trading of crude oil, diesel, and agricultural products.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell commodities, you can trust STS to pursue results that are secure, efficient, and aligned with your goals.

Our team combines experience in logistics, finance, compliance, and trading strategy to guide each engagement from first contact through final delivery.

Executive leadership

Gisela De Jesús

Chief Executive Officer

Gisela De Jesús is the Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Trade Solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico and brings more than 25 years of experience in the commodities sector, with deep expertise in LNG and petroleum trading at the director and corporate levels.

Ms. De Jesús began her career at IBM and went on to hold senior operational roles at Caribe Trading Group, Olympus Oil & Gas, Venergy Group, and Tranasia Trading LLC. Known for translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies, she helps companies sharpen their business and marketing approach and achieve their goals.

Executive leadership

Merrick Donnelly

Senior Vice President

Merrick Donnelly is Senior Vice President of Strategic Trade Solutions. A seasoned executive and former Human Intelligence officer, he brings 18 years of experience in strategic analysis and high-stakes decision-making.

Mr. Donnelly is the former President of a leading manufacturing company, where he drove operational excellence and sustained growth. He is also an active entrepreneur, business investor, and real estate developer with a proven record in acquisitions, management, and global commodities trading.

His cross-sector leadership, tactical insight, and investment acumen offer a distinctive, high-impact perspective in the boardroom and in strategic advisory roles.

Executive leadership

Chase Hooker

Business Development Director

Mr. Chase Hooker is the Business Development Director for Strategic Trade Solutions. Mr. Hooker is a business development leader with more than 30 years of experience building markets, partnerships, and revenue across manufacturing, Oil & Gas, energy services, and enterprise software. He specializes in international sourcing, supply-chain development, and strategic partnerships.

He began his career in engineering and manufacturing, later held senior management roles within IBM's enterprise software consulting organization, and served in executive advisory and business development roles across the Oil & Gas and manufacturing sectors. He also helped drive the growth of an Oil & Gas manufacturing company through its 2011 acquisition by National Oilwell Varco (NOV).

As Director of Business Development, Mr. Hooker draws on a global network of relationships to help companies enter new markets, strengthen supply chains, and achieve sustainable revenue growth.

Built for confidence

Trust is not a promise.
It is our process.

We reduce friction, surface risk early, and tailor every transaction around the people and commercial objective involved.

01

Vetted buyers & sellers

We meticulously screen and verify every party, creating a trustworthy network that reduces uncertainty for buyers and sellers.

02

Compliance expertise

Our dedicated compliance team performs thorough due diligence throughout every transaction, identifying risks early and protecting valuable time.

03

Customized solutions

Every client and transaction is unique. We tailor our services and transaction strategy to the specific opportunity and desired outcome.

02 / MARKET EXPERTISE

What we trade

Three markets.
One disciplined standard.

Choose a commodity to explore how STS turns market knowledge, verified relationships, and precise coordination into practical execution.

Global energy markets

Global energy markets

Crude oil, structured around real market conditions.

We monitor industry benchmarks, production trends, and geopolitical developments—helping clients make informed, timely decisions. Vetted counterparties and disciplined trade structures support long-term reliability.

  • Industry benchmark monitoring
  • Vetted global counterparties
  • Market-aligned trade structures
03 / PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

From opportunity to execution

Developing projects with purpose and discipline.

Beyond commodity trading, Strategic Trade Solutions selectively evaluates promising project opportunities as they arise. We pursue opportunities where our experience, relationships, and execution capabilities can create meaningful and sustainable value.

Our network includes experienced professionals with the technical, commercial, and operational capacity to support projects from preliminary assessment and structuring through planning, coordination, and execution oversight.

01

Construction & Real Estate

Residential, commercial, mixed-use, and specialized developments supported by disciplined planning and experienced project personnel.

02

Housing & Hospitality

Housing communities, hotels, resorts, and destination concepts designed around market demand, operational viability, and long-term value.

03

Energy & Resources

Conventional and renewable energy opportunities, resource-related ventures, and the infrastructure required to support sustainable operations.

04

Infrastructure

Essential infrastructure and public- or private-sector initiatives that strengthen communities, industry, and regional economic activity.

05

Industrial & Logistics

Manufacturing facilities, modular construction systems, logistics networks, and supply-chain projects connecting strategic markets.

06

Special Opportunities

Other well-founded opportunities that demonstrate strong fundamentals, credible counterparties, and a clear path to responsible execution.

Selective by design.

Every opportunity is considered on its individual merits, with attention to feasibility, counterparty credibility, risk, market relevance, and alignment with STS capabilities and strategic partners.

04 / CAPITAL ADVISORY

Financing aligned with structure

Capital advisory, built on structure.

A strong opportunity still needs the right capital behind it. STS helps sponsors, developers, investors and property owners shape financeable transactions and bring them to the capital sources best suited to each one. We draw on a network of financing partners, including private lenders, debt funds, family offices and institutional capital providers.

01

Acquisition & Refinance

Capital to acquire or reposition commercial assets, and to refinance existing debt on stronger terms.

02

Bridge & Construction

Interim and construction financing for projects that need to move before permanent capital is in place.

03

Land & Development

Financing for land, entitlements and phased development, from housing communities to hospitality and mixed-use.

04

Recapitalization & Special Situations

Solutions for assets facing constraints, repositioning needs, distressed conditions or cross-border complexity.

05

Structured Capital Stack

Senior and subordinate debt, preferred equity, joint-venture equity or a blended structure, matched to the risk and exit of each transaction.

06

Across Asset Classes

Multifamily, hospitality, healthcare, industrial, mixed-use, residential and specialized or transitional assets.

Our approach

Structure comes first.

Assessed before it is presented.

Before any lender sees a request, we review ownership, sponsorship, budget, phasing, market support, legal and entitlement status, and the path to repayment or exit. We only take an opportunity to capital sources once a credible path exists.

Lender-ready, never scattered.

Each qualified opportunity is organized into a concise executive presentation, backed by an orderly due-diligence file. We don't send loose documents or incomplete packages to lenders broadly.

Advocates, not intermediaries.

We stay directly involved and handle every transaction in strict confidence. We remain engaged from the first review through closing, protecting the sponsor's relationships throughout.

Capital relationships across the United States, the Caribbean and select international markets.

A disciplined path

How a case moves forward

01

Initial review

We discuss the opportunity, the capital request and your objectives, and review the information already available.

02

Assessment & structuring

We evaluate sponsorship, budget, market support, legal status and exit, then define the most credible capital structure.

03

Lender-ready package

We prepare the executive presentation and organize the supporting due-diligence file.

04

Capital placement

We present the opportunity to selected financing partners and coordinate their questions and diligence requests.

05

Terms through closing

We help evaluate and negotiate term sheets, and stay involved through closing.

Financing terms and conditions

Financing terms and conditions depend on the merits of each case and are set in line with current market conditions, and remain subject to lender approval.

Capital advisory leadership

José Javier Pagán-Ortiz, CPA

CFO and Senior Advisor

José Javier brings 30 years of public accounting and advisory experience across Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland. A Certified Public Accountant licensed in Puerto Rico since 1996, he has led audit departments and advised on forensic accounting, insurance and construction claims, litigation support, and financial forecasting. Today he focuses on acquisition financing, capital stack design and transaction due diligence for buyers, sellers and investor groups. He holds a BBA in Accounting, cum laude, from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and works fluently in English and Spanish.

05 / PEOPLE & NETWORK

Experienced by design

A team built around the opportunity.

Our strength lies in experienced professionals with decades of combined exposure to international markets and project execution. Diverse backgrounds across logistics, finance, compliance, construction, development, and strategy allow us to provide coordinated, reliable support.

United by integrity and results, we work collaboratively to minimize obstacles and maximize value for clients, partners, buyers, and sellers.

“At Strategic Trade Solutions, we are not just connecting buyers and sellers—we are building trust and delivering reliability.”

Gisela De JesúsChief Executive Officer

Why choose STS

Strategic advantage,
measured in execution.

Our relationships span producers, refiners, major consumers, trusted intermediaries, and market experts who provide timely insight into changing conditions.

20+

Years of experience

Global

Trusted partner network

48h

Response commitment

100%

Client-focused execution

Unparalleled expertiseGlobal networkProprietary analysisRisk management

Start the conversation

Bring us your next opportunity.

Whether you are pursuing a commodity transaction, presenting a credible development opportunity, or seeking financing, contact us to discuss your objectives and determine how STS may contribute.

Contact STS
CALL US(787) 234-0784EMAIL USinfo@strategictradesolutions.com
OUR LOCATIONSSan Juan, PR / San Antonio, TX