Mario Behar Vantolra
Entrepreneur in sustainable tourism, art and culture
I am Mario Behar Vantolra. Since 2019 I have been developing, together with my family, a project that brings together nature, art, culture and sustainable tourism, where I also work as a cave guide. Before that, I worked in plastics and metal recycling and in environmental technology.
My story
I am from Mexico City and I come from a family of soccer players: my grandfather played a World Cup for Mexico and my great-grandfather, one for Spain. At 17, in my grandfather’s honor, I played in Club Puebla’s youth system until I injured my knee in an intra-squad match; I had surgery on my cruciate ligament, and that ended my time in soccer.
After soccer, I started my own businesses. I launched a magazine, Poblanísimo, which ran for two years, and later a car wash in Puebla. In early 2007 a storm destroyed it: the roof and the storeroom were wrecked, and the pressure washers and cleaning supplies were stolen.
I had to find another business, so I started collecting PET plastic to sell to a company that shredded and exported it. That is how my finances began to improve; by then my first son had been born, so I had no choice but to move forward. From PET I moved on to scrap metal, and for several years I worked in plastics and metal recycling: I dismantled sugar mills, old factories and shrimp boats, and sold the metal to the metallurgical industry to be melted down and returned to the production chain.
Knowing industry from the inside led me to focus on developing technologies to reduce pollution of the air, water, landfills, rivers, lagoons and seas. Together with the late engineer José Arturo Arellano Tablada, a specialist in electroflocculation, a technique he applied to water treatment, we adapted it for industrial uses: treating industrial wastewater, reducing pollutant emissions and cleaning up contaminated sites.
From 2014 to 2019 I also raised pigs and produced honey on a family ranch. In 2016 I was a founding shareholder of Grupo Potesta, S.A. de C.V., and on October 10, 2018 I left the company.
In 2019, together with my family, I started a project I had been putting off for years: a project to connect people with nature. It is what I do today.
A family of soccer players
My great-grandfather, Martí Ventolrà Fort, known in Mexico as Martín Vantolrá, was born in Barcelona in 1906. He played for Espanyol, Sevilla and FC Barcelona, earned twelve caps for Spain and played at the 1934 World Cup in Italy. In 1937 he came to Mexico on an FC Barcelona tour and stayed: he played for Real Club España and Atlante. In Mexico he married Josefina Rangel Cárdenas, a niece of President Lázaro Cárdenas del Río.
His son, my grandfather José Raymundo Vantolrá Rangel, was a defender for Toluca from 1962 to 1973, winning two league titles, and played for the Mexican national team from 1963 to 1970. At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico he played all four of Mexico’s matches. A father and son playing World Cups for different national teams, Spain and Mexico, is a case FC Barcelona describes as unique.
What I do
Together with my family and partners, I am developing a project that brings together nature, art, culture, awareness and sustainable tourism. I work there as a cave guide, and we also grow vanilla using regenerative methods, produce honey and run school camps. I also offer self-reflection retreats, and I have made a podcast with my son that will be released soon.
Career
2019 – presentCo-founder of a sustainable tourism, art and culture project, and cave guide
Own project, with my familyI lead cave tours and offer self-reflection retreats.
2016 – 2018Founding shareholder (no position or powers)
Grupo Potesta, S.A. de C.V.I left the company on October 10, 2018; my exit was formalized in 2019. I had sold half of my shares in July 2017.
2014 – 2019Pig farming and honey production
Family ranchFrom 2014 to 2019 I produced honey and raised pigs on a family ranch.
2011 – 2016Environmental technology development (electroflocculation)
Own projectTogether with the late engineer José Arturo Arellano Tablada, a specialist in electroflocculation, a technique he applied to water treatment, we adapted it for industrial uses: treating industrial wastewater, reducing pollutant emissions and cleaning up contaminated sites.
2007 – 2011Plastics and metal recycling
Own businessI collected PET and then scrap metal: I dismantled sugar mills, factories and shrimp boats, and sold the metal to the metallurgical industry to be melted down.
2006 – 2007Car wash
Own business, PueblaA storm destroyed the premises in early 2007.
2003 – 2005Founder of Poblanísimo magazine
Own businessThe magazine ran for two years.
About me
Mexican national, originally from Mexico City.
Contact
Email: mario.behar@mariobeharvantolra.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mario-behar-vantolra-64b245449