Gonzalo Plaza Foundation

The Gonzalo Plaza Foundation is a non for profit Organization dedicated to inspire Lifelong Learning and Advanced Knowledge, by improving access to Humanities and Art Education to all People and for Future Generations.

GONZALO PLAZA PIETERSZ

Born in Caracas, Venezuela on February 10, 1931.

Begins his studies at Instituto Experimental Venezuela, Caracas. Attends High school at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola and a private high school in Connecticut, USA.

1951 – At age 20, establishes “Estudio Fotográfico Lumiére" (Lumiére Photo Studio), in Caracas. And on the same year, participates in the photography of “La Guia Historico Artistica de la Cuidad de Caracas” published by Terzo Tariffi.

1954. Starts “Musica en la Historia”, a Radio Show on Ondas Populares, a partner station of Radio Caracas Radio.

1957 - Establishes “La Sociedad de Amigos de la Música, SAM”, in Caracas. SAM would be the first National Record Company that produced Long Play (LP) Vinyl Records of Venezuelan and International Composers, with such important historical hits as “Margariteña de Inocente Carreño”, “Suite Caraqueña de Gonzalo Castellanos”, “Suite Avileña de Evencio Castellanos”, “Concierto para Orquesta de Antonio Estévez”, “Estampas de Blanca Estrella”, “las fugas de Juan Bautista Plaza”, “la música de la colonia” y “el Concierto de Guitarra de Antonio Lauro” among many others.

1959 - Establishes “VEGA”, Venezolana de Grabaciones, with business partner, the Engineer Luis Carias. VEGA is the first Record Manufacturing Company that produces Stereophonic LP (Long Play) Vinyl Records in Venezuela.

1963 - Becomes a senior copy writer at ARS Publicidad, working closely with founder Carlos Eduardo Frías in several award winning advertising campaigns.

1965 – Managing Director of “La Quinta Rueda”, the Sunday supplement of Venezuelan Newspaper “El Nacional”.

1967 - Public Relations and Marketing Director for Venezuelan Newspaper “El Nacional”.

1972 - Political Consultant for Carlos Andres Perez’s first Presidential Nomination for Populist Party Accion Democratica". In 1973, Carlos Andrés Pérez was nominated to run for the presidency for AD. Youthful and energetic, Perez ran a vibrant and triumphalist campaign, one of the first to use the services of American advertising gurus and political consultants in the country's history. During the run up to elections, he visited nearly all the villages and cities of Venezuela by foot and walked more than 5800 kilometers. He was elected in December of that year, receiving 48.7% of the vote against the 36.7% of his main rival. Turnout in these elections reached an unprecedented 97% of all eligible voters, a level which has not been achieved since.

1973 – Postmaster and Managing Director “Correos de Venezuela” a subsidiary back then of Ministerio de Transporte y Comunicaciones.

1976 – Creates IPOSTEL (Instituto Postal Telegrafico), The Venezuelan Telegraphic Postal Institute (IPOSTEL), is an autonomous agency with legal capacity and its own assets, was set up on January 28, 1978 by Postmaster Gonzalo Plaza, to handle the public and private mail services and the sending and delivery of telegrams. IPOSTEL commenced operations on January 1, 1979.

1978 - Managing Director of The Daily Journal, an English language newspaper published in Caracas, Venezuela since 1945.

1980 - Founder and Managing Director of OPECNA (Opec News Agency). Established on November 1980 to fulfill the role as one of OPEC’s premiere channel of communication. The Agency conveys information about the Organization 56 Activities of the Secretariat and its Member Countries to the international community in real time. Its approach to news-gathering, through exclusive interviews and via topical articles, submitted by a network of correspondents, has enhanced its credibility as an information medium. OPECNA also covers internationally relevant stories on energy, trade and debt, as well as bilateral and multilateral negotiations, particularly as they affect developing countries.

1988 - Governor of Venezuela in OPEC, designated to this position by Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez in his second term. Gonzalo Plaza holds this post for the next seven years, subsequent Presidents Ramón J. Velásquez y Rafael Caldera.

1996 – Dies in Vienna on January 30.