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Alex was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He speaks Engish as well as
Spanish and Portuguese. He studied Grafic Design in the UNUM in
México city.
Alex started the balloon business in 1992. The first seminar he
took was held by Marie Mandoli, where he was invited to participate
in his first IBAC (International Balloon Arts Convention) in San
Francisco. He won first place in Phoenix 93, Arizona, for his “logo
sandwich technique” with the Qualatex logo, and in 1994 he
earned 11 prizes including the prestigious award as Designer of
the Year in IBAC in Orlando, Florida in four different categories.
Alex is the first Latin American to receive the Qualatex Balloon
Network’s “Certified Balloon Artist” certification.
He was also certified as a Professional Balloon Instructor in Dallas,
Texas, in 1994 along with Jim Parker, Linda Bruce, Amy Stewart and
many other well-known instructor/decorators in the industry.
Alex Shepard has been an instructor since 1995. He has taught in
all 32 states of the Mexican Republic, as well as in Chicago, Ill.
and Miami, Fla. at IBAC in the USA, Canada and South America: Brazil,
Argentina, Panama, Guatemala, Chile, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados,
Puerto Rico, El Salvador.
He also has taught at JBAN (Japan Balloon Artist Network) twice
and in Seoul, South Korea, Dubai, UAE, Beirut, Lebanon, Moscow,
Russia, France and Italy and at the Qualatex event in Amsterdam,
Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. He translated the first QBN video,
and the Design book by Gary Wells, into Spanish.
Alex is Sales Manager for the Pioneer Balloon Company subsidiary
in Puebla, Mexico, called Globos Qualatex de Pioneer S.A.de C.V.
For ten years prior to that he owned his own balloon business and
store.
Alex is very upbeat, and an exciting and easy to understand instructor
that all will enjoy.
The first time Alex created a centerpiece, he won first place in
a competition among 30 other balloon artists! His award-winning
designs can now be seen internationally.
1992 - First Place, Logo - Mural, IBAC, Phoenix
1993 - Third Place, Latex, IBAC, Orlando
1993 - Second Place, Microfoil Sculpture, IBAC, Orlando
1993 - First Place, Business Card Design, IBAC, Orlando
1993 - First Place, Centerpiece, IBAC, Orlando
1993 - First Place, Logo - Mural, IBAC, Orlando
1994 - International Designer of the Year Award, IBAC
Alex has taught all around the Mexican Republic in places like Guadalajara,
Monterrey, Puebla, and Hermosillo. He's also instructed classes in Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Panama, and even Tokyo!
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