Meet the Team
Karma E. Ruiz
Principal Consultant & Licensed Customs Broker
Karma E. Ruiz is a licensed Customs Broker with more than 18 years of field experience in an ample array of Customs issues. Born in Pennsylvania, she received a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Pittsburgh where she studied international business and received certification in Western European Studies and with the Semester at Sea program.
Since founding World Wise Consulting in 2002, Ms. Ruiz has leveraged her extensive experience in clearance processing, duty audits, drawback set-up, compliance programs, security and logistics management, as well as Customs issues and resolutions. This combined knowledge and experience have qualified her for the procurement of C-TPAT certifications for the incorporation of the parameters dictated by C-TPAT for security and protection of international borders.
Beyond her consulting practice, Karma volunteers with the Florida Custom Brokers and Freight Forwarding Association to improve relationships between Government and Industry. She has visited with Congress to strengthen its commitment to Florida's trade community, advocating for policies that support efficient international commerce.
Val Holtrop
Trade Compliance Professional
As coordinator for World Wise Consulting's collaboration with Polaris Worldwide Logistics, Val oversees the seamless integration of customs brokerage and freight forwarding services with our compliance solutions. This strategic alignment ensures clients receive comprehensive support throughout their international supply chain, from regulatory compliance to physical movement of goods.
With over 30 years of experience across diverse industries including food, perishables, automotive, machinery, and technology, Val brings exceptional depth to her role. Her specialized expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments, particularly with USDA and FDA requirements, enables our clients to overcome challenging compliance obstacles. Val holds a Master's in Management with an international concentration, a Bachelor's in International Management, and multiple industry certifications including Licensed Customs Broker, Certified Export Specialist, Certified Customs Specialist, and Certified Zone Specialist.
Val maintains current knowledge of evolving customs regulations and logistics best practices through regular professional development and active engagement with industry resources. This commitment to continuous learning ensures World Wise Consulting delivers cutting-edge solutions that address the latest challenges in international trade. Her favorite part of the job is precisely this—continually learning and finding tailored solutions that meet her customers' unique needs.
Beyond her professional life, Val enjoys life in the Midwest with her husband and three children, often spending time outdoors with their two beloved dogs.
Alexys Fatovic
TSA Compliance Specialist
Alexys is a TSA Compliance Specialist with in-depth knowledge of TSA rules, guidelines, and global trade regulations. She manages Authorized Representatives and oversees the processing of Security Threat Assessments (STAs) to ensure compliance with federal requirements. With a strong focus on accuracy and security, Alexys supports seamless supply chain operations.
Her expertise helps organizations stay aligned with evolving TSA standards and global compliance protocols. In her free time, Alexys enjoys working with the local youth by coaching girls’ softball and snuggling up with her two cats, Hank and Sushi.
Noah Ruiz
CTPAT Specialist
Noah works in trade compliance with a focus on the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program, helping companies strengthen their supply chain security practices. He assists clients with documentation, training materials, risk assessments, and overall program readiness to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
With a detail-oriented approach, I guide organizations through the CTPAT application and validation process, ensuring their every need is met. Outside of work I am an avid marksman and enjoy tactical training. Noah enjoys honing precision and discipline through these pursuits, bringing the same focus and dedication to both professional and personal endeavors.
Melanie Mannheim
Compliance Specialist
Melanie has contributed to a few brands in her career working with imports/exports and government compliance work that spans nearly two decades and is all about going beyond due diligence. Her latest challenge? Working at World Wise Consulting, the forerunner in working in international trade compliance and CBP challenges and regulations.
To sit with Melanie and talk about her life philosophy you'll understand her motivations which really accelerated her learning curve to thrive in her career. Our team gains wins and achievements and helps you be the best at your compliance work to capture your attention in this noisy world. Melanie's background and experience have provided her with extensive knowledge and an intricate range of skills that provide a unique perspective that she shares with others to succeed. She guides businesses with internal alignment and audit on government compliance programs and best practices for all critical components to mitigate risk.
Thomas Thompson
Bonded Applications / CTPAT Specialist
Thomas Edison Thompson has recently joined the World Wise team. After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in political science, he supports the team with bonded applications and our CTPAT compliance program. He plays a crucial role in helping our team manage the complexities of government and compliance programs.
Outside of work Thomas enjoys marathon hiking across his home state of Florida's varied wilderness as well as classic car restoration.
Skye Ruiz
Client Support Specialist
It starts with an S for Success and ends with an E for Effective. Skye's priority is for clients to successfully navigate how to understand all operations that relate to CBP and TSA and resolve matters effectively. Any abrupt issues can be challenging, but our company is World and Wise, so even if it seems too vast of a matter, we are wise on how to respond to worldly issues.
Skye not only holds your hand during the entire application process but also provides you with situations that can emerge post-submission. Investigating is Skye's passion and she hopes to have the title of Agent in the future.
