Daniel S. Peña, Sr., is Founder and Chairman of The Guthrie Group is a successful business coach. Based in the UK, The Guthrie Group is a consortium which act to facilitate European financial transactions on the buy and, or sell side.

He was also the founder, former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Great Western Resources, Inc. (GWRI), a Houston (USA)-based natural resources company. At the time of Mr. Peña's decision to retire, GWRI was operational in the US, the Gulf of Mexico, the UK and South America. At the time the company was acquired (January 1997), he was the largest individual shareholder.

In an 8-year period, starting with only $820, Mr. Peña grew Great Western Resources to $445 million while energy prices collapsed, the price of oil dropped from $40 to less than $8 per barrel and more than 10,000 energy companies in the US alone went out of business.

Prior to Mr. Peña's founding of GWRI, he was Chairman, President and Chief Executive of J.P.K. Industries, Inc., a vertically integrated company in the petroleum industry, involved in oil and gas drilling, operating, production, crude oil refining and marketing. Prior to J.P.K. Industries, he was with the investment banking firm of Bear Stearns & Co. where he advised clients throughout the US and internationally. Subsequent to his tenure at Bear Stearns, he served as President and Chief Executive of Kennedy Industries Inc., a company with major interests in real estate, insurance, financial services, and the entertainment industry. While still in university, he was made a principal in a real estate (property) sales firm and led the nation in sales. Mr. Peña has also been president of his own consulting firm, Op-U-Comp. He has served as Chairman of companies in various industries in the US, UK and Europe.

Since leaving Wall Street and while building his own companies exponentially, Peña, a success coach has successfully negotiated transactions with multinationals and several foreign governments.

He has been a lecturer for the Continuing Education for CPA's program in the US, has traveled extensively and lectured on strategic planning, finance and economics, and has taught pro bono a year-long course to Minority Business students on entrepreneurship at his alma mater, California State University. He also volunteered his time to Rebuild LA subsequent to the devastating riots near his childhood home in Los Angeles and served at the request of the Mayor on the Executive Committee for The Alliance for a Safer LA. A son of a 28 year veteran of the LAPD, Peña has been a strong proponent of law and order.

Some of the partners Dan Peña has worked with.

Mr. Peña, a success coach stands out of the crowded business coaches today. He is an extremely dynamic and powerful speaker, motivator, and grand master entrepreneur. He has captivated audiences up to 7,000 with his many vignettes about world leaders and relating his personal financial transactions. His seminars and lectures have been sponsored by various universities, organisations and corporations such as Nijenrode University (Netherlands), The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and DELL. Also, the QLA videos "Quantum Leap Advantage" and "Financing Your Dreams" won the coveted Telly National Award for Excellence and Communicator Award in 1996 and 1997.

Since retiring in 1992 and through 2000 he gave keynote addresses, interactive workshops, seminars, and conferences on both sides of the Atlantic and Pacific on building businesses exponentially and personal development. He has been recognized as a "super executive business coach", mentor and success coach. He is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), the International Platform Association, and is listed among "Who's Who in Professional Speaking". Though he has reduced his speaking he still gives seminars at his home, Guthrie Castle.

He is on the roster of Who's Who in America, was a nominee for INC magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year in 1989, and was Chairman and major shareholder of a company on INC's 1996 and 1997 list of the 500 fastest growing privately held companies (#152 and #195 respectively) in the US. In 1998 the company went public and in 1999 was acquired. He was also Chairman of the company which was presented with the "MKB Innovation prize 1998" award for company of the year by the Economic Minister of The Netherlands (Holland). The CEO of that same company was nominated for European Entrepreneur of the Year (EU) 1999. He was appointed to the US Presidential Roundtable Senatorial Commission in 1991. He has served on the Alumni Association Board of California State University, Northridge (where Mr. Peña graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1971). He has also served as a member of the university's Trust Fund Board, serving on the finance and investment committees, and the University's Foundation Board. He has been a financial advisor to entities as diverse as the Vatican and the Los Angeles Police Protective League. And has served as coach / Mentor to Glabal 50 companies.

A success coach and a class apart among the business coaches, Dan pena has been the recipient of many awards including the 1981 Latin Business Association Outstanding Business Owner award and the 1994 John Regan Award for Excellence by the Center for Entrepreneurial Management. In 1995 he was chosen Top Ten Marketing by Entrepreneur's magazine in the US. He has been featured in many US publications such as the Los Angeles Times (an article which won the Pulitzer Prize), Success magazine, Investor's Business Daily (Leaders and Success), as well as dozens of UK publications such as The Times, The Observer, The Independent, the Sunday Telegraph, the Financial Times, Investors Chronical, The Listener, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Executive Woman, and Success Now along with several Dutch publications. He has also been featured on US and European television including the prestigious British Broadcasting Company (BBC).

Peña had a distinguished career with the United States Army, entering voluntarily as a private and graduating from Infantry's Officer's Candidate School (O.C.S.) at Fort Benning, Georgia, serving as Military Police, Intelligence Officer and Security Officer at NATO headquarters during the late 60's.

Mr. Peña a success coach is also an active sportsman, having received the Bronze Shoe Award, 1976, from the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and the Award of Merit in 1977 from Sports Illustrated.

In late 1997, Peña formed The Guthrie Group, to identify and facilitate the completion of European business opportunities. Headquartered in the UK, this organization engages in Acquisitions, Public to Privates, and introductions to Investment Bankers, Venture Capitalists, Debt Providers, and Professional Advisors. The Group consults in major shareholder disputes, divestitures, mergers, takeovers, management compensation packages, marketing, sales and strategic planning on a fee basis. The Group also consults senior executive management at Global 50 companies.

In late 1999 British publisher, Medina Ltd., distributed the book entitled Your First 100 Million in the UK. The book is also available directly from this site.

In May 2003 Peña stepped down as CEO of The Guthrie Group. He still remains Chairman and largest shareholder. He has reduced his very busy schedule and commitments to pursue, as he said, "a few fun endeavours" such as - www.guthriecastle.com. As he said in a recent BBC interview. "After 33 years of being in the "eye of the tiger" all over the world, I now want people see and enjoy what we have done here to enhance the fairytale ambiance at my home, Guthrie Castle". He recently consented to give a few seminars at his home - Guthrie Castle.

He now lives full time at his 15th Century storybook estate, Guthrie Castle, Scotland, where he plays golf on his own private 18 hole golf course, rated one of the most difficult in Europe. Click here for a photo tour of Guthrie Castle.