South Florida Power Women 2018

Donna Shalala

Former President
University of Miami

Avra Jain

CEO
The Vagabond Group

Avra Jain, a Purdue University industrial engineer graduate, has a reputation for developing projects around her favorite pursuits: art and architecture. The recipient of three Sundance Film Awards, Ms. Jain has directed boutique projects that range from converting a warehouse into luxury loft condominiums to the remake of The Vagabond Motel on Biscayne. She is a board member of the MiMo Biscayne Association.

Enid Weisman

Mayor
City of Aventura

While Enid Weisman is best known for her current office as Mayor of Aventura, the loin’s share of her life’s work has been in public education. She began as a teacher, ascending the ranks of the Miami-Dade County Public School System to work as a Vice Principal and then Principal of large high schools. Weisman was the founding principal of Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School from 1997-2001. Weisman went on to undertake “major-league” positions in regional School District administration, including that of Region Superintendent from 2003-2009, in which she supervised 57 schools with over 50,000 students and oversaw construction of new schools and additions to existing schools valued at close to $400 million. Just before being elected Mayor, from 2012-2014, she held the position of Chief Human Capital Officer of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, in which she was responsible for 50,000- employees and where she conducted negotiations with five different labor unions. For her excellence in education Weisman has been honored by six different municipalities and has received numerous other awards, including State Master Teacher, Outstanding Social Studies Educator in the State of Florida, Administrator of the Year (twice), and Principal of the Year. Weisman’s passion for bettering our community and supporting diversity coupled with her strong beliefs against antisemitism resulted in her being honored by the Anti Defamation with its Community of Respect Award Her exceptional leadership abilities have also taken shape in her involvement with both the medical profession and the fine arts. To cultivate the relations between local communities and the Aventura Hospital and MedicalCenter she created an Ambassador Program comprised of volunteer liaisons. Weisman holds the distinction of being the first woman elected Chair of the Aventura Hospital and Medical Center Board of Trustees, a position she held since 2013. She remains a Board of Trustee member of the hospital today. Additionally she is Chair of the Executive Board of New World School of the Arts where she has been a member since 2008, and in 2012 she was honored as Champion of the Arts for her committed and enthusiastic support. More recently she was honored by the Dade County Commission for the Status of Women by receiving the prestigious Mayor’s Pioneer Award.

Laurinda Spear

Founding Principal
Arquitectonica

Laurinda Spear is a founding principal of Arquitectonica. She studied fine arts at Brown University, received her Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University and later a Master of Landscape Architecture from Florida International University. She has taught at Harvard and the University of Miami. Laurinda designed many of the firm’s signature projects, and her designs have won over a hundred design awards. She was also instrumental in the expansion of Arquitectonica into design fields beyond architecture and planning. She first established the interior design practice, ArquitectonicaInteriors, which earned the firm its place in the Interior Design Hall of Fame. She also created the design products group, Laurinda Spear Products, which has over 150 products on the market under dozens of global brands. Laurinda established the landscape architecture practice ArquitectonicaGEO, focusing on environmental land planning and landscape design. Laurinda is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a Registered Landscape Architect, a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and a LEED Accredited Professional. She is the recipient of the AIA Silver Medal and the Rome Prize in Architecture. Laurinda is active in community affairs and sits on the Board of Architecture and Arts at Florida International University, as well as the board of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation.

Jackie Soffer

CEO & Co-Chairman
Turnberry

Jackie Soffer is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman of Turnberry, a privately held real estate development group based in South Florida. Founded more than 50 years ago, the company specializes in large-scale lifestyle developments within the hospitality, retail, residential, and office sectors. Jackie has evolved Turnberry from the regional leader into one of the most creative and dynamic organizations in real estate today. She leads through innovation, combining her passion for retail and hospitality with creative design-led thinking. She first applied this approach at Aventura Mall, which she transformed from a classic shopping mall into one of the country’s premier lifestyle destinations by attracting luxury retailers such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Cartier, Gucci, Burberry, Fendi, Tiffany & Co., and Bally and integrating them with museum quality contemporary art by Ugo Rondinone, Jorge Pardo, Julian Opie, Donald Baechler, Louise Bourgeois, Friends with You, Daniel Arsham, Jen Stark, and many more. Soffer continues to magnify this vision with a new tri-level, 315,000 square-foot expansion of Aventura Mall that showcases the next evolution of experiential retail. Designed by world-renowned architect Carlos Zapata, the expansion features substantial site-specific installations from some of the biggest names in contemporary art including Carsten Höller & the Haas Brothers; Treats Food Hall featuring Zuuk Mediterranean, My Ceviche, Luke’s Lobster, Shake Shack, Figs + Mozzarella by Todd English; multiple full service restaurant destinations such as Genuine Pizza, CVI.CHE 105, Pubbelly Sushi, Serafina, Le Pain Quotidien, Tap 42, and Blue Bottle; the Level Three VIP lounge; flagship retail stores from Topshop Topman, Zara, and Adidas; and a beautifully landscaped rooftop terrace and plaza. In addition to Aventura Mall, Soffer oversaw a 100,000 square-foot expansion of Destin Commons, an open-air lifestyle center in Northwest Florida, and the ground up development of Town Square Las Vegas, a 1.5 million-square-foot super regional lifestyle center located on the Las Vegas Strip. Soffer recently formed a partnership with LeFrak to develop a 184-acre site along Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami aptly named SoLē Mia. The largest development in North Miami’s history, when complete SoLē Mia will include 1.4 million square feet of retail, 37 acres of parks, 4,390 residences, crystal lagoons, a hotel, gourmet groceries, dining outlets, and market-leading entertainment and amenities. Soffer is actively involved in management and development of all Turnberry’s hospitality and residential assets including Fontainebleau Miami Beach, one of the world’s top destination resorts, as well as Turnberry Isle Miami, a 300-acre resort and country club in South Florida, Turnberry Ocean Club Residences, a 154-unit ultra-luxury condominium and JW Marriott Nashville, a 533-room hotel located in downtown Nashville. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities for Turnberry, Soffer serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Washington Prime Group, a retail real estate investment trust with a portfolio of 120 enclosed regional malls and open-air lifestyle community centers. She is a member of the University of Miami Board of Trustees, and the Board of Trustees for the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami.

Ramola Motwani

Chairwoman
Merrimac Ventures

Ramola Motwani is the Chairwoman of Merrimac Ventures, a real estate management, investment, and development company with interests in the US and India. The company is based in Fort Lauderdale, FL where it employs over 100 people. Merrimac Ventures has properties in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Missouri. Ms. Motwani began her 35+ year business career in the US with an import/export business she started with her late husband Bob Motwani in St. Charles, MO. In the mid-1980’s, they expanded the business into hotels by purchasing numerous properties on the Fort Lauderdale Beach. They owned and operated (among others) the Merrimac and Gold Coast Beach Resort Hotels on the Fort Lauderdale Beach together for many years until Bob passed away in 1994. Ramola took over the entire company, while also raising two sons, Nitin and Dev. She has operated over 12 hotels all over Broward County, predominantly on Fort Lauderdale Beach. She also managed to expand the business while becoming one of the most active local community members on Fort Lauderdale Beach. She put together the group to bring back the Fort Lauderdale Air Show in 2012. Mrs. Motwani is very active in the Fort Lauderdale community and has been a major component in beach development and redevelopment issues. She was instrumental in securing major sponsors to assist with the cost of updating the wave-wall lights when the city didn’t have the funding to do so. She recently planned the Centennial Beachfest celebration with the entire City Commission, and she started the annual holiday lights effort on the beach. She was also the founding Chairwomen of the annual Jeb Bush Classic Beach Bash fundraiser benefitting Cystic Fibrosis, and recently Co-Chaired the Mayors Gala benefitting the United Way. Recently, she was appointed by the county mayor to the Tourist Development Council, which oversees all tourism-related monies and efforts for the county. She is an active member of the Broward Workshop, serving on both the Education and Government Relations Committee. She recently served on the Advisory Committee for the Business Improvement District on the Fort Lauderdale Beach, was recently the Vice Chair of the Beach Redevelopment Advisory Board which advises the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, and is the Former Chair of the Beach Council, a group she has actively participated in as a Chamber of Commerce Trustee for over 20 years. She is a State Board Member of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and was appointed by the governor’s office to the FL Commission on the Status of Women. Her civic-minded affiliations include being a volunteer with the Citizens Volunteer Corps, Trustee of the South Florida Hindu Temple for 14 years, Vice President of the India – US Chamber of Commerce, and past president of the Sindhi Association of S. Florida. She is also a member of the Alliance of the Associations of Sindhi’s in America. Ramola was born and raised in India and received her law degree from the Government Law College located in Mumbai, India. She recently won the 2006 Chamber Women’s Circle of Excellence Award for Hospitality and the 2007 Salute to Business Award. She has also been honored by the March of Dimes, among many other charities.

Gloria Estefan

co-Founder
Estefan Enterprises

Arden Karson

Founder
Karson & Co.

Arden Karson is the Founder and Managing Principal of Karson & Co, a real estate advisory, brokerage, and investment firm. Prior to her current role, Karson held senior leadership positions at CBRE and the Related Group Karson also partnered with private equity firm Barrow Street Capital and Advenir Real Estate. Earlier in her career, she worked at Lennar Corporation and Arvida/JMP Partners, where she focused on project management and operational roles across various asset classes and markets. Before entering the real estate industry, Karson worked as a commercial lender at Bank of America and at PwC. She received a BA in International Relations from Tufts University where she graduated summa cum laude and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Karson is a designated Financial Expert under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. She holds positions on multiple advisory boards and committees, including serving on the Board of Advisors, Audit, and Investment Committees for ECI Group. She also sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Miami Masters in Real Estate + Urbanism program, the South Florida/Caribbean Chapter of the Urban Land Institute as Treasurer and the Investment Committee of the Michigan Ross Real Estate Fund. Karson also served as a Board of Directors and Audit Committee member for Ashton Woods USA LLC and as an Executive Committee member of Friends of the Underline. Karson is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events. She has received many community and industry leadership awards. She is also a mentor and active in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and is committed to advancing the next generation of business professionals. She believes in giving back to the community as evidenced by her active fundraising for the Sylvester Cancer Center. Karson is also the proud mother of three children and one grandson, who all live in New York City. When she is not busy with work or family, Arden enjoys traveling with her husband, exploring the local art scene, and hiking the National Parks and beach trails. She is also a foodie and loves dining at new and exciting restaurants.

Jodi Macken

Director
Macken Companies

Jodi Macken serves as Director of Macken Companies, a vertically integrated firm with real estate investment, development, construction, financing and brokerage entities. Over the course of 30 years, Macken Companies has been instrumental in the repositioning and revitalization of neighborhoods throughout South Florida. As a fully integrated firm, Macken Companies’ affiliate entities—VCM Builders, Macken Realty, SFCS, Sefran, G&A Strategic and MTV Investments—work in tandem to offer clients complete residential and commercial real estate solutions.www.mackencompanies.com. As Director, Jodi plays an integral role in new construction sales and marketing for Macken Companies’ residential and commercial projects, working hand-in-hand with the firm’s development team. Recent notable projects include the successful development and sellout of Parallel 1 and Parallel 2 Townhome communities in Downtown Fort Lauderdale as well as the new Beach House single-family home development in Dolphin Isles. All three projects wererecently recognized at the City of Fort Lauderdale Community Appearance Awards and also set new benchmarks for the highest price per square foot in their respective neighborhoods. In addition, Jodi also serves as Director of Macken Realty, thefirm’s affiliate real estate brokerage, comprising approximately 160 agents in two South Florida offices, where she oversees the firm’s dynamic international and robust REO divisions. As a leading luxury real estate agent, Jodi concentrates her efforts on high-end luxury residential properties and maintains a diverse portfolio of high-profile clientele that include professional athletes, celebrities, and Fortune 500 executives. With clients including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Cash Money Records, and NFL players Brandon Marshall and Mark Ingram, her commitment to providing exceptional service is unparalleled.

Teresa Kinney

CEO
Miami Association of Realtors

Teresa King Kinney, Chief Executive Officer of the Miami Association of Realtors for 25 years, has taken the association from 5,000 to over 50,000 total members, creating the largest local Realtor association in the U. S., which is larger than 43 state associations. Kinney developed the largest local International Real Estate Council and Annual Congress in the U.S., winning multiple national and international awards and the only association to have initiated partnerships with more than 174 international organizations throughout the world. The MIAMI association also operates one of the largest MLS systems in the nation and hosts one of the largest Realtors Commercial Alliances nationally with over 2,000 members, has seven offices and hosts 4,000 seminars a year. There are more than 100 leaders serving on the association’s six leadership boards. Kinney has represented the association and the Miami market through hundreds of presentations and exhibits at key real estate conferences nationally and internationally and has hosted dozens of inbound trade missions and programs.

Tere Blanca

CEO
Blanca Commercial Real Estate

Tere Blanca is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Inc., the leading independently owned commercial real estate services firm in Florida. She founded the firm in 2009 after identifying a need in the marketplace for a local advisory and brokerage firm built on a culture of giving clients a highly personalized approach to service. With Tere’s vision, progressive leadership and foundation of passion, care and commitment to excellence, teams are purpose built and strategies are customized to fit each clients’ diverse needs allowing the firm to achieve successful outcomes and setting new market standards. Blanca Commercial Real Estate now has a dynamic team of more than 45 top professionals that embrace a culture of collaboration and caring for each other, the firm’s clients and the community. It is recognized as one of the top commercial real estate brokerage services companies in Florida, ranked by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the top ten firms in South Florida, maintaining more than 32% market share of all office lease transactions executed in Class A and B office space in Miami; the firm’s home base. Expanding across South Florida, the firm now has 3 offices across the region and has grown its services to include property management, tenant engagement services and development consulting. Throughout her 35-year career, Tere has participated and led many significant lease transactions and new development projects from land acquisition to the master planning, design, construction, marketing, lease-up, and sale of office and mixed-use assets. Clients of the firm include Nuveen Real Estate, Allianz, Hines, Agave Holdings, Lincoln Property Company, Blackstone, TA Realty, Federal Realty, Shorenstein, Stiles, Related Group, AIMCO, and the law firms of Akerman LLP, and White & Case, LLP; Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami Herald Media Company; WeWork; Coastal Construction, Quirch Foods, Inc.; Insigneo; Inktel, DASI, Neutralogistics, Mexican Consulate and the University of Miami, to name a few. Prior to launching Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Tere served for five years as Senior Managing Director for Cushman & Wakefield of Florida, Inc., where she led the firm’s South Florida region, achieving significant revenue growth and increased profitability. Tere also held the position of senior vice president at Codina Realty Services, Inc. ONCOR International where she was consistently among the top producers during her 14-year tenure. Tere holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in international marketing and finance and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami and is fluent in English and Spanish. She is the proud mother of two daughters and resides with her husband in Coral Gables. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: ● Chair of Urban Land Institute (ULI) for Southeast Florida and the Caribbean ● Member of the Board of Directors of BankUnited ● Member of the Board of Trustees of Miami Dade College ● Member of the University of Miami’s Herbert School of Business Real Estate Advisory Council ● Executive Committee Member of Urban Land Institute (ULI) ● Past chair and current Member of the Board of Miami-Dade County’s official economic development agency, The Beacon Council ● Member of the Board of Governors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce ● Member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Gold ● Associate member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Chapter ● Member of Women Corporate Directors (WCD) ● Past member of the Board of Directors of The Miami Foundation ● Past chair of the Board of Directors of City Year Miami AWARDS & RECOGNITION: ● “Top 100 Power Leaders”, South Florida Business Journal ● “Ultimate CEO”, South Florida Business Journal ● “Most Influential Business Women”, South Florida Business Journal ● “Power Leader of the Year”, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce ● “Office Broker of the Year”, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce ● “Women of Influence: Legends”, Real Estate Forum ● “Women of Influence”, Real Estate Forum ● “Top 25 Women in Real Estate”, Commercial Property Executive ● “Top Dealmakers of the Year”, Daily Business Review ● “Successful Hispanic Women of the Year”, Camacol ● “Philanthropist of the Year”, City Year Miami ● “Community Leader of the Year”, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Silvia Coltrane

CEO
Transacta Developers

Real Estate is Silvia Coltrane’s passion, and this is the reason why she has emerged as a leader in the highly competitive, influential real estate arena. With 38 years as the broker of Real Estate Transactions, Inc. (RETI) under her belt, Silvia Coltrane has made an indelible mark consulting, and successfully representing over 20 different developments for Miami-Dade’s most prominent developers. She has also been involved in the sale of some of Miami’s largest real estate waterfront development sites which includes 4 sites for Faena, 3 sites for the Chateau Group, 12 properties for Ocean Terrace Developers, and others. Her brokerage experience also includes the sales of several hotels in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. She also has an international presence with affiliate offices in various countries in South America, Europe and Asia. In 2019 she joined The Corcoran Group as a Broker Associate and plans to continue her real estate trajectory as well as her development activity. Silvia Coltrane’s experience as a broker of so many successful ventures set the stage and prepared the path for Coltrane’s next real estate frontier and challenges -- The development of her own properties. This polished professional has a half-dozen projects on her own résumé. Her first development was Parc Plaza, a 15-story condo conversion on Washington and 17th in Miami Beach. She also became involved with the development of Capobella on Collins and the 50’s. She purchased and entitled Prive on Collins and 69th in Miami Beach and sold it. It was ultimately developed as L’Atelier; She developed Azure, a luxury Condominium in Surfside, and also developed a 175-room Marriot Residence Inn in Surfside. Coltrane's current development involvement is the anticipated mixed-use condominium development in North Beach, planned for the corner of Collins and 72nd Street. It will be the first brand new development of its kind in Miami Beach administered by a well-known lifestyle operator. It will have 20,000 SF of ground-floor retail, 228 residential condominiums, some of which will be micro-units that will be available for short-term rentals. Coltrane’s vision and energy, her vast real estate experience, her ability to anticipate market needs and to identify patterns of growth in key areas, place her among South Florida’s most influential female developers. She is totally involved with every venture that she undertakes and credits the carefully selected professional team that she assembles for the success of her developments. She says that she is like an orchestra conductor who directs those that play the instruments in order to make beautiful music; She says that her music comes from the creativity and participation of her professional team, and the team’s interaction with City decision makers, and the community. She strongly believes that every development has to have an element of beauty and distinction in its design. This is the legacy that she wants to leave behind: Developments that will grace the community that they will serve. Silvia Coltrane was born in Camaguey, Cuba and came to the USA in 1961. She is a graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in Education and a Master in Latin American Studies.

Nicole Shiman

SVP – Regional Lead, Florida Region
EDENS

Nicole Shiman is Senior Vice President of Investments, leading our Florida portfolio and office. She brings extensive experience in acquisitions and dispositions, as well as portfolio oversight and management, to the investment team. Nicole previously served as Vice President at Miami-based 13th Floor Investments, where she was responsible for leading acquisition initiatives, new business procurement and capitalization efforts. She was actively involved in the ongoing oversight, development, management and disposition of 13th Floor’s and its affiliates’ real estate portfolios. Prior to her work with 13th Floor, Nicole spent many years with The Boston Consulting Group in their Toronto, New York and Miami offices. Nicole graduated from The Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and received her Master’s in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Nicole sits on the ULI Southeast Florida/ Caribbean Advisory Board, she serves as a Board Member for The University of Miami School of Law LLM program, and serves as a founding Board Member of the Wynwood Yard, a culinary incubator and community space located in Wynwood, Florida.

Ana Maria Rodriguez

Vice Mayor
City of Doral

Vice Mayor Ana Maria Rodriguez was successfully elected to the City of Doral Council on November 2, 2010 for a four year term in Seat 4, and was subsequently re-elected without opposition for a second four year term in 2014. Born, raised and educated in Miami, she attended St. Theresa Catholic School, then went on to high school at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy. She later graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications in 1999 , then later graduated from The H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University with a Master of Science in Leadership in 2009.  Vice Mayor Rodriguez currently serves in her professional capacity as Vice President of Government Affairs for the MIAMI Association of REALTORS®. She has a vast background in the Public Relations and Governmental Affairs arena, having been directly involved in the 2005 through 2010 Florida Legislative sessions as the Director of Government & Community Relations for Baptist Health South Florida. Prior to Baptist Health, she served as a Senior Associate in the Public and Government Relations firm of Robert M. Levy & Associates, with offices in Miami and Tallahassee from 2002 through 2004. Vice Mayor Rodriguez is a proud graduate of the 2015-2016 Class of Leadership Florida (Class XXXIV), and launched the Southeast Region for Connect Florida in 2007, then served as Statewide Chair of Connect Florida in 2009. She has been an active member of the Doral Business Council for over a decade, and served as Vice Chair of the City of Doral Parks & Police 4 Kids Advisory Board since the board’s inception. She also served on the Board of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (2007-2010), and the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind YPOL Group. She currently serves on the board of the FIU President’s Council, and enjoys having received numerous recognitions including 2015 Advocate of the Year Award from the Miami Association of REALTORS®, the March of Dimes "Humanitarian of the Year" award in 2011, and the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award in 2010, among others. She is proud of her Hispanic heritage, having been born to Cuban parents. She enjoys world travel and collecting art. She is married to Dr. Clemente Canabal, from Colombia and together they have four children.

Meg Daly

Founder & President
Friends of The Underline

Meg Daly is founder and president of Friends of The Underline, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization leading the initiative to transform the underutilized land below Miami's Metrorail into a 10-mile, urban trail and linear park. A 30-year sales and marketing veteran, Meg owned First Media Direct, a breakthrough target marketing company catering to the broadcast television industry. She has also held executive marketing and management positions in the public relations, advertising, technology, and real estate industries. Meg has a BA in English from Vanderbilt University and has served on a number of philanthropic boards. She is also chairperson of the Coral Gables Cultural Affairs Board and a member of the Bike305 Executive Committee. For her love of community and desire to serve others, she was recently named one of Miami's Angels by the Miami Herald.

Marti Mang

SVP, Lender
City National Bank

Marti Mang is senior vice president of corporate lending at Miami-based TotalBank, a $3.0 Billion community Bank, where she manages more than $150 Million assets. With more than 40 years of experience, she uses her creativity to provide innovative and customized financial solutions to her clients. Her commercial real estate experience includes financing of shopping centers, multi-family properties, hotels, industrial properties, as well as office buildings and her clients include owner/users, investors and local municipalities. Marti’s loan portfolio also includes asset based and other commercial lines of credit for a broad spectrum of clients. Marti loves working in a fast paced and challenging atmosphere and strives to deliver exceptional service to her clients. She considers herself to be a customer advocate. As an avid networker, she enjoys connecting people, and mentoring young people both inside and outside of her organization by helping them discover their strengths and building their self- confidence and leadership skills. Marti serves on the Board of Directors of CREW Miami, where she is a Past President and currently the Liaison for the local chapter and the CREW Network that has more than 10,000 members in 70 major markets. She is also on the Board of the Miami-Dade/Monroe County Chapter of CCIM. She has served on numerous other community boards including the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce OWIT, Sundari Foundation, Beta Gamma Sigma South Florida Alumni Chapter. Additionally, Marti is an active member of CIASF. Her business excellence and involvement have resulted in a number of awards including the Thelma Gibson Award of Excellence, the AXA Business Woman of the Year Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Organization of Women in International Trade for her service to that organization and overall community involvement. Marti obtained her BA in Mathematics from The Colorado College and her MBA from Georgia State University, where she was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma. For fun, Marti likes to travel and is an avid reader.

Vanessa Grout

CEO
Aman Property

An accomplished real estate executive, Vanessa Grout has over two decades of expertise in the real estate market. Vanessa is Head of Global Residences and Club for Aman, the world’s preeminent hotel group, as well as CEO of Aman Property, the exclusive residential sales and marketing company of Aman Residences. Within her roles, Vanessa oversees various aspects of global development and sales for Aman, including 15 branded residential developments in 10 countries, plus a short-term pipeline of a further 21 projects globally. Notable current projects within Vanessa’s remit at Aman include Aman New York, located within the iconic Crown Building, which was recently completed and Aman Miami Beach (2026) which is currently undergoing construction and designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma. The wider pipeline includes an array of urban properties, reflecting the strategic vision of the company to offer the tranquillity of the Aman experience in dynamic city settings. These include, Aman Residences Tokyo (2023), Aman Nai Lert Bangkok (2024), and Aman Beverly Hills (2027). Additionally, resort destinations with Aman Residences will include Amanvari (Mexico, 2025), Aman Niseko (Japan, 2026), and Amanzoe (Greece). Prior to joining Aman (from 2014 to 2020), Vanessa was President of CMC Real Estate, and successfully developed Brickell Flatiron, a 1 million square foot residential and retail condominium development in the center of Miami’s downtown district. Vanessa also previously served as Executive Vice President of New Valley and CEO of its subsidiary Florida real estate brokerage, Douglas Elliman (from 2007 to 2013). During her tenure, Douglas Elliman grew from a single office with a handful of agents to a powerful national presence. Vanessa is deeply committed to contributing her time and financial resources to charitable organizations that promote the health and well-being of South Florida’s citizens as well as the economic growth of the region. She is an advisory board member of University of Miami’s School of Architecture and Real Estate Development, FIU College of Architecture and The Arts, as well as a mentor for The Women of Tomorrow.

Carol Greenberg Brooks

President
CREC

Carol Greenberg Brooks serves as President of CREC, Florida’s leading, independent, full-service commercial real estate services firm. She has led the firm along with co-founder Warren Weiser since its inception in 1989. Today, with her focus on disciplined business services diversification and strategic growth, CREC oversees a leasing and management portfolio comprised of 13 million square-feet of retail, office and multifamily products across Florida. As Partner and President, Carol’s expertise is applied in advisement and advancement of growth objectives and opportunities, far- and near-term, as market conditions dictate. Responsible for the recruitment of top-tier talent, her adept development and oversight of senior management teams across CREC’s business units – property management & services, accounting, human resources and marketing – have been an integral facet in CREC’s balanced expansion and growth. Beyond her management responsibilities at CREC, Carol has developed and launched a number of innovative business and community-focused initiatives. A passionate yoga and wellness practitioner, she implemented and maintains a workplace culture of balanced and healthy living principles at CREC, leading to the creation of a A Deeper Breath. The program, in partnership with CREC’s clients, provides and facilitates health and wellness courses for their employees offered within their buildings. Carol’s history of engaged community involvement has included serving as a founding chairwoman of “Friends for Sylvester,” a member of the University of Miami’s Real Estate Advisory Board, a fundraising arm of the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and sitting on the Center’s board of governors. Additionally, she has sat on the United Way of Miami-Dade County Board of Directors and was a member of the International Women’s Forum. Ms. Brooks earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Miami (Miami, Florida).

Susan LaFleur

Director of Interiors
Stantec Architecture & Design

Susan is an award winning Interior Designer with expertise spanning Hospitality and Residential projects across the country. Her knowledge of emerging trends, detailed focus on design aesthetics, and a deep understanding of her client’s needs allow her to take a holistic design approach, creating spaces that are timeless and tell a story for each guest. With a unique approach to conceptualizing design, she instills a blend of meticulous project management among her team merged with a passion for the highest levels of design and modernity, all while maintaining the integrity of the building, the community and her client’s needs.

Beth Butler

President
Compass Florida

With a 30-year career span, Beth Butler is a forerunner and prominent expert in real estate technology. As the president of Compass’ development division in Florida, a New York-based, technology-driven real estate firm, Beth has implemented strategies that has spearheaded this expansion into the South Florida real estate market. Prior to joining Compass, Beth partnered with developer Alianza Trinity Holdings as executive vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to that, Beth worked as the president for ONE Sotheby’s International Realty where she initiated an award-winning website, quintupled sales growth, spearheaded recruitment of 300+ agents and expansion from 1 office to 8. Previously, Beth managed such prestigious firms as The Keyes Company and EWM as well as maintaining her own consulting firm. A Miami native, Beth graduated from Auburn University, and received a master’s degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sandra Cardona

VP, Development & Capital Planning
Hersha Hospitality Trust

Born in New York City, Sandra Cardona’s passion for architecture and the urban landscape began at a young age. Her career has spanned over 20 years, across a broad range of disciplines from architecture, interior design and art into commercial real estate with a focus on hospitality design and project management. Since 2011, Ms. Cardona has led Hersha Hospitality Management’s Development and Capital Planning team in overseeing development, construction and complex renovation projects. Projects have varied from multiple, ground-up, high-rise branded hotels in NYC to complex multi-phase projects such as the 93-room tower addition at the Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront which most recently underwent a full redesign conversion to the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, an Autograph Collection, and winning recipient of the 2019 Miami HD Design and People’s Choice Best Overall Hotel awards. Prior, Ms. Cardona has held positions as architect and designer at Gene Kaufman Architect, Richardson Sadeki Design Group and Datumzero Design Office. She received a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and began her training at the prestigious William B. Tabler architectural firm where she played a critical role in numerous landmark and ground-up NYC projects. In 2018 and 2019 Sandra was honored by Bisnow as one of South Florida’s Power Women in Commercial Real Estate.

Della Heiman

Founder and CEO
Wynwood Yard

Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Della has worked in the fields of political communications, textile manufacturing, and venture capital in the U.S., Israel, Jordan, China, and Ethiopia. She holds a BA in History and Spanish Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is also a certified Bikram Yoga instructor with passion for holistic health and wellness. Della's desire to make healthy food affordable and accessible to all was the catalyst for della test kitchen, a globally-inspired, plant-based, fast-casual concept. After testing the concept in Boston, she moved to Miami in 2014 to open the first store. della test kitchen is a prototype restaurant designed to gather and adapt to community feedback in real time. The Wynwood Yard concept was galvanized by Della’s experience in attempting to find a location for her fast-casual restaurant in Miami. She realized that there was a great need for a culinary incubator and community hub to foster the development of innovative Miami food, culture, design and fitness entrepreneurs.

Shari Neissani

VP Development
PTM Partners/Junction 23 Development

With development and asset management experience in both New York and Florida, Shari brings a creative thought process grounded in reality to each project. In her role as VP of Development, Neissani is involved in the predevelopment process from acquisition through stabilization, focusing on maximizing value and efficiency for projects across varying asset classes and sizes. Neissani leverages her prior project experience, working for developers including, The Moinian Group, Extell Development, and RedSky Capital, to ensure all properties maximize value through remaining on schedule and budget while maintaining quality. Shari Neissani obtained a degree from Yeshiva University in New York where she graduated Cum Laude.

Peggy Olin

CEO
OneWorld Properties

Peggy Fucci, an acclaimed real estate strategist and broker since 1999, brings expertise to the luxury real estate industry. Throughout her career, Peggy has overseen the management and supervision of luxury condominium sales, investor relations, human resources and public relations for some of the largest real estate companies in the United States. Peggy’s market knowledge and reputation have also led to consulting for some of the largest developers nationwide and abroad, while managing properties all over the U.S. Peggy specializes in the international market and over the past two years, she has been instrumental in attracting foreign brokers and buyers to invest in the U.S. real estate market by investing her time to visit over 16 international cities throughout 11 countries. OneWorld Properties, was started by Peggy in 2008 with the goal of creating a new kind of brokerage with honesty, drive and enthusiasm that would deliver fresh and innovative ideas during the time of the failed real estate market. OneWorld Properties became the preferred broker and consultant for many financial institutions, including TotalBank, BankUnited, SunTrust, Chase Bank and Green River Capital among others, with whom OneWorld Properties successfully sold $50 million in REO assets during an 18-month period. In addition, OneWorld Properties consulted with these financial institutions to successfully reposition a select number of large-scale projects in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and South Florida. Before starting OneWorld Properties, Peggy began her real estate career with WCI Communities, at the time the largest publicly-traded hospitality, residential and amenity developer in Florida, where she managed properties for over six years. Peggy’s innate ability to translate global initiatives into effective local marketing programs proved extremely beneficial for many of WCI’s properties including BellaMare, One Bal Harbour, Mosaic and Plaza at Oceanside. Peggy has also worked with Turnberry, Ltd. on several luxury properties, including The Residences at Atlantis in the Bahamas. In 2010, Peggy and OneWorld Properties were hand-selected by ST Residential to head the sales and marketing strategies for its nationwide portfolio. ST Residential is a public-private consortium strengthened by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and a consortium comprised of a select group of investors: Starwood Capital, TPG Capital, WLR LeFrak and Perry Capital, the companies behind brands such as W Hotels, St. Regis, Ducati and Neiman Marcus. In 2009, ST Residential took over the assets of Corus Bank, which went bankrupt, consisting of a portfolio of over 100 properties throughout the country in an the effort to stabilize the residential real estate market with an unmatched level of detail to design, amenities and services. As Senior Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing for ST Residential, Peggy led the creation of innovative sales and marketing initiatives for over 40 properties in its nationwide portfolio with properties in Houston, Atlanta, Las Vegas and South Florida in projects like Paramount Bay in Miami, Mint at Riverfront, Artécity in Miami Beach and Infinity in Brickell. In an unprecedented effort and with Peggy’s leadership, ST Residential, sold more than $4 billion and 10,000 units over three years, helping to restore confidence in the real estate market. Peggy has always had a passion for development sales and has honed her sales and marketing skills while awaiting the upturn in the economy. In 2009, OneWorld Properties was awarded the sales and marketing efforts for Plaza at Oceanside, followed by Artécity on Miami Beach and Dolcevita on Singer Island, together totalling over $200 million in sales. More recently, OneWorld Properties has been awarded the exclusive sales and marketing of various preconstruction projects to its portfolio totalling a sellout of over $3 billion. Those properties include PARAMOUNT Fort Lauderdale Beach, the only residential building to be break ground on the strip in over a decade, Brickell Ten, urban luxury residences in the heart of Brickell, and PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter, the signature residential tower for the second-largest master planned community in the United States. OneWorld Properties has sold and closed over 2,500 units over the past two years accounting for $2.5 billion in sales. Peggy has been recognized for her creative marketing and sales strategies that have helped revive the South Florida real estate market. Peggy and her team strive to provide accurate and reliable market studies as well as effective sales and . marketing strategies while paying close attention to detail. Peggy resides in Coral Ridge with her husband, Rick Fucci, three children, Monica, Jake and Siena, and her Yorkie, Sofi. Peggy’s passions away from work include traveling, playing tennis and spending time with her family. Peggy has lived in Broward County for over ten years and is involved in the local community. She is a Board Member of Miami Bridge, Birch State Park and Broward Workshop, and is a Trustee for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. She previously served as a Trustee for the Charitable Foundation of The Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale. Peggy has been honored by the South Florida Business Journal as one of their “40 Under 40” and “Power Leades in Real Estate,” as well as a “Top Workplace Professional” by the Sun-Sentinel for her ongoing professional and philanthropic leadership.

Donna Abood

Principal, Managing Director - Miami
Avison Young

With a reputation as one of the most trusted and highly-recognized names in South Florida real estate, Donna Abood serves as Principal and Managing Director of the Miami office of Avison Young, a global commercial real estate firm. She is responsible for the client servicing and revenue of the leasing division and oversees the leasing division’s business development of institutional and local investor clients and tenant representation services, including retail, industrial and office. During her 38-year career, Donna has represented well over 80 million square feet of office buildings on behalf of local and institutional ownerships. Additionally, she has completed hundreds of transactions on behalf of tenants she has represented. What makes Donna different from other brokers in the market is her ability to orchestrate and manage several processes at one time, in the end harmonizing the owner’s and tenant’s goals. She is a leader and top performer in the marketplace, as she serves as a business resource to her clients in creating and implementing marketing plans. Previously, Donna served as Chairman and Founding Partner of Colliers International South Florida, which was formed in 2002 when she merged her firm, Abood & Associates, Inc. with Wood-Fay Realty Group. Prior to the formation of Abood Wood-Fay Real Estate Group, LLC, she was the principal and sole owner of Abood & Associates, Inc. Created in 1989, the company grew to be the largest privately held, locally based commercial real estate firm in Miami-Dade County. Before her entrepreneurial endeavors, Donna was Vice President of Terranova Corporation. Between 1984 and 1989, she developed and implemented marketing plans for the turnaround of distressed office properties. Donna graduated from Florida State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Management. Donna’s professional accomplishments include being named one of the 2020 & 2019 South Florida Business Journal’s 250 Power Leaders, honored with the 2019 Miami Today’s Silver Medal Award, inducted into the 2018 Real Estate Forum’s National Women of Influence Hall of Fame, named one of the Real Estate Forum’s Women of Influence in 2018, 2016, 2013 & 2009, named one of the 2016 Miami Today Book of Leaders, honored with the 2016 Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year Award, honored as a "Florida Business Ambassador" by Governor Rick Scott in 2015, honored as the 2015 United HomeCare Claude Pepper Corporate Service Award, named the 2014 – 2015 Chair of the Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Miami’s Economic Development Partnership, recipient of the Tom Richardson award; the highest honor given by Colliers International, she was inducted into the Florida State University College of Business Hall of Fame, honored as an “Ultimate CEO” by South Florida Business Journal and 2014 AXA Advisors Businesswoman of the Year Award in the Corporate Leader category. Donna serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committees for numerous civic and non-profit organizations. Additionally, she has dedicated her time and fundraising efforts for many organizations throughout South Florida.

Traci Miller

SVP, Shareholder
Miller Construction Company

Professionally, Traci has been working for Miller Construction Company since 1993 and became a shareholder with 9 other team members in 2011. She now serves as the Sr. Vice President and oversees business development & marketing, community relations, and is the champion of company culture. Traci is part of the firm’s leadership team and board of directors. Traci lives in Plantation with her husband Troy McHatton. They have raised 3 children, the youngest of whom is a senior at Appalachian State University. Traci’s current community, civic and professional affiliations and leadership positions include the following: CREW Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach –Immediate past President, Board of Directors, CREW Miami – Member, CREW Orlando - Member, NAIOP South Florida Chapter – Past President, Board of Directors, Fort Lauderdale Design & Construction Professionals - Member, Commercial Industrial Association of South Florida (CIASF) – Board of Directors, Vice President, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance – Board of Directors, Leadership Council Member, Rebuilding Together Broward County – President, Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward – Board of Directors, Leadership Broward Foundation – Past Board Chair, Class XX, United Way of Broward County - Women’s Leadership Council, Tocqueville Society, The Commonwealth Institute (TCI) – Member, Host of Big Ideas: Beyond the Book, Henderson Behavioral Health – Annual Dinner Committee Member, Salvation Army Broward County – Ambassador, Red Shield ReDesign Committee member, and 100+ Women Who Care Broward – Member

Felecia Hatcher

Co-Founder
Tribe Cowork, Urban Innovation Lab and Code Fever

Felecia Hatcher is on a mission to rid communities across the globe of innovation deserts by working with community leaders and government officials to create an inclusive and diverse tech/startup ecosystems as the Co-Founder of Tribe Cowork and Urban Innovation Lab, Code Fever, and Black Tech Week.. Code Fever is an initiative connects minority led startup founders to capital through their VC in Residence program, tech skills training for African American and Caribbean youth and young adults in the areas of technology and entrepreneurship through full stack development coding boot camps, in school programs and an annual week-long emerging technology summit called BlackTech Week and in 2018 launched the Tribe Co-Work and Urban Innovation Lab to create innovation hubs in Black Communities. Hatcher has raised over 3 million dollars to support Code Fever's work which sits at the intersection of economic development and inclusive innovation. As an Author, Social Entrepreneur and the former “Chief Popsicle” of Feverish Ice Cream, Hatcher was named one of the Empact 100 Top 100 Entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by the White House and Kauffman Foundation in 2011, a 2014 White House Champion of Change for STEM Access and Diversity, Ruth Shack Honoree, 2017 Comcast/Nationswell Tech Impact Allstar, Echoing Green Fellow, a Black Enterprise 2017 TechConnext Game Changer and 2016 Innovator of the Week, Essence Magazine Tech Master, and featured on the NBC Today Show, MSNBC, FORBES, INC, The Cooking Channel, & Grio’s 100 African Americans Making History. For 7 years, Felecia was known as the “Chief Popsicle” and ran Feverish Pops a Miami based gourmet popsicle manufacturing company with clients like Google, Airbnb, Paypal, Cadillac, Adidas, and Wholefoods. The VC backed company had a huge social mission and donated to build community programs, which is where Code Fever was launched in 2012. Before launching Feverish and Code Fever, Hatcher worked as a marketing manager at experiential marketing agencies for technology and gaming companies Sony, Nintendo, Wells Fargo 2nd Life Video game as well as the NBA as the front office Marketing Manager with the Timberwolves/Lynx during its championship winning year. A globally sought-after keynote speaker presenting engaging talks at Walmart HQ, Google London, United Nations, White House Young America Series, Girl Scouts of America, SXSW, Coca-Cola HQ, FBLA, DECA, Knight Foundation, TEDxJamaica and countless startup events, colleges, and universities. Hatcher is also the author of 5 books: Start your Business on a Ramen Noodle Budget, Focused, Become an Epic Expert, PopPreneurs and the C Students Guide to Scholarships​.

Barbara Liberatore Black

Managing Director
JLL

Barbara Liberatore Black is a Managing Director of JLL since December 2015. Prior to joining JLL Brokerage, Barbara was one of four Founding Partners of Cresa nationally. Barbara began this career in 1980, specializing in tenant representation and handling the real estate needs of tenants. During her career, Barbara has completed office lease transactions totaling more than 10 million square feet. Barbara is an expert in law firm transactions having represented over 60 law firm transactions; recent transactions include Shutts & Bowen which was the largest downtown office lease in South Florida and Gray Robinson for 35,000 RSF. Recently she handled US Century Bank for 40,000 RSF and is currently representing Modernizing Medicine, CHG, Marsh, Weiss Serota, to name a few. She has also been the exclusive representative for many financial institutions, corporations and Not-For-Profit organizations.

Tiffany Troxler

Director
Sea Level Solutions Center

Dr. Tiffany Troxler is Director of Science of the Sea Level Solutions Center at Florida International University, a state university center that focuses on advancing knowledge, decision making and actions toward mitigating the causes and adapting to the effects of sea-level rise. She is a research scientist with expertise in coastal and wetland ecosystem ecology. Some of her projects include collaborative research that examines the effects of saltwater inundation on Everglades coastal wetlands, monitoring adaptive management actions associated with Everglades restoration and advancing interdisciplinary advancing interdisciplinary nature-based solutions to extreme events in urban environments. She is also collaborating on the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program. Whenever possible, she really enjoys kayaking up the Miami River and around Biscayne Bay.

Annette Aravena

Principal
CPM Services

Annette Aravena is Principal of CPM Services, a leader in the South Florida commercial property maintenance industry. She has 20 years of experience in the industry and is responsible for the business development, marketing and technology of CPM Services. For 32 years, CPM has worked with CRE developers, owner/management and property managers in the South Florida area. They provide comprehensive portfolio services, specializing in commercial property maintenance and improvements.

Robin Haines Merrill

Director
Upper Room Art Gallery

Robin Haines Merrill is an Artist and Director with the Upper Room Art Gallery, a non-profit global collective of artists and designers who are focused on environmental and social justice issues. The gallery has won several awards, including Editors Choice Kids Crown Award, and the Knight Art Challenge Grant. Robin’s outside-the-box concepts have made her a Finalist three times in the Knight competition. Currently she is working with the City of Fort Lauderdale on a series of Painted Intersections along the beach that illustrate the water beneath the ground running in our aquifer, and the crosswalks designs carry vintage architectural shapes seen in the mid-century modern motels of the neighborhood. This project was awarded the Art of Community Grant from the Community Foundation of Broward, and earned Robin the “Best Street Artist” title from New Times Broward-Palm Beach in 2016. Robin organized an urban renewal project called Las Olas Village, that brought the area’s first lit crosswalk to the street, as well as recycling bins and a rally that saved the historic Post Office in Fort Lauderdale that was set for closure by the Federal Government. In 2017 when a developer attempted to bulldoze one of the oldest church structures in South Florida- First Lutheran Church of Fort Lauderdale-Robin organized an effort that led to the historical designation of the structure by the City. Married to artist Mark C. Merrill, she has two sons, one of whom joins her in video media production of documentaries, art films and commercials. Her degree in Fine Art comes from the California College of Arts & Crafts, and graduate studies were at Fuller Theological Seminary and the Asean Institute of Art. Robin spent 15 years in the Philippines as a Christian missionary doing economic development among the urban poor, and travelled to China multiple times with a cultural exchange group, creating a feature film as a joint venture with the Chinese government. Her paintings and photographs were represented by galleries in Manila and the Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center. Working with various artists and designers, using organic and recycled materials, the collaborative high-end art pieces are sold online at their gallery site and provide jobs helping people escape poverty and human trafficking. Currently she enjoys spending time with Everglades preservation efforts with Miccosukee and Seminole tribal members.

Mayi de la Vega

Founder and CEO
ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

Cuban American real estate powerhouse, Mayi de la Vega is the Founder and CEO of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty (ONE SIR), a Sotheby’s Auction House affiliate and leading luxury brokerage firm in South Florida, that’s recognized in the Sotheby’s International Realty international network as the 5th highest producing affiliate based on average sales pricing. As a true visionary, de la Vega founded the luxury brokerage firm back in 2008 during the depths of the country’s worst economic crash with one office and 30 agents, which today has flourished to 15 offices and more than 750 agents. De la Vega’s entrepreneurial spirit sprouted at a young age alongside her father, who together co-founded Intercontinental Metals, a distributing company that sold aluminum sheet and plate to the aerospace industry, where she built an affluent network that led her into her following endeavor, luxury real estate. Alongside her son, Daniel de la Vega, the current president of ONE SIR, and Mayi’s leadership, ONE SIR’s development division set the precedent in the luxury market with 18 revered, luxury pre-construction exclusive developments in Miami-Dade and Broward, holding the majority market share of luxury condominiums above the million-dollar mark in their portfolio, which account for more than $4 billion worth of real estate inventory. De la Vega prides herself in building a sustainable lifestyle, network and community for her clientele and staff. ONE SIR is recognized as the true voice of luxury through de la Vega’s achievements of maximizing the prestigious reputation of the historic Sotheby’s Auction House, challenging the status quo within the Sotheby’s International Realty network with award-winning marketing methods, publishing of ONE LIFE magazine and her induction into the network’s elite Braintrust Consortium. The woman entrepreneur, philanthropist, real estate expert and avid art collector dedicates a lot of her time traveling the globe, serving as the brand ambassador for ONE SIR, while marketing Miami as an international cultural mecca. Aside from serving as CEO of her company in the luxury real estate industry, she also dedicates her time to the local community through charitable, philanthropic organizations and educational programs both domestic and international. De la Vega is on the Chair Committee for the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, The Board of Trustees for FIU, The Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation and serves as a “Guardian Angel” for Jackson Memorial and a Board Member of CIF. She currently resides in Miami Beach, Florida.

Jennifer Bales Drake

Shareholder, Real Estate Practice Group
Becker

Jennifer Drake is a highly accomplished real estate attorney and a Vice Chair of Becker’s Public, Private Partnerships (P3) practice group. Jennifer’s practice focuses on commercial transactions which range from planned project development, including creation of condominiums, mixed used developments, townhome developments and single family developments, condominium conversions, public-private partnership transactions (P3), which includes representing municipalities, higher education institutions and private parties; real estate contract negotiation, mortgage and asset based financing for both financial institutions and borrowers, commercial leases, ground leases; preparation of joint venture agreements for real estate transactions, as well as real estate workouts and liquidation of real estate owned (REO) properties for financial institutions. Jennifer has extensive real estate experience and has represented clients in many high profile projects throughout the state of Florida as well as nationally. Jennifer is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest professional rating based on years of experience and endorsement by Florida lawyers in the areas of professional ability, ethics and conduct. Jennifer’s practice emphasizes handling all aspects of planned project development (including the acquisition stage, which may entail negotiation of purchase contract, DRI, zoning issues, and environmental due diligence); planning stage of the project, drafting of the project documents, and State registrations as necessary, supervising the closings on the sale of the end units, the representation of the developercontrolled boards and representation of developer through turnover of control of the association; the purchase and sale of fractured condominiums, and termination of condominiums. Additionally, her real estate experience emphasizes P3 transactions which runs the spectrum of negotiating, drafting land leases, management and operating agreements, for higher education institutions, municipalities as well as the private sector. She also handles complex multi-party transactions from negotiating real estate joint ventures to multi-party transactions as to the purchase or sale, financing, and negotiation of commercial leases and title for the private sector. Jennifer represents national, regional and state financial institutions in the areas of documentation for both real estate and asset based financing, loan modifications and in the restructuring/refinancing of multi-million dollar loan transactions, as well as disposition of REO properties. EXPERIENCE Acted as co-lead counsel for the Louisiana State University Property Foundation’s public/private partnership development (P3) called the Nicholson Gateway Project, the largest development project in the history of LSU, featuring a multi-phased bundled package of facilities with a total estimated development budget of $400 million. Representing Premier Water Parks, Inc. in a P3 transaction with the City of Fort Lauderdale in the redevelopment of the Lockhart Stadium and surrounding property to include, but not be limited to, a refurbished stadium and water park. Representing Nova Southeastern University in Student Housing Project. Represented Carrie Meek Foundation in formation of a joint venture with Foundry to develop property subject to a ground lease from Miami-Dade County located at the Opa-Locka Airport, on which an Amazon Distribution Center is being constructed. Represented Bethune-Cookman in P3 type transaction involving the sale/leaseback of land for the construction of a new student housing project on campus. Represented the City of South Miami in P3 matters. Represented KB Holdings Inc., in the negotiation of a ground lease with the City of Hollywood for beach front property to be developed as a hotel. Represented high end fashion designer in lease negotiations in Miami Design District. Represent Rogers International, Inc., in drafting of condominium documents for two mixed-used developments in Coral Gables, Florida Represent private developer in the development of a large mixed-use project in central Florida consisting of retail space, hotel space, condominiums, rental apartments and parking facilities developed in multiple phases. Represented TD Bank in construction loans, real estate based loans, asset based loans, loan modifications, and loan workouts to various borrowers. Represented purchaser of a beachfront home for $17 million. Represented purchaser/borrower in $6.3 million purchase of hotel property in Broward County, obtaining franchise agreement and loan transaction. Represented purchaser/developer in purchase of hotel condominium in Orange County, Florida. Drafted Condominium Documents and Interstate Land Sales Act (ILSA) filing for Turnberry Ocean Club. Represents hotel unit owner at Fontainebleau. Represents regional banks Florida Community Bank and Banco Do Brazil in real estate and asset-based loan transactions. Represents Willton Properties LLC in the negotiation of a joint venture agreement with Bainbridge for the development of a rental housing apartment complex in Tampa, FL. Represents developer in bulk purchase, loan modification and termination of large condominium development. Represented owner in purchase of Universal Music building in Miami Beach. Represented Epic West Condo LLC in the sales, closings for units and developer-controlled board at the Epic in Miami, Florida. Represents Lynx Zuckerman Holding Company, LLC in acquisitions of properties, sales of properties, drafting bulk contracts, homeowner documents and other general developer-related representation. Represented developer in termination of a 186-unit condominium on the West Coast of Florida. Negotiated ground lease sites for client Simoes Properties, with CVS, McDonalds and Wawa. Represents Penn Dutch Foods in commercial leases. RECOGNITION Ms. Drake was recognized by the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance for outstanding community leadership and featured in the 2018 “Real Estate Opportunities” chapter of its annual Economic Sourcebook and Market Profile. Jennifer has also been named to the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards as well as being AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. PROFESSIONAL / COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Ms. Drake is a regular speaker at national and regional P3 conferences, is a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar, and The Real Property, Probate and Trust Sections of both the Florida Bar and the American Bar Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers (“ICSC”). Jennifer is on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, she is also a member of Leadership Committee; past President of Leadership Broward Foundation and currently sits on the Board of Directors, is a member of Broward Women’s Alliance, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Kids Crusaders for Abused Children, One Room Schoolhouse and Cancer Research Network.

Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz

Partner, Deputy Section Leader
Holland & Knight - National

Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Miami office and serves as the firmwide deputy section leader of the Real Estate Section, assisting in managing the firm's nationwide real estate practice. Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz's practice is supplemented by her bilingual and multicultural team that facilitates her U.S.-based and international clients' needs in their U.S.-bound projects. Real Estate Transactions: Development, Acquisitions, Dispositions Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz is called to assist in developing solutions for various complex real estate transactions for her U.S.-based and international clients. Her clients include those with business focused in the areas of multifamily housing, industrial projects, hospitality, retail, residential development and office buildings. Within her residential practice, Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz has also represented clients in high-end homes. Her experience with this wide range of real estate clients includes acquisitions and dispositions, development and construction, acquisition and construction financing, corporate structuring and joint venture negotiations. Within her development practice, Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz is experienced in representing developers in a range of projects, including raw land development, construction of or already built multifamily, industrial and single family development, condominium, office and hotels. Joint Ventures Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz is experienced in handling real estate joint ventures focused on acquisition as well as development for her U.S.-based and international clients. Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz works closely with a bench of land use and zoning lawyers in Holland & Knight's various offices across the U.S. Holland & Knight's Joint Venture Group has vast experience in all relevant areas necessary for structuring, drafting negotiation and implementing joint venture real estate projects. She works hand in hand with the firm's corporate and tax teams to structure the joint ventures for various real estate developments and the proper corporate and tax structure for such development projects. Leasing: Landlord and Tenant Matters Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz represents landlords and tenants in retail, commercial, hotel and warehouse leasing agreements. This experience includes negotiations of defaults, deferrals and amendments to leases as a result of COVID-19. Finance In her finance experience, Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz represents borrowers and lenders. Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz has extensive experience in complex financial transactions for national and international institutional lenders in commercial lending for various types of projects and developments as well as asset-based loans secured by real estate, inventory, equipment receivables and securities. In her representation of the borrower, she handles real estate asset-based lending for acquisition, construction and development projects These projects include industrial, multifamily and single family development, condominium and hotels. Workouts Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz focuses on guiding institutional lenders toward resolutions for troubled loans and complex workouts. Ms. de las Cuevas-Diaz's special assets experience includes representation of lenders and developers across the U.S. with respect to forbearance, negotiation of loan modifications, restructuring and workouts on behalf of lenders and borrowers for various types of loans, deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure, note purchase, and sales and foreclosures affecting numerous commercial properties located throughout the state and nation.

Deb Watson

President
National Black MBA Association

Create procedures for transportation services and ensure compliance with internal policies. Implement cross-functional process improvement. Subject matter expert for global transportation and service provider processes and complex contract administration. Global Project SME for IT/TMS Transportation Project. Team leader with exceptional interpersonal, coaching and leadership skills. Identify and resolve complex contract and global transportation issues in collaboration with departmental managers, engineers, legal, regulatory, marketing, procurement, IT, inventory control, and internal staff. Manage solicitation and bid (RFP) of all types of global transportation-related services; ensure appropriate training and communication on changes to internal and external stakeholders with respect to policies, and procedures that affect the contracting and execution and review of solicitations and bid evaluations for transportation contracts. Strong collaborator with a track record of accomplishments, excellent communication skills, follow-through, commitment, positive attitude, and having a "go=getter" attitude.

Mika Mattingly

EVP
Colliers International

Amanda Hertzler

Executive Managing Director & Director of Design
MKDA

As executive managing director and director of design at MKDA, a Miami architecture and interior design studio, Amanda Hertzler, NCIDQ, leads an innovative design studio that produces spaces unmatched in creativity yet rooted in the business of real estate. Since establishing the studio in 2013, Amanda has been a trusted advisor on investment and development opportunities to major real estate owners and their agents, including East End Capital, Brickman, Goldman Properties, RedSky, The Safra Family, The Gindi Family and Metro1, among others. She helps owners define opportunities and possibilities in areas under transformation—such as the Design District, Downtown Miami and Wynwood Arts District, where she was invited to sit on the Board of the Wynwood Design & Review Committee. She also assists owners and their agents with marketing, leasing, design and build-out. This work includes: Wynwood Park, the adaptive-reuse of a full city block in Wynwood into 50,000-SF of retail space and 20,000-SF of green rooftop space on behalf of the Gindi Family 2407 NW 2nd Avenue, the adaptive-reuse of a Wynwood art gallery into two floors of retail and outdoor space on behalf of owner Redsky. 2509 N. Miami Avenue, the adaptive-reuse of a former Wynwood printing warehouse into a three-story office and retail building on behalf of co-developers Link Real Estate and Jameson Equities. 100 Biscayne, the repositioning of 100 Biscayne Blvd., formally New World Tower, in Downtown Miami on behalf of East End Capital. The MKDA upgrades include an amenity space, conference and fitness center, common corridors, bathrooms and prebuilt spaces. 80 NE 40th Street, the adaptive reuse of a dated Design District retail showroom into a 6,000-SF premier retail destination on behalf of Century Realty. Under Amanda’s leadership, the studio has also completed work on Douglas Entrance, La Puerta del Sol, Brickell City Tower, Courthouse Tower and 200 Southeast First. She is additionally leading the design of a Wynwood hotel, and has undertaken hospitality assignments in Miami and the Caribbean, where the firm is nearing completion on Spanish Court Hotel Resort, a $12.5 million, 120,000-SF redevelopment. Amanda is committed to being on the leading edge of design trends and the use of advanced technology, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 3D virtual reality, but it is her design vision—designing for the desired behavior of a space as well as functionality—that serves her clients well. In addition, she utilizes her marketing background to hone in on her clients’ strategic marketing positions to create branded environments alongside logos and signage to provide a cohesive image. This integrated approach has aided Amanda in the design of many successful workplaces for brands that include Creative Artists Agency, SproutLoud, DLD Lawyers, Ink Global, Retail Outsource, Bayview Loan Services, Burr and Forman, VUMI, Liberty Power, Fanatics, Banyan Street Capital, and Offizina, a 16-story, ground-up office condo in Coral Gables. Amanda has been named a 2019 South Florida Business Journal Most Influential Woman, 2018 Bisnow South Florida Power Woman and 2017 South Florida Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree. She has also secured a place for MKDA as one of South Florida Business Journal’s 2017 Best Places to Work. She earned a Masters in Interior Design at New York’s prestigious Pratt Institute School of Art and Design after studying design and architecture in Paris, France at the Université de Sorbonne. Prior to joining MKDA, she worked for large, world-renowned architecture firms and was an owner of her own successful design studio. Lastly, Amanda spent many years as an adjunct professor at Miami International University of Art & Design, teaching coursework that includes a variety of creative design studio and technology classes. She was also a former Committee Chair of UCREW, a subcommittee of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women), a group that holds University programs to foster interest in commercial real estate and related fields as career choices.

Iris Escarra

Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig

Iris Escarrá is Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Land Use Practice and a deeply experienced attorney in zoning and land use law. Located in the firm’s Miami office, Iris regularly represents property owners and developers in large development projects valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. With her counsel, dozens of high-profile commercial, mixed-use, and residential projects have been completed throughout Miami over the past two decades. A Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in city, county, and local government law, Iris guides clients through the municipal zoning and land use process to seek approvals for some of South Florida’s largest and most complex projects. She routinely helps clients obtain full entitlements for development, including navigating subdivision, zoning, and other applicable development regulations. She also assists in procuring government contracts and conducts due diligence to assess a property’s development potential. Her clients include many of South Florida’s largest developers, who appreciate her creative and pragmatic approach to their complex legal matters. Clients frequently praise Iris for her ability to leverage her wide-ranging knowledge of zoning and land use law to help bring their development projects to fruition.

Beth Azor

Owner
Azor Advisory Services

Affectionately known as ‘The Canvassing Queen™’ Beth Azor is the founder and CEO of Azor Advisory Services (AAS), a leading commercial real estate advisory and investment firm based in Weston, Florida. As its principal, Beth currently owns and manages six shopping centers in Florida valued at over $100 million. She travels the U.S. consulting with, brokering deals for and training associates in the commercial real estate industry. A partial list of Beth’s clients includes Phillips Edison & Co., Brixmor Properties, The Shopping Center Group, Urban Edge Development and DLC Management Group. Prior to founding AAS in 2004, Beth was the President of Terranova Florida’s largest 3rd party asset manager. Beth also has over thirty years of experience in managing, developing, redeveloping and teaching commercial real estate leasing agents all over the country. She wrote two books detailing her experience in the real estate world and her secret sauce for success. Don’t Say No for the Prospect was published in 2019 followed up by The Retail Leasing Playbook in 2020. Beth was named a Retail Influencer by Real Estate Forum/Globe Street and received a Real Estate Award from South Florida Business & Wealth in 2021, and was named a South Florida Power Women by Bisnow in 2019. She co-founded the South Florida Independent Retailer Awards held annually in Broward County. A graduate of FSU, Beth is a former Foundation Trustee and is past Chairwoman of the Board, and Founder of the FSU Real Estate Foundation. Beth is a past President of the Board of Directors of HOPE Outreach Center in Davie, Florida and co-founder of 100+ Women Who Care in South Florida. She resides in Davie with her two boys, Alex and Mario.

Caroline Fleischer

Managing Principal
Cresa

Caroline Fleischer is the Managing Principal of Cresa's South Florida office. Ms. Fleischer’s sole focus is Tenant Representation and subleasing exclusively in the South Florida office markets. With 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, she is known as one of the top office producers in the region, nominated as a finalist for Broker of the Year through NAIOP in 2012,2013,2015 and 2017 because of her dedication and hard work in the local business community. She is a key strategist and consultant to her clients offering the best, most practical and trend setting ideas for her tenants. Caroline's continued success earned her an Honoree Award in 2016 for being the Most Influ

Carol Faber

Partner
Akerman

Carol Schoffel Faber is a partner in the Miami office of Akerman LLP, a national AmLaw 100 law firm, practicing for over 30 years. Carol represents major financial institutions, real estate companies, servicers, and domestic and international investors in a wide range of complex commercial real estate transactions, from financing, leasing, and acquisition and sales, to distressed loans and properties, ranging from several million to many hundreds of millions of dollars, on vacant land and developed properties of all kinds. Recent transactions include representation of the: purchaser of a +$500 million office tower in downtown Miami (the largest single-building transaction in Miami’s history); purchaser in the $370 million retail acquisition on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach (the 2nd largest in Miami-Dade history); a financial institution and private equity lenders, and an investor in the borrower, respectively, in condominium and condo/hotel construction loans ranging from $57 million to over $200 million. Ms. Faber is one of Florida's Super Lawyers, and Florida Trend's Legal Elite, and she was named in 2011 and 2017 by Real Estate Forum as a Women of Influence, one of 50 women real estate professionals chosen nationally. Carol currently serves on the U.M. Law School Real Property Development LLM Program Advisory Board, as Chair of the Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab Miami Advisory Board, and previously on the Real Estate Editorial Advisory Board of Law360, on the Executive Committee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Southeast Florida/Caribbean District Council, and as Director of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Carol is the Chair of Akerman's Women's Initiative Network and a Co-chair of its Distressed Property Practice Group.

Kerri Barsh

Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig

Kerri L. Barsh represents public and private clients in public infrastructure matters, as well as environmental regulatory and litigation issues. She was a member of the Greenberg Traurig team that worked on some of the state’s most prominent public-private transportation projects including the construction of the PortMiami Tunnel and the widening of Interstate I-4 in and through Orlando, Florida’s largest P3 project. The two projects demonstrate how public-private partnerships can facilitate development of public infrastructure. Kerri also worked on the California Light Rail Project that connects the mega regions of the state running from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin. She was selected by Miami Today as “Best of Miami: Thought Leaders” in 2016 and South Florida Business Journal one of 25 “Influential Business Women” in 2011.

Abby Melone

Founder and President
Capital Analytics

Abby Melone is the Founder and President of Capital Analytics, a dynamic media company that produces annual economic research and high-level networking conferences promoting investment on major US markets. She is currently focused on expanding the acclaimed investor guides throughout the US and building state-wide investor summits. Her areas of expertise include project management, business development, public speaking and event planning. A Rutgers University-New Brunswick graduate, Abby Melone started her career in publishing at Wiley, one of the United States’ top Fortune 500 companies. She later joined Oxford Business Group (OBG), an international research and consultancy firm, where she started as Country Director, leading the on-the- ground operations for the annual business guides in the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Thailand, Jordan and Qatar. She was promoted to Regional Director in just three short years where she oversaw the company’s Middle East operations whilst heading the field staff recruiting and training department. She was selected to spearhead the company’s expansion to Latin America where Melone single handedly identified markets for growth, negotiated and fostered strategic partnerships with leading Ministries and investment boards, established local offices, hired personnel and lead five teams throughout the region. At the time of her departure, she was Managing Director and sat on the Board. Melone is experienced in hosting, organizing and speaking at large scale conferences and has successfully done so in over eight countries, obtaining VIP speakers like Panamanian President, Nicolas Barletta; Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maria Angela Holguin; Chairman of the Panama Canal, Roberto Roy; Francisco Diaz, CEO of ProMexico; Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Vasant Bharath. Throughout her career she has interviewed influential individuals like Governor Rick Scott, Governor Nathan Deal, Mexican President Pena Nieto, Panamanian Presidents Ricardo Martinelli, Costa Rican President, Laura Chincilla, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Panamanian Minister of Industry and Trade, Jorge Quijano, to name a few. Enthusiastic to better the lives of women and girls, Melone is a proud Board Member of The Women’s Fund.

Nancy Klock Corey

Regional Vice President
Coldwell Banker

Nancy Klock Corey, regional vice president of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate’s Southeast Florida region, brings nearly 40 years of experience in nearly every aspect of the real estate business to her position. Corey oversees operations for 19 branch and satellite offices, supporting 1,700 affiliated agents. In addition to her role as regional vice president, Corey continues to help lead the company’s award-winning Miami Beach office. Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is the No. 1 residential real estate brokerage in Florida. After graduating with honors from Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio, Corey began a remarkable real estate career as a receptionist for the Coral Gables office of The Klock Company Realtors, then owned by her parents and mentors, real estate icons Joe Klock, Sr. and Mary Dot Klock. Corey excelled in leadership positions within the company, gaining crucial experience and knowledge within relocation, referral and education programs, all of which she uses today to help agents build their book of business and drive productivity. When The Klock Company, with nine offices in three counties, merged with Coldwell Banker in 1983, establishing its presence in Florida, Corey launched the Property Management and Home Rental division, holding the position for 10 years while overseeing the brokerage’s acquisitions statewide. She grew the division to well over 1,000 properties and managed six profit centers around the state. Corey stepped into branch management at the company’s Kendall office in 1994. She successfully managed multiple branch offices before moving to the Miami Beach office in 2010, where she works closely with The Jills, the company’s No. 1 team in Florida. In 2019, Corey was named one of South Florida Business Journal’s Influential Business Women. The awards recognize the top 25 most influential business women in South Florida who have made unique contributions to the community and business world. She earned her LGBTRES (LGBT Real Estate Specialist) designation in 2008. She participated in the NRT Leadership Development Program in New Jersey in 2007. In addition, she is a Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager, ePro Certification and Real Estate Cyberspace Specialist, and participated in the 3-day ePower Group with international speaker, author and thought leader Michael Russer. She is a contributing editor for the Coral Gables Gazette and Pinecrest Tribune, Florida Realtor Magazine, and the Miami Herald; and contributed to the 2007 book “The Real World of Selling Real Estate.” She is a highly regarded motivational speaker, as well as a speaker on subjects such as management by objective, ethics, and discrimination. She has served as a panelist for the Public Forum on Tax Referendum in Miami-Dade County, and the Miami Herald State of the Market. Corey is married with five children. She is a past treasurer for the American Youth Soccer Organization, and former Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader.

Beverly Raphael

President & CEO
RCC Associates, Inc

Stephanie Rodriguez

National Director, Industrial Services
Colliers

As National Director, Industrial Services for the U.S., Stephanie focuses on overall growth of Colliers’ industrial business, including the establishment of new client relationships and expansion of existing affiliations. She promotes talent recruitment and retention to support Colliers’ best-in-class Industrial Services team as they accelerate client success. Drawing on her 25 years of commercial real estate experience, Stephanie leads Colliers’ industrial platform, especially in providing thought leadership, research and marketing. She brings extensive experience in acquisitions, lease transactions and negotiations, asset management, and development projects. Before joining Colliers, Stephanie spent nearly 15 years at Duke Realty Corporation where she rose to the level of Regional Senior Vice President, overseeing leasing for a multi-market, multi-million-square-foot portfolio in Central and South Florida in addition to leading property management, development and marketing of the firm’s industrial portfolio in the region. Prior to her time at Duke, she held progressively more senior roles at Trammell Crow Company and CBRE.

Nancy Lash

Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig

Nancy B. Lash is the Co-Chair of the Miami Real Estate Practice. She represents clients both in Florida and nationwide in broad aspects of commercial real estate. Her experience includes the negotiation, documentation and closing of the sale, purchase, financing and development of vacant land, office buildings, apartment buildings, shopping centers and large-scale mixed-use, hotel, condominium, office and retail projects. Nancy has wide-ranging experience in portfolio transactions with assets located in jurisdictions throughout the United States. She also represents landlords and tenants in complex lease negotiations, including ground leased developments in the public-private sector.

Barbara Sharief

District 8 Commissioner
Broward County

Broward County Commissioner Dr. Barbara Sharief was born in South Florida, raised in Broward County and is a long time resident of District 8. In her personal life, Barbara is a mother of three children Amanda, Alyssa and Hailey, and an active volunteer in Broward County schools. Commissioner Sharief comes from a family of 10. Her father was a self-employed clothing salesman and her mother assisted her father in the financial workings of his company. Both of her parents have given her strong values, morals and ethical beliefs. Professionally, Commissioner Sharief is an accomplished, self-made business woman. Her career began after she graduated from North Miami Senior High School and enrolled at Miami Dade Community College. She later graduated from Jackson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and obtained an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing from Miami Dade Community College. She continued her educational pursuits and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Degree from Florida International University. Commissioner Sharief is one of the youngest people to have passed the RN board exam in the State of Florida. Commissioner Sharief received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice on October 13, 2017. She has more than 26 years of experience in the specialized field of issues pertaining to medically complex children. Through this invaluable experience, Commissioner Sharief was successful at creating and managing a variety of companies and has a strong success record for making non-profitable businesses profitable. In 2001, Commissioner Sharief founded South Florida Pediatric Homecare Inc. The company is currently servicing residents of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties providing jobs for approximately 650 professionals in South Florida and has done so by providing an invaluable service. The company is considered one of the top home health care agencies in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties for the care of children and adults with complex medical issues. As a business owner and active parent, her commitment to her community led her to public service. Commissioner Sharief was Commissioner and Vice-Mayor for the City of Miramar from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, she was elected to the Broward County Commission, District 8 which serves the culturally diverse population of Hallandale Beach, Miramar, Pembroke Park, Pembroke Pines, and West Park. In 2013, Commissioner Sharief was selected as the first African-American Mayor of Broward County and in 2016, was selected once again as Broward County’s Mayor. During her tenure, she has advocated for affordable healthcare, mortgage and foreclosure relief, solutions for homelessness, and for entrepreneurial/small business assistance and mentoring programs. Commissioner Sharief has been a member of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) since 2009 and in 2015 was elected President. She has also been a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) since 2009 and serves as Chair of the National Association of Counties’ Subcommittee on Medicaid and Indigent Care, and is currently running for 2nd Vice-President. Commissioner Sharief will continue representing her constituents on a state and national level to advocate for economic stability through job creation, small business support, advocating for affordable healthcare, tourism, neighborhood revitalization, education and quality care for the elderly, veterans and children.​​​​

Maria Juncadella

Managing Principal
Fairchild Partners

Maria is Managing Principal of Fairchild Partners, one of South Florida’s top-rated commercial real estate firms, which she co-founded in 2005. As a real estate advisor, Maria specializes in the sale and leasing of commercial properties in Miami-Dade’s most active submarkets. Maria has spearheaded multimillion-dollar deals in office lease and sales transactions Doral, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, South Miami, and Kendall. CREW-Miami (Commercial Real Estate Women) has recognized Maria with an Outstanding Leadership Award (2016), a Star Award (2015), and an Outstanding Mover & Shaker Award (2014). Maria is on the Board of Governors of the commercial arm of the Miami Association of Realtors, having served as its 2016 President. Maria was 2012 President of CREW-Miami and has served on its board, and on national and chapter committees, in various leadership roles. Maria currently serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, where she is also co-chair of Women Building up Women, a Habitat initiative dedicated to constructing affordable homes for low-income single mothers and their families. She also serves on the Membership Committee of the University of Miami’s Citizens Board, a select group of business leaders who actively support the University’s philanthropic efforts and promote UM programs.

Angie Kenyon

Vice President of Real Estate
MOD Pizza

Angie has been a south Florida resident since 1976 and is a highly regarded executive in the Commercial Real Estate Industry representing brands such as Starbucks, Burger King, Dunkin Brands and currently P.F. Chang’s group. Throughout her career she has created lucrative brand growth throughout the country by developing new units and managing the real estate, design and construction aspects of major brands. She has led great teams of people to accomplish challenging growth goals and is responsible for the majority of the Starbucks locations in Florida. She will be joining BBX Capital group as the VP………….. Angie is also an avid athlete and has participated in many triathlons and marathons, including New York Marathon, Marine Corp Marathon, Disney Marathon and San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon. She has a passion for the arts communities in South Florida and is actively involved in The Arts Garage, Delray Beach and School House Square Arts in Delray Beach and now an active board member of Benzaiten. She has served as President of Dade County International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and is an active member in this organization as well as 100 Women Who Care and CityHouse Delray.

Jessica Browdy

Founder & President
J. Kelly Advisors

Jessica is an experienced design and construction Executive with a demonstrated history of working in the design and construction industry. Skilled in project planning, budgeting & value engineering, design management, construction management, and project completion. Strong project Executive Management professional with 2 years of architecture experience, 9 years of commercial construction experience at one of the country's largest construction firms, and 3 years of project management experience. She holds a degree in Architecture (B.Arch.) graduating magna cum laude.

Lisa Neumayer

Area Vice President
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co

Since 2015, Lisa Neumayer has emerged as a risk management consultant leader within the Gallagher Real Estate and Construction practice. Working closely with specialty team members throughout Gallagher’s global network, she delivers niche expertise, products and services to real estate developers, contractors and property owners/managers. Her specialty provides experience for large Owner and Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIP/CCIP) Wrap Ups and Builder’s Risk for construction projects and permanent placement risk management programs involving multiple asset classes ranging in values from $50 million to upwards of $500 million+. In less than 4 years, she has provided the risk financing and security for major real estate developments totaling over $1 billion in values, placing nearly $5 million of premium into the global insurance marketplace. Quickly building a reputation in the market as a creative thinker and problem solver, she has worked with a number of clients to tackle their supply chain trade credit risk domestically and abroad and provided alternative risk solutions for unique exposures worldwide.

Julie Schwartz

Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez

ulie Schwartz concentrates her practice in all aspects of ad valorem property taxation, representing property owners before the Value Adjustment Board and in Circuit Court appeals throughout Florida. She has extensive experience in valuation appeals for many types of property, including retail centers, office properties, hospitality, industrial, multifamily, hotel condominium, residential condominium, vacant land and tangible personal property. In addition to valuation issues, Ms. Schwartz specializes in property tax exemption, classification and substantial completion issues. These include agricultural classifications, affordable housing exemptions and discounts, educational exemptions for private and charter schools and universities, and religious and charitable exemptions for non-profit entities including hospitals. Ms. Schwartz also has extensive experience with portability and homestead exemptions.

Wendy Beck Wolansky

Partner
Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez

Wendy Beck Wolansky concentrates her practice in the ad valorem taxation area, where her expertise is in representing property owners throughout the State of Florida before Value Adjustment Boards in administrative appeals challenging the valuation of commercial property including regional malls, anchor department stores, big box stores, hotels, hotel condominium buildings, major office buildings, low income housing tax credit apartment buildings and major apartment buildings, among others.

Ilene Katz Kobert

Miami Real Estate Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig

Ilene K. Kobert is a shareholder in the Real Estate Department of the firm's Miami office. Ilene concentrates her practice in various areas of commercial real estate law, representing both landlords and tenants, buyers and sellers, borrowers and lenders in connection with the acquisition, disposition, and development of numerous types of real property in Florida and nationwide. She advises borrowers in connection with secured financings, including acquisition loans, construction loans, and refinances. Ilene has wide-ranging experience counseling national retailers on the acquisition and development of shopping center pads, including the negotiation of ground leases, REAs and other matters affecting title. Ilene’s wide-ranging experience includes counseling clients on retail and restaurant deals, including international QSR companies, fine dining establishments and national retailers. Before joining Greenberg Traurig, Kobert was in-house counsel at Burger King Corporation.

Cristina Lumpkin

Partner
Bilzin Sumberg

Cristina Arana Lumpkin is a Partner in Bilzin Sumberg's Environmental Group. She advises clients on all aspects of environmental law, including transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters. Cristina represents homebuilders and commercial real estate developers throughout all phases of the land development process. She advises clients on pre-acquisition environmental due diligence, working with the client's environmental consultants to ensure the appropriate scope and methods of site assessment. For contaminated sites, Cristina advises clients on selection of appropriate remedial strategies for the client's objectives and budget. Cristina oversees implementation of remedial actions and preparation of reports and works with governmental agencies to achieve regulatory closure of contaminated properties. Additionally, Cristina assists clients in obtaining environmental permits at the local, state and federal level. Cristina defends clients with respect to federal, state, and local environmental enforcement matters, including Clean Water Act enforcement. Cristina has been recognized by legal publications Chambers USA and Florida Super Lawyers. She received her J.D. from the University of Miami, graduating summa cum laude, and earned her M.A. and B.A. from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.