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Executive Board

Cesar L. Alvarez
Board Member
Mr. Alvarez is president and chief executive officer of Greenberg Traurig LLP, one of the nation's fastest growing law firms. Most recently, he served as campaign chair for the United Way of Miami-Dade and currently serves on the board of directors of several publicly-traded corporations and numerous other charitable organizations, including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. In 2001, the Hispanic National Bar Association named him Attorney of the Year. He has also been recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" by The National Law Journal; "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business; as well as one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Miami" by Miami Business Magazine. back to top
Ambassador Paul L. Cejas
Board Member
Ambassador Cejas served the United States as its ambassador to Belgium. Mr. Cejas of Miami, Florida, has been a business and civic leader in the South Florida community for more than 30 years. He is chairman and chief executive officer of PLC Investments, Inc., a wholly owned company that manages portfolio investments as well as investments in real estate and venture capital projects. back to top
Jose M. de Lasa
Board Member
Mr. de Lasa is a partner in the law firm of Baker&McKenzie. He recently retired from Abbott Laboratories where he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the board of directors of several organizations, including The Resource Foundation and the American Arbitration Association. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Yale Law School. back to top
Karina DuQuesne
Young Professional
Karina DuQuesne is currently pursuing a Juris Doctorate at Cardozo Law School in New York City, as an E. Nathaniel Gates Scholar.  Mrs. DuQuesne began her career at Goldman Sachs as a Financial Analyst in the Securities Division’s Pension, Endowment, & Foundation Group, which manages relationships with pension funds, endowments, and foundations and works with investors to develop and implement cross asset investment, risk hedging, liquidity management, private placement, and co-investment strategies. Most recently she worked as a Senior Analyst in the Human Capital Management Division where she focused her efforts on Executive and Equity Compensation. She is also a member of Raices de Esperanza, Inc., and buildOn. Mrs. DuQuesne graduated in 2007 from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and concentrations in Real Estate and Management. She is a Series 7 and Series 63 licensed financial analyst.  back to top
Juan Espinosa
Board Member
Juan G. Espinosa is the managing partner of Espinosa & Espinosa, LLP, a New Jersey law firm founded by his father, a prominent trial attorney in republican Cuba. The firm is one of the oldest and fastest-growing Hispanic-owned law firms in the country. Last year, Espinosa & Espinosa, entered into a first-of-its kind subsidiary relationship with one of largest law firms in the New York metropolitan area. Prior to his tenure at the firm, Mr. Espinosa held various senior management positions at Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals. He is member of several professional and civic boards. Mr. Espinosa holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree, a Masters in Management Science, and a Juris Doctorate degree. He has taught in several graduate business programs back to top
Alfonso Fanjul
Board Member
Alfonso “Alfy” Fanjul is Chairman and CEO of Fanjul Corp. and Florida Crystals Corporation. Florida Crystals produces sugar, rice and other agricultural products and generates renewable energy in the largest biomass power plant in North America. The company produces the only organic sugar 100 percent made in the USA, which is sold under the Florida Crystals® brand. Through its American Sugar Refining subsidiary, it produces refined sugar products in the United States, Canada and Mexico that are marketed under the Domino®, C&H® and Redpath® brands. Mr. Fanjul also serves as Chairman, CEO and President of Central Romana Corporation, Ltd., which is engaged in sugar production, real estate development and resort hotel operations, including the Casa de Campo resort, in the Dominican Republic. Mr. Fanjul is a co-founder of Mission International Rescue Charities in the Dominican Republic, a Senior Member of the University of Miami Board of Trustees, a member of The Florida Council of 100 and a former director of both Pennzoil Co. and Florida Power & Light Co. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fordham University in New York City. back to top
Michael B. Fernandez
Board Member
Miguel (Mike) Fernandez currently serves as Chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P., a private equity firm with committed capital in excess of $500 million located in Coral Gables, Florida. The firm focuses on investing in healthcare service companies nationwide. Mr. Fernandez's career has centered on acquiring, growing and divesting of healthcare services companies.

Mr. Fernandez was Founder, President and CEO of Group Tech Systems, Inc., the first national database of group health insurance information. Founder and CEO of Comprehensive Benefit Administrators, Inc. (CBAI) which was sold to RHMO (a public company) in 1990. He served as Executive Vice President of Ramsay-HMO, Inc. from 1990 to 1992. Founder and CEO of Physicians Healthcare Plans, Inc., which was sold to Amerigroup Corporation (a public Company) in 2002. Founder and controlling shareholder of Prescribit Rx, which was sold to Humana (a public company) in 2005. Founder and CEO of CarePlus Health Plans, Inc., which was sold to Humana (a public company) in 2005. Founder and controlling shareholder of Atlantic Dental, Inc., a dental HMO, which was sold to Doral Dental in 2008. Founder and controlling shareholder of Hospitalists of America which was sold to IPC The Hospitalist Company, Inc. (a public company) in 2008. Controlling interest in Navarro Discount Pharmacies, the largest retail pharmacy chain in the U.S. focused on the Hispanic market. Controlling shareholder in NutriForce, a vitamin manufacturing and distribution company. Founder and controlling shareholder in Simply Healthcare Plans, a health maintenance organization (HMO). Controlling shareholder in Better Health, a provider services network (PSN). Acquired controlling interest in MSD, a Massachusetts based distribution company sold in 2010.

Mr. Fernandez currently serves on the board of directors of MEDNAX, Inc. (NYSE: MD). His community service endeavors include serving on the boards of the United Way of Miami-Dade County and the University of Miami. He is also Vice Chairman of the University of Miami Medical Affairs Committee. He formerly served on the board of the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation and Sylvester Cancer Hospital. Mr. Fernandez has been honored frequently with recognition for his business acumen. He was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995.

He attended the University of New Mexico and Northern Virginia Community College. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1975.
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Roberto Goizueta
Board Member
Roberto S. Goizueta is the Margaret O’Brien Flatley Professor of Catholic Theology at Boston College. Dr. Goizueta is a former President of the Catholic Theological Society of America and the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Marquette University. Dr. Goizueta has received honorary degrees from the University of San Francisco and Elms College. The National Catholic Reporter has named him one of the ten most influential Hispanic-American educators, pastors, and theologians. back to top
Felice Gorordo
Young Professional
Felice Gorordo is co-founder and chairman of Raíces de Esperanza (Roots of Hope), a national non-profit focused on youth empowerment in Cuba. Mr. Gorordo founded Raíces while in college and leads a network of more than 2,900 students and young professional across the U.S. He has spoken throughout the U.S., Europe and Latin America on human rights and on the role of youth as change agents. Currently, he heads government sales for Liberty Power Corporation, an independent energy supplier and the fastest?growing Hispanic?owned business in the U.S. Previously, Mr. Gorordo served in various positions at the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security, including as the Special Assistant to the Director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service and aide to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Gorordo is a graduate of Georgetown University and a member of the University of Miami’s Center for Hemispheric Policy Energy Task Force. He has been featured on CNN’s “Young People Who Rock” and appeared on BBC, NPR, CNN, and CNN en Español. Mr. Gorordo currently resides in Miami, FL, with his wife Bianca Maria. back to top
David Hernandez
Board Member
David Hernandez is Chairman and CEO of Liberty Power—the only minority owned retailer of electricity with a national presence. In 2001, in the midst of a national economic downturn, Mr. Hernandez teamed with other professionals from the energy, telecommunications and financial services sectors and created Liberty Power. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Liberty Power supplies power to businesses and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Social Security Administration. Some of their business customers include New York Life, JCPenney, Linens ‘n Things, Circuit City, Eckerd Drugs, and Lowe’s. In less than four years, Liberty Power has gone from grossing less than $1 million in their first year to more than $100 million in 2005. A native of Cuba, Mr. Hernandez graduated Magna Cum Laude from Palm Beach Atlantic University in Palm Beach, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and later earned an MBA from the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business. He currently serves on their Alumni Council and in 2004 was awarded NYU’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005, by Hispanic Business Magazine, and was awarded the 2004 Hispanic magazine Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2006, he was also chosen as one of the Top 100 Most Important Hispanics in Technology & Business by Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology Magazine. He has also been featured in both print and television articles, such as NBC’s Hispanic Today. back to top
Ricardo Herrero
Young Professional
Ricardo A. Herrero is a co-founder and Director of Operations of Concordia Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health care organization based in Miami, Florida.  Previously, he was associate corporate counsel in the Manhattan office of The Beanstalk Group, LLC, the world's leading brand licensing agency and consultancy, where he specialized in intellectual property licensing and dispute resolution. He has a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Florida International University, with a double major in Marketing and International Business. Ricardo is very active in his community and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party in 2010.  He was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico and is the son of Cuban immigrants. back to top
John C. McIntire y Salazar
Board Member
Mr. McIntire is a principal in two New York-based fund managers focused on emerging market credit and private equity. He retired in 2004 as a partner of Goldman, Sachs & Co, where he spent 12 years focused on Latin America. He was responsible for many of Goldman’s key relationships with finance ministries, central banks as well as selected private sector clients, and during his last four years he acted as regional CEO for all of the firm’s businesses in Latin America. 

Prior to Goldman Sachs, he was a director in the international debt and equity capital markets areas at Credit Suisse First Boston in both London and New York (1985-1991), and he began his career as a credit and corporate finance specialist at The Chase Manhattan Bank. 

Mr. McIntire is the (non-executive) Chairman of Open English, an online English teaching venture targeting the Spanish-speaking world. He is also co-chair of the Global Advisory Board of Endeavor and is a member of the Council of the Americas. 

Mr McIntire was born in Havana and has actively supported humanitarian activities in Cuba. He graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Economics in 1979.  back to top
Eduardo G. Mestre
Board Member
Eduardo Mestre is Vice Chairman of Evercore Partners and is responsible for the firm’s corporate advisory business. Prior to joining Evercore, Mr. Mestre served as Chairman of Citigroup’s Global Investment Bank and, prior to that, he spent six years as head of investment banking and six years as co-head of mergers and acquisitions at Salomon Smith Barney. As head of investment banking, Mr. Mestre led Salomon’s business integration efforts arising from the various mergers that led to the creation of Citigroup. Prior to joining Salomon in 1977, he practiced law at Cleary Gottlieb. Over the years Mr. Mestre has represented many clients in communications, media, defense, aerospace and technology, including Amgen in its acquisition of Immunex; AOL in its merger with Time Warner; Citigroup in its acquisition of Banamex; News Corporation in its acquisition of Hughes; SBC in its acquisitions of AT&T and Ameritech; and Northrop in its mergers with Grumman, Litton and TRW. Mr. Mestre is a member of the executive committee and past Chairman of the Board of WNYC, New York’s public radio stations, and he is Chairman of the Board of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, one of the nation’s leading cancer, neuroscience and genetic research centers. Born in Havana, Mr. Mestre is a 1970 summa cum laude graduate of Yale and a 1973 cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School. back to top
Ralph Morera
Board Member
Mr. Morera is a Certified Public Accountant and was a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers for more than twenty years serving public and private clients of the Firm. During his career he practiced in the offices located in New York, Puerto Rico and Miami. Mr. Morera was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bacardi Limited until his retirement in July 2009. Bacardi Limited is the Parent Company of all Bacardi Companies and it is the largest privately held spirits Company in the world. Mr. Morera’s current activities range from participating in the Board of Directors of listed companies as well as non for profit organizations. He is a graduate of Pace University of New York City and has been an active member of the American and Florida Institute of CPA’s. He has been recognized by his activities in the global finance markets. While a resident of Miami, Mr. Morera participated in various community activities including Chairman of the Board of the American Red Cross of Greater Miami, Board Member of the Beacon Council, Goodwill Industries of South Florida, the Zoological Society of Florida and President of the Cuban American CPA Association. back to top
Juan T. O'Naghten
Board Member
Mr. O’Naghten is an attorney in South Florida with the firm of Diaz & O'Naghten. He was a founding shareholder and member of the board of directors and executive committee of and is general counsel to Miami Air International, Inc., DSL Internet Corporation and American Realty Capital, LLC. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors and is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Inc. He is also Vice President of the Cuban Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and has participated in many humanitarian drives to help the underprivileged in Miami, Cuba and Central America. back to top
Luis J. Perez
Co-Chairman

Luis J. Perez is managing partner in the Miami office of Hogan Lovells.

Mr. Perez has a strong corporate and mergers and acquisitions domestic and international practice.

His client base is a blend of Florida-based and international companies doing business in Florida, elsewhere in the United States, and Latin America. He has been recognized as one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for corporate/mergers & acquisitions by Chamber USA. He is also listed in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite as a top international attorney.

He received his B.A. from Rollins College and his J.D. in from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

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Frank Rodriguez
Board Member
Frank Rodriguez is Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of Corporate Creations International Inc., a leading company in the registered agent and corporate services industry. Prior to founding Corporate Creations in 1993, he worked as a corporate attorney at Steel Hector & Davis LLP in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is a contributing author and editor of the first edition of Florida Law of Corporations and Business Organizations (published by Prentice Hall Law & Business). He obtained his J.D. degree in 1989 from Harvard Law School, and he is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Miami where he obtained his B.A. degree in Economics. He is married to his college sweetheart. They have two children. Frank and his family reside in Jupiter, Florida. back to top
Carlos A. Saladrigas
Co-Chairman
Mr. Saladrigas is Chairman and CEO of Regis HR Group, a Professional Employer Organization offering a full suite of outsourced human resources services to small and mid-sized businesses. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of Progress Energy and Advance Auto Parts. Previous, Mr. Saladrigas served as chairman of Premier American Bank. Mr. Saladrigas was a co-founder and CEO of The Vincam Group, which in 1998 was listed as the largest Hispanic-owned company in the U.S., was acquired by ADP in 2000. He is also a member of the Hispanic Advisory Board for PepsiCo. Saladrigas holds an MBA with honors from Harvard University and a BBA, cum laude, from the University of Miami. Mr. Saladrigas was a CPA in Florida. Active in community affairs, Mr. Saladrigas is a Vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami, a director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Miami, and a trustee at Belen Jesuit School. He is a former trustee at the Rhode Island School of Design and Spring Hill College. back to top
Enrique Sosa
Board Member
Mr. Sosa was named executive vice president of Amoco Corporation in 1995 and headed Amoco’s chemicals sector, overseeing worldwide chemical and marketing operations. In 1999, he was named president of BP Amoco Chemicals when the two companies merged. Prior to joining Amoco, he was senior vice president of The Dow Chemical Company and president of Dow North America and a member of Dow board of directors and executive committee. He is a member of the board of directors of FMC Corporation and a member of the board of directors of DSM of The Netherlands. back to top
Diego Veitia
Board Member
Born in Havana Cuba, Mr. Veitia is the Founder, Past Chairman and present Director of INTL FCStone, a merchant banking group doing business in over 100 countries and in the top 50 companies of the Fortune 100. He has dedicated the past 35 years building the company and is also one of the Founders and Directors of the Costa Rica Stock Exchange. Mr. Veitia is a past partner with Ralston Purina Co, and Founder of Latin America's Agribiotecnologia S.A. the regions leading provider of modified sustainable Tropical crops. In his early career he worked for various American Corporations in Latin America both in marketing and investment banking. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Hamilton Holt School of Rollins College. Mr. Veitia is a past professor of International Finance at University of Central Florida and is presently a member of the Global Council of The American Graduate School of International Management where he received his graduate degree in Foreign Trade. He is a graduate of Iowa State University where he received a B.S. in International Studies. back to top