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Matthew Aho
Young Professional

Matthew Aho is an international affairs specialist at Akerman Senterfitt, with more than eight years of experience working on issues throughout Latin America, with a particular focus on Cuba, Venezuela, Central America, Peru, and Mexico. 

Prior to joining Akerman, he was Manager of the Policy Department at the New York headquarters of Americas Society and Council of the Americas (AS/COA)—the Western Hemisphere’s premiere business membership organization—and editor of the hemispheric policy magazine Americas Quarterly. From 2009–2012, Matthew oversaw the AS/COA’s Cuba Working Group (CWG), which since 2008 has brought together senior executives of select-Fortune 500 companies with officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, Treasury, and the National Security Council to discuss topics including financial services, telecommunications, energy, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and agriculture. The CWG’s discussions focus on possible future changes to U.S.–Cuba relations. In this capacity, Matthew is a recognized expert on the legal and regulatory frameworks comprising the U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba. During his tenure at AS/COA, Matthew also worked on region-wide public policy projects on issues ranging from insecurity and violence prevention to youth unemployment.

Matthew holds a Master of International Affairs degree in international economic policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and a B.A. in Political Studies from Bard College. Matthew has lived extensively in Latin America, including Venezuela, Peru, and Brazil. In 2002, he was awarded a Fulbright grant and conducted year-long research on agricultural markets in Peru. Matt is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese and Russian.   

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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
Tere Alvarez Canida
General Member
Tere Alvarez Canida is President and portfolio manager of Taplin, Canida & Habacht, LLC (TCH), an investment management firm specializing in fixed income account management. Founded in 1985 and located in Miami, Florida, TCH manages client assets for public and corporate pension funds, endowments, foundations and hospitals. Tere is responsible for the firm’s investment policy and strategy and managing client portfolios along with the firm’s other portfolio managers. Prior to founding TCH in 1985, Ms. Canida was Vice President and Senior Investment Officer for Southeast Banks Trust Company. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from George Washington University.

Ms. Alvarez Canida serves on the Board of Directors of Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation, a publicly traded company based in Birmingham, Alabama. She also serves on the Board of Directors of New America Alliance (NAA), as well as the Board of Advisors for Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.  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
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
Felice Gorordo
Young Professional
Felice Gorordo is Vice President of Business Development at ClearPath, a venture-backed tech company revolutionizing the confusing, costly and paper-based immigration filing process - just as TurboTax transformed tax filing.

Most recently, Felice was appointed by President Barack Obama as one of fifteen 2011-2012 White House Fellows, America’s most prestigious and competitive nonpartisan leadership development and public service program founded in 1964. In this capacity, he served as the White House Fellow for President Obama’s Domestic Policy Advisor Cecilia Munoz working on Latino outreach and immigration policy in the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House. He also spearheaded the White House Business Council’s competitiveness series, organizing industry leaders sector-by-sector focused on spurring job creation and promoting America’s long-term economic competitiveness.
 
Felice also co-founded and leads Roots of Hope, a national non-profit focused on youth empowerment in Cuba and the "Best Grassroots Organization" – according to the Miami New Times. In 2009, Felice was an advisor to 17-time Grammy winner Juanes and helped organize the historic "Peace without Borders" concert in Cuba, with 1.2 million in attendance.

Previously, Felice led government sales for Liberty Power, the fastest-growing Hispanic-owned business in the U.S., generating $14.7 million in revenues annually. In this role, he managed all government sales and accounts, including the U.S. Navy and several municipalities.  Prior to that, Felice served as a presidential appointee in the Administration of President George W. Bush. In this capacity, he served as an aide to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and Special Assistant to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Director Emilio Gonzalez. He has also served as a strategy consultant for the CEO of Jackson Health System and as a member of the University of Miami’s Energy Task Force.

PODER Magazine has named Felice one of the "100 Poderosos" Most Influential Hispanics in the U.S., as well as one of the Top "20 Under 40." He has been featured on CNN’s “Young People Who Rock,” and appeared on BBC, NPR, CNBC, The Economist, and CNN en Español. Felice is a graduate of Georgetown University and currently resides in Miami, FL, with his wife and daughter. back to top
John Hickey
Member
John Hickey enjoyed a 30-year career as a corporate lawyer and international executive with International Business Machines, Inc., serving as Vice President and General Counsel for all European, Middle East and African operations, and as IBM Corporate Vice President, Secretary, and Assistant General Counsel.  He is a graduate of Columbia University Law School (JD, 1968) and Wesleyan University (BA, 1965), and is a member of the State Bars of California and New York.  He returned to school and graduated from Harvard University Divinity School in 2002 (MDiv), after which he served as Senior Minister and Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, Roxbury, MA, one of the oldest faith-based social service organizations in the country.  He attended high school in Havana, and has had a life-long interest in the intersection of economics and social justice.  He currently serves on the national Board of Trustees of The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Star Island Corporation Permanent Trust, the Franklin Square Foundation, and the Executive Committee of Friends of Caritas Cubana. back to top
Tony Jiménez
Young Professional

Tony Jimenez is the Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Raíces de Esperanza (Roots of Hope), a national network of over 4,000 students in over 60 university campuses and young professionals across the country. Additionally, Tony is a Florida licensed real estate associate and is currently the Director of Business Development at Reliant Real Estate Group. Lastly, Tony is the Founder and CEO of Whisper Music Dynasty, an artist management, record label, and music publishing company. 

Tony eperienced his proudest community leadership accomplishment in 2009 when he assisted 17- time Grammy award winner, Juanes, organize the historic Peace Without Borders concert in Havana that attracted 1.2 million Cuban youth, making it the largest independently organized event in Cuba in the last 52 years.

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Maria Elena "Mel" Lagomasino
Board Member

Maria Elena "Mel" Lagomasino is CEO and Managing Partner of WE Family Offices, a multi-family office serving global ultra high net worth families.  She is a recognized leader in the wealth management industry, and is a Founding Member of the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard. 

Mel served as CEO of GenSpring Family Offices, a leading multi-family office.  Prior to that, she served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JP Morgan Private Bank, an institution with more than $300 billion in client assets under supervision.  Her career in banking began in 1977 at Citibank.  She joined the Chase Manhattan Private Bank in 1983 and was named head of Chase’s worldwide private banking business in 1997.  Following the chase-JP Morgan merger, she became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the JP Morgan Private Bank.

Mel serves on the boards of The Coca-Cola Company, Avon Products, Inc., and the Americas Society, and is a Trustee on the Board of the National Geographic Society.  She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Economic Club of New York.  In 2012, Mel was named one of the Directorship 100 by the National Association of Corporate Directors and was named by American Banker one of 2012’s Top 25 Women in Finance.  In September 2006, she was appointed by President Bush to help lead an effort to secure private sector funds to aid disaster victims in Central America.

A graduate of Manhattanville College (B.A.), Mel also completed graduate work at both Columbia University (M.S.) and Fordham University (M.B.A).

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John C. McIntire y Salazar
Board Member

John McIntire, Chairman, is the (non-executive) Chairman of Open English, an online English teaching venture with over 30,000 active students. 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. 

John is a Senior Advisor to Endeavor, the leading non-profit which promotes entrepreneurship in the developing world, and is a member of the Council of the Americas. He was born in Havana and has actively supported humanitarian activities in Cuba. He graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Economics in 1979. 

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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
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 Manuel Ramírez
Board Member

Luis Manuel Ramírez is President & CEO, Global Power Equipment Group in Irving, TX and a member of the Board of Directors. 

Global Power Equipment Group Inc, is a design, engineering and manufacturing firm providing a broad array of equipment and services to the global power infrastructure, energy and process industries. 

The son of Cuban exiles, Ramírez grew up in Stuart, FL and experienced the promise of the American Dream firsthand.  Being “first generation” in the U.S. has given him personal perspectives and experiences on the value of diversity in the corporate world. As such, Ramírez has been recognized for his global experience and formation of diverse teams. 

Before joining Global Power, Ramírez spent 12 years at General Electric's Energy business. He joined GE in 2000 as Business Development and Integration Leader for Energy Management Services. He led GE Energy Rentals and GE Energy Parts Services before promotions to General Manager, Contractual Services, and in 2008, to Vice President, Contractual Services.   In December 2009, Ramírez was again promoted to CEO of GE Energy’s Industrial Solutions business. 

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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