Michael Adler

Mr. Adler is chairman and CEO of The Adler Group, one of South Florida’s largest and most successful real estate companies. He has played a significant role in South Florida’s growth as a major center for international trade. Mr. Adler currently serves as chair of the Mount Sinai Medical Center Board of Directors. He is a vice chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations of North America. Serving as president of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation from 2004 to 2006, and currently a member of the Board of Directors. He has the distinction of being the Miami Federation’s only second-generation president, following in the footsteps of his late father, Samuel I. Adler, who held the position from 1984 to 1986. Over the years, he has received many awards and honors for his involvement, including UJA’s Herbert H. Lehman Award for Distinguished Service. In recognition of his outstanding leadership skills within the local Jewish community, he was awarded the Federation’s prestigious Stanley C. Myers Presidents’ Leadership Award.

Karen Andre, Esq – Haitian Lawyers Association

Karen Andre is an immigration attorney and consultant residing in Miami. Prior to opening her law firm in 2007, Ms. Andre was a legislative aide to State Senator Frederica Wilson and later Community Outreach Coordinator for U.S. Congressman Peter Deutch. In 2006, Ms. Andre became Political Director for SEIU Florida Healthcare Union. In keeping with her passion for community and civic engagement, Ms. Andre accepted a position with the Obama Presidential campaign in 2008. She was the field organizer for Liberty City and Little Haiti. Ms. Andre is the immediate past Vice President of the Haitian Lawyers Association. She is an active member of the Miami ACLU, League of Women Voters, Haitian Lawyers Association, Haitian American Leadership Organization, NAACP and serves as advisor to the United Haitian Students of Florida.

Hilarie Bass

Ms. Bass is the Global Operating Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig, having recently completed an eight-year term as the national chair of the 500-member litigation department. She also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. During her more than 25-year career, she has successfully represented clients in scores of commercial cases in jury and non-jury trials involving hundreds of millions of dollars in controversy. She is currently serving as the Chair-Elect to the ABA Litigation Section and is the Lead Counsel for the Homebuilder Group in the Chinese Drywall MDL. Ms. Bass graduated summa cum laude from University of Miami School of Law and was the Editor of the Law review and received a B.A., magna cum laude from George Washington University. She is a member of the American Bar Association; President, The Florida Bar Foundation; The Florida Bar; United Way of Dade County; Chair, Legal Committee, Florida Chamber of Commerce; Secretary/General Counsel, Orange Bowl Committee, (2003-2006).

Stephen H. Bittel

Mr. Bittel is the Chairman and founder of Terranova Corporation, leading a team of professionals in the owning and/or operating of a commercial real estate portfolio valued at nearly $1.0 billion; graduated magna cum laude from Bowdoin College, 1978; law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, 1982. A Miami native, Mr. Bittel has been a member of the Florida Bar Association, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Young Presidents Organization; served as Director on the Boards of the Community Partnership for the Homeless, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, and the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation; served as Trustee member for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Miami-Dade and Temple Beth Am; in 2005 was awarded the South Florida Business Journal “Ultimate CEO” award. Bittel is Board member of the National Jewish Democratic Council; in 2009 was elected an At-Large member of the Democratic National Committee, serving on the Rules and Bylaws Committee.

Robert (Bob) Dickinson

Mr. Dickinson is the retired president and chief executive officer of Carnival Cruise Lines. He joined Carnival Cruise Lines in 1973 and was promoted to president in 1993. He serves on the board of directors of parent company, Carnival Corporation. Travel Trade Readers named Mr. Dickinson “Travel Executive of the Year” in 1988 and again in 1999. His marketing honors include the ATME Atlas Award and the TIA Hall of Leaders designation. He was named one of the “100 Best Marketers in the Nation” by Advertising Age Magazine. He is former vice-chair for the United States National Tourism Organization and the co-author of the book, Selling the Sea, An Inside Look at the Cruise Industry. In 1999, Mr. Dickinson was appointed Honorary Consul of Monaco. He received his BSBA in management from John Carroll University in 1965 and later earned his MBA from Duquesne University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration Degree from Johnson & Wales University in 1995.

Bill Diggs

Bill Diggs serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce. Florida’s oldest Chamber of Commerce, the primary mission of the Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce is the growth and retention of miniority businesses. In addition to managing the day to day operations, Bill oversees all aspects of the organization, including financial, programming and development. Bill is a Board Member of The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Visitor’s Industry Council, South Florida Workforce, The Children’s Trust and the Alliance for Digital Equality. Bill also serves as the Chairman of the Alonzo Mourning Charities and the Greater Miami Coalition of Chambers

Marie Etienne, MSN, ARNP – Haitian-American Professionals Coalition

Marie Etienne is a professor of nursing at Miami Dade College. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Masters Degree in Pediatric Advanced Practice Nursing, and Post-Masters Certificates in Advanced Practice in Family Nursing and Gerontology from Florida International University. Prof. Etienne serves as Chair for the Haitian-American Professionals Coalition.

Shelley Freeman

Ms. Freeman is regional president for Wells Fargo’s Florida Community Bank where she is responsible for retail, small business, and business banking with 703 banking stores currently operating under the Wachovia brand. Freeman also serves as the national co-leader for the company’s affluent customer support strategy. In this capacity, Freeman works closely with the company’s more than 6000 licensed bankers, regional bank private bankers and store-based financial consultants. Freeman graduated from Wilkes University and is a member of its board of trustees. She also serves on the Board of Regents for the Point Foundation and is a member of the Florida Council of 100.

Leonie Hermantin, Esq – Lambi Fund

Leonie Hermantin is Deputy Director of the Lambi Fund of Haiti. She received the 2009 Community Service Award from the Haitian Diaspora Unity Congress for her outreach work with Lambi Fund of Haiti as an advocate for sustainable agriculture and reforestation in Haiti’s rural communities. Hermantin, who has been with Lambi Fund for nearly three years, is based in Miami. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

Marlon Hill, Esq – delancyhill, P.A.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica and a past student of St. George’s College, Marlon A. Hill is a founding partner and corporate attorney with the law firm of delancyhill, P.A. in South Florida. Marlon migrated to Florida in 1985. He has been recognized by numerous regional and local publications as one of the “outstanding members of the emerging generation of South Florida business and professional leaders.” Marlon is a past president of the Caribbean Bar Association serves as a board member of the Miami Parking Authority, Jay Malina International Trade Consortium, Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas, Inc. (FAVACA) and an advisor to other business, community based and cultural organizations. Marlon presently serves as advisor/mentor to the Florida Caribbean Students Association and the Representative for the Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States, 2006-2008.

Markenzy Lapointe, Esq – Boies, Schiller, & Flexner LLP

Markenzy Lapointe is an Associate at Boies, Schiller, & Flexner LLP. His main practice areas include class actions, product liability, commercial, and federal criminal litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lapointe served as an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, from 2002 to 2006. Mr. Lapointe has also served in the United States Marine Corps as a reservist from 1987 to 1993 and as an active member during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991. He is also a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedures, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He is fluent in Creole and French.

Jorge Mas

Mr. Mas has been Chairman of the Board of Directors for MasTec, Inc. since January 1998 and a director since March 1994. From March 1994 to October 1999, Mr. Mas was MasTec’s Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Mas has been Chairman of the Board of the Cuban American National Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, since July 1999. Jorge Mas, Jr. attended the University of Miami, where he received both a Bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. After graduating in 1985, he went straight to work for the family business. In the five years, from 1994 to 1999, MasTec’s revenues soared from $120 million to $1 billion. The organization also bounced back from the “telecomm meltdown” and is now the largest home service provider for DIRECTV in the U.S.

Herold Merisier, MD, FAAFP – Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad

Dr. Herold Merisier is a Board Certified Family Physician in private practice in North Miami, Florida. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a Voluntary Assistant Professor of Family Medicine for the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. Dr. Merisier graduated from medical school at the State University of Haiti in 1987. He completed a Residency Program in Ophthalmology at the State University Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He pursued additional training in Ophthalmology at Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital in Paris, France. He migrated to the US in 1995. He completed another residency training in Family Medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, where he finished as the Chief Resident in 1998. Dr. Merisier serves as the Secretary General of the Haitian-American Leadership Organization (HALO), and the Florida Chapter of the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad (Association des Médecins Haitiens à l’Etranger, AMHE). In addition, he is the Second Assistant Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of AMHE. Dr. Merisier recently received the 2007 Valor Humanitarian Award from the American Diabetes Association. He was also named the 2007 Physician of the Year by the Florida Chapter of AMHE.

Stuart Miller

Stuart Miller served as president, CEO, and director of Lennar Corporation, a homebuilder and provider of financial services. In 1997 under Miller’s leadership Lennar spun off the commercial real estate and management operations into LNR Property Corporation, where Miller served as chairman of the board. During his tenure at Lennar Corporation, Miller led the company through a series of acquisitions that resulted in rapid growth and profitability. As of 2004 Lennar had built more than 500,000 houses, and annual revenues exceeded $6 billion. Miller left Florida for Harvard University. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Miller attended the University of Miami Law School, being graduated in 1982. Having achieved his educational goals, Miller returned to the company he had grown up with. He was intent on demonstrating his leadership skills, helping grow the family business, and continuing his educational development in the realm of business.

Munir Mourra – Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida

Munir Mourra is the Executive Secretary and founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Haitian Descendents and Director of the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida. Munir was born in Haiti in 1965, grew up in Port-au-Prince and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The City College of New York in 1987. He then received two Masters degrees from Columbia University in New York in 1988 and 1989 in the field of Engineering. In 1994 he received his Doctorate Degree from that same University with high Honors. Munir has taught both at New City Technical College and Columbia University while pursuing his education. He also taught Mathematics at one of the first Magnet School programs in the country while at the New York City Board of Education. Munir has a tremendous experience in the Maritime Industry and has participated in numerous relief efforts. He has been very active with different international organizations in lobbying for a new approach to Haitian leadership and has always dedicated himself for the betterment of his people.

Eduardo J. Padrón

Mr. Padrón has been the President of Miami Dade College since 1995. He arrived in the United States as a refugee at the age of 15. An economist by training, Dr. Padrón earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida. In 1993, President Bill Clinton recognized him as one of America’s foremost educators. President George W. Bush nominated him to the National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board. During his career, he has been selected to serve on posts of national prominence by four American presidents. In Florida, Padrón has served on several gubernatorial commissions and has lent his talents to numerous organizations including the Florida Humanities Council; the Florida Council of Presidents (Chair); the Council of 100; Dade-Miami Criminal Justice Council (Chair); Miami Parking Authority (Chair); the Hispanic American League Against Discrimination (Chair); NAACP (Vice-President); and Greater Miami United (Co-Chair). He has been featured in People magazine as one of the world’s most influential Hispanics, in Hispanic magazine’s list of most powerful Latinos, and in PODER magazine’s report on “Movers and Shakers.”

Manoucheka Thermitus

Is a true testament of the motto achieving ones personal aspirations despites life’s hardships. A first in her family to complete college, Manoucheka graduated from the University of Florida as a Hall of Fame inductee and Outstanding Graduate Finalist. Upon graduation, she worked as a retail financial planner for Macy’s managing various departments and product lines with a gross volume totaling 30 million dollars. As a Sales Consultant with Novartis Pharmaceuticals she has been recognized as a National Awards winner. Manoucheka is the current Principal Manager for A+ Educational Mapping, which is a state approved SES provider, offering supplemental education services to title 1 students on free or reduced lunch throughout the state of Florida.Most recently Manoucheka was recognized by Success South Florida magazine as a 2008 South Florida’s 40 Under 40 Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow. Manoucheka is a respected activist and community leader. She is passionate about improving the lives of residents in underserved communities. Manoucheka is the immediate past Chairman of Haitian Women of Miami (FANM), committee member for City of Miami Parks and Recreation Board, Secretary for Mt. Zion Developments, and Vice-Chairman for Buena Vista East Historic Neighborhood Association.