Liliam M. Lopez

Liliam López is the founder of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFLHCC) and the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation serving as President/CEO of both organizations since their establishment on July 21, 1994, and December 10, 1996, respectively. The Chamber was founded with the mission of promoting the continued growth and development of the Hispanic business community and to serve as a resource center and forum to advocate for Hispanic and Minority owned businesses. It provides a platform where leaders can connect and establish relationships and support. The chamber holds over 20 events annually including monthly luncheons, lunch/learn conferences, and receptions. The chamber’s monthly luncheons are attended by 300 to 400 of Miami’s most influential executives and business owners.

Through Lopez’s leadership, the SFLHCC has become one of the longest running and most robust Hispanic chambers in the U.S. with over 1,650 members. The SFLHCC Foundation has granted over $790,000 in scholarships to financially disadvantaged minority students attending Miami Dade County Public Schools who are seeking to pursue a career in Business or Hospitality. The Education Enhancement Fellowship Program, which is part of the Foundation, has taken students to the headquarters of Microsoft, Facebook, NY Life, Comcast, Coca Cola, and Boeing, among many others as an educational experience and career opportunities for the students. Those efforts led to the SFLHCC Foundation being inducted as a Champion of Miami-Dade County Public School’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism.

Lopez was appointed by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado to serve on the County's Economic Recovery Task Force in 2021; she is a Governing Board Member of Larkin Charter School for Health Sciences; serves on the Board of Directors of the Beacon Council; Board Member of the Miami-Dade Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Board Member of the Small/Micro and Minority/Women Business Owned Enterprise of Miami Dade County Public Schools, the Advisory Council of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the City of Miami Beach Commission on Women, the Advisory Board of Precision Medicine and Health Disparities Collaborative of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Meharry Medical College and the University of Miami and serves on the President’s Council for Florida International University (FIU). She served on the Entrepreneurial Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Regional Economic Information Network (REIN) as the only Hispanic woman on that board at that time.

She is a past board member of the Alliance for Aging, past board member of WLRN and former Chair of the Hispanic Affairs Committee for the City of Miami Beach.

For 10 years Lopez was the producer and host of a weekly television show, “Panorama con Liliam Lopez” that aired on WLRN Cable-Tap. The program highlighted the career of executives, elected officials, and entrepreneurs at the local, state, and national levels. The pandemic required Lopez to pivot. She launched a digital show, "A Business Minute with Lily Lopez", which is featured on all social media platforms and on her YouTube Channel reaching over 30,000 businesses.

The SFLHCC has also been engaged in international affairs, with emphasis on Latin America and Spain. The SFLHCC’s leadership hosted the Mayor of Murcia, Spain, and his delegation on their visit to Miami Beach in 1996. The former President of Ecuador, the Honorable Lucio Gutierrez, accepted an invitation made by Lopez to speak to chamber members for the purpose of establishing ties with his country. Both the former First Ladies of Panama and of Honduras, respectively, were invited to speak on different occasions at chamber luncheons on business opportunities, women’s issues, and social and charitable programs in their respective nations. His Highness, Prince Abdulaziz bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman, United Arab Emirates, accepted an invitation from Lopez to visit Miami and present a conference at the chamber’s annual Viva Miami Hispanic Heritage Conference on sustainability and its importance to the world. His Highness is best known as “The Green Sheikh” and was received with great respect and admiration. Lopez strongly believes in social causes and giving back to the community. Twenty years ago, she implemented “Help our Children” for the youth of Centro Mater (an aftercare and early childcare school for financially disadvantaged families). The SFLHCC collects over 1,000 toys annually as part of the Christmas/Holiday Toy Drive for them. Currently there is a program with Cigna “Healthier Kids for our Future” where children and families are also receiving information on improving their health through diet and exercise. There are quarterly one day events held with a chef, a nutritionist and a Zumba instructor for the children and families. They also receive live healthy cooking demonstrations and a bag with the foods and recipes presented.

Liliam M. López has been featured in the cover of many magazines and newspapers. She has received numerous awards and recognitions including

• Sixteen (16) Proclamations from various cities and counties
• 2022 Commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by the Honorable Governor Andy Beshear, State of Kentucky
• 2022 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Community Builder Award
• 2021 South Florida Business Journal Influential Businesswoman
• 2021 August 20, Featured in the cover of Miami Today as The Achiever
• September 22, 2020; The 2020 United Homecare's Claude Pepper Award
• 2018 Golden Age Award presented by the Latino Center on Aging
• 2016 NFL/ Hispanic Heritage Foundation Leadership Award
• 2016 Women of Wealth Award presented by the Women of Wealth Magazine
• 2014 Women’s Fund “Woman Giving Back Treasure” Award
• 2014 Thomas Gibson Award
• 2014 Take a Walk in Her Shoes Award: Chapman’s Community Partnership for the Homeless
• 2014 Community Business Leadership Award: presented by UNIDAD’s New Generation Leadership & Workforce Institute
• 2014 Women of Impact Award: presented by Miami Dade County Women’s History Coalition
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters’ 2013 Miracle Maker Award
• 2012 Broward Women of Distinction Award
• 2010 Women Extraordinaire presented by South Florida Business Leader
• 2010 St. Thomas University Global Entrepreneur Award
• 2008 Induction to Miami Dade College’s Hall of Fame
• 2007 Miguel Cervantes Award presented by Nova Southeastern University
• 2006 March of Dimes Award in the Education and Training Category
• 2003 Businesswoman of the Year Award: CEO Non-Profit category presented by the “South Florida Business Journal”
• In the Company of Women award presented by the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department on March, 2003
• Keys to the City of Miami Beach presented by the former Honorable Mayor David Dermer on June 20, 2002.

Liliam Lopez has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Political Science from St. Thomas University and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the University of Miami.

Lopez is married to Architect/Urban Planner, Alfredo Sanchez. They have a daughter, Lillian Karina Sanchez, who currently is a senior at the University of Miami’s School of Engineering and is the recipient of a presidential scholarship.

Roland Sanchez-Medina

Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr. is a partner who focuses his practice in the areas of corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring/restructuring, board governance, domestic and international commercial transactions, commercial and residential real estate transactions, tax and estate planning, and other general transactional services. Prior to forming the Firm, Mr. Sanchez-Medina was a partner at the national law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery, where he was a member of the Corporate Department, and was a senior associate at the national law firm of Holland & Knight.

Jose Perez de Corcho

Jose Perez de Corcho is Executive Vice President at OSC, an insurance Managing General Agency specializing in providing insurance solutions for banks, credit unions, auto finance companies and mortgage servicers. Jose’s responsibilities include product and business development at OSC. Jose joined OSC in 2009 as a result of a merger between OSC and Financial Insurance Brokers, Inc., a company in which Jose was the Founder and CEO. Jose’s insurance career started in 1990 at AIB Financial Group, a South Florida based insurance group with a financial services division. During these business forming years, Jose spent much of his time conducting field audits, handling customer service concerns, and developing and enhancing the company’s insurance tracking system. In 1994 Jose joined Smartrack Financial Services, a local provider of automobile insurance tracking and lender-placed insurance. As his career progressed, Jose’s focus turned to developing new markets. Those new markets consisted mainly of creating a real estate insurance tracking and placement program and the development of point of sale physical damage program for automobile finance companies. In 1998 Jose founded Financial Insurance Brokers, Inc. with the focus of providing insurance tracking and lender-placed coverage to Florida lenders. As part of the strategic merger with OSC and the subsequent sale of OSC to Breckenridge Insurance Group, Jose formed a new entity, Financial Insurance Brokers International (FIB), an insurance agency focusing on the retail insurance needs of individual and businesses. While Jose maintains majority ownership of FIB, the day responsibilities of the agency are overseen by Michael Reyes who serves as President of FIB. In 2015, along with two business partners, Jose was part of the launch of American Auto Bankers, a Miami based finance company with the focus on truck finance. Jose’s experience in providing insurance to auto finance companies for over 25 years and his involvement in the trade associations servicing the auto finance space have placed him in a unique position to understand the industry.

As an active professional in the lending and insurance industries, Jose is a member of various trade organizations including the American Bankers Insurance Association, Consumer Compliance Insurance Association, and the National Automotive Finance Association. Jose holds a Marketing and International Business degree from Florida International University. Jose served as President of FIU’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, as well as served as a member of the FIU Foundation Board.

As a committed member of his community, Jose currently serves as Vice-Chair of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve FIU as member of the President’s Council.

Michelle Febres

Michelle Febres graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a degree in Business Management and Marketing and began her career as a benefit consultant for NMGS in 1997. She received her license in health, life and variable annuities in 1998 where she began her sales career. Seeing the possibility of a growing family business she decided to move up in rank. In 1998 National Marketing was one of the few General Agencies representing HMO Medicare plans. With the guidance of her father, Roger Gonzalez, the company has grown to include most lines of insurance and now represents all major Insurance Carriers in the industry. She is responsible for the overall operations of the agency and supervision of the staff and sales team. Her experience includes providing analysis of benefit plans and claims utilization, oversight of the evaluation process, and the management of various funding arrangements. With her years of experience and growth in the sales arena, Michelle brings a passion for engaging and educating hundreds of employees in the public and private sector.

Michelle sits on the Board of Directors for the Overtown Youth Center, an organization that raises funds through community efforts in order to provide afterschool education and sports programs to the children in Overtown. She is also on the Board of Directors for the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, an organization with over 1200 Hispanic members supporting leaders and the business community in South Florida. In 2013, Michelle was awarded Hispanic Executive of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Lastly, Michelle’s favorite role is that of being a proud mom of her 12-year old daughter.

Lazaro Martinez

President, Owner/Broker of Marbay Real Estate Inc. Over 30 years of experience selling, managing residential and commercial restate including partnership and syndication structures. Has serviced on several city boards as well as a founding member of the SFLHCC. Board affiliations including Community economic development, Revitalization, Parking, and transportation as well as Hispanic affairs. Married with 2 daughters.

Nery Gonzalez

Since coming to Florida as a child, Nery Gonzalez has had a front row seat to changes in the banking industry. With a career spanning over 35 years, Ms. Gonzalez’s market niche has been in community development. She brings her vast experience to her role as Community Development Manager of the South Florida market and the Florida Keys at Capital Bank, a $40 billion division of First Horizon National Corporation based in Memphis,TN Prior to joining Capital Bank, Ms. Gonzalez held community development positions with Citibank (VP, Community Mortgage Lending Officer); Ocean Bank (VP/Community Development Lender); Mercantil-Commercebank (VP/CRA Lender); and, Gibraltar Bank (VP/CRA Director) where she was responsible for oversight of all CRA related issues taking the bank from a “Needs to Improve” CRA rating to an “Outstanding” rating from the federal regulatory agency. Gonzalez was born in Cuba and raised in the United States. She earned an associate degree in Miami-Dade College and a bachelor degree in Languages, mastering fluently four languages (Spanish, French, Italian and English). Earning numerous diplomas and certificates in the banking industry, Gonzalez is a frequent presenter at various conferences workshops and college classes that focus on the financial industry. Focusing on community development is not only Gonzalez’ professional focus but also her personal focus. Gonzalez currently serves as executive board member of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and as vice-chair of the Housing Finance Authority of Miami-Dade, a position she was appointed to by Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. In addition, she is a member of the AAA Scholarship Foundation Bank Advisory Board, the chairperson of the Hispanic Women Society Network and a member of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, serving on the ‘Hard Hats and High Heels’ committee. As a dedicated community leader and activist, Gonzalez has been the recipient of numerous awards including: a Proclamation from the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners and the Office of the Mayor; Banker of the Year Award from the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; featured on the Cambridge Who’s Who VIP Honors Edition; CRA Director of the Year Award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta; and Executive of the Year from the Manchester’s Who’s Who 2006-2007 edition. In her personal life, Gonzalez is a certified Scuba Diver, enjoys sharing time with her large family of 12 nieces and nephews and 14 great-nieces and nephews. She is an avid reader and traveler having visited more than 20 countries around the world.

Felipe Basulto

Felipe F. Basulto is the Market President – Retail in South Florida for TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank. In this role, he is responsible for the Bank’s retail network sales and operations, including consumer and small business accounts and lending across 77 locations in South Florida, from the Pam Beach to Miami-Dade County and over to the Southwest Gulf Coast.

Felipe joined TD Bank in March of 2010 as the Retail Market Manager in the Greater Miami Region. During his tenure with TD, he has focused his efforts on building out the retail distribution network for the Bank in their ongoing development of the South Florida market. With Felipe’s leadership and support, the Florida Market took home J.D. Power trophies for Retail Banking Satisfaction in 2013 and 2016 and Small Business Banking (in the South Region) in 2017.

Felipe demonstrates a strong commitment to the community through his efforts in various organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce as Board Chair. Immediate Past Chair of the South Florida Progress Foundation and is a graduate and Past Chair of Leadership Miami. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber and is currently Chair of their Foundation. He is a board member of City Year Miami and Past Chair of the Banking and Finance Committee for the Beacon Council. In addition, he also serves on the President's Council at Florida International University and as a Trustee with the United Way of Miami Dade, past Chair for the March of Dimes Walk as well as past Chair for the Autism Speaks Walk for Miami Dade & Broward Counties. Prior to joining TD Bank, Felipe held similar positions and in various roles in banking with Regions Bank and Bank of America. He studied Business Management at Loyola University in New Orleans.

Ralph Gonzalez Jacobo

Ralph Gonzalez-Jacobo is Executive Vice-President and Head of Branch Administration at Ocean Bank which is the largest independent state chartered commercial bank headquartered in Florida. He returned to Ocean Bank in 2008 after working three and a half years at U.S. Century Bank. He is a banking veteran who had spent nearly ten years at Ocean Bank and through 2005 managed a portfolio in excess of $400 million in commercial real estate and construction loans. Prior to joining Ocean Bank, Mr. Gonzalez-Jacobo was Vice-President of commercial real estate lending at Republic National Bank of Miami. He also served as Assistant Vice-President for commercial real estate lending at Total Bank and has also worked as a Lender at Chase Federal Savings and Peninsula Federal Savings. Mr. Gonzalez-Jacobo is a Director of the Latin Builders Association and Vice Chairman of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Luis Boue

Luis Boué has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1979. Mr. Boué began his career as an auditor with a major national accounting firm. For the ten years prior to co-founding the firm that is today Colbert Boué & Associates, LLP in 1993, he was a Senior Audit Principal at Mallah, Furman and Company, P.A. where he was in charge of many of the firm’s large accounts including prominent South Florida businesses.
Mr. Boué has experience in a broad range of industries including real estate and construction, professional services, hospitality, retail and wholesale distribution, import and export and mercantile. Additionally, he has considerable expertise in the organization and implementation of complex tax structures. Mr. Boué is a community leader, serving from 2014-2015 as the President & Chair of the Orange Bowl Committee. He has served as the Chairman of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2007-2010), a member of the Advisory Council of Mission Marti, Past President of the Rotary Club of Coconut Grove, a member of the Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurses Association, and a member of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

Armando Trabanco

Orlando J. Romero †

Been a Financial Advisor for 28 years in Miami Fl. specializing in Financial Planning for Businessowners and Professionals.

Luis Casas

One of the Founders of the SFLHCC, District Sales Manager Hydra Service/Sulzer/ABS, Lobbyist in Miami Beach & Miami-Dade County as a whole.

Rene Cibran

Rene Cibran is Managing Director of Miami Payroll Center and works with businesses of all sizes providing Payroll processing, Human Resources, Employee Benefits, Workers Compensation, and Payroll Tax compliance services. With over 25 years of experience, Rene is a licensed Agent and Business Consultant with proficiency in Retirement Planning, Long Term Care, Employee Benefits and Financial Services. Rene has received numerous recognition awards for outstanding performance and strongly believes in giving back to the community. Rene is a current Board member of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and formerly served for the Alliance for Aging. Rene has also been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Miami Affiliate for Pancreatic Cancer. Mr. Cibran has a Certified in Long Term Care designation and received his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University along with a Bachelor’s Degree from FIU. Rene resides in the City of South Miami with his wife Aimee and their two children.

Ray Coto, CPA, CGMA

Ramon "Ray" Coto is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UHealth, University of Miami Don Soffer Clinical Research Center Previously he was the Administrative Director of Finance for Nicklaus Children's Health System. He served as Chief Operating Officer for Molina Healthcare from 2015-2018. He's a graduate of Florida International University, College of Business.

Daniel A. Espino

Before joining the firm, Dan spent a decade representing municipalities as City Attorney. Dan served as the City Attorney for the City of North Miami Beach, City of Miami Springs, and North Bay Village. He also served as the City Attorney for the City of Doral for nearly five years. He has also represented the Towns of Medley, Southwest Ranches, and Cutler Bay, the Villages of Virginia Gardens and Pinecrest, and the Homestead Housing Authority. In his roles as City Attorney, Dan has handled and advised on intergovernmental agreements, public-private partnership contracts, and nearly all types and scales of land development projects, from variances and basic site plans to complex planned unit developments and special area plans. He has considerable experience in drafting text amendments to comprehensive development plans and zoning codes. His extensive involvement with public meetings and hearings and public records compliance, give him an invaluable insight to the inner-workings of municipalities across Miami-Dade County.

Dan served on the City Council for the City of Miami Springs for two terms, first elected in 2009, becoming the youngest elected official in the city’s history and one of the youngest in Miami-Dade County. While in office, he was a member of the Intergovernmental Relations Legislative Committee of the Florida League of Cities, and chaired the Legislative Committee of the Miami-Dade League of Cities. Prior to that he served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board/Board of Adjustment for five years. His community involvement continues as a Member of the Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Government Committee, of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In 2011, Dan was named one of the “Top Young Leaders of Miami” by Latino Leaders Magazine, and was named the “Elected Official of the Year” by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, he was named a Miami Fellow by the Miami Foundation and in 2016 was accepted into Leadership Florida’s Connect Florida program. He has recently been named a Rising Star by the Daily Business Review, a Top 40 under 40 Lawyer by the South Florida Business Journal, and a Top Legal Up and Comer by South Florida Business and Wealth Magazine. In 2018, the Chamber awarded Dan the annual Sunshine Lawyer of the Year Award.

Located in in Downtown Miami, Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes has been at the forefront of Miami-Dade County’s phenomenal growth for over two decades, serving as the go-to law firm for real estate developers, property owners, business owners, and government entities seeking legal advice.

Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes, located at 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, was established in 1996. Now with a team of 15 attorneys, the growing law firm moved locations into a larger office space in Suite 300 of the Southeast Financial Tower at the beginning of this year.

For more information, contact (305) 374-5300 or visit http://www.brzoninglaw.com.

Ricardo Morales

Henry F. Sori

EMPLOYMENT

Waste Management Inc. of Florida
Government Relations Director
2015 – Current

• Manage municipal contracts in Miami-Dade County & Monroe County
• Work closely with local districts to insure compliance with municipal contracts
• Primary company contact point for City Managers
• Primary company contact point for Elected Officials
• Primary company contact for Municipal Staff for questions and issues
• Work with Municipal Staff to insure all service needs are met

Miami-Dade County Government
Various Positions
1990 – 2015

Previous work experience includes 25 years of experience in management and supervision, project management and contract negotiations with Miami-Dade County Government. Held positions as Assistant Director, Public Works Department; Director, Community Information & Outreach Department; and Special Assistant to the County Manager overseeing various County Departments.

EDUCATION
Florida International University (FIU)
• Bachelors of Arts / Political Science & International Relations / 1988
• Masters Degree / Public Administration / 1990

Ramon Antelo

Ramon Antelo has 25 years of experience combined within Intercontinental Hotel Group, Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton and Radisson Hotels in South Florida working as General Manager and Director of Sales and Director of Worldwide Accounts. Ramon has also worked for Royal Caribbean Cruises for 9 years as Account Executive, Business Development Director, and International Sales & Marketing. He was responsible for obtaining a 4 Diamond AAA rating at the Hilton Bentley Hotel. Ramon's sales & marketing expertise had him operating and marketing the largest Latin night club at a hotel and was corporate spokesperson at media events. He also developed and managed a network of GSA ‘s in 24 countries around the world, therefore maintaining a national and international network of press and media contacts.