Edgardo Del Villar

Edgardo Del Villar
Anchor/Telemundo Network-NBC Universal

Born in Mexico City, Edgardo Del Villar graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and was Awarded Thesis of Excellency in Business Administration. His Masters is in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and he specialized in Global Business and Leadership from Harvard Extension School.

He has Anchored News shows since 2001 for Radio and Television. He worked for Televisa anchoring the Prime Time Show in Monterrey, Mexico. He has been News Director for Radio as well as owning and conducting his own Radio News Shows. He moved to Florida in 2013 to work for Telemundo Network, a Division of NBC Network as News Anchor and International Correspondent.

Edgardo has been nominated for an EMMY nine times and Awarded twice for his investigative and coverage of breaking news and Pope Francis visit to the USA. Currently, he is Filling-in Anchor for Al Rojo Vivo, a Magazine News type of show that allows Edgardo to look for touching Humanized Stories full of hope and difficulties to achieve success and follow dreams.

David Carreno

Co-Owner
1/2 Price Mattress

David Carreño was Born in Caracas, Venezuela. He completed a Bachelor degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Santa Maria University. David Owned and managed a small office supply store back in Venezuela called Office Market. In October 2013, he moved to Miami.

He is currently enrolled in his last term for the Associate of Science degree in Business Administration in United International College. In June 2015, He opened a ½ Price Mattress store in North Miami Beach, Florida. 1/2 Price Mattress is a factory outlet store with different locations all over south Florida.

His passions include God, his family, and friends. David thinks that laughter is the best medicine.

Gail Hamilton

Founding Partner
Lemon City Tea

Full-time branding boss lady. Miami born and Miami bred. Tea enthusiast and entrepreneur. Gail has marketed several products from laundry detergents to whiskeys and vodkas. Miami has been involved in the marketing and branding behind some of the largest household brands in the worlds and the soon to be the largest Miami based tea company.

Gail has a passion for growth and success. Gail is a former corporate junkie who has now followed her path to multi-preneurship. She firmly believes that everyone is capable of success across all venues of pursuit. Gail is a founding partner of Lemon city Tea and runs her own brand and business consulting shop aimed at bringing her customers’ business in line with their goals.

Commissioner Riggs

Seat 4 Commissioner 
City of Miramar 

Darline B. Riggs was elected to the Miramar City Commission, Seat 4 on March 10, 2015. Darline B. Riggs was given up by her birth mother at 2 months old and adopted into a family of ten. At the age of 9, her family settled in Miramar where she has resided for the last twenty-five years. A graduate of Miramar High, she went on to obtain her Associate of Science degree in nursing from Broward College, her Bachelor of Science in nursing and her Master of Science in nursing education from Florida Atlantic University.

Commissioner Riggs is married to Michael Riggs, a 28-year veteran of the Miramar Police Department and they have four children; sons Michael Jr., Gabriel, Daniel and daughter Michaela.  Commissioner Riggs believes that there is no greater gift than the gift of service; and it is this constant desire to serve that propelled her into public service.

As a wife, a mother, a teacher, a small business owner and a 25-year resident of the city of Miramar, Commissioner Riggs is all too familiar with the issues we face today and what awaits us tomorrow. Whether it is making government more responsive to the residents, attracting and keeping businesses in the city, creating local jobs for local people, activities to keep our youth off the streets, programs to keep our seniors active in the sunset of their lives and providing the necessary resources for our first responders, Commissioner Riggs is well aware and is dedicated to making these issues her priorities.

Christopher Sopher

Co-Founder & CEO 
WhereBy.Us

Christopher Sopher is co-founder and CEO of WhereBy.Us, an experiential media company that helps curious locals explore their cities. The company launched The New Tropic, a Miami media and events brand, in 2015.

The New Tropic publishes a daily newsletter curating local news, creates original journalism, and produces events. He previously managed a portfolio of media innovation grants and investments at Knight Foundation, and consulted for media companies around the world on product design and millennial audience development.

LUIS CAPO

President
El Dorado Furniture 

A dynamic bilingual speaker able to have a lasting impact on his audiences with his down to earth and cheerful personality. Attendees leave his presentations with fresh ideas which they may implement for their personal growth as well as for improving their organizations.

Luis has been inspiring audiences for over 40 years on sales, customer service, and relationship strategies by delivering the information in a clear, simple, and personalized manner. Careers in public speaking, sales and business administration have brought him numerous recognitions. On September 26, 2005 he was honored with the Small Business Management diploma “Honoris Causa” from United International College. He developed “Los Cinco Puntos de la Venta,” an internal sales program, which is a key factor in the success of the sales associates and the customer solutions personnel at El Dorado Furniture. In his most recent seminar “Exito ¿De Verdad Lo Quieres Alcanzar?,” He shares the “secret” of the success of his family business with the audience. His goal as an educator and a speaker is to awaken and enrich the potential of his audience in achieving exceptional levels of performance. Luis is one of the founders of El Dorado Furniture, currently serves as President of the corporation leading its fifteen stores. In addition, he is an active faculty member of El Dorado Furniture University.

Aleksandar Chonevski

Researcher, Author & Professor
United International College

United International College Adjunct Professor of Business Education, researcher, author and teacher. His expertise is in economic collaboration and the future prosperity of the European Union and Anglo-Saxon countries. Chonevski is the author of the Integration and Prosperity toward the European Union and Global Money Laundering Prevention.

Prior to joining the United International College Faculty, he taught International Economics at the Europa-Universität Viadrina in Germany and Universities in Bulgaria and Romania. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in Education and Research Studies at Barry University, Miami. His contemporary research focuses on training the trainers in international business education. He obtained numerous awards and international scholarships for his teaching and research. Chonevski has been published in a number of major professional journals abroad on the several different languages in Continental Europe, including Hertie Annual Book, Frankfurt, Jean Monnet Annual Conference, Paris-Romania and in the Annuals of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia.

Juan Carlos Borrero

Scientist Innovator 

Juan Carlos Borrero Plaza has been nationally and internationally recognized for his scientific innovations. Juan Carlos has developed several research projects and has six provisional patents in the United States. He has worked for over 25 years on projects related to water, sustainable development, and renewable energy through technological innovations in water treatment plants, and considering regional, national, and international challenges. In 2006, Juan Carlos started his research to produce potable water out of polluted and salted water in a process utilizing wind. In 2009, he implemented this new technology in the most remote areas of Colombia, Rancheria Guayu, Guajira. After 6 years, the purification system has successfully and uninterruptedly worked without much specialized maintenance. Today, National and International entities implement this technology on a project known as Guajira without Thirt.

He was selected as a finalist of the Innovators of America 2016 Award, the most important award of Latin America. In 2016, Discover Magazine published his work. In October 2015, CM& produced a two episode primetime show about his work in the Guajira, Colombia. Juan Carlos was invited to Santiago de Chile on November 7 of 2015 for the conference Planet in Peace. He was also selected to present his work in the Second National Conference of Environmental Sciences in Colombia about his Aero-Desalinator Project. He was also invited to Switzerland to present his project in the Science Conference in Gutenburg, as well as to Israel to the World Fair of Agritrehc.

He won the Civil Order to the Environmental Merit in the Great Golden Cross Level Awarded by the Superior Council of the Ecologic and Environmental Organization as the highest tribunal of the civil society of Colombia in 2014. He was also postulated to the Prince Asturias of Science and Technology Award by the Republic of Colombia Congress and Colciencias in 2013. He received the National Award of the Scientific and Innovation Merit on 2012. He executed the masterly conference in the 60^th birthday of Israel in 2008. And in 2006, he received the Great Merit Medal in Miami, United States, among many other achievements.

Carlos M. Molinet

Senior Vice President 
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

Carlos M. Molinet, CHAAs for the last four years, Carlos M. Molinet has both led and supported initiatives that make tourism a $11.4 billion industry for Broward County, Florida.

He has over 25 years of experience in hotel administration, including operations and general manager positions at properties flagged by Starwood and Wyndham, as well as lead and area manager positions at Hyatt and Hilton hotels. Among the prestigious properties he was General Manager of in the U.S. and the Caribbean are the Hyatt Regency Pier 66, Westin Providence, Wyndham Old San Juan Hotel and Casino, and Palmas Del Mar Beach Resort.

Carlos has been recognized for his leadership by many travel and hospitality organizations. He received the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International General Manager of the Year Award in 2009, and the Leadership Award from the American Hospitality & Lodging Association in 2010, in recognition of his work with the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association. Carlos received the Profiles in Leadership honor from Leadership Broward in 2015. Prior to becoming Senior VP of the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Carlos served for seven years on the Broward County Tourism Development Council, spearheading ideas, reviewing and voting on the annual tourism budgets and marketing programs for Broward County. This combination of experience, recognition and service gives Carlos the unique talents that can help tourism prosper and grow in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Having been named a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, he thoroughly understands the business of hotel partners, restaurants and tourism attractions.

Carlos carries the Greater Fort Lauderdale “Hello Sunny” vision and branding in speaking engagements throughout Broward County and the United States. His mantra “It all starts with a visit” has been adopted by economic development groups throughout South Florida.

Entrenched in our community, Carlos serves or has served on the following boards and committees:

• Mission United, Vice Chair of the Advisory Council
• Mission United, Outreach Committee Chair
• United Way, Development Committee Chair of Media & Entertainment
• Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Executive Committee 2011-2012
• Broward Chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Past President & Chair
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Executive Committee
• McFatter Advisory Council Membership
• Visit Florida Industry Relations Committee
• Alumnus of Leadership Broward Class XXVI

Giving and giving back are a part of Carlos’ style. He is an author and motivational speaker on topics that range from world-class client service and team building to time/stress management. His book “Running through Life, from Adversity to Possibility”describes the positive attitude he brings to his daily work.

Carlos currently lives in Davie, Florida, with his wife, Dr. Silvia Garcia-Molinet, who is a successful clinical psychologist. He has two accomplished adult daughters, Alexandria and Kimberly. Carlos runs several times per year in races, including half and full marathons, in support of several charities, such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.