Letter from SFBI’s President
I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as the 2024-2025 President of the South Florida Banking Institute. Together with the SFBI Officers and Directors, I am fully committed to making this year another successful one.
The South Florida banking industry is unique and presents its own challenges and opportunities. The hard work and dedication of the bankers serving this community is visible in the continued growth of the region. South Florida is a solid gateway to Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, with a rich diversity and continues to be well-positioned for the foreseeable future.
The banking industry continues to be faced, however, with significant demands and pressures on regulatory, legal, cyber threats and financial fronts.
With these uncertainties in mind, the South Florida Banking Institute is uniquely positioned to support and bolster our member institutions during these times. We assist and provide the necessary tools and resources to not only navigate such uncertainties, but more importantly, to further grow and generate business. I continue to be encouraged for our future. I want to thank all our members, particularly the Board of Directors, for their time and commitment to our organization. I would like to encourage all of you to continue attending our events and promoting them amongst your friends and colleagues. With this in mind, we have developed an exciting schedule of events for fiscal year 2024-2025 and look forward to seeing each of you as we continue to work together to keep the South Florida banking community as one of the premiere banking communities in the country.
Sincerely,
Claudia A. Cancio
United Community Bank
SVP, Regional Banking Manager II
Officers
PRESIDENT
Claudia A. Cancio
SVP, Regional Banking Manager
United Community Bank
5750 Sunset Drive
South Miami, FL 33143
T: 305-662-5427
C: 786-514-0674
Email: [email protected]
PRESIDENT ELECT
David Pruna
Regional President
SouthState Bank
2 Alhambra Plaza
Suite 100
Coral Gables, FL 33134
T: 305-989-4913
Email: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER
Alexander Sueiro
Partner
PAAST, P.L.
255 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1100
Coral Gables, FL 33134
T: 305-567-0150
C: 786-423-9700
Email: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION
Yesenia Moreno
Executive Vice President
New Edge Associates
6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 400
Miami, FL 33126
C: 786-447-9323
Email: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION
Yesenia Moreno
Executive Vice President
New Edge Associates
6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 400
Miami, FL 33126
C: 786-447-9323
Email: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY
Jessica Goldberg
SVP | Human Resources Director
U.S. Century Bank
2301 N.W. 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33172
T: 305-715-5227
C: 786-229-8934
Email: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Shaun Moraga
VP, Risk and Information Security
United Data Technologies
2900 Monarch Lakes Blvd.
Suite 300
Miramar, FL 33027
T: 954-308-5100
C: 305-302-7667
Email: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING
Lourdes Mendes
SVP, Relationship Manager
Financial Institutions Group
Cadence Bank
8500 SW 78th Street
Miami, FL 33143
C: 305-322-1163
Email: [email protected]
Directors
Juan R. Avila
EVP, Chief Financial Officer
Intercredit Bank N.A.
396 Alhambra Circle, Suite 250
Coral Gables, FL 33134
T:
C: 305-962-1467
Email: [email protected]
Guillermo Benites
VP Financial Services
United Data Technologies
2900 Monarch Lakes Blvd.
Suite 300
Miramar, FL 33027
T: 954-308-5166
C: 786-286-6630
Email: [email protected]
Gabriel Caballero
Partner
Holland & Knight LLP
701 Brickell Avenue
Suite 3300
Miami, Florida 33131
T: 305-789-7442
C: 305-495-3528
Email: [email protected]
Domingo R. Callejas
SVP & Controller
Banesco USA
3155 NW 77th Avenue
Miami, FL 33122
T: 786-552-0543
C: 305-297-5647
Email: [email protected]
Guillermo Chiang
SVP, Correspondent Banking Officer
ServisFirst Bank
2500 Woodcrest Place
Birmingham, AL 35209
C: 305-582-4909
Email: [email protected]
Carl Fornaris
Partner
Co-Chair Financial Services Practice
Winston & Strawn LLP
200 S. Biscayne Blvd. Suite 200
Miami, FL 33131
T: 305-910-0626
C: 305-215-3715
Email: [email protected]
Yvonne Debesa
Executive Vice President
Chief Operating Officer
Sunstate Bank
14095 S. Dixie Highway
Miami, FL 33176
T: 305-256-0900
C: 305-785-0033
Email: [email protected]
Didier Fabelo
1st Vice President | Head of Domestic Preferred Banking
International Finance Bank
777 SW 37th Avenue, Suite 700
Miami, FL 33135
T: 305-648-8826
C: 786-208-4809
Email: [email protected]
Patricia M. Hernandez
Managing Partner
Avila Law
2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd.,
Suite 1225
Coral Gables, FL 33134
T: 305-779-3566
C: 305-903-5598
Email: [email protected]
Ivan A. Garces
Principal
Risk Advisory Services
Kaufman Rossin
3310 Mary Street
Miami, FL 33133
T: 305-646-6054
C: 305-338-2897
Email: [email protected]
Asnardo Garro
Partner
Avila Law
2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 1225
Coral Gables, FL 33134
T: 305-779-3560
C: 786-229-1401
Email: [email protected]
Dianelys Gonzalez
Human Resources Generalist
Grove Bank & Trust
22701 South Bayshore Drive
Miami, Fl 33133
T: 305-808-3707
C: 786-521-1123
Email: [email protected]
Jose Maria Lacasa
EVP Florida Business Director
FirstBank
800 Waterford Way
Miami, FL 33126
T: 305-280-0065
C: 305-810-9080
Email: [email protected]
Rodolfo “Rudy” Lleonart
EVP, Managing Director
First American Bank
1801 Southwest 1st Street
Miami, FL 33135
T: 305-643-8212
C: 305-781-0004
Email: [email protected]
Vanessa Lugo
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ocean Bank
780 NW 42 Ave.
Miami, FL 33126
T: 305-569-8036
C: 305-753-7541
Email: [email protected]
Pamela L. Wendel
Executive Vice President
Chief Operations Officer
Pacific National Bank
1390 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
T: 305-539-7695
Email: [email protected]
S. Marshall Martin
EVP, Chief Administrative & Legal Officer
Amerant
220 Alhambra Circle
Coral Gables, FL 33134
T: 305-717-1972
C: 305-878-0548
Email: [email protected]
Daniel R. Martinez
Bank Miami
1515 Sunset Drive
Suite 26
Coral Gables, FL 33143
C: 305-606-6455
Email: [email protected]
Maria Elena Riera
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
TerraBank N.A.
3191 Coral Way, Suite 900
Miami, FL 33145
T: 305-448-4898
C: 305-799-0942
Email: [email protected]
Alex Rodriguez
Director
PAAST, P.L.
255 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1100
Coral Gables, FL 33134
T: 305-567-0150
C: 305-301-3676
Email: [email protected]
Douglas B. Sawyer
Risk Advisor / Strategic Relationships
Century Risk Advisors
1900 NW Corporate Blvd. Suite 400E
Boca Raton, FL 33431
T: 786-358-9551
C: 305-301-1362
Email: [email protected]
Kenneth (Ken) Schoeni
EVP, Chief Financial Risk Officer
Finance & Risk
Banesco USA
3155 NW 77th Ave.
Miami, FL 33122
T: 786-552-0549
C: 786-459-8357
Email: [email protected]
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Current Members
