Veronica Flores, EVP/COO
First National Bank of South Miami

Veronica has been a key member of the Executive team at First National Bank of South Miami since her arrival in 1999. As Executive Vice President, she is responsible for the daily management of the Bank, with a primary focus on client and community relations. The bank has doubled its asset and deposit size and tripled its loan portfolio since her leadership began.

Veronica has been a key member of the Executive team at First National Bank of South Miami since her arrival in 1999. As Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, she is responsible for the daily management of the Bank, with a primary focus on client and community relations. She serves on the Loan, Trust & Asset/Liability Committees. In January 2018, she was elected to the Board of Directors of the Bank.Veronica’s commitment and involvement in our community has been demonstrated in a wide variety of areas. She was named as one of the Top 100 Power Players in Finance by South Florida Business Journal for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Currently, she serves on the following boards: First National Bank of South Miami January 2018, the Commercial Industrial Association of South Florida since 2013, the University of Miami Citizens Board since 2014, Chair of the University of Miami Citizens Board Women’s Society since 2015, the Florida Bankers Association State-wide Board since 2015, and the Florida Bankers Association Government Relations Committee from 2011-2016. She is past President of the South Miami Hospital Associates where she continues to serve on its Board since 2000. She served on the Board of Directors of Chamber SOUTH from 2007-2013 (Chair from 2009-2010). Veronica’s involvement in the community and her leadership in banking was recognized by being selected as the recipient of the 2011 South Florida Women Extraordinaire Award. She has served as a Board Member of: Hometown Inc., a group of commercial property owners in South Miami and Fellowship House Foundation. Veronica’s continuous involvement and leadership in the community was recognized by the City of South Miami by presenting her with the Key to the City. One of her proudest accomplishments was being named the 2014 Chamber SOUTH Annual award recipient for service to her community. Ms. Flores enjoys her role as a community banker since 1980. Her vast experience has served the Bank well in leading the strategic initiatives for the bank. As Ms. Flores states, “I am most proud of the role that I have played in assembling an outstanding team. We have become the employer of choice for many bankers in our community.”

Jorge Rivero, HR on Demand

Jorge J. Rivero began his career with the U.S. Department of Labor in 1978. He served as the District Director for S. Florida between 1991-2004. Mr. Rivero was responsible for developing and directing the Division’s programs and operations in S. Florida. This included the enforcement, compliance, education and information programs conducted under the statutory authority contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and others. He was also a member of the Wage and Hour National and Regional Office teaching staff. Since retiring from the Department of Labor, Mr. Rivero has acted as a consultant for businesses in designing policies and procedures and implementing compensation systems to ensure compliance with the various labor and employment laws. Additionally, Mr. Rivero has served as an expert in the Federal District Court for both management and employees on matters relating to the FLSA. Mr. Rivero is currently President of H.R. Management Consultants, Inc. He is also Past President of the South Florida Compensation and Benefits Association, an affiliate of the World at Work organization and currently serves on the Board of Director for the Florida Restaurant Association, Miami-Dade Chapter.

Joanne Morris, Managing SVP/Director of Human Resources
City National Bank

Joanne Morris is a local HR Veteran, with a bachelor’s in Human Resources from Florida International University and 25 years of experience in the field. She has spent 24 of those years in Human Resources with City National Bank, where she is Managing Senior Vice President and Human Resources Director, for the past 10 years. She is a PHR and Strategic Management and SHRM-CP Certified professional.

Jose Cueto
President, International Finance Bank

Jose E. Cueto was born in Coral Gables, Florida and attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory High School. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Florida International University.

Mr. Cueto is the President & Chief Executive Officer of International Finance Bank since May 4, 2015 after having served as the Head of Corporate Banking for Florida and the Caribbean at FirstBank, Puerto Rico from 2012-2015.

From 2001-2012 Mr. Cueto worked for Caja Madrid where he opened its Miami International Banking Agency and eventually grew it to more than $3 billion in assets and held various positions in the Organization including Deputy General Manager & Chief Financial Officer and later Head of Corporate Banking, Capital Markets and Project Finance. He was a member of the City National Bank acquisition team and later served as a Director.

Mr. Cueto began his banking career 28 years ago at Republic National Bank of Miami and later worked for First Union, Capital Bank, Banco Real and Bank Leumi.
Mr. Cueto has been recognized as a top producer and is highly regarded by the local banking community. He was the recipient of the South Florida Business Journal’s Lender of the Yearaward in 2013 as well as the US-Spain Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Ponce de Leon Excellence Award.

Mr. Cueto presently serves on the Orange Bowl Committee, as a Board Member and President-Elect of the South Florida Banking Institute, as President-Elect of the Center for Financial Training, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Bankers Association (FBA) and as Vice-Chairman of the FBA BancPAC.