Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Miami Man & Woman of the Year
The Southern Florida and Puerto Rico Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a ten-week campaign to raise funds to help find cures for blood cancers. The campaign includes individuals in the community who agree to utilize their leadership abilities and resources to conduct their own fundraising campaigns to help the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fund blood cancer research and provide education and support services for patients and their families.
The male and female candidates who raise the most funds during the campaign will be awarded the title of the Miami’s Man and Woman of the Year, respectively. Candidates are judged solely on their success in raising money, each dollar counting as one vote. Their totals are then considered for the national title. Candidates run in honor of the Boy & Girl of the Year, who are local blood cancer patient survivors and sources of inspiration to others. Below are the 2014 Miami Man and Woman of the Year Candidates. The winners will be announced at the Miami Man & Woman of the Year Journey of Hope Gala on June 6, 2014, at the InterContinental Miami Hotel. For tickets and information, please call 954-744-5313 or email Bich-ly.Ludwig@LLS.org.
Below are the 2014 Miami Man and Woman of the Year Candidates.
Yvette A. Aleman, P.E.
Yvette A. Aleman, P.E., is the President and CEO of F.R. Aleman & Associates, Inc. (FRA), a Woman and Hispanic-Owned Consulting Engineering & Surveying Firm specialized in planning, design and construction oversight of public infrastructure projects for nearly three decades. She is a registered professional engineer in several states across the country and is primarily responsible for the firm’s recognition by Hispanic Business Magazine among the “Top 500 Largest Hispanic-owned Companies in the United States” and by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce as “One of the 100th Largest Hispanic Business Enterprises in Miami-Dade County”. Under her leadership, FRA was awarded “Employer of the Year” numerous times by Miami-Dade County Public Schools Business Cooperative Education. In 2006, Aleman was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Board of Directors of The Children’s Trust in Miami-Dade County for a four-year term and remained two additional years under Governor Charlie Crist and Governor Rick Scott. In 2006, as a founding Board Member of the City of South Miami’s Free Children’s Clinic, Aleman worked towards the realization of a much needed charitable organization that provides free healthcare to uninsured children in the community. During that time, she graduated from Leadership Florida (LF Class XXIV), and immediately thereafter became Chair of the Southeast Regional Council of Advisors. From 2008 to 2010, she served on Leadership Florida’s Statewide Board of Directors. Aleman is involved in numerous professional and community organizations. Aleman earned a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Miami with honors and a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from Florida International University. She later graduated from her Masters of Business Administration from Florida International University.
To donate to Yvette’s campaign visit www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/yaleman
Cristy Clavijo-Kish
Cristy Clavijo-Kish is a successful entrepreneur and award-winning marketing, media and communications practitioner with more than 15 years experience and specialization in Hispanic and multicultural community initiatives. She is a founding partner of Hispanicize digital and Latina Mom Bloggers. She brings her expertise in entrepreneurship, marketing and business to help drive new services and support for bloggers and online media, while creating unique social media engagement programs for brands and organizations. Clavijo-Kish is also Founder and Co-Publisher of Los Tweens & Teens, a bilingual blog and community resource site launched in 2011 to engage multicultural parents raising kids between ages 7-17. In 2013 the site expanded to include My.LosTweens.com which engages tweens & teens together with their parents to use technology and report on the topics, activities and communities important to them. A New Jersey native of Cuban decent, Clavijo-Kish is an active Girl Scout Troop leader and volunteers with other community organizations.
To donate to Cristy’s campaign visit www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/cclavijoki
Michelle Marchetti
In 2012, Michelle Marchetti started a career at the esteemed National Hotel located on Miami Beach as the Senior Catering and Conference Service Manager. Prior to that, she worked at China Grill at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, where she assisted non-profits by creating the restaurant’s first charity outreach program. With 10 years event and catering experience under her belt, Marchetti also worked at 3J Hospitality as Sales and Marketing director for its newest venture, America’s Backyard. Around that time, Marchetti, along with former Fort Lauderdale MWOY 2009 runner-up Elizabeth Maynes, formed 3J Hospitalities Fundraising Program, which helped more than 200 foundations raise funds for their respective charities.
To donate to Michelle’s page visit www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/mmarchetti
Casey Munck
Casey Munck is currently the Manager of Marketing Communications for Amadeus, a global travel technology company, where she oversees branding, social media, digital strategy and communications. She previously worked in management positions in public relations and advertising. She is a young-at-heart, creative marketing communications professional living in Miami. She loves telling stories, inspiring people to achieve greatness, seeing the bright side of things and upon occasion, participating and winning a dance off. She is active in a variety of charities, including Haiti relief efforts, the Miami Marine Stadium restoration project, senior citizen dance therapy and many other local charitable organizations. An Arkansas native, Casey was a journalist prior to her communications career. While working as a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. She loves fitness, fun, and adores her dog Betty.
To donate to Casey’s campaign visit http://www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/cmunck
Peter Obre
Peter Obre is an investment advisor/portfolio manager with over a decade of experience. His specialty is income investing which focuses mainly on high-yielding, blue chip common stock, high-quality preferred stock, REITs and municipal bonds. He began his career with some of the most competitive and reputable firms in the world at CB Richard Ellis and Morgan Stanley. Originally from New York, Obre tries to give back to his community no matter where he lives. He has been part of Habitat for Humanity in the past and was on the Board of Directors for a school for autistic children while in New York. Having lived full-time in Florida since 2008 he has supported Gilda’s Club and the Broward Health Foundation. He is also a fervent animal lover and especially loves his own dog, Dudley. He has volunteered for several animal rescue groups as well as fostering and re-homing dogs for a rescue organization called 101 Salvations in Fort Lauderdale.
To donate to Peter’s campaign visit www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/pobret
Michael Parrish
Michael Parrish is the Regional Managing Director of the South Region of Aon, which covers Washington D.C, west to Mississippi through Florida. In his current role, he maintains relationships with all existing and prospective clients to ensure the proper delivery of Aon’s vast resources. Troubleshooting is a significant portion of the role. Parrish started his career with a multinational insurance carrier in Tampa, Florida. He continued his insurance career in Tampa in several leadership positions. Parrish joined Aon in 2002 as the Managing Director of the Tampa office. In 2004, he became Managing Director for the Miami office and started his regional role started in 2010. Outside of his role at Aon, Mike is a member of the board of The Leukemia & Lymphoma and also dedicates his time to the Orange Bowl Committee, where he serves on the board of trustees. Mike earned his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in accounting and business administration at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He later earned his CPCU, CIC, CRM, and ARM from Wharton Insurance Executive Program, University of Chicago Booth School Executive Program. He also completed the Pinnacle Program in 2013.
To donate to Michael’s campaign visit www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/mparrish
Jose C. Romano
As AVP of Business & Community Relations Jose Romano is responsible for strategic planning of Baptist Health South Florida’s community partnerships, including those with local municipalities and chambers of commerce. He is also responsible for new business development and marketing efforts focused on growing Baptist’s Executive Health Program and their Worksite Wellness Solutions with the goal of maximizing brand awareness, profitability and Patient Satisfaction. Romano is an experienced executive with a successful track record in developing go-to-market strategies for companies in a wide range of industries. Romano serves on various community Boards, including the Young Philanthropists of Baptists Hospital, The Zoological Society of Florida and the Orange Bowl Committee where he serves as the Chairman of the Marketing Committee for both organizations. He is a Trustee Member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and is Vice Chair of the Sports Committee. In addition, he was recently named to the Cuban National Council Board of Advisors and the American Heart Association Multicultural Leadership Committee.
To donate to Jose’s campaign visit www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/jromano
Zachary Scott
Having always been fascinated with electronics as a youth, Zachary Scott joined three friends as a founding partner of Superhive, a New York based smart-home technology integration firm. He currently drives the firm’s Business Development and Client Relations Management. The company significantly grew it’s client base in a three-year period to reach across the United States, Central America and Asia. Superhive’s services cater to those of high net worth and celebrities alike. Scott has played a vital role in the company since it’s founding in 2011. Scott’s involvement with Stand With Maceo proved very rewarding and lead to other charitable endeavors, including The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – LLS. Scott grew up in New York, studied business at USC and pursued a four-year finance career in Manhattan.
To donate to Zachary’s campaign visit www.mwoy.org/pages/sfl/mia14/zscott
