Veterans of Camp Matecumbe

Other Notable Alumni

PEDRO PAN BRETHREN WHO HAVE SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO SERVING OTHERS; WHETHER FOR LIFE SUCH AS EDUCATORS, CLERGY, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AND HEALTH CARE GIVERS; OR DURING A PORTION OF THEIR LIVES IN CRUCIAL TIMES, SUCH AS MILITARY PERSONNEL, ARE HONORED IN THE "NOTABLE CAREER PATHS" SECTION IN THIS WEBSITE.
PEDRO PAN BRETHREN WHO HAVE AUTHORED LITERARY WORKS THAT WE CAN SHARE ARE LISTED IN THE "HOME" DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE MADE THEIR MARK IN THE HISTORY OF OUR ADOPTIVE COUNTRY - AND IN THE WORLD - IN MANY OTHER DIFFERENT WORTHY ENDEAVORS AND THEY ARE BEING HONORED HERE.
MOST OF THESE PEDRO PAN CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY FEATURED IN OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, BUT THIS VENUE WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY - AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS - WILL BE SHOWING UP IN SEARCHES ON GOOGLE, BING AND OTHERS.
ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS ARE SINCERELY APPRECIATED.
The Editor.

Last updated 01/28/23

EDUARDO AGUIRRE REYES, JR. (Matecumbe 7/61 - ) - LA
Presently a principal [Chairman and CEO] in Atlantic Partners, an international consulting firm based n Houston, TX(2011) and serving in several corporate boards, including the US subsidiaries of Spanish multinationals BBVA and Iberdrola.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University.
Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Connecticut, Houston; and the Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago, Dominican Republic.
President of International Private Banking for Bank of America (24 years with the firm)
Appointed to the State Bar as a non-attorney Director by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1990.
Board member of the Houston Chapter of the International Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Governor-appointed to Board of Regents of the University of Houston System for six years (served as Chairman from 1996 to 1998)
President-appointed to the National Commission for Employment Policy.
Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Export-Import Bank of the US (2001-2002)
First director of U.S. Citizenship and Inmigration Services , an under-Secretary rank position in the Department of Homeland Security (2003-2005)
US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra (2005-2009)
AGUIRRE was bestowed the Order of José Matías Delgado - Grade of Grand Officer - by El Salvador.
Bestowed the Order of Isabella the catholic - Grand Cross by Spain.
Bestowed the Order of Christopher Columbus - Grade of Grand Officer - by the Dominican Republic.
Bestowed the 2004 Americanism Award Medal by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
He was also awarded the highest civilian decorations by the Holy See, Andorra, Pakistan and the Royal House of Rwanda.
His many other recognitions include being selected by Louisiana State University to its Hall of Distinction.

ANTONIO ARGIZ TELL (went to Mary Help of Christians, Tampa, FL)
CPA, ABV, CFE, CVA, ASA and Managing Partner of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP.
Specializes in the areas of litigation, support, forensic accounting, busines planning, valuation and audit services.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University (1974)
Leadership of the Year Award by the South Florida Banking Institute (1/19/2005)
Member of FIU Foundation Board of Directors since 2006.
Served in the governing body of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
First Cuban appointed by the Governor to chair Florida's Board of Accountancy.
Has chaired the Archbishop's Charity and Development Drive and the United Way of Miami-Dade Coiunty campaign.
Served as President of the Miami Dade College Foundation.
Member and Treasurer of the Orange Bowl Committee.
Certified Public Accountant in Florida, New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania & Texas.

[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

FRANCISCO JESÚS AVELLANET GARCÍA (went with sister 1/62 - foster home in Boston, MA)
Inventor and Engineering Business Executive.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Holds 27 patents as an inventor and 3 pending applications.
Has developed and commercialized dozens of life-saving medical devices, including a biologically-engineered stent which is suitable for multi-drug delivery and provides novel drug-eluting stents designed for improved performance over existing stents.
His many other invention involvements include an expandable endovascular support device (cited in General Science and Technology, March 2000), a guidewire for catheter, methods for making electrical cables having low electrical resistance, a polypectomy snare instrument (GST, January 2000), a surgical instrument with a rotatable shaft (Scilogy, March 2002), a high flexibility and heat dissipating coaxial cable (GST, October 2001), surgical basket devices, and many many others.

FRANCISCO R. "Frank" ANGONES DEL MONTE (Kendall 6/61 - )
Attorney. Presently a partner at the law firm of Angones, McClure & García.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami with a BA in 1972.
Member of the Executive Committee of the Florida Bar Board of Governors.
Past President (and first Hispanic* President) of the Dade County Bar Association.
Past President (and youngest attorney) of the Cuban-American Bar Association.
First Cuban-born President of the Florida Bar (2007) [The Florida Bar is the third largest State Bar in the country.]
Great-great-grandson of Pedro Figueredo, the author of the Cuban national anthem.

(*) A misnomer. There is no such thing as a Hispanic race, but an attempt to group all Spaniards and their descendants for easy mention.

MARÍA CONCEPCIÓN (BECHILY CARREÑO) HODES (went with aunt & uncle in Miami - foster home in Chicago, IL)
Philanthropist and Publicist.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Delegate to Democratic National Convention for Illinois 1980.
Staff assistant for Senator Alan Dixon (1981-1983)
Host and Assistant Producer for WSNS-TV (1984-1985)
Board member of the Northwestern Memorial Foundation.
Contributor to Chicago Children's Museum and other worthy endeavors.
Delegate to Democratic National Convention for Illinois 1996.
Owner of Maria Bechily Public Relations, which she uses to promote Latinos.

CÉSAR E. CALVET LUGONES (6/61 - went with cousin to Miami Beach - Camp San Pedro, Orlando - Camp St. John, Jax)
Presently (2011) coordinates the Latin Market and International Private Banking Services from Sun Trust Bank and serves on the Board of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Economics from Rollins College.
Started as a teller in Sun Trust Bank, Central Florida in 1968.
Has served as Chairman of Florida Housing's Board of Directors (on the board since 2000) and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Grupo Bancario Latino for Sun Trust Bank, Central Florida.
Has served on several boards and commissions in the Orlando area, including the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, the Valencia Community College Foundaton and the Metro Orlando International Affairs Commission.

RAÚL DE JESÚS CANO CHAUVELL (Matecumbe 2/62 - ) - Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
(see also NOTABLE CAREER PATHS - EDUCATION)
Scientist specializing in molecular and environmental microbiology.
CURRICULUM VITAE
PhD in Microbiology from University of Montana.
Holds degrees in Genetics and Clinical Microbiology.
Elected fellow to the American Academy of Microbiology.
Professor Emeritus at the Biological Sciences Department, California Polythechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.
Founder and Director of the Environmental Biotechnology Institute (EBI), for which he raised $5.6 million to build new research facilities and to establish new research programs.
Founding Scientist of Ambergene Corporation, he directed the isolation and characterization of more than 1,200 microorganisms, from amber.
Chief Scientific Officer of Ambergene Corporation (1993-1997)
With former graduate student Monica Borucki received US Patent #5,593,883 in March 1997 covering the recovery of bacteria and other ancient organisms, including fungi, viruses, pollen and protozoa, from amber and other ancient resins.
President and Founder of Environmental Diagnostics (2001-2008)
Director of the EBI (1996-present)
Work published in "Science", "Nature", "Microbial Ecology", "Applied and Environmental Microbiology" and many others.
Has taught at Cal Poly for many more than 30 years.
Received more than a dozen awards, including the prestigious Carski Award.
Furthermore, according to an article published in Cal Poly News on July 25, 2008, Professor Cano is "brewing tasty beer from prehistoric yeast plucked from ancient amber samples."

JOSÉ JAVIER CAROLLO LÓPEZ (Kendall 3/61 - )
Politician
CURRICULUM VITAE
Mayor of Miami 1996-1997 and 1998-2001
First Cuban elected to that post.
[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

KENIA MARÍA CASARREAL ( - St. Vincent's School, Vincennes, IN) [1/3/46-4/20/10]
Education Psychology and Patron of the Arts.
CURRICULUM VITAE
BA Summa Cum Laude from Marian College, Indianapolis, IN. (1965)
MA and PhD in Organizational Psychology, Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, CA.
Degrees in Master of Arts in Education (Special Education), Psychology and Education Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, CA.
Extensive national experience in a wide variety of non-profit and grassroots organizations such as Watts Community Center, Project Head Start as Parent Coordinator, Sophia Salvin Special Education Early Childhood Unit Model Project and El Centro Mental Health Center.
Has performed pro-bono for innumerable consultations for grassroots AIDS, women's, minorities' and children's organizations.
Named Art Patron of the Year (2005)
A founding member of the Legacy Society of the Long Beach Museum of Art, past Trustee of the LBA Collector's Circle and longtime supporter of the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.
Board member subscriber and patron of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.
Supporter of the Museum of Latin American Art and board member of the Long Beach Library Foundation.
Her legacy is to CSULB's College of the Arts to the "Dr. Kenia Casarreal-Adajian and Judge Jacob Adajian Scholarship Fund" for the promotion of voice, opera and College of the Arts.
[Source: as published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram 4/28-4/10, 2010]

JORGE A. DE DIEGO MIYARES (Kendall 12/61 - ) - Matecumbe )
MD. Pediatrician. Philanthropist.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Graduate of the University of Oklahoma.
Medical Practice in Miami-Dade County since 1996.
Received the prestigious Regents' Alumni Award from OU.
Outstanding Physicain of the Year from Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.
Commendationa Award from the Miami-Dade government.
Founder of Doral Medicine Associates.
Has an entire office dedicated solely to helping children of little means.

ANGEL DIEZ

[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

FRANCISCO F. FIRMAT LÓPEZ (Kendall 7/61 - )
Judge
A member of the Cuban-American Bar Assn., was appointed judge of North Municipal Court in December of 1985 by Gov. George Deukmejian at the age of 35. Firmat has practiced law in Fullerton since 1977, concentrating on business and civil litigation and misdemeanor defense work. Judge Francisco F. Firmat was elected assistant presiding judge of North Orange County Municipal Court on October 21, 1987.
Restoring the Orange County Superior Court to full strength, Gov. George Deukmejian in January of 1990 announced the appointment of two new judges in California, one of them Francisco F. Firmat.

MAGALI JEREZ TRUJILLO (Kendall 8/61 - ) - Holy Family Academy, Beaverville, IL
(see also NOTABLE CAREER PATHS - EDUCATION)
Composer of religious music. recognized as an expert in language and cultural instruction, particularly Spanish.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Masters in Art in Language and Education from Montclair State University (1976)
Doctoral studies from Seton Hall University.
Member of the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, The National Association of Professional Women, The American Association of University Women, the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the New Jersey Education Association and the Foreign Language Educators of New jersey Association.
MAGALI was one of a dozen members of a group of musicians who put together the Newark events when Pope John Paul II visited New Jersey in 1995.
Her book "Empecemos: Cuaderno de Trabajo" (with Aparo Codding) was published in 1997 and is now in its sixth edition.
Her song "Oremos por la Paz" was premiered a the Unesco Palace in Paris, France at the IXéme. Rencontre Internationale de Chant Chorale in 2003.
She is listed in Cambridge Who's Who.
Her collaboration in the Spansih translation of Bob Hurd's "Pan de Vida" is noted on the current Oregon Catholic Press song books.

HUGO LLORENS ACOSTA ( went with uncle in Miami 4/62 - )
Presently US Ambassador to Honduras (2011) - since September 2008.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University, Washington, DC (1977)
Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Kent at Canterbury, England (1980)
Assistant Treasurer at the Chase Manhattan Bank, International Division, NY.
Master of Science in National Security Studies form the National War College (1997)
Principal Officer at the US Consulate General in Vancouver, Canada (1999-2002)
Principal Advisor to the President and to the National Security Advisor on Andean Affairs issues pertaining to Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador (2002-2003)
Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2003-2006)
Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Madrid, Spain (2006-2008) under fellow pedropan EDUARDO AGUIRRE. (see entry above)

ALDO DE JESÚS MARTÍNEZ PAZ (Florida City 2/62 - orphanage in Totowa, NJ - foster home)
Law, Education and Investments.
CURRICULUM VITAE
St. Peter's College, NJ
Seton Hall Lw School, Newark, NJ
Attorney
VP of the NYSE (retired)
Law Memberships and Associations:
New York State Bar Association
New York County Lawyers Association
Southern District of New York
Eastern District of New York
New Jersey State Bar Association
U.S. Supreme Court Bar
Intermarket Surveillance Group (ISG) www.isgportal.org
SMARTS Group Holdings, Member of the Board of Directors
Achievements and Community Involvements:
Chairman of the ISG: 2006-2007 - Participation in the ISG since 1989
St. Peter's College (New Jersey): Member of the College Board of Regents - 2007 to Present. Working with other Regents, faculty and administration on entrepreneurial initiatives
St. Athanasius School, Bronx, NY: Chairman and member of the School Advisory Council - 2001 to 2009 - Worked with Council members, Principal and Pastor to organize school finances, prioritized school needs and identified needed school programs and curriculum changes then worked with Archdiocese of NY staff to reach out to potential benefactors who provided much needed assistance
Junior Achievement Board Member, New York and New Jersey: Member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of New York - May 2007 to March 2008 - Represented the NYSE and worked with the Board to determine educational models to bring to the primary and secondary public and private schools and worked to identify curriculum and parent involvement opportunities
Junior Achievement Presenter, New York and New Jersey: From 1987 to 2008 provided in-classroom instructions on several courses including topics such as "Enterprise at Work" in primary schools and "International Markets" at the American High School of Economics & Finance (Church Street, Manhattan) 1987 to 2008
Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, NJ: Development Cabinet member and Chair of the Corporations & Businesses Sub-committee 2003 - 2007; and Co-Chair of the Cabinet in 2007
St. Ann School, Raritan, NJ: Vice President of the School Advisory Council March 2008 to 2010; President of the Council - Providing, along with the other Council members, advisory function to the Principal and Pastor on all school matters including finances, curriculum and marketing
Recipient of the 1989 Humanitarian Award from "Jobs for Youths, Inc." of New York: 1989

HILARIÓN MARTÍNEZ LLANES (3/62 - went with friends)
Law and Science
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics with Honors from Duke.
Law Degree from the University of Florida.
Master's in Law Degree (in International and Comparative Law) with honors from the University of Brussels, BELGIUM.
Master's in Science Degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College at the National Defense University.
He has also received numerous Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor Awards from the State Department.
Visiting Professor in the Department of International Relations at Florida International University teaching a popular Diplomacy course.
Currently (2009) is one of only 16 Senior Diplomats with the title of Diplomat in Residence.
First US Consul to Bosnia .
Lari speaks Spanish, English, French, Italian and Greek.

MELQUIADES "Mel" MARTÍNEZ RUIZ (Matecumbe 2/62 - )
First Cuban EVER in the US Senate!
Presently chairman of Chase Bank's operations in Florida, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean(2011)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor's degree in International Affairs from Florida State University.
Received Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law in 1973.
25 years of law practice in Orlando, FL.
Served as Vice-President of the Board of Catholic Charities and the Orlando Diocese.
Mayor of Orange County, Florida.
Ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 1994.
Served in the Governor's Growth Management Study Commission.
Served as President of the Orlando Utilities Commission and as Chairman of the Orlando Housing Authority.
Served as Co-chairman of George W. Bush's 2000 presidential election campaign and was one of the 25 Florida electors.
Elected to the US Cabinet as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2000) and while serving sat as en ex-officio member of the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.
Elected to the State Senate (2006)
Chairman of the Republican Party (2006-2007) [First Latin American to do so in both parties]
President of Florida Chase Bank (2010)
MEL MARTÍNEZ will always be uniquely remembered by us pedropan children with a special pride because, out of the two million plus Cubans in the US, the first US State Senator ever elected was a Pedro Pan, a member of an elite group of 14,048 children who have always been under-estimated by the Liberal Press !

CARLOS MAYANS MULKAY (Matecumbe 4/62 - Mariana Home, Wichita, KS)
Legislator and Politician
CURRICULUM VITAE
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science form Georgia State University and a Masters of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development form Webster University.
He participated in the Leadership in Minority Health Program at Harvard University on 2000.
10 years as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
Served on several committees: Health and Human Services, which he chaired; Local Government and Kansas Futures.
Served on the Sedgwick County Mental Health Advisory Board.
Owned and operated an insurance agency and risk management business until 2002.
Elected Mayor of Wichita in 2006.
Has been a member of the National Conference of State Legislators, the American Legislative Exchange and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.
He was also a medic on the US Army.

JOSÉ E. MIRÓ CARBALLO (Matecumbe 3/62 - Casa de Sallies, Wilmington, DE)
Politician
First Cuban elected to the Delaware House of Representatives.

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

HIRAM PÉREZ BLANCO (Matecumbe 5/62 - )
Theatrical technician.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Degree in Speech Communication from Washington State University.
Specialized in the application of theatrical technology to live entertainment.
Has been published in TV & Video Magazine and Lightning Dimension International magazines.
First Hispanic to be elected to the United States Institute of Theater Technology and served in its Board of Directors for 6 years.
Member of the Organisation Internationale de Scenographers Techniciens et Architects de Theatre (OISTAT).
Nominated to Who's Who in America and Who's Who in Entertainment in 1994.
Named one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century for his work in the lighting on May of 1998 by the International Biographical center in Cambridge, England.

SILVIA MARÍA (PÉREZ-AMÉZAGA AMÉZAGA) POSNER (07/61) CWB
(data to be copied from 04/22 newsletter "Pedropanes Que Triunfan" article)

BENITO "Benny" PRATS MARTÍNEZ (Kendall - House of Providence Orphanage, Syracuse, NY)
Aerospace Engineer.

Posted by Arturo Bueno on facebook 2/27/15: Benny Prats is a Pedro Pan who, in 1961, came to the United States at 7 years old with his brother and two sisters; his parents arrived four years later. He is an aerospace engineer who studied at the University of Maryland, graduating in 1978 and then married Martha Corona, a beautiful Cuban. They have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. Their corporation, eINFORMe, Inc., has prime contracts with NASA on various space programs including the MSL project (Mars Science Laboratory), nicknamed “Curiosity".
In 2007 Benny began to design, build and test a miniature laboratory (about the size of a microwave oven) located on “Curiosity” and now processing atmosphere, sand and rocks on Mars. This instrument is called “SAM" (Sample Analysis at Mars) and can distinguish the elements of the atmosphere with greater accuracy than previous missions to Mars. Methane gas has been detected on several occasions during the 30 months on Mars. SAM can store sand or crushed rocks in 74 cups for months or quickly move them to one of two ovens that can reach 1000 degrees Celsius to produce gases. In one of four solid samples SAM detected high levels of organic material (chloro-benzene).
Benny continues daily operations and analysis using this laboratory and works on other projects to send additional instruments to Mars. The rover "Curiosity" has traveled 12km on Mars, reaching the base of a mountain called "Sharp" and will now begin the climb. Last week Benny traveled from Maryland to CalTech in Pasadena to present a talk to the scientific community about “SAM”'s life expectancy. He looks forward to many more years of results from Mars to be published in the public domain and for “Curiosity” to provide more exciting pictures of vistas on Mars.

TOMÁS P. REGALADO VALDÉS (Kendall 4/62 - )
Politician and Journalist.
CURRICULUM VITAE
The son of an atorney/journalist who was the last president of the Cuban Association of Journalists and Reporters and a political prisoner for over 22 years, Tomás Regalado Molina.
Started as an unpaid intern at WFAB, La Fabulosa and later became the youngest reporter on staff at the radio station and ascended to assistant producer.
Hired at the age of 21 by WCKT (an NBC affiliate) as the Latin American News Editor and host of the program Tele-Amigo.
Worked for Channel 7 and went back to WFAB.
Reporter for WLTC Channel 23 in 1974 but returned to WFAB in 1977, becoming the station's first international news correspondent, covering the civil war in Angola, riots in Soweto, South Africa and the civil war in Mozambique.
In 1983 became the first Cuban-American member of the White House Press Corps, having interviewed Nixon, Ford and Carter. He later traveled with Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton.
Weekly columnist for the El Miami Herald, covering the civil war in Nicaragua and El Salvador.
Tomás, along with his wfe Raquel, spoke several times before the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland against human rights violations in Cuba.
Elected as Miami City Commissioner in 1996, re-elected in 1999 and in 2003. In 2007 he was re-elected by 94% of the voters in his district, and kept his position as News Director on WWFE La Poderosa.
Elected as City Mayor in 2009 with a 72% margin.

EDUARDO C. ROBREÑO DOLZ (went with friend 7/61)
Attorney and businessman.
CURRICULUM VITAE
He obtained his BA degree from Westfield State College at the age of 22, an M.A. degree from the University of Massachussets at 24 and a J.D. at 33 from the prestigious Rutgers Law School, he supervised his law firm's pro bono work and sat on the Board of Concilio, a Hispanic social service agency.
He joined the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1992 after being nominated to it by President Bush.
{Data from "The Cubans. Our Footprints Across America" (Alexandria Library, 2013) by FERNANDO 'Fernán" HERNÁNDEZ

RODRI RODRÍGUEZ (Florida City - foster home in Albuquerque, NM)
[GUADALUPE JOSEFINA RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ - Naturalized as LUPI JOSEPHINE RODRIGUEZ]
Artist and Producer
CURRICULUM VITAE
CEO of Rodri Entertainment Group.
Founding shareholder in a Latino-owned bank and key player in creating a Latin category for the Emmy Awards.
Produced Julio Iglesias' first concert in the US.
Has produced concerts for big-name Latin artists such as Camilo Sesto and Roberto Carlos.
Took American acts to Israel and to South America, with Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Herbie Hancock.

SANTIAGO RODRÍGUEZ CEIJAS (Kendall 10/61 - ) - Madonna Manor Orphanage in Marrero, LA (1961-1964)
Classical Music Concert Pianist.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Played Mozart Piano Concerto no. 27 with the New Orleans Symphony at the age of 10.
Masters Degree from Juilliard School of Music.
Graduated magna cum laude with William Rice at the University of Texas.
Member of the Piano Divison of the University of Maryland since 1980, holding the rank of Professor and Artist-in-residence.
Silver medalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (1981).
Unique life and artistry were profiled on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kurault in 1993.
One of his rachmaninoff recordings won the Washington Area Music Award for best classical recording in 1995.
Featured many times on all major TV stations, including PBS, BBC and CBC.
Recipient of the 2005 Ignacio Cervantes Medal.
SANTIAGO has performed internationally with leading world orchestras, including the London Symphony, the Weimar Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, DC, the American Symphony Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall in New York...the list os almost endless.
In chamber music he has collaborated with the Guarnieri String Quartet and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
His repertoire numbers over 65 concerts, including Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Liszt, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninov and many others. Also unusual works by Strauss, Falla, Albéniz, Granados, Lecuona and others.

ALEJANDRO ROQUE GONZÁLEZ (Florida City 5/62-6/62)
(see also NOTABLE CAREER PATHS - CLERGY)
Catholic Clergy.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Studied Architectural Design at Miami-dade Community College - North campus
Head designer for Sheldon and Lavrich for 10 years.
Missionary Oblate of Mary Inmaculate.
[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

CARLOS A. SALADRIGAS
Businessman. CPA.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Mr. Carlos A. Saladrigas, CPA, is the Co-Founder of Advance Auto Parts Inc. He has been a Director of Advance Auto Parts Inc., since May 22, 2003. Mr. Saladrigas serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Regis HR Group at Advance Auto Parts Inc. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of ADP TotalSource Group, Inc., from November 1984 to May 2002. He co-founded Vincam Group Inc. in 1984, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from November 1984 to May 2002.
In 1996, Mr. Saladrigas took the company public. He served as Executive Vice President of CAC and he held several positions both domestically and overseas at PepsiCo Inc., including Director of Corporate Planning and Vice President of Finance and Administration for PepsiCo's subsidiary. He held positions in the HMO industry. He started his career in public accounting with one of the Big eight firms. He is a Member of the Advisory Committee of MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P. He serves as the Chairman of Concordia Healthcare Holdings, LLC. He served as the Chairman of ADP TotalSource Group, Inc. and Vincam Group Inc. Mr. Saladrigas has been a Director of MBF Healthcare Acquisition Corp. since June 2006; Duke Energy Corporation since 2001; Florida Progress Corporation, since September 1, 2001 and Carolina Power & Light Co. since 2001. He serves as an Independent Director of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC. He serves as a Member of the Hispanic Advisory Board of Frito-Lay and PepsiCo Inc. He served as the Chairman of Premier American Bank. He served as an Independent Director of Progress Energy Inc. from 2001 to July 2012. He is highly active in professional employer organization industry efforts, having served as President of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations and of its Florida chapter and as Vice Chairman of the Institute for the Accreditation of Professional Employer Organizations. He served as the Chairman and a Member of Florida Board of Employee Leasing Companies. Mr. Saladrigas has received the Alumnus of Distinction award from the University of Miami, was named Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997, the Man of the Year award from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and the Thomas Carvel Immigrant Entrepreneur Award from the National Immigration Forum. In 2002, the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust named him as Top Volunteer Advocate, citing his leadership on ethics and public accountability. Mr. Saladrigas has received the Alumnus of Distinction award from the University of Miami. He is a C.P.A. and a C.M.A. He holds an M.B.A. degree, with honors, from the Harvard University and degrees, cum laude, from Miami-Dade Community[from Bloomberg Business]

MARIO E. SÁNCHEZ ACOSTA (Matecumbe 3/62 - ) - Mount St. John Academy, Gladstone, NJ
Playwright, Actor, Artistic Director and Producer
CURRICULUM VITAE
Director of Teatro Avanti, established in 1979.
Producer of the widely-acclaimed International Hispanic Theatre Festival.
Received the 2007 Special Recognition Award from the Arts and Business Council of Miami.
Mario presents an International Festival of Hispanic Theatre each June in Florida.
[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

JORGE L. VIERA RODRÍGUEZ (Matecumbe 9/62 - ) - foster homes in Queens, NY and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
International Banker. Presently (2011) Senior Vice-President and Manager of the International Private Banking Division of Northern Trust, NA in Florida. Also serves a Vice Chairman of Northern Trust Cayman International, Ltd.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Masters in Business Administration.
Past president of the Florida International Bankers Association, composed of 83 domestic and foreign institutions from 24 countries.
Active Board member of several non-profit and charitable organizations. A member of numerous foreign and national Chambers of Commerce and a Director of Save the Children Worldwide Organization.
Decorated by the French Government with the distinction of Chevalier des Palmes Academiques.

OCTAVIO J. VISIEDO
Education
CURRICULUM VITAE
BA degreee in History and M.Ed. from the University of Miami.
First Miami-Dade Cuban school supervisor (1990)
Founded Chancellor Academies in 1999 and led he merger with Beacon Education Management (now Imagine Scholls) in 2001.
Escogido por el presidente Bush para integrar su Comisión de Excelencia Educacional para Hispanos (2002)
Serves (2011) as Chairman and Director of Imagine Schools, and Member of the Founders Board of Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership, Inc.
Distinguished lecturer at Florida International University.