Board Members
Alejandra Henao, MSc is a highly accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in economic development, government affairs, and international trade. Her career spans leadership roles at prominent organizations, including SelectFlorida, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she has driven initiatives to promote economic growth, strengthen public-private partnerships, and advocate for policies that enhance international business opportunities. Alejandra has a proven track record of managing complex, multi-country projects and engaging with government officials, policymakers, and key stakeholders to advance sustainable economic development goals. Her expertise includes strategic government relations, policy advocacy, trade management, and the facilitation of international partnerships that support small and medium-sized enterprises. She holds a BA in International Relations from Florida International University (FIU), an MS in International Development (with Honors) from the University of Bath, and a specialization in Government and Public Policy from Universidad de Los Andes. In addition, she has pursued advanced graduate studies at prestigious institutions, including Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Thunderbird School of Global Management, and MIT Sloan School of Management. Alejandra currently serves as SelectFlorida’s Director of International Trade and Development for Latin America and the Caribbean, where she leads initiatives to expand global trade opportunities and foster economic growth in the region. She has also been appointed President of the South Florida Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) for the 2025–2027 term. In this role, she continues to drive economic empowerment, promote cross-border collaboration, and advocate for the advancement of women in international trade and business.
Lynare Robbins serves as a Recruiter for the U.S. Peace Corps in the South Florida region. Her professional background includes experience as an Adjunct Faculty member of the School of Business at Southern New Hampshire University, as well as roles in tourism, international trade, economic development and diplomacy programs. Ms. Robbins holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and master’s degrees in International Relations & Conflict Resolution and Human Behavior. A Navy Veteran, she continues her commitment to volunteer public service through her appointment to serve on the Miami-Dade County International Trade Consortium, as well as advisory and board roles with the Florida Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and the Organization of Women in International Trade South Florida. In recognition of her efforts to advance economic opportunity in her community, she received the 2022 International Women’s Day Award from the World Trade Center Miami.
Anabel Garcia is the Director of Operations at DOF Ground, a leading transportation company specializing in logistics solutions and freight management services for BCOs. With over a decade of experience in the logistics industry, Anabel leads a team of supply chain engineers and overseeing day-to-day strategic operations. Anabel is dedicated to helping clients successfully position their products in the U.S. market by reducing shipping costs, minimizing transit times, and optimizing their supply chains. Her expertise, combined with DOF Ground’s multimodal transportation management services, empowers clients and contract carriers with innovative, efficient solutions. Anabel focused on enhancing intermodal solutions by integrating container inland services via rail and comprehensive warehousing (3PL) options.
Elena Méndez joined the Export-Import Bank’s regional office in Miami in July, 2012, and is primarily responsible for assisting US exporters in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prior to joining EXIM Bank, Ms. Méndez had dedicated most of her extensive banking career in international trade, new business development and institutional and corporate banking. She worked for various global financial institutions, including Citibank and Dresdner Bank Latin America AG. Elena has extensive business exposure and travel throughout South and Central America & the Caribbean. Her diverse experience includes working closely with domestic and foreign companies; the overseas branches and affiliates of multinational corporations; financial institutions; central banks; and foreign governments. Ms. Méndez received a Master of International Business degree from Florida International University (FIU), Miami, Florida; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami (UM), Coral Gables, Florida.
Sudeshna Chatterjee is a seasoned professional in international trade, investment, and diplomacy, acting as the Senior Global Engagement Officer for the Miami-Dade County International Trade Consortium (ITC). With over two decades of experience, Sudeshna has played a pivotal role in fostering cross-border collaborations, advancing international partnerships, and promoting economic development. In the early stages of her career, Sudeshna spent over a decade as a Trade and Investment Advisor with UK Trade & Investment at the British High Commission in India, where she successfully facilitated bilateral trade opportunities. She later took on the role of Director - South Asia Development for Bournville College in Birmingham, UK, where she was instrumental in establishing and managing the College’s operations in South Asia, focusing on education and skills development. An accomplished entrepreneur, Sudeshna co-manages Seal Global, an international business focused on building Global Capability Centers and providing transformative digital solutions for U.S. companies. Her entrepreneurial journey also includes founding and managing companies in both India and the USA, leveraging her expertise in business strategy, education, and innovation. Sudeshna holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Calcutta and an MBA from the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, India. Her interests include travel, reading, and music, and she is a passionate advocate for women in international trade and diplomacy, promoting their leadership roles in shaping global economic landscapes. With a wealth of experience and a commitment to driving impactful initiatives, Sudeshna continues to champion global engagement and strengthen Miami-Dade County’s position as a global trade hub.
Maria Dreyfus-Ulvert is the Assistant Director for Economic Development at the Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED) of Miami-Dade County. Her responsibilities include the promotion of International Business. Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert has a strong international trade background. Prior to her current position, she was the Executive Director for Miami-Dade County’s International Trade Consortium (ITC) where she worked for the last 16 years. Since joining the County in 2007, Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert has coordinated numerous official trade missions and hosted more than 200 inbound business/trade delegations to Miami. Pior to joining the County, Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert was a career diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua. From 2002 to 2007 she was Minister Counselor in charge of economic affairs at the Nicaragua Consulate in Miami promoting trade, investment and tourism between Florida and Nicaragua. Her multilateral experience includes working for the United Nations Secretariat and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in New York from 1997-2001. Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert also conducted research at the World Bank and at Morgan Stanley in New York as an emerging markets analyst. She worked as a research analyst at a think-tank known as the Institute of European Latin American Studies (IRELA) in Madrid, Spain. Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert graduated from Columbia University with a master’s in international affairs with a concentration in economic and political development. She has a B.A. in government and a Certificate in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University. She studied at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris. She has travelled extensively in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa and is fluent in French and Spanish.
Dr. Jerry Haar is a globally recognized thought leader, academic, corporate consultant and business strategist with expertise in trade, international affairs and entrepreneurship. He currently holds numerous leadership positions at Florida International University (FIU), including professor of international business, Executive Director for the Americas, and Faculty Advisor for Executive Education in the College of Business. Dr. Haar is a Global Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a Senior Fellow at both the Council on Competitiveness and the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. He has held visiting appointments at Wharton, Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, and the American Enterprise Institute, was a Fulbright Scholar at the Fundação Getúlio Vargas in Brazil, and a former director of Washington Programs for the Council of the Americas. Dr. Haar holds graduate degrees from Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and Harvard University, and received his B.A. (cum laude) from the American University. He has authored 18 books and has been featured in various media outlets, includingthe Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Miami Herald, The Hill, the National Interest and CNN.
Evelyn I. Suero is a global business attorney and founder of Suero Law, PLLC where she focuses on the legal needs of startup & established companies, foreign investors, creatives, and entrepreneurs. Evelyn handles all phases of business development, incl. corporate structure & governance, contracts, copyrights & trademarks, franchising, raising capital, business & investment immigration, expanding operations into Florida, and Going Global. Because of her broad expertise, Evelyn is an in-demand public speaker and has been a featured speaker on many prestigious platforms such as, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum, Enterprise Florida, Women Economic Forum, Univision Despierta América®, to name a few. Evelyn has also served as Board Member/Director for the Miami-Dade Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board and the Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL). She is currently an Advisory Committee Member with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and VP General Counsel of OWIT International. Evelyn holds a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Jennifer Diaz is the President and founder of Diaz Trade Law – the only South Florida firm recognized in the Chambers and Partners Spotlight for International Trade. Jennifer is a Board-Certified International Attorney specializing in Customs and International trade law and consulting services. Prior to founding Diaz Trade Law, Jennifer was a partner at a leading South Florida law firm, serving as the practice leader of the Customs and International Trade group. Since 2006, Jennifer has counseled businesses of all sizes on complex customs issues and has a strong record of success in mitigating federal administrative enforcement actions. Jennifer has been recognized by Chambers Global and USA, “Super Lawyers” as a Top International Attorney, has an AV rating of “Preeminent,” and is considered a leading expert in International Trade Law by the Florida Bar. As an expert in matters concerning U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Jennifer regularly provides customized trainings and comprehensive programs on matters concerning import/export compliance for numerous organizations, including several Fortune 500 companies. Beyond her legal practice, Jennifer is a champion of organizations within her industry and served as President of the Organization for Women in International Trade (OWIT), a global organization which seeks to advance the prominence of women in global trade. A frequent media commentator, Jennifer is a nationally recognized thought leader and has authored book chapters for The Florida Bar and the American Bar Association, numerous Bloomberg Law articles, and other leading publications. Jennifer is the Editor of the Customs & International Trade Law blog recognized by the U.S. Library of Congress as being an important part of the legal historical record. Jennifer resides in Miami, Florida, with her daughter and husband.
Leading the Miguel B. Fernandez Family School of Global Business, Trade & Transportation at Miami Dade College is Pamela Fuertes Berti. In this capacity, Pamela serves as primary liaison between Miami Dade College and the business community in effort to help support and drive impact that leads to student success, academic partnerships and community engagement. With a commitment to diversity, community and developing initiatives that enhance an organization’s mission, Pamela joined Miami Dade College in 2019. She has a career in economic development that started at The Miami-Dade Beacon Council. Her professional career includes experience in the public and private sectors, including the City of Coral Gables, LanguageSpeak and Miami Dade County. Pamela serves on the Board of Directors of the Arts & Business Council, the Organization of Women in International Trade, the Miami Scientific Italian Community, the World Trade Center-Miami and the Alliance Française. She is passionate about impacting change through education and community engagement. She has received awards including the National Order of Merit with the rank of “Chevalier '' by the Republic of France and the World Trade Center of Miami’s International Business Woman Award. Pamela received her Associate in Arts from The Honors College at Miami-Dade College and a Bachelor of Arts and MBA in International Business from the University of Miami. Pamela is fluent in four languages (English, Spanish, Italian and French.)
Monica Morley is an accomplished executive in international sales, global marketing, and product development, with over two decades of experience in the cosmetics industry. As Executive Vice President of International Business Development at Palladio Beauty Group, Monica transformed Palladio from a little-known brand to a global luxury and prestige name, establishing distribution in over 60 countries and major retail stores worldwide. Throughout her career, Monica has spearheaded brand-building initiatives and expanded product portfolios for several cosmetics brands, including Jerome Alexander and Townley Girl Inc. Her strategic leadership has earned prestigious accolades such as the U.S. Department of State and Commerce’s "President’s E Award" in 2016 and the E Star Award in 2020. Monica is a multilingual leader fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, with a deep understanding of international business, import/export laws, and brand positioning across diverse markets. She is also a member of the South Florida District Export Council, appointed by the U.S. Secretary of State since 2019. Monica’s educational credentials include executive education in International Business and Global Sales from Harvard Business School and degrees in Legal Studies and Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. Driven by creativity, innovation, and a strong network of international distributors, Monica remains dedicated to building iconic brands and expanding their global footprints.
