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2010 Officers
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Janice B. Gonzalez
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President
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Janice B. Gonzalez dreamed of working in an ad agency since she was 9 years old – just like "Darren Stevens" from the 60’s sitcom Bewitched. At the age of 23 she realized that dream and was the first female, and youngest, Account Executive at the prestigious William Cook Advertising Agency. By the time she was 27, Janice had worked in every aspect of marketing, advertising and public relations, including production, copy writing, graphic design, media buying, event planning, client development, publishing, and media relations. She took that experience and took her dream further - starting her own agency in 1990.
Today Janice B. Gonzalez is President and CEO of JBG Communications, a marketing, advertising and public relations firm specializing in marketing strategies for individuals and businesses. Her forte is in assisting individuals and businesses develop comprehensive marketing, advertising and PR plans that will help them achieve their dreams and "rainmaking” goals. Over the last 25 years she has created a niche in marketing attorneys, medical practices, accountants, professional organizations, real estate developments and corporations. Her account experience includes Kentucky Fried Chicken, Resorts International, Heineken Beer, Burger King, W Hotel, Political Campaigns and many of the top lawyers, doctors and accountants in South Florida.
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Barbara J. Riesberg
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President-Elect
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Barbara J. Riesberg is an experienced litigation lawyer with over 16 years experience. Ms. Riesberg focuses her practice primarily on complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts, including trials and appeals. Her past and present clients are corporations, public entities, and individuals. Ms. Riesberg regularly litigates claims for breaches of contracts and other commercial agreements, business torts, employment issues, property development and other real estate disputes. She also counsels her clients on strategies designed to avoid protracted and costly litigation.
Ms. Riesberg also devotes a substantial amount of her practice to municipal law. She is currently a Special Assistant Town Attorney for the Town of Medley, Florida. In addition to providing litigation services, she counsels the Town on comprehensive land use planning, amendments to the Town’s Zoning Code as well as a variety of legal issues arising on a daily basis.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Riesberg donates her time to the South Florida community. She participates in fundraising efforts on behalf of Educate Tomorrow, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and mentoring of disadvantaged children aging out of the foster care system (www.educatetomorrow.org). In addition, she has served as a pro bono guardian ad litem on behalf of children involved in custody disputes, and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section. Ms. Riesberg also produced an acclaimed 12-part cable television series examining various perspectives on legal issues affecting adolescents.
Ms. Riesberg graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1989, and obtained her law degree from Cornell Law School in 1992. She is admitted to practice before all Florida state courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
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Liah Catanese
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Secretary
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Liah is an attorney at the Law Firm of Alan Goldfarb, PA in Miami
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Naida M. Torres
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Treasurer
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is a partner at AM Insurance Services and is a fully licensed health, life, disability and variable annuities agent from the Florida Department of Insurance. Ms. Torres also holds a Series 6 securities license so that she can provide her clients with various investment opportunities available through innovative health insurance products. Ms. Torres’ client base includes large corporations, small businesses and professionals. As a Partner, Ms. Torres develops and implements long-term strategies to ensure the well being and financial security of the firm’s clients.
Ms. Torres is active in various community organizations. She is a member of the Board of Directors and the Treasurer of the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade; and is a member of Business Networking International (BNI) Coral Gables Chapter and the Miami-Dade Association of Health Underwriters. She is also a Trustee Member of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and is the Past Chair of the 20/30 Group, a committee for the Chamber's young professionals. She is also a mentor for the Gateway to Excellence through Mentorship program (GEM) – a program that promotes excellence among junior and senior female students at the University of Miami School of Business Administration. Ms. Torres, who is known for her active participation in business and networking groups, was recognized as a 2009 “Mover & Shaker” by Business Leader Media.
Ms. Torres frequently participates in continuing education courses and training seminars relevant to the services she provides. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education in 2000 from Florida International University.
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Melanie Damian
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Immediate Past President
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MELANIE EMMONS DAMIAN practices business litigation including officer and director liability, corporate governance litigation, securities litigation, real estate litigation, professional negligence litigation and employment litigation.
Ms. Damian has represented directors and officers of public and private companies in a variety of corporate and securities litigation. She has also counseled companies on corporate governance matters and served as counsel to special litigation committees performing internal investigations in response to shareholder derivative demands. Ms. Damian has also been appointed by the Court to act as Distribution Agent in Securities matters.
Ms. Damian has represented a number of local and national developers in real estate and brokerage disputes and has represented national law firms in a variety of legal malpractice matters, including those involving allegations of malpractice in connection with failed advocacy, failed transactions, and the failure of financial institutions.
Ms. Damian also has substantial experience in employment litigation, including representation and counseling on behalf of national and local companies in discrimination and harassment claims including Title VII (sex, race, national, origin, religion, and retaliation); ADEA (age), ADA (disability), FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), Section 1981, and the Florida Civil Rights Act. She also has experience in counseling clients and litigating issues concerning various employment related issues, including wage and hour laws, non-competition agreements, theft of trade secrets, hiring and firing policies, employment agreements, and employment manuals.
Ms. Damian is AV rated and admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Damian is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Bar's Business and Labor and Employment Sections. Ms. Damian serves on the Executive Counsel of The Florida Bar Business Section. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and the American Bar Association's Litigation, Business Law, and Labor and Employment Sections, as well as the Dade County Bar Association. Ms. Damian is the Chair of the ABA Business Law Section's Women Business Advocates.
Ms. Damian is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (B.A. 1991) and the University of Miami Law School (J.D. cum laude, 1996) where she was a member of the University of Miami Law Review. She was also a Fulbright Junior Research Fellow in Mexico.
Ms. Damian has been recognized as a top lawyer in the South Florida Legal Guide: Florida Trends Legal Elite and the Florida Superlawyer. Ms. Damian is active in child advocacy with Lawyers for Children America and the Guardian Ad Litem program. She received the pro bono award in 2001 for child advocacy from the Miami-Dade County Bar Association and Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Ms. Damian also received the 2005 Florida Bar Association Young Lawyer Division Pro Bono Award for her contribution to the community and the Lawyers For Children 2005 John Edward Smith Award. In 2006, Ms. Damian received the Junior League of Miami, Inc. "Woman Who Make a Difference" award. Additionally, Ms. Damian has recently received the “2007 Pepsi Everyday Freedom Hero Award” and “The Florida Bar President's 2008 Pro Bono Service Award from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit” for her work with Educate Tomorrow.
Damian & Valori, LLP, 305 371-3960, mdamian@dvllp.com
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