U.S. Caribbean Business Conference 2025

James Anzalone is Vice Chair of the South Florida District Export

Council (SFDEC), an organization that provides leadership and

international trade expertise to complement the U.S. Commercial

Service’s export promotion efforts. Mr. Anzalone helps lead the

SFDEC to represent the interests of the South Florida exporting

community and provide business counseling on the export

process, trade education through seminars and events and

Director Eduardo Torres leads the operations for the U.S. Department of Commerce – Commercial Service for the South Florida.  This vital area is the pulse of commerce and a delta to Latin America.  This region is the heart of economic and financial trade with much of the world. 

Director Torres is based in Fort Lauderdale. With Director Torres’ leadership, the Commercial Service offices in the Southern Networks launch many American company’s dreams of export by providing expert counseling, insight into challenging foreign markets, access to international contacts, and government to government advocacy services. 

Director Torres has served as a principal Commercial Diplomat at numerous U.S. Embassies abroad, including Mexico City, Mexico, Lima, Peru, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Maputo, Mozambique, and in San Jose, Costa Rica, as the Senior Commercial Officer.  Most recently Eduardo was detailed to serve as the Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Guyana on September 20, 2022.

Director Torres serves in the Ex-Officio capacity on the Board of Directors for the U.S. – Spain American Chamber in Miami, as the Executive Secretary for the South Florida District Export Council, and as a Board Member of the South Florida Federal Executive Board and the Florida Export Finance Corporation.  Eduardo received a Congressional recognition for his outstanding and invaluable service to the business community.  Florida Governor, Rick Scott, presented the Governor's Business Ambassador Medal to Mr. Torres in recognition of the great partnership between the state of Florida and the U.S. Commercial Service.

Prior to his career with the U.S. Government, Director Torres was a principal in the environmental and agricultural industry sectors in the state of California. 

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  international relations,  culture and impacting change through education. In 2023, Fuertes was  knighted by the Republic of Italy with the rank of "Cavaliere Ufficiale" of the Order of the Star (Ordine della Stella d’Italia) and in 2017, she was knighted by the Republic of France the National Order of Merit with the rank of “Chevalier.” She also received the World Trade Center of Miami’s International Business Woman Award and Rising Star Award from Fashion Group International.

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.) A native of Nicaragua, she is proud to call Miami and Italy home.

Michael A. Schiffhauer, a native Floridian from Miami, is the Interim Senior Vice President/Chief of Staff, International Trade & Development with SelectFlorida, Inc. (SF).  Michael provides key operational support, assisting the President with decision-making, schedules, meetings, and strategic planning. He manages the four Divisions and six regional field offices, overseeing trade promotion efforts across targeted industries, including Aviation/Aerospace & Defense, ICT-Computer, LS-Medical, Clean Technologies, and Marine industries.

His responsibilities include export services coordination, program development, implementation, and personnel training.

 Michael spearheaded the creation of several successful programs, including:

• • Target Industry Trade Show Grants Program
  • Florida Online Global Program
  • International Registrations Grant Program
  • Export Marketing Plan Service Program (now a national model, implemented in seven SBA-Small Business Development Centers)
• Led the PIYI Investment Conference, connecting Chinese VC investors with pre-qualified Florida development projects.
• Implemented the World Bank, Private Service Liaison Office financial programs in Florida, making the state one of only 14 to join this initiative.

Michael is widely recognized as a leader in international trade and business development.

Jennifer is the Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Caribbean based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  She coordinates U.S Department of Commerce activities across the DR, Haiti, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Previously, Jennifer was the organization’s Senior Advisor for Career Development and Assignments of the 250+ Foreign Service Officer Corps and advised on strategic staffing and resourcing policies and programs worldwide.  Other assignments include serving as the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary; the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in London, UK where she monitored nascent HMG policies affecting U.S. interests in response to the pro-Brexit vote; the Senior Commercial Officer in Almaty, Kazakhstan; the  Commercial Officer at the U.S. Mission to the European Union; and the Commercial Officer at the U.S. Export Assistance Center Boston, MA.  Before joining the Foreign Service, Jennifer worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC and in the private sector as a consultant to the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).  Jennifer has an M.A. from George Washington University and a B.A. from Bucknell University.

Advisor, Seven Seas Water Group. Seven Seas Water Group has been serving the Caribbean since 1997. We have had the privilege to provide water and wastewater services to some of the top hotels and developments in the Caribbean as well as the water authorities for both the US Virgin Islands and St. Barths. Seven Seas Water designs builds finances owns and operates large desalination and wastewater plants a business model known as "BOO" or "Build-Own-Operate.” Seven Seas Water Group is a global leader in desalination, offering reliable and efficient solutions to turn brackish water or seawater into a sustainable source of drinking water. 

Mr. Maginley served as Minister of Health Sports and Youth Affairs (2004-2009) and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Antigua and Barbuda, ​March 2009 – June 2014 and Chaired the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Council of Ministers.

Jeff is an economic officer at the American embassy in Trinidad and Tobago and has served in similar roles in Spain, Belgium, Iraq, Kenya, and Mexico.  Jeff grew up in the splendors of the American West, studied engineering, and worked in R&D and plant expansions in the automotive industry.  Jeff loves learning from business owners and risktakers and believes international trade is one of the strongest ways we promote understanding.  He is married with two adult children. 

Chuck Bennett, a career Foreign Service Officer, is the economic and commercial counselor at U.S. Embassy Nassau.  He and his team promote the exports of U.S. goods and services to The Bahamas.  He previously served in State Department's Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement and was the economic and commercial officer at U.S. Embassy Suva in Fiji among other posts abroad. 

Ivan Barrios is the President/CEO of the World Trade Center Miami. Ivan has served in this role since January 2020.

He most recently worked as Vice President for International Trade Development & TEAM Florida missions at Enterprise Florida, Inc., the state of Florida’s official economic development agency. He managed a statewide team of trade specialists that assisted Florida companies to export their products and services overseas.

Ivan has organized 28 Governor led trade missions to 22 countries from 1999–2015 for three governors. Special projects included 3,000 one-on-one business matchmaking appointments for exporters, managing two hemispheric trade shows, producing and publishing five Florida International Trade and Services Directories, coordinating the activities of the Florida International Bankers Association and creating the Florida Trade Data Center, a first of its kind information hub for Florida exporters.

Ivan holds a position on the Board of Directors of the World Trade Centers Association, where he represents the North American region. His extensive experience includes serving as a board member for the South Florida District Export Council and the Miami-Dade County International Trade Consortium. Ivan is an alumnus of the University of Miami, where he earned his degree in Business Administration.

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.

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.

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.

Sudeshna holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Calcutta and an MBA from the Institute of Management Technology, India.

Keith Eischeid is the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). In this capacity, he is responsible for leading USTDA’s activities in the Latin America and Caribbean region to create opportunities for U.S. exports by supporting the development of priority infrastructure projects in the region. In addition to his regional team responsibilities, he also co-leads USTDA’s worldwide Digital Infrastructure Industry Team.

Mr. Eischeid began his career at USTDA in 2003 and he has worked with the Latin America and Caribbean region since 1997. He received a master’s degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he served on the editorial board of The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, graduating with honors in Latin American Studies.

LENNY FELDMAN is a Managing Partner and Operating Committee Member at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., resident in the firm’s Miami office. He is recognized internationally as a leading strategic advisor, previously co-chairing the twenty-member Customs and Border Protection’s Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee. He provides strategic recommendations and guidance directly to CBP, Homeland Security and Treasury executives on issues such as forced labor, intellectual property rights, e-commerce policy, trade partnership programs and legal/regulatory modernization.

He currently serves as General Counsel and Customs Counsel to the National Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA). He also serves on the board of governors of the American Association of Exporters and Importers and as one of their delegates to the World Customs Organization Private Sector Working Group in Brussels. Previously, Lenny served as lead counsel to the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association and as a former chairman of the World Trade Center of Miami.

Lenny has counseled thousands of companies in creating “comply chains” while increasing efficiencies and lowering costs. Mr. Feldman innovatively and resourcefully resolves complex issues pertaining to import compliance, valuation, trade preference, country of origin, seizures, penalties, antidumping and countervailing duty, CTPAT/border security, bonded facilities, FTZs and other government agency admissibility and licensing.

Lenny was a senior attorney with Customs Headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 2000. He issued several hundred national guidelines, directives, and administrative rulings and was a NAFTA negotiator. After leaving Customs, Mr. Feldman served as the chief compliance officer and vice president, international, for a trade and logistics software development company responsible for content and automation pertaining to the trade laws of more than 100 countries.

Alice Ancona has served in this role since January 2020, driving organizational resilience and enhancing the operational, event, strategic programming, marketing, and trade show initiatives of the World Trade Center Miami (WTCM). With over two decades of industry experience, she brings a deep well of expertise to her position. She is responsible for developing and executing international trade programs, trade missions, economic development initiatives, advocacy efforts, and innovative revenue-generating strategies while spearheading long-term strategic planning for the organization.

Before joining WTCM, Ms. Ancona led the international endeavors of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, serving as a prominent advocate for policies that enhance international trade, logistics, and investments. Her efforts centered on removing trade barriers, expanding market access, facilitating exports, negotiating trade agreements, and strengthening Florida's trade infrastructure. Ms. Ancona played a pivotal role in connecting Florida to the global trade arena, facilitating relationships with international stakeholders, foreign agencies, elected officials, member companies, and governmental bodies at the state and federal levels.

Prior to her work at the Florida Chamber, Ms. Ancona spearheaded the governmental affairs division at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. In this capacity, she directed policy agendas on a diverse range of issues, including trade, infrastructure investment, transportation, and workforce development. Her accomplishments include leading successful campaigns for the passage of crucial trade agreements, such as the Colombia FTA, DR-CAFTA, Panama FTA, Chile FTA, and KORUS. She also contributed to efforts to secure the Free Trade Areas of the Americas.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms. Ancona is a recognized thought leader and speaker at industry conferences, offering insights into global market dynamics, trade policy, and cross-border business strategies. She has played an active role in various steering committees focused on Florida’s transportation & infrastructure planning and has been a dedicated member of the Florida International Trade Partnership. Additionally, she serves on the Board of the Miami-Dade County International Trade Consortium.

Ms. Ancona’s contributions have been widely recognized. She has received several prestigious accolades, including the 2014 International Women's Day Award from World Trade Center Miami, the 2015 Person of the Year designation by the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association, Inc., and the 2016 Women of Distinction Award from the Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Jonelle M. Watson is the Economic/ Commercial Assistant at the Embassy of the United States of America to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.  Jonelle covers all the economic, commercial, and business sectors in the six-county area of responsibility.

A Barbadian, Jonelle joined Embassy Bridgetown in November 2007.  Jonelle holds a Master of Science degree in Integration Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honors) in History and Political Science from the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados.  She also holds post graduate qualifications in International Relations from the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.  In addition, she has received training in Event Planning and International Conference Management, Project Management and International Trade Policy.  She has previously worked in the private sector, media and academia.  

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.

Maria Dreyfus-Ulvert is an Assistant Director for Economic Development at Miami-Dade County’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED), where she leads efforts to promote international business, and foster global economic ties.

Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert has over two decades of experience in international trade, foreign direct investment and diplomacy. Prior to her current role, she served as Executive Director of the County’s International Trade Consortium (ITC), spearheading initiatives to expand Miami-Dade’s global trade relationships. Since joining the County in 2007, she has organized numerous outbound trade missions and hosted more than 200 inbound business and trade delegations from all over the world.

Before joining Miami-Dade County, Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert had a diplomatic career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua. From 2002 to 2007, she was the Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the Nicaraguan Consulate in Miami, where she worked to promote trade, investment, and tourism between Florida and Nicaragua. She was also the Deputy Director of the European Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her multilateral experience includes positions with the United Nations Secretariat and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in New York from 1997 to 2001. She also conducted economic and sovereign credit research as an emerging markets analyst for the World Bank and Morgan Stanley in New York and served as a research analyst at the Institute of European Latin American Studies (IRELA) in Madrid, Spain.

Ms. Dreyfus-Ulvert holds a master’s degree in international Affairs, with a focus on economic and political development, from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). She earned her B.A. in Comparative Government and a Certificate in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University and also studied at the Institut d’Études Politiques in Paris. She is fluent in French and Spanish, and has traveled extensively throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Anuskha Varsha Sonai is a Surinamese technology entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, and international award-winning advocate for digital inclusion. As the founder of Creative Tech Hub Caribbean and President of AmCham Suriname, she works at the intersection of innovation, workforce development, and economic transformation. Recognized with several international honors, Sonai is known for her mission to make digital opportunity more inclusive, accessible, and locally anchored across the Caribbean.