WorldCity Business Magazine

(5) WorldCity People

by WC

KRAFT FOODS
Donna Hrinak on her way to Zurich

After a 33-year career in Latin America, Donna Hrinak is packing her bags for Europe. Currently director of corporate and government affairs at Kraft Latin America, Hrinak leaves at the end of August to take up a similar, though much larger, role as director of corporate and government affairs for Krafts European Division, where she will oversee activities in 30 countries.

While Hrinak will be a long way from Latin America in her new position, she says shell be working on a secret agenda to promote the trilateral relationship between Europe, Miami and Latin America. Hrinak moves to Zurich as part of Kraft Europes decision to relocate its European headquarters from London to the Swiss banking capital, which has been ranked by Mercer Consulting for the past five years as the city with the highest quality of life in the region.

Except for a brief stint in Poland at the beginning of her diplomatic career, Hrinak has spent all her professional life focused on Latin America. She was a four-time U.S. ambassador, in Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. Hrinak joined Kraft Foods Latin America in April 2006. She came to Kraft from the international advisory firm Kissinger McLarty Associates, where she was Senior Director. Before that she was Co-Chair of the International Trade & Competition practice group at the law firm of Steel, Hector & Davis. Hrinak serves on the boards of the Inter-American Dialogue and the Pan American Development Foundation and on the Board of Counselors of Kissinger McLarty Associates. A native of Pennsylvania, she is a graduate of Michigan State University and attended The George Washington University and the University of Notre Dame School of Law.

HIGHER EDUCATION: David Lecn heads up new business development at University of Miami

David Lecn was appointed head of a new business development office in the University of Miamis Division of Continuing and International Education, to help boost the universitys outreach and growth of services in South Florida, throughout the U.S. and in global markets.

As Director of Business Development, Lecn will be responsible for building new relationships, acquiring new clients and generating new revenue in continuing education in international programs.

Lecn a native of Madrid, joined UofM in April 2004 and served as associate director, then as director, of the Office of Professional Advancement, a department offering non-credit continuing education courses to working professionals. Lecn successfully revamped existing courses and new programs including the Paralegal Studies Program, Human Resource Management, Personal Financial Planning and Wine Appreciation Program, among others.

Prior to joining UofM, Lecn practiced law in Madrid with Baker & McKenzie, an international law firm. Lecn also served as an adjunct professor of business law in the Madrid Campus of St. Louis University. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and Tulane Law School, holds an M.A. from St. Louis University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in U.S. History.

REAL ESTATE: Maria Medina-Ocampo named CMO at Affinity

Affinity International has named Maria Medina-Ocampo vice president of marketing. She will be responsible for creating marketing strategies, managing Affinitys corporate image and communications, and buying and placing advertising.

Miami-based Affinity, located on Brickell Avenue, is headed by Samuel Strauch, president and Alexander Sherman, vice president. The firms areas of expertise includes feasibility studies, market research, product development, land acquisition, budget administration, target market analysis, project advertising and brokerage networking, as well as and domestic and international sales and marketing.

M.I.A.: Max Fajardo appointed Deputy Aviation Director

Max Fajardo was named Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance, responsible for supervising operations and maintenance of Miami International Airport and Miami-Dades four general aviation airports.

Fajardo replaces longtime Deputy and Assistant Director Bruce Drum, who retired in May. In January, Fajardo was chosen by MIA Director Jos Abreu to lead the management of the South Terminal Program and keep the project on track for completion. South Terminal is on schedule for its first flight this month. For the past 18 years, Fajardo has been a member of the airport management team in various positions including maintenance, planning, programming, facilities initiation, strategic planning and coordination.

His management responsibilities included facilities maintenance and engineering for all county-owned airports and oversight of more than 500 employees. Prior to joining the airport, Fajardo worked for 16 years in the airport consulting industry. Fajardo has a Master of Science degree in Construction Management from Florida International University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from St. Thomas University, and an Associate of Arts degree in Engineering/General Studies from Miami-Dade Community College.

REAL ESTATE: Morgan Cardet joins Alterra

Morgan Cardet recently joined Miamibased Alterra Capital Group, a $70 million real estate investment company, as associate. A graduate of George Washiongton University, Cardet worked in real estate advertising and public relations prior to joining Alterra. He works under the principals in the finance and operations departments.

Alterra Capital Group, founded by Matt Papunen, Adam Singer and Matthew Wanderer in 2003, is a privately-held real estate investment company based in Miami. The firm specializes in acquiring and repositioning distressed multi-family properties. Their $70 million-plus portfolio is comprised primarily of projects in the Southeast including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The companys goal is to grow Alterras portfolio to 10,000 units by end 2008.

LAW: William Spencer Joins Akerman Senterfitt in Fort Lauderdale

Prominent South Florida attorney William S. Spencer joined Akerman Senterfitt’s litigation practice group as a shareholder. Spencer’s practice is focused on civil and commercial litigation. Working with Akerman’s land use lawyers, Spencer will head up the firm’s land use, zoning and property rights practice.

He joins Akerman from Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, where he also was a shareholder. Spencer is a past president of the Broward County Bar Association and a former member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors. He also served as a member of the 17th Judicial Circuit, Judicial Nominating Committee. Spencer earned his law degree from the University of Florida and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University. He is admitted to the Florida Bar and is Board Certified in Real Estate. Akerman recently added three other attorneys to its Land Use practice from Gunster Yoakley & Stewart: Neisen Kasdin, now Chair of Akerman’s Land Use practice, and his associates Spencer Crowley and Andrew Frey.

LAW: Jose Ferrer and William Roppolo elected partners at Baker & McKenzie

Baker & McKenzie announced the election of Jose M.Ferrer and William V. Roppolo to partner. Both are members of the firms litigation practice group. A member of the Florida Bars Code and Rules of Evidence Committee, Ferrer frequently represents clients in cross-border disputes.

Ferrer has litigated complex commercial and civil cases for Fortune 500 companies and other multinational companies in federal and state courts, as well as in private arbitration tribunals. His clients include multinational banks and corporations, closely held business entities and individuals
in the U.S. and abroad.

Born in Santiago, Cuba, Ferrer joined Baker & McKenzie in 2004 from Fowler White Burnett, as an associate. Ferrer earned his J.D. from Tulane Law School. Roppolo is a former attorney with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs Service. His practice lends itself to defense in asset forfeiture, money laundering and trade violation cases. His clients include multinational corporations and banks, as well as U.S. and foreign individuals. A native to Chicago, Roppolo joined Baker & McKenzie in 2005 as an associate. He earned his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law.