Matt Kinsey

Ellen has cast for over 50 films and TV shows, including some of the most recognized films in American history.
Ellen has booked over 300,000 talent on real booking jobs for films, TV shows, and commercials. Her casting credits include, Ali, Something About Mary, The Birdcage, Ace Ventura Pet Detective, My Girl, & The Truman Show. And in Television, shows like Miami Vice, Burn Notice, CSI Miami, as well as, Will Smith’s Welcome to Miami music video. She has received numerous awards including the CSA Artios Award for outstanding achievement in location casting for Parenthood & The Birdcage; and a nomination for The Truman Show.

In March 1990 Mayor Alex Daoud of Miami Beach

presented her with an award for the World's Greatest Casting Director; he also declared Ellen Jacoby Day on Miami Beach. She was named Woman of the Millennium for the Year 2000 by Miami Metro Magazine.

Ellen is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Casting Society of America, and was appointed to the Florida Film Advisory Board by Governor Bush. She works with underprivileged children, and gives her time to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the YWCA. Finally, Ms. Jacoby, is a Top-10 finalist in the 2023 induction into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame.

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Panel Session: Lights, Camera, Project Management: Success in South Florida’s Film & TV Industry

Barry Rassin

Rick A. Morris, PMP, is an accomplished project manager, certified Scrum Agile Master, Human Behavior Consultant, and Certified High-Performance Coach. With a passion for the profession, Rick is an internationally sought-after public speaker and evangelist for project management.

Rick's knowledge and expertise have led him to hold a range of certifications, including PMP (Project Management Professional), MPM (Masters of Project Management), Scrum Agile Master, CHBC, CHPC, sAFE, PMI-ACP, Six Sigma Green Belt, MCITP, MCTS, MCSE, TQM, ATM-S, ITIL, and ISO. He was also a part of the President’s Advisory Council for the John Maxwell Team.

Rick's experience spans across various industries, including financial services, entertainment, construction, non-profit, hospitality, pharmaceutical, retail, and manufacturing. He has worked for organizations such as GrowthDay, GE, Xerox, and CA and consulted numerous clients on over 150 implementations of Project and Portfolio Management and Agile systems, including Clarity, PDWare, Project Server, Planview, Primavera, Daptiv, Agile Central, Workfront, and many others.  Rick is currently the EPPM National Delivery Lead for Centric Consulting.

As a best-selling author, Rick has published three previous books, The Everything Project Management Book, 2nd Edition, Project Management That Works!, and Stop Playing Games!. His latest book, No Day But Today!, was an Amazon #1 best seller. Rick has also contributed chapters and insight to several publications, including the Amazon #1 best seller Agile Almanac – Book 2.

In addition to his accomplishments in project management, Rick has created several podcasts that have generated over one million downloads, including AI Driven PM, The Work Life Balance, Transformational Leader, and Breaking Average. He was also the subject of an unsolicited Forbes article titled, “How an Author Amassed Over 200 Quality Recommendations on Linked In.”

An active member of the Project Management Institute, graduate of the PMI Leadership Institute Masters Class (LIMC), and mentor to the 2012 PMI LIMC, Rick's leadership skills and experience make him no stranger to being center stage in front of large groups of people. At the early age of 11, Rick was a Walt Disney World Performer in their seasonal shows. In high school, he worked at MGM Studios on various projects including the New Mickey Mouse Club. Rick was also an Executive Producer of the Mickey Mouse Club 30 Year Reunion.   Rick's blend of real-world experience and down-to-earth delivery style make his passion for the profession contagious.

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Keynote  - Innovation, Collaboration, Community

Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer, PMP is a community engagement leader with global experience designing purpose-driven programs and advisory communities that drive growth and impact. She specializes in member engagement, strategic program development, and volunteer leadership across nonprofit and mission-led sectors. 

As Regional Head of Community, North America at the Project Management Institute (PMI), Amanda leads efforts to grow and activate a network of 450,000+ project professionals. She empowers chapters, volunteers, and diverse member segments to collaborate in pursuit of PMI’s mission to maximize project success to elevate our world. 

Rooted in a career shaped by mission-driven organizations like the American Cancer Society and the National Hemophilia Foundation, Amanda brings empathetic leadership and a deep commitment to creating spaces where people feel connected, seen, and inspired to lead. 

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Panel Session: Lights, Camera, Project Management: Success in South Florida’s Film & TV Industry

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Shanelle Bautista

Christy Andreoni serves as the Assistant Manager for Film Lauderdale, overseeing the one-stop permitting process and facilitating production requests between filmmakers, local municipalities and County departments. She supports Film Lauderdale’s efforts to attract production to the region and performs outreach to the local production community to provide resources to emerging and experienced filmmakers alike.

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Ms. Andreoni currently serves as the Membership Chair of Film Florida, collaborating with industry professionals, educational institutions, labor unions, and other film commissions on statewide level. Her previous experience working for the Orlando Film Commission, Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission, and on set with various production companies across Florida has led to a unique knowledge base that mixes administrative and production expertise focused on the Sunshine State.

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Panel Session: Lights, Camera, Project Management: Success in South Florida’s Film & TV Industry

Abbigail Meah-Ali

Gloria Gallo is a seasoned professional in Commercial Operations at Avionica, where she focuses on creating competitive advantages through developing internal capabilities and optimizing processes. With extensive experience in managing automation and process re-engineering initiatives, Gloria has successfully driven strategic advancements within the organization. Her expertise lies in leveraging advanced technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Gloria's role encompasses overseeing cross-functional teams, integrating backend tools with front-end processes, and mapping customer journeys to identify automation opportunities. Her strategic vision and comprehensive understanding of business processes make her a natural leader in hyper-automation initiatives. Gloria has a proven track record of delivering value by fostering unique strengths that set her company apart from competitors. Her ability to navigate complex environments and implement innovative solutions has positioned her as a key figure in driving organizational growth and efficiency. Passionate about continuous improvement, Gloria is dedicated to advancing the role of Project Managers in leading the charge towards hyper-automation and achieving operational excellence.

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Breakout Session 6 - Unlocking Value through Hyper-Automation: The Evolving Role of Project Managers in Digital Transformation

Rick Regueira

Debbie has nearly three decades of experience in big budget organizational transformations, leading engineers and technical staff in strategic planning, development, and delivery of new solutions, support, and ongoing operational activities. Since 2019, Debbie has led the PMO and Portfolio Delivery Office at Seminole Hard Rock Support Services. Her team is responsible for the portfolio roadmap development, planning, and tracking for major transformational programs that the IT organization executes for business units across the enterprise. Her team is also responsible for project processes and tools, overseeing budgeting and payments for the IT organization, and continuous improvement activities. Before joining Hard Rock, Debbie was the Director of the Project Management Office for Global Devices at Motorola Solutions. She led more than 100 project and program managers in delivering radio and telecommunications equipment to police, fire, military, and business organizations around the world. Debbie has two Bachelor of Science Degrees, in Computer Engineering and Music, from Florida International University and University of Wisconsin, respectively.

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Breakout Session 5 - Trios - The Harmony of Three Voices: Forming a Dynamic and Effective Leadership Team

Archana Choudhary

Dr. Faria holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with Specialization in Operations Research and a M.S. in Systems Engineering both from University of Maryland College Park, MD, USA and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello Caracas, Venezuela.

Dr. Faria has served as Chair since 2018, prior to this appointment he served as Director of Industry Relations and faculty in the Construction Management Department at FIU. As leader of the department Dr. Faria believes in maintaining a positive collegial environment centered in trust and teamwork where everyone is treated with dignity and respect where individuals can express their opinions and believes without fear of retaliation or feeling as outsiders.

Dr. Faria has been with FIU since 2006, prior to his academic appointment at FIU he served as Adjunct Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and Institute for Systems Research (ISR) at the University of Maryland College Park, MD USA and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Kogod School of Business American University Washington D.C. USA. Dr Faria’s portfolio of courses include Estimating, Safety in Construction, Electrical and Mechanical systems for construction managers, Management of Construction Projects, Productivity in Construction, Interdisciplinary Aspects of Housing, Quantitative Methods for IT Management, Multi- objective Optimization, Decision Analysis for Engineers, Life Cycle Cost Estimation, and Project Performance Measurements.

Since 2018 Dr. Faria has received over $4.7MM in a combination of grants ($3.5MM) and private funding ($1.2MM), $3.6MM of those as a PI. These grants include (2020) Rebuild Florida Workforce Recovery Training Program from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, PI (2019) Miami Community Ventures One Community One Goal Initiative The Beacon Council Economic Development Foundation, PI (2019) Florida Department of Education Pathways to Career Opportunities, Co-PI (2019) Dep. of Labor Susan Harwood Training Grant “Excavation & Trenching Hazards”, Co-PI (2018) Dep. of Labor Susan Harwood Training Grant “Electrical Hazards in Construction”, PI (2017) Dep. of Labor Susan Harwood Training Grant “Fall Prevention in Construction“ $150,000.

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Breakout Session 9 - Construction Management and the Project Management Professional (PMP)®

Michael Kublin

Lenora Sevillian is the Director of Procurement at NSU Florida. Lenora has over thirty-six years ofexperience in public and private sector procurement and product development for a variety of products and services. Lenora holds several industry professional certifications, and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in International Business from American College in London, England. Currently, she is a doctoral student in the Law and Policy Doctoral Program at Northeastern
University, projected to graduate in 2026. Her research topics are; Deconstructing Corruption & Fraud: The Case of Psychological Theories Driving Unethical Actions in Public Sector Procurement; Determinants of Corruption and Fraud in Public Sector Procurement: The Case of "South Florida.

Lenora is a visionary procurement executive with extensive experience in building and leadingprocurement organizations. Her focus is on building teams through collaborative efforts with key internal stakeholders. A proven track record of high performance, achieving goals, stretch targets,  and transforming the procurement functions from a tactical, transactional position, to a dynamic
strategic and transformative contributor.
Lenora is enthusiastic about talent development; teaching, succession planning, cross-functional development, training, building business partnerships, and serving in a volunteer capacity on professional committees, community non-profits, contributing to think tanks, and most recently as an appointed At Large Director on the National Association of Education Procurement Board of Directors. Most importantly, Lenora has a life-long passion and thrust for learning and mentoring others. She believes every day is an opportunity for all professionals to expand their knowledge base, enhance
their skillset, and learn something new. Lenora is known for her high professional procurement standards which are embedded in respect, inclusion, integrity, and fiduciary responsibility.

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Breakout Session 3 - Unlocking Project Success: The Power of Early Procurement Collaboration

Jim Nalepa

Mr. Bobadilla is a values-based leader with 25+ years’ experience planning, negotiating, and overseeing large, complex, multi-faceted capital building programs and business operations. He leads through data-driven operations with a focus on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. Mr. Bobadilla has worked with some of the country’s largest K-12 & higher ed. educational institutions, local government, and private industry. In that time Mr. Bobadilla has held numerous senior leadership roles including Chief Facilities Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Business Officer. He has overseen annual operating budgets of over $240M and capital building programs collectively totaling over $6.5B. He has been responsible for real estate portfolios with over 35M sq. ft. of facilities space under roof and business operations with almost 7,000 staff members. Responsibilities have included various functional areas such as: facilities maintenance, planning, design, construction, real estate, budget, food services, transportation/fleet, law enforcement/security, emergency management, business assistance, risk management, warehousing/logistics and environmental health & safety. Currently Mr. Bobadilla serves as the VP, Chief Facilities Management & Operations Officer for Miami Dade College (MDC), one of the largest colleges in the country. In his role he oversees the maintenance of the College’s 8 main campuses across South FL with over 8M sq. ft. of space in over 120 facilities. Mr. Bobadilla also oversees a multi-year major capital building program and the College’s Office of Emergency Management. In the last 5 years he and his team have implemented over 100 major capital building projects across all College campuses. This work has included facilities to support programs such as: AI, electric vehicle technician training, law enforcement training, and state-of-the-art medical facilities including a simulation hospital. This has been done with a focus to elevate the student experience. Mr. Bobadilla’s leadership and his team’s accomplishments have been recognized with awards and honors from best practice organizations including: Distinguished Service Award-CGCS, ASBO Facilities Masters Award, Facility Champion Award-FacilitiesNet, Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award and the Leadership in Action Award. Mr. Bobadilla received a J.D. degree from Florida A&M Univ.-College of Law, M.B.A. from Webster Univ.-School of Business and Technology, and a Bachelor-Organizational Management from Warner Southern College. Mr. Bobadilla is a certified general contractor and a licensed attorney in the state of FL. He is certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP BD+C), a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt-FIU, Accredited Learning Environment Planner(ALEP) and a Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP).

Breakout Session 8 - Developing and Maintaining Educational Spaces for the 21st Century​

Regina Batista

Nelson Fernandez is a renowned Storytelling Strategist and CEO of StoryForge, with a passion for helping leaders understand the narratives that shape their lives, organizations, and business cultures. With over 10 years of experience in organizational storytelling, Nelson has transformed leaders into visionary communicators, driving engagement and aligning with strategic goals. He holds a Doctorate in Leadership and an MBA in Human Resources, complemented by certifications as a Behavioral Consultant and Project Management Professional (PMP). Nelson has collaborated with diverse organizations, from the US Navy to innovative startups like UniteUs and CoLeauge, to implement impactful storytelling techniques. His expertise in narrative strategy, leadership development, and training programs has earned him a reputation as a dynamic and relatable expert in his field. Through his company, StoryForge, Nelson offers a range of services, including leadership storytelling workshops, executive coaching, and custom storytelling solutions, all aimed at fostering transformative growth and lasting impact in organizations.

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Breakout Session 2 - Crafting Cohesive Narratives: The Art of Storytelling in Project Management

Maggie Mistal

Patricia Monica Ojeda is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in marketing, information technology, and operations. As a dynamic management consultant, PMO advisor, and executive business coach, Patricia excels in leading multidisciplinary projects and fostering organizational growth. Her ability to connect with people, coupled with her motivational speaking prowess, makes her a true people person and connector. A disruptor in her field, Patricia leverages her skills to implement innovative strategies that drive efficiency and effectiveness. Her background in project management is complemented by her certifications in CSM, CISA, and ITIL Fundamentals, among others. Patricia has successfully led large-scale IT and marketing projects, demonstrating her proficiency in both Agile and Waterfall methodologies. Not only is she a professional force, PMO is a proud Stage IV cancer survivor, embodying resilience and determination. Her journey has shaped her into a motivational speaker who inspires others through her story and professional accomplishments. With a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Argentina, and a plethora of certifications, Patricia is committed to continuous learning and excellence in her field. Patricia Monica Ojeda stands out as a leader who combines technical acumen, strategic insight, and a passion for empowering others.

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Breakout Session 7 - Mastering PMO: Driving Success and Innovation in Your Company

Dawn Mahan

Achievements: With over 20 years of IT industry expertise, Rick Regueira is a seasoned professional who has excelled in various roles. He boasts a remarkable track record of leading successful Agile transformations in Fortune 500 companies, fostering positive culture change, and building high-performing organizations. Passion for AI: Rick's unwavering commitment to artificial intelligence actively harnesses AI and innovative technology to pursue business success in today's ever-evolving market. Mission: Rick is dedicated to creating sustainable systems and accelerating product delivery while maintaining top-notch quality and enabling businesses to thrive in the digital era through innovation. Rick's dynamic presentations and wealth of experience make him a sought-after industry speaker. Attendees can expect valuable insights and actionable strategies from his engaging sessions.

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Breakout Session 1 - The Leadership Blueprint for Successful Agile Transformation 

Tiffany Morales

Tiffany Morales is a seasoned Digital Transformation Leader and PMO Executive with over 20 years of experience in steering technology implementation and IT transformation initiatives. She has a proven track record of delivering multimillion-dollar enterprise technology solutions, particularly in SaaS and cloud environments. Tiffany has built and led several PMOs and cross-functional offshore teams, driving agile delivery and enhancing both business and IT processes. Her career includes impactful roles at top South Florida companies, including JM Family Enterprises, Citrix, Ultimate Kronos Group, and ChenMed.

Tiffany holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing and a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Florida Atlantic University. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), Certified Scrum Master, and Six Sigma Green Belt.

As the co-founder of Premier Project Solutions, a minority women-owned project delivery and consulting firm, Tiffany specializes in a comprehensive range of PMO services, from setup to operational management. Most of all, Tiffany takes pride in her roles as a wife to Wilfredo for 18 years and mother to Caleb (15) and Gabrielle (11). During her downtime Tiffany enjoys making core memories with her family.

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Breakout Session 4 - Building a PMO for Transformation: Strategies for Successful Change Management

William Wagner

Over the past 35+ years, Wagz has lived through an amazing journey with a variety of incredible opportunities to make a difference. He has been involved with large corporations, mid-size companies, and even startups. He has been an employee, a consultant, and a partner. And through all of those various organizations, he has been involved with transitions, such as new products initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, and new industry-shifting evolution. The roles within companies Wagz have been to do, to lead, to manage, and to strategize within sales, warehousing/distribution, product management, marketing, information technology, and continuous improvement.

Since his consulting days, he found that he has a passion and strength to identify opportunities and lay out ideas on how to capitalize on those opportunities. Through a number of certification programs and involvement with many professional associations, the broad range of my interests of helping individuals, teams, and organizations reach the best versions of themselves include my being an engineer, a manager, a leader, a coach, and a mentor. He currently serves on the volunteer leadership as VP of Special Projects of PMI Florida Suncoast Chapter. He also serves as Section Chair for the American Society for Quality affiliate ASQ St. Petersburg-Tampa Section 1508. And he serves as President of ACMP Florida Chapter, the local affiliate of the Association of Change Management Professionals.

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Power Networking: Uniting South Florida’s PMI Community

Tashika President

Ms. President oversees the Office of Emergency Management, which is a subdivision within the Facilities Management department at Miami Dade College. Ms. President is responsible for directing, planning, organizing, and overseeing all college-wide emergency management operations and activities.  Additionally, Ms. President leads and provides oversight on various department strategic planning initiatives. 

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Ms. President has over 25 years of professional experience with various organizations providing leadership and support to public safety, emergency management, and law enforcement operations. This includes leading organizational preparation, response and recovery to emergency and disaster situations and emergency response teams.  In addition, her prior experience and expertise includes planning and implementation of life safety/security systems including access control and physical security protocols. 

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Ms. President has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Emergency Management- Florida International University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice/ Forensic Science -American Intercontinental University. Ms. President also serves as a member of the Southeast Regional Domestic Taskforce (SERDSTF) Region 7 and serves as the college’s liaison between local, state, and federal stakeholders.

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Breakout Session 8 - Developing and Maintaining Educational Spaces for the 21st Century

Fernando Calcines

Fernando Calcines has 25+ years’ experience in leadership roles in architecture and construction industry/management. He is a licensed Architect, Interior Designer, Standard Inspector, and Certified General Contractor. He has proven skills and experience designing, coordinating, and administering projects in public and private sectors. Skills include excellent communication, problem solving and preparation of construction documents. Extensive knowledge of building codes and construction administration.

Experienced with projects in commercial and hospitality, education, transportation/aviation and medical projects. Experienced in contracts and fees negotiation, development of programs, preparation of cost estimates, design, permitting, construction administration and project closeout as well as peer review of numerous construction projects. Presently works as Associate Vice Provost, Construction Management for Miami Dade College.​

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Breakout Session 8 - Developing and Maintaining Educational Spaces for the 21st Century

Prospero Guillermo Herrera, II

Prospero serves as the Assistant Vice President for Maintenance Operations at Miami Dade College, where he brings over two decades of leadership and operational experience to the Facilities Management team. His role focuses on streamlining maintenance processes across multiple (8) campuses, enhancing operational efficiency, forecasting and developing maintenance projects and fostering a data-driven culture within the department.​

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Breakout Session 8 - Developing and Maintaining Educational Spaces for the 21st Century