Loreen J. Aller, CPA

Loreen J. Aller, CPA, is Vice President of Global Air Sourcing for Carnival Corporation. She oversees Global Air Sourcing, Global Casino Sourcing & Supply Chain, Onboard Media Content and Finance for the Carnival Global Sourcing group. Ms. Aller is responsible for building and maintaining partnerships with the airlines and negotiating contracts including private fare and incentive agreements, overseeing the procure-to-pay process for all ships with casinos onboard, approximately 85 ships, and also works with various providers for onboard media content. Ms. Aller has been with Carnival for 19 years, and was previously with Ernst & Young. Ms. Aller is a graduate of University of Massachusetts in Amherst with a degree in accounting. She and her husband have one daughter and live in Miami.

Dr. Daniel Armstrong

Daniel Armstrong, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized pediatric psychologist and child health leader with more than three decades of experience advancing care for children with complex medical and developmental needs. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical child psychology from West Virginia University and completed a clinical internship in pediatric psychology before joining the University of Miami faculty, where he has served for over 40 years in senior clinical, research, educational, and administrative roles within the Department of Pediatrics and the Miller School of Medicine.

Dr. Armstrong’s career has focused on improving outcomes for children affected by chronic illness, neurodevelopmental disabilities, and trauma through interdisciplinary clinical care, research, and training. He has held numerous leadership positions in pediatric hospitals, academic medicine, and national child health organizations, and has contributed extensively to pediatric policy, research, and workforce development. Dr. Armstrong was instrumental in facilitating the co-location of the University of Miami Child Protection Team at the Kristi House Children’s Advocacy Center in September 2024.

Commander Katherine Baker

Commander Katherine Baker has served with the City of Miami Police Department since 1994, rising through the ranks from Public Service Aide to her current role overseeing the Upper Eastside neighborhood. She has held leadership positions across Internal Affairs, the Special Victims Unit, General Investigations, and Crime Suppression. Commander Baker made history as the Department’s first Black female Motor Officer and has dedicated her career to reducing crime, strengthening police–community relations, and enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors. She holds degrees from Miami Dade College, Florida Memorial University, and Barry University, and is an Army Reserve veteran. Deeply committed to service, she is active in organizations including Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, NOBLE, and the Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police. Outside of work, she enjoys volleyball, mentoring, community engagement, and family gatherings.

Tran Barrera

Tran Barrera is a seasoned financial leader with more than 20 years of experience in private banking and business banking, where she has guided individuals, families, and organizations toward long-term growth and stability. In her role with First Horizon, she helps entrepreneurs and organizations access the financial tools they need to thrive, bringing a client-centered approach grounded in trust, clarity, and strategic insight. Ms. Barrera is a passionate advocate for women and children escaping domestic violence, dedicating her time to supporting survivors and fostering pathways to safety and independence. Originally from Dallas, she relocated to Miami in 2022, and is proud to be a mother of two children who inspire her daily.

Carolyn Batchelor

Carolyn Batchelor is a Miami native, born and educated in the Magic City, attending Ransom Everglades and University of Miami. She is a sales associate with the highly successful real estate team, the Nancy Batchelor Team, with Compass Realty. Previously, Ms. Batchelor worked in journalism on luxury magazines including the Miami Herald's "Indulge" and Whitehaus Media Group's "Cultured." Ms. Batchelor has also lived in London where she studied at Sotheby's Institute of Art and worked for Berkshire Hathaway.

Liz Conway

Liz Conway is responsible for leading CitSec’s Global Derivatives Recruiting efforts. Prior to joining Citadel Securities in 2016, Ms. Conway was a Senior Recruiter for quantitative trading at Optiver Europe in Amsterdam, NL. She began her career in Human Resources at Wolverine Trading in Chicago. Ms. Conway graduated with honors from Loyola University Chicago with a B.A. in Political Science & International Studies. She lives in Miami with her husband Lorenzo and their two children.

Pedro P. Echarte, III, Esq.

Pedro Echarte is a partner at The Haggard Law Firm, having previously been an intern and associate with the firm. Mr. Echarte handles an array of cases for the firm, including negligent security, fire, drowning and other catastrophic personal injury cases. He also handles Title IX cases and other cases stemming from the sexual battery, harassment, and discrimination of victims.

Mr. Echarte has been named to the Best Lawyers in America List, Super Lawyers List, and was named to Florida Trend’s 2015 Legal Elite. Mr. Echarte also currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Echarte received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2010, graduating magna cum laude and serving as a member of the University of Miami Law Review.

Bianca Espinosa, MBA

Bianca Espinosa, MBA is a senior operations and finance executive with a strong record of supporting strategic growth, strengthening organizational systems, and aligning financial performance with mission-driven impact. She serves as Vice President of Revenue Management Operations at Harvard Maintenance, where she leads revenue strategy, governance oversight, and cross-functional initiatives that promote sustainability, accountability, and long-term success.

Ms. Espinosa holds an MBA specializing in Accounting and Finance and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Her leadership approach blends analytical rigor with empathy and care for people, emphasizing collaboration, ethical decision-making, and thoughtful leadership. Throughout her career, she has focused on building structures that support organizational performance and people-centered outcomes, particularly within complex and evolving environments.

Fran Feinberg, Esq.

Fran Feinberg is Director of the Criminal Court Project of the Guardian Ad Litem Program for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. This office is part of the State of Florida Guardian ad Litem Program which is a network of professional staff and community advocates partnering to provide a strong voice in court and positive systemic change on behalf of Florida’s abused and neglected children. Miami is one of the state’s leading local Guardian ad Litem programs in 20 judicial circuits in Florida.

Oliver G. Gilbert, III

Oliver G. Gilbert, III serves as a Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners representing District 1. Previously he was mayor of his hometown Miami Gardens, where for eight years he provided leadership and was the driving force behind the City’s exponential growth, development of new businesses, and job opportunities for local residents. As recognition of the city’s tremendous growth, Miami Gardens was awarded All-America City in 2020. Commissioner Gilbert has 20 years of legal experience as an attorney, with vast knowledge in the areas of real estate law, municipal law, constitutional law, civil rights law and employment law. In 2019, Commissioner Gilbert was elected as the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Chairman, and under his leadership the TPO advanced the highly successful Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan. Commissioner Gilbert has also served as the chair of a tri-county forum for regional transportation planning efforts and policy coordination, the Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC), elected by his colleagues in Broward and Palm Beach. A long-time advocate for youth, Commissioner Gilbert is a progressive and visionary leader who believes there is no singular path to success.

Aaron A. Karger, Esq.

Aaron Karger is the founding and managing partner of Law Office of Aaron A. Karger, P.A., which he has dedicated in pertinent part to advocating for the rights and dignity of survivors of sexual abuse through a commitment to providing compassionate, confidential, and skilled legal representation in navigating the complexities of the legal system on their behalf. AAK Law's mission is to empower survivors by seeking justice and compensation from the perpetrators and the institutions that failed to protect them such as schools, churches, daycares, and religious organizations, so they can start on a path of healing.

Mr. Karger concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury, with an emphasis on cases, involving the sexual abuse and assault of minors. Early in his career, Mr. Karger worked for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office where he served as an Assistant State Attorney. As a prosecutor, Mr. Karger argued dozens of motions including motion practice and oral argument at the appellate level, as well as tried multiple bench and jury trials to verdict. Thereafter, Mr. Karger began his career in private practice working for a boutique law firm where he litigated personal injury and commercial and real estate litigation matters. Mr. Karger earned his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center where he graduated cum laude.

Maria G. Lamas

Maria G. Lamas is an advocate for integrative and Eastern health care in addition to Western medicine, who believes in treating the patient holistically—mind, body, and soul. Fully recovering from a near-fatal car accident in her teens triggered her interest in Eastern medicine and the role of integrative health care practices in enhancing patient recovery. Ms. Lamas is an active member of the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies’ Visiting Committee, for which she serves as a guest lecturer and orchestrates training programs involving human trafficking, among other topics. She is a University of Miami graduate with undergraduate and masters degrees, and has two adult daughters.

Andrea Lippman Loeb, Psy.D.

Dr. Andrea Lippman Loeb is a Licensed Psychologist who has been practicing in the Miami area for 15 years. Her specialties include assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults and adjustment to major life changes and challenges. Dr. Loeb also has extensive experience in the treatment of sexually abused children and served as Clinical Director of Kristi House for more than two years when the Orlowitz-Lee Center opened in 1999. Dr. Loeb completed her internship and residency at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Loeb is currently the co-owner of a successful private therapy practice in Miami, named South Miami Psychology Group. She and her husband, David have three children.

Paul Lowenthal

Paul Lowenthal is a respected leader in Miami’s business and nonprofit communities, with decades of experience in the audiovisual and hospitality industries. As the former President & CEO of Southern Audio Visual, a family-run company serving luxury hotels and corporate clients, Paul earned a reputation for delivering exceptional service and building lasting partnerships—expertise he continues to bring to his current senior leadership role at Pinnacle Live. A third-generation Miamian, Mr. Lowenthal is deeply committed to community engagement and has served on numerous boards, including the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Baptist Health South Florida Foundation, and the Orange Bowl Committee. He joined Kristi House’s board to support its vital mission of helping children heal from trauma and pursue justice.

Alan Potamkin

Alan Potamkin and the Potamkin family have been pillars of South Florida for decades, employing thousands in their many successful businesses and contributing millions to charities in the arts, health care and human services. Perhaps most recognized for their major car dealerships—now numbering 30 operating and in development—the Potamkin family has owned FCC broadcast licenses for several TV and radio stations and are substantial investors in real estate projects across the U.S. Mr. Potamkin joined the Kristi House board in 2022 with a focus on helping the organization build capacity and support to meet the tremendous need for its services and programs. He brings significant charitable leadership experience, having served on the Board of Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Miami Children’s Museum where he was instrumental in building its new museum. He has been a member of United Way’s “Million Dollar Roundtable” for 25 years and in 1996, the Potamkin brothers created the Potamkin Foundation, which since inception has supported charities in excess of $40,000,000, the majority in Miami-Dade County.

Richard Powers

Working alongside the Executive Team, Mr. Powers brings over 25 years of experience creating Office Solutions and Print Management Services for business leaders. Mr. Powers specializes in team building, process development, and sales strategies. He is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his strong leadership skills, positive attitude, and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed.

Mr. Powers is passionate about giving back to the community with active roles as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Caridad Center and committee member for Handy, Inc.; Children’s Home Society; Big Brothers Big Sisters; and Boys and Girls Club. In his free time, he enjoys offshore fishing, playing basketball, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Ania Rodriguez

Ania Rodriguez is a devoted advocate for children who have faced child sexual abuse, trafficking, and other forms of childhood trauma. She has been a board member of Kristi House since 2016, where she currently serves as the Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Ania is the founder and CEO of JourneyTrack, a revolutionary SaaS platform that uses AI to elevate the customer experience. She is the mother of three wonderful children whom, together with her husband, she is raising to be compassionate, resilient, and empathetic individuals.

Kim Shechtman

Kim Shechtman is a financial advisor at the Bermont Gold Wealth Advisory Group of Raymond James. With a background in economics and communications, she brings a broad range of experience and unique perspective on the public and private sector. At Bermont Gold, she helps develop and execute portfolio strategy and establish new client relationships. Ms. Shechtman is intellectually curious and has a strong sense of purpose and integrity that drives her commitment to her clients and her work with non-profits. Prior to her current role, she worked as a consultant for foundations, think tanks and large corporations. She previously worked for Arianna Huffington as the Director of Partnerships at Thrive Global and as Chief of Staff to global economist and best-selling author, Dambisa Moyo. She also worked at the U.S. Department of State where she helped drive policy and strategic communications at the intersection of business and human rights. Ms. Shechtman has a master’s degree in international economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Washington University in St. Louis. With a passion for helping children and animals in need, she is dedicated to giving back and helping strengthen the local community. She spends her time volunteering and serves on the United Way Women of Tocqueville committee and the United Way Public Policy committee.

Natalie L. Snyder, Esq.

Natalie Snyder is Division Chief of the Sexual Battery and Child Abuse Unit of the State Attorney’s Office for Miami-Dade County. Fulfilling an agency-partner seat, Ms. Snyder has served on Kristi House’s Board of Directors since 2018. She obtained her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 2005.

Lidija Stefanova

Lidija Stefanova is an Audit Partner with BDO in the firm’s Miami office. With more than 16 years of public accounting experience, she works with public and private companies with both domestic and international operations in a variety of industries. Her experience includes business combinations, initial public offerings and De-SPACs, revenue transactions, and other complex accounting issues.

Beyond her technical knowledge, Ms. Stefanova is committed to helping her staff grow professionally and supporting her community. She provides internal training to BDO’s personnel, as well as mentors young professionals to help them set goals, achieve milestones and advance their careers. She is an active member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce helping fuel economic advancement for our business community, and is fluent in four languages.

David Whitaker

David Whitaker serves as President and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), bringing more than three decades of tourism and destination marketing leadership to the role. For much of that time, he has been instrumental in promoting Miami-Dade County as a premier global destination for leisure travel, business and conventions, sports, arts and culture.

Whitaker's career began with a 17-year tenure at the GMCVB from 1990 to 2007, where he held various roles, including Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. He then expanded his expertise internationally as President and CEO of Tourism Toronto, and subsequently served as President and CEO of Choose Chicago, overseeing the promotion of North America's largest convention center, McCormick Place.
Since returning in 2021 to lead the GMCVB, he has been laser focused on revitalizing Miami-Dade’s visitor industry post-pandemic. Throughout 2024, Miami-Dade experienced sustained tourism growth, attracting a record 28 million visitors and the county led the state of Florida in average room rate and revenue generated per available room. The destination also ranked fourth nationally in hotel occupancy and third in the average daily room, reflecting strong demand.

Whitaker is known for both his strategic vision and commitment to community engagement. He currently serves or has served in leadership roles on the boards of US Travel, the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA), Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (GMCC), Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Orange Bowl Committee, Florida TaxWatch, Camillus House, Curley’s House of Style, Kristi House, Neat Streets Miami and South Florida Workforce Investment Board.

Libby Witherspoon

Libby Witherspoon is charged with the oversight of the Trust & Wealth Management Team. Empowered with more than three decades of Wealth Management experience, she leads a group of highly dedicated and talented individuals providing advice and financial solutions with a relentless commitment to unrivaled excellence. Prior to joining Grove Bank & Trust, Ms. Witherspoon served as Senior Director Portfolio Manager, and Team Leader at BNY Mellon Wealth Management. Ms. Witherspoon began her career at the Northern Trust Company. She also has a lifelong and notable dedication to her community. She is a graduate of Gulliver Prep and has served on its Board of Directors. She is currently a Trustee for the Florida House on Capitol Hill. Her contributions to the American Red Cross are numerous. She is a member of the National Philanthropy Board, the immediate past Board Chair for the Greater Miami and the Keys Chapter, and a longstanding member and past chapter Chair of Miami’s Tiffany Circle. She has also actively participated in many other philanthropic endeavors for the betterment of our communities. Ms. Witherspoon holds an MBA from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University.

Prior to joining Grove Bank & Trust, Ms. Witherspoon served as Senior Director Portfolio Manager, and Team Leader at BNY Mellon Wealth Management. Ms. Witherspoon began her career at the Northern Trust Company. Witherspoon has a lifelong and notable dedication to her community. She is a graduate of Gulliver Prep and has served on its Board of Directors. She is currently a Trustee for the Florida House on Capitol Hill. Her contributions to the American Red Cross are numerous. She is a member of the National Philanthropy Board, the immediate past Board Chair for the Greater Miami and the Keys Chapter, and a longstanding member and past chapter Chair of Miami's Tiffany Circle. She has also actively participated in many other philanthropic endeavors for the betterment of our communities.

Witherspoon holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University.