2017 Board of Directors Elections

Candidate Biographies

ARBELAEZ, Marcela – CEO and Founding Partner,  Lingua Franca Translations Diana Marcela Arbeláez studied linguistics at the Sprachen-und Dolmetscher Institute in Munich, Germany and Media Management and Visual Communications at the University of Miami. Ms. Arbeláez provides insight in Media Management and International marketing with over 15 years of experience in the marketing industry. Ms. Arbeláez develops multicultural/multilingual campaigns, and provides international media consulting services for communications teams of multinational and local

firms in industries as diverse as technology, hospitality, PR, law, health and the pharma industry. She has a clear understanding of culturally diverse audiences and protocols. Marcela is a board member of the SFL DEC/US Dept. of Commerce and has an extensive network of relations within the public and private sectors, including trade, government, foreign attachés as well as advocacy organizations locally and internationally. BALLOT-POTTIER, Annabelle – Sales Executive -Global Sales - Delta Air Lines/Air France

Annabelle is in charge of developing Multi National corporate and travel management company business for Air France, Alitalia, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways in the South Florida region. She was born and raised in Lyon, France but has lived in Florida for over 15 years. Fluent in English, French and Spanish she is a dynamic and dedicated professional who has at heart to promote the French “savoir Faire”. Annabelle is also very involved in several non-for profits and the local

community. Annabelle has been a major FACC sponsor and supporter for more than a decade. She participates on a regular basis to the FACC board meetings as a trustee member and volunteered many times over the past years to help with the FACC annual gala, French Weeks organization. She is a great advocate of the chamber who always goes far and beyond to bring new corporate members each year and promote the FACC.

BARRE, Jean- Paul – CEO, Alpagos – FACC Board Member More than 20 years of experience as CEO and owner of insurance broker companies. Since 2014 Chief broker for WellAway Ltd, insurance company specialize in health insurance product for expatriates all over the world. With Obamacare, initiate a partnership between the CFE and WellAway for the French residents in the US. CCEF – Foreign Trade Advisor of France since 2006 in Florida.

As a CCEF, work with the French Consulate to promote and help French companies to develop their business in the US. FACC – French American Chamber of Commerce of Miami. Board member of the FACC since 2013. Vice President of UFE for Broward and Palm Beach County since 2015.

BIRNBERG, Gary – Executive Director, Global Resolution – VP of the FACC

FACC Vice President, HR Committee Co-Chair, and multiple term Board member, Gary Birnberg has been associated with FACC for 20 years. Multi-lingual commercial mediation and arbitration practitioner/trainer, specialized in cross-border conflicts and associated with leading institutions, including ICC, CMAP/CCI-Paris Île-de-France, and Mediation Center of the Chamber of Commerce France-Brazil, where he is a trainer, adviser, and mediator. MBA INSEAD, Juris Doctor Boston

University, BA in International Relations University of Pennsylvania, started career at Paris office of global consultancy Oliver Wyman. Multiple-term past President Florida INSEAD Alumni Association. He humbly asks for your vote to continue to promote development of French-American business and commercial relations in Florida. BOLZAN, Raphael – Chief Customer Officer - Americas & East Asia, Daher Aerospace & Defense – Board Member FACC

Education and Experience - PhD in Mechanical Engineering from French Graduate School (ENSAM) - MBA graduate from ICG (French Institute) - 40 years with Latecoere, as successively, Design & Production Manager, then Sr. VP of Int’l Marketing and Int’l Affairs, and President of Latecoere Int’l Inc. And now for the last 2 years supporting Daher Aerospace in its International Development. Living in Miami for the last 30 years, he has developed the Int’l business of Latecoere, a Tier1 in Aerostructure &

Systems, mainly in the USA, Canada, Brazil and Asia, representing half of the Latecoere $ 800 Million sales for the next 15 years, with contracts in excess of $ 4 Billion obtained from Aircraft Manufacturers. He is now developing and participating in the negotiation of contracts for the same types of Aerospace activities as he did for Latecoere... Honors & Personal information: Awarded the Medal “Ordre National du Merite” in 2001, and the Medal of Aeronautics in 2015 by the French Government, he is a French and American citizen; married with 3 children.

BONA, Patricia – Vice President and Co-Founder, Essence Corp Vice President and co-founder of Essence Corp. a family owned Company Distributing Fine Fragrances and Cosmetics in the American Duty Free with 70 employees in Miami. Founding Member of ISP (International School of Panama), which grew from 80 students in 1982 to 2,400 today, housed on a 9-acre campus. Accredited Professor of French Language and Literature at the University of Panama. French Foreign Trade Advisor (CCE) Florida-Caribbean Chapter. Active

donor, participant and organizer of FACC of Florida events for several years. Board Member, Charter Member, and Volunteer in several local organizations serving the Community in France and Florida. Dual National French and US, Resident in Miami since 1988. Fluent in 4 languages. BOURGOIGNIE, Tristan – Partner, P. Tristan Bourgoignie, Esq.    

Mr. Bourgoignie concentrates his practice on the representation of foreign national clients and corporations and their establishment and implantation in the United States, including representation for immigration and nationality issues (business and family immigrant and non-immigrant visas, corporate compliance issues, naturalizations), corporate issues, transactional issues, and real estate issues. Mr. Bourgoignie has been an active member of the Florida Bar since

1992 and was Florida Bar Board Certified as a specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law (2000-2010). In addition, he has served as Vice-Chair of the Florida Bar's Certification Review Committee for Immigration and Nationality Law (2003-2004), and as Vice-Chair of the Immigration Advocacy/Legislative Sub-committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Immigration Committee (2004-2005). Other affiliations include the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (1994-present) and the French American Chamber of Commerce. CAFFIN, Jean-Michel – Managing Partner, The Shenfield Resources Group – VP of the FACC

A 20-year resident of Miami-Dade, Jean-Michel Caffin has been a member of the Board of the FACC since 1998 (President 2002-2004), while serving as CEO of Bureau Veritas/BIVAC North America (2000-2007) and since subsequently founding his own boutique Business Intelligence firm. Over that period, he has been active in numerous non-profit causes, notably as a French Foreign Trade Advisor (CCEF), president of FIPA, and member of the Board of the Beacon Council. Fluent in English,

French and Spanish, Caffin has an in-depth knowledge of south Florida’s business community. He is a keen advocate of trade & investment between France and Florida, particularly on behalf of small and medium size enterprises. Caffin is a Knight of France’s Legion of Honor as well as of the National Order of Merit.

DARMOUNI, Aline – Managing Partner & CEO, EXCO US Atrium Aline Darmouni has been a Miami resident for 7 years with her family. Aline is a French Expert Comptable, Fellow ACCA and CPA (Certified Public Accountant). Partner and CEO at EXCO US ATRIUM in Miami, a full-service CPA firm that assists European companies and entrepreneurs in setting up their foot in the US since 2010. Aline is serving as a Board member & Treasurer for the French International Program Association since 2012. Aline has been a member of the FACC since 2011 as a CEO

and Co-Founder of Massat Consulting Florida and then Atrium CPA since 2016. She is Fluent in French and English. She can add value to the FACC with her experience in Accounting and Taxation and her experience as an advisor to hundreds of small entrepreneurs. ELLEK, Antonio –   CEO, Elma Ventures  –  Board Member FACC  

Antonio is an entrepreneur who is focused on the development and growth of healthy snack brands and products at the global level. The portfolio of brands, which are currently sold under the umbrella brand of ILoveSnacking.com in over 15 countries include Oloves, Dipin, Quinoa Queen, and Air Cheese. Prior to his current position, Antonio created and developed Pasha’s a healthy Mediterranean Food Concept. Antonio has also worked in various functions with PepsiCo,

Procter & Gable, and BNP Paribas with a particular business focus between France and North America. Antonio, who grew up between France and Switzerland pursued a French education before getting a BS in finance at the University of Virginia and an MBA at Harvard University. Fluent in French, English, Spanish, and Turkish and conversant in Arabic and German. Antonio is very involved with the diverse Miami community in the fields of entrepreneurship and non-profit. GAZAY, Elisabeth – Associate Director, Barnes International Realty – Board Member FACC

Born and raised in Argentina, living in France until 2000, Elisabeth moved to Miami and is a dual French and American Citizen. She is Associate Director of Barnes International Realty, with a team of 20 experts serving international and local clients. Barnes is a major player in international luxury Real Estate with 60 offices around the world and a leadership in France and Switzerland. Before joining Barnes, Elisabeth founded Leadvisions, a boutique firm offering innovation seminars for European

Executives in the US. In 2012, she organized in Miami the largest gathering of French Executives from all over the world, for the French Foreign Trade advisors of France (CCEF). Elisabeth is passionate about Miami transformation over the past decade, and involved in many projects to promote French-American business exchanges, welcoming French Entrepreneurs in Florida and Miami Dade. Active Member and sponsor of FACC, she is currently serving on the Board, and Member of the Beacon Council.

GIANESE-PITTMAN, Severine – President, GIANESE-PITTMAN P.A. –   President of the FACC

Séverine Gianèse-Pittman is a French-American attorney licensed to practice in France and in Florida. The law firm of GIANESE-PITTMAN P.A. specializes in international transactions and delivers practical legal and business solutions for clients in South Florida and/or in France. Séverine Gianèse -Pittman is also the President of the French American Chamber of Commerce of Florida since May 2013 and has bring her experience, dual cultural culture, and knowledge at the service of the chamber to

ensure the vitality and success of the FACC. Severine is also “Conseiller du Commerce Exterieur” (Foreign Trade advisor for France) and as such, brings her expertise in advising European clients developing and pursuing business opportunities in Florida and in Foreign Investments and International Transactions generally. GONZALEZ GALE, Jorge – Vice-President of Business Development, AON Risk Services

Jorge Gonzalez Gale is a native Argentine who has been living in the US since 2011. During his time in the US, Jorge occupied different roles for Aon Corporation in Chicago, San Francisco and Miami. In his current role on International Business Development, he is in charge of opening Aon’s expertise to companies in multiple industries and regions. With 72,000 colleagues in 120+ countries, Aon has practice leaders and specialists in all areas of Risk and HR to help companies mitigate risk and

build efficiencies in every region. He is interested in promoting investments in Latin America and foreign wine and culinary arts in the US. Jorge likes biking, water sports and snowboarding. He also grew up playing polo and golf in Buenos Aires and continues playing in FL and Argentina. Before joining Aon, Jorge worked in Finance (Hedge Funds) and Farming (grazing cattle and planting corn and soybeens in 3 provinces of Argentina). Jorge has an degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Buenos Aires. MARTIN-O’BRIEN, Aline – Of Counsel Attorney, Xander Law

Aline Martin-O’Brien is Of Counsel Attorney at Xander Law Group in downtown Miami. She is a member of the Paris Bar and is certified by The Florida Bar as a Foreign Legal Consultant. Aline represents individuals and businesses in commercial litigation and transactions in the European Union and the French Caribbean. She also serves as an intermediary for clients with US legal issues by coordinating the resolution of those issues, primarily through the Xander Law Firm of Miami. Aline is a graduate of

the University of Paris I – Sorbonne and Paris Law school. Aline has practiced law in Paris since 2005 and also taught law at Paris 10-Nanterre University (2010 to 2013). Since moving to Florida in 2014, in addition to acting in an “of counsel” position at two law firms, Aline has dedicated herself to networking within the French community and being of assistance whenever possible.

MASSAT, Serge – President,  Massat Consulting Group

Serge J. Massat was born in 1953. He graduates from the Toulouse Business School in 1975. In 1980, he passes his CPA license in France and in 1987, his CPA license in the USA. He starts his professional career in Toulouse, France where he works from 1975 to 1980 before moving to Cleveland, USA where he works for Ernst & Young in 1980-1981. In late 1981, he returns temporarily to Paris before deciding to move back to New York in 1982. He starts his own independent CPA practice in 1986.

Today, he runs his offices of in New York, Miami, Mexico. Beyond his professional activities, he is a special advisor to the Financial Exams Department of the United Nations, while being very much involved with the French Community abroad: Foreign Trade advisor to the French Government, Director of the FACC in New York, member and former Director of the French Mexican Chamber of Commerce, founding member and former President of the Club 600 in New York and in Mexico, and member of the NYSSCPA and of the American Institute of CPAs. OUELHADJ, Alain – General Manager, Alda Design LLC

Alain Ouelhadj is General Manager of Alda Design LLC, an US company subsidiary of Alda Bureau France, importing and distributing Office Furniture through USA since 2015. Alain is graduated of HEC Executive MBA. He already held high-level positions in different professional industrial organizations as SIPEC, SIMAVELEC, SECIMAVI and TENOR in France as President or Member of the Board. He is living in USA with his wife and his two sons since beginning 2009. Before coming in USA, Alain

created different successful companies or activities in startup phase, and built up companies on LBO and IPO markets. He also worked in International Companies many years as Executive.

POUS BERTRAN de BALANDA, Benoit – President & CEO, The Black Tulip Organization

Benoit P. Pous Bertran de Balanda is the President and CEO of The Black Tulip Organization, a French-American real estate investment group with offices in Miami and New York, and a network of advisors in Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. His company provides unique real estate investment, development, advisory & management services, and invested over $375 million in the past 5 years. Prior to founding this company, Benoit started his first real estate venture at 19 years old, then

practiced as an attorney in Europe while he served as Partner and Managing Director of an investment-banking firm in Paris and New York. He is a frequent contributor to U.S. and French media, and has been interviewed in The New York Times and Le Figaro, to name a few. As a descendant of French officers who fought during the American War of Independence, Benoit is a proud Son of the American Revolution and is currently a Trustee Member of the FACC Florida. He is committed to promote French businesses and culture in Florida through his extensive network in the US, in France, and abroad. His goal is to dedicate both time and energy to the FACC Board of Directors.

POILLEUX, Christophe – Regional Director Latin America Retail and Distribution, Cartier Board Member FACC

Christophe Poilleux was born and raised in Paris, France. Following business school study in Paris, Christophe worked for AGF insurance company during few years. In 1995, Christophe moved to Sydney, Australia, and opened a distribution agency during 4 years. After Sydney, he transferred to Geneva Switzerland for 2 years before moving to the United States. He joined Cartier Miami in 2000 and at the beginning he was in charge of the Caribbean before taking over Latin

America. Christophe is married with 2 young daughters.

RICHARD, Christophe – President, Christophe Richard - Re/Max Miami Former banking executive, Christophe Richard did his career in an international finance institution and has been working on investment finance in various regions of the world: Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. He was Regional Director of Agence Française de Developement (AFD) in Johannesburg until 2010 when he established in Florida and became an adviser on Florida’s investment opportunities. He graduated from the “Institut d’Etudes Politiques” in France and from the

Institute of international and development studies in Geneva. In Miami, he has been chairing the Construction, Architecture, Design and Real Estate Committee at the FACC.

SAMBOURG, Maxime – Certified Public Accountant and Senior Manager, Barclais USA

Maxime Sambourg is a business advisor assisting European groups doing business in the United States. Maxime worked at the international firm Ernst & Young in Paris, where he was supervising financial audits within the fast-growing companies department. Later, he joined the New York office of Barclais USA to provide audit, accounting and tax services to US-subsidiaries of European groups. In 2010, he relocated to Miami to open the Florida branch of Barclais USA. Maxime Sambourg currently

assists 60+ European groups based and doing business throughout the United States with revenues. He is a member of the FACC Florida since 2010 and became a trustee member in 2014.

SLAMA, Aude – Managing Director & President,  Slama Global Search – Board Member FACC

Current and engaged FACC Board Member. Founder and Co-chair of the Human Resources committee, highly involved in organization of events that support the FACC’s strategy and the success of its members. Global Human Resources leader and Managing Director of Slama Global Search: a retained global executive search firm based in Boca Raton, Florida. Graduate of Weller International Business School, France (Masters in International Human Resources) and Kellogg School

of Management, USA and Germany (Executive MBA). Bilingual French, English. Married with two children.

SUREAU, Olivier – Partner, JADE Associates –  Treasurer of the FACC Olivier Sureau, A French “Expert Comptable Diplômé” and Certified Public Accountant, left France in 2000 to come to the United States after a 3-year experience in an audit firm in Paris. He first worked in a New-York based French Tax and Accounting firm. Then, in 2003, he founded with two partners a Tax and Accounting firm located in New York and Miami where he moved to expand the firm locally that same year. Jade Associates dedicates its services to French companies and

individuals based in the US. Their strength is their knowledge of the international tax treaties French speaking countries, and more specifically France, signed with the US. They have now offices in Paris, New York, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Houston, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. In addition to being a CPA, Olivier Sureau is also a “Conseiller du Commerce Exterieur” for France in the US since 2009, and the Treasurer of the FACC Florida since 2005. He is regularly invited to speak in conferences on international taxation. Jade Associates is part of the Fiducial Group since March 2015. SURVILLE, Hubert – President & CEO, Surville Entreprises Corp – VP of the FACC

Studies: Economic Sciences at University of Caen and Marketing specialization at the Institut superieur du Marketing in Paris. In the business of wines and spirits since 1984. Importer in the US of wines and spirits from 1991. Founder and President CEO of Surville enterprises a corporation which holds all the licenses to operate and sell in the 50 states. Co-founder and managing director of Barton and Guestier USA,

importer of Barton & Guestier and Patriarche brands in North America. Founder and Managing partner of “OWS”, the Other Wine and Spirits corporation, an importer of wines and spirits. Accolades: Chevalier de l’Ordre national du mérite ; Officier de l’Ordre du mérite agricole. Others: Board member of the French American chamber of commerce sine 1993; French trade Counselor since 1993.

WIESENFELD, Michael – Co- Founder, The Freud Group

Originally from Paris, Michael has been a Miami (Brickell) resident since 2009, after 9 years in NYC. He is a small business entrepreneur. He manages a Marketing Research/Polling business (EFG Inc) he co-founded in 2001 assisting small retailers and Fortune 500 alike. He also co-founded with his spouse a real estate venture (The Freud Group) focusing on residential acquisitions, property management, and student housing investments. Lastly, he is a licensed FIFA Players

Agent since 2006. He holds a Master in Sports Business, and a Degree in Real Estate Financing & Development from New York University (NYU). As a FACC member, he founded the Young Executives & Entrepreneurs Club, and co-created the annual Tennis and Soccer tournaments to foster networking within the French community and beyond. As a Board member, he will strive to continue this effort to connect Small & Medium Businesses, find innovative ways to get them interested, and make sure the FACC is a key partner in their development and success.