South Florida Banking Institute Annual CEO Panel
South Florida Banking Institute Annual CEO Panel
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 (5:30 PM - 8:00 PM) (EST)
Description
An institution’s leader sets the tone for a bank’s performance, culture and success. The pandemic continues, potential troubled loans on the horizon, working through a rising rate environment, lending or investing in this environment is a challenge. What are the challenges, strategies, efforts, and thinking that will bring our institutions out of these unprecedented inflationary times? Join us to explore these and other issues affecting our institutions and hear what our local CEOs and leaders have to say on the current issues impacting our institutions, as well as the local economy.
Date: February 15th, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
This session is eligible for 1 hour CPE credit in “Technical Business”
Moderator  | Daniel R. Martinez
A native Miamian, Mr. Martinez serves on the Board of Directors at Christopher Columbus High School, The South Florida Banking Institute, where he served as past President, and The Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) Pro Bono section. Mr. Martinez is a past board member of St. John Neumann Catholic Preparatory School, and the Sebastianstrong Foundation, which raises awareness and funds to help find a cure for Pediatric Cancer, the Miami Dade Chapter for Rebuilding Together, and Amigos for Kids. Mr. Martinez attended Christopher Columbus High School and then Nova Southeastern University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. As a key member of the Executive Management team at Professional Bank- A Division of Seacoast National Bank, Mr. Martinez shares responsibility for the daily management of the bank. Including overseeing the Miami-Dade market as it relates to Lending, Probate/Guardianship and Estate Accounts, Branch- Private Banking united with an emphasis and focus on client and community relations. |
Speakers | |
 | Luis de la AguileraPresident, Chief Executive Officer, and Board MemberU.S. Century BankLuis de la Aguilera is President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and a member of the board of directors at U.S. Century Bank / NASDAQ Ticker: USCB. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Miami, U.S. Century Bank is one of the largest Hispanic-owned community banks in the State with assets of $2.1 billion and 10 full-service banking centers throughout Miami-Dade and South Broward counties. De la Aguilera started his banking career in 1982 at City National Bank of Miami. He later went on to serve as Vice President and Commercial Lender at Republic National Bank, and then as Senior Vice President of Corporate Banking and Assistant Branch Administrator at Ocean Bank where he directed and grew the bank’s branch network. From 2000-2015 de la Aguilera worked at TotalBank; throughout his 15 year tenure he served the bank in various capacities including Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Lending, as well as Director, President and CEO. De la Aguilera is an active member of the Florida Bankers Association, where he served on the board from 2017-2020. He also served as a director of the Florida School of Banking where he currently participates as an instructor. Additionally, he was appointed to represent Florida on the American Bankers Association (ABA) Government Relations Council for 2014-2015. In 2017 was named to the Board of Directors of his alma mater Christopher Columbus High School. He has served on the boards of the Dade Public Education Fund, the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy. A committed advocate for pediatric cancer research and awareness, De la Aguilera served as a founding board member of the SebastianStrong Foundation (2019-2021) and the Miami-Dade Advisory Board of the American Cancer Society. For the 6 years (2013-2019), De la Aguilera was an active member with the Castaways Against Cancer, a local team of Miami-based kayak enthusiasts whose mission is to create awareness and fund cancer research programs. Annually, he kayaked 160 miles from Miami to Key West to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Institute. De la Aguilera earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 from the University of Miami with a major in English literature and minor in business administration. |
 | Steven SanzoneChief Executive OfficerEvermore BankIn order to organize Evermore Bank, Steven Sanzone resigned from Grove Bank & Trust in November 2021. As Executive Vice president and Market Executive for Broward County, Steven Sanzone had joined Grove Bank & Trust in November 2019 to establish a Broward County full operational branch and lending office. Steve led a team of four key employees at GB&T. In 1978 Steven Sanzone started his career in the real estate investment division of Equitable Life Assurance Society. He specialized in providing financing for most types of commercial real estate projects. In the early, 1980’s he focused on commercial real estate acquisitions, development and joint ventures. Subsequent to ELAS, Steven represented The Green Companies, a commercial real estate development company. Within two years, Steve structured the sale of two residential properties and a high-rise office building, which during that year, was the highest sale in Dade County. in the mid-1980’s Steve started representing large regional banking centers and then decided to focus his career on commercial real estate finance in the community-banking arena. He has written commercial real estate policies for three community banks. In 2004, Steve was part of a small group that raised $40 million and formed Stonegate Bank. As the EVP, Steve assisted in the growth of the bank to $3 Billion in assets and in 2017 the bank was sold to Centennial Bank. Subsequent to this acquisition, the CEO of Marquis Bank asked Steve to start a Broward County Branch for Marquis Bank which was only operational in Dade County. Steve served as Executive Vice President/Broward County Market President for Marquis Bank from 2017 to 2019. The Broward County branch was successful and highly contributed to the acquisition of Marquis Bank by Professional Bank in 2019. Throughout his career, Steve has closed over 1.5 billion dollars in real estate transactions. He has structured both simple and complex financing vehicles as small as $100,000 and as large as $105.0MM. Steve Sanzone is a graduate of FSU and holds an MBA from Nova University. |
 | Calixto (Cali) Garcia-VelezChief Executive OfficerBanesco USACalixto (Cali) Garcia-Velez is the Chief Executive Officer of Banesco USA, a $3 billion full-service community bank with operations in Florida and Puerto Rico. Banesco distinguishes itself in providing superior products and services across segments including commercial, corporate, real estate, and consumer banking for both domestic and international clients. Prior to joining Banesco, Calixto served as Executive Vice President for FirstBank Puerto Rico. Furthermore, Cali had a very successful career with Citibank, where he served in various roles that included: President of Citibank Florida, and Business Manager across several markets in the United States. He also served as President and CEO of Doral Bank, in San Juan, Puerto Rico Mr. Garcia-Velez is a graduate of the University of Miami, where he received both his bachelor’s and MBA’s degrees. Mr. Garcia-Velez has been involved in his community for many years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Miami-Dade, The Beacon Council, the Alliance for South Florida National Parks Trust, and was recently named to the Florida Bankers Association Board of Directors. He also serves as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer. |
| PLATINUM SPONSORS |
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Online Registration Event Fee
SFBI Members: $95.00
Non-Members: $145.00
At Door Registration Event Fee
SFBI Member: $125.00
Non-Member: $175.00
2505 NW 87th Avenue
Doral, FL 33172 United States
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm - Networking Hour
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Dinner and Panel Discussion
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