High Powered Keynote Speakers and Panelists Headline Mapping Miami's Financial Future Event

MIAMI - Jan. 22, 2015 - PRLog -- Technology entrepreneur Manny Medina, managing partner of Medina Capital, will be the keynote speaker at the Miami Finance Forum’s signature half-day event, ‘Mapping Miami’s Financial Future: An Insight Into South Florida’s Hottest Emerging Sectors,’ on February 4, 2015 at the Conrad Miami, 1395 Brickell Ave. The event, which takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., will provide critical insights on emerging economic sectors in Miami and feature thought leaders, who will present and discuss issues, opportunities and trends in technology, media and the financial sector. Two panel discussions on Technology Trends and Social Media will take place after the keynote address along with extensive networking followed by lunch and a closing speaker.

  Medina will present the morning keynote address at 8am, “Why Miami is the Technology Capital of Latin America.” The force behind eMerge Americas, Medina has more than 30 years of business experience in technology and finance and is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Technology Foundation of the Americas, whose mission is to establish Miami as the technology hub of the Americas.

  Ranjini Chandirakanthan, Director at Cassel Saltpeter & Co., will moderate the Technology panel at 9:15am entitled, “Is Miami the Next Technology Investing Hub?” Joining her are panelists:

·      Melissa Krinzman, Managing Partner, Krillion Ventures

·      Brad Harrison, Founder & Managing Partner, Scout Ventures

·      Celine Armstrong, Managing Director, Investment Banking – Product Management, S&P Capital IQ

·      Nabyl Charania, Co-Founder and CEO of Rokk3r Labs.

  With more than 20 years of experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, Chandirakanthan leads Cassel Saltpeter & Co.’s technology practice. Krinzman, of Venture Architects, has worked with more than 800 companies that have raised nearly $1 billion in investment capital using business plans her company developed. Harrison with Scout Ventures is an entrepreneur and seasoned business development executive with a passion for technology, media, entertainment and lifestyle. Armstrong is responsible for leading strategy and product development and global coordination for Investment Banking and capital markets within S&P Capital IQ’s Product & Content Organization. Charania, of Rokk3r Labs, shapes the global vision, direction and expansion of the company which provides a unique platform where entrepreneurs partner with strategists, creatives and engineers to launch companies.

  Alexandra Villoch, Publisher of the Miami Herald, will moderate the Media panel at 10:45am entitled, “Winning Media Content Management Strategies.” Joining her are panelists:

·      Peter Blacker, Executive Vice President, Telemundo

·      Nathaniel Perez, Global Head of Social, SapientNitro

·      Victor Kong, President, Cisneros Interactive

·      Derek Bond, President, ImaginaUS

  Prior to becoming publisher, Villoch served as Senior Vice President of advertising and marketing for the Miami Herald. Blacker leads his division’s mission to leverage and window original programming from Telemundo Network and the cable network mun2 through custom branded entertainment, digital and mobile cross-platform experiences. Perez, who spearheads digital strategies at SapientNitro, is a technologist-turned-strategy-executive with more than 17 years of experience at large digital agencies. At Cisneros Interactive, whose business strategy is focused on digital advertising and e-commerce, Kong is in charge of developing digital businesses for the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American audiences. He also serves as the company’s Chief Digital Officer.  With more than 20 years of experience in television and film production, Bond launched Bond Entertainment focusing on independent production and business consulting for the U.S. Hispanic market.

  Matt Haggman, Program Director/Miami at the Knight Foundation, will deliver the closing lunch address at 12:15pm. Since joining the Knight Foundation in 2011, Haggman launched the Foundation’s initiative aimed at connecting and propelling Miami’s emerging entrepreneurs and startups as a way of building community.

  More than 200 attendees are expected to attend including technology entrepreneurs, business and real estate executives, legal & accounting professionals, and all sectors of Miami’s financial community. Mapping Miami’s Financial Future is sponsored to date by the Knight Foundation (platinum sponsor); Bilzin Sumberg, KPMG, Professional Bank and S&P Capital IQ (gold sponsors); and media sponsors America Economia, The Miami Herald, South Florida Business & Wealth Magazine and Wragg & Casas Strategic Communications.

   Early registration is $145 per person for members and $195 per person for non-members. Registration at the door is $195 for members and $245 for non-members. To register online, visit www.miamifinanceforum.com.

  Established in 2006, The Miami Finance dedicated to providing a network for South Florida’s finance professionals to meet and interact in the community. Other goals include enhancing the knowledge base and professional practices of its members, as well as to create exclusive networking opportunities for professional growth and career development.