The Miami Family Wealth Report Awards incorporating Latin America and the Caribbean 2024

Gio Maso has extensive global experience working for the world’s largest family offices, institutional allocators, and asset managers, and is a Managing Director in the EY Family Office Advisory team. In this role, he supports family legacy by advising family businesses, their owners, and family members on how to institutionalize their family enterprise by leveraging off his significant experience in the design, setup, and implementation of complex accounting and investment operating models, as well as technology selection. Gio was previously with Citco leading its Americas business & product development, as well as client delivery and integration efforts, for operational, accounting and technology solutions to complex institutions and asset allocators (family offices, endowments, & pensions) that invest in multi-asset alternative investments that include actively-traded strategies, private equity, credit, hedge funds, & real estate. Prior to that, Gio was a consultant for Credit Suisse Asset Mgt leading a strategic change program to benchmark, design, negotiate & implement a market standard fund administration & custody oversight & commercial framework in Europe. Gio was also Global COO for Man Group’s Fund & Investment Operations division for over decade

Mr. Reilly is an investment and strategy consultant to family offices and the host of the Private Capital Podcast. He was the co-founder and founding president of the Family Office Association, a global forum for single-family offices that is based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Previously Mr. Reilly helped to start a single-family office and foundation in New York where he was an investment manager for five years. He was an energy specialist focused on options and futures trading at Credit Agricole Indosuez in New York prior to that and started his career at Salomon Smith Barney. Mr. Reilly has spoken on family office issues at many conferences and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Forbes, and Bloomberg, and currently does a monthly interview series with notables in the family office world for Family Wealth Report, where he is on the global editorial board.

In 2010, Jamie McLaughlin founded J. H. McLaughlin & Co., LLC, a management consulting firm focused on strategy and practice management for wealth management and investment advisory firms, private banks, trust companies, single and multi-family offices. He has over 25 years of experience in both senior operating roles and client-facing roles in the ultra-high net worth and family office segments of the industry. Previously, he was CEO of Geller Family Office Services, a partner at Convergent Wealth Advisors where he built the firm’s New York office, the regional president of Mellon Private Wealth Management’s New York region, and a financial advisor at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc., where he started in the wealth management industry. Earlier in his career, Mr. McLaughlin served in the Connecticut General Assembly for a decade as a two-term State Representative and a three-term State Senator.

Martin heads the Schroder Wealth Management (US) team specialising in international wealth management for US clients residing in the US, UK and elsewhere. Prior to joining Schroders, Martin was managing director and head of Americas at the Royal Bank of Canada Wealth Management International in London, and before that head of private wealth management at Kleinwort Benson. A stockbroker by training, Martin has over 30 years’ experience in advising clients and working in partnership with clients’ other professional advisors. He is also a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and sits on the expert panel for the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Joseph Kellogg works with families to make informed decisions for their wealth enterprise. As partner of WE Family Offices, he assists families to identify their objectives and their challenges within unique circumstances and then to coordinate with the families’ estate and tax professionals to implement a comprehensive strategy.

Prior to his role with the multi-family office, Joseph provided wealth-planning services for international private clients of UBS AG (Miami) and of HSBC Private Bank (Miami). In 2002, he opened and managed the Miami representative office for the Amicorp Group providing corporate and fiduciary structures to both corporate and private clients. From 1997 to 2002, Joseph worked with the Citco Group of companies based in Curacao, and in the British Virgin Islands. He is a recipient of the STEP Founder’s Award. He is former Chair and Board Member of STEP Miami Branch and former Vice-Chair and Board Member of STEP USA. Currently, he is a Member of the Business Families Global Special Interest Group.

Joseph is an attorney licensed in New York and Florida and received his J.D. from the American University in Washington, D.C., his LL.M. (Tax) from the University of Miami, and studied in a masters-in-law program at the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico, D.F. He is fluent in Spanish.

Oscar Paez is a full time consultant with The Family Business Consulting Group experienced in management, finance, succession planning, next generation development and corporate governance.

He has worked with Multilatinas, family offices and enterprising families and has held positions at financial companies such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, Ultralat, Alpax, and UBS, where he headed the Colombian Office until 2020.

Oscar was the CEO of Productos Alimenticios el Galpon, a manufacturer of animal feed and pet food and a member of the Board of Directors of Family Business Network USA and the Scuba Therapeutic Institute. He has served on boards such as ANDI’s food industry chamber, Concentrados el Galpón, Crispy Fruits, Swiss Colombian Chamber of Commerce, and Family Business Network Colombia. He has co-founded Be Close and Ipsa Earth Good, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact.

A recognized business leader and legal advisor to corporations around the world, Mike McNamara offers 25 years of professional services expertise in the US and globally.

Mike brings a dynamic understanding of the intersection of business, law, innovation and regulation to client engagements and provides board-level counsel to multinational businesses, investor groups, family offices, ultra high net worth individuals and their executives pursuing complex transactions and confronting disruptions. He has engaged in structuring and negotiating transactions exceeding US$100B, particularly where significant public policy considerations are informed by regulatory and political sensitivities.

Mike’s dedicated leadership to building out Dentons’ new global family office and high net worth team contributed to being honored as Family Wealth Report’s 2023 Legal Team of the Year and Private Asset Management’s 2023 Best Family Office Provider for New Innovations.

Throughout his career, Mike has been deeply involved in corporate crisis management and response, advising clients facing major events and market interruptions on legal, political and stakeholder strategies. This includes responding to government investigations, international sanctions, judicial proceedings, bet-the-company matters, identifying ESG risks and opportunities, and working with family offices and high net worth individuals on their business priorities.

Mike recently concluded a decade of service in Dentons executive leadership as CEO of Dentons US, having previously served as US Managing Partner and first as the integration partner in the inaugural transatlantic combination. Under Mike’s leadership, Dentons US experienced tremendous growth, recruited an outstanding team of partners, including through the integration of a 100+ storied Wall Street group and bi-coastal mergers, and launched its national law firm strategy. This resulted in Dentons US combining over eighteen months with five firms across the US to become the largest region in the world’s largest law firm. Mike served on the Global Management Committee and Global Board and has been instrumental in contributing to the advancement of the Firm globally.

Mike is active in numerous nonprofit organizations and created a deep foundation for Dentons’ community and social responsibility commitment. He is a trustee and former executive committee member of the Federal City Council, which advances business and civic leadership advocating for investment in Washington, DC; a member of CEO Connection and its Talent Management Committee; and a board director of Children’s Law Center, a national-model non-profit reaching 5,000 children and families every year. Mike spearheaded a national service initiative at Dentons that deployed 400+ colleagues to support more than two dozen nonprofit service organizations across the US.

Mike is a longtime advocate for diversity and inclusion. He is a member and pledge signatory of CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, a CEO-driven business commitment of 2,000 executives across 85 industries to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Mike is a founding Advisory Council member of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance, a 290+ member industry alliance. For the Diversity Lab Hackathon, Mike was a member of a winning team, presenting a strategy for better recruitment, advancement and retention of experienced women leaders.

Earlier in his career, Mike served as an economist with the US Department of Commerce and taught undergraduate economics at Harvard College.

Mike holds an AB summa cum laude in economics and public policy from Duke University and a JD magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.

Wendy describes herself as a well-balanced individual who is deeply family oriented, spiritual, career driven and self-motivated. She also hastens to add that the journey of life helps in maintaining a humble outlook dishing out liberal portions of blessings and a few curves to keep her focused and grateful.

Wendy is one of two children born to her hero and lifelong best friend Marie Maragh. Her older brother Mark has always been her father figure and has always relentlessly pulled her along even when life has dished out some tough blows, Mark remains steadfast at his “little sister’s side. Wendy says that her Mom and best friend; a lady of extreme integrity raised her two children with prayer and humility, teaching them the basic values of life and that above all they should compromise on family’s core values of respect for everyone, living generously and treating everyone as they would like to be treated. Wendy says that Mom always taught us though that no matter the situation, as long as we act with integrity ourselves, we must stand up for ourselves and what we believe in. Mom’s greatest lesson is also that everything must be done with utter respect for everyone and above all LOVE.

Wendy is a widowed mother to 3 beautiful boys whom she describes as her foundation and says that they keep her grounded and challenge her daily to be the best version of herself daily. D’Andre, Dante and Davonte are her heartbeats.

Wendy is a professional and career driven individual who is happiest when learning new approaches to the world of work. Wendy expresses that her deepest sense of fulfillment comes from helping others accomplish their personal and professional goals.

Dr. Tanya McCartney is a UK trained barrister and chartered banker who since 2016 has served as the CEO and Executive Director at the Bahamas Financial Services Board. Over the past two decades Tanya has distinguished herself as a hardworking professional with expertise in the law, regulatory and gaming compliance, risk management, banking, and international financial services.

She holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Edinburgh Napier University (Scotland, U.K.) for a programme of work entitled “Perspectives on Leading change: Exploring Change Readiness Strategies used in the Bahamian Financial Services Sector”. Tanya was appointed to the Senate of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in 2001 being one of the youngest persons ever appointed to the Upper House where she served for five years. She vied for a seat in parliament in the 2002 general elections. She is a former President and founding member of the Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers. She is the co-chairman of the Bahamas Chapter of the global Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.

Tanya is also an adjunct professor in the School of Business at the University of the Bahamas. She has served on several government boards over the years including The Public Hospital’s Authority, The University of The Bahamas and currently serves as Chairman of The Police Complaints Inspectorate and Deputy Chairman on The Airport Authority.

The Rudin Group founder April Rudin is a widely acknowledged top marketing strategist for the financial-services and wealth-management sectors. Her firm designs bespoke marketing campaigns for leading wealth-management firms, fintechs, and family offices; campaigns that strengthen brand value and drive client acquisition. Recognized as an IBM “influencer,” she is a regularly-featured source of expertise, contributes to Capgemini’s World Wealth Report, produces the CFA Institute’s annual U.S. outlook, and often speaks about wealth, next-gen, and fintech. She’s been published extensively and judges the Family Wealth Report’s annual Wealth Management Industry Awards and is a member of their advisory board. Her two sons say she has always been an “influencer”.

Natalie E. Glitzenhirn-Augustin is a highly experienced legal professional with over 27 years of experience in the field. After completing her legal studies, she was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in the UK and subsequently to the OECS Bar (Saint Lucia) in 1996. She has since gained extensive experience in a wide range of legal areas, including International Financial Services, Trademarks, Trusts, Corporate, Commercial, Family, Wills and Succession matters.

In January 2000, she founded her own boutique law firm, Glitzenhirn Augustin & Co. which has quickly become one of the most highly regarded firms in her chosen practice areas in the industry. She has built a team of skilled and experienced legal professionals around her, who share her passion for providing high-quality legal services to clients.

Throughout her career, Natalie has earned a reputation for her dedication, her attention to detail, and her ability to provide practical solutions to complex legal issues. She is highly respected by clients and peers alike for her knowledge and expertise, as well as her commitment to delivering exceptional service.

In addition to her legal work, Natalie is actively involved in a number of professional organizations and community groups. She is a frequent speaker at industry events and is widely recognized as an expert in her field.

Philip N. Carey is Principal and CEO of Lion Capital Advisors LLC, a Miami-based multi-family office. With over 25 years of experience in international private banking, my focus is on providing exceptional client service and building trust with U.S. and international families. I take a holistic approach to managing global wealth, incorporating individual values and unique investment opportunities. My clients, who are located in Europe, the USA, and South America, trust me to help them preserve and grow their wealth for future generations.

In a volunteer capacity, I am deeply committed to philanthropy. I am a Trustee and Vice President of The Sapelo Foundation, a private family foundation dedicated to social justice and environmental protection in Georgia. As a board member, I am leading the efforts to align our assets with our mission, reflecting my passion for creating positive change in the world. In addition, I am involved in the College of General Studies Dean's Advisory Board at Boston University and the Master of Science in Sustainable Business Advisory Board at the University of Miami Business School, where I share my expertise and collaborate with like-minded professionals.

I hold a Master of Science in Financial Planning from Bentley College-Elkin B. McCallum Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University. I am committed to lifelong learning and continuous personal and professional growth.  For this reason, I recently enrolled in and was accepted to the Owner/President Management (OPM) program at Harvard Business School, a transformative learning experience designed to boost my leadership skills, help me expand my strategic vision and the value of my enterprise.

In a career spanning over three decades, Steve Prostano has distinguished himself as an innovator and thought leader in the wealth management and global financial services industries. Steve has served as CEO of Silver Bridge, a Global Partner of Amvescap, President of Atlantic Trust and Chase Global Asset Management, and an EVP of the Private Clients Group of FleetBoston Financial. He has also held senior positions with Mellon Bank and KPMG. Most recently at Bank of the West, Steve was a member of the Bank’s Senior Management Committee and the Head of Family Wealth Advisors - the first global MFO in the US. Steve is also a CPA and attorney with an LL.M. in Taxation.

Lowry is an Associate Director at the Stonehage Fleming Family Office US Division, where she holds the leadership position at the group's representative office in Miami. With an unwavering dedication to her profession, Lowry has ingrained herself in the local community for over two decades, cultivating an extensive global network. Leveraging her exceptional expertise in relationship management spanning over 19 years, she has successfully served multinational organizations, world-renowned international tax law firms, as well as high-net-worth international individuals and families across Latin America, the United States, and Europe.

She possesses an intricate understanding of her clients' complete affairs, enabling her to play a pivotal role in collaborating and coordinating with professionals worldwide, across multiple disciplines. This collaboration ensures the seamless execution of their strategic and operational objectives, solidifying her reputation as an integral figure within her field.

Throughout her career, Lowry has garnered recognition for her ability to create a welcoming environment, fostering strong interpersonal connections among individuals and her commitment to excellent service.

Guillermo Vernet, CEO and Founder of Kandor Global, is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of professional experience and extensive working relationships in Miami, USA.

Prior to the creation of Kandor Global in 2020, Guillermo Vernet held positions in the Wealth Management area in several financial groups, with a broad presence in Latin America, advising and managing the investments of foreign individuals and US residents. Specifically, at Insigneo Wealth Advisors (previously called Hencorp) he led the group's division called HBAM from 2010 to 2020. Previously, he established the Compass Group Asset Management group office in Miami, where he served as General Manager from 2000 to 2010.

For ten years (1991-2000), he held different positions at Chase Bank in the areas of private banking and corporate banking in the New York and Miami offices in the US and in Caracas, Venezuela.

His studies include an MBA from Cornell University, NY, USA and a Civil Engineering degree from the Universidad Metropolitana (1988), Caracas, Venezuela.

Michael Wagner, CFP® is co-founder and chief operating officer at Omnia Family Wealth. In this position, Michael is responsible for the ongoing operational and business strategy of Omnia, as well as ongoing analysis of each client family relationship and development of Omnia’s team. His responsibilities also include participating in the firm’s investment committee, where he assists in manager selection, analysis and risk management. Michael works closely with Omnia’s clientele and functions as the firm’s chief technology officer.

Michael is an avid photographer, and is also heavily involved with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation (GMJF), where he sits on the board of directors and several committees. He is currently serving as Co-chair of the Agency Support Committee, which builds and enhances Federation’s relationship with its key local agencies, manages the oversight of each agency, discusses communal trends, and identifies areas of concern. Michael resides in Fort Lauderdale.

Simone Martin is a non-conventional regulator with over 21 years of experience, having commenced this career in 2000 with the BVI Financial Services Commission. Her diverse experience encompasses several sectors (fiduciary services, insurance, and investment business) in both the BVI and Anguilla. During her career thus far, she has materially contributed to legislative reform towards ‘right-tough’ regulation, the conduct of prudential and AML/CFT compliance inspections as well as created and delivered training for local, regional and international regulators and other financial services professionals.

From 2008 – 2019, Simone served as the Secretary of the Joint Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Committee of the Virgin Islands and was a member of the National Risk Assessment Steering Group of the Virgin Islands (2014 - 2016).  In addition, she has participated in a mutual evaluation as a Financial Expert with CFATF and contributed to multiple FATF Working Group papers.  Simone was also a core member of the Working Group for Trust and Corporate Service Providers, established by the Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors, that developed the international standard for supervision of Trust and Corporate Services Provider.

Simone holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration and an undergraduate degree in Accounting.  She is a Fellow of The Chartered Governance Institute, UK, a Fellow of the International Compliance Association of the UK and a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Simone has facilitated diploma and certificate courses in Compliance, AML and GRC, and mentored students seeking AML/CFT focused financial services qualifications for over a decade.

In keeping with her passion for compliance and the learning process, Simone founded IGNUS SOLUTIONS LIMITED in 2021 – a platform created empower compliance professionals through its membership – CHASING COMPLIANCE, podcast, compliance courses and other media.