Founder and President, CyVent
Entrepreneur, intrapreneur, company builder and senior executive. Focused on bringing cutting-edge technologies to market.
Yuda is the founder and president of CyVent, a cybersecurity-focused solutions provider that helps Chief Information Security Officers transition from a classic “identify-defend-remediate” strategy to an AI-driven, pre-emptive posture that can allow smooth sailing despite inevitable assaults.
Throughout his career at American Express, Tech Data, ClimeCo and Xerox, Yuda kick-started and scaled highly successful business units, integrated acquired companies, oversaw outsourced IT service offerings and launched dozens of new products and services.
As a mentor, founder, director and investor in tech start-ups and early-stage companies, he has been instrumental in seed, growth-stage and follow-on rounds of funding. He is also an adviser at Bioverse Labs and an Ambassador for ExO Lever, a global transformation network that helps organizations innovate in the shifting environment of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Yuda holds an MBA and a Corporate Director’s Certification from UCLA Anderson, where he was recognized as one of the “Top 100 Inspirational Alumni” of the School’s 75 years.
Founder and President, CyVent
President/CEO, OIC of South Florida
Mr. Newton Sanon obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout; he continued his studies at UW-Stout and obtained a Master’s Degree in Training in Human Resources Development.
Upon graduation, Mr. Sanon joined the Leo Lewis Youth camp of Minnesota Vikings as a youth counselor; he coached inner city youth on the fundamentals of football, life skills, and decision-making. In 1998, he returned to his hometown of Miami, Florida, joining the Miami Dolphins as an operations assistant, supporting football operations and working with the NFL Youth Challenge program, which provides youth development programming to kids of all ages.
In 2000, Mr. Sanon moved on to Broward Community College (BCC), where he became the first Project Director of a Federal initiative led by the Clinton Administration, “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs Project” (also known as the GEAR UP Project). This initiative provided tutoring, mentoring, homework assistance and interactive college tours for middle school youth residing in Broward County housing developments. Through Mr. Sanon’s leadership, participating students demonstrated significant academic improvement, with several students more than doubling their GPA (1.5 to 3.0+). Mr. Sanon’s emphasis on contextual-based learning was key to this marked improvement. He left BCC in 2002 to join Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Broward County as Project Director and was promoted to lead the agency as Executive Director within two years of service and now serves as President and CEO.
In his capacity of President and CEO of OIC of South Florida, Mr. Sanon is committed to the advancement of the underserved via vocational training and education stating, “Despite the many challenges we face, we live in the best country in the world, with boundless opportunities. I simply look to be a convener of awareness, access and action with the aspiration that all may have at a minimum, the opportunity to realize the greatness within us all.”
Mr. Sanon has exponentially expanded OIC’s services in the South Florida area; having started with just 2 employees (himself and a part-time secretary) and has flourished to approximately 105 staff members. Given the demand for OIC’s services, Mr. Sanon saw it fit to change the agency’s name and reach in 2009 and is now OIC of South Florida, providing services in Broward County, Miami Dade County and Palm Beach County to come in the future. OIC of South Florida’s annual budget began at $125,000 upon Mr. Sanon’s arrival, and is now $8 million annually and growing. His stewardship at OIC has solidified over $53 million in state, local, federal and private dollars.
OIC of South Florida’s’ flagship programming remains in working with individuals who are re-entering society after being incarcerated, and is the leading provider of job training and placement for returning citizens in the area. OIC’s Reentry Program has been highlighted on CNN and was instrumental in securing the “Honor of Hope” award from the White House Office of Faith and Community based initiatives. This prestigious recognition is given to only one faith or community based organization per State.
As a result of Mr. Sanon’s leadership, and dedicated staff, over 8,500 now former recipients of public assistance, ex-offenders, incumbent workers, un-employed and or underemployed residents of South Florida have obtained employment over the past 17 years and are now taxpaying and therefore contributing citizens of South Florida.
OIC also currently provides programming to youth by way of its Teen Pregnancy Prevention initiative which continues to be funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative aims to protect youth from risky behaviors that may derail their academic and vocational potential and negatively impact their ability to becoming productive members of society. “We must be proactive in addressing the vicious cycles of poverty” says Sanon. Additional programming to middle and high school aged youth provided by OIC of South Florida in the area of academic tutoring, career awareness and planning, made possible by funders such as the Children’s Services Council of Broward County and the Children’s Trust of Miami Dade County.
A proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Sanon is also a past honoree of The 40 Most Influential & Prominent Black Professionals of South Florida Under the Age of 40 by Success South Florida Magazine, Bank Atlantic Non-Profit Academy Awards as one of the Broward College Non-Profit Leaders of the Year, JM Family Enterprises’ annual African-American Achievers Award for Community Service, U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Advocates Entrepreneurs and Life Time Achievers, Leadership Florida Class of XXXIV, Graduate of Harvard University’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management and most recently selected as a member of the Orange Bowl Committee.
Owner, Action Coach
In her second term as the Chair of the Beacon Council Small Business Committee, Jody has chosen the theme of the 2018-2019 year, to be “Awareness & Integration”. She believes that Small Business is the foundation of South Florida’s economic landscape and is at the heart of every one of the Beacon Council committees. As the owner and managing partner of Miami’s ActionCOACH Business Coaching firm, she is uniquely poised to have her finger on the pulse of the current challenges and opportunities of our business community. With technology’s exponential rate of change and the path laid out by One Community One Goal, the theme of “Awareness & Integration” is a context that will make a difference in transforming our small business economic landscape this year.
To learn more about Jody Johnson and her work in the community please visit her website at www.actioncoachteamsage.com
Head, Business Developtment, The Americas
Lars Pottgiesser is IATA’s Head of Business Development for the Americas region, the trade association whose 290 member airlines transport more than 82% of total air traffic. Lars works with IATA’s ten local offices spread out in the Americas region from Canada to Chile, to proactively pursue IATA’s industry priorities with governmental authorities and industry stakeholders to make the air transport industry safer, more secure, efficient and profitable.
Over the past decade, Lars has worked in a variety of functions at IATA in the areas of data intelligence, passenger services, market research and is responsible for the execution of IATA’s Aviation Days and Wings of Change Conferences in the Americas. Prior to joining IATA, Lars worked for one of the leading Public Affairs firms in the Southeastern United States with a special focus on crisis communication and strategy development.
Fluent in English and German, and conversational in Spanish, Lars was born in Germany and received his Master’s Degree in International Business from the University of Tampa in Florida and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri while competing as a collegiate soccer player.
Chief of Staff
Klemen Ferjan has over 10 years of experience in aviation industry, both serving in international organizations and working with airlines as a Management Consultant.
He joined Amerijet International, a fully cargo airline out of MIA, in March 2018, where he currently serves as Chief of Staff, following his cross-functional consulting engagement in all areas of the business. Acting as CEO’s strategic partner and trusted advisor, Klemen is incorporating his vision of an Engineered and Disciplined approach to all areas of the business through newly established Business Transformation Team.
Prior to transitioning into the heart of aviation industry, he served 3 years as an Alternate Representative on the Council of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He has been representing Central European Rotation Group (CERG) in providing continuing direction to ICAO’s work of fostering safe, secure and sustainable international aviation. His area of special interest was economic development of air transport; hence as International Air Transport Association (IATA) Project Manager he revived Airline Cost Management Group (ACMG) in 2012 and significantly increased airlines’ annual participation ever since. Besides providing business intelligence to airlines he also organized numerous regional workshops, Steering Committee meetings, and annual Airline Cost Conference. As a Consultant he was designing cost efficiency consulting solutions for airlines, developing business opportunities, and successfully delivering personalized solutions.
Klemen holds an MBA degree, PMP Certificate, and Diploma in Civil Aviation Management. He is current Chair of Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s Aviation Committee, serves on Fondation Amal BOD, mentors young budding entrepreneurs, and is an avid judo instructor.
Market President – Miami Dade County
Brian San Miguel has a 19 year history in the banking industry, working in multiple lending roles over his career for the past 13 years most recently as the Regional Corporate Banker for Miami Dade County. Brian was born and raised in Miami. He graduated from FIU in 2003 with a bachelor degree in finance and obtained his MBA from Nova in 2007. Brian assumed the role as Market President in July of 2016 and leads the Miami Dade County market which includes our Commercial Banking Teams and 38 financial centers. BB&T currently ranks 6th in market share in Miami Dade County and 5th in the State of Florida. Brian sits on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, Chapman Partnership for the Homeless, and South Florida Cystic Fibrosis. Brian currently chairs the Banking and Finance committee for the Miami-Dade Beacon Council and vice chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce banking and finance committee.
