Executive Vice President, Equitable Advisors South Florida Branch and Chair of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council
Hugo Castro, MBA, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF is an Executive Vice President of the Southeast Region and co-branch manager of AXA Advisors’ South Florida Branch.
He began as a financial professional in 1992 and within two years of joining AXA Advisors’ South Florida Branch, he was promoted to District Manager. He was ranked as the #1 manager in his class in 1994, 1995 and 1996 and during those years, he also earned AXA Advisors’ Gold Superior Growth and Developing District awards for his outstanding recruiting and sales development. In 1996 he ranked #4, nationally, among all district managers in the company. In 1997, 1998, and 1999 he ranked #2, nationally, winning the Silver National Builders Trophy in each of those years. In
2000 he ranked #1, nationally, winning the Gold National Builders Trophy.
On May 1, 2002, Mr. Castro was promoted to join DEVP Luis G. Chiappy, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF as co-branch manager of the South Florida branch. Within AXA Advisors, the South Florida organization has continuously ranked as one of the top field branch offices, receiving the company’s prestigious President’s Trophy – a measure of overall profitability, productivity and management effectiveness – an unprecedented 16 times. The President’s Trophy awards distinguish the branch and its associates for outstanding increases in sales volume, as well as associate retention and development. The organization is also one of the largest of its kind in the state of Florida, and is comprised of approximately 250 financial professionals.
Hugo brought to AXA Advisors over four years of commercial lending experience. He was previously associated with ITT, where he held the position of Commercial Finance Account Manager. He now uses his experience and knowledge to focus on providing retirement planning and other financial services to the small business and professional markets. He is responsible for hiring and training sales associates to work in similar capacities.
He is an active member of the South Florida community, and is involved with the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and Florida International University’s Alumni Association. He is also involved with the La Salle Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping underprivileged children.
Hugo holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business from Florida International University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional and has also earned the prestigious professional designations of CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) and ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) from the American College. Hugo is also a LUTCF (Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow).
Director, State & Local Government Affairs at American Airlines
Dawn serves as the Director of State and Local Government Affairs at American Airlines where she is responsible for the development, implementation and management of American Airlines governmental priorities and policies in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Areas of responsibility include issue development, strategic positioning and the coordination of governmental and community representation. Previous experience includes serving as Director of Government Relations at Jackson Memorial Hospital and Director of State Intergovernmental Affairs at Miami-Dade County. Dawn is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.
Director, State & Local Government Affairs at American Airlines
Market President South Florida, Florida Blue
Penny Shaffer is the Florida Blue market president for South Florida, responsible for the company’s business operations in an eight-county region from the Keys north to the Treasure Coast. Prior to joining Florida Blue in 2006, Shaffer served as vice president of Global Services for the Americas region at AT&T. During her 26-year career at AT&T, she held various executive positions in sales, service, quality management and global operations. In addition to U.S. postings, she has lived and worked in Madrid, Dublin and Mexico City.
Throughout her career, Shaffer has been active in community and professional organizations. She is past chair and board member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce; a member of the executive committee of the United Way of Miami-Dade; a member of the CEO council and executive committee of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. She is also on the board of the Orange Bowl Committee and past chair and board member of the Miami-Dade College Foundation. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Business and serves on the school’s Health Sector Management and Policy Advisory Board. Shaffer holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Frostburg University and an International Executive MBA from Fordham University. She also holds a Ph.D. in international business administration from Kennedy-Western University.
Market President South Florida, Florida Blue
Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and Chief Executive Officer, Doctors Hospital
Nelson Lazo is the Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, an affiliate of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare organization in the region. Doctors Hospital has been providing high-quality care for the community since its inception in 1949. The hospital is also home to Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, one of Baptist Health’s premier Centers of Excellence. As CEO, Mr. Lazo is responsible for overall administrative and operational management for the 281-bed, acute-care hospital and its more than 900 employees.
Mr. Lazo was named to his current position in January 2010 after serving as CEO of Baptist Health’s Mariners Hospital in Tavernier for three years. Prior to joining Baptist Health, he served as chief operating officer for Parkway Regional Medical Center in North Miami Beach; senior vice president and CEO of McNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Ill.; CEO and regional director of operations for HealthSouth Corporation; director of regional operations for Phymatrix in Atlanta; vice president of healthcare services for the Coker Group in Atlanta; vice president of operations for United Medical Corporation in Orlando; and vice president of support services, as well as, associate administrator for Miami’s Mercy Hospital.
Mr. Lazo received his bachelor’s of science degree from Barry University in 1984. He went on to get his master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship in 1990. He was inducted into the 2010 Miami-Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame in the field of healthcare and honored with Barry University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015.
He is active in community organizations, serving as chairman of the board of directors for the Beacon Council, the board of directors for the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the Coral Gables Community Foundation and Health Facility Authority of Coral Gables. Mr. Lazo also serves as the chairman of the Life Sciences and Healthcare committee of the One Community One Goal program for the Beacon Council and is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is the past chairman of the board of the Health Council of South Florida, Inc., and also served as president of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Lazo and his wife, Olga, live in Coral Gables. They are the parents of two grown children. He is an avid sportsman, enjoying activities such as fishing, boating and tennis.
Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council, and Chief Executive Officer, Doctors Hospital
President & CEO
The Miami-Dade Beacon Council serves as the official economic development partnership for Miami-Dade County. The not‐for-profit public‐private organization focuses on job creation and economic growth. Since 1985, the organization has assisted more than 1,200 businesses that have created more than 76,000 direct jobs and added more than $7 billion in new capital investments.
As President & CEO, Mr. Finney champions the County’s efforts to market Miami-Dade as a world class business destination. He collaborates with key stakeholders including; Miami-Dade County, Local Governments, Career Source South Florida, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Miami-Dade Coalition of Chambers and key private sector leaders throughout the community.
Prior to his current role, Mike served Michigan Governor Rick Snyder as Senior Advisor for Economic Growth and President & CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Under Mike’s leadership the MEDC moved to the forefront of U.S. economic development organizations with innovative new initiatives, including Pure Michigan Business Connect, Community Ventures, and the revitalized “Pure Michigan” tourism campaign.
Volunteer Activity
Michael serves on the Board of Directors of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Saginaw Valley State University Foundation, the Miami-Dade County Covid-19 Economic Recovery Task Force (immediate Past Chairman), and the Florida Memorial University Social Justice Institute Advisory Board. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the State Science and Technology Institute, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Michigan Venture Capital Association and as President and Chairman of the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Awards & Recognition
He has received numerous awards and recognition including, South Florida Business Journal, 2020 Ultimate CEO Honoree; 2018, 2019 and 2020 Florida Trend 500 Most Influential Floridians; 2019 and 2020 South Florida Business Journal Power Leaders 250; 2014 Michigan Venture Capital Association Lifetime Achievement Award; 2012 Michigan Chronicle Legacy in Motion Newsmakers; Named by Crain’s Detroit Business and one of the 2010 “Most Powerful People” in Michigan, 2008 Saginaw Valley State University Outstanding Alumnus for the College of Business and Management; named by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the 2007 Newsmakers of the Year; and the 2005 Minett Distinguished Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Education
Michael holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saginaw Valley State University.
(305) 579-1325
