Graziano Sbroggiò | President | Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast
Graziano Sbroggio is the President of the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast and the founder of Graspa Group, a Miami-based hospitality and restaurant company. Over the years, he has launched numerous successful ventures, including Spris Artisan Pizza, Segafredo L’Originale, and Salumeria 104, each celebrated for its authentic Italian culinary experience. Through his leadership at Graspa Group and the Chamber, Graziano continues to promote Italian culture, cuisine, and business in South Florida.
Hon. Michele Mistò | Consul General of Italy
Hon. Michele Mistò, born in Como, Italy, is the Consul General of Italy in Miami, appointed in August 2023. With advanced degrees in international law and a PhD in Comparative Public Law, he has held key diplomatic roles in Copenhagen, Podgorica, and Moscow. Mistò is a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Carlo Angelo Bocchi | Trade Commissioner | Italian Trade Agency – Miami office
Carlo Angelo Bocchi is the Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency in Miami, bringing over 28 years of experience in international trade and economic development. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles across the United States, including as Trade Commissioner in Houston and Los Angeles, and led e-commerce and large-scale retail initiatives at the agency’s headquarters in Rome. With a background in Business and Managerial Economics from Sapienza Università di Roma, Carlo is dedicated to fostering strong economic ties between Italy and the United States.
Marco Sabetta | General Manager | Salone del Mobile di Milano
He is the General Manager of Salone del Mobile.Milano, a world-renowned design and home furnishings event. His career includes senior roles at Publitalia, E.BISCOM, and Publikompass, as well as serving as Commercial Director of F.C. Internazionale di Milano from 2004 to 2007. Since 2008, he has managed the Salone del Mobile, its six key exhibitions, and its international editions in Moscow and Shanghai.
Ugo Colombo | President | CMC Group
Born in Milan, Italy, in 1961, Ugo Colombo is the founder and president of CMC Group and a pioneer in Miami’s luxury real estate market. After starting his career while studying at the University of Miami, Colombo transformed the city’s skyline with iconic developments like Bristol Tower, Santa Maria, and Brickell Flatiron, elevating Brickell to global prominence. His firm’s portfolio includes renowned residential projects such as Porto Vita, Grovenor House, and EPIC Hotel & Residences, as well as current ventures like Onda Residences in Bay Harbor Islands and Vita at Grove Isle.
Kenneth Crawford | President | ASID Florida South
Kenneth Crawford is President of ASID Florida South and a seasoned interior designer with over 36 years of experience. He is the owner of Kenneth Crawford Interiors and a graduate of the University of Louisville with a B.S. in Architectural Interior Design. An ASID Community Ambassador and Allied Member, Kenneth has received multiple ASID awards.
Sean Saladino | Principal | Saladino Design Studio
Sean Saladino is the principal and co-founder of Saladino Design Studio in Miami. A self-taught designer with a business background, Saladino specializes in creating vibrant and innovative spaces. His firm’s projects range from the Xander’s Green Goods dispensary in Tacoma to the 10,000-square-foot rooftop bar and restaurant, Sette Osteria, in Wynwood. Saladino’s work blends his passion for hospitality with a keen business sense.
Paul Bishop | Founder | Bishop Design
Paul Bishop is the founder of Bishop Design LLC, a renowned interior design firm with offices in Dubai and Miami. After studying Interior Design, Furniture and Product Design, and Interior Architecture in the UK, Bishop moved to Dubai in 1996, where he spent eight years shaping the city’s evolving design landscape. In 2004, he founded Bishop Design, working on high-profile projects such as the SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences and Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura. His firm has earned multiple industry awards, including Interior Designer of the Year, solidifying his status as a leading figure in interior design.
Angel C. Saqui | President | AIA Miami
Angel C. Saqui, President of AIA Miami, is a distinguished second-generation architect with extensive expertise across all facets of the profession. A graduate of the University of Miami (B.Arch, 1985), Saqui has been a licensed architect in Florida since 1988 and holds a prestigious NCARB Certificate.
Thais Fontenelle | Showroom Director | Minotti Miami
Thais Fontanelle, Showroom Director at Minotti Miami, is a seasoned design curator with a career rooted in Miami since 1994. She has managed prestigious projects, including her tenure as head designer at Alison Spear AIA, where she worked on landmark commercial and residential developments like The Spear Building at Aqua and The Meridian in Miami Beach.Her passion for cutting-edge design led her to Luminaire Lab, where she curated events and exhibitions.
Marco Maset | President | Snaidero America
Marco Maset is the President of the Contract Division at Snaidero America, overseeing the exclusive distribution of Rino Snaidero S.p.A. kitchen cabinetry in North America. With over 30 years of experience in Italian design, he is also the founder of Serenissima Italia and INTERNI Cucine, specializing in high-quality, Italian-made cabinetry and interiors. A leader in the luxury market, Maset combines deep industry expertise with a Doctorate in Marketing Communications from Gordon University, driving the growth of Italian craftsmanship in the U.S. market
Giorgio Ricci | Executive Vice President | Moroso USA
Giorgio Ricci is the Executive Vice President for Moroso USA, leading the brand’s high-end design operations across the Americas. With over 20 years of experience managing the U.S. and Canadian divisions of prestigious Italian design brands, including Kartell, Zanotta, and Memphis Milano, Ricci has been instrumental in introducing and expanding iconic Italian craftsmanship in the North American market. Now at the helm of Moroso USA, he continues to elevate the company’s reputation as a global leader in innovative, luxury furniture design.
Thelma Lazo-Flores | Dean of Interior Design | Istituto Marangoni Miami
Dr. Lazo-Flores has been in the creative industry and higher education for over thirty years. She has been a design educator in both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels of interior architecture, landscape architecture, furniture design, product and interface design, industrial design, and studio art programs in the US, Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines. She has professionally practiced for over ten years, covering luxury residential design, commercial offices, hospitality spaces, trade shows, and military buildings in various parts of the world. She received her Ph.D. in Design Science and Planning from Chiba University, Japan, with a Japanese Ministry of Education scholarship.
Mikael Hamaoui | Founder & CEO | Riviera Horizons (Pagani Residences)
Mikael Hamaoui is the Founder and CEO of Riviera Horizons, the exclusive developer of Pagani Residences. With over 20 years of experience in Miami’s real estate market, Mikael is a trusted leader in both commercial and residential property development. A Miami native, Mikael leverages his deep local knowledge and extensive network to identify and create unique opportunities, shaping the city’s luxury real estate landscape.
Samuele Sordi | Chief Architect Officer | Pininfarina of America
Samuele Sordi is the Chief Architect Officer at Pininfarina of America, leading award-winning projects globally, including the Vitra residential tower and the Cyrela tower in São Paulo. With a background at Zaha Hadid Architects and Archea Associati, Sordi brings a holistic, human-centered design philosophy, integrating influences from automotive, product, and UX/UI design. A graduate of the University of Florence and a founding member of MlabArchitects, he has also won prestigious awards, such as the first prize for the restoration of Livorno Water Customs in 2009.
Brianna Hunter | President Elect | IIDA, NCIDQ, IIDA, RID
Brianna Hunter is the President Elect of the IIDA South Florida Chapter and an Interior Designer at Gensler in Miami. A Florida native with a Master’s in Interior Architecture from FIU, she combines her passion for environmental psychology, the arts, and analytical precision to create functional, inspiring spaces. Through her IIDA leadership, she supports young professionals entering the design industry.
Tommaso Brusò | CEO North America | Eataly
Tommaso Brusò is the CEO of Eataly North America, bringing extensive leadership experience across global brands to his role. Prior to joining Eataly, Brusò served as Group CEO at sustainable clothing brand Colourful Standard and as Global Chief Operating Officer for Benetton Group. He was also CEO of Diesel North America from 2013 to 2017 and has held executive positions with various multinational fashion and accessories companies. His strategic vision and expertise in brand development position him to drive Eataly’s growth and innovation in the North American market.
Midori Shim| Past President | NCIDQ, IIDA, RID
Midori Shim is the Past President of the IIDA South Florida Chapter. Currently an Interior Designer at Gresham Smith, she brings over a decade of expertise in creating accessible and community-centered designs across hospitality, education, healthcare, and commercial spaces. She also shares her passion for design as an Adjunct Faculty member at Florida International University.
Anna Caruso | Principal | Arquitectonica
Anna Caruso, Principal at Arquitectonica, brings over 25 years of expertise in technical coordination and project management across diverse project types, including mixed-use developments, residential complexes, corporate offices, and hospitality venues. Her notable portfolio includes the Hyde Midtown, Baccarat Residences, The Wave Hotel at Lake Nona, and the Miami Beach Convention Center Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Chris Mitchell | Design Director & Senior Associate Studio Director | Gensler
Chris is a Principal, Studio Director, and Design Director in the Gensler Miami office. Chris brings exceptional leadership to the design of award-winning creative environments. With over 25 years of experience, he is particularly adept at translating a client’s vision into unique and effective spaces that are aligned with specific operational and organizational goals. With strong conceptual design skills complemented by a respect for strategic thinking, budget, and constructability, Chris brings a passion for clarity and coherence that is apparent in even the most programmatically complex projects.
Simi Burg | Associate Principal | HLB
Simi Burg (Veit), CLD, IALD, LC, MIES, is the Associate Principal at HLB Lighting Design, where she has also served as a Senior Associate. With a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering specializing in Lighting/Electrical from Penn State University, Simi’s career includes experience as a Design Intern at CannonDesign and ALD, Architectural Lighting Design. She combines artistic vision, technical expertise, and a passion for transforming the built environment to craft innovative lighting solutions.