Author: IulianM

Melih Oztalay is a seasoned digital marketing strategist with over 35 years of experience transforming businesses through innovative marketing and advertising solutions. As the CEO of SmartFinds Marketing, a pioneering digital marketing agency in Birmingham, Michigan, Melih has been at the forefront of leveraging digital technologies to meet the evolving needs of businesses. His entrepreneurial approach combines deep marketing knowledge with cutting-edge information technology, ensuring his clients stay ahead in a competitive landscape.

An early adopter of new ideas and technology, Melih’s philosophy revolves around the 4-A’s of digital marketing: Anticipate Change, Accept Change, Adapt to Change, and Adopt Change. This forward-thinking mindset has consistently delivered measurable success for his clients, from reducing website bounce rates to driving significant audience growth.

Melih’s expertise is recognized globally. He is a sought-after subject matter expert, industry author, and guest speaker at conferences. He frequently contributes to prominent websites like Search Engine Journal, Practical E-Commerce, and Crain’s Detroit.

His strategic insights and innovative solutions have benefitted a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and more. Notable companies he has collaborated with include BASF Chemicals, Delphi, McCann Erickson, Union Pacific, Compuware, Big Boy Restaurants, HCA Hospitals, Soave Enterprises, Lipari Foods, Penske Automotive Group, Guardian Industries, Wendy’s Restaurants, and Ziebart.

Ricardo Normand is currently a Partner of SBA, and was previously manager of the first Seed Capital fund in Brazil (Novarum) from 2004-2010. He is also the founder and managing director of V Coach Consultoria (Brazil and Portugal) which supports M&A, Capital Raising, and Strategic Planning. With over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, technology, investments, finance, and advisory, he has been serving as a mentor, board member, investor, and advisor of tech companies – from IT to biotech – in Brazil, USA and Europe. Ricardo also supports pro bono initiatives as a judge at MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (LATAM and Europe), Member of Minas Gerais BAR Startup Commission and BioStartup Lab.

Ricardo graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), holds a bachelor’s degree in Law, and has an MBA at IBMEC. He also completed executive education programs at MIT and Venture Capital Institute.

Ricardo served as a board member of tech companies and supported many initiatives like Silicon Valley week; Geeks On Plane 2011 in Brazil and one of the responsible to bring the 1stGlobal Legal Hacktahon to Brazil. Born in Belo Horizonte Brazil, Ricardo lives in Portugal and is fluent in Portuguese and English.

Danila Palmieri brings over 20 years of experience in different companies and industries in Brazil, Latin America, and the United States. She served as Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager in Brazil and helped lead M&A processes in Latin America and Brazil, working to integrate the cultures of the acquired companies.

In 2013, Danila Palmieri founded Connect Solutions, a consulting company that aims to help clients achieve their international business goals using various tactics in HR Strategy and Operations. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Danila has been part of the Brazilian American Chamber of the Southeast USA since 2014, acting as chairman between 2019 and 2020. She served on the Board of WTC Atlanta for 5 years, a Vistage member since 2022, SHRM since 2014, and Career Spring Board Advisory since 2024.

She holds an MBA in Business Management with an emphasis on Human Resources from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, São Paulo, Brazil, Financial Management from Emory University, Startup Funding from Cambridge University, Customer Service Experience from George Washington University, and Chief Human Resources Officer Program at the Wharton University of Pennsylvania.

Renée Laird is a multi-faceted business executive with 30 years of experience managing global and domestic commodities-based businesses in agricultural, energy, and financial industries.

An influential, personable leader and a solutions-oriented collaborator, Renée places high priority on building trusting, authentic relationships. Her edge comes from her Kansas farm roots and rich layers of experience to lead with intention, understand industry segments, and create meaningful value propositions.

Renée has a diverse background spanning producer / consumer markets, investment banking, brokerage, asset management, and ag tech. As Chief Revenue Officer at Stable, Renée drives innovative solutions for commodity clients. In prior roles at R.J. O’Brien, she led global strategy for Commercial Agriculture, OTC Markets, and Hrvyst. Her entrepreneurial journey includes physical and OTC trading in ag commodities for Koch Agriculture and Rabobank, founding Tallgrass International Ltd., a consulting firm, and serving as CEO at Aventis Asset Management. At Fimat/Newedge, Renée thrived as the Global Head of Agricultural and OTC Commodities. Her career reflects a commitment to driving innovation and value across diverse financial sectors, marking her as a dynamic leader in the industry.

She sits on several boards, including her Kansas State University’s Foundation Board of Trustees, and is an advisory council member for the Center for Risk Management Education and Research (CRMER), a student fellowship program in risk management at Kansas State University.

Renée is passionate and actively involved in her family’s farming and ranching operation in Kansas, a parent volunteer at her children’s school, participates in women’s leadership circles, her church community, and raising her children as a single parent. She has a BS in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University.

Pam Hamingson has worked directly with both U.S. and foreign-based banks for over two decades. Her extensive skill set includes Vendor Risk, Cyber Security, Data Security, Contract Management, Model Risk, Pandemic Planning, Operational Risk, and Regulatory Compliance. Today, she leverages this breadth of knowledge to help her clients build and mature their own risk management programs.

Pam’s career began in Technology, where she designed and installed call centers, voice networks, and disaster recovery sites for Smith Barney and later for Goldman Sachs. Balancing numerous business demands, the availability of equipment and services, and cost considerations naturally led her into Risk Management.

Since 2011, Pam’s professional focus has been on Risk Management. She has achieved significant success by ensuring that her business units understand the importance of a comprehensive Risk Management program to the bottom line. She highlights the potential “bad things” that could occur if operations do not function as expected and aligns these risks against reputational, fiscal, and regulatory impacts to tell the full story.

Currently, Pam works for Fortrex Technologies, a fintech company that provides Risk Management software and consulting services. In this role, she helps clients develop into mature, right-sized, and engaged Risk Management programs.

Fabrice Chaffois is a seasoned professional with a distinguished career, having served as a senior partner at prominent Big 4 firms such as EY and BDO. In these roles, he demonstrated exceptional leadership by establishing and overseeing audit and advisory business units. With a comprehensive international background spanning Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa, Fabrice has cultivated extensive expertise in corporate deals, encompassing transactions, restructuring, and fundraising. His proficiency extends to risk identification, assessments, and remediation, as well as providing compliance and forensic services.

Specializing in key sectors such as banking and fintech, real estate, airlines, natural resources, and technology companies, Fabrice’s industry focus is both strategic and diverse. Notably, Fabrice has recently assumed the role of an independent board member for two European banks, where he chairs the risk committee, showcasing his commitment to governance and risk management.

Fabrice is adept at engaging with central banks, regulators, supervisors, international institutions, and governments, Fabrice possesses a unique skill set that extends beyond traditional financial expertise. As a native French speaker and a graduate of Sciences-Po, he is a former certified French statutory auditor and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). His professional journey also includes a notable seven-year tenure in internal audit within two international French banks. Fabrice’s multifaceted experience, coupled with his proficiency in navigating complex financial landscapes, positions him as a distinguished professional in the banking and financial services sector.

David te Boekhorst is seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in corporate and private client management, as well as business development within the international corporate services industry. David is a Founder & Director of Angularis Global Services Inc. David also serves as a Principal of Strategic Business Alliance, further augmenting his impressive professional portfolio.

A Dutch national, David has cultivated a cosmopolitan lifestyle, having spent a substantial portion of his career living and working abroad. He holds an MBA from the prestigious EU Business School, specializing in international marketing and finance, which has endowed him with invaluable expertise. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to work in vibrant cities such as Amsterdam, Miami, New York, and Sao Paulo.

A notable asset in David’s repertoire is his expansive network of professionals across diverse fields, encompassing international tax and corporate legal experts, accountants, and private bankers. He has collaborated extensively with clients from Asia, Europe, and both North and South America, guiding them in matters of personal holdings, asset safeguarding, estate planning, and business investment structures. David is celebrated for his unwavering self-motivation, resolute determination, outstanding communication acumen, and unwavering work ethic.

Sherilyn W. Casiano founded S.I. Williams Wealth Management LLC over 20 years ago after serving as a senior member of the KKR Family Office. She provides bespoke advisory services to Ultra High Net Worth families, foundations and their key advisors across tax, trust, investment, and operation management.

She has 20+ years managing private equity and venture fund investments for GPs and LPs, and venture-backed enterprises for founders and investors.

Her clients include Ultra High Net Worth families, multi-family offices, GPs and their private equity and venture capital funds, Founders and their venture-backed enterprises, and institutions.

Sherilyn has been recognized by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Women in Business to Watch. She is a published author, inventor, speaker, and thought leader in family office industry and information technology.

She has an MBA from Columbia University and is active in education, an ambassador to the Lighthouse Guild, a board member of Visions NY, active in her church community, and single parent to two teenaged boys.

Rami Blachman is a distinguished tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist with roots in both the US and Israel. Currently headquartered in Tel Aviv, he is leading the charge for Scalo, a premier software company in Poland, as they make their mark on the global tech stage through Israel’s thriving ecosystem. Scalo’s mission is to assist Israel’s high-growth startups and unicorns in establishing engineering centers in Poland and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region.

With a rich entrepreneurial background spanning over two decades, Rami is renowned as a cross- cultural bridge builder. His multifaceted skill set includes initiating new ventures, managing projects across international borders, driving global business development, excelling in digital marketing, and adeptly navigating negotiations.

Notably, Rami spent a significant portion of his career living and working in China, where he dedicated himself to cultivating and strengthening technology links between China and the global landscape, with a particular emphasis on fostering connections with Israel. His professional journey includes stints at renowned entities such as Thomson-Reuters, Giza Venture Capital, Zhejiang Zhongda, and Nanjing Stuttgart Messe, seamlessly merging the realms of technology and finance.

One of Rami’s key objectives is to facilitate unhindered access for Chinese entities to Israel’s vibrant tech sector. Simultaneously, he strives to empower international innovators and researchers, including Nobel and Turing prize winners, to forge enduring collaborations in China.

Rami’s deep integration into both the Israeli and Chinese ecosystems is underscored by his commitment as a passionate evangelist. A prolific writer and speaker, he frequently contributes to conferences, events, and the media, sharing insights and fostering dialogue. Rami actively invites VCs, family offices, and investors worldwide to connect, offering them direct access to an exceptional Israeli deal flow to diversify and enhance their portfolios.

Arnaldo Carrera is responsible for SBA and its clients’ business development and sales distribution channels. With over 25 years’ experience in banking, technology, and operations, Arnaldo has served at the top executive level at Chase Manhattan Bank, Bankers Trust Company, and CIBC World Markets.

Arnaldo has served as a trustee of the International Trade Data Users, Inc (ITDU), a non-profit corporation that promotes the publication of reliable international trade data and sponsors conferences on trade and related technical issues. He also served as councilman and deputy mayor of his New Jersey Township.

Arnaldo holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master of science in management engineering from the N.J. Institute of Technology. He has also completed executive education programs at NYU’s Stern School of Business and IBM’s Advanced Business Institute. Arnaldo was born and raised in Brazil but has lived in the U.S. for over 40 years. He is fluent in Portuguese and English.