Florida Sister Cities

Florida Sister Cities International Economic Development Summit

Speakers

Commissioner Yvette Colbourne has been a public servant for most of her adult life. Prior to elected office, she served 30 years as a Miami-Dade County Administrator, President of her Homeowners Association, Vice Chair of the City of Miramar Economic Development Board, Member of the Civil Service Advisory Board and Member of the Broward County Diversity Committee.

U. Desmond Alufohai is the Director of Protocol and International Affairs Division, Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Prior to joining Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Mr. Alufohai served as Senior International Trade Coordinator and head of the International Trade Programs for Miami-Dade County’s Economic Development and International Trade Agency

Sherman Banks, is the current Consul General of Ghana and has over 40 years of experience in International Economic and Tourism Development. He has dedicated his life to helping develop sustainable economic and cultural channels that can help bridge educational and cultural divides among nations. “One Individual, One Community at a time.”

Iván Mutis is currently President and CEO of Gooljar, Mutis & Lombana (GM&L), Strategic Consulting for New Markets, a company focused on opening and developing international markets with special emphasis on the US and the Latin American market.

Scheril Murray Powell, Esq. is an Agricultural, Cannabis, Dietary Supplement, and Trade Attorney at Doumar, Allsworth, Laystrom, Voigt, Adair, and Dishowitz LLP. Scheril is the Chair of the Broward County Medical Marijuana Advisory Board which advises the County on Marijuana related policies and positions. She is the Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Sub-Committee of the ASTM D37 Committee

Dr. Hung-bin Ding is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management and Associate Dean of the Sellinger School of Business and Management of Loyola University Maryland. He is a co-founder of Taiwan Sister Cities, a non-profit organization aiming to develop and support sister city relationships between cities in the United States and Taiwan

Julia Costin is the co-founder of Digital Woods and she’s a passionate advocate for sustainability and environmental conservation. Julia is a creative entrepreneur with a vision to leverage technology to drive positive social and environmental change.

Melvin Brown is an attorney in Law, President of the State of the African Diaspora Parliament Director of the Afropanamanian Foundation for Sustainable Development Plans, Programs and Sustainable Project Developer.

Brenda Maribel Betancourt is a Community Outreach Coordinator/Manager Consultant for the City of Opa-Locka, Miami-Dade for the purchase of foreclosed, abandoned and blighted properties. Community Association Manager Specialist working Private Owners in the South Florida.

Program

Day 1

Wednesday June 7,2023.

8:00 am – Registration

All registration will take place at the Hotel Intercontinental Miramar Panama City

9:00 am – Opening Ceremony and Welcome

Welcome dignitaries and public officials. Showcase Panamanian culture and debrief participants regarding activities throughout the week.

10:00 am – Trade Panel – Challenges and Opportunities USA

Strategic and multilateral approach to diplomacy, trade, and security.

11:15 am – Trade Panel – Challenges and Opportunities Panama

Address improving trade relations with Panama and investment opportunities.

12:15 pm – Lunch

Keynote speaker: Mr. Desmond Alufohai

01:30 – Trade Panel – Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Market

Tour: TBD

Day 2

Thursday June 8, 2023.

8:00 am – Registration

All registration will take place at the Hotel Intercontinental Miramar Panama City

9:30 am – Agriculture, Agri business and Education

The section on agricultural literacy addresses the teaching of science through agriculture, teacher education and training, model educational programs, community support, and agricultural career exploration programs.

10:30 am – Sustainable development and Artificial Intelligence