Bio
I fell in love with food at a young age, cooking alongside my grandmothers. For a long time, I thought my path would lead me to opening and running my own restaurant, until I discovered the South Beach Wine & Food Festival®.
I began my culinary journey at Johnson & Wales University and ultimately completed my Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management right here at FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, graduating in 2008. While in school, I volunteered with Professor Susan Gladstone, an experience that introduced me to the world of events and completely changed my career trajectory. Through her mentorship, I learned the importance of staying calm under pressure, multitasking effectively, and always keeping the big picture in focus.
Even after graduating, I couldn’t stay away from SOBEWFF®. I continued returning as an alumna volunteer and later participated as a vendor in various roles at the start of my career, simply because I loved the Festival and the energy behind it. In 2014, I officially joined the team, working alongside Gypsy Velez as the Experiential Learning and Community Outreach Program Manager.