ABOUT
The Economic Club of Miami fosters meaningful networking among business leaders connected to Miami while providing thought leadership on important issues. Our mission is to host events with leaders in technology, banking, investment management, arts, politics, media and many other industries.
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We are hosting events on a regular basis both in person in Miami and online (in a hybrid format). These events will feature interviews and speeches from thought leaders in business, politics, and other important fields.
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We hope you will join us!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jon Hartley
Co-Founder and Board Chairman
In addition to serving as board chairman, Jon Hartley is an Economics PhD student at Stanford University and is a Research Fellow at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. Previously, he worked at Goldman Sachs Asset Management in both client portfolio management and risk management roles. He has also served in various governmental roles at the World Bank, the US Congress Joint Economic Committee, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Jon has also been a regular economics contributor for Forbes and The Huffington Post and has had other writings appear in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today among many other outlets. Jon has also appeared on CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News and Bloomberg and was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 Law & Policy list, the 2017 Wharton 40 Under 40 list and is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.
Jeb Bush Jr.
Co-Founder and Board Director
In addition to serving on the board of the Economic Club of Miami, Jeb Bush Jr. is the founder of Finback Partners, a Private Equity Fund and Merchant Bank, as well as the Managing Partner of Jeb Bush & Associates, a firm specializing in management consulting services. He also serves as a board member of Rio Grande E&P, Lumina Analytics, The Salty Donut, Biscayne Bay Brewery in addition to various non-profits such as Barbara Bush Foundation, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and KIPP Miami. He holds a B.A. from University of Texas and a Masters in Real Estate at Florida International University.
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Lourdes Castillo
Co-Founder and Board Director
Lourdes Castillo is a co-founder of the club and a member of the board of directors. In addition to these roles, she is the Founder and CEO of LMC Communications, a Miami, FL Public Relations firm focused on health and technology. Being an advocate of women and children issues, Ms. Castillo served as Commissioner for the Florida Commission on the Status of Women from 2009 to 2014 She is founding partner of MIT’s Global Co Creation Lab, helping lead their South Florida branch in their breakthrough technologies and innovation-driven enterprises. Ms. Castillo’s impact and leadership in South Florida has been recognized by several notable organizations. Over the years, she has been awarded the Big Brother Big Sister “Miracle Maker” Award, the Junior League of Miami “Women Who Make a Difference”Award, Chapman Partnership “Womenade” recognition and she has been bestowed as an Angel of Mercy by Mercy Hospital.
Jeremy Schwarz
Co-Founder and Board Director
In addition to serving on the board of the Economic Club of Miami, Jeremy Schwartz serves as the general counsel at the Mayor's office in the City of Miami. He earned his JD from Harvard Law School.
STAFF
Francisco Gonzalez is the Executive Director of the Economic Club of Miami. He is also founder & CEO of Fearless Journeys, a community for aspiring and ascending entrepreneurs and travel enthusiasts. Francisco is the host of the Agents of Innovation podcast, where he has interviewed more than 100 entrepreneurs. He is the author of the brand new book, The American Dream Is a Terrible Thing to Waste: 100 Agents of Innovation Share their Fearless Journeys in Today's Economy. Most recently, Francisco was a visiting professor at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala City, where he taught courses on entrepreneurship and innovation. He also teaches economic courses to inmates at the South Bay Correctional Facility in Boynton Beach, Florida. Francisco has previously served in philanthropic development roles for three nonprofit organizations: National Review Institute, The James Madison Institute, and the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Born at Baptist Hospital in Miami, Francisco has recently returned to his South Florida roots.
ADVISORY BOARD
Sean McManus
Advisory Board Member
​Sean McManus is the co-founder of M+D, a strategic advisory that guides some of the world's most influential media, finance, and technology companies on interactive content development, partnerships and international policy. Prior to that, he was director of programs at The Economist, overseeing conferences and custom content globally. He then worked for the Atlantic, launching the conference business for their digital platform, Quartz. Sean regularly advises CEOs in the area of thought leadership, communications strategy, and international affairs. He is the co-founder of several new media and nonprofit initiatives including the Arts Funders Forum and the World Climate Tech Summit. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, New York magazine, Fast Company and many others.