As President and CEO of the Arts & Business Council of Miami for the past 25 years, Laura Bruney has helped strengthen the cultural community through leadership and board development programs, audience development and marketing initiatives, volunteer programs for the arts and networking and community events. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of Council staff, policy and programs. Ms. Bruney works closely with the governing board to develop and implement the Council's strategic plan, interfaces with the cultural community on behalf of the Council, and is the Council's chief spokesperson.

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Elisa Trujillo, a graduate of Miami International University of Art and Design, has a strong passion for and background in the artistic community. Her diverse work experience includes involvement in industries such as commercial real estate, marketing, fashion, and art.

In her role as the Director of Programs and Events with the Arts & Business Council she works passionately to help businesses connect with local arts groups to foster a sustainable creative ecosystem in South Florida. Elisa also works to strengthen over 500 arts groups impacted by our signature programs and annual events.

In addition to her work at the Arts & Business Council, Elisa is an avid animal lover. She is a volunteer and foster parent at the Miami-Dade Animal Services Pet Adoption & Protection Center. In her free time, she can be found roller blading with her rescue dog, Wally.

Sonia Hendler has proven experience in creative marketing, collaborative strategy and growth acceleration. In her role as the Director of Programs and Communications with the Arts & Business Council of Miami she works passionately to help businesses connect with local arts groups to foster a sustainable creative ecosystem. She oversees the implementation of a comprehensive marketing, communications, media and programming strategy that drives brand relevance and demand for the Arts & Business Council. Her passion is in strengthening the local arts community through promoting visibility and fostering strategic alliances with emerging industries in South Florida.

Khaneza is a graduate of the University of Central Florida. During, her college years, she independently studied, strategic advertising and marketing with an emphasis on ways to increase a companies’ overall web presence. Khaneza has over 6 years experience in internet marketing, working for companies in the electronic and fashion industries. At the Arts & Business Council of Miami, Khaneza is the Facebook wiz, who focuses on engaging locals with valuable information about arts, business, technology and cultural happenings in Miami and around South Florida.

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Josie Gulliksen is a freelance writer and major arts advocate and enthusiast who loves everything cultural and is excited to live in such a thriving community as Miami. A Miami native, she currently writes for Rundown.com/MIA, Miamionthecheap.com, Citybuzz.com and Design District Magazine. She worked for nearly a decade at Miami Today covering the arts community, calendar of events and restaurant scene. She has also worked in public relations in non-profit for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, in travel and tourism for Newman PR and at the Miami Science Museum. She has written for Florida Travel + Life Magazine and Florida Monthly Magazine.

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Ashley A. Mapp hails from the City of Brotherly also known as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Currently, she is a first-year law student at Florida International University College of Law with an interest in the intersection of the fashion industry and the law. Prior to attending law school, she completed her Masters from the School of Social Policy and Practice at University of Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Spanish from Hampton University. Ashley devotes her time to many projects because she never wants to experience a dull day. While school is her most important priority, Ashley is also passionate about working with start-ups and nonprofits on increasing their social media engagement. She loves serving as the LinkedIn Associate for the Arts & Business Council of Miami, where she fosters new connections and increases ABC’s visibility online.

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Coombes is a veteran non-profit art professional with 18-years experience in project/event management. Currently Director Cultural Arts for World OutGames Miami she is charged with overseeing, administrating and creating a broad multi-disciplinary cultural arts program that will tap into the network of cultural arts-based non-profits, organizations and artists based in South Florida and beyond. From 2010 - 2014 she worked for five consecutive seasons in a variety of contractual positions at the Miami International Film Festival. From 2009-2013 she was also the Managing Director of Philadelphia QFest, at the time, the third largest gay & lesbian film festival in the United States, and the largest queer film festival on the East Coast. For 7-years from 2001-2008 Coombes was the Programming Director of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Under her leadership the MGLFF positioned itself as one of the key queer film festivals in the U.S. In 2008, Coombes received the Aqua Foundation for Women “Founders Award” for her work in the LGBTQ community of South Florida, and was also formally recognized by the Mayor and Commissioners of the City of Miami Beach. A native of Manchester, England, she holds a BA Hon. in Anthropology & Media Communications from Goldsmiths College, University of London and a postgraduate diploma in camera/lighting for film & television from the University of Leeds/Northern School of Film & Television. Always eager to learn, and ready for the next challenge, she is currently balancing her work schedule with online study for a Masters in Business Design & Arts Leadership from Savannah College of Art & Design.

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Daniela Perez is a senior at the University of Miami double majoring in Management and Studio Art. Born in Guatemala but raised in Miami, she values the diverse culture and rich history of her hometown. Her main passions are graphic design, arts management, and painting. Daniela has interned for the Brooklyn Arts Council and See Ya Group as well as working as a research assistant in the child psychology department at the University of Miami. On campus, she serves as the president for the Association of Commuter Students as well as public relations and marketing chair for two student organizations. At the Arts & Business Council of Miami, Daniela is excited to be working on the Miami Arts Marketing Project and looks forward to continuing to explore Miami’s rich culture and contribute to the emerging arts scene.

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Michael Todd has more then two decades of photographic, magazine publishing, branding and multi-media experience. He was a Founding Member and the Director of Photography at In Touch Weekly for twelve years, He developed cover-story concepts, selected over 500 cover shots and approved every photo and directed every shoot in the magazine's pages. His knowledge of pop-culture, art and entertainment history as well as trivia are some of his best assets. 

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