FIU Foundation Board of Directors members announced

MIAMI – Florida International University has appointed eight distinguished community leaders to serve on the FIU Foundation Board.

“These new members are leaders representing a wide range of talent in our community,” said Sandra Gonzalez-Levy, vice president of University and Community Relations and executive director of the FIU Foundation. “It is through their ingenuity, resourcefulness and dedication to FIU that we will continue to keep this university healthy and on course.”

Founded in 1969, Florida International University Foundation, Inc. (FIU Foundation) was established to encourage, solicit, receive and administer gifts for scientific, educational and charitable purposes for the advancement of FIU and its objectives. The FIU Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, whose members play a significant role in the development of the university as a major educational, cultural and economic resource. Through the involvement of the directors and their contribution of time, leadership and financial resources, the mission of the university is advanced.

 Joining the FIU Foundation Board of Directors are:

David F. Alfonso, ‘96, an FIU alumnus, is founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Empire Investment Holdings, a private investment firm. Prior to founding Empire, Alfonso served in executive positions at numerous corporations, including senior vice president and principal for Platinum Equity, managing director of Hartford Life International, and director of sales and marketing for American Bankers Insurance Group. He earned a bachelor’s degree from FIU and an M.B.A. from University of Miami.

Richard Brilliant, ’93, an FIU alumnus, has served as vice president of audit services and chief audit executive of Carnival Cruise Lines since 2006. Before joining Carnival, he worked as an audit manager for Costa Crociere, an Italian cruise operator, and as an analyst for Kenneth Leventhal & Co. After completing his undergraduate work at University of Florida, Brilliant earned a M.S. in hospitality management from FIU.

Nicholas G. Bustle, ’88, an FIU alumnus, is city president of Miami and manager for commercial banking line of business, South Florida region, for SunTrust Bank. He also serves as the business manager of the wealth and investment management line for the South Florida region of the bank. Bustle graduated from University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a B.S. in business administration, and went on to earn an M.S. in international business from FIU.

Carlos A. Duart, ’94, ’99, an FIU alumnus, is president and CEO of Metric Engineering, and has headed Metric’s general services contract with FIU since 2003. Duart served as Metric’s executive vice president and chief operating officer from 2004-2007.

Ramon Flores is area director of AT&T, Florida, and also serves as the representative for AT&T International. As Area Director, he serves as a representative for the AT&T Florida community; acting as a liaison and problem solver between the corporation and various chambers of commerce. Flores graduated from Biscayne College with a B.A. in business.

Eileen Moss, ’82, an FIU alumna, is a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon Law Firm and a member of the Florida Bar’s Trial Lawyers section. She specializes in the areas of commercial and employment litigation and product liability. Moss also has expertise in defending class action lawsuits pertaining to issues of settlement fraud, truth in lending, consumer protection statutes, and employment discrimination. She received her J.D. from University of Miami.

Marcel L. Navarro, ‘93, an FIU alumnus, is a principal at MMG Equity Partners, a privately-owned service real estate development company. Prior to his tenure at MMG, he served as chief financial officer of Navarro Discount Pharmacies. After earning an accounting degree from Florida International University, he received an M.B.A. from the University of Miami.

Carolina Rendeiro is CEO of Business Centers International. With nearly three decades in the office business center industry, Rendeiro has served as spokesperson, presenter, consultant, and contributor to industry media. She earned a B.A. in languages from the University of Coimbra, Portugal.

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About FIU:

Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will welcome its first class in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.