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Executive Management
M. Mehdi Ghomeshi Chief Executive Officer
M. Mehdi Ghomeshi Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer has the responsibility for the strategic direction of the Bank with the best interests of the shareholders, customers, associates and the communities within which the Bank operates. Throughout his 20 plus-year South Florida banking career, Mr. Ghomeshi has developed and executed upon strategies that have resulted in long-term shareholder value. These strategies have balanced risk management, relationship growth and profitability through multiple business cycles. Mr. Ghomeshi has a range of front-line management and executive leadership experience in business development, risk management, commercial and real estate banking, as well as retail banking, and wealth management. Mr. Ghomeshi began his banking career with Barnett Banks, Inc., the dominant retail and commercial banking franchise in Florida until its sale to NationsBank in 1998. Through the 1980’s, he held increasingly senior leadership positions in Special Assets, guiding and negotiating the disposition of more than $2 billion of problem loans and impaired assets. As a member of the Barnett senior leadership team, Mr. Ghomeshi was instrumental in developing risk management and credit policies that covered not only special assets, but lending, operations and other functions. During the early to mid 1990s, Mr. Ghomeshi was responsible for Commercial Real Estate banking at Barnett Bank of South Florida, the largest sub-market within the Barnett franchise.
Mr. Ghomeshi was named President and Director of Barnett Bank of South Florida in 1996, the largest bank in the Barnett system at just under $5.5 billion in assets at that time. Under his leadership, the bank moved from middle tier profitability to the most profitable bank in the Barnett system. When NationsBank (now BankAmerica) purchased Barnett in 1998, NationsBank appointed Mr. Ghomeshi the Market President for South Florida, the largest market nationwide for the combined company at that time at approximately $10.0 billion in combined assets. Mr. Ghomeshi was responsible for developing the customer retention and integration strategy, and for execution of the merger in South Florida. As a result of his efforts, customer retention in South Florida was the highest among all markets within the NationsBank Florida franchise.
In December 1998, Mr. Ghomeshi became President and a Director of BankUnited, FSB, and served in that capacity until April 15, 2001 when he became Executive Vice Chairman. Mr. Ghomeshi left BankUnited in November 2002.
As an active member of the South Florida community, Mr. Ghomeshi maintains many leadership positions within the community. He served on the Board of Directors of the United Way, leading their fundraising campaign for the financing unit in 1998. He served on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and was involved in the Chairman’s Circle of 100. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America, Barry University, Miami Art Museum, and Orange Bowl Committee, American Heart Association and currently serves on the Board of Baptist Health Systems Foundation. His community involvement has also included over the years active involvement with community development organizations such as the Miami office of the Local Initiative Support Corporation.
Mr. Ghomeshi was awarded a Masters Degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of Miami in 1981. He graduated with honors and in the top one percent of his class. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Miami.
M. Masood Ghomeshi Chief Operating Officer
Gary J. Laurash Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Obdulio Piedra Market President, Miami-Dade County
Senior Management
Donna Alonso Director of Cash Management
Erbi Blanco-True Director of Community Development
Terrence L. Brown Chief Marketing Officer & Director of Retail Banking
Robert Diaz Controller
Mayling Exposito Director of Business Lending
Jeffrey Mindling Senior Credit Policy Officer
Deborah Winkles, SPHR Director of Human Resources
Rachel Selva Director of Compliance Risk Management
Board of Directors
M. Mehdi Ghomeshi Chairman
M. Mehdi Ghomeshi Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer has the responsibility for the strategic direction of the Bank with the best interests of the shareholders, customers, associates and the communities within which the Bank operates. Throughout his 20 plus-year South Florida banking career, Mr. Ghomeshi has developed and executed upon strategies that have resulted in long-term shareholder value. These strategies have balanced risk management, relationship growth and profitability through multiple business cycles. Mr. Ghomeshi has a range of front-line management and executive leadership experience in business development, risk management, commercial and real estate banking, as well as retail banking, and wealth management. Mr. Ghomeshi began his banking career with Barnett Banks, Inc., the dominant retail and commercial banking franchise in Florida until its sale to NationsBank in 1998. Through the 1980’s, he held increasingly senior leadership positions in Special Assets, guiding and negotiating the disposition of more than $2 billion of problem loans and impaired assets. As a member of the Barnett senior leadership team, Mr. Ghomeshi was instrumental in developing risk management and credit policies that covered not only special assets, but lending, operations and other functions. During the early to mid 1990s, Mr. Ghomeshi was responsible for Commercial Real Estate banking at Barnett Bank of South Florida, the largest sub-market within the Barnett franchise.
Mr. Ghomeshi was named President and Director of Barnett Bank of South Florida in 1996, the largest bank in the Barnett system at just under $5.5 billion in assets at that time. Under his leadership, the bank moved from middle tier profitability to the most profitable bank in the Barnett system. When NationsBank (now BankAmerica) purchased Barnett in 1998, NationsBank appointed Mr. Ghomeshi the Market President for South Florida, the largest market nationwide for the combined company at that time at approximately $10.0 billion in combined assets. Mr. Ghomeshi was responsible for developing the customer retention and integration strategy, and for execution of the merger in South Florida. As a result of his efforts, customer retention in South Florida was the highest among all markets within the NationsBank Florida franchise.
In December 1998, Mr. Ghomeshi became President and a Director of BankUnited, FSB, and served in that capacity until April 15, 2001 when he became Executive Vice Chairman. Mr. Ghomeshi left BankUnited in November 2002.
As an active member of the South Florida community, Mr. Ghomeshi maintains many leadership positions within the community. He served on the Board of Directors of the United Way, leading their fundraising campaign for the financing unit in 1998. He served on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and was involved in the Chairman’s Circle of 100. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America, Barry University, Miami Art Museum, and Orange Bowl Committee, American Heart Association and currently serves on the Board of Baptist Health Systems Foundation. His community involvement has also included over the years active involvement with community development organizations such as the Miami office of the Local Initiative Support Corporation.
Mr. Ghomeshi was awarded a Masters Degree in Marketing and Finance from the University of Miami in 1981. He graduated with honors and in the top one percent of his class. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Miami.
Leslie V. Pantin Jr. Vice Chairman
Leslie V. Pantin, Jr., is president of Pantin/Beber Silverstein/Public Relations. He is public relations counsel to some of the nation’s foremost corporations and brand names, among them McDonald’s, American Airlines, and Merrill Lynch. His special expertise encompasses diversity business issues, Hispanic affairs, community relations, education, and special events. His professional and civic contributions reach beyond South Florida, to Tallahassee and internationally. In 1988, The Miami Herald identified Mr. Pantin as one of 18 private citizens who have shaped Miami; in 1993, as one of the 100 people to shape South Florida’s
history; and in 1998, the paper honored him with its “Spirit of Excellence” award. A native of Havana, Cuba, Mr. Pantin began his career with his family’s insurance company, Amerilnsurance (formerly Pantin Insurance). His unique introduction to the world of public relations and special events came in 1977, when he and some friends created Calle Ocho, the world’s largest block party. This event has evolved into the 10-day festival known as Carnaval Miami, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, for which Pantin was the founding president. He also served as the chairman of the Kiwanis International Convention in Miami in 2000 with 14,000 delegates. In 1999 Mr. Pantin conceived CubaNostalgia, an expo of the Cuba of yesteryears. The weekend event attracts 30,000 people each year, as well as prestigious sponsors. In its coverage of the event, Pulitzer Prize winner Liz Balmaseda of the Miami Herald called Pantin, “Miami’s marketer extraordinaire.” In 2003 Mr. Pantin created Merrill Lynch arteamericas - the first art fair to focus exclusively on art from Latin America. He has held leadership positions for national and international events such as the Summit of the Americas, Super Bowl XXIII, the Miss Universe pageant, the 1987 Papal visit, and The Breeders Cup. In 1997, he was president of the Orange Bowl Committee, and was chair of The Orange Bowl Foundation. He was a member of the Miami Business Forum. Mr. Pantin has served on the board of directors and executive committee of Barnett Bank, South Florida and on the advisory board of NationsBank Dade and Monroe Counties. He now serves on the advisory board of AvMed Health Plans. He was on the board of directors and executive committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, where he is a past vice-chair, and he serves on its Board of Governors. He was an executive committee member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and is currently on its Board of governors.
In 1999, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court appointed him to the Florida Judicial Management Council. Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to his 2004 Transition Team and in 2006 to the Board of Trustees of Florida State University. Mr. Pantin is Chairman of the board of trustees of Barry University, Miami, Florida and served on the Board of Directors of Florida State University’s Alumni Association, Foundation, and Seminole Boosters. He is a member of the Trust for Public Land’s South Florida Advisory Council, the Dade Heritage Trust‘s Board of Advisors and the national Parks Fund. His Board memberships include Goodwill Industries of South Florida, CAMACOL (the Latin American Chamber of Commerce) where he is also public relations advisor, the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, the Performing Arts Center Foundation of Greater Miami. He graduated from Oklahoma’s St. Gregory College and from the business school at Florida State University.
Kenneth R. Bernstein
A native Floridian, Kenneth R. Bernstein has been practicing law in the State of Florida since 1992. For the past 10 years he has served as General Counsel for Turnberry Associates, one of the premier real estate development and property management companies in America. Turnberry has developed more than $5 billion in commercial and residential properties. As General Counsel, some of Mr. Bernstein’s responsibilities included: financing matters; negotiating loan commitments; sales and acquisitions; contract negotiations; eminent domain work; and overseeing litigation, insurance, and land use matters. He has negotiated and overseen construction and/or permanent loans for regional malls, hotels, office buildings, self-storage facilities, strip centers, condominiums and residential loans.
Mr. Bernstein earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami (1992), and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida (1987). He is a member of The Florida Bar, and a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida, as well as a licensed Mortgage Broker. Prior to joining Turnberry Associates, he served as an accountant with Deloitte, Haskins and Sells in Miami, Florida. He later joined the law firm of Buchanan lngersoll in Aventura, Florida as an associate. Additionally, he has been involved with owning and managing various businesses including a title company and retail store.
An active member of the South Florida community, Mr. Bernstein has served on the Board of Directors of Aventura Jewish Center, fundraising committees for United Way, and a member of the Dade Advisory Board of Extra Helpings and Daily Bread Food Bank. Additionally, Mr. Bernstein has been involved in numerous charitable and civic activities in the City of Aventura. Mr. Bernstein has been a director of the Bank since December 2004.
Daryl L. Jones
Daryl L. Jones is the President of D. L. Jones & Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm which offers Pre-Paid Legal and Identity Theft Shield plans, and President of EquiVest, Inc., a real estate investment club. Mr. Jones has also been a practicing attorney for more than eighteen years. In addition to his legal career, Mr. Jones has more than nine years experience as an investment banker. Mr. Jones also served seven years on active duty as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force flying the F-4 Phantom 11, one year in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard flying the A-7D Corsair 11, and three years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve flying the F-16 Falcon. A Reservist for more than sixteen years, Mr. Jones is currently a Colonel at Maxwell Air Force Base, and is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commandant of the Air War College at Air University. In 1990, Mr. Jones was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, and in 1992 to the Florida Senate where he served until 2002.
Senator Jones graduated with honors from the United States Air Force Academy with his Bachelor of Science in Math in 1977, and obtained his juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 1987.
Senator Jones is currently a member of the following organizations: the Orange Bowl Committee, the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, the Leadership Florida Board of Regents and Executive Committee, and the AvMed Miami-Dade Community Advisory Board. He was a Presidential appointee to the United States Air Force Academy Board of Visitors (1995-2002), was President Clinton’s nominee for Secretary of the Air Force (1998) and served on the Governor’s Select Task Force on Election Procedures, Standards and Technology (2000-2001), the American Bankers Insurance Group Board of Directors (1995-1999), the Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida (1995-1997), and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute for Nonviolence Advisory Board (1994-2000).
Neal A. Roth Lead Director
Neal A. Roth is co-founder of the firm of Grossman and Roth, P.A. Mr. Roth is a lawyer with over 25 years experience in medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Mr. Roth is a leader of the prestigious Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (AFTL). As a member of the AFTL, he served Florida’s citizens by engaging in the state’s political process with both defensive and proactive activities aimed at protecting individual citizen’s rights. Serving AFTL in many capacities, he has been on the Board of Directors since 1993; its Secretary in 1996-97; Treasurer in 1997-98; President elect in 1998-99; and President in 1999-00. He has been a member of the AFTL Executive Committee for five years and more recently Chairman of the AFTL Finance Committee for Statewide Fundraising; taking responsibility for a multi-million dollar fundraising drive. More recently, he has co-chaired the Academy’s Medical Liability Committee. Mr. Roth has been a frequent guest lecturer to various professional groups, including physicians, hospital administrators, nurses, as well as other lawyers.
Mr. Roth is a member of The Florida Bar; Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA); American Board of Trial Advocates; American Bar Association; Dade County Bar Association; and Dade County Trial Lawyers Association. In addition, Mr. Roth is the recipient of numerous awards including the AFTL Staff Appreciation Award, Legislative Leadership Award, Golden Eagle Award, and Silver Eagle Award. Mr. Roth was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1976. He is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.A. with honors, 1973); Emory University (J.D. 1976); New York University School of Law (L.L.M. Concentration in Law and Medicine and related litigation topics). Mr. Roth has been a director of the Bank since February 2005.
Donald D. Slesnick II
Donald D. Slesnick, II, graduated from Miami Senior High, received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a J.D. from the University of Florida and a M.P.A. from Florida International University. Mr. Slesnick is currently serving his third term as Mayor of the City of Coral Gables and is on the Executive Board of the Dade League of Cities. Mr. Slesnick is an attorney with Slesnick & Casey, LLP and has been in private practice since I978 representing public section employee organizations. Prior to this he held management positions with Dade County Public Schools and Dade County Police Department. Mr. Slesnick was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1972 and the US. Supreme Court in 1985. Mr. Slesnick is active in civic and business organizations including the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, Metropolitan Dade County Cultural Affairs Council and The ABA Labor and Employment Section’s governing Council. He is past chairman of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council, Dade Cultural Alliance, Dade Heritage Trust, Junior Orange Bowl Committee, Rotary Club of Coral Gables and Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. In addition, Mr. Slesnick has been the recipient of numerous awards, honors and recognition. He is a Vietnam Veteran and retired from the Army Reserve at the rank of Lt. Colonel.
