Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Kate Alessi is a Manager for the Financial Services sector for the Google office in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the financial services, online sales team in Cambridge including revenue tracking, client management, team development and helping set the broader online sales strategy for financial services.Prior to joining Google, Kate worked at a number of entrepreneurial ventures where she was a client of Google and built a number of successful ventures leveraging Google technology in services. Her prior companies span from a technology focused venture capital firm to a leading online health publisher to an early stage consumer products company. In each of these companies she played a crucial role driving corporate growth through innovative marketing campaigns and building strategic partnerships.Kate is a graduate of Princeton University and has an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Luz L. Urrutia is CEO/President for El Banco de Nuestra Comunidad, a division of The Peoples Bank. In her position, Luz has direct responsibility for the P&L of the branches, operations, credit and risk management, compliance, sales and marketing, customer service, product development, training and community outreach. Prior to joining El Banco, Luz was a Managing Director with Wachovia where she spent 18 years in various positions.At Wachovia, Luz held positions as manager, relationship manager, sales, product development and credit officer within the Corporate Bank, Treasury Services, Capital Markets, Risk Management, Operations and Retail Divisions. Most recently, she was a Managing Director for the Global Services Department of Wachovia. In this capacity, she managed the International Sales, Product Development and Customer Service Groups. She developed and implemented several domestic and international Strategic Alliances in the US and overseas. During her career with Wachovia, she lived in Canada and Mexico evaluating the retail and corporate markets in these two countries. Luz was responsible for leading Wachovia’s expansion into Canada and Mexico. She also led the development of Wachovia’s strategic alliances with Bank Mendes Gans in the Netherlands, Bancomer in Mexico, and Bank of Montreal in Canada.Luz serves on the Boards of the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI), a division of ShoreBank in Chicago, and Worthwhile Ventures, an entity that provides micro financing worldwide. In 2007-2009, Luz served on the Board of the Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank. In 2006, Luz was recognized as “The Community Banker of the Year” by the American Banker for her commitment to meeting the financial needs of the unbanked and the under banked, primarily in the Hispanic community.Luz has spoken at various banking and regulatory conferences on how financial institutions can access the Hispanic market and serve the financial needs of consumers and small businesses that don’t have access to mainstream banking in a responsible and profitable manner.Luz has been recognized by several domestic and foreign private and government institutions for her advocacy and commitment to serving the financial needs of the underserved Latino market in the US. In April 2007, Luz was given an award and inducted to the Chapter of the Ladies and Gentlemen of Queen Isabel the Catholic in Spain. In 2008, she received a similar award from the Queen of England for her commitment to improving the lives of Latinos living in the US. In 2009, Luz was recognized as the Latina Business Woman of the Year. Luz is a native of Caracas, Venezuela. She holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in Finance and a MBA from Georgia State University.

Ms. Berger is the co-founder of Bedrock Real Estate Advisors LLC, and provides advisory services to borrowers, mortgage bankers and mezzanine lenders. Her 20-plus years in commercial real estate spans servicing, underwriting, lending, workouts and foreclosures, asset management, as well as law practice.A partner in the real estate department of Thacher Proffitt and Wood, her law practice focused on workouts, foreclosures, bankruptcies, enforcement of guaranties and UCC sales through the mid 1990s. She then developed and directed numerous successful commercial real estate conduit programs for commercial and investment banks and finance companies such as Capmark Financial Group, Inc. (formerly known as GMAC Commercial Mortgage).Ms. Berger joined Capmark in 1998. As the head of Client Relations and Portfolio and Asset Management for Global Services, she supervised over 200 employees handling client services for a $350 billion servicing portfolio encompassing CMBS, agency, life company and portfolio loans. Ms. Berger was also responsible for the management, workout and foreclosure of a $12 billion loan portfolio on the company’s balance sheet. She formerly co-headed Capmark’s Proprietary Lending Group.Ms. Berger has a JD from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a BS, magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois In Urbana-Champaign.

Kevin G. Lynch is Vice-Chair, BMO Financial Group. In this role, Mr. Lynch is a key strategic advisor to senior management. He represents BMO in domestic and international markets, building and expanding relationships with corporate and commercial clients, helping broaden BMO’s global networks, and focusing on strategic issues and opportunities. Prior to joining BMO, Mr. Lynch built a distinguished career in the Government of Canada. Before his retirement in 2009, he served the Government of Canada as Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet, and Head of the Public Service of Canada and its 260,000 public servants. Mr. Lynch began his public service career at the Bank of Canada in 1976 and has held a number of senior positions in the Government of Canada. These included the post of Deputy Minister of Industry, from 1995 to 2000, and Deputy Minister of Finance, from 2000 to 2004. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Executive Director (for the Canadian, Irish and Caribbean constituency) at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. Mr. Lynch holds a PhD in Economics from McMaster University; an MA in Economics from University of Manchester; and a BA (Honours) in Economics from Mount Allison University. He was made a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and has been awarded honourary doctorates by five Canadian universities. Mr. Lynch is a member of the Board of the Gairdner Foundation, which honours outstanding global medical researchers, the Board of Governors of Waterloo University, the Board of the Perimeter Institute, the Advisory Board of the Shannon School of Business (Cape Breton University), and Board of the U.K. Ditchley Foundation. He is also Chair of the Canada Ditchley Foundation.

Steven Adelman is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in finance and accounting for the real estate industry. He brings a unique perspective to his clients based on the breadth and depth of his experience and his background as both a consultant to and senior executive of companies involved in real estate. Steve has extensive experience with a wide variety of real estate projects including land, residential (homebuilding, condos, apartments), commercial (office, retail, industrial), amenities (golf and marinas) and hospitality (hotels and timeshare). He has worked with participants in all facets of the real estate industry including developers, homebuilders, construction companies, operators, lenders, capital providers, institutional investors and regulatory agencies. He is the president and founder of Adelman Consulting, LLC, which provides real estate and financial consulting and advisory services to the real estate and financial services industries. Clients include real estate companies, banks and lending institutions and investment firms. Recent engagements have included working with a European real estate investment firm with multiple investments in US real estate projects. Services included developing and executing strategic business plans, asset sales, loan workouts and debt restructuring, working with joint venture partners, and administration of the finance department (accounting, tax and investor reporting). Steve spent 11 years WCI Communities, Inc. as Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Treasurer. He was responsible for arranging corporate and project level financing, including bank and capital market transactions, where he raised over $3.5 billion of debt and equity financing. He was also involved in structuring property and corporate acquisitions, joint ventures and land banking arrangements, property acquisitions and dispositions, income taxes, cash management and risk management. Steve was also chief financial officer for Inco Homes, a publicly-held homebuilding company, where he managed the financial and accounting operations which included: accounting and financial reporting, financing and lending relationships, strategic planning, management information systems and administration. Mr. Adelman was an audit and consulting partner at Kenneth Leventhal & Company, a national CPA firm, with significant experience in all areas of commercial and residential real estate properties and companies. As partner, Steve planned, performed and reviewed traditional audit and tax engagements. He was involved in numerous consulting engagements including property and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, appraisals and valuations, workouts and debt restructurings, strategic planning and arranging structured debt transactions such as collateralized mortgage obligations and performing due diligence for securitizations. His responsibilities included dealing with regulatory agencies such as the SEC, RTC and IRS and supervising staff of up to 125 people;Steve earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Steven Kornblau’s practice is diverse and includes experience in all areas of real estate law, including conveyancing, finance, mortgage backed securities and leasing. Mr. Kornblau represents a broad spectrum of participants in the real estate community, including numerous financial institutions, investment banks, real estate owners and developers, real estate investment trusts and corporate real estate clients.

Derrick B. Gruner is a partner with the Banking and Lending Group of Pinkert Law Firm, a South Florida-based firm specializing in bankruptcy, foreclosure and grievance representation. With a focus on real estate litigation, Mr. Gruner has developed extensive expertise in foreclosure and other special or non-performing asset litigation, alternative dispute resolution, commercial landlord-tenant litigation, and general creditors’ rights and commercial litigation. He is based in the firm’s Miami office.Mr. Gruner has 15 years of combined experience in the legal and banking fields. Over the course of his career, he has represented individuals, businesses, mortgage lenders, and title agencies in all aspects of real estate transactions. He has appeared as an expert witness, and has counseled foreign nationals with interests in the State of Florida. His work as both an attorney and a banker has provided him with a unique understanding of transactional matters, including lending documents, warehouse credit facilities, loan purchase agreements, and other banking and lending matters.Prior to joining Pinkert, Mr. Gruner served as an associate at Ferrell Law in Miami, and was the founding partner of Gruner-Strahl in Jacksonville, Florida. An active member of the South Florida business community, as well as the Jacksonville business community, Mr. Gruner is a trustee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and is a graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Miami Program. He is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Florida, and has served on the Legislative Committee of the National Association of Mortgage Bankers. He also serves as an attorney for the Brazil-Jacksonville Trade Association of Northeast Florida and the Jacksonville-Curitiba Sister City Project, and is a graduate of the Leadership Jacksonville Program.Mr. Gruner’s dedication to the community extends beyond his professional affiliations. He is an executive board member of the Inside-Outside House youth offender program in Jacksonville, and is a recipient a variety of leadership awards.A graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law, Mr. Gruner is admitted to practice in the State of Florida and the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors from National University.As student executive director of the Center for Strategic Governance and International Initiatives at Florida Coastal School of Law, Mr. Gruner co-produced and co-hosted an issues-oriented television show called “People and Politics” where he interviewed Florida Legislators, Supreme Court Justices, and other state leaders. Mr. Gruner is an avid blues piano performer, skier, and an amateur competitive photographer. He is also conversant in Portuguese.