The Board of Directors
The heartbeat of AAF South Florida's success pulses through its Board of Directors. Each committee boasts a dynamic Chair leading a team of handpicked members, even potential student volunteers eager to make their mark. At the local level, these committees receive expert guidance and unwavering support from district liaisons. But here's the secret sauce – all these committees are more than just isolated groups. They're a tightly woven network, joining forces, collaborating, and being each other's greatest resource, all driven by a shared passion and common goals.
Jerry nieves
Co-President
Bio:
Jerry is Co-President of AAF South Florida, having served as President of AAF Broward + Palm Beach for the previous two years. As a Navy veteran, he brings leadership experience across service and marketing. Now as a Brand Architect and Fractional CMO, he helps strengthen South Florida's creative community and keeps AAF South Florida on track and on target.
Fun Detail:
Travel is always his highlight, and there's never a time he's not looking forward to his next flight to Brazil.
LinkedIn / Contact Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrynieves/
Martin Ponce
Co-President
Bio:
Martin is AAF South Florida Co-President, where he leverages his background in content creation, social media, and brand partnerships to grow and engage the community. He connects members with opportunities that bring brands, creatives, and culture closer together.
Fun Detail:
He’s young, handsome (to some), enjoys exploring new restaurants and cultural events around the city, and never says no to a cheeky cocktail.
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LinkedIn / Contact Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinsponce/
MANUEL IZQUIERDO
Programming Chair, South Florida (Broward)
Bio:
Manny is the Programming Chair of AAF South Florida, where he designs and leads the chapter's year-round calendar of events across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Outside of AAF, Manny is the Creative Director of Mi Media Productions, where he produces and directs commercial projects throughout South Florida. That hands-on, day-to-day work in the field gives him a real-world perspective on what today's creatives, agencies, and brands are navigating insight he brings directly into the chapter's programming. For Manny, the goal goes beyond growing AAF South Florida. He's passionate about using his industry experience to help young professionals, colleagues, and students find their footing and level up, so that together they can adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving advertising landscape. Whether he's on set, planning the next event, or connecting members across the four counties, Manny is focused on building a community where everyone has a chance to keep learning and keep creating
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LinkedIn / Contact Link:
JENNA PALMERI
Membership Chair, South Florida (Palm Beach)
Bio:
Jenna is AAF South Florida's Membership Chair, bringing a performance marketer's eye for growth to building and strengthening the organization's community. As Founder of JPF Studio LLC, she works with DTC beauty, wellness, and healthcare brands, with a background spanning agency and in-house roles across the industry. She's channeling that same energy into growing AAF South Florida's membership base, connecting local marketers and creatives, and making sure every member feels the value of being part of the community.
Fun Detail: Jenna is a world champion horseback rider and also sings and plays the piano.
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LinkedIn / Contact Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennapalmeri/
JOHN FLOREY
Sponsorship Chair, South Florida (Palm Beach)
Bio:
John Florey is the Co-Founder and CEO of SAMA Labs, a Boca Raton–based growth agency helping brands scale through performance marketing, creative strategy, and ecommerce. His 18-year marketing career began in the automotive industry before he launched his own supplement marketplace and ultimately moved into the agency world. Over the past decade, John has worked with more than 300 businesses and brands, leading business development, driving agency growth, and advising fellow founders. He brings an entrepreneur’s perspective to helping businesses navigate an evolving digital landscape and turn strategy into measurable growth.
LinkedIn / Contact Link:
PEYTON CARTER
Young Pros Chair, South Florida (Miami-Dade)
Bio:
Peyton Carter is AAF South Florida's Young Professionals Chair with experience spanning agency, brand, and entertainment. Peyton enjoys bringing together strategy, creativity, and the many moving pieces behind a great idea. She is particularly interested in the ways brands show up in the real world, from the spaces they create to the experiences they build and the communities they bring together. She loves work that gets her out from behind the screen and into the action, collaborating with people and turning ideas into something tangible.
Fun Detail:
Outside of work, Peyton is a certified Pilates instructor and loves cooking, reading, and picking up a new creative hobby every few months until the next one inevitably takes its place.
LinkedIn / Contact Link:
Julie Suarez
Advertising Awards Chair, South Florida
Bio:
Julie is AAF South Florida’s Awards Chair, ensuring our competition and flagship event, the American Advertising Awards Gala, runs smoothly and efficiently from ideas to execution. She keeps projects on track and the team focused.
Fun Detail:
She’s equally passionate about curating playlists and enjoying a great glass of wine.
LinkedIn / Contact Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/get-to-know-juliemsuarez/
IS THIS YOU?
Communications Chair, South Florida
Bio:
We are actively looking for a Communications Chair to help us get the word out across our comms touchpoints, including email, socials, and print outreach, where appropriate.
Fun Detail:
This is a volunteer position, so bring a passion for your craft, and let's roll up our sleeves together!
LinkedIn / Contact Link: Email President@aafsouthflorida.org, and a member of our board will reach out with additional information!
Rebecca Rovirosa
Immediate Past President
Bio:
Rebecca is the Immediate Past President of AAF Miami, CCO/Academic Director at Miami Ad School, and CEO of L’epic. After three years of service to AAF Miami, she is now a trusted advisor to AAF South Florida, guiding the next generation of leaders. With leadership across education and business, she shapes creative talent, builds cultural impact, and connects the creative community of South Florida and beyond.
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Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccarovirosa/
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MAKAYLA WHEELER
Membership, Palm Beach County
Bio:
Makayla Wheeler is a cinematographer and director working across documentaries, branded tourism, lifestyle campaigns, retreats, and live experiences. She is known for creating beautiful, authentic visuals and emotionally resonant stories that connect with audiences and drive impact. Her clients include Princess Cruises through The New York Times T Brand Studio, Hurley, Bahama Beach Club, Ron Jon Surf Shop, and the Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis.
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She’s excited to join AAF South Florida this year and help grow the organization’s presence in Palm Beach County.
Fun Detail:
Makayla is a certified scuba diver and freediver, an overly enthusiastic shell collector, and a competitive pickleball player.
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LinkedIn / Contact Link:
JaSON WOODS
Young Professionals, Broward County
Bio:
Jason is the Broward Young Pros Representative for AAF South Florida, connecting aspiring advertising professionals in Broward County with the American Advertising Federation. Having been nationally recognized for his POSCA Annual Report in the 2026 American Advertising Awards, he operates his own agency, “JAWSTUDIO,” where he explores the connection between minimal illustration & graphic design. As a representative, he aims to give the community the same opportunities he received through AAF.
Fun Detail:
If not for graphic design and advertising, he would have pursued a career in Paleontology.
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LinkedIn / Contact Link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jawstudio/
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SYDNEY BURKE
Young Professionals, Palm Beach County
Bio:
Sydney is a Young Professional with AAF Palm Beach County and currently works as a Marketing Associate at Echelon Fitness. Her passion for advertising began when she was recruited to Lynn University's NSAC team, where she discovered her love for the creative and strategic side of the industry. Since then, she has continued to find creative ways to bring marketing strategies to life and connect ideas with audiences. Sydney is passionate about sharing that same excitement for advertising with her peers and helping create a community where young professionals can learn, collaborate, and grow together.
Fun Detail:
Creativity doesn't clock out at 5 p.m.! Sydney puts that philosophy to work by creating colorful makeup looks in her free time.
LinkedIn / Contact Link:
Layla Zaiat
Event Strategist
Bio:
Layla is AAF South Florida’s Event Strategist and a B2B Marketing leader, experienced in developing strategies that connect with customers at every stage. She brings her expertise in marketing and events to create meaningful experiences that strengthen connections and showcase creativity.
Fun Detail:
She lives her life like a dirty martini—unapologetically bold, a little salty, and never boring.
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Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dareen-layla-zaiat/
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As a proud member of the AAF 4th District, we're connected to 19 local federations spanning Florida and the Caribbean, representing 1,000 members. But it doesn't stop there – we're also part of the AAF National family, with headquarters nestled in the heart of Washington DC.
We are dedicated to safeguarding and advancing the interests of the advertising industry. This mission is achieved through a unique and nationwide network that collaborates with advertisers, agencies, media firms, local advertising clubs, and college chapters, working together to promote the well-being of advertising.
We are the harmonizing voice of the advertising industry, and when you join AAF South Florida, you're not just getting involved locally; your impact echoes all the way to the nation's capital. You become a part of one of the world's largest and most esteemed advertising communities with a rich history that spans generations.
Join us in shaping the future of advertising on a grand scale!
AAF SOUTH FLORIDA
isn't just a local chapter;
we're part of something bigger!
