DR.  RICARDO
KOMOTAR
MD, FAANS, FACS

Colonel Merryl Tengsedal is a trailblazer in the field of aviation and a symbol of perseverance and excellence. She is notably recognized as the first and only African American woman to pilot the U-2 “Dragon Lady,” a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft in the United States Air Force. Her journey to this remarkable achievement began with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Haven, where she was one of only three women in her program and actively participated in basketball and ROTC. Merryl’s military career started in the Navy as a commissioned officer after graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1994. She excelled as a Naval Aviator, piloting the SH-60B Seahawk Helicopter and serving in various global locations, including the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean. Her transition to the Air Force marked a historic moment as she became the only Black woman to fly the U-2 spy plane, accumulating over 1,000 flight hours and participating in critical reconnaissance missions worldwide. In addition to her flying career, Merryl has held significant leadership roles, such as the Chief of Flight Safety for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Director of Operations for the 9th Physiological Support Squadron, and Commander of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Detachment 2 at Palmdale, CA. Her last assignment before retiring in 2017 was as the Director of Inspections at the Pentagon, where she managed the USAF Nuclear Surety Inspections (NSI) program.

Michael Maroone has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of AutoNation, Inc., the world’s largest automotive retailer, since 1999. Today, AutoNation represents more than 35 brands, from Porsche to Rolls Royce and Honda to Chevrolet. AutoNation has twice been ranked in Forbes magazine’s annual Top 500 Companies in the United States and has received numerous awards such as Time Magazine’s Quality Dealer and Fortune’s America’s Most Admired and and was ranked the Number One Industry Champion five out of the last six years. In 2001, Maroone, along with five other entrepreneurs, purchased the Florida Panthers hockey team from H. Wayne Huizenga, allowing the team to remain in South Florida. Michael is an active member of the community, sitting on the board of organizations such as the Dan Marino Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Police Athletic League, and the Children’s Cancer Caring Center. He is also the chairman of the board for Take Stock in Children, a program that helps low-income children receive assistance for education.

First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, White House Adviser & Voice of Resurgence. Nicole Malachowski is one of the most compelling leadership voices on today’s stage. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, combat veteran, and the first woman pilot to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, she has lived a life defined by challenge, responsibility, and bold decisions. From leading fighter formations in combat to advising at the highest levels of the White House, Nicole understands what it means to perform when the stakes are real. When a devastating neurological tick-borne illness abruptly ended her flying career and left her unable to walk or speak for months, she was forced to redefine strength itself. Her story is not about bouncing back. It is about becoming resurgent and choosing growth when the path forward is uncertain.

Elizabeth Pérez is a sports anchor for CNN en Español. Since joining CNN, Elizabeth Perez has covered a variety of sporting events: the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the 2011 Pan-American Guadalajara games from Mexico, and more recently the Churchill Downs 139th edition of the famous Kentucky Derby, the first and most important of the three races that make up the U.S. Triple Crown. She has also presented special shows: “Vive el Golf”, “Herencia Hispana”, the playoffs, “Resumen Navideño Deportivo”, and “Tras el Oro”, among others. Throughout her journalistic career she has covered major sporting events like NASCAR in Indianapolis, Indy300 at Homestead Speedway, Red Bull SoapBox Race in St. Louis, Air and Sea Show in Ft. Lauderdale and Smash Super Bowl Party for the NFL. She has Interviewed some of the most widely recognized personalities in sports, music and international art like: Keegan Bradely, Emerson Fitipaldi, Miguel Cabrera, Oscar de la Hoya, Udonis Haslem, Shaquille O’Neal, Juan Pablo Montoya, Carl Lewis, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Oscar de la Renta, Shakira, Miguel Bose, Romero Britto, Jose Feliciano, John Leguizamo, David Bisbal, Daddy Yankee, Chayanne, Juanes, America Ferrera, Enrique Iglesias and Rosario Dawson, among others.

Three-time Super Bowl champion and leader of UM’s 1987 national championship team … One of the elite receivers in Dallas Cowboys and NFL history … Cowboys’ first-round pick in 1988, the 11th player overall … Played 12 seasons … Selected to five straight Pro Bowls (1991-95) … Led the NFL with 1,523 yards on 93 receptions in 1991 … Recorded 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year from 1991-98 … Set an NFL record with 11 100-yard games in 1995…Totaled 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns … Had 47 100-yard games … Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s … Teamed with quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith to give the Cowboys’ three of the top play-makers in pro football … Won back-to-back Super Bowls over the Buffalo Bills (XXVII and XXVIII) and over the Pittsburgh Steelers (XXX) … Had his finest season in 1995 with 111 receptions for 1,603 yards and 10 touchdowns … Fort Lauderdale native who attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School … Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.