Colombian-American Latina Leads College PR and Community Organizations

Meet Adriana Fazzano Ficano, 2017 Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President for Corporate Relations, Broward College

“We second generation Latinas sometimes face the stigma of not “being Latina enough.” The assumption that a Latina is supposed to look, sound, or act a certain way still prevails in our society. As a millennial Latina, I take pride in having my own unique voice and family culture.”

Since coming to Broward College to serve as Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President for Corporate Relations, Adriana has served as the college President’s “right hand” making sure that matters of institutional importance, as required by that office, are carried through.

She represents the President in the community, ensuring that the College’s voice is represented locally. Among her other duties, Adriana also works with corporate leaders to ensure that their employees’ training and education needs are being met.

Before joining Broward College in 2013, Adriana worked as a marketing coordinator for Peak 10 Data Center Solutions in Ft. Lauderdale, an editor and translator for Posse, Herrera & Ruiz Abogados, in Bogota, Colombia, and was a 9^th grade world history teacher in Orange Park, Florida.

Adriana received her B.A. in History from Amherst College in 2008 where she ranked in the top 25% of her class.

Shortly after graduating she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship from the United States Department of State. She served as a Fulbright Scholar in Catania, Italy in 2009, and was awarded her Master’s in Public Administration with honors from Nova Southeastern University in 2015.

Keeping active in the community, Adriana is a past executive committee member and a current board member of the Great Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

She also is a member of the Ambassador’s Cabinet of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. Adriana is active with Leadership Florida and currently serves as a board member of their Connect Florida program. In the past she has served as a committee member and co-chair of Beach Bash benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to name just a few of her philanthropic pursuits.

Adriana was born in the United States and she is of Colombian descent. Her husband, Juan Pablo Ficano, works for Toshiba and came to this country just a few years ago from Venezuela.

The newlyweds have started the Fazzano Ficano Scholarship Fund for international students at Broward College and have been able to raise funds for two partial scholarships so far.

When they are not planning their future in their Ft. Lauderdale condo, they enjoy traveling anywhere from Alaska to Hawaii as long as it is together.

2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction honorees

At PACE Center for Girls, girl-centered culture celebrates the power and potential of girls. With 19 non-residential centers throughout Florida, they provide a safe environment where middle and high school aged girls can thrive.

The balanced emphasis on academics and social services is combined with a program model to produce an experience that is nationally recognized as one of the most effective programs for helping at-risk girls realize brighter and more productive futures.

The Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation (JJCCF) is a nonprofit public charity founded in 2004 by Sandra Muvdi shortly after the loss of her only child to cancer. Its mission is to provide emergency financial assistance for children fighting cancer to ensure access to basic human necessities. The Foundation also advocates for and raises awareness of childhood cancer.

Presented by Latina Style Magazine, the nation’s leading publication for Latina entrepreneurs, in partnership with Bank of America and AARP, the highly-promoted celebration brings to the forefront the contributions of Hispanic women from South Florida. Co-sponsors include Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Walmart, Latin Business Today and La Poderosa Radio. What the women have in common and is a major part of the judging process, is their American entrepreneurship intertwined with their values and traditions.

“This year was truly a difficult decision for our judges. With more than 50 nominations submitted, selecting 12 became a week-long effort to cast votes for the “crème de la crème” stated, Elaine Vasquez, founder and producer of the annual event. Nominations were solicited from past honorees and community leaders in south Florida.

“We are delighted to continue our long-time partnership with Hispanic Women of Distinction and provide insight and support to the entrepreneurs and community leaders who are making a difference, “said Robert Bard, CEO and Publisher of Latina Style Magazine.

The 2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction are:

GLORIA L. DIAZ-DANIELS –Div Sales Mgr Sales-Pharmacy Walmart – Palm Beach Colombian Born Latina Shines As Mentor and Walmart Sales Exec

ADRIANA FAZZANO FICANO – Chief of Staff, Broward College – Broward County

BLANCA GUERRA -Broward County Schools-Curriculum Sup/Dual Languages –Dade Cuban Latina Excels at Education and Preserving Heritage Languages

KARINA GOMEZ-HERRERA – Pres. CEO Karnna Fashion & Company – Broward: Outstanding Venezuelan Latina Excels as a “Hispanic Fashion Advisor”

Dr IVERIS LUZ MARTINEZ- Assoc Prof. Herbert Werthein College/Medicine FIU-Dade Cuban-American Latina Is a Premier Healthcare Anthropologist

LORENA MASTRARRIGO -Assistant Public Defender, Broward County – Broward Argentinian-American Latina Attorney Helping Hispanic Community

CHRISTINA PEREZ McDOWELL – Founder, Solutions by CPM, LLC – Dade

JACQUELINE NUNEZ – Co-owner, SOMA Medical Centers PA – Palm Beach Colombian Latina Healthcare Financial Officer Supports Those In Need

Dr. JACQUELINE PENA – Dean Academic Affairs – Miami Dade College – Dade Dominican Bronx Latina Secure Grants to Drive Student Success

MICHELLE MARTINEZ-REYES- CMO, Greenspoon Marder Law Firm – Broward Latina Cuban-American Chief Marketing Officer Is Growing Brands

MARIELLE SOLOGUREN – Vice President. Pierson Grant Public Relations – Broward Latina of Ancestry Cuban-Peruvian Making Waves in PR

RACHEL TOURGEMAN –Community Relations Dir.- Florida National University-Dade Panamanian-American Latina Community Relations Professional Advocates for Victims

LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR:

DAISY EXPOSITO-ULLA – Chairman, CEO of d exposito & Partners, a visionary creative leader in cross-cultural brand building for more than 30 years, Daisy has been recognized by numerous organizations and named as one of the most influential Latinas in the United States.

Daisy joins past Latina Pioneers: Columba Bush, Ileana Ros Lehtinen, Maria San Juan, Caridad Asensio, Joyce Kaufman, Nelly Rubio, Aida Levitan, Maria Elena Torano, Helen Aguirre Ferre, Marielea Villamil and Millie Herrera.

Tickets to the luncheon are $95 per person. Table sponsorships are $1500. The luncheon includes a social hour with complimentary “mojitos”, a business expo, raffles, Latin entertainment, as well as a runway fashion show presented by the Las Olas fashion designer, Zola Keller.

For more information visit www.hispanicwomenofdistinction.com; www.wedoevents.net or by calling (954) 709-1622. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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