Writing

Diversity Training Brochure
Diversity is about the way we see.
As small children, we know no boundaries. We see through eyes that require no corrective lenses. And because we see before we speak, our minds know no labels.
Once we begin to speak, however, we acquire the language of differences and our minds begin to associate what we see with descriptive, and sometimes pejorative, words and phrases.
And so we begin to lose our natural acceptance for what is before our eyes.
We learn labels like “black and white” and “right and wrong” and “perfect and flawed.” We label the world around us so that it makes sense, so that it has order. Our vision becomes blurred. And often, without conscious thought or intent, many of us lose the unencumbered acceptance we had as children. We become “comfortable” around people who think, act, and look like we do.
And therein lies the problem facing most organizations: how to help employees see objectively again ⎯ without bias or prejudice ⎯ and promote a culture that values differences. View>>
Finding Italy in Miami
Where to find authentic Italian culture in Miami. Written for Ambassador, the magazine of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).
Art Fairs Take New York
Coverage of New York art fairs written for JetSet Magazine. Included interviewing Noah Horowitz, now the head of the Art Basel organization.
Leonardo Lost & Found
Article about the discovery of Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi painting for South Florida Opulence magazine.
View from the Top: Leading Dealers at Art Basel Miami Beach
Article for JetSet Magazine that included interviewing leading art dealers and art fair organizers at Art Basel Miami Beach and Art Miami.
Visiting Artists Bring Inspiration to Palm Beach
Article about artists-in-residence at various cultural institutions in Palm Beach County, Florida written for art + culture of Palm Beach County.
Friends of the Uffizi Gallery Fund New Michelangelo Room
Press release to announce the funding of the new Michelangelo Room by Friends of the Uffizi Gallery and their Italian counterpart, Amici degli Uffizi, at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
Gra’it Grappa Competition to Award 10-Day Trip to Italy to Professional Bartenders and Mixologists
This press release was written and distributed via BusinessWire to announce the launch of a national bartending competition that would take place in Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
Diversity Training Brochure
This brochure was written to promote the Diversity training program offered by an HR consulting firm that aims to educate employees about unconscious bias, so they comprehend why organizational success hinges on a culture of inclusivity.
Sunshine PHP Conference
Wrote this press release to announce South Florida’s first PHP conference and managed the national distribution and media pitches and inquiries.
Artisti per Frescobaldi
Press pitch and notes created for the Artisti per Frescobaldi wine lable contest that promotes Italian contemporary artists.
Creative
2016 Ferragosto Digital Creative
Designed the digital flyer for online and email promotion for the 2016 Ferrogosto event in South Florida.
Palm Beach Wealth Resources Logo
Logo created for Palm Beach Wealth Resources, a financial advisory firm started by Robert Silvani.
Il Circolo Logo Redesign
Managed the redesign of the logo for Il Circolo of Florida to reflect the prestige and impact of the organization. Click the image to see the before and after.
Advertisement for The Shiny Sheet, Palm Beach
I created this ad to appear in the print edition of the Palm Beach Daily News, also called The Shiny Sheet, to promote the luncheon and lecture with Robert Simon about the Salvator Mundi to promote the Friends of the Uffizi Gallery.
Digital Ad for Aperitivo Italiano
This ad was created with social media posts in mind and, because it was a business networking event, specifically to use on LinkedIn and Facebook.

JHA Logo
Designed this logo for an individually owned construction company in South Florida after the owner explained to me what he envisioned in his mind.
The Italian Way 2019 Calendar for Toscana Divino Hospitality Group
I conceived this calendar as a way to promote the authenticity and outstanding service provided by this Italian hospitality group in Miami. The proceeds went to charity and the calendar launch party attracted the attention of the local media.
JMV Media Group Tri-Fold Brochure
I designed and wrote this tri-fold brochure to promote my company, JMV Media Group and to highlighout the expertise provided and to reinforce brand identity.

Bar Amaro Logo
Created this logo for an authentic Italian cocktail bar in Florida.
COMITES Immigration Event
Created this postcard for printing and to be distributed to the Italian community in South Florida to promote this educational event organized by COMITES, an organization that provides services and information for Italian expatriates.
Italian Trade Agency
Managed the design, production and fulfillment of marketing and promotional materials, including brochures and givewaways, for the ITA’s participation in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and the Hotel Experience and Boutique Design shows in New York in 2016.
Special Events
Festa di Ferragosto 2015 & 2016
Produced the Festa di Ferragosto celebrations in 2015 and 2016 with Gino’s Italian Market in Hollywood, Florida.
Italian Sunday Dinners
Reinvigorated the Italian Sunday Dinner tradition with a series of events at Italian restaurants throughout South Florida that included a delicious meal, live entertainment and giveaways.

L'Aperitivo Italiano
Business networking, but in a more elegant and sophisticated way. My concept was to introduce the Italian aperitivo to the Palm Beach County Italian community to foster connections and cohesiveness, as well as to promote authentic Italian food and beverage products. Various Italian restaurants throughout South Florida hosted these events.
Event Promotion
Il Circolo Gala Digital Creative
Managed the public relations for Il Circolo’s 40th Anniversary Gala held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. This included writing the press releases, designing the digital creative for social media and pitching the media, as well as following up afterwards with photo placements.
Caparezza 2014 Miami Beach Concert
Promoted Italian hip-hop artist Caparezza’s 2014 concert at the North Miami Beach Bandshell to the Italian community in South Florida.
Ligabue 2014 Miami Concert
Helped with outreach to the Italian expatriate community to promote Italian mega-star Ligabue’s first Miami concert. This included social media promotion, personal outreach and securing VIP guests.
Zucchero 2014 Miami Concert
Promoting Zucchero Fornaciari ‘s Miami concert in May 2014. This included distributing 5,000 event postcards to Italians and Italian-owned businesses throughout Italian South Florida. The result: Zucchero performed to a sell-out, standing-the-whole-time crowd.

Il Volo at the Fillmore Miami Beach 2011
Contributed public relations services to Il Volo’s first Miami Beach concert in 2011 at the Fillmore Miami Beach.
Social Media & Email
Friends of the Uffizi Gallery eNews
Content writing and design for eNews sent to members of the Friends of the Uffizi Gallery
Andrew Stevovich Social Media Management
Creative design and content writing for social media accounts for fine artist Andrew Stevovich

Smart Growth Partnership eNews
Wrote and designed this monthly email for the Smart Growth Partnership organization to highlight their people, projects and accomplishments.
Institute of Coaching
Designed graphic content and provided copywriting for this organization’s social media accounts and email campaigns and also managed the strategy and publication and distribution process for both.
Italian South Florida eNews
I created this monthly newsletter for my blog, Italian South Florida, which I ran from 2013 until 2019. During that time, I also grew my email list to 5000 people who had indicated an interest in Italian culture and related products.
WordPress Sites & Blogs
Joseph's Italian Pastry Shop
WordPress website designed for Joseph’s Italian Pastry Shop in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
St Tropez at Boca Golf & Tennis Club
Designed and maintained this website for the HOA for the St. Tropez development in Boca Raton, FL. Maintenance involved updating the site software and information resources, such as minutes from the board meetings.
Palm Beach Wealth Resources
Designed this site for a financial consultancy based in Palm Beach, Florida whose target audience were high-net worth individuals and families.
Friends of the Uffizi Gallery
Managed the redesign of this website, including negotating the project fee and contract with the web development company and transferring the domain from Italy to the US.
Italian South Florida Blog
I designed this blog in WordPress and ran it from 2013 until 2019. This included all editorial oversight of guest writers, content creation for social media, email list growth and ecommerce. (The name was originally been Cosi Buono.)
Media Placements
Beverage Industry Magazine
Unpaid, pitched placement of Gra’it Grappa, the first grappa produced specifically for cocktail use, in Beverage Industry magazine.
Il Circolo in the Boca Raton Observer
Succesfully pitched a story about the Italian Christmas Eve tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes to Boca Raton Observer, which featured Sally Valenti, Il Circolo’s Executive Vice President.
South Florida Rock Showdown in West Palm Beach Magazine
Story about Soundglass, the winning band in the the 2015 South Florida Rock Showdown as well as about Circo Massimo Entertainment, the production company behind it.
Week of Italian Language in the Boca Raton Tribune
Article placed in the Boca Raton Tribune about the 2018 Week of Italian Language Miami, which was organized by ODLI and the Italian Consulate.
The New Boom of Spirits Designed for Cocktails
Article about Gra’it Grappa, the first grappa in the world produced specifically for use in cocktails in Punch Drink magazine.
Photography
Please contact me for the rights to use any of my photos.
Bill Koch and Art of the American West
Bill Koch stands with his vast collection of art from the American West at the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach, FL. Please contact me to view my entire series.
Shining Through
A photo taken in Boca Raton, FL, to accompany inspiring content that will work on any channel and digitally or in print.
Hudson Valley View
A view of the Hudson Valley taken from Boscobel historic site in Garrison, NY.
Bull Bay Fishing Village
Taken at Bull Bay Fishing Village near Kingston, Jamaica
Yellow Stairwell, Driskill Hotel
Photo of the back stairwell with yellow walls found at the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas.
Influencer Partnerships
Flora Foods
Created recipes using Flora Foods products and photographed them to promote on Instagram and Facebook.
Sua Maestà
Featured this handcrafted balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy in recipes and social media posts.

Benefit x IPSY
Partnered with this brand to promote their beauty products to women over 40 through original video reels and posts on Instagram and Facebook.

Saeco Xelsis
Promoted Saeco’s state-of-the-art cappuccino and espresso machine, the Saeco Xelsis, by creating video and graphic images and copy for social media and also writing a blog article about my experience using the product.
Presentations & Public Speaking
The New Normal
Women, Wellness & Work in 2023
Done in collaboration with my Women of the Vine & Spirits Wellness Business Resource Group Co-Lead, Cassie Christopher, MS RDN CD.
In the wake of the Covid pandemic, women are paying more attention to their health and well-being than ever before. In this presentation, we covered the eight, mutually interdependent dimensions of wellness identified by the National Institute of Health. We reviewed what each dimension encompasses and then surveyed attendees to understand their health-related goals and interests, both personally and in the workplace. The purpose of this group is to build a community of women working together to take charge of their health and wellness journey. Participants are encouraged to share their challenges and accomplishments, and to exchange ideas and tips for health and well being. We facilitate a confidential and safe space to foster deeper disussion and build supportive relationships. Please click here to view the presentation.

The Extraordinary Italian Taste
Worked for the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce, SE, on the Extraordinary Italian Taste initiative financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was the moderator at Italian chef events, led food tours, blogged about food demonstrationsm served as a judge for contests and provided other marketing and administrative event support.
Italian Contemporary Art
Designed and wrote this presentation to educate people about Italian Contemporary Art and the artists, past and present, who have had a significant impact on modern and contemporary art in Italy and beyond. I delivered it at arts organizations, including the Armory Arts Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
PR Savvy for Professional Artists
I created this training to educate professional artists about public relations, inlcuding how to use various social media channels to showcase and sell their work. I delivered it at Elle Schorr’s Art Salon at the Armory Arts Center in West Palm Beach, as well through online training.

Vinitaly Miami 2013
Worked at the tradeshow booth to promote Villa Alme wines at Miami’s first Vinitaly. This included providing samples and describing the wines and making business and networking connections for the importer.
Making Social Media Work for Artists
This was training for artists on how to use social media to promote their work. I gave this class at Elle Schorr’s South Florida Art Salons at the Armory Arts Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
In the News
La Circolettera
Article about my Italian heritage and involvement with the Italian communicty in La Circolettera, the newsletter for Il Circolo of Palm Beach County, Florida.
Voyage MIAMI
The story of how I began my own business and the focus of my work was profiled in this article. Will only display on mobile.
Shoutout Miami
Article written about me in Shoutout Miami, a publication that profiles local enterepreneurs, artists, advocates and business owners. Please note this article will only load on a mobile device.
Featured Review in The Week
My review of the Brazilian artist Rivane Neuenschwander’s exhibit at the Miami Art Museum (now the Perez Art Museum) was featured by The Week.