Laura Bruney

President & Ceo

As President and CEO of the Arts & Business Council of Miami for the past 25 years, Laura Bruney has helped strengthen the cultural community through leadership and board development programs, audience development and marketing initiatives, volunteer programs for the arts and networking and community events. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of Council staff, policy and programs. Ms. Bruney works closely with the governing board to develop and implement the Council’s strategic plan, interfaces with the cultural community on behalf of the Council, and is the Council’s chief spokesperson.

Renee Pesci

Executive Director

Renee is driven by innovation, creativity, & collaboration. As Deputy Director, she will work with our leadership team to plan, direct and implement operations and activities in support of our goals and mission. She will spearhead all our fundraising initiatives to help us achieve philanthropic objectives. She values connecting with people and cultivating connections that create empowered partnerships.

Carmen Cecilia Rodriguez, M.B.A.

Director of Programs & Events

Carmen Cecilia Rodriguez is an experienced marketing & events professional driven by innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Her passion for building marketing campaigns and operating event logistics can be traced back to when she started working in retail where she played key roles in executing the marketing campaigns, visual merchandising as well as monthly incentive events for loyal customers. It was through these roles that she was inspired to pursue a career in marketing & events. She takes pride in developing her career from when she started as a Marketing Promotions Intern at the Adrienne Arsht Center to now being the new Director of Programs & Events for the Arts & Business Council of Miami. Throughout her career, Carmen has always valued connecting with people therefore she values cultivating partnerships that create long-lasting working relationships wherever she goes. With 7+ years of hands-on experience, Carmen specializes in brand marketing, experiential marketing, event logistics operations and partnership development. Carmen is best known for inspiring teams to think outside the box, innovate and creating win-win scenarios for all parties working towards a common goal. Looking ahead, Carmen aspires to become a leading professional in her field, achieving recognition for her impact in the community, as well as mentoring young professionals to always go after their dreams. In addition to focusing on her professional development, Carmen is also involved in giving back to community volunteering as a Big Sister mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. Outside of the office, Carmen enjoys dancing, listening to music, health & fitness, re-watching Grey’s Anatomy, reading books, and spending time with her quarantine puppy Bailey Boy. Pre-COVID, you could find her at a karaoke bar singing all the SELENA hits or the all-time favorite “Sweet Caroline”.

Orlando Taquechel

Artburst Spanish Language Editor

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Jean Blackwell

Programs Specialist

Jean is a Programs Specialist with the Arts & Business Council focused on Artburst, Miami’s media hub for the arts; Patent Pro Bono Florida and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She has lived and worked in Miami and the Beaches since 1990 in wide-ranging roles in the Arts, Hospitality, and the Non-profit sector. Years of collaborating and working with programs, exhibitions, digital marketing, and social media have manifested in a successful content-driven, strategic approach for marketing the Arts. As a practicing visual artist, she shares a studio in the Bird Road Arts District with her husband, Ignacio Font.

Her position with the Arts and Business Council of Miami is the culmination of all of her past experiences of programs, events, marketing, and community-building here in Miami. Jean oversees the Miami Arts Marketing Project (MAMP), Arts Board Match, Artburst Miami, Patent Pro Bono Florida, and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA), and continues to look for even more ways to serve our creative community.

Josie Gulliksen

Outreach Coordinator

Josie Gulliksen is a freelance writer and major arts advocate and enthusiast who loves everything cultural and is excited to live in such a thriving community as Miami. A Miami native, she currently writes for Rundown.com/MIA, Miamionthecheap.com, Citybuzz.com and Design District Magazine. She worked for nearly a decade at Miami Today covering the arts community, calendar of events and restaurant scene. She has also worked in public relations in non-profit for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, in travel and tourism for Newman PR and at the Miami Science Museum. She has written for Florida Travel + Life Magazine and Florida Monthly Magazine.

Keith Spurlock

Official Photographer of Arts Biz

Keith Spurlock has over 30 years’ experience in film photography including darkroom and printing before the digital age. In addition to digital photography and editing, he has edited both film and digital movies. Keith is experienced in IT and web designs too. He has traveled with his many different cameras throughout his life capturing photos and movies all over the world. He started as free-lancer photographer in his high school years in Miami and has covered sporting events, weddings, advertising, model composites, bar-mitzvahs, family portraits, events, street photography and landscapes. Born with a hearing impairment, Keith’s vision has that extra touch that helps him excel in photography.

Heaven Jones

Outreach Manager

Heaven is an a recent HBCU graduate of Florida A & M University. Driven by communication, knowledge, and community her career trajectory started with internships and work experience while in college.

As part of REACH THC, Tallahassee’s hub for empowering creators and entrepreneurs, she managed a portfolio ranging from student entrepreneurs to government associations in the tech and business industries. She strategically coordinated marketing campaigns that attracted large audiences for successful in-person and virtual events. In addition to producing events, she helped create solid student-to-program relations, which later assisted in developing her online podcast.

She was hired for several impressive internships, including with Universal Studios, that gave her the opportunity to practice branding, building awareness, and project management. Her work with the nonprofit Children campaign provided her with leadership skills and experience in changing complex social problems through media advocacy in public education, and community activism.

Heaven is best known for her passion for collaboration and creativity. She values connecting with people and cultivating partnerships that create long-lasting, meaningful relationships. She is enthusiastic about equal opportunity and access to the arts for all and the professional development of creatives. She has developed a strong talent for building social presence and community ecosystems.

At the Arts & Business Council Heaven will spearhead logistics and outreach for our Partners Program and will be the point person for connecting with our valued collaborators. She is enthusiastic to help us amplify our mission and provide support to our arts marketing partners, artists and arts professionals. In addition, you will see her at our Creative Happy Hours and popular networking events.

In her free time, Heaven can be found near the water, enjoying live jazz, or spending time with her family. Since returning to Miami, she has made it her mission to enjoy all the simple pleasures in life.

Connect with Heaven at heaven@artsbizmiami.org

Rezia Hayes

Digital Marketing Manager