EDDIE LEON
President & CEO, SPINE 3D

As president and chief executive of Spine3D, Eddie Leon, 37, is the engine behind the company’s meteoric rise: the risk taker, the motivator and the one least likely to take “no” for an answer.

“There’s no doubt in my mind we wouldn’t be where we are without Eddie’s impatience and drive,” says Spine3D founder Kevin Smith. “He needs the constant evolution, the feeling that we are moving forward, looking for the next opportunity.”

Spine3D is actually Leon’s third start-up venture.

In 2000 he convinced administrators at his alma mater, Florida International University, to hire him to launch a studio of digital arts where creativity and technological know-how would have a harmonious coexistence. The studio was a smashing success and Leon was able to test some of his artistic and technical concepts. Simultaneously, Leon served as an adjunct faculty member, teaching courses in computer modeling and web design in the School of Architecture.

Earlier in his career, Leon was the owner of ArtiSun Designs, an interior design firm.

In early 2004 came an opportunity to put together his master’s degree in architecture, his experience working at the respected Miami architecture firm Spillis Candela and his freshly fine-tuned creative and entrepreneurial skills. Leon left the security of his job in academia to commit himself full time to the success of Spine3D, along with friends Kevin Smith and Johann Beckford.

Within months, the company was established as the leading architectural rendering and animation firm in South Florida, where many of the nation’s leading developers and architects are driving a development boom without precedent. Spine3D’s client list includes names such as Architectonica, The Related Group, Donald Trumpand Enrique Norten, among others.

Leon has led the company through an accelerated growth phase and assembled a large team of accomplished artists from around the world who translate architectural drawings into realistic-looking buildings in life-like 3D environments that include moving water, nuanced lighting, traffic and even moms pushing baby strollers. Spine3D’s creations have become a de rigeur tool in selling pre-construction properties in South Florida. The high quality, low production costs and market-leading delivery times of Spine3D’s animations – made possible by the firm’s access to artists worldwide and its nimble management structure – have turned the young company into one of the nation’s leading imaging studios for the construction industry.

“We’re just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of all the possibilities,” says Leon. “Our expertise in architectural visualization is applicable in a variety of other virtual reality contexts such as video games, films and highly sophisticated training tools.”

Leon, a native of Cuba, is married and has two young daughters. The family resides in Doral.

JUAN ANTONIO BUENO

Juan Antonio Bueno Is Dean of the School of Architecture and Professor of Landscape Architecture at Florida International University, where he has also served as Director of the School of Design and as Director of the Graduate Program in Landscape Architecture.

He completed his graduate education in landscape architecture at the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University and his undergraduate education in engineering at the University of Miami. He is a registered landscape architect and professional engineer in the State of Florida.

Academically, his research addresses the landscapes of south Florida and tropical America, as well as the theory and history of landscape architecture and urban design. Professionally, his practice involves the planning and design of gardens, patios, plazas, parks, greenways, and communities. He shares his professional practice with his wife, the architect and landscape architect Teresita Falcón, at the Coral Gables firm of Falcón + Bueno.

He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the Landscape Architecture Program at Harvard University. He has won national and international design competitions and has received numerous awards from the American Society of Landscape Architecture for design projects, visionary work, teaching and research, and service and communications. His work has been widely published in the academic and professional literature as well as exhibited in North America, South America, and Europe.

He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. He also serves on the Boards of Directors of AIA Miami.

His professional and community service has involved the South Dade Planning Charrette, South Biscayne Bay Charrette, Virginia Key Beach Charrette as well as the Rainforest Exhibit and the Jewels of the Caribbean Exhibit at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden.

Mark Alex Maidique, AIA

Mark Alex Maidique, AIA - President Maidique Design + Build: With over 14 years in the design and construction industry, Mark has extensive experience in designing and building luxury residential homes. He has overseen the construction of home development projects in master-planned communities of up $100 million, as well as individual luxury homes with prices in the millions. Mark founded his successful architecture and construction company in Miami, FL in 1998. His company also offers consulting services including design, project management and RFF’s. Mark graduated from Cornell University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a minor in Real Estate. He is a licensed architect and general contractor in Florida. He has designed and built many successful projects in Florida, Connecticut and New York.

RICHARD SWERDLOW

Mr. Swerdlow, Chief Executive Officer, also serves as COO for Swerdlow Group. He joined Swerdlow Group in 2001 and is responsible for Operations and Sales. Prior to joining Swerdlow Group, Mr.Swerdlow founded Everything Wireless, a wireless products cataloger and Internet retailer which was sold to Federated Department Stores in 2000. Mr. Swerdlow previously practiced law in the Public Finance Department of Greenberg Traurig in Miami, Florida. He is a member of the New York and Florida Bar Associations and a licensed Real Estate Broker.

LYNN COULTER

Lynn Coulter serves as Project Developer for Marquis, a luxury condominium and boutique hotel in downtown Miami by Leviev Boymelgreen, a preeminent developer with projects in Miami, New York and Las Vegas. She oversees the development of the 67-story tower, while taking a hands-on approach to the financial, marketing and sales aspects of the project.  Marquis, Leviev Boymelgreen’s flagship Miami building, is located at 1100 Biscayne Boulevard. 

Prior to joining Leviev Boymelgreen in 2004, Coulter worked with Akridge Real Estate Services in Washington, DC developing Class-A commercial buildings.  She holds an MBA in real estate finance from Georgetown University and bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.   

MICHAEL KERWIN, AIA

As design principal for the firm, Mr. Kerwin will be the Lead Architectural Designer for the firm’s school projects and is an award-winning design architect with more than 20 years of professional experience. Mr. Kerwin has been the recipient of many design awards from a variety of peer and industry groups including the American Institute of Architects. Mr. Kerwin’s design awards have been for a variety of building types including Education, Corporate, Governmental and others which demonstrates his ability to create award winning designs for a variety of project types. Of particular note is the fact that Mr. Kerwin was received the prestigious “Architect of the Year” Award by the American Institute of Architects in 1999 for his continuous and consistent contributions to the architectural design industry. Mr. Kerwin will lead the design efforts for this project and is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to be part of upgrading the image of the public schools in Palm Beach County consistent with the School
Board’s new focus on quality design.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Kerwin is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of the AIA, as well as the Miami Design Preservation League and Miami Design Alliance. He has served on juries at several universities and for professional architectural awards programs, and has taught architectural design at the University of Miami School of Architecture, Florida International University and for the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Career Discovery Program. Committed to the development of higher public standards for the design of the environment, Mr. Kerwin is active in the community including being the current President of the South Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Rafael Sixto, AIA
Community Activities – Urban Design

For over a decade, Rafael Sixto, AIA has been an active volunteer regarding issues of urban quality of life for greater Miami. He has been awarded the Public Service Award for notable and extended service to the community by the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Miami). An architect with over 24 years of practicing experience, Mr. Sixto chaired numerous design charettes which include:

“Regional Transit Vision: An Urban Design Workshop for the South Florida Tri-County Area”.  The mission statement of the workshop was to provide an interactive, informative, and cohesive venue for tri-county transportation authorities, urban design professionals, and the general public to discuss alternative locations for a regional airport in the context of existing seaports and transportation systems in the South Florida area;

City Transformations Charrette for AIA Florida’s annual state convention held in Coral Gables, Florida;

Current chair of the Urban Design Committee for the AIA;

As the current chair of the Urban Design Committee for the AIA, Mr. Sixto has been promoting qualitative urban design solutions to the myriad of problems facing our modern day cities. Mr. Sixto was president of AIA Miami in 2001 and is currently a principal and president of Sixto Architects, serves on the Coral Gables Board of Architects, and is an adjunct professor of design at Florida International School of Architecture.