Fairchild Palms - Young Professionals Supporting Environmental Conservation

Fairchild Palms - Good Times. Good People. Good Will.

The Fairchild Palms is the young professionals' networking group of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The Fairchild Palms donates all fundraising proceeds to The Fairchild Challenge, a South Florida-based environmental education and conservation program credited for leading a green revolution in schools nationwide. The program is dedicated to fostering lifelong environmental awareness, scholarship and stewardship in teenagers, pre-teens and their families.

Full members of The Fairchild Palms are invited to join planning committees, attend members-only events, and work directly with the students of the Fairchild Challenge as part of our volunteer teams.

The Fairchild Challenge, the premier outreach program of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, combines hands-on research, creativity and a wide variety of engaging projects. It’s provided free every academic year to participating public and private schools to foster environmental awareness. Tens of thousands of students participate every year. In its eight years of existence, the Fairchild Challenge has become one of the most comprehensive and influential youth environmental education programs in the world. To learn more about The Fairchild Challenge, go to www.fairchildchallenge.org.

	John C. Malloy, President Fairchild Palms President John Malloy is an intellectual property attorney who oversees patent and trademark litigation at his firm, Malloy & Malloy. With credentials that include a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University, a law degree from the University of Miami, and board certification in intellectual property law, John taught intellectual property law for almost a decade at St. Thomas University Law School. From 2003-2007 he was chairman of the International Trademark Association’s Model State Trademark Bill, overseeing the passage of trademark legislation in a half dozen states and personally spearheading the enactment of Florida's current trademark statute. When not working, he’s usually volunteering at community organizations or taking friends out to sea on his beloved boat. Despite all his legal and maritime prowess, however, he's far outnumbered at home, where his three children and two beagle dogs rule.

	Mario Facella, Immediate Past President Mario Facella is a senior vice president within Wells Fargo's Private Bank specializing in banking, trust, insurance and investment products. Born in Cleveland, OH, Mario spent a large part of his life in Great Falls, VA. For the past 17 years, his home has been Miami. His hobbies include traveling, fishing, cooking and collecting guitars and rock n’ roll memorabilia. He also enjoys volunteering: in addition to Fairchild Palms, he also dedicated time to the Fairchild Challenge Advisory Committee, Youth Development Foundation and the New World Symphony.

	Gregg Pawley, Vice President Born into a Coral Gables family with long roots in South Florida, Gregg Pawley expanded his artistic talents at the University of Miami and the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City. The South Miami resident has made an eclectic and productive career in fields ranging from marketing and architecture to his current longstanding position as landscape designer for the award-winning Geomantic Designs, Inc. Gregg’s interests include running, cycling, scuba, kayaking, sculpture and photography. He’s a music fan and veteran of more than 100 concerts. He also has volunteered for many community organizations, including The Tropees, the Vizcayans, Best Buddies and the boards of the Barnacle Society, Gifford Arboretum, and, of course, Fairchild Palms.

	Ben Hoke, Secretary Bennett Hoke is director of development at Palmer Trinity School in the Miami-Dade village of Palmetto Bay. A proud graduate of Davidson College in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bennett grew up in Amarillo, Texas, ranch country. Prior to arriving in Miami, he worked in education fundraising in Georgia and Washington, DC. A resident of Coconut Grove, Bennett is also a marathon runner with eclectic tastes; for example, besides being a live music buff and postcard collector, he traveled to Sydney, Australia, for the Olympics and watched “Braveheart” on opening night in Edinburgh, Scotland. He does, however, draw the line at painting his face blue.

	Mary Scott Russell, Treasurer Currently president of Chamber South, a chamber of commerce serving south Miami-Dade County, Mary Scott Russell is a Miami-Dade Community College graduate who has been passionate about serving the public in county politics, business, and community organizing for more than a decade. She has served as city commissioner, vice-mayor, and mayor of South Miami, and been involved with many nonprofits over the years, including Fairchild Palms, Informed Families, Kidventures, the Children’s Trust, Abilities of Florida, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School, and the Miami-Dade County Sports Commission. Mary has also been a frequent recipient of awards from the likes of the Police Benevolent Association, the National Women’s Political Caucus, Crime Watch, and the South Florida Business Journal.

	Jolie Balido-Hart, Communications As a marketing and public relations expert and the president of Roar Media, a national public relations and digital communications consultancy, Jolie Balido-Hart is director of communications for the Fairchild Palms. The Miami native studied biology, political science and English literature at Florida International University and the University of Miami before beginning her media career as a Miami Herald reporter. She later decided to apply her communications skills and in-depth understanding of the news media to establish a marketing firm to help companies and organizations accomplish their business goals. She’s a runner, diver (in the sea and sky), and a fearless extreme sports enthusiast who enjoys travel to all points of the globe, but she also finds the time to contribute her energy, passion and marketing services to a wide variety of South Florida community organizations. She currently lives in the Brickell area with her husband and business partner, Jacques Hart, and their beloved Norfolk Terriers named “Paris” and "London".

	Peter Baumberger A Miami native, Peter Baumberger is a partner with the Florida-wide law firm of Kubicki Draper. After graduating from Atlanta’s Emory University, followed by Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, he has devoted his career to trial work in areas such as commercial/corporate disputes, product liability and bad-faith litigation, as well as professional, premises and automotive liability. When not working, Peter gets a major kick out of any activity that involves boating and being on or under the water. An avid fisherman and free diver, he spends as much time as he can in the Bahamas.

	Cameron Dezfulian Cameron Dezfulian, an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, attends in the Jackson Memorial Medical ICU and the University of Florida/Shands Pediatric ICU. His job involves training medical students, residents and fellows in both adult and pediatric critical care as well as performing research aimed at improving outcomes after successful CPR following cardiac arrest. Cameron graduated from Plantation High School before joining the Gator Nation in Gainesville, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. Next, he spent way too many years out of Florida getting an MD at Duke and completing an internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Michigan and critical care subspecialties at the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Cameron is happy to have returned to South Florida, where he can actively pursue his favorite hobbies: triathlons, SCUBA, surfing and weightlifting. Cameron’s interests in the outdoors, education and tropical flora and fauna led him to join the Fairchild Palms and support the Fairchild Challenge program.

	Lauren Billingslea Dowlen Director of Development for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School in Coconut Grove, Lauren Billingslea Downlen has a B.A. in theater and a B.S. in communications from Florida State University, where she was active with Phi Mu sorority. In addition to the Fairchild Palms, Lauren volunteers on the board of the Junior League of Miami, the HMSF Tropees Executive Council, and for St. Thomas and St. Philip’s Episcopal churches. She and her husband, Buddy, are fans of the ’Noles and ’Canes, respectively, (a feat in and of itself), and enjoy boating and traveling.

	Ledia Dworkin Ledia Dworkin, a native of Albania and current Miami resident, works as a supervisor at Kaufman Rossin & Co. She studied at Vienna University in Austria and completed undergraduate studies at the University of Miami. She dedicates a great deal of time within her busy schedule to supporting charitable organizations. Ledia also is passionate about fashion, helping people, reading and cooking. She and her husband, John Dworkin, live in the Brickell area and enjoy exploring Miami and its history.

	Laura Littleton Lauren Littleton, a Texas native, graduated from Vanderbilt University and moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami School of Law. Lauren hadn’t intended on staying in Miami but changed her mind after three years of living in Florida’s warmth and sunshine. Lauren, who currently works at the law firm of Podhurst Orseck, P.A., actively volunteers for several charitable organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading and running.

	Maria Alejandra Navas Owner of The Planners, Inc., which provides event planning and other services, Maria Alejandra Nava has a B.A. in public relations from Florida International University and has worked in the field for several companies and organizations. She also enjoys working with various service and nonprofit organizations. Besides her involvement with Fairchild Palms, she’s a former president of the fraternity/sorority organization Order of Omega. She has worked with Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc., and was an event coordinator at Miami-Dade’s youth-focused Lyfe Foundation. She currently serves on the board for the alumni Association for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication for Florida International University.

	Monica O’Chaney Monica O' Chaney, a Chicago native and current Miami resident, currently works with the environmental/ecological/engineering consultancy E Sciences. She completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University and graduate studies at Florida International University. When not working or volunteering for organizations (she’s also a director of the South Florida Association of Environmental Professionals and volunteers time to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation), Monica’s enjoys the great outdoors -- whether sailing in South Florida or adventure travel throughout the world.

	Marcie Voce Marcie Voce was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She earned a degree in sports medicine from the University of Miami and currently serves as treasurer on the board of the University of Miami’s Alumni Association. With more than a decade of experience in the insurance industry and a 100-percent close ratio, Marcie also works as a financial advisor for AXA. Prior to this, she was an exercise physiologist and the fitness director of Carnival Cruise Lines' Corporate Health and Wellness Center. Marcie devotes much of her time to helping other people. She has participated in several short-term missions to Australia, South Africa, Jamaica, Peru, Brazil, and The Bahamas. In her spare time, she enjoys a broad array of active pursuits, including photography, volleyball, skiing and skydiving. Otherwise, you’re likely to find Marcie accompanied by her entourage: Her two toy Maltese dogs, “Blessing” and “Scrapper,” who she loves to bring to the dog park.

	Erika von Tiehl Erika von Tiehl anchors CBS4’s 5:30 p.m. newscast with Eliott Rodriguez, as well as CBS4 News at 10 p.m. on My 33 with Jawan Strader. Erika also brings viewers environmental conservation news with her “Eco Zone” reports. She also works with The Children’s Trust in Miami. Every month, she interviews a child hoping to be adopted and introduces the child to the CBS viewers. Erika got her start in news at KIEM-TV in Eureka, CA as a “one man band” reporter. She later worked at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, anchoring the morning show before dusting off her flip lops and heading to Miami. Erika graduated cum laude from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a B.A. in Communications Studies. She grew up in Pasadena, CA, and still watches the Rose Parade every New Year’s Day.