ACAMS South Florida Chapter: Third annual awards ceremony

On January 28, 2026, the ACAMS South Florida Chapter gathered the local anti-financial crime (AFC) community for its third annual awards ceremony―an evening dedicated to spotlighting excellence and leadership in the fight against financial crime. The chapter was especially pleased to host the event at Amerant Bank, which was proudly recognized as the Organization of the Year at last year’s ceremony, reflecting its outstanding commitment to compliance leadership and community engagement. The event brought together compliance professionals, industry executives and law enforcement (LE) partners for a celebration of collaboration, innovation and impact across the region.

This year’s program emphasized how essential strong partnerships between financial institutions and LE agencies are to advancing AFC efforts. The chapter also extended its gratitude to Crowe and Oscilar for their generous sponsorship and continued support of the AFC community.

The honorees for 2026 are:

• Michael Bruno, assistant inspector in charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Bruno was presented with the Law Enforcement Impact Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership and impact in advancing financial crime investigations and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors. As postal inspector and anti-money laundering (AML) program manager for the USPIS’ Criminal Investigations Group, Bruno provides national guidance on complex money laundering and fraud investigations. He also serves as a key liaison to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the Postal Service’s Bank Secrecy Act compliance office―an important role in strengthening public-private collaboration across the financial crime landscape. A consistent supporter of the ACAMS South Florida Chapter, Bruno has participated as a speaker for multiple chapter events and has contributed nationally through ACAMS programming. His commitment to education, partnership and cross-sector collaboration has made a meaningful impact on both the LE and AFC communities.

  

  The Law Enforcement Impact Award was given to Michael Bruno of the USPIS for his outstanding work in combating financial crime. The award was presented by chapter board member Alex Sardinas.

• George Piro, former FBI Miami special agent in charge, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The chapter was proud to recognize Piro for a career defined by exceptional service, leadership and impact in the fight against crime, including financial crime. A distinguished leader within the FBI. Piro served for decades in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in his leadership at the FBI Miami Field Office. Throughout his career, he oversaw significant counterterrorism, counterintelligence and transnational crime investigations that strengthened national and international security. Widely known for serving as the lead interrogator of Saddam Hussein, Piro demonstrated extraordinary professionalism, cultural fluency and investigative expertise. He has also been a strong advocate for collaboration between LE and the private sector, recognizing that partnership is essential in addressing evolving and complex threats, including financial crime. This award honors a legacy of service, integrity and lasting impact on both the LE and AFC communities.
• Nolvia Amador of Bank of America received the Rising Financial Crimes Star Award for exceptional growth, professionalism and emerging leadership within the AFC field. With more than two decades of experience in banking and financial services, she brings strong expertise in compliance, risk management and financial dispute resolution. Amador is known for her analytical strength, collaborative approach and ability to navigate complex regulatory matters with clarity and precision. Her commitment to quality, initiative and advancing financial crime prevention makes her a standout rising leader and a deserving recipient of this year’s award.

• Mililille Rivera of Stifel was given the Member of the Year Award in recognition of her outstanding engagement, leadership and meaningful contributions to the South Florida compliance community. Rivera consistently demonstrates a commitment to strengthening the chapter through active participation, thought leadership and support of chapter initiatives. Her dedication has helped elevate the member experience and has made her an invaluable asset to the ACAMS South Florida Chapter.

  

Member of the Year was awarded to Mililille Rivera of Stifel for overall event participation. The Rising Financial Crimes Star Award was presented to Nolvia Amador of Bank of America for exemplary engagement, leadership and contribution to the South Florida compliance community. The awards were presented by board member Yamil Haidar.

• Intermex received the Member Organization of the Year Award in recognition of its strong commitment to innovation, collaboration and excellence in AFC compliance. The organization has demonstrated a proactive approach to risk management by investing in effective controls, technology and talent to address evolving threats. Intermex has also been an active and engaged member of the AFC community, regularly participating in chapter events and contributing valuable insights that support industry-wide dialogue and improvement. Its willingness to share best practices and collaborate with peers, regulators and LE partners reflects a genuine commitment to partnership. This recognition highlights Intermex’s leadership in fostering a culture of compliance, accountability and continuous advancement across the region.

• Benjamin Alexander, chief compliance officer of Column Bank N.A., was presented with the Excellence in Anti-Financial Crime Award, which recognizes exceptional achievements and leadership in financial crime prevention, compliance innovation or regulatory collaboration. We have seen his expertise shine at our FinTech Fireside Chat in Miami during the fall and at our Fall Forum, where he shared invaluable insights on third-party risk management and bank-fintech relationships. A true leader in the AFC field, Alexander’s work has made and will continue to make a lasting impact, shaping the standards for AFC governance and compliance in this dynamic, tech-driven landscape.

  

  Benjamin Alexander of Column Bank N.A. received the Excellence in Anti-Financial Crime Award for his experience in the AFC space. The award was presented by board member Oscar Enriquez.

   

• The chapter also recognized Alek Dvoskin of Block, Sissy Oliver of Protiviti, Jocelyn Baez of Cross River Bank and James Stultz for their dedicated service as outgoing board members. Each played a meaningful role in shaping the chapter’s success through their volunteerism, leadership and consistent commitment to the South Florida AFC community. Their contributions have strengthened chapter programming, expanded engagement and supported the collaborative spirit that defines the organization.

The Chapter Board Member Service Awards were presented to Alek Dvoskin of Block, Sissy Oliver of Protiviti, Jocelyn Baez of Cross River Bank and James Stultz (not pictured) for being an outgoing chapter board member. The awards were presented by board members Pedro Canton, Daniella Trinchet and Gustavo Acevedo, respectively.

In 2025, the ACAMS South Florida Chapter was proudly named ACAMS Chapter of the Year, a distinction that highlights the chapter’s exceptional growth, community impact and commitment to collaboration across the AFC landscape. While the award is presented to the chapter as a whole, its foundation was built by people―leaders who invested countless hours, shared responsibility and consistently went above and beyond to elevate the chapter’s mission. To honor the individuals who made this achievement possible, the chapter took a moment during the ceremony to recognize each board member personally. Their dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment were instrumental in earning this honor, and the recognition served as a reflection of the vital role each one played in this milestone accomplishment.

The ACAMS South Florida Chapter was named ACAMS Chapter of the Year in 2025. Board members accepting recognition for their role in earning this distinction included (from left to right) Alek Dvoskin, Alex Sardinas, Elena Sutton, Yamil Haidar, Sissy Oliver, Nicholas Schumann, Jocelyn Baez, Natalia Mollica, Gustavo Acevedo, Oscar Enriquez, Gabriel Caballero, Henry “Hank” Hernandez, Daniella Trinchet and Pablo Canton.

Before the program officially began, the chapter expressed its appreciation to Amerant Bank for hosting this year’s celebration. As last year’s Member Organization of the Year, Amerant continued a new tradition in which the honoree is invited to host the following year’s awards ceremony. The chapter thanked Amerant for their hospitality and ongoing partnership. This was followed by a warm welcome from Eduardo Solorzano of Amerant Bank, who shared brief opening remarks with attendees.

Member Organization of the Year was awarded to Intermex for overall event participation. The award was presented by board member Elena Sutton.

Following this welcome, chapter board co‑chair Elena Sutton of Crowe delivered her opening message, reflecting on the challenges faced by the AFC community in 2025 and recognizing the resilience, collaboration and accomplishments that defined the year.

The evening concluded with closing remarks from board co‑chair Oscar Enriquez of Kaufman Rossin, who expressed gratitude to attendees, partners and event sponsors. In addition, he congratulated the award recipients for their essential contributions to the fight against financial crime. He encouraged the community to remain engaged and to look forward to the chapter’s upcoming programs and initiatives.

He also highlighted the chapter’s robust plans for 2026, noting that the year ahead will be filled with timely educational programs, dynamic panel discussions, networking opportunities and collaborative initiatives designed to further strengthen the South Florida AFC community. He emphasized the board’s commitment to delivering high-quality content and meaningful engagement opportunities that support professional development and foster continued partnership across the industry.

Naomi Cabrera, CAMS, CPA, ACAMS South Florida Chapter, communications lead, audit senior manager, PAAST P.L, Miami, Florida, USA, [email protected],

Elena Sutton, MBA, CAMS, ACAMS South Florida Chapter co-chair, senior manager, Crowe LLP, Miami, Florida, USA, [email protected],