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MEET THE MGM TEAM
ANDREA CID
FOUNDER AND CEO
Originally from Santiago, Chile, Andrea has lived in 11 cities and is thrilled to
call Miami her permanent home. After a successful career in real estate and
banking, working for companies based in Latin America, the US, UK, and Asia,
Andrea moved to Miami to be closer to family. Together with her brother, she
started her first business, Cid Botanicals.
In 2016 the family purchased Concept II Cosmetics, a bath and body
manufacturer in Doral. During lockdown, Andrea launched Miami Growth Machine, a manufacturing incubator for CPG startups. Working with
entrepreneurs, Andrea is passionate about building an inclusive
entrepreneurial ecosystem in Miami, where founders of all backgrounds can
thrive.
Andrea has a degree in Economics from Harvard College and an MBA from
The Wharton School. She currently serves on the board of Calm Clarity, a
mental health social impact organization, and is a founding member of the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs South Florida Chapter.
MEET OUR TEAM
DIANA BEMMEL
OPERATIONS
As the head of operations at Miami Growth Machine, Diana ensures
that the daily operations at the office run smoothly and that our
clients get the best customer experience they deserve.
Diana has an extensive background in Administration and Customer
Service. Prior to joining Miami Growth Machine, she worked for many
years in higher education at two public universities in Florida, where
she supported deans, respectively at a Medical School and a
College of Engineering and Computing.
Born in Suriname (The only Dutch-speaking country in South America),
Diana enjoys the diverse and multi-cultural vibe Miami has to offer,
because it reminds her so much of her home country. In her spare
time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, shopping,
and music.
JANNA LINEHAN-SALAS
HEAD CHEMIST
Janna Linehan-Salas is a Cosmetic Chemist in the personal care
industry and the Head Chemist at Miami Growth Machine. She
specializes in skin and hair care formulations and offers guidance
through the product development process.
Janna is a research professional with a publication in cancer
research and a background in clinical laboratories/oncological trials.
Her experience in health care offers a comprehensive approach
when it comes to product development and microbiological
limitations. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of
South Florida, where she studied Biomedical Science with a
concentration in Chemistry and Biophysics. Janna is currently
completing a Master of Science in Cosmetic Science through the
University of Cincinnati. She loves sharing her knowledge with clients
to bring ideas to life.
Janna is originally from Costa Rica and is well traveled, having
visted Belize, Japan, Italy, Canada, and counting. In her free
time, she is an artist, and enjoys gardening.
DAYMÉ BRITO
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
As head of production at Concept II Cosmetics, Daymé leads a
team of about ten people who fill clients’ orders and conduct
thorough quality control. Daymé has been working with our sister
company (Concept II Cosmetics) since 2010, where she learned
everything about cosmetics manufacturing. She is a quick thinker and can solve issues that come her way effortlessly.
In 2008, she moved to the United States from Havana, Cuba, where
she was born and raised and where she earned a degree in
Education, Accounting and Finance.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time
with her daughters and grandchildren.
LUIS ALBERTO ESCORCIA
HEAD BLENDER
Born in Barranquilla Colombia, Luis finished his bachelor’s degree at
Calixto Leiva in the city of Barranquilla. He traveled to the United
States at the age of 23 in search of better economic stability, and to
help his family.
Luis is father to four children and the fifth child out of eight siblings.
He loves nature, and his favorite hobbies are fishing and going to the
beach.
Currently, Luis works as our Head Blender and leads our warehouse
team. His favorite music is salsa and baladas románticas. His
passion for soccer is evident, and you can see him in his team’s
fútbol jersey whenever they play.
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BRIGETTE LUMPKINS
BOARD OF DIRECTOR
Brigette is Director of Business Development at Stax, a global strategy consulting firm providing data analytics and deal support to private equity firms. Prior to joining Stax, Brigette worked for EisnerAmper and Datum 9 Analytics, a systematic global long/short equity hedge fund. There she was responsible for branding, raising institutional investor capital, and investor relations. She began her finance career at Lehman and Barclays where she marketed European equity research, transactions, and corporate access to buy side portfolio managers. Brigette raised capital for private equity fund of funds Hamilton Lane before joining Goldman Sachs where she managed investment portfolios for ultra-high net worth private clients.
She serves on the South Florida steering committee for the Women’s
Association of Venture and Equity and is a Miami chapter executive
for the CAIA Association. Brigette previously served on the board of
The Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade as well as the advisory council for
the business school at Florida Memorial University. She is a member
of Womxn Funders in Animal Rights.
Brigette earned a BA from Spelman College, summa cum laude, an
MA from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from The Wharton
School. She is a political junkie, vocal advocate for racial equity,
reality TV aficionado, pop culture expert, crossword nerd, Ashtangi,
and dog lover.
AMBIKA PATNI
BOARD OF DIRECTOR
A veteran of the world's top beauty and lifestyle companies, Ambika
Patni has over 15 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy,
and retail. Most recently, she was the Chief Marketing Officer and
Co-Founder of a clean skincare startup, Lightwater Biosciences. She
developed the full launch plan and branding for the start-up’s first
line of products and brought marketing and strategy expertise,
industry knowledge, and a vast network to a science-based project.
Prior to Lightwater, Ambika was the Executive Director, Global
Strategy & Business Initiatives at Jo Malone London (part of Estée
Lauder Companies).
Ambika has also worked in marketing at M.A.C Cosmetics and Estée
Lauder, all based in New York.
Ambika holds an MBA from London Business School and a BA from
Harvard University. She resides in Boston with her husband and two
children.
MADELEINE THAKUR
BOARD OF DIRECTOR
Madeleine Thakur is president of The Children’s Movement of Florida.
She oversees all outreach and communications efforts, including the business engagement initiative Bosses for Babies, and leads state-
level policy efforts aimed at increasing investment in high-quality early learning, health care for children, and parent support.
Madeleine serves on the steering committee for the Florida
Chamber’s Business Alliance for Early Learning and the leadership
table for Orange County’s “Becoming a K-Ready Community”
initiative. Before joining The Movement in September 2017, she spent
nearly a decade focused on economic and social development in
Latin America and the Caribbean, working closely with senior
executives in the legal, tech, consumer goods, and financial sectors.
A Miami native and one of five children, Madeleine was raised
trilingual (English, Spanish, French) and is a proud graduate of Miami-
Dade County Public Schools. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Chicago and a diploma from Sciences Po in
Paris.
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