CORAL GABLES TRUST'S DEAN KLEVAN VOTED BEST OF MIAMI 2007 BY MIAMI TODAY

Market Knowledge Propels These Bankers To Place Among Sector's Elite
By Eric Kalis
Miami Today

Whether Seno Bril is running the Miami office of France;s largest bank of promoting international banking throughout Florida, the 29-year banking veteran stands out in a crowded industry. As general manager of BNP, Paribas's Miami office, Mr. Bril has created a myriad of international private banking opportunities for the Paris bank with Latin American countries said Bowman Brown, chairman of law firm Shutts & Bowen's executive committee and financial services practice. Mr. Bril is in his second stint running the bank's Miami operations, so he is familiar with the tendencies of the local market, Mr. Brown said.

Mr. Bril "is effective at handling the issues and concerns of the industry," Mr. Brown said. "He is so experienced and well traveled and speaks many languages."

Mr. Bril, a Netherlands native, in 2005 was elected President of the Florida International Bankers Association. In his one year term Mr. Bril gave "back to the community," Mr. Brown said. "It has been a rough road for many international banks in Miami. Seno has navigated that very nicely."

More than two decades of experience and knowledge of Miami's Real Estate market sets apart Premier American Bank executive vice president and chief lending officer Joy Venero as an industry leader, said developer Pedro Villar of Blue Moon Development Co. Mr. Villar said he often turns to Ms. Venero for project financing because she easily grasps the desires of clients.

"When I talk to Joy, she makes it very simple," Mr. Villar said. " She works with you to meet the requirements of the project." She is known in the real estate market and understands the needs of a project."

Construction loans secured by Ms. Venero for BlueMoon projects throughout her 22-year career have been critical to the company's long-term success. Mr. Villar said "Without Joy, it would be much more difficult," he said. "The way she has been handling our finances is so important piece of the whole process."

Dennis Campbell, shareholder at law firm Clarker Silverglate & Campbell, admires Dean Klevan, president and CEO of Coral Gables Trust, because Mr. Klevan applies the passion he has for banking to his altruistic endeavors. In the financial-services world, Mr. Klevan has spent more than 25 years in the fields of private wealth management and trust and commercials banking.

"Dean is a committed and energetic individual," Mr. Campbell said. "He serves the financial community with timely service and excellent advice. Many people pay lip service, but Dean actually delivers it."

Mr. Klevan devites substantial amounts of personal time to preserving the region's history and marine population, Mr. Campbell said. He is active on the board of trustees of the Historical Associations of Southern Florida and serves on the board of the Nova Southeastern University School of Marine Biology.