Our Team


LENDERS

Nick Garcia, Vice President

Nick has dedicated the past twenty years to servicing the needs of his commercial and commercial real estate lending clients. Nick holds an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from St. Thomas University. 




Jorge Garza, Vice President

Jorge is a seasoned lender with over fifteen years of relationship management and new business development experience. He specializes in facilitating loans for clients in the fields of law, accounting and commercial real estate. Jorge is a graduate of the University of Texas - Pan American.



Nicole Medina, Assistant Vice President

Nicole has been a loyal employee of Grove Bank & Trust for over twenty six years. She is responsible for the personal and residential lending needs  of the Bank's clients. Nicole is a graduate of Miami Dade College and the American Institute of Banking. Nicole has been involved with the Susan G. Komen Foundation for over ten years and currently serves as a Board Member and Secretary.    

 

WEALTH ADVISORS


David Breitwieser, Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer

David is responsible for assisting clients with their asset allocation decisions, as well as the development, management, and implementation of the Bank's investment strategy. David has an exceptional reputation for delivering first-class service coupled with his deep understanding of the practice of wealth management. David is currently a member of the CFA Institute and a member of the Miami Society of Financial Analysts. David earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of South Florida.


Marta Goldberg, Managing Director, Fiduciary Wealth Advisor, JD

Marta is responsible for developing and implementing investment strategies, complex family wealth planning, estate planning, tax planning, and charitable giving solutions that address the issues of family governance. Marta has devoted her career to managing all aspects of her clients’ investment and fiduciary needs.  Marta has over thirty years of Wealth Management experience in the South Florida marketplace. Marta has a BS/BA degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. 


Esther M. Gonzalez, Managing Director, Chief Fiduciary Officer

Esther is a CPA with over thirty years of experience in wealth management and fiduciary services, including trust, estate, and charitable planning and taxation of high-net-worth individuals.  She has dedicated her career to assisting clients with complex tax and wealth structures to achieve their financial and legacy goals.  Esther has a Bachelor of Accounting from Florida International University and a Master of Science in Taxation from the University of Miami.


Edith Kandler-Torres, Senior Director, Fiduciary Wealth Advisor

Edith is a seasoned fiduciary professional with over twenty years of experience in all areas of domestic and international trust administration and is very knowledgeable of the tax issues involved.  As a personal trust specialist, she has vast knowledge in the administration of revocable and irrevocable trusts, guardianships, special needs trusts, investment management accounts, business entities, and NRA relationships.  Edith attended American Intercontinental University and the American Bankers Association Trust School.

 

Laura Marquet, Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Management, and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)

Laura is passionate about helping individuals, families, and business owners manage their wealth. Laura holds an MBA. from the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business with a concentration in Asset Management/Sales & Trading.

WEALTH STRATEGIST


Natasha Lowell, Senior Vice President and Senior Wealth Strategist

Natasha Lowell is the senior vice president and senior wealth strategist at Grove Bank & Trust. With more than 30 years of experience in the private wealth sector, Lowell is an established banking professional responsible for acquiring businesses from high-net-worth clients and implementing wealth planning strategies. Having served as senior vice president at First National Bank of South Miami in private banking, Lowell has held similar positions throughout her career, including in the commercial real estate and construction lending sectors. Her commitment to public service and civic duty includes current involvement on the Board of Trustees of Florida International University, the Advisory Board of Casa Familia Inc., and past service with Take Stock in Children Miami-Dade County.

 

Flynn Turner, Vice President, and Wealth Strategist

Flynn Turner is a vice president and wealth strategist at Grove Bank & Trust. Turner brings over 25 years of experience with a background in fundraising, management, training, and other areas of non-profit development. Most recently, he was the senior advancement officer at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale. As an active member of the community, Turner is involved in various organizations, including being on the board of Michael-Ann Russell JCC, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the National Eagle Scout Association through the Boy Scouts of America, where he served as a development director. He is also the chair member of Maccabi USA Men’s 35+ Soccer Team and the Men’s Soccer Head Coach for the Fort Lauderdale Select Football Club.


Gustavo Martelo, Vice President and Wealth Strategist

Gus is a Certified Financial Planner with more than two decades of experience in the banking industry. Gus supports the bank’s goals by creating new client relationships and maintaining existing ones. Gus has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University- Landon Undergraduate School of Business with a Major in Finance and a Minor in Real Estate. Gus’s commitment to public service is demonstrated through his position as a board member of the Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami.

 

MARKET MANAGERS

Maira Diaz-Giusti, Senior Vice President, South Miami Office

Maira is an experienced banker with over twenty-five years of commercial and private banking experience. Maira has devoted her career to the financial well-being of her clients in the South Miami, South Gables, and Pinecrest communities. She is the past Treasurer and Executive Board member of The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade and Greater North Miami Beach Chamber. In addition, she has served on boards and committees of South Miami Hospital Associates, Suited for Success, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), and the Aventura Marketing Council. Maira is a native South Floridan and is a graduate of Florida International University.


Martha-Trinidad Kempt, Vice President, Aventura Office

Martha Trinidad-Kemp has more than 25 years of banking experience in South Florida specializing in Branch Market Management and  Premier Banking.  Martha has a passion for growing financial relationships with clients, and helping them achieve their wealth-building goals. She is currently a member of the Aventura Marketing Council.


 

PREMIER BANKERS

Emilio Vazquez, Senior Vice President

Emilio has over thirty-five years of financial services experience in the areas of private banking, lending, and wealth management.  Emilio manages the Bank's Premier Banking division and the Bank's retail brokerage program. In addition, Emilio is passionate about giving back to the community and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the YES Institute for the last twenty years. Emilio is a graduate of Florida International University.  


Alex Jimenez, Senior Vice President

Alex has over twenty years of banking experience helping local businesses grow and expand. Alex currently serves as a volunteer on the Campaign Committee for Legal Services of Greater Miami.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration & Management from Florida International University. 



Lester Romero, Senior Vice President

Lester is a consummate professional and has over twenty year of banking experience in the areas of commercial and private banking. He works closely with high-net-worth individuals and business owners to ensure that their financial needs are met and believes in delivering a first-rate customized client experience to each of his clients. Lester holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Florida International University.

 

Maray Benitez, Assistant Vice President, Premier Banking Officer

Maray is a seasoned banker with over ten years of experience building client relationships in the South Florida market. Maray is dedicated to guiding clients with all their financial needs, she takes pride in providing the best premier quality experience which develops and strengthens client relationships. She has developed a proven track record of delivering excellent service and guidance to her clients. Maray support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Ms. Benitez holds a Bachelor of Finance degree from Florida International University.



RESIDENTIAL LENDING


 Juan C. Jaureguizar Senior Vice President – Director of Residential Lending

Juan C. Jaureguizar is the senior vice president and director of residential lending at Grove Bank & Trust. He is a seasoned banking professional with more than 35 years of experience in the residential lending sector. As the head of the residential line of business at Grove Bank & Trust, Mr. Jaureguizar spearheads the bank’s production goals and oversees the implementation of service processes in line with market and mortgage industry standards. Mr. Jaureguizar began his banking career in 1984 as assistant vice president, operations officer at Republic National Bank of Miami. Since then, he has climbed the ranks at different banking institutions including Ocean Bank, Gibraltar Private Bank and Trust, and prior to his current position, International Finance Bank.