Host Committee Staff Bios
Myra Berk, Director of Administration
Nan A. Markowitz, Director of Operations
Catherine Minnis, Director of Community Outreach
Leslie Bauknight Nixon, Director of Volunteer Services
David Silverstein, Director of Communications
Spero Mehallis, Marketing Coordinator
Nicole Freixas, Communications Manager
Mike ZimmerMike Zimmer is the President of the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. His responsibilities include overseeing the daily operations and preparations for South Florida's 10th Super Bowl. Zimmer will serve as the primary liaison between the NFL and the South Florida community for Super Bowl XLIV.
Prior to his appointment with the Host Committee, Zimmer served as a Video Operations Manager and Chief Photographer for WTVJ in Miami, Florida. Over his 29 year career, Zimmer has covered numerous sporting events in his lengthy career including five Super Bowls, two World Series, the NBA finals in 1997 and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Australia. Zimmer has been nationally recognized on several occasions for his outstanding contributions to Broadcasting. Not only is he a ten time Emmy Award winner, but Zimmer is also the recipient of the prestigious George Foster Peabody and the Alfred L Dupont awards for his coverage of Hurricane Andrew.
Zimmer is a native South Floridian. He attended Florida State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.
Ken ElderKen Elder is the Vice President of the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. He previously served as the Senior Director of Corporate Marketing for the South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host Committee. Ken's responsibilities include corporate sponsorship/hospitality package sales and fulfillment, event marketing and advertising. Prior to his position with the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee, he served as Associate Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Elder also served as the General Manager of the Miami Hurricanes Radio Network (1995-98) as well as the Director of Marketing for the Carquest Bowl (1994-95). He served as the Director of Marketing for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Task force working on Super Bowl XXXV. Elder is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and St. Thomas where he earned a master's degree in Sports Management.
Myra Berk
Director of Administration
Myra Berk returns to the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee as Director of Administration. She previously served as Executive Administrator for Super Bowl XLI in 2005 through 2006. Berk has many years of experience in the Administrative field, serving as Executive Assistant to the VP/GM of Clear Channel Miami Radio for 10 years, and most recently as Executive Assistant to the CEO of Marketing Magic Advertising. She began her career at age 16 as Board Operator for WQAM Radio, and continued to work in the media field in roles which included Talk Show Producer at WGBS Radio, and Creative Services Assistant at WSVN/Channel 7, before going on to work for Sandlin & Associates Advertising as Administrative Manager. A native and lifetime resident of South Florida, Berk currently lives in Davie with her husband of 18 years.
Nan A. Markowitz
Director of Operations
Nan A. Markowitz serves as the Director of Operations for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. Ms. Markowitz was previously the Executive Director of the Office of the Citizens' Independent Transportation Trust for Miami-Dade County. With more than 20 years' experience in administrative management and local transportation issues, Nan previously served as Director of Government and Public Relations for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, with duties ranging from supporting the Chief Judge in developing policy guidelines to serving as media spokesperson. For more than 11 years, Ms. Markowitz served as the Director of Administration for the Florida Department of Transportation, District 6, where she managed an annual operating budget of more than $2.5 million and was responsible for implementing policy and directing a $1.8 billion work program.
Demonstrating her commitment to the community, Ms. Markowitz has maintained numerous professional and civic affiliations, having served on several United Way of Miami-Dade boards, the Miami-Dade County United Way Campaign Cabinet, and other community boards such as the City of Coral Gables Traffic Advisory Board and the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Community Grants Program Panel. An alumna of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Miami "Class of 2001," she is the recipient of the 2001 Carlos J. Arboleya Community Service Award.
Ms. Markowitz holds a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Business Administration from the University of Miami.
Catherine Minnis
Director of Community Outreach
Catherine Minnis serves as the Director of Community Outreach for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. Minnis has previous experience with serving on the Host Committee as she was a volunteer for Super Bowl XLI and issued limousine licenses for Super Bowl XXXIII.
Prior to her position with the Super Bowl Host Committee, Minnis served as an administrator with Miami-Dade County for over 20 years. Most recently as Regional Coordinator of Team Metro Kendall, she managed a service center that provided community outreach, education and service excellence addressing quality of life issues in neighborhoods covering portions of five County Commission Districts. Additionally, Minnis served as a coordinator with the Building Better Communities Bond program, United Way of Miami-Dade, American Cancer Society, and Board Examiner with the Florida Sterling Council.
Minnis currently serves as President of the National Black MBA Association-South Florida Chapter and a member of several other community boards. A graduate of Leadership Miami, Minnis holds a Master of Business Administration degree in International Business and a Bachelor of Public Administration from Florida International University.
Minnis is a member of The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the proud mother of three children, Shirelle, Dominic and Kyle.
Leslie Bauknight Nixon
Director of Volunteer Services
Leslie Bauknight Nixon serves as the Director of Volunteer Services for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. She previously served as the Director of Administration for Super Bowl XLI. Nixon joined the Host Committee team as the Community Outreach/Communications Manager working primarily with the Emerging Business program before being promoted. Prior to joining the team, Nixon served as a staff attorney with the St. Thomas Human Rights Institute. Nixon is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she obtained a dual degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and Economics in 2002. In 2005, Nixon graduated cum laude from St. Thomas University School of Law where she also obtained her master's degree in Sport Administration the same year.
David Silverstein
Director of Communications
David Silverstein serves as the Director of Communications for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. His responsibilities include public relations, communications and serving as media spokesperson.
David is an Emmy award winning broadcast journalism veteran. He's managed newsrooms and directed talent in some of the most competitive markets in the country, places like Miami, Tampa, Columbus and Denver. He has a deep passion for journalism and for successful communications.
David's been living his professional dream for more than two decades. After graduating from Syracuse, David worked his way up from a producer in places like Charlotte, Denver and Miami. Then media mogul Barry Diller gave him his big break. Diller offered him his first News Director job working in the heart of Miami's South Beach. He didn't have to ask twice. Besides running newsrooms as News Director from Miami to Columbus to Baltimore, David's also worked in Hollywood where he helped create a TV pilot for Warner Bros.
He's also served as adjunct professor at The University of Maryland's prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism. In College Park, David taught broadcasters of the future producing and reporting, as well as Digital Media training and blogging. David is married and has two daughters.
Nikki FiedlerNikki Fiedler serves as the Event Manager for the South Florida Super Bowl XLIV Host Committee. She previously served as the Event Coordinator for the Super Bowl XLI Host Committee from 2005 to 2007. Prior to rejoining the Host Committee, Fiedler assisted in event planning for events including: The Miami Dolphins, 2007 South Beach Food & Wine Festival, Boston Pizza's Corporate Retreat Week, Michael Irvin's Celebrity Weekend, the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open and the 2008 Women's Division I Final Four. Furthermore, Fiedler served as an Assistant Softball Coach for Barry University for six years. and in 2005 earned her Master's degree from Barry in Sports Management. A graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, Fiedler was an integral part of two Division II National Championship Softball teams for the university and in 2000 earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Fiedler has been a South Florida resident for nine years.
Spero Mehallis
Marketing Coordinator
Spero Mehallis serves as the Marketing Coordinator for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. He began at the Host Committee as an intern in June 2007 and then as a Marketing Assistant in December 2008. Mehallis has previous experience working in the sport industry. He served as the Public Relations Intern for Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles Spring Training operations in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and assisted in the event planning and operations of multiple events for Michael Irvin's Playmaker Charities and Foundation. Mehallis also has experience working with the Miami Dolphins as a Group Party Associate and as a Marketing Associate with the Fed Cup Quarterfinal Match held in Delray Beach, Florida. Mehallis is a proud graduate of Florida Atlantic University where he received an undergraduate degree in Business Management and an AACSB-Accredited M.B.A. in Sport Management. In addition, Mehallis is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Chapter 128.
Nicole Freixas Communications Manager
Nicole Freixas is the Manager of Communications for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. Her responsibilities include media relations and expanding the Host Committee's international reach.
Nicole has been recognized throughout her journalism career for her excellence and leadership. She served as the Executive Producer of News for Telemundo WSCV in Miami. She started out as an intern and eventually worked her way up into management. Over her 11 year career with Telemundo she produced and coordinated on air coverage for numerous events such as the Presidential Elections 2008 and 2004, Super Bowl XLI, Miami Heat NBA Championship 2006, Billboard Awards, Video Music Awards, Death of Pope John Paul II, Transition of Power from Fidel Castro to brother Raul Castro and the September 11th Attacks.
Nicole attended Miami Dade College and Florida International University. She is a native of South Florida.
