Barbara Martinez-Guerrero

— Executive Director

Barbara grew up in south Florida, graduating from G. Holmes Braddock, a local public school in Miami and attending FIU to obtain her undergraduate degree in elementary education with a focus on Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL). She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer, having spent two years teaching English as a foreign/second language in a high school in eastern Europe.

Nicholas Gunia

— Founder & Current Board Member

Nick, LEED AP, was born in Jamaica and raised in Miami. He earned a magna cum laude degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Dartmouth College and a summa cum laude J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, where he served on the Law Review. He began his legal career at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York, focusing on corporate and financial law, before returning to Miami in 2003 to become President of K.G. International, a major distributor of chemicals, ingredients, and packaging materials. Nick has continuously served the organization for over two decades, including as its initial Executive Director and Board Chair.

Odette Smalley

— Chair

Odette brings nearly two decades of financial expertise to Dream in Green, having built her career at JPMorgan Chase in New York, where she spent close to 20 years in the Corporate & Investment Bank. Her work spanned debt capital markets, risk management, and treasury services, with a particular passion for renewable energy companies and the transition to a sustainable economy. Before JPMorgan, Odette held corporate finance roles at private and public companies and began her career as an auditor at a major public accounting firm. Now based in Miami, Odette enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends — especially the younger generation, who fuel her   passion for protecting the environment.

Theresa Pinto

— Secretary

After completing her academic research career, Theresa transitioned into public policy, working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection and Quarantine Agency. In 2017, she co-founded March for Science Miami to promote science education and evidence-based policymaking, while also pursuing a law degree at the University of Miami. During law school, she gained experience in environmental justice, advocacy, and legal services, earning her J.D. in Environmental Law in 2020. She now works as a community lawyer and policy analyst with the P.E.E.R. Group, has co-led the Environmental Justice Clinic, and serves as a Lecturer and Director of Civic Engagement at the University of Miami’s Abess Center, where she mentors future environmental leaders.

Mark Peck

— Board of Director Member

Mark is a third generation Floridian born and raised in Fort Lauderdale. He left Florida for a short time to attend the University of Alabama. After graduating, Mark returned to begin a career in finance and now works on the Strategic Finance team at Magic Leap. Mark is a proud CFA Charterholder, who has a passion for strategic thinking. He spends most of his free time on the water fishing or diving, and his connection with the ocean is what drives him to contribute positively to the environment.

Justine Deresz

— Board of Director Member

Justine is a Miami native raised in a household where environmental conservation was a way of life. She earned a degree in anthropology from the University of Florida, worked as a field archaeologist, and completed post-baccalaureate coursework at the University of Miami. She is a science and STEM teacher in Miami Dade County Public Schools and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Forensic Science at the University of Florida. She is an ambassador for Miami Waterkeeper, a member of the Zero Waste Miami community, and a 2025 Rescue a Reef ambassador through the University of Miami RSMAS.