MICHELLE PAYER - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• LUXURY JEWELRY CONSULTANT

Entrenched for more than 25 years in the fine jewelry business, Edgar Acero provides an impressive range of professional expertise that is considered unmatched in the industry. From sales team and client relationship development to salon presentation, visual merchandising, e-commerce marketing, international events and an in-depth understanding of jewels and companies' products, Acero has created innovative enhancements and broken sales records in every company in which he has worked. He credits creating a family environment for smashing sales records, and believes replacing titles with team efforts lead to stellar service and memorable experiences that create lasting impressions and lifelong clients. Taking an entrepreneurial approach, Acero is a consummate networker and collaborates with charities that are important to his clients. This, he says, allows him to give back to the people with whom he is connecting on emotional purchases. Acero's multi-faceted approach began early, working side-by-side with such industry luminaries as Tiffany & Co. jewelry designers Jean Schlumberger and Nicolas Bongard, who taught Acero everything from selecting and pairing stones to the delicate enameling process. Window designer Gene Moore taught Acero that everything must unfold into a story. As a result of Acero's commitment and dedication, he became Tiffany & Co.'s youngest Assistant Buyer of men's gold jewelry. Since then, Acero has brought his passion for fine jewelry and customer relationships to worldwide brands including Chaumet & Henry Dunay Fine Jewelry at Saks Fifth Avenue, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels, Breguet and Chopard. At Chronus Gallery inside St. Regis Bal Harbour, Miami, Acero was given full rein to establish and implement all internal operations, develop commission structures and employee handbooks, create compelling floor vitrines and visual displays, initiate merchandising, hire and train staff and orchestrate a memorable grand opening with the team. Demonstrating tremendous value and initiative, Acero capitalized on personal relationships with some of the world's top jewelry designers and brought Marina B., Paulo Castagli, Aletto Brothers, Takat and Stephen Webster to Chronus Gallery. Throughout his career, he has established relationships with national and international precious stone dealers and master jewelers As a lauded luxury jewelry consultant, Acero firmly believes "People like to buy from people who are experts and that's what they're getting from me," he says. "It's a good feeling to touch people's soul and heart unconditionally. I am genuine and my goal is always for them to walk away with a wonderful experience with me." Acero prides himself on creating decades-long relationships that have had clients follow him for 25 years for his listening ear, intuitive ability to match the right piece of jewelry to a person or occasion, knowledge of the jewelry industry, expertise with stones and understanding of consumer behavior. Edgar Acero can be reached at Edgar.Acero@aol.com

Marco Selva has more than three decades of world-class hotel operator experience, asset management and residential operations that includes oversight of multiple international and domestic hotel brands. Recognized as one of the country's leading executives in the luxury lifestyle hospitality space, Selva is known for executing innovative marketing strategies and repositioning properties, as well as creating organizational structures and accountability processes that have exceeded financial objectives. Most recently, Selva was vice president for sbe Lifestyle Hospitality overseeing the SLS and Hyde hotel brands in Miami. Prior, Selva founded The Selva Group, an Asset Management firm where he served as a strategic partner for owners and developers in the luxury lifestyle space. Selva Group repositioned hotels and resorts for brands including Four Seasons, Rosewood, St. Regis and Andaz, in addition to independent properties where his leadership resulted in creating marketplace relevancy and profitability. During his career, Selva launched and ran several high-profile projects including the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort & Residences where he successfully opened the $850 million ultra-luxury mixed-use development and achieved Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond ratings, which was Starwood's largest global investment at the time and became its most high-profile and profitable property. Selva supported more than $1 billion in residential sales within the project. Previously, Selva was Regional Vice President of Southeast United States, Caribbean and Latin America for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he managed operations and business development for 20 hotels, all with separate ownership groups, and led annual revenue projections of $1 billion. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in hotel development and growth for the region. Selva completed the Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management Program at Cornell University and attended Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland. He is resident of Miami, Florida and actively supports the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, where he serves on the Board of Directors.