First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, White House Adviser & Voice of Resurgence. Nicole Malachowski is one of the most compelling leadership voices on today’s stage. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, combat veteran, and the first woman pilot to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, she has lived a life defined by challenge, responsibility, and bold decisions. From leading fighter formations in combat to advising at the highest levels of the White House, Nicole understands what it means to perform when the stakes are real. When a devastating neurological tick-borne illness abruptly ended her flying career and left her unable to walk or speak for months, she was forced to redefine strength itself. Her story is not about bouncing back. It is about becoming resurgent and choosing growth when the path forward is uncertain.

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Heitner has been referred to as one of the foremost experts on name, image, and likeness (NIL) by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, a power player in NIL deals by Action Network, “a founding father of college athletes earning rights,” and a top sports trademark attorney by Sportico. Heitner has been honored with the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Oustanding Young Alumnus Award, and named the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. In 2023, Heitner Legal was the only law firm named to Sports Business Journal’s first list of NIL Power Players. Heitner’s sports clients have included Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, University of Florida Athletic Hall of Famer Fred Taylor, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyreek Hill, Xavien Howard, Jamal Adams, Nick Chubb, Mac Jones, Shane Bieber, Manny Ramirez, Anna Kournikova, Draymond Green, Terry Rozier, Haley and Hanna Cavinder, and Rick Pitino.

In 2019, Heitner was asked by Florida Representative Chip LaMarca to assist with the crafting and promotion of legislation that sought to provide Florida college athletes with the right to profit off of their names, images, and likenesses (NIL). Heitner has continued to be an advocate for athlete rights and worked on behalf of numerous athletes and brands, including Gatorade, INFLCR, Marketpryce, and Icon Source, in the NIL space.

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Elizabeth Pérez is a sports anchor for CNN en Español. Since joining CNN, Elizabeth Perez has covered a variety of sporting events: the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the 2011 Pan-American Guadalajara games from Mexico, and more recently the Churchill Downs 139th edition of the famous Kentucky Derby, the first and most important of the three races that make up the U.S. Triple Crown. She has also presented special shows: “Vive el Golf”, “Herencia Hispana”, the playoffs, “Resumen Navideño Deportivo”, and “Tras el Oro”, among others. Throughout her journalistic career she has covered major sporting events like NASCAR in Indianapolis, Indy300 at Homestead Speedway, Red Bull SoapBox Race in St. Louis, Air and Sea Show in Ft. Lauderdale and Smash Super Bowl Party for the NFL. She has Interviewed some of the most widely recognized personalities in sports, music and international art like: Keegan Bradely, Emerson Fitipaldi, Miguel Cabrera, Oscar de la Hoya, Udonis Haslem, Shaquille O’Neal, Juan Pablo Montoya, Carl Lewis, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Oscar de la Renta, Shakira, Miguel Bose, Romero Britto, Jose Feliciano, John Leguizamo, David Bisbal, Daddy Yankee, Chayanne, Juanes, America Ferrera, Enrique Iglesias and Rosario Dawson, among others.

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