Founder FTB · Partner USLN · CEO APC
Ana Piumbini
Founder, Freedom to Belong · Partner, US Legal Now · CEO & Shareholder, American Photonics
Sarasota, Florida · Naturalized U.S. citizen (2018) · +1 (941) 286-0960 · ana@americanphotonics.com
Board director and global C-level executive with more than 30 years of leadership across optics manufacturing, technology, retail, real estate, and client services. Founder of Freedom to Belong (501(c)(3)); partner of US Legal Now; CEO and shareholder of American Photonics.
Files ready for board packages, search firms, and print. Prefer PDF for email attachments.
Current roles (as of 2026)
- Freedom to Belong — Founder Sole founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit (education, citizenship pathways, immigrant community). Co-founders on the leadership team include Steve Walters, Daniel A. Hoffman, Marcella Constâncio, and Filipe Piumbini.
- US Legal Now — Partner (Sócia) Equity partner in the immigration professional-services company (sister ecosystem to Freedom to Belong).
- American Photonics — CEO, Shareholder & Director Precision IR & laser optics manufacturing, Sarasota, USA · global markets.
- Forever Realty Investments LLC — CEO & Director Florida real estate and investment portfolio strategy.
Career timeline (approximate dates)
~2014 onward
CEO & shareholder. Restructured distribution from concentrated national model to diversified worldwide channels; rebrand and marketing modernization. Global market share expanded from about 3% to 15% within four years of leadership focus. P&L, strategy, sales, international trade, and operations oversight with founder Steve Walters’ manufacturing core.
Ongoing (Florida)
CEO & director — real estate and financial investment strategy, portfolio growth, risk oversight.
Building through 2020s · FTB 501(c)(3) active era
Founder of Freedom to Belong; partner of US Legal Now; earlier leadership of Gaia DBA Total Help Sarasota — multilingual immigration support operations connecting U.S. and Brazil clients.
Approx. mid-2000s–2010s (SW Florida)
CEO & shareholder — importer/manufacturer of granite countertops with installation throughout Southwest Florida; customers included Home Depot, Lowe’s, and 150+ cabinet/remodel firms. Annual revenue scale cited in executive materials around multi-million (e.g. ~$3.8M in historical materials).
Approx. 1990s–2000s
Senior commercial leadership: Microsoft Brazil, GPA (Grupo Pão de Açúcar), IBM Brazil, Fast Shop, Carrefour Hypermarket Brazil, Visual Presence Brazil. First female National Director of Retail Sales at IBM Brazil — pioneered PC sales through supermarket and retail channels for major technology brands.
2006
Legal immigration to the U.S.; later naturalized citizen (2018). Built manufacturing, real estate, and community leadership platforms from Florida.
Novatec, Brazil · 2005 · English edition 2026
Revealing the Corporate Comedy / earlier Brazilian title on corporate comedy — published by Novatec; English edition live on Amazon (2026). Also author of Bluff Like a Woman.
Education & board preparation
- Harvard University Executive education in Artificial Intelligence · Competing in the Age of AI (approx. 2023–2024)
- Kellogg School of Management — Northwestern Board director development · post-MBA executive education
- MBA Business Management
- Postgraduate Advertising & Marketing
- Bachelor’s Business Management · Systems Analysis
Languages
- English Fluent
- Portuguese Fluent
- Spanish Conversational
- Italian Conversational
- Sign language Communicates with deaf cousin — inclusion in practice
Board value (summary)
- Operator + governor Active director who also runs P&L
- Growth & channels Proven international market expansion in manufacturing
- Cross-border fluency U.S.–Brazil operating depth
- Commercial excellence Retail, technology, and enterprise routes to market
- Risk & investments Real estate portfolio and contract discipline
- Future-ready Kellogg board formation · Harvard AI executive education
Contact for board work
- Email ana@americanphotonics.com
- Phone +1 (941) 286-0960
- LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/ana-piumbini-20b0b84a
- Location Sarasota, Florida, USA