EARLY DAYS

Annette's story is classic American – building on a diverse background to achieve success and prepare for the challenges of the future.

Several generations ago, her father's family came to America from Italy through New York's Ellis Island and settled in New Jersey. Born there, Annette's father, Anthony, joined the military where he defended the country as a combat pilot in World War II and Korean wars. After becoming a disabled American Veteran, Annette's father began training others to pilot helicopters and was asked to establish the first helicopter school in South America. It was this adventure that took Anthony Taddeo to Colombia where he met Annette's mom Elizabeth.

Annette Taddeo was born on April 7, 1967 in Colombia. Even though she spent her first 17 years in Bucaramanga, Colombia, she is a natural born U.S. citizen (U.S. Constitution, Amendment 14). From her father she developed a strong respect for the military and fighting for what is right. From her mother Elizabeth, she developed her strong sense of family values and a deep respect for her heritage

From an early age, Annette was a leader, always standing up for what was right. Her strength came from being born a cleft baby. Throughout her years growing up she had kids ridicule her in school because of her birth defect. Instead of having this impact her negatively, she turned her energy towards helping those less fortunate than her. She constantly worked to bring people together by organizing toy drives for needy children, and volunteering at local orphanages. She fondly remembers a time when she was 12 years old while visiting a poor village with her father where she met a girl about her age that could not speak because had a cleft lip and palate. Annette immediately took her to meet her father and begged him to help her. They arranged with the girls parents to allow her to stay with the Taddeo's in the city while they would get her the reconstructive surgery she needed

Annette got her first taste of the entrepreneurial spirit when she was 13. There was
a rich orange grove on her family's property, and Annette saw the potential to meet
the needs of her community. She went door to door around her neighborhood selling
oranges. The response was overwhelming and Annette knew she was on to something. This foreshadowed her entrepreneurial vision to develop her current successful business, LanguageSpeak, which has also achieved overwhelming success.

During her years in Colombia, her family would spend summer vacations in the United States. In fact, her parents bought their Miami home (Saga Bay) in 1982 because of the love for this community. They moved here full time soon thereafter. Annette enrolled at the University of North Alabama and studied Commercial Spanish with a minor in business Administration. She worked hard, and graduated from college in 1992. Annette has fond memories of her trips home during school breaks in the summer and during Christmas, when she worked in Bloomingdale's at the Falls. Annette has two sisters and one brother. Her brother Joe and sister Gloria graduated from the University of Miami and her sister Patty graduated from Florida International University. They are all residents of South Florida.

EYE OF THE STORM

Hurricane Andrew changed Annette's life in 1992. Her parents had lost their Saga Bay home during Hurricane Andrew, and she arrived to help them. She took charge of the situation by driving a motor home down from Alabama so that her parents had a place to live.

nnette worked to resolve issues with the insurance company and stayed until the family home while was rebuilt. Annette felt proud when her family's home was the first to be finished in the neighborhood. Annette saw the results of her hard work, and then settled in Miami-Dade County for good.

HARD WORK, DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP

As Founder & CEO of LanguageSpeak, a comprehensive language services company offering translations, conference interpretation and private tutoring in over 100 languages, Annette has proven that hard work and dedication pay off. She has run her successful business for over 15 years.

LanguageSpeak was named last year as a Top-100 small business in Florida and a Top-500 small business in the United States by DiversityBusiness.com. Recently Business Leader Magazine honored Taddeo with the 2009 South Florida Movers & Shakers Award. Annette has been named "Businesswoman of the Year" by Camacol, the South Florida Business Journal, Office Depot, Women in International Trade & the National Republican Congressional Committee's Business Advisory Council.

Recognized as a successful business leader, Annette has served in and led numerous civic and business organizations. Annette is Past-Chairman of the Coalition of Dade-County Chambers of Commerce and Past Chairman of the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade County. Likewise, Annette has served on the Board of Directors of the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade's official economic development partnership, on the Executive Committee of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and was appointed to the Safe Neighborhood Parks Citizens Oversight Committee. In addition, Annette has been very involved in women's organizations, including her service as the Chair of the Women's Enterprise National Council's Leadership Forum, is a member of the exclusive Committee of 200, the Belizean Grove's TARA's (Today's Already Rising Achievers), is a National Founding Partner and past Board member of WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy) and is a member of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners). She has served on the Board of the League of Women Voters and is a lifetime member of Hadassah.

Her community activities and strong business leadership have resulted in numerous honors and awards, including being profiled by Yahoo! Telemundo for Hispanic heritage month with her inspirational success story, and receiving the WIPP Entrepreneurial Diversity Award in 2007. Annette was selected by the Small Business Administration as the Minority Business Champion of the Year, and received the "Latina Excellence Award" from Hispanic Magazine. She was awarded a “Business Star” by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Taddeo was selected by the Small Business Administration as the 2005 Minority Business Champion of the Year. In 2002 she was honored by Miami-Dade County Commissioners for her exemplary contributions and for her many accomplishments leaving a lasting impression to the county’s residents by proclaiming May 9th “Annette Taddeo Day.”

Uniquely connected to our prosperous diverse business community and a family with deep American traditions and new American perspectives, in 2008 Annette took on a new challenge and became the Democratic nominee for Congress in South Florida’s 18th District, raising more than $1.3 million dollars in eight months and receiving more than 100,000 votes, a record for a Democrat.

WIFE, MOTHER, ADVOCATE

Today Taddeo is considered a rising Hispanic figure in Florida politics, she is a prolific fundraiser and she is a regular guest for Hispanic radio & TV shows. Annette continues to serve her community and her country through her leadership in numerous organizations where she is actively involved. She currently serves on the National Board of the Non-Partisan Women’s Campaign Forum and is on the Advisory Board of Hands on Miami.

Annette is married to Dr. Eric Goldstein, a Clinical Psychologist & Motivational Speaker.
She has twin 20-year old step-daughters and a 4-year old daughter. Annette and her
husband belong to Beth Am Congregation.