TEAM HAMMERHEADS BOARD
Team Hammerheads is an all-volunteer organization. The Board of Directors makes decisions for the direction of the club and work together to grow both the Team and the sport of triathlon and endurance sports in the South Florida community.
Board of Directors (as of 1/1/2022)
Chiara Manton - President
Manrique Alonso - Vice President
TBA - Treasurer
Cindy Rodriguez-Pereira - Secretary
Michael Dvorkin - Director
Ray Perdomo- Director
Ben Alvarez- Director
Alex Roche- Director
Jo Jo Russo- Director
Chiara joined Team Hammerheads in 2003 after learning about the club at the Key Biscayne Trilogy Triathlon. She met her husband, Dan, at her very first club meeting! Both Chiara and Dan enjoy the sport of triathlon and have been involved with the club in many aspects. Chiara served on the board from 2005 to 2013, serving as President from 2009 to 2013, and is back on the board in 2021 serving as President. Chiara's goal is to keep the fun spirit of Hammies “fresh” and “infectious” while maintaining the operations of the club organized, transparent, humble, and consistent – doing all of this with the support of our volunteers and Sponsors. This group of volunteers and sponsors are special; believing in a vision where we elevate the sport of triathlon beyond racing and volunteering to something more like a reunion with friends.
CHIARA
MANTON
Manrique began endurance racing career in 2011 when I ran the ING Half Marathon and my triathlon career in 2014 with the Escape to Miami Sprint. I have raced 11 half marathons, 7 marathons, 5 sprint/international distance triathlons, 8 Olympic, 3 Half Ironmans, and 3 Full Ironmans. My first Half Ironman was Ironman Miami 70.3 in 2015. My first Full Ironman was Ironman Florida 140.6 in in 2017. I raced the Havana 70.3 in 2017 which was extremely emotional because I got to reunite with family I hadn’t seen since leaving Cuba at the age of 3 in 1960. I love God, my mother, my children, my wife, my family… and marshmallows.
MANRIQUE
ALONSO
Ben joined the Hammerheads in 2008. He completed his first triathlon in the Mack Cycle Trilogy series of
that same year. Ben’s favorite Race was the Boston Marathon in 2009 for which he qualified in 2008. He views this as the pinnacle of his athletic career, he loved the race. He also loved the Nautica Tri (now South Beach Triathlon) because it was a fundraiser for St. Jude Hospital. Ben has been married for 45 years and has 2 boys and 8 grandchildren.
Outside of triathlon he enjoys tennis, baseball and spending time in his yard keeping up his garden.
BEN
ALVAREZ
I have been a Hammerheads since August 2009 - my first year of doing triathlon races (10 races to start) when I turned 60 years old. I retired in 2015 after holding a position of senior paralegal for 34 years at a prestigious law firm in Miami. Now I am enjoying life, sports training and greatly appreciate the friendship with Hammerheads members. I am also enjoying cooking and traveling.
JO JO
RUSSO
Cindy joined the Hammerheads in 2018 when her husband Alex was training for Ironman Florida. She did her first Triathlon in May 2017 at the Mack Cycle Tri-Miami Race. She has completed a few other triathlons and duathlon races as well as one Half-Iron Distance Duathlon, Miami-Man 2018. She also completed the Augusta 70.3. Cindy's favorite race has been the Miami Marathon, since it was her first full distance Marathon. She also felt completing her half-Iron duathlon had a dramatic impact on her confidence in endurance sports. Cindy is married to Hammerhead Alex Roche and together they have 4 fur babies. Outside of triathlon Cindy competes in Crossfit and has participated in the Crossfit Open each year. She is passionate about animals, loves to read and runs an Instagram account and blog about nutrition.
CINDY
RODRIGUEZ-PEREIRA
Alex Roche has been a member of Team Hammerheads since 2018 when he was looking for a group to swim with during his training for Ironman Florida. Alex did all his training with the Hammies and became an Ironman later that year. He became a ride leader and joined the Board in 2019. Alex’s first triathlon was an international distance in 2015 and after that, he completed a few more triathlons as part of his first Ironman 70.3 training. Alex’s favorite race has been Augusta 70.3 because he trained and raced with his wife Cindy. Alex loves the outdoors and being a father to 4 four-legged babies. He works as a middle school teacher and mindful coach for children. When not training or racing, Alex enjoys cooking, meditating, fly fishing, hiking and doing CrossFit with Cindy.
ALEX
ROCHE
Ray Joined the Hammerheads in 2008. His first Triathlon was the Mack Cycle Trilogy that same year. His favorite race was IM Cozumel, completed in 2009. Ray is married and has one child. Outside of triathlon he enjoys mountain biking and basket weaving.
RAY
PERDOMO
Amy Crowley-
Gonsoulin
RIDE LEADERS
Michael joined Team Hammerheads in 2017 after training alone for his first triathlon in Key West (cancelled) December of that year. He was one of many new recruits of long time member Jo Jo Russo. His first race was 2018 Las Olas Triathlon. In 2018 he completed 7 Triathlons and a few short running events. His favorite race, so far, has been St. Anthony’s because of beautiful location in St. Petersburgh, FL and the amazing level of organization the event had. Michael has been married for 15 years and has 2 children, Emma (12) and Benjamin (10). Benjamin has completed his first mini-sprint triathlon (9yr old) which included a short Open-Water Swim. Outside of triathlon, Michael is an avid Skier and enjoys family travel and coaching baseball, softball, football for his kids.
MICHAEL
DVORKIN
Our rides change every week. Members receive a weekly email with ride information.
Most of our leaders are not riding instructors and while we all try to ride safely our ride leaders are not safety marshals. Think of them like friends sharing their favorite cycling route with you.
Some ride leaders have more experience than others. Some choose to ride faster than others. All Team Hammerheads ride leaders are enthusiastic volunteers who come out week after week to lead rides because they enjoy it.
If you are looking for basic riding instruction email us, and we’ll refer you to a riding skills class.
Ray Perdomo
Amy Stone
Ben Alvarez
Amy Crowley-Gonsoulin
Angel Mateos
Yamile Castella
Maria Galleguillo
Jo Jo Russo
Chiara Manton
Alex Roche
Alvaro Molina