The daughter of Cuban exiles who became successful entrepreneurs, Janelle Perez is an advocate, policymaker, and small business owner. After graduating from Florida International University, she moved to Washington, D.C. and began her career on Capitol Hill, honing her policy analysis skills. While in graduate school, she worked for a nonprofit, leading advocacy efforts for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, the world’s largest public health financier. Then, at the age of 28, Perez was diagnosed with Stage IV Follicular Lymphoma, an aggressive cancer and moved to Miami in order to prioritize her health and start a family with her wife, Monica. Today, she is one of the owners of a Hispanic-owned and family-owned Medicare company in Miami-Dade County. It is one of Florida’s fastest growing Medicare companies, providing affordable, high-quality medical services to Medicare beneficiaries in the county. Perez’s personal experience battling illness and professional experience as an advocate and business owner has deepened her commitment to ensuring every Floridian has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare.
