Ana Maria Codispoti Rose was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She and her husband, Jack, the senior director of sales and marketing at Ryder HQ, have been involved with the Down Syndrome Association of Miami (DSAOM) since its inception. They are the parents of Jacqueline Marie Rose, a 25 year old with Down Syndrome who through the years has attended the Learning Experience School, the Marion Center, St. Agatha Catholic School and Southwest Miami Senior High School. Jackie was the inspiration for the Mother Teresa program, a special program for the mentally delayed. They also have three younger daughters who played vital roles in Jackie’s academic and social development.

Annie has a Master’s degree in Accounting from F.I.U. While parenting her four children, she held accounting positions within various industries including American Bankers Insurance Group, Leo Burnett Worldwide, RailWorks Corp. and most recently as the financial director at the Miami Learning Experience School, a school for children and adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities. She is currently a full-time mom working towards expanding job opportunities and independence for adults with special needs.