The Miami-Dade Beacon Council recently announced its roster of new committee leaders for 2016-17.
The six industry and three market committees help implement the community’s economic development strategy by helping drive job creating investments that offer high paying jobs and promising career paths. The committee chairs provide direction and leadership for their committee’s goals which support the business development mission of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council such as generating new business leads and visiting local businesses.
“We’ve assembled a group of the most influential industry and community leaders in Miami-Dade County to help guide this community into the future,” said Ernie Diaz, Miami-Dade Beacon Council chair.
Chair-elect Jaret Davis added, “This year, we have appointed committee chairs and chair-elects to ensure continuity of mission and a succession plan for future leadership.”
The new Miami-Dade Beacon Council committee chairs and chair-elects for 2016-17 include:
Aviation — Alex De Gunten, business development officer, Heico Aerospace, chair; Peter Cerda, regional vice president, International Air Transport Association, chair-elect.
Banking and Finance — Steve Leth, senior vice president, Non Profit, Healthcare, and Government Division, SunTrust, chair; Felipe Basulto, retail market manager, Miami DadeTD Bank, chair-elect.
Creative Design — Jonathan Bruckner, market vice president, Florida and Texas, Tiffany & Co., chair; Danielle Garno,shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, chair-elect.
International — Olga M. Ramudo, president and CEO, Express Travel, chair; Roberto Muñoz, South Florida market president, BBVA Compass, chair-elect.
Life Sciences and Healthcare — James Gale, IP Litigation co-chair, Cozen O’Connor, chair; Matthew Pinzur, associate vice president, Communications and Outreach, Jackson Health, chair-elect.
New Leaders Taskforce — Maya Tzur, branch sales representative, Bank United, chair; Austin Hollo, vice president, Florida East Coast Realty, chair-elect.
Small Business — Andrew Ashby, senior vice president, Business Banking Market Leader, Bank United, chair; Joe Atkinson, president, South Florida Region, Wells Fargo, chair-elect.
Technology — Hugo Perez, managing director, United Data Technologies, chair; chair-elect (pending).
Trade and Logistics — Ron Atapattu, president and founder, Overseas Cargo, chair; Romaine Seguin, president, UPS International Inc., chair-elect.
Urban Initiatives — Barron Channer, CEO, BACH Real Estate, chair; Teri Williams, president, OneUnited Bank, chair-elect.
Each committee sets specific goals to increase jobs and investment in their sector. They implement programs to strengthen industry clusters, attract new business, strengthen the talent pipeline and help local companies expand. The committees work closely with the other community leaders to implement One Community One Goal recommendations that are respective to their industry.
“From top to bottom this is a powerhouse lineup of community and industry thought leaders,” said Larry K. Williams, Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s president and CEO. “We are fortunate to have recruited this highly talented, diverse group of individuals, who will be invaluable resources for advancing the economic well-being of our community.”
The new committee chairs assume their leadership roles on Oct. 1.
The Miami-Dade Beacon Council is Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partnership. The not-for-profit public-private organization focuses on job creation and economic growth. Since 1985, the organization has assisted more than 980 businesses that have created more than 65,000 direct jobs and added more than $4 billion in new capital investments. It accomplishes this by marketing Miami-Dade as a world-class business location, growing local companies and shaping the local economy’s future.
For more information, visit www.beaconcouncil.com.
