South Florida’s Multicultural Business Community Celebrated By The Miami-Dade Chamber Of Commerce
MIAMI – The Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce (MDCC) held its 10th Annual Holiday Gala on Saturday, December 5, to honor the best and brightest among South Florida’s business, civic, philanthropic, and community leaders at Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom attracting nearly 600 guests.
This year’s theme, Embracing the South Florida Multi-Cultural Business community, celebrated the art and culture of the ethnic diversity of Miami from several Caribbean islands – Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica.
The night began with a cocktail reception and silent auction featuring custom hand rolled cigars, a junkanoo band, a bongo drummer, and a steel pan ensemble.
Calvin Hughes, WPLG – channel 10 News Anchor, served as the master of ceremony for the lively program. The gourmet dinner featured acclaimed jazz vocalist and Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) Board Member, Carole Ann Taylor.
Alvin West, CFO and Senior Vice President of the GMCVB, served as the gala committee chair. He was joined by the event co-chairs, Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Jean Monestime and Jorge Plasencia, co-founder, chairman & CEO of República and MDCC Board Chairman H. Leigh Toney, to salute this year’s honorees.
Miami-Dade Chamber Of Commerce Honorees
Ronald Frazier received the Citizen of the Year Award
Marlon A. Hill, Esq. received the Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Enid C. Pinkney received the H.T. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award
(Photo Credit: Howard Levy)
(Photo Credit: Howard Levy)
(Photo Credit: Howard Levy)
Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce President, Eric Knowles gave a heartfelt thank you to the sponsors who answered the call to support South Florida’s business community. The sponsors were: Alpha Staffing Search Firm, American Airlines, Bank of America, BankUnited, Baptist Health System, Career Source South Florida, Carnival Cruise Lines, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Florida Power & Light Company, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Government of Antigua & Barbuda Ministry of Tourism and Investment, In Touch Logistics LLC, Jackson Health System, Knight Foundation, Miami Access Tunnel, Miami Dolphins, Miami World Center, Port of Miami, Skyrise Miami, The Country of the Bahamas, The Country of Haiti, University of Miami, The Miami Herald, and Wells Fargo.
The evening culminated with the launch of MDCCs new, interactive website, www.m-dcc.org, which will feature integrated technology for members to engage in the world of business. Guests were able to get a first-hand look at how the website will function to provide an accelerated user experience.
Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce looks forward to enhancing their digital footprint and additional philanthropic efforts for South Florida in 2016.
