MIAMI – Cheryl Pearson-McNeil will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural BOMA Awards on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Miami Airport, 5101 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami.
Pearson- McNeil is the Senior Vice-President of Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement for Nielsen, the global company that measures what consumers watch and what consumers buy.
Pearson-McNeil is the visionary behind Nielsen’s African-American Consumer Report. This award-winning report led to the company’s historic creation of Nielsen’s Diversity Insights Series. Each report focuses on the rapidly growing Hispanic, African-American or Asian consumer base.
The BOMA awards was established to honor agencies, businesses and individuals who make a positive impact in the South Florida Black community. President, Dexter Bridgman, says that “The BOMA Awards is a confirmation of the importance and significance of Black Owned Media in South Florida. We will continue to push for equality in media spending by engaging and educating the decision makers in our industry.”
The BOMA Awards Chairwoman, Debra Toomer, expressed honor to be able to recognize the contributions that each honoree and finalist model. “Our honorees are community stalwarts and have demonstrated ongoing excellence in effectively communicating empowering and life-changing information and opportunities to the South Florida black community. They have demonstrated a commitment to the black community through exceptional and effective application of media communication industry strategies.”
The BOMA Awards thanks sponsors WOW Factor, The Knight Foundation, District 1 Commissioner Jordan, FPL, Drummer Boy Sound, and Jackson Memorial Hospital. Also table sponsor Miami-Dade County District 9 Commissioner Dennis Moss, Miami-Dade County District 2 Commissioner Jean Monestime, Jack Daniel’s, American Dream Miami, Sonshine Communications, Adrienne Arsht Center, Circle of One, and Jason Pizzo.
The top honors for 2017 will go to Andrew Goldberg/Vice President of Marketing at the Adrienne Arsht Center and Ed O’Dell/Corporate Director of Communications and Partnerships at Jackson Health Systems.
Both gentleman will be honored for their commitment to go above and beyond the call to support and advocate for equality in the media and support for the South Florida Black community.
ADVERTISEMENT
2017 BOMA Award Honorees
Andrew Goldberg/Vice President of Marketing at the Adrienne Arsht Center, will receive the BOMA CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD. Goldberg is a key member of the Executive Team for the largest performing arts company in South Florida, and the new “Town Square” of downtown Miami.
Now in its 11th season, the Adrienne Arsht Center has a budget of $35MM, and is on track to operate “in the black” for 10 years in a row.
Ed O’Dell/Corporate Director of Communications and Partnerships at Jackson Health Systems will receive the BOMA CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD. O’Dell spent 33 years in the newsroom as a multiple award winning reporter, producer, and anchor. O’Dell uses this experience, integrity and trust to link professional organizations to media outlets, the community, and government bodies.
The Knight Foundation will receive the BOMA ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD. The Knight Foundation
is a national foundation. Their goal is to foster, inform and engage communities, which they believe are essential for a healthy democracy. Annually the Knight Foundation grants over one-hundred million dollars for journalism, technology, communities, and arts.
Jerry Rushin/Retired Vice President at Cox Media Group will receive the BOMA ICON OF THE YEAR AWARD. Rushin was the driving force for all four Cox properties in Miami and his uncompromising commitment to broadcasting excellence and community involvement has combined to help the stations excel at serving the listening audience in a powerful way. Rushin’s career has seen many prestigious milestones, including numerous awards, and his contributions to urban radio have helped to shape the industry.
The Reeves Family/Owner & Publisher for The Miami Times, will receive the BOMA LEGEND OF THE YEAR AWARD. Since 1923, The Miami Times has been an important part of the week for some of South Florida’s most sophisticated readers. As South Florida’s oldest and largest Black newspaper, The Miami Times represents the pinnacle of community relations.
The Henry Family/Founder & Publisher for The Westside Gazette will receive the BOMA VANGUARD OF THE YEAR AWARD. Since the first issue rolled off the press in 1971, the Westside Gazette newspaper has maintained the professional, insightful and reader sensitive reporting that has gained the trust and respect of South Florida’s African American community. The Westside Gazette is set to empower the community with information, the Westside Gazette newspaper has been sensitive to the special needs of our readers.
Bishop Victor T. Curry/CEO & President at WMBM will receive the BOMA VISIONARY OF THE YEAR AWARD. ishop Curry has not only maximized and excelled in what God has deposited in him but has also raised the bar for vision, leadership, courage, civic responsibility, ecclesiastical intellect, and compassion to new and unfathomable levels. Curry is also the Founder & Bishop of New Birth Baptist Church Cathedral of Faith International.
The remaining category ballots for the 2017 nominees for the BOMA Awards are:
- Marketing/PR Firm of the Year Award – Armstrong Creative Consulting, Circle of One Marketing, Hip Rock Star Advertising, Marketing & Communications, Marome Agency, Mosaic, Overtown Media, and Sonshine Communications
- Advertising Agency of the Year Award – Media Counselors, RBB, Sonshine Communications, Turkel Brand, The Weinbach Group, and WOW Factor
- Black Advertising Agency of the Year Award – Armstrong Creative Consulting, Circle of One Marketing, Hip Rock Star Advertising, Marketing & Communications, and Sonshine Communications
- Best Communicator of the Year TV Award – Guylene Berry (Sa’k Pase Media), Jeremy “Chaos” Hannah
(Video Mix), Calibe Thompson (Blondie Ras Productions, Inc.), and Patrick Eliancy (Island TV), Tamara Phillipeaux (Island TV)
- Best Communicator of the Year Radio Award – MJ Smith (WMBM), Rhonel & Rebecca Morning Show
(WSRF), Alex Saint Surin (1700 AM), and Bishop Victor T. Curry (WMBM)
- Best Communicator of the Year Radio Independent Award – Henry Crespo (The Development Firm), Eddy Edwards (Riddins Marketing), Marlon Hill (Riddins Marketing), Pat Montague (WAVS), Duke of Earl (WAVS), and “Jamaican T” John T (WAVS)
- Best Communicator of the Year Print Award – Carolyn Guniss (The Miami Times and President of the
South Florida Black Journalist Association), Michelle Hollinger (Sisterhood), Moderator Johnny L. Barber
(The Gospel Truth), Daphne Taylor (South Florida Times), Gordan Williams (Caribbean Today), Zachery
Rinkins (Rinkins Report), and K. L. Brown (The Westside Gazette)
- Best Communicator of the Year Digital Award – Vanessa Woodard Byers (BloggingBlackMiami.com),
Alexis Brown (Socialxchange Miami), LaShannon Petit (Circle of One Marketing), Wilameana Jones (The
Wilameana Jones Experience), Tony & Woodie Lesesne (Lesesne Media Group), Nicky Gelin (Comcast/ XFINITY), The Hungry Black Man, Black PR Wire, and Peter Bailey (NiteCap Media)
- Photo/Video Journalist of the Year Award – Tamar “Teekay” McLean, Adrian Freeman, Gregory Reed,
David Muir, Andre Williams, and NightLife Photography
- BOMA Rising Star Award – Shawn Tyrell (In The Black Radio), Alexis Brown (Socialxchange Miami), and
Jimmy Nickerson (JNICK Management Group)
- AD Campaign of the Year – “Vote That’s It” created by Hip Rock Star Advertising, “Rise Up Liberty City…Honoring Our Past – Building Our Future” created by Jambalaya Media Group, Overall Body of work – Publix, Overall Body of work – FPL, and It’s So Miami (Heritage Neighborhoods) created by Turkel Brand.
