South Florida Jamaican Diaspora to Welcome H.E. Ambassador Audrey Marks for Official Visit – April 8-13, 2011
SOUTH FLORIDA – Her Excellency Audrey P Marks, Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States of America and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Organization of American States (OAS) makes her first official visit to South Florida.
The South Florida Jamaican Diaspora welcomes H.E. Ambassador Audrey Marks on her official visit – April 8-13, 2011 and the following official public events have been scheduled:
Sunday, April 10, 2011 – 10:00a.m.
Community Worship Service
Holy Family Episcopal Church
18501 NW 7th Avenue, Miami Gardens, Fl. 33169
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 8:00a.m.
Business Leaders Breakfast Forum hosted by the Jamaica USA Chamber of Commerce
Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel, 1825 Griffin Road, Dania Beach, Fl. 33004
(Registration fee = US25.00)
Contact: 305-576-7888
Tuesday, April 12, 10am
Presentation of Keys to Broward County & Proclamation to Ambassador Of Jamaica by Broward County Mayor Sue Gunzburger on behalf of Broward County Commission
Commission Chambers, 4th Floor, Government Center
115 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 6-8p.m.
Community Meet and Greet
Nova Southeastern University
Auditorium, Health Profession Building
3200 South University Drive
Davie, FL 33328-2018
(corner of University Drive and SW 30th Street, Davie)
Audrey Patrice Marks, Jamaica’s tenth Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), assumed duties in May 2010.
Ambassador Marks
Ambassador Marks holds both a Bachelor and Master degrees in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and Nova University, Florida, USA, respectively.
Ambassador Marks is the founder of Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited, a multi-transaction company which she conceptualized and started in 1997. Paymaster operates payment agencies from which all types of bill payments and remittances can be made. The company has created 150 agencies in Jamaica, providing services to over 1.4 million customers and employment for over 400 persons with annual transactions of over $40 Billion Dollars. It is the first multi-transaction agency in the Caribbean. A career entrepreneur, Ambassador Marks started and operated six previous businesses, ranging from a 100-acre banana exporting farm, transportation company, to a real estate sales and development company. She has also operated a Venture Capital Company with diverse investments, including manufacturing, travel and entertainment companies.
Prior to her appointment as Ambassador, Ms Marks served on several private and public sectors Boards, including being Deputy Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Chairman of the Central Wastewater Treatment Company Limited (CWTC), Chair of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Director of the Board of RBTT Securities Jamaica Limited, Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), National Health Fund (NHF), the University of the West Indies (Mona School of Business).
She holds the distinction of being the first female President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM), an organization which promotes investment and trade between the United States and Jamaica.
Ambassador Marks is the recipient of numerous citations and recognition from her peers and various organizations for her pioneering work, entrepreneurial endeavors and commitment to social causes. These include: Ernest & Young Nominee for the “Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year 2000”; Business Leader of the Year Award nominee for 2000; and the Florida International University Business Leader of the Year Award for 2003 and 2010.
Ambassador Marks is married to Jassel Dunstan and they have two daughters – Morgan and Madison. She enjoys playing golf, mentoring young adults and spending time with her family.
