Source: http://worldcityweb.com/home/MIA/publications/magazine/53/879/

(5) Who's Here Event: South Florida Global Economic Impact Study

by WC


More than 200 business leaders attended the launch of WORLDCITYs South Florida Global Economic Impact Study January 17 at the Coral Gables Country Club. WORLDCITY president and CEO Ken Roberts opened the event. Publisher Ian McCluskey then presented a summary of the studys findings.

Left to right: Ian McCluskey, WorldCity; Tom Cornish, Seitlin Insurance; Frank Nero, Beacon council.

Frank Nero, president of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, spoke about the key role that the studys findings will play in the promotion of South Florida as a global business center. Additional remarks by Baird Lobree, president of Auxis Consulting, were followed by a panel discussion that focused on need to develop a deeper understanding of multinational business community in order to better project South Floridas appeal and advantages as a business hub. Participating on the panel were Tom Cornish, president of Seitlin Insurance, Michael Diaz of Diaz, Reus, Rolff & Targ, Penny Shaffer, president for South Florida at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Scott Sime, managing director of CB Richard Ellis and Allen Brenteson, corporate vice president of Baptist Health International.



Top row, left to right: Dominique Virchaux, Korn/Ferry; Maxim Weitzman, Telefonica; Michael Diaz and Bob Targ, Diaz, Reus, Rolff & Targ; Stephen Flowers, UPS Americas. Second row: Baird Lobree, Auxis Consulting; Scott Sime, CB Richard Ellis; Penny Shaffer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida; Third row: Michael Diaz, Diaz, Reus, Rolff & Targ; Allen Brenteson, Baptist Health International; Beacon Council president Frank Nero addressing the audience.

We are grateful to The Beacon Council for their leadership and their support for this project. We are equally grateful for the support and encouragement that we received from our sponsors, all of whom contributed directly to the success of the research and our January 17 event. We look forward to working with all of them again on Phase II of this research project to measure the economic muscle of South Floridas international business community.

Top row, left to right: Frank Nero, Beacon Council; Barbara Kahn, UM School of Business; Martha de la Pena, Blue Cross Blue Shield; Randy Fairbank, World Fuel Services; Penny Shaffer, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Second row: Ian McCluskey, WorldCity; Sam Anson, Kroll; Marcy Grossman, Canadian Consul General; John Price, Kroll; David Berger, NAI Global; Stephen Flowers, UPS; Ben Mansoor, Wendys Latin America; Gavin McPhail, The Staubach Co.. Third row: Marcy Grossman, Canadian Consul General; Victor Lopez, The Kor Group; Vincent Daniels, Nova Southeastern University; Jean-Michel Cafffin, Axis Americas. Fourth row: Rosana Bowman, Baptist Health; Carlo Ferrari, Italian Trade Commission; Viviana Artau, WorldCity; Michael Cannon, Integra Realty; Frank Nero, Beacon Council; Ron Shuffield, Esslinger Wooten Maxwell. Bottom row: Manuel Montero, Saf-T-Pay; Julio Piti, Beacon Council; unidentified guest; Eric Williams, Landstar; Burton Landy, Akerman Senterfitt; Barbara Kahn, UM School of Business; Carolina Ellis- Cutler, Colliers Abood Wood Fay.