MIAMI, FL February 18, 2016 — The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the Top Entrepreneurial Awards at The Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne. The luncheon was emceed by NBC 6 Anchor Jackie Nespral and featured a keynote address by John Kunkel, Founder of 50 Eggs, Inc. The Top Entrepreneurial Awards celebrate South Florida’s entrepreneurial spirit and rich cultural diversity, with finalists representing a variety of industries and showcasing the region’s entrepreneurial business community. Awards were presented in the following categories:
Top Business of the Year — Large (50+ employees): Since 1979, The Related Group has been one of the defining forces behind South Florida’s evolution. The firm’s developments energize cities; celebrate forward-thinking architecture and urban planning; and create vibrant new ways to live in South Florida’s dynamic neighborhoods.
Top Business of the Year — Small (49 employees or less): For 35 years Bill Hansen Luxury Catering has catered and produced social and corporate events for hundreds of Fortune 500 firms and thousands of bridal couples, offering a wide variety of unique venues along with innovative catering, event planning, décor and flawless execution.
Executive of the Year: Henry Fleches, CEO of United Data Technologies Inc. (UDT), is a leader in Cloud and Managed Technology solutions. A hands-on CEO, he oversees UDT’s strategy, fiscal performance and corporate culture. Under his leadership, the company grew five times during the recession years and now has 14 locations in eight states. He has helped transform the company, from a value-added reseller to a diversified IT services business assisting companies and government agencies of all sizes.
Corporate Champion for Diversity & Inclusion: Skanska USA is known for building complex construction projects aimed at making communities better. The company has more than 600 employees and 30 active projects in Florida today.
Community Outreach: Dibia Dream fosters life skills development through sports and recreational education for underserved youth. DREAM is DIBIA’s community outreach initiative impacting underserved youth in the community through their Dream Academy (after school programming), Dream Scholars Program (higher education scholarships) and Dream Active Summer Institute.
That’s So South Florida: El Dorado Furniture is the leading home furnishing store in South Florida, offer design expertise in both décor and composition to an ever-expanding global customer base.
South Florida & Beyond: República is a leading, independent, cross-cultural agency that is fearlessly redefining what it is to create relevant, enduring connections between brands and consumers across language and culture – all while nurturing lasting client partnerships and forging an identity of altruism and boundless innovation.
The following finalists were also recognized for their achievements: business categories – Pincho Factory, Inc.; ShadeFLA; Avionica; TekPartners; EcoTech Visions; Ocaquatics Swim School; MasterCard; Sutton Ferneries Inc.; Andes Global Trading; SMX Services & Consulting, Inc.; All Florida Paper, LLC; VITAS Healthcare; individuals categories – Ricardo C. Cury, MD, President and CEO of Radiology Associates of South Florida; and Patricia Bonilla, President/CEO of Lunacon Construction Group.
The 2016 Top Entrepreneurial Awards were made possible by presenting sponsor: Bank of America; gold sponsor: Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald; silver sponsor: Baptist Health South Florida; bronze sponsors: All Florida Paper LLC; Florida International University; Radiology Associates of South Florida; United Data Technologies; supporting sponsors: Compuquip Technologies/Check Point Software Technologies LTD; Modani Furniture; State Farm Agent Maria Elena Cisneros; WeWork; and video sponsor: Communis Creative.
For more information about the Top Entrepreneurial Awards, contact Elizabeth Galvez at 305-577-5438 or [email protected].
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About Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in South Florida, representing more than 400,000 employees of member companies. It is an association of businesses and professions organized to create progress essential to attaining the social and economic needs of the community. To carry out this mission, the Chamber involves the private sector in community leadership to enhance the economic opportunities and quality of life in the area; while partnering with the community’s economic development and tourism agencies and their initiatives to make our Greater Miami a better place to live, work and play. To learn more, visit www.miamichamber.com.