Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Inductee (Founder) Albert Santalo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Avisena; College of Business Administration Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam; and SunTrust Bank President, Miami-Dade County, Nicholas Bustle.
Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Inductee (Builder) Glenn J. Rufrano, Chief Executive Officer, New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc.; College of Business Administration Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam; and SunTrust Bank President, Miami-Dade County, Nicholas Bustle.
2006 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year Manuel D. Medina, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Terremark Worldwide, Inc.; College of Business Administration Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam; and SunTrust Bank President, Miami-Dade County, Nicholas Bustle.
Approximately 500 alumni and community leaders attended the seventh annual Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame (EHOF) Induction Ceremony and Luncheon—the premier alumni event of the year which celebrates the college’s ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship and honors alumni who not only are successful entrepreneurs but who also have contributed significantly to the entrepreneurial business community.
The 2006 induction took place on May 17, 2006, at Parrot Jungle Island. Jackie Nespral, NBC 6 news anchor, and Ambrosio Hernandez, Telemundo 51 news anchor, hosted the event alongside William Plasencia, editor of South Florida CEO, Joyce J. Elam, executive dean of the college, and Nicholas Bustle, Miami-Dade County president for SunTrust Bank.
“The college is a significant player in fueling entrepreneurship in the community,” said Annabelle Rojas (MBA ’98, BBA ’87), director of external relations and resource development in the college. “It is only natural, then, that we should put all the effort we do into this premier alumni and community event, which celebrates—in a grand way—the entrepreneurial accomplishments of our alumni, students, and business community.”
This year’s prestigious “Founder” and “Builder” awards were presented to Albert Santalo (EMBA ’97), president and CEO, Avisena, and Glenn J. Rufrano (MSM ’74), CEO, New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc., respectively. Manuel D. Medina, chairman and CEO, Terremark Worldwide, Inc., was named 2006 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year.
The college also recognized Manuel Garcia Jr. (BBA ’89), founder and president of Pan American Food Brokers, as the finalist in the Founder category and Thomas E. Byrne (MS ’84), Florida International University real estate instructor and founder and former president of Esslinger Wooten Maxwell Realtors, as a finalist in the Builder category.
Since its inception, the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame has been well received by alumni and local businesses in South Florida that continually support the college in ensuring the success of this event.
“The Induction Ceremony would not be possible without the support of our media partners, NBC 6/Telemundo 51, and South Florida CEO magazine, and of our sponsors—SunTrust Bank, Miami; Morrison, Brown, Argiz, & Farra LLP; and Adorno & Yoss,” said Monique Catoggio, (EMBA ’03), the college’s director of alumni and partner relations.
At the conclusion of the event, alumni and guests received parting gifts from alumnus Fernando Panizo (BBA ’00), general manager of Helena Chocolatier, who donated fine chocolates from one of the largest confectionaries in South America, and Monique Hamaty-Simmonds (BBA ’96) president and CEO of Tortuga Rum Cake Company, who provided cake cutters for all of the attendees. The 2006 Induction Ceremony and Luncheon was truly a sweet success thanks to their gifts.
