{"id":8082,"date":"2010-06-09T10:24:06","date_gmt":"2010-06-09T14:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/?p=8082"},"modified":"2017-11-20T09:51:58","modified_gmt":"2017-11-20T14:51:58","slug":"entrepreneurship-hall-of-fame-puts-spotlight-on-innovators-in-fiu-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/2010\/06\/entrepreneurship-hall-of-fame-puts-spotlight-on-innovators-in-fiu-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame puts spotlight on innovators in FIU community."},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida International University (FIU) alumni Carlos Duart<\/strong> (MST \u201999, BACC \u201994) and Mariano de Socarraz<\/strong> (BBA \u201989) were the 2010 inductees to the College of Business Administration\u2019s Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. The ceremony, whose theme was \u201cBeyond Ideas: The Art of Entrepreneurship,\u201d recognizes companies and individuals who embody excellence in entrepreneurship through their leadership and vision. Now in its 11th<\/sup> year, the event took place on May 20th<\/sup> at Jungle Island.<\/p>\n

\"Carlos
From left to right: Carlos Duart, Joyce J. Elam and Mariano de Socarraz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Duart, president and chief executive officer of Metric Engineering, Inc., a leading provider of transportation engineering services, received the \u201cBuilder Award\u201d for doubling his company\u2019s workforce and boosting revenue by more than $60 million since he took the helm in 2007. De Soccaraz, founder and CEO of specialty pathology lab CorePlus, LLC, was recognized with the \u201cFounder Award\u201d for translating his idea into a successful company with $12 million in annual sales.<\/p>\n

South Florida healthcare powerhouse Baptist Health South Florida was named \u201cEntrepreneurial Company of the Year\u201d with Brian Keeley, president and chief executive officer, accepting the award on behalf of the company.<\/p>\n

\"Joyce
From left to right: Thinh Tran, Baptist Health chief quality officer; Ana Lopez-Blazquez, Baptist Health Enterprises chief executive officer, Brian Keeley, Joyce J. Elam and Javier Hernandez Lichtl, CEO, West Kendall Baptist Hospital<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The college’s premier alumni event drew a crowd of more than 350. In her opening remarks, Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam<\/strong> hailed the \u201cskill, passion and success\u201d of local entrepreneurs. University President Mark Rosenberg<\/strong> described entrepreneurship as the \u201ccore of FIU\u2019s mission to provide our students with the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mark
Mark Rosenberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Honorees include winners of business plan competition. <\/em><\/p>\n

Recognition was also given to winners of The Miami Herald<\/em> Business Plan Challenge, presented by the Eugenio Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center, which for the first time in 2010 featured a separate track exclusively for FIU students, faculty, alumni and staff. First place went to business students I<\/strong>rina Matyukhina<\/strong>, Erwin Tejos Jr.<\/strong>, Fabianne Pompee<\/strong> and Keyla Castillo<\/strong> based on their blueprint for TruCycle, an organic waste, composting and consulting business. Online green-building resource Ecode, the brainchild of alumnus Jean Paul Ciaramella<\/strong> (BBA \u201909) and business partner Daniel Naim, won second place. Finally, the business school\u2019s director of advancement, alumni and corporate relations Monique Catoggio<\/strong> (EMBA \u201903) and her mother Ellie Kane won third place with their plan for Coaches in Your Corner, an email-based professional coaching service.<\/p>\n

\"Irma
Left to right: Irma Becerra-Fernandez (PhD ’94), director, Pino Center and Jane Wooldridge, business editor, The Miami Herald<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Alumni
Alumni group winners<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Student
Student team winners<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Staff group winners<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The event was presented by Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP and supported by the welcome sponsors Vitas, Regions Bank and Jungle Island.<\/p>\n

\"Tony
Tony Argiz (BBA \u201974) of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP, the presenting sponsor of the event<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n