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Rotary Club of South Miami Focuses on Economic Development Strategies
Miami-Dade’s Beacon Council Chair Elect Jaret Davis, Co-Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office, discussed the economic development organization’s mission and strategies to grow job-generating investments in Miami-Dade County with members of the Rotary Club of South Miami recently. Topics included: Miami’s status as a 21st century global city; infrastructure and other challenges to economic growth and; how national and international companies evaluate communities like Miami for location and expansion. Rotary Club of South Miami (RCSM) is a local club of Rotary International. RCSM is the destination for civic-minded business professionals that want to pool their efforts in the common goal of improving our community and world. Davis was welcomed by Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of South Miami Gabriel De Armas, owner of Home Instead Senior Care, and Chairman of Rotary Club of South Miami Lee Michael Morrison, Division Leader with Primerica Financial Services.
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Economic Development at Work:
Brazilian-Based Global Financial Company Chooses Miami-Dade County as Location of First U.S. Office
Way Back International Debt Collection’s client list reads like a who’s who of international businesses. They include: Coca Cola, 3M, Xerox, American Express and Hertz. The company opened its doors in 1991 in Sao Paulo, Brazil to specialize in international debt recovery. Today Way Back International Debt Collection, present in 145 countries, established its first office in the U.S. in Miami-Dade County.
“When reviewing our options for our first regional office, we were looking for an area that was an international gateway. It had to be diverse, multi-cultural and progressive. Needless to say, we found all those qualities present in Miami-Dade County,” said Jefferson Viana, CEO of Way Back International Debt Collection. “This location is only a few [flight] hours away from our headquarters in Brazil and gives us easy access to cities and clients throughout the world.”
The company opened its Miami office in the first quarter of this year and will be located near Miami’s international financial centers in the Brickell area. It plans to spend about a quarter of million dollars in capital investment during the next three years. Way Back is a member of the ACA International (The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals) and a member of the IACC (International Association of Commercial Collectors), both headquartered in the U.S.
Miami-Dade’s Beacon Council guided Way Back International Debt Collection’s move to Miami by providing assistance with site selection, research, marketing analysis and an orientation to Miami-Dade.
“Miami-Dade County has a robust and thriving international financial sector,” said Larry K. Williams, President & CEO of Miami-Dade’s Beacon Council. “That environment makes it easy for companies like Way Back International Debt Collection to select Miami as the location to best handle clients regionally and around the world.”
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Investor Spotlight: Robert R. Feldmann
Office Managing Partner – Miami – RSM US  Tell us a little about yourself.
I’ve lived in South Florida since 1973, after moving from New York, and from a culturally diverse family – my dad was from Berlin, my mom from Paris, my brother was born in Buenos Aires. My wife is from San Juan.
How did you first get involved with The Beacon Council?
Simply put, when I relocated from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, I wanted to get involved in an organization that made a difference in our community. And after reaching out to numerous business leaders in the area, the common organization I continued to hear about was The Beacon Council.
Why is Miami the best place for your business? Middle market companies make up the largest segment of the U.S. economy and are a huge part of the Miami business landscape. Since more than 85% of such organizations participate in the global marketplace and Miami is not only the gateway to Latin America, but has become a gateway to the world, it has become one of our firm’s most strategically important locations.
What’s next for your business/industry?
Continuing our quest to take the middle market to the global market.
What do you like best about living in Miami? What’s there not to love!!! I live in a beautiful place that has tremendous cultural diversity and has become one of the leading global cities to work and play.
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The Beacon Council Congratulates Visionary Award Winners
The Miami Herald Business Monday showcased the award winners of the South Florida Visionary Awards on June 13. The Beacon Council Chair-Elect Jaret Davis and President & CEO Larry K. Williams participated as judges. “It takes a lot to be a visionary – responsibility, passion, dedication, the ability to understand and value what is important, the courage to believe and have values,” Williams said. “The winners and the finalists encompass these traits and are all Miami-Dade champions. Kudos to the Miami Herald for recognizing everything they have done for our community.”
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Get Ready…
The Beacon Council’s
One Community One Goal Annual Event is One Month Away
Check out last year’s event…
OCOG Report to the Community
Thursday, July 21
@University of Miami Donna E. Shalala Student Center
8 to 11 a.m.
Free admission
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BEACON AWARD
WINNER SPOTLIGHT: Trade & Logistics: PortMiami
PortMiami is your global gateway for commerce and tourism. In a community of 2.6 million residents from more than 120 countries speaking over 80 languages, Miami-Dade County is the Cruise Capital of the World and a global marketplace that major international companies and banks also call home.
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 On September 15th and 16th this year in the recently inaugurated EAST hotel in Miami, BNamericas.com will be hosting a Forum with a regional mission. The LATAM LEADERS FORUM: Building a New Road Map for Sustainable Growth will bring together the region’s most influential Business and Public Sector Leaders and Entrepreneurs to SPEAK, CONNECT AND THINK about how to generate sustainable growth for Latin America and the companies doing business in the region. |
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Miami-Dade Schools Launch Paid Summer Internship Program
The Miami-Dade Public School System announced its paid summer internship program for its students to gain work experience at local companies. The students will be paid during their internship through a grant. Therefore there is no cost to the participating company. The grant will also cover liability insurance to further reduce the impact on the employer. This is a great opportunity for companies to have a motivated student work on a project and for students to learn about their chosen field. Read more. Fill out form.
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GIS Website Features Available Properties
The Beacon Council and Miami-Dade County websitewww.miamidadesites.com features available vacant industrial and commercial properties. It is based on user-defined criteria for Miami-Dade County utilizing geographically based demographic and business information.
It also enables commercial real estate brokers to register and highlight available parcels. Listings are provided at no cost and reach a targeted audience including Site Selectors/Consultants, Real Estate Developers, and businesses pursuing new opportunities in Miami-Dade County. Listings are featured regularly in this newsletter. Contact Stephannie Cetoute,
Manager, Research & Strategic Planning, Featured listing of the week:
 12200 NW 115 AVE
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Publication Date:
Monday, June 20, 2016
Publication Date Long:
June 20-26, 2016 NEWSLETTER
Left Side:
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Did you know?
Three of Miami-Dade’s top five private employers are hospitals.
The top five are:
University of Miami, Baptist Health South Florida, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Florida Power & Light and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
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Miami is the New Arts Capital of America
Add this to the latest of Miami rankings, Miami is becoming recognized as the arts capital of America.
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The Beacon Council in the News
GE adds 30 jobs
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
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The Idea Center Workshops & Events for Small Businesses
To see and participate in upcoming events for small businesses / entrepreneurs at the The Idea Center @ Miami Dade College
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Bottom Side:
Our Mission:
As Miami-Dade County’s official economic development partnership, The Beacon Council is charged with bringing new, job-generating investments to the community, while assisting existing businesses in their efforts to expand. By doing this, The Beacon Council facilitates the creation of quality jobs for each and every resident of Miami-Dade County. The Beacon Council is an accredited economic development organization.
Will you join us? Call Member-Investors at (305) 579-1326
(305) 579-1326
(305) 579-1326
Source: Old Beacon Site
