EHOF Inductees

The first 2000 Inductee into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame was Bob Bell, the founder of Banana Boat Suncare and the Chairman and CEO of Sea & Ski Corporation. Bell graduated from the CBA in 1981 with a BBA degree.

Our 2001 Inductees were Augusto L. Vidaurreta, co-founder of The Systems Consulting Group and RAM Strategies, Inc. and Joe Merino, founder of Unipower Corporation. Vidaurreta received his BS in Business from the CBA in 1980 and Merino earned his BBA in 1974 and his MBA in 1976, both from the CBA.

Augusto L. Vidaurreta, 2001 Systems Consulting Group,  Cambridge Technologies & Adjoined Technologies

Joe Merino, 2001 Unipower Corporation

On April 12, 2002, Richard Dobrow was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Dobrow, CEO of Guarded Networks, Inc., received his BBA in 1995 and his MAcc in 1997, both from the CBA.

On Friday, May 30, 2003, Anthony E. Ronconi (BBA '88), Founder, Principal, CTO and Chief Strategy Officer for then StrataSys Group, LLC, was inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. A new award was established--the South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year--and presented to Howard J. Leonhardt, Chairman and CEO of Bioheart, Inc.

Howard J. Leonhardt, 2003 Bioheart, Inc. South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year

Anthony Ronconi, 2003 Stratasys Corporations

On May 13, 2004, Joseph Caruncho (BBA ’81) and Justo Pozo (BBA ’80), Founder and President of Preferred Care Partners, were inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. The 2004 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Keith St. Clair, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, TraveLeaders. Additionally, two alumni were recognized as vital builders of their respective family’s businesses: Robert Capó (B.S.), Chief Marketing Officer, El Dorado Furniture, and Andrew Yap (BBA ’91, MBA ’97), Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, LEASA.

Joseph Caruncho, 2004  th Preferred Care Partners

Justo Pozo, 2004  Preferred Care Partners

Keith St. Clair, 2004 TraveLeaders  South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year

Roberto Capo, 2004 El Dorado Furniture  Family Business Alumni Award

Andrew Yap, 2004  Family Business Alumni Award

On May 12, 2005, Agustin "Tino" Herran (BBA '91), President and CEO of General Real Estate Corporation, Sedano's Supermarket, and Tire Group International, and Larry Harris (BS '81), Proprietor of Mosaico and Salero Restaurants, and Co-Founder of Pollo Tropical Restaurants, were inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, Founder of Sunglass Hut of America and a major donor of the University was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award.

Agustin Herran, 2005 Sedanos Supermarkets   General Real Estate Corporation  Tire Group International

Larry Harris, 2005 Pollo Tropical Mosaico and Salero Restaurants

Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, 2005 Sunglass Hut   Lifetime Achievement Award

May 17, 2006, Albert Santalo (EMBA '97), President of Avisena and Glenn J. Rufrano (MSM '74), CEO of New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc., were inducted as founder and builder respectively, into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Manuel Medina, Chairman and CEO of Terremark Worldwide, Inc., was selected by the CBA as the 2006 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year.

Glenn J. Rufrano, 2006 New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc.

Manuel Medina, 2006 Terremark Worldwide, Inc.

Albert Santalo, 2006 Avisena

May 16, 2007, the first female was inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.  The “Founder” award was presented to Margarita M. Gonzalez (BBA 06), president and CFO, of AccuBANKER, Antonio “Tony” Argiz (BBA 74), Managing Partner, Morrison, Brown Argiz and Farra, LLP received the “Builder” award.  The 2007 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year award, given to a non-alumnus/ae, was presented to Miriam Lopez, chairman and CEO of TransAtlantic Bank. She is an outstanding entrepreneur and contributing member to South Florida’s entrepreneurial community.  She serves on Florida International University’s Board of Trustees.

Margarita M. Gonzalez 2007 Founder Award AccuBANKER

Antonio L. Argiz 2007 Builder Award Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP

Miriam Lopez 2007 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year TransAtlantic Bank

May 8, 2008, Malcolm Butters (MBA ’83), President and Founder of Butters Construction and Ignacio Urbieta (MBA ‘85), co- owner and CEO of Urbieta Oil Company, were inducted as founder and builder respectively, into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Sergio Pino, President and CEO of Century Home Builders, LLC was selected by the college as the 2008 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year.

Malcolm Butters 2008 Founder Award Butters Construction & Development

Ignacio Urbieta 2008 Builder Award Urbieta Oil Co.

Sergio Pino 2008 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year Award Century Home Builders

May 16, 2009 marked the ten-year anniversary of the Entrepreneurship Hall of fame. The Masquerade Soiree and Auction took place at the Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach.  All previous year’s inductees were invited to attend the celebration.  Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam was named 2009 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year for her transformational leadership.

May 20, 2010, marked the eleven-year anniversary of the college’s Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Mariano de Soccaraz (BBA ’89), President and CEO of CorePlus, L.L.C. and Carlos Duart (MST ’99, BACC ‘94), President and CEO of Metric Engineering Group, were inducted as founder and builder respectively, into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Baptist Health South Florida was selected by the college as the 2010 South Florida Entrepreneurial Company of the Year, the award was accepted by Brian Keeley, President and CEO. Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP became the 2010-2015 presenting sponsor for the event.

Mariano de Soccarraz 2010 Founder Award CorePlus, L.L.C.

Carlos Duart 2010 Builder Award Metric Engineering Group

Baptist Health South Florida South Florida Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Accepted by Brian Keeley President & CEO

May 20, 2011, marked the twelfth-year anniversary of the college’s Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Alberto Aghion (BBA ’99), COO and Co-Founder of Zumba Fitness, L.L.C. and Monique Hamaty-Simmonds (BBA ‘96), CEO of Tortuga Rum Cake Company, were inducted as founder and builder respectively, into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Benjamin Leon, Jr.  was selected by the college as the 2010 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year. Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP was presenting sponsor for the event.

Monique Hamaty-Simmonds 2011 Builder Award Tortuga Rum Cake Company

Alberto Aghion 2011 Founder Award Zumba Fitness, LLC

Benjamin Leon, Jr. 2011 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year  Leon Medical Centers, Inc.