Back to: Graduate Certificate in Management Information Systems » Financial Plans and Budgets » Alumni Circle Member - Michael Pustizzi »

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bob Bell, 2000
Sea and Ski Suncare

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

Joe Merino, 2001
Unipower Corporation

Richard Dobrow, 2002
Guarded Networks

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

Anthony Ronconi, 2003
Stratasys Corporations

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

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

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

Manuel Medina, 2006
Terremark Worldwide, Inc.

Albert Santalo, 2006
Avisena

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

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

Joyce J. Elam
2009 South Florida Entrepreneur of the Year Award
College of Business Administration, FIU

Presenting Sponsor 2010 - 2015