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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. Also honored were Carlos and Jorge De Cespedes, Founders of The Pharmed Group, and Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, Founder of Sunglass Hut of America and a major donor of the University. They were recognized as the 2005 South Florida Entrepreneurs of the Year and for Lifetime Achievement, respectively.
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.
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
Jorge and Carlos de Cespedes,
2005
The Pharmed Group
South Florida Entrepreneurs of the Year
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
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