ACCOUNTING
Lewis Greenberg
Director of Marketing, Daszkal Bolton
Lewis Greenberg is responsible for developing, overseeing and managing the marketing strategy, public relations and promotional activities for Daszkal Bolton, a full-service accounting, tax and advisory firm. In the two years since Greenberg joined the firm, Daszkal Bolton has undergone a major rebranding initiative, more than doubling its Twitter followers, increasing its exposure on LinkedIn and introducing a new internal communications platform.
Greenberg is also an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University, where he has taught courses in customer-relationship management, promotional management and business-to-business marketing. “My hope is to create value for students both today and for their entire careers,” Greenberg says.
Greenberg serves on the board of directors for the American Marketing Association (AMA) South Florida chapter as immediate past president. He previously served on the board of directors for the Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital.
Greenberg received his bachelor’s from Florida Atlantic University and his MBA from Nova Southeastern University. He was among the first 200 professionals to earn the designation of Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) from the AMA. He also successfully completed the Inbound Marketing Certification from HubSpot Academy.
Finalists
Eva Greene, BDO USA LLP
Patrick O’Brien, Marcum LLP
BANKING
Erin Knight
Miami Market President, Stonegate Bank
Erin Knight began her banking career in 1998 at SunTrust Bank, where she met her mentor, Dave Seleski, with whom she went on to open a private banking office for SouthTrust Bank in Miami. Knight rejoined Seleski at Stonegate in 2010 to open the bank’s first branch in Miami. Two years later, she opened Stonegate’s second Miami branch in Doral, and has continued to grow the area’s portfolio to become one of the top grossing in the company. She currently oversees a loan and deposit portfolio worth more than $320 million.
In 2012, Knight created the Stonegate Charitable Foundation Community Service Award & Scholarship, which, to date, has contributed nearly $100,000 to area students. In 2013, she founded Lean In Miami, an organization committed to empowering women to “lean in” to their ambitions with encouragement from other like-minded women.
Knight is a Certified Financial Planner and a graduate of Florida State University. She has been recognized by the Miami Herald as one of “20 Under 40 Rising Young Leaders” and by South Florida Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and “25 Most Influential Business Women” lists.
Finalists
Trey Fogg, Fifth Third Bank
Golden Johansson, Legacy Bank of Florida
Marcel Summermatter, Regions Bank
Axel Thibon, Sabadell United Bank
CONSTRUCTION
Bryan Donahue
Landscape Architecture Division Director, Wantman Group Inc.
Bryan Donahue joined Land Design South in 2007 as an entry-level landscape designer; in 2014, he was promoted to director. That same year, the firm was acquired by Wantman Group Inc., though Donahue continued his role overseeing a team of designers on various landscape projects, from retail spaces to country clubs to private residences. He prides himself on working with clients from conception to completion in order to fully realize their vision.
“Through my career, I’ve worked hard, stayed genuine and down to earth, and respected others,” Donahue says. “I truly believe these are the reasons I’ve been successful in my personal and professional life.”
Donahue has been involved with the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce for several years and is a part of its 2016 Leadership West Palm Beach class. He has also done significant work with Habitat for Humanity, helping design a healing garden for the VA Medical Center in West Palm, among other projects.
Donahue has a bachelor’s in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He became a certified Registered Landscape Architect in 2012.
Finalists
Blake Johnson, AMC Custom Builders LLC
Farbod Pourji, TRC Worldwide Engineering Inc.
Chris Welling, Pegasus
Builders Inc.
EDUCATION
Jonathan Schwartz
Associate Vice President for Operations Planning and Real Estate, Broward College
Since joining Broward College in October 2015, Jonathan Schwartz has been responsible for the school’s real estate development, including the revitalization of its downtown Fort Lauderdale campus. “My position gives me the opportunity to marry my love of education and real estate,” Schwartz says. “I’m excited about creating spaces that will give our students pride to be at Broward College.”
Prior to his current role, Schwartz worked nine years at AutoNation, where he completed over
$500 million of real estate investment analyses, more than 150 construction projects and over 200 real estate transactions.
Schwartz is a founding member and chair of the Fort Lauderdale Turkey Trot, a hallmark event for the city. He is also on the advisory board for the Broward College Village Square and on the Education Advisory Board for the city of Fort Lauderdale. “I get inspired by collaborating with others,” Schwartz says. “I am also fortunate to love what I do. I think that my passion makes me more successful.”
Schwartz earned his bachelor’s from the University of Central Florida and his MBA from Florida Atlantic University. He has been recognized by Gold Coast magazine’s “40 Under 40” list.
Finalists
Jeremy Katzman, Nova Southeastern University
Aly Young, The Learning Loft
FINANCE
Cristian LaCapra
Vice President, Northern Trust
As a strategic advisor at Northern Trust, a global financial services company managing over
$900 billion in assets, Cristian LaCapra provides investment management, wealth and estate planning, and private banking solutions to high net worth individuals and families, as well as foundations and endowments.
Prior to Northern Trust, LaCapra worked for the Miami Dolphins as regional manager of corporate development for the Dolphins Business Alliance and LIV Sun Life, where he developed and executed high-level outside sales and marketing strategies with a focus on new business and revenue.
LaCapra actively represents Northern Trust through civic engagements in the Miami-Dade community. He is currently on the boards of City Year, the Awesome Foundation and Connect Florida, for which he is also a Class V representative. He is actively involved in local charities, including the Dolphins Cycling Challenge.
LaCapra graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in finance and economics.
Finalists
Amber Jackson, Athenian Venture Partners
Shir Keidan, Bienenfeld, Lasek & Starr LLC
Philip Reagan, J.P. Morgan
Private Bank
GOVERNMENT
Scott Evans
Director of Planning and Development, Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency
Scott Evans has been involved with the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for more than a decade. In that time, he has been instrumental in helping transform a city that was notorious for high unemployment, low median wages and high crime into one that is on the brink of a major renaissance.
Evans is currently leading the massive redevelopment of the city’s Marina District, which includes the new $35 million Marina Event Center, a two-story, state-of-the-art facility with small banquet rooms and larger meeting spaces. Future plans for the Marina District include retail shops, restaurants and a parking garage with offices and additional retail.
“Scott is the individual who takes the vision and ideas from the council, the public, the developer and the CRA director, and figures out how to make them work on time and in budget,” says Tyler Alten of Viking Developers, the former master developer for the Marina District project. “He has created hundreds of jobs and revitalized a city district, making it a safe place to work and recreate.”
Evans graduated from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, with a bachelor’s in urban and regional planning.
HEALTH CARE
Haroula Protopapadakis
Assistant Administrator, Memorial Regional Hospital
Haroula Protopapadakis began her career in health care when she was still in college, working at Memorial Regional Hospital’s Admitting and Registration department. She spent time in pharmaceutical sales before returning to Memorial in 2007, working her way up to director of business development and physician relations. Protopapadakis took on her current role as assistant administrator in 2014; she oversees many support departments, including security, telecommunications, transportation, volunteer services, cardiac and pulmonary rehab, and patient- and family-centered care. She also oversees the Division of Hospitalist Medicine and the Division of Neurosciences.
Throughout her time at Memorial, Protopapadakis has played a key leadership role in working with charitable organizations, including United Way, the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, the American Heart Association, Partners In Education and more. She is a participant of Leadership Broward Class XXXIII and a member of the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Protopapadakis earned both her bachelor’s in business administration and her MBA with a concentration in health care from Nova Southeastern University.
Finalists
Elisa Epstein, FoodMetrX
Luis Soro, Shino Bay Cosmetic Dermatology, Plastic Surgery & Laser Institute
HOSPITALITY
Paul Greenberg
Founder and Managing Partner, American Social Bar and Restaurant
It isn’t easy to maintain a successful business in the hospitality industry. But Paul Greenberg, along with partner Rick Mijares, managed to do just that with American Social, the Americana-themed restaurant and bar that first opened on Las Olas in 2012; two years later, the pair opened AmSo Brickell. Both locations have garnered a massive local following and won numerous accolades. A third location in Tampa is slated to open this fall.
Prior to American Social, Greenberg paid his dues, working his way up from busboy to bartender to partner in one of the most successful bars in northern Florida. “I believe in keeping my word and leading by example,” he says. “I think there is a lot more respect when people see that the owners are not afraid to get their hands dirty.”
American Social hosts numerous charities throughout the year, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “You first have to be a good person to be a successful business person,” Greenberg says. “We feel it is great to give back to the community and we are happy to do it.”
Greenberg graduated with honors from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s in marketing.
Finalists
Erin Branham, Apartment Two Events
Jason Cotter, Riverside Hotel
Mike Linder, Silver Lining Inflight Catering
Hillary Smith, Koncept Events
INSURANCE
Zain Hasan
Founder and CEO, National Insurance & HR Consulting Group
Zain Hasan started off in the insurance industry as a sales rep. Although he was very successful in this position, he noticed that overall, brokers were mostly in it to make money and didn’t really care about their clients. In 2014, Hasan founded National Insurance & HR Consulting Group (NICG); his motto: The customer is always right.
“Forward-thinking and innovative are the two adjectives that sum up Zain’s business strategy,” says Marilyn Arrieta, NICG’s corporate vice president of sales. “He is on a mission to bring transparency to the industry that hasn’t been there. Where most competitors are trying to sneak in commission, Zain will open up every part of his business to make the account feel like home.”
Hasan graduated with honors from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s in biological and biomedical science and a certificate in personal and organizational leadership from the Terry College of Business’ Institute for Leadership Advancement. In 2015, he was recognized by Worldwide Who’s Who as the “Young Executive to Watch.” Recently, NICG was named the No. 6 “Best Place to Work in South Florida” by South Florida Business Journal.
Finalists
Melissa Aguilar, MassMutual Financial Group South Florida
Nicole Brewer, Patriot National Inc.
Jennifer Gunter, National Council on Compensation Insurance
Jonathan Perrillo, Brown & Brown Insurance
LAW – BROWARD
Michael Wild
Managing Partner, Wild Felice & Partners P.A.
Michael D. Wild is managing partner of Wild Felice & Partners, a full-service law firm in Fort Lauderdale that specializes in estate planning, asset protection, elder law and probate administration. The firm uses a combination of real estate law, estate planning strategies, corporate formation, family law and asset structuring to ensure clients are protected from potential litigation, creditors and other possible threats. Wild is designated with a “Preeminent” rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest designation an attorney can attain.
Wild is on several boards, including 2-1-1 Broward, Impact Broward, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, ARC Broward, the Unsafe Structures Board for the city of Plantation and United Way’s Envision Broward, among other charitable responsibilities.
Wild attended the University of Florida, earning his bachelor’s in political science and his J.D. from the university’s Levin College of Law. He was named “Small Business Person of the Year” for the city of Plantation; nominated for “Man of the Year” by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; and named one of Gold Coast magazine’s “40 Under 40.” He has also been listed in The Wall Street Journal as one of South Florida’s top attorneys.
Finalists
Thomas Choberka, Kelley Kronenberg
Scott Knapp, Broad and Cassel
Cherine Smith Valbrun, Kim Vaughan Lerner LLP
Alessandra Stivelman, Eisinger, Brown, Lewis, Frankel &
Chaiet P.A.
George Taylor, Brinkley Morgan
Joshua Widlansky, Padula
Hodkin PLLC
LAW – DADE
Gustavo J. Membiela
Equity Partner, Hunton & Williams LLP
Gustavo J. Membiela became an equity partner at Hunton & Williams in 2011. Since then, he has worked on high-profile cases with an emphasis on infrastructure and investment disputes, financial institutions and contract disputes. His experience also includes handling cross-border litigation and sovereign immunity challenges. Among his accomplishments, he contributed to the firm’s successful representation of various European financial institutions in connection with the Bernard Madoff scandal. Membiela is also an expert on Cuba and has taken a leadership role in the firm’s Cuba practice, regularly advising boards and other business leaders on the country.
Membiela serves on the board of Amigos for Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. He also gives back to the community through various pro bono matters, including immigration cases, guardianship issues and wrongful imprisonment.
Membiela earned his bachelor’s from Villanova University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has received numerous accolades, including: “Top Lawyer” by the South Florida Legal Guide and one of Daily Business Review’s “Rising Stars” for 2014.
Finalists
Howard E. Fox, Fowler White Burnett P.A.
Uriel A. Mendieta, Hunton & Williams LLP
Cristina Papanikos, Gunster
John Quick, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman P.L.
Alyssa Razook Wan, Fowler White Burnett P.A.
Jaime Vining, Friedland Vining P.A.
LAW – PALM BEACH
Benjamin Hodas
Founding Attorney, The Law Office of Benjamin T. Hodas
Benjamin Hodas is the founding attorney of his eponymous law firm in West Palm Beach, representing individuals in high-asset, high-conflict divorce and family litigation suits. As a board-certified marital and family law attorney, Hodas represents less than 0.5 percent of Florida Bar members that share this distinction. Despite the hardships that his clients will inevitably face, Hodas is candid to not sugarcoat the process.
Hodas served on the executive council of the Florida Family Law Section and is a founding member of the Susan Greenberg Family Law American Inn of Court of the Palm Beaches. He is also active in local charities, including Take Stock in Children Palm Beach and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County.
Hodas earned his bachelor’s in criminology from the University of Florida and his J.D. from the university’s Levin College of Law. In addition to being rated by Super Lawyers and other prestigious designations, Hodas was named as one of the “Attorneys to Watch in 2015” by Attorney at Law Magazine.
Finalists
Michael J. Drahos, Fowler White Burnett P.A.
Matthew Kissner, Broad and Cassel
MARKETING & MEDIA
Mike Valdes-Fauli
President and CEO, Pinta
As president and CEO of Pinta, of one of the largest Hispanic marketing firms in the country, Mike Valdes-Fauli has quickly paved the way for cross-cultural marketing in the modern era. In the last year alone, Pinta has grown 42 percent, bringing its employee total to 35 across its offices in Miami, New York and LA. It has created Hispanic platforms for several prestigious clients, including Amazon, Facebook, the NFL and T-Mobile. Among Valdes-Fauli’s many local accomplishments was improving the public reputation of the Miami Marlins.
As the youngest member of the South Florida advisory board for BBVA Compass, Valdes-Fauli sits alongside luminaries such as Jeb Bush, Marielena Villamil and Raoul Thomas. He’s also a member of CEAL, a Latin American leadership council.
Valdes-Fauli is a two-time co-chair of Hispanicize, the largest annual event for Latino trendsetters and newsmakers in journalism, blogging, marketing, entertainment and tech entrepreneurship. He also serves on the South Florida executive committee for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Valdes-Fauli graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s in communications and political science. He is one of the youngest executives recognized by both South Florida Business Journal and PRWeek’s “40 Under 40.”
Finalists
Andre Brown, Mi6 Global & Associates LLC
Corey Levin, Hardcore Advertising
Michelle Martinez Reyes, Greenspoon Marder
NONPROFIT
Sandra Einhorn
Executive Director, Nonprofit Executive Alliance of Broward
Sandra Einhorn epitomes what it means to be a civic leader who truly cares about her community. In particular, she has been integral in transforming conversations around veterans, community development and the elderly.
Einhorn recently became executive director for the Nonprofit Executive Alliance of Broward, a coalition of nonprofit CEOs working together for advocacy, education and collaborations throughout Broward County. In her previous role as executive director for Rebuilding Together Broward County, Einhorn helped grow the organization’s budget from less than $200,000 in 2009 to nearly $700,000.
Einhorn is on the board of directors for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, where she serves as the nonprofit committee chair. She’s also on the advisory board of United Way’s Mission United, the executive committee of the South Florida Community Land Trust, and is founding vice chair of the Community Reinvestment Alliance of South Florida.
Einhorn earned her certificate in fundraising management from the University of Indiana’s Fund Raising School and her bachelor’s from the University of Central Florida. She is a graduate of Leadership Fort Lauderdale Class XVI, Leadership Broward Class XXXIII, Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute Small Business Executive Program and the American Express Leadership Academy.
Finalists
Alona Geysman, Jewish Federation of Broward County
Jenna Reed, Golden Bell Education Foundation
Jessica Vones, Children Diagnostic & Treatment Center
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Michael Loudis
Co-Founder and President, ProFi Facility Maintenance
Michael Loudis was only a junior in college when he and his partners successfully grew what started out as a class project into a residential cleaning company. This led to the creation of ProFi, a facility maintenance company providing some of the top commercial property management firms in Florida with janitorial cleaning, porter services, shopping plaza maintenance, pressure washing, power sweeping and handyman services. The company currently operates in Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Miami with over 80 employees and is one of the fastest-growing service companies in South Florida.
Loudis is very active in BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) Fort Lauderdale & Palm Beaches, the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and The Tower Club. For two years, he and his partners have made generous donations on behalf of ProFi to the Humane Society of Broward County.
Loudis earned his bachelor’s in business management from Florida State University; he also completed the four-month Small Business Executive Program through the university’s Jim Moran Institute.
Finalists
Ron Green, Greenlight
Staffing Group
Troy Sorel, Emerald Asset
Advisors LLC
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Lauren Fyke
Public Relations Representative, JM Family Enterprises Inc.
Lauren Fyke began her career as the assistant public relations manager for Neiman Marcus Fort Lauderdale before joining Michael Goodman’s PR team more than six years ago, where she was instrumental in creating impactful PR opportunities for shopping destinations across the country, including The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale and Sawgrass Mills. In April, Fyke joined JM Family Enterprises, one of the largest and diversified companies in the automotive industry, as its public relations representative.
Fyke is a board member of Island Paws Rescue and is a member of Next Gen 4 HANDY, for which she helped create the “School-a-Palooza” back-to-school fundraiser that raised more than $100,000 for children in need. She was also involved in the organization’s “Prom Night,” a themed dance designed to secure additional funds to send kids to summer camp. Last year, Fyke was recognized as a Glammy Award honoree by Glam-A-THON for her immeasurable contributions to helping eradicate breast cancer.
Fyke holds bachelor’s from Rollins College and an MBA with concentrations in marketing and management from Rollins’ Crummer Graduate School of Business. She is currently involved in Leadership Broward Class XXXIV.
Finalists:
Evan Nierman, Red Banyan Group
Lais Pontes, The Pontes Group
Marielle Sologuren, Pierson Grant Public Relations
REAL ESTATE
Enrique Teran
Co-Founder, Avanti Way Realty
Over the last 16 years, Enrique Teran has be fundamental in transforming the real estate industry by providing innovative technology, education and support-driven tools to help agents accelerate their business and upgrade their customers’ experience. Through Avanti Way, agents become “Agentpreneurs,” and part of the first-ever real estate incubator. Overall, Teran has helped brokers with over $2 billion in sales, which led the company to be recognized as the seventh fastest-growing company in South Florida and No. 2 for new agent intake in 2015. Today, Avanti Way has close to 500 agents with six offices between Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
In 2014, through an alliance with Techo, a nonprofit dedicated to overcoming poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean, Teran created a mechanism to allow agents to donate funds from their commissions with a simple click. As a result, eight homes were donated to underprivileged communities in the region.
Teran earned his bachelor’s from American InterContinental University-South Florida. In March 2016, he and his partner, Andres Korda, were awarded the South Florida R.E.A.L. Award for Residential Real Estate Broker by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Finalists
Gabriel Britti, Marcus & Millichap
Chad Gray, Luxury Living Fort Lauderdale
Nicholas Mastroianni, Allied Capital & Development of South Florida LLC
Jose Parrilla, InvestQuest
Partners Inc.
Diana Pubchara, Blanca Commercial Real Estate
RETAIL
Andrew Koenig
Vice President of Operations, City Furniture
Although Andrew Koenig’s father, Keith, is founder and CEO of City Furniture, nothing was handed to the young visionary. He was promoted to managing director in 2010, but only after he had worked in each division of the operations department.
Over the last five years, Koenig has been an integral part of City Furniture’s Lean Conversion, which included the $3.5 million implementation of a CNG (compressed natural gas) station at the company’s distribution center. City Furniture now has 68 delivery trucks that run on CNG and plans to increase to 100 trucks by next year. As a result, City Furniture was named “14th Greenest Fleet” in the country. “True Lean Conversions are only successful 1 to 2 percent of the time,” Koenig says. “I’m happy to say it is part of our culture and something we will never stop working on.”
City Furniture works closely with Habitat for Humanity and is heavily involved with Holy Cross Hospital’s Women’s Center, which Koenig’s late mother helped build.
Koenig earned his bachelor’s from Elon University and his MBA from Nova Southeastern University.
Finalists
Adam Davis, GC Pawn
Ofir Farahan, OFY
Greg Zeigler, JM Lexus
TECHNOLOGY / UTILITIES
Alex Price
Senior Manager of Community Relations, ADT Security Services
Alex Price leads community relations and corporate responsibility for ADT, the 140-year-old, $4 billion security giant headquartered in Boca Raton. Among his biggest accomplishments is the creation of ADT Always Cares, the company’s community service program that promotes volunteerism for its 18,000 employees throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Overall, Price’s programs have dramatically increased ADT employee engagement, positively shaped public perception of the company, and earned it numerous accolades, including “Outstanding Large Corporation” for National Philanthropy Day in Broward County; Gov. Rick Scott’s “Champion of Service Award”; and “Business of the Year” by the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.
Since 2013, Price has been chairman of Connect Florida, a statewide organization for developing emerging leaders. He was also appointed by the mayor and city council of Boca Raton to serve a three-year term on the Elder Affairs Advisory Board.
Price earned his BFA from Florida State University and his master’s in strategic communication from Columbia University, graduating with high honors. He was recognized in the “40 Under 40” lists by both Boca Life Magazine and South Florida Business Journal.
Finalists
Matt Gallo, United Data Technologies
Adam Garfield, SpeedETab
Stephanie Mitrione, Florida Power & Light
