One of the joys of reporting in South Florida for 40 years is catching up with sources who feel like old friends. That was the case in this issue when I interviewed Sherif Ayad, whom I profiled in SFBW 10 years ago.
I thought ID & Design International already had a “wow” headquarters in a former bank building in Oakland Park, but Ayad has turned it up a notch with the new headquarters at the Plaza at Oceanside in Pompano Beach. I was blown away by the acoustic panels with rock and roll icons and other pop figures. The Rolling Stones are at the top of my playlist so I couldn’t resist getting snapped in front of guitarist Keith Richards.
IDDI has designed an amazing number of interior and outdoor projects that dot projects well beyond South Florida. In the world of interior design, I think it’s just as impactful as Arquitectonica is on architecture. I like how IDDI combines business sensibilities with design. You may get a laugh at Ayad’s nightmare comment.
We have a couple of great ideas for trips in this issue. One is The Parker in Palm Springs, Calif. It looks like a place filled with whimsy, cool design and fun. I love the history of the place going back to cowboy star Gene Autry. The other is the newest super luxury yacht from Scenic Group’s Emerald Kaia. It’s 393 feet of spectacularness yet is still pretty intimate with only 128 guests. I am totally ready to be pampered with either for my next sojourn.
There’s a lot of interesting people and families in this issue. I had the chance to interview William Scherer Jr. and his offspring, who are now all part of the Conrad & Scherer law firm. Bill is a great storyteller and I feel like I could write a book about his life: Indiana boy who ends up playing a role in Bush vs. Gore and helping victims of Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein. Oh, and his daughter was the Parkland shooter judge, one son is a talented musician and jurist, and the last is an attorney who also has a very successful career in construction.
Restaurateur Angelo Elia is amazing not only for his cooking philosophy, but his business acumen. I love his food and his three different types of restaurants.
Then, there were all the panelists and speakers at a trio of SFBW events. There is an array of insights and takeaways from four highly successful CEOs, top HR experts and the folks who can orchestrate relocation of your business.
We also provide insight into the new world of real estate commissions and how NSU has a cutting-edge system that can create your digital twin.
Finally, there’s our Prestigious Women Awards honorees. These are definitely women leading our community and deserve our congratulations.
