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Aventura
Serving Aventura, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor, Golden Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside
September 15 - 21, 2010
We’ve Got Talent! Singers compete at Hard Rock Café-Miami; 2nd Annual Talent Show-Down Seven organizations partner for phenomenal networking extravaganza BY BARI AUERBACH
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roving We’ve Got Talent! the Aventura Marketing Council recently presented the second annual Talent Show-Down singing/networking extravaganza at the Hard Rock Café at Bayside Marketplace - perfectly orchestrated with partner organizations including the Coconut Grove Chamber, Coral Gables Chamber, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Miami Beach Chamber, Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber and the Miami-Dade Chamber. Hard Rock Café Sales & Marketing Manager Gonzalo Del Rio extended a warm welcome to a huge turnout of busi-
ness and community leaders thrilled at the innovative prospect of combining ultimate business-building opportunities with socializing, enjoying a delicious array of food and great entertainment presented by seven vocalists representing the organizations. Heartfelt appreciation was expressed to public relations specialist Yaffa Mizrachi for her event coordination, who exclaimed, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a fabulous event! Then AMC Chair/emcee Cliff Schulman of Weiss, Serota, Helfman kicked off the evening on a high note by announcing the organization submitting the winning act would receive $500 to donate to their favorite charity. A big round of applause also rang out for
Nick Merico presented as winner of 2010 Hard Rock Café-Miami Talent Show-Down (l-r) Event Organizer Yaffa Mizrachi; 2009 Hard Rock Café-Miami Talent Show-Down winner Natalia Sulca; Merico; Hard Rock Café Sales & Mktg. Manager Gonzalo Del Rio; Aventura Marketing Council President Elaine Adler; AMC Chairman and Event Emcee Cliff Schulman, Weiss Serota Helfman; Henry Menendez, HNO Productions. (Photography by Juan Saco Miranoff) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Contestants Paula Zuleta representing Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce; Nick Merico, representing Aventura Marketing Council; Stephanie Llamas, representing Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber; JEI representing Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce; Mike Colucci representing Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Quintin Davis representing Miami-Dade Chamber; Patrick Harris representing Coral Gables Chamber.
HNO Productions, ensuring a “sound’ success”; photographer Juan Saco Miranoff, capturing memorable moments; and Billy Graydon and partners of Grape Ape Films, taping the evening for media outlets and a YouTube video – sure to go viral! Then it was time for a “drum roll” to introduce illustrious celebrity judges: Joe Alonso, School of Rock; Joanie Edwards, Little Theatre School of the Performing Arts; Vivian Greer-Digon, Raices Hispanic Heritage Cultural Arts Council; Florida State Senator Gwen Margolis; Suzan McDowell, Circle of One Marketing;
George Neary, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; Natalia Sulca, ’09 Talent Show-Down winner; comedian Johnny “Trabs” Trabanco; artist/agent Pati Vargas; and Michael Vita, former Broadway singer and dancer. Throughout the evening, everyone was singing the praises of the Hard Rock Café’s private dining room transformed into a festive “Christmas in August” theme, complete with Santa, holiday decorations, a
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