P u b l i s h e d i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h T h e M i a m i B e a c h C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– C o n n e c t i n g L o c a l B u s i n e s s e s s i n c e 1 9 5 8
MAY 31 - JUNE 13, 2012
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COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM
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Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 90th Annual Gala Beach High principal selected as Florida Principal of the Year
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ith an atmosphere of elegance and artistic flair, The Miami Beach Chamber’s 90th Gala continued to weave the thread of “Celebrating Success” by stemming from its prestigious Honorees: STEVEN D. SONENREICH, President & CEO, Mount Sinai Medical Center Citizen of the Year Award; GARY R. GERSON, Founding Partner, Gerson, Preston, Robinson and Co., PA, City National Bank Hi-Tides Outstanding Achievement Award; DR. ROSANN SIDENER, Principal, Miami Beach Senior High School, Distinguished Service Award; JOSE ABREU, Director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Excellence in Tourism Award; and TONY GOLDMAN, Chairman, The Goldman Properties Company, Lifetime Achievement Award. These pillars of the community represent the City’s success in cultivating a strong environment that has expanded beyond tourism to now include a world-class medical facility and increased artistic and cultural initiatives. Incorporating a multitude of cultural elements as a backdrop to the awards celebration, the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce orchestrated a number of exciting and alluring artistic jewels not only to entertain the guests, but also to highlight the caliber of arts and culture in Miami Beach through carefully select––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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GALA, page 4
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r. Rosann Sidener, principal at Miami Beach Senior High School has been selected as the 2012 Florida Association of School Administrators’ (FASA) Principal of the Year. Sidener will represent Florida in the 2013 Metlife/NASSP National Principal of the Year competition. Sidener has served as a school administrator for 18 years and as principal of Miami Beach Senior High School for five. “Beach High” is one of 39 high schools in the Miami-Dade County Public School System and serves more than 2,300 students as the second oldest school in the district. Sidener has led her school under the Florida School accountability system from a ‘D’ in 2007 to an ‘A’ and also boosted the graduation rate from 63 percent to 75 percent. In her application, Sidener stated, “I wanted to ensure that the school community worked together to develop active governance structures that would provide systems and procedures for gathering, analyzing and leveraging data as well as developing policies to guide school improvement efforts.” In support of her nomination, Region Superintendent Jose Dotres wrote, “I commend Dr. Sidener for her unyielding determination to ensure that the learning environment at her school is driven by a focus on the academic advancement and emotional needs of
Phone: 305-669-7355
Letter from the Chair BY JASON LOEB
Chairman, Miami Beach Chamber This week, I’d like to take a moment and go back to our roots. Miami Beach has certainly undergone a series of transformations since the Chamber’s humble, yet enthusiast beginnings in 1921. But one thing that has remained constant over the past 90 years is our mission. The Chamber statement is simple:
To promote the economic well-being of Miami Beach’s citizens, to improve the quality of life for the entire community, and to communicate the view of the busi ness community on major issues of public policy.
DR. ROSANN SIDENER
the students.” To overcome recent budget challenges, Sidener has partnered with many local businesses and agencies to provide students with greater resources and opportunities such as internships and field experiences. FASA Executive Director Juhan Mixon, Ed.D. stated, “Dr. Sidener is a model principal that puts her students’ achievement at the top and involves teachers, students, parents and staff in the process to reach a defined goal. FASA is proud to have Dr. Sidener as a –––––––––––––––––––– See
PRINCIPAL, page 4
I stand by the notion that it is in fact the people that deliver on an organization, a community. However, there needs to be an anchoring force that focuses these people’s passion and ensures their efforts are maximized in the right direction. A mission statement does just this. At the Chamber, we have grown from a small umbrella stand to a state-of-the-art facility, and have capitalized on the Art Deco Renaissance, Rat Pack days and celebrity flockings. But throughout all the glamour, the our mission statement calls us back to business. To enjoy the art, culture, environment, social causes and general beauty of our environment, we must be economically viable. I go back to my mantra, “ a rising tide lifts all boats” - it’s not about just a few select companies, everyone should be working together to assist each other, in all fields, to achieve a well-rounded and sustainable city. As members, we should be remembering just that. Help all your fellow members and businessmen, even if they don’t immediately seem connected with your industry. Business is more intertwined than first –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– See
LETTER, page 4