2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Table of Contents Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................. 2 Key Recommendations............................................................................................................................. 4 Communications..................................................................................................................................... 5 Academics................................................................................................................................................ 6 Alumni..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Community Outreach.............................................................................................................................. 7 Fundraising.............................................................................................................................................. 8 Appendix A: Key Recommendations & FIU response Appendix B: Hit the Ground Running Appendix C: Summit Participants
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2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Executive Summary This fall, FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg brought together 100 of South Florida’s top education, business and civic leaders in two unprecedented community summits to discuss FIU’s future. With the support of Maria Alonso of Bank of America, Jack Lowell of Flagler Development Group and Michael Chavies of Akerman Senterfitt, Dr. Rosenberg convened the gatherings to engage a discussion of how FIU can best serve the community and to elicit input on critical issues that will shape the university’s future direction. The summits, held at the Biltmore Hotel on September 9 and October 7, yielded thoughtful assessments of FIU’s strengths and challenges and a wealth of ideas for the future. In 2010, FIU will begin developing a new strategic plan to guide the university forward in the next five years. Feedback and recommendations from the summits will serve as a foundation for the strategic plan. Participants were given Rosenberg’s white paper, Hit the Ground Running, as a starting point for conversation. In it, Rosenberg articulates a vision for FIU to be a leading, student-centered, urban public research university that is locally and globally engaged. To fulfill that vision, Rosenberg identifies four strategic objectives: • Revitalizing and expanding FIU’s financial base • Achieving results-oriented, student-oriented academic excellence • Enhancing the quality and impact of research and creative initiatives • Engaging the community These objectives, each of which encompasses numerous goals, resonated with community leaders as the right direction for the future. The white paper’s emphasis on community involvement generated significant enthusiasm at the summits. It is clear that South Florida’s leaders care deeply about the future of FIU and are eager to be engaged with the university in academic, business, research and planning partnerships. The summit initiative itself was described by participants as a turning point in FIU’s record of community engagement. Many urged FIU to continue hosting similar events in the future. Group discussions at the summits gravitated to five areas connected to the themes of Hit the Ground Running: communications, academics, alumni, community engagement and fundraising. The sections of this report will elaborate on each of these. In many cases, the themes overlap. The community leaders at the summits were sensitive to the relationship between issues such as effective communication, fundraising and alumni engagement. They stressed the need to unite disparate entities within FIU so the university can advance in a unified manner. One participant spoke of FIU’s need to “package its identity for the public.” They also supported the idea of FIU, Miami-Dade Public Schools and Miami-Dade College presenting a united front in Tallahassee for funding. Further collaboration between public education institutions was encouraged. 2
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
In general, participants offered positive assessments of FIU and the role it plays in the community. They commented on the outstanding quality of education FIU provides, as well as its excellent value for the cost. One participant described FIU as the “best gift the community has.” The College of Medicine, in particular, was identified as offering great promise for the future. Also receiving praise were the Honors College for its intimate educational environment and the College of Education for its contributions to the public school system. Participants identified “international” as FIU’s distinguishing strength and urged the university to expand and publicize its international education initiatives. Two recommendations from the summits warrant special attention. The first is to create an “FIU Consulting Group,” an office within FIU that links businesses, industry, non-profit agencies and government with FIU experts who can help address their needs. The FIU Consulting Group would function as a business-client agency and generate revenue for the university and participating faculty, administrators and graduate students. The Consulting Group would offer expertise in fields as varied as medicine and technology to political strategy and language training. A second innovative idea is for FIU to open a centralized internship center where the business community can find talented and qualified student interns seeking job experience. Community leaders also doled out tough love, observing that FIU appears to have an “inferiority complex” and too often uses its youth as an excuse. They questioned why admission into FIU is not considered an academic achievement. Many noted that public opinion of the university does not reflect its true quality of education. In session after session, groups quickly linked this disconnect to a broader problem, FIU’s failure to effectively market its image and tell its story. “FIU is almost a second class university because of the lack of information,” said one participant. “The community is not hearing about FIU’s accomplishments.” Therefore, one of the core messages to emerge from the summits was that FIU must greatly improve its public communications. Under the umbrella of communications, participants identified other issues: the need to improve outreach to alumni, the need to develop a clear and cohesive FIU brand, the need to share news of our research endeavors and the need to educate the community about FIU’s academic standards and success. FIU’s financial future received considerable attention during the summits. Community leaders expressed support for FIU’s efforts to look beyond Tallahassee for funding solutions. Some suggested the university explore the development of more fee-based programs to generate revenue. Many spoke of the need to encourage a more entrepreneurial spirit within the university’s academic units. Participants also indicated that FIU must understand that every dollar counts and improve its relationship with smaller donors who have been neglected in the past. Fundraising success was strongly tied to success in communication, particularly with FIU’s alumni. FIU must enhance its image, participants said, in order to build the community affinity that will translate into greater giving. 3
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Key Recommendations • Launch a university-wide branding campaign • Emphasize “international” in our branding and communications as FIU’s distinguishing educational feature • Develop the “international” strength of FIU with more globally oriented academic programs and international partnerships • Communicate regularly with local businesses and industry regarding university research • Initiate research projects that directly address community needs • Create an “FIU Consulting Group,” an office that connects businesses, industry, non-profits or governmental agencies with FIU experts who can help address their needs in a revenue generating, business-client relationship • Create academic Centers for Excellence • Educate the community about FIU’s achievements and the academic, cultural and professional resources available at the university • Create a centralized internship office where companies can find talented students seeking job experience • Enhance and strengthen collaboration with Miami-Dade public schools • Improve alumni outreach with more effective, targeted communication • Provide alumni with opportunities to mentor students, recruit graduates and be involved with university life • Recognize smaller donors in more meaningful ways • Encourage academic units to take a more entrepreneurial approach to generating revenue
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2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Communication The notion that FIU is Miami’s best-kept secret is not good news, according to community leaders. Rather, it signals that FIU has not developed a brand and not communicated its achievements to the public. This, in turn, is hindering FIU’s progress. “The word about FIU is not getting out and public opinion of the university needs to be addressed,” one participant said. Leaders said the university must work to overcome the perception that FIU is a lesser school than the University of Miami and FIU is where students go when they can’t get in to other universities. At the same time, the inauguration of a new president offers FIU a perfect opportunity to launch a branding campaign, leaders said. They urged the university to capitalize on this moment to take ownership of FIU’s identity. The importance of branding was discussed in nearly every session of the summits. MiamiDade College’s long-running alumni advertising campaign was mentioned numerous times as a model of successful branding. Leaders want to see branding and communications done at a university level, rather than a unit level. FIU needs to “package its identity for the public,” one participant noted. Leaders also had ideas about the content of the branding campaign. The themes of international and diversity were cited repeatedly as FIU’s defining strengths. Several participants also suggested that FIU connect its identity to Miami in its marketing. With FIU, one participant said, Miami should be seen as an “intellectual lighthouse” for the global community. The university’s other public communications also need improvement, leaders said. They suggested FIU change the faces it puts forward because the public always sees the same individuals. Email blasts from FIU should not be showing up in people’s work email accounts. In addition, leaders said the university needs to ensure it is distributing quality content rather than volumes of poorly constructed communication. They recommended the university also look to develop more personalized, targeted communications. Leaders questioned why they aren’t seeing FIU in the leading industry publications that they already read. They also suggested that FIU’s internal communication with its own faculty and staff falls short. “Units don’t talk to each other enough,” one participant said. “Some effort must be made to unite units.” One area of interest among business and industry leaders is FIU’s research. They want to know what FIU researchers are doing and how they can collaborate to commercialize research, spur investment and stimulate economic development. Research in biosciences, the environment and energy was mentioned as particularly important to the local community. Participants emphasized that sharing FIU’s research is also an important facet of demonstrating how FIU positively impacts the community.
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2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Academics Community leaders expressed interest in a range of academic issues, from admission standards to the importance of retaining top-notch faculty. Rosenberg’s focus on creating a student-oriented campus was hailed as a refreshing change. They indicated that accessibility must remain a priority, and urged the university to actively recruit Miami-Dade two-year degree graduates to complete bachelor’s degrees at FIU. Encouraging this educational advancement is vital to sustaining a well-trained workforce, leaders said. And while accessibility was mentioned as critical, others posed a pivotal question: How will FIU resolve the inherent tension between the desire to be accessible to everyone and desire to raise educational standards? For the summit participants, FIU’s educational advantage is clearly its international perspective. They urged FIU to enhance and expand educational programs that give students “a more global perspective.” Suggestions included bringing more international students to FIU, offering study abroad scholarships and establishing more international partnerships like the FIU- Tianjin, China program. Several participants recommended FIU seek to establish Centers for Excellence in strategic growth areas such as technology, environment and biosciences. Research in these centers should be conducted in collaboration with local industry and aligned to meet community needs. Community leaders stressed the need for partnerships between academic programs and local organizations. Miami-Dade Superintendent of Schools Alberto Carvalho suggested FIU consider designating the College of Education a Center for Excellence by developing a learning science college that emphasizes not just theory, but a clinical application. He proposed creating undergraduate and graduate-level programs embedded with two-year internships where students learn how to run a classroom. He indicated 75 percent of teachers who leave do so in the first five years, the result of inadequate exposure to the classroom during their education.
Alumni FIU needs a better, stronger system to reach out to alumni, said community leaders. Some who are alumni mentioned that years passed after graduation before FIU ever contacted them. Others who have also attended Miami-Dade and the University of Miami noted that both do a better job of communicating and engaging their graduates. The goal of alumni outreach, said participants must be more than, “Join the Alumni Association.” Alumni want the university to offer meaningful ways for them to engage with the university and give back. Several participants said they would like opportunities to mentor students and recruit FIU graduates. Alumni would also appreciate being involved in the life of the university, such as speaking on panels.
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FIU’s approach to alumni communications should be more grassroots and personalized, participants said. For older alumni, FIU didn’t offer the same college experience of today because it was a commuter school. The university, therefore, needs to understand and identify these subcultures of FIU grads and work to draw them back to FIU. Older graduates especially need to hear that their FIU degree is worth more and more as the university gains prestige. More events such as FIU Corporate Days were encouraged. One participant suggested tailoring alumni programs to specific age groups. One suggestion was to offer continuing education programs just for alumni that bring them back to campus. Alumni should be tapped to help FIU advance, said community leaders. For instance, one participant mentioned that he does recruiting for Georgetown Law School in Miami. FIU could similarly utilize alumni in other parts of the country for recruiting. Alumni could also be engaged to go to area schools to market the university as a first choice for higher education.
Community Outreach The topic of community outreach generated marked enthusiasm at the summits. Participants not only praised this objective of Hit the Ground Running, they offered a host of ways in which FIU can better engage with local schools, business and other organizations. They want FIU to host more events such as the Geopolitical Summit that attract big crowds to campus. They want to see more initiatives such as Town Hall Meetings that give the community an opportunity to help shape FIU’s future. Perhaps highest on their list was encouraging FIU to develop deeper relationships with Miami-Dade public schools that better educate future teachers and improve K-12 outcomes. Partnerships with the public school system should be undertaken in conjunction with the University of Miami and Miami-Dade College, participants said. Community leaders indicated that FIU’s pre-collegiate outreach efforts should begin sooner and need to be sustained to keep the best and brightest here. One participant noted that a significant number of top tier college graduates are recruited away, in part, because of their bilingual skills. FIU must do a better job of demonstrating to graduates that they do not have to leave the state to be successful. One participant suggested that FIU and the Beacon Council should unify their efforts to track growth sectors and build industries that keep college graduates here. Community leaders want FIU to unite with Miami-Dade Public Schools and Miami- Dade College to improve the climate for better education funding at the state level. One participant suggested the
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creation of a K-20 continuum where academic objectives and funding are aligned so that the education community presents a united front in Tallahassee regarding policy and funding. Leaders also promoted greater coordination among public education institutions regarding research and course offerings. Education institutions should build synergies that support the development of job producing industries and research. Participants praised the Wertheim College of Medicine community engagement program, NeighborhoodHELP, as a model to be emulated by all colleges. The university should be doing more outreach to lower income residents, one participant said. Local non-profit agencies are an untapped resource for partnerships in such projects.
Fundraising Community leaders indicated that a major capital campaign for FIU is ambitious but doable. One participant suggested that leveraged in conjunction with a pride-building initiative, a campaign could help bring in alumni as well as donors. Participants understood the urgency for a funding paradigm shift. “Merely seeking and asking for money from Tallahassee isn’t a solution,” said one participant. However, participants said the university should lobby Tallahassee legislators for tuition reform. Those who can pay more should. Superintendent of Schools Alberto Carvalho suggested the development of a K-20 continuum where all academic objectives and funding are aligned so that Miami-Dade presents a unified front in Tallahassee regarding funding and policy. There are ways FIU can immediately be more effective in fundraising. To start, participants said, the process of online donation must be simplified. Also, community leaders said that the university has neglected donors who have given $50,000 or less. With all the attention on multi-million dollar gifts, smaller donors have not been properly acknowledged and feel they only hear from the university for more money. Even small gestures such as inviting them to football games would make a difference, one participant said. Another suggestion was to establish charitable groups to support university projects. Fundraising isn’t the only way to fortify the university’s budget. Participants suggested that FIU implement more fee-based programs outside the scope of traditional programs. For example, said one participant, FIU should offer fee-based professional accreditation programs in fields such as law. Community leaders encouraged the university to cultivate a more entrepreneurial approach to generate dollars.
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2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Appendix A Community Leaders Summit Key Recommendations & FIU response
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2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Community Leaders Summit Key Recommendations & FIU response
Recommendations: Launch a university-wide branding campaign and Emphasize “international” in our branding and communications as FIU’s distinguishing educational feature
• FIU Response: • “Worlds Ahead” branding campaign: FIU’s External Relations Division has been working with national marketing firm Stamats to develop the FIU brand. Stamats has developed an FIU brand portfolio that contains the elements essential to the successful implementation of a multifaceted, institution-wide brand management and integrated marketing communication effort. Based on the research and the University’s goals, the following statement emerged as the statement that best captures and articulates FIU’s core essence:
Florida International University is a vibrant, student-centered public research university, ideally located in Miami that is worlds ahead in its commitment to learning, research, entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity so that our graduates are prepared to succeed in a global market.
The FIU attributes identified in the research include:
• Entrepreneurial
• International/Global
• Accessible
• Community focused
• Vibrant
• Ideally Located
“Worlds Ahead” is the approved creative campaign to explain the FIU brand. It is the culmination of research with Stamats and it supports the branding portfolio. The next step is for FIU to begin implementing “Worlds Ahead” in its print, electronic and marketing materials. The campaign must be supported by real demonstration of how FIU is worlds ahead. One of the first major public rollouts of Worlds Ahead will be in the Winter 2010 FIU Magazine. The magazine’s theme is international education and it will include a prominent story about the Global Learning initiative as well as profiles of successful alumni who live and work abroad. 10
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Recommendation: Develop the “international” strength of FIU with more globally oriented academic programs and international partnerships
• FIU Response: • Global Learning initiative: FIU has developed an innovative Quality Enhancement Project as part of its 10-year SACS reaccreditation. The Global Learning for Global Citizenship initiative aims to teach students global awareness, global perspective and global engagement through a series of new required classes and complementary extracurricular events. The pilot classes are being offered in Spring 2010 and full implementation for incoming freshman is expected to take effect in Fall 2010
Recommendation: Communicate regularly with local businesses and industry regarding university research
• FIU Response: • New Multimedia Research publication: OSRA working with External Relations to develop a multimedia research communication vehicle for external audiences.
Recommendation: Initiate research projects that directly address community needs
• FIU Response: • Cluster Research Initiative: In 2008, FIU began to strategize in order to enhance existing faculty clusters and form new clusters in critical areas of research. The Cluster Hiring Initiative is intended to benefit the local and state quality of life and economy through advanced, collaborative research. The cluster areas identified so far include: developmental research, disaster mitigation and economic recovery, environmental research, immigration and acculturation, international development and judicial reform, international forensics, nanotechnology and biomedical devices, physical health, substance abuse/mental health/HIV, transportation. Within these clusters are numerous research projects that directly engage the community and address critical problems such as • Easing traffic congestion in South Florida • Developing hurricane mitigation strategies for homeowners • Developing a non-invasive way to detect breast cancer. Eventually, a bulky machine will be turned into a small hand-held 3D imaging device that uses infrared light to spot tumors in the breast tissue. • Protecting the Everglades protection and Florida’s fragile coastline • Working with local and national law enforcement on forensic science research 11
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Recommendation: Create an “FIU Consulting Group,” that connects businesses, industry, wnon-profits or governmental agencies with FIU experts who can help address their needs in a revenue-generating, business-client relationship
• FIU Response: The feasibility of this idea is being discussed at the Executive Committee Level. The External Relations team is looking at where this has been done elsewhere, consulting with experts at FIU and planning focus groups.
Recommendation: Create academic Centers for Excellence
• FIU Response: Centers for Excellence are grants and competitive designations made by the State of Florida or various federal agencies. We have received a state Center of Excellence grant from the state for the Wall of Wind in the International Hurricane Center.
Recommendation: Educate the community about FIU’s achievements and the academic, cultural and professional resources available at the university
• FIU Response: • Web redesign and News@FIU: The university is addressing communication issues on several fronts. In 2009, the university hired for the first time a team of web experts to completely overhaul the FIU homepage and its supporting pages. The re-imagined website will focus on user functionality and friendliness, consistent with customer service experience evaluations we have completed. The new website should debut in Spring 2010. Meanwhile, in January 2009, FIU implemented a new centralized FIU news website that offers stories, videos and photos on university, research, academic, student, alumni and athletics news. The new communication vehicle has been a tremendous success, with more than a half million page views since its launch. In addition, the new Worlds Ahead campaign will play an important role in telling the FIU story. The Worlds Ahead brand will be integrated into all FIU communications from here forward to include the redesigned website, print publications, advertising and electronic media.
Recommendation: Create a centralized internship office where companies can find talented students seeking job experience
• FIU Response: FIU Career Services: FIU already has a centralized office for posting and coordination of internships through the Career Services Office. Companies can participate in career fairs and can register their internships for free in a centralized job database. FIU screens the companies and listings to ensure student safety.
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At any given time there are 300-400 internships available. In the last fiscal year, Career Services placed nearly 600 FIU students in internships. This year, 21 students to went to internships at embassies all over the world including Mexico, Brazil, Cairo, China, Honduras and Jamaica. Career Services further supports the professional development of students with workshops including resume writing, professional etiquette, interviewing skills and Internships 101. Recommendation: Enhance and strengthen collaboration with Miami-Dade public schools
• FIU Response: • CLAVE Grant: The Department of Education has recently awarded FIU a $1.8 million grant to give scholarships to Miami-Dade schoolteachers who want to earn a master’s degree in urban education. The degree program will give teachers tools to succeed in challenging urban education environment. • Principal training: FIU’s Center for Leadership is developing a program to train principals on how to be better leaders. • Town Halls: FIU President Mark Rosenberg and Superintendent of Schools Alberto Carvalho and Eduardo Padron from MDC participated in a Univision-aired Town Hall meeting this fall to connect with community on how all three institutions can work together to improve K-20 education. Another town hall is scheduled for spring. • The Academy for Advanced Academics is a partnership with MD public schools that allows top high schools students to take college and high schools courses at FIU • Miami Edison High, identified as an F School, is working with FIU to brainstorm ways to provide resources to the school and improve student outcomes • FIU’s Precollegiate Trio programs, funded by federal grants, and administered through the Division of Student Affairs works with Miami Dade schools to put urban, minority high school students with limited exposure to college to put them on the college-bound track. Programs include Upward Bound, Talent Search, College Reach Out and Partners in Progress.
Recommendation: Improve alumni outreach with more effective, targeted communication
• FIU Response: • The External Relations communications team and Alumni Relations leadership has begin a series of communication strategy sessions to assess what FIU is currently doing to communicate with alumni, examine best practices from other schools and develop a comprehensive communications plan for the future. We will be looking at electronic and print communications as well as identifying problems with data that must be addressed for more effective communications. Alumni Relations has developed a weekly e-announcement to alumni condensing all Alumni Association and University events/program updates into one communication piece. 13
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
In the last two years, Alumni relations has sent out 1,385 e-blasts providing university updates and promoting Alumni Association events and programs with more than 1,706,247 open views.
Recommendation: Provide alumni with opportunities to mentor students, recruit graduates and be involved with university life
• FIU Response:
Over the last two years Alumni Relations has organized/hosted or co-sponsored 274 events/programs (119 in 07-08) and (155 in 08-09) engaged more than 46,545 (21,120 in 07-08) and (25,425 in 08-09)FIU alumni and friends. Below is a snap shot of what we are doing now to address some of the statements provided in the report: • Hosted Alumni Stimulus Plan Series with Barry University and Nova. Three took place in the fall and more will continue in the spring. These are networking receptions and seminars. Each school will host an event at their respective school location and confirm a career professional to speak. Alumni from all three schools are invited to attend. • Hosting more educational and cultural events to engage a more diverse alumni population (i.e. We hosted a “Preparing to Care for the Elderly” workshop and Member-Only event at the Frost Art Museum). Planning to host a future CARTA alumni event at the Performing Arts Center on campus and a “Eating Healthy” workshop. • Developing a mentoring program with our Student Alumni Association and President’s Council • Developing a Broward and Central Florida Alumni Chapter. Finalizing the development of a New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta regional chapter. • Promoting and hosting three Oceania Cruises in 2010 to engage mature alumni. • Developing an alumni career services program consisting of workshops, one on one career advising, webinars, etc. • Hosting 1st annual Official Ring Ceremony to graduates and parents week before graduation to promote school pride.
Recommendation: Recognize smaller donors in more meaningful ways
• FIU Response: In January 2009 we published our very first Donor Honor Roll in the FIU Magazine, recognizing all donors who have given $100 or more. Will be an annual feature.
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Appendix B Hit the Ground Running By FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg
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Hit the Ground-Running Vision: Operational Statement:
A leading student-centered urban public research university that is locally and globally engaged. As an anchor public institution in South Florida, FIU is committed to Providing quality learning, state-of-the-art research and creative activity, and problem-solving engagement.
1. Revitalize and expand financial base a. Launch a four-front funding offensive: private, state, federal, and local b. Energize, grow, and focus alumni network around fund-raising and student placement c. Improve efficiency, accountability, compliance, shared services and sustainability d. Expand need-based financial aid to ensure affordability and access 2. Achieve results-oriented student-centered academic excellence a. Expand minority pre-college programs to ensure readiness for FIU
b. Enhance learning through new courses, expanded short-term study abroad, select three-year degree programs, expanded student internships with local and global companies and non-profits
c. Recognize and support innovative technology-enhanced undergraduate and graduate faculty instruction d. Raise the six-year graduation rate into top quartile of public urban universities—special emphasis on time to degree, full-time grad rates, minority graduation rate disparities 3. Enhance quality and impact of research and creative initiatives a. Aggressively seek job creation and commercialization for University research initiatives
b. Focus and expand research funding around strategic University priorities through multidisciplinary teams of university and community experts (e.g. environmental faculty work more closely with South Florida Water Management District) c. Grow and link research to local economic development and problem-solving emphasis on community priorities (e.g. reducing health disparities and environmental hazards in low-income neighborhoods) 4. Engage the community a. Tie instructional and creative initiatives to local needs and long-term community priorities—especially in the professional schools (e.g. more FIU engagement in failing schools in Miami Dade County; expanded partnerships/common planning in the arts) b. Improve neighborhood health in partnership with community health care agencies c. Create a public-private high tech corridor focused on biomedical, alternative energy and environmental preservation to enhance employment generation and retention
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Appendix C Community Leaders Summit Participants
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2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Community Leaders Summit September 9, 2009 GROUP 1 First Name Last Name
Company
Title
Bruce
Colan
Holland & Knight, LLP
Partner
John
Rock
FIU - College of Medicine
Executive Dean and Vice President
Humberto
Alonso
PBS&J
Vice President District Director
Robert S.
Berkowitz
Multivision Video & Film
President
Michael
Carricarte
Amedex Insurance Group
CEO
Breny
DaParre
FIU - Office of the President
Assistant Chief of Staff & Executive Assitant
Gerald
Grant
AXA Advisors
Branch Director of Corporate and Individual Finance
Anders
Gyllenhaal
The Miami Herald
Senior Vice President & Executive Editor
Carlos
Lago
FIU - Law student
Law Student
Rafael
Madan
Wachovia Securities-Wells Fargo Advisors
Managing Director - Complex Manager
Steve
Sonenreich
Mt. Sinai Hospital
President & CEO
Javier
Soto
Dade Community Foundation
President
GROUP 2 First Name Last Name
Company
Title
Beatrice
Louissaint
Florida Regional Minority Business Council
President & CEO
Joyce
Elam
FIU - College of Business Administration
Executive Dean
Maria
Alonso
Bank of America
SVP/South Florida Market Manager
Richard F.
Candia
Leo A. Daly
Director of Business Development
Ahiza
Fernandez
FIU - Foundation Board of Directors
Coordinator
Jay
Fraser
Turner Construction
Vice President/General Manager
Morris I.
Hollander, C.P.A.
MarcumRachlin, a division of MarcummLLP Partner, Assurance Services
Demetrio
Perez
Lincoln Marti Schools
Founder
Monica
Rabassa
Univision Radio
VP, Marketing, Corporate Comm & Public Affairs
Jorge
Rosenblut
Eulen America Inc.
President GROUP 3
First Name Last Name
Company
Title
Barry
Johnson
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
President & CEO
Steve
Sauls
FIU - Governmental Relations
Vice President
Victor C.
Balestra
Espirito Santo Bank
Chairman
Leslie
Cassel
EWM Realtors
Broker Associate
Tere
Garcia
Bermello Ajamil
Partner
Ana
Herrera
FIU - Governmental Relations
Coordinator, Administrative Services
Vicente
Lago
Zurqui Construction Services, Inc
Project Executive
Debby
Miller
MidTown Video
Executive Vice President
Obdulio
Piedra
Great Florida Bank
Market President
Jorge
Plasencia
Republica
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Faye
Roth
Roth & Scholl, Attorney’s at Law
Office Manager
n Indicates Group Facilitators 18
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Community Leaders Summit September 9, 2009 GROUP 4 First Name Last Name
Company
Title
Christine
Barney
Rbb Public Relations
President
Divina
Grossman
FIU - College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean
Ralph
Egües
Cruz Fox, LLC
President
Vicky
Garcia-Toledo, Esq. Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod,LLP
Partner
Phillip
Hamilton
FIU - Office of the President
Assistant to the President
Larry
Harris
Larry Harris
Entrepreneur/Consultant
Peter
Jude
Kendall Regional Hospital
Director, Marketing & Community Relations
Howard
Miller
Howard R. Miller Communications
President
Moises
Simpser, M.D.
Pediatric Pulmonology Group of
South Florida, LLC
President
GROUP 5 First Name Last Name
Company
Title
Phillis
Oeters
Baptist Hospital
Corporate VP, Government & Community Relations
Rosa
Jones
FIU - Student Affairs
Vice President
Rick
Beasley
South Florida Workforce
Executive Director
Helen
Aguirre Ferre
Diario Las Americas
Opinion Page Editor
Roger M.
Bernstein, Esq.
The Bernstein Law Office, P.A.
Attorney
Alberto
Carvalho
Miami Dade Public Schools
Superintendent
Sal
Ferradas
Bank of America/ US Trust
Private Client Manager
Jack
Lowell
Codina Realty/ Flagler Development Group
Vice Chairman
Gene
Prescott
Biltmore Hotel
President
Desiree
Rodriguez
FIU - External Relations
Chief of Staff
Rick
Rodriguez-Pina
Rodriguez-Pina and Associates
President
Mary Scott
Russell
Chamber South
President
Andrew
Smulian
Akerman Senterfitt
Partner
Ronald
Thompkins
TCBA Watson Rice LLP
Partner
Mark
Rosenberg
FIU
President
Robert
Conrad
FIU - University Advancement
Vice President
Lori-Ann
Cox
FIU - External Relations
Director, Community Relations &
PRESIDENT & SUPPORTING STAFF IN ATTENDANCE
President’s Council
Anitere
Flores
FIU - External Relations
Director, Community & Civic Partnerships
Ken
Furton
FIU - College of Arts & Sciences
Dean
Sandra
Gonzalez-Levy
FIU - External Relations
Senior Vice President
Liane
Martinez
FIU - Finance & Administration
Associate Vice President Strategic Development
Nery
Suarez
FIU - Community Relations and
President’s Council
Administrative Assistant
Doug
FIU - Academic Affairs
Executive Vice President and Interim Provost
Wartzok
n Indicates Group Facilitators 19
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Community Leaders Summit October 7, 2009 GROUP 1 First Name
Last Name
Company
Title
Hilda
Mitrani
Multilingual Media Marketing, Inc.
President
Marie
McDemmond
FIU - College of Education
Interim Dean
Jose M.
Aldrich
KPMG LLP
Area Managing Partner & Tax Leader, Latin America
Maria
Alonso
Bank of America
Senior VP Market Development Mgr; MD/Monroe
Matilde
Beraja
Beraja Medical Institute Laser & Surgery Center Chief Executive Officer
Raymond
del Rey
Eminent Solutions
Director
Julio
Grabiel
AECOM Design
Principal
German
Leiva
MFZ Management Corporation
President & CEO
Aida
Levitan
The Levitan Group, Inc.
President
Jose
Perez de Corcho FInancial Insurance Brokers, Inc.
President
Celeste
Pozo
Hughes Hubbard and Reed, LLP
Attorney
Maydel
Santana-Bravo
FIU - Office of Media Relations
Director
Jorge
Sarria
Merrill Lynch
Financial Advisor/Global Wealth Management
J. Robert
Stobs, II
Stobs Brothers Construction Company
President
Catherine
Torres
FIU - Office of the President
Coordinator
Joe
Xirau
CAMCOL
Executive Director
Richard M.
Zelman, Esq.
Sacher, Zelman, Hartman, Paul, Beiley,
& Rolnick, P.A.
Partner
GROUP 2 First Name
Last Name
Company
Title
Angel
Medina
Regions Bank
Group President & Area Executive
R. Alexander Acosta
FIU - College of Law
Dean
Robert S.
Berkowitz
Multivision Video & Film
President
Douglas
Bartel
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida
Director of Business Development
Michael
Chavies
Akerman Senterfitt
Shareholder
Lillian
Chiu
Morgan EnvironmentsÂ
President, SMPS South Florida Â
Jose
Diaz
Akerman Senterfitt
Associate
Albert
Dotson
Business Consultant
Ricardo
Estrada
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Financial Representative
Ahiza
Fernandez
FIU - Foundation Board of Directors
Coordinator
Michael
Kerwin
AECOM Design
Architect
Barbara
Liberatore Black CRESA Partners
Founding Principal
Enrique
Pineiro
Ros Realty Group, Inc.
President
Jennifer
Press
Alternative Revenue Solutions
Vice President
Ralph
Rosado
C3TS
Director of City Planning/Grant Services
Melissa
Tapanes Llahues Bercow Radell & Fernandez, P.A.
Attorney
Terry
Witherell
Associate Vice President
FIU - External Relations
GROUP 3 First Name
Last Name
Company
Title
Harve
Mogul
United Way of Miami
President
Ken
Furton
FIU - College of Arts and Sciences
Dean
Jeffrey S.
Bailey
Del Monte Fresh Produce Company
Associate General Cousel
n Indicates Recorder 20
n Indicates Group Facilitator
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Community Leaders Summit October 7, 2009 Victoria
Beatty
Belafonte Tacolcy Center
Esther
Beraja
Beraja Medical Institute Laser & Surgery Center Executive Director
Attorney
Sergio
de la Fe, Jr.
KPMG
Partner
Bill
Draughon
FIU - External Relations
Associate Vice President
Jose L.
Estevez
MGE Architects, Inc.
Architect
Kurt
Langford
Suffolk Construction
Jack
Lowell
Flagler Development Group
Managing Director
Angela Teresa Puentes-Leon
Carlton Fields, P.A.
Attorney
Desiree
Rodriguez
FIU - External Relations
Chief of Staff
Manuel J.
Rodriguez
FPL Group, Inc.
Corporate External Affairs Regional Director
Steve
Sauls
FIU - Governmental Relations
Vice President
Israel
Velasco
Banco Popular
Region Executive
Gregory M.
Viejo
Citi Private Bank
Director
GROUP 4 First Name
Last Name
Company
Title
Neisen
Kasdin
Akerman Senterfitt
Shareholder
John
Rock
FIU - Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Founding Dean
Luis
Ajamil
Bermillo Ajamil & Partners
President
Gus
Barrera
Miami Dade County School Board
Member, District 6
Jose Manuel Diaz
Compass Office Solutions
Principal
Phillip
Hamilton
FIU - Office of the President
Assistant to the President
Javier
Hernandez-Licht Baptist Hospital
Chief Executive Officer- South Miami Hospital
Cristina
Mendoza
FIU - General Counsel
General Counsel
Arthur
Meyer
FIU - Alumni Relations
Carmen
Perez
FPL Fibernet
Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Fatima
Perez
AT&T -Florida
Area Director, Legislative & External Affairs
Joan
Remington
FIU - School of Hospitality and
Tourism Management
Dean
Dennis
Scholl
James S. & James L. Knight Foundation
Miami Program Director
Tony
Villamil
The Washington Group
President
Mark
Rosenberg
FIU
President
Robert
Conrad
FIU - University Advancement
Vice President
Lori-Ann
Cox
FIU - Community Relations and
PRESIDENT & SUPPORTING STAFF IN ATTENDANCE
President’s Council
Director
Bill
Draughon
FIU - Alumni Relations
Associate Vice President
Sandra
Gonzalez-Levy
FIU - External Relations
Senior Vice President
Kenneth
Jessell
FIU - Finance and Administration
CFO and Senior Vice President
Melissa
Puente
FIU - Community Relations and
President’s Council
Nery
FIU - Community Relations and
Suarez
Coordinator
President’s Council
Administrative Assistant
Doug
FIU - Academic Affairs
Interim Provost & Executive Vice President
Wartzok
n Indicates Group Facilitators 21
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
Special thanks to all the individuals and organizations who helped to make the Community Leaders Summits a success: Summit Chairs: Maria Alonso, Bank of America Jack Lowell, Flagler Development Group Michael Chavies, Akerman Senterfitt Summit Facilitators: Bruce Colan, Holland & Knight Beatrice Louissaint, Florida Reginal Minority Business Council Barry Johnson, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Christine Barney, Rbb Public Relations Phillis Oeters, Baptist Hospital Hilda Mitrani, Multimedia Marketing Inc. Angel Medina, Regions Bank Harve Mogul, United Way of Miami Neisen Kasdin, Akerman Senterfitt T. Gene Prescott and the Biltmore Hotel team FIU’s Summit Coordinating Team: Sandra Gonzalez-Levy, Senior Vice President, External Relations Lori-Ann Cox, Director, Community Relations Anitere Flores, Director, Community and Civic Partnerships Desiree Rodriguez, Chief of Staff, External Relations Melissa Puente, Coordinator, Community Relations FIU’s Summit Recorders: Breny DaParre, Assistant Chief of Staff, Office of the President Ahiza Fernandez, Assistant Secretary FIU Foundation, Board of Directors Ana Herrera, Coordinator, Governmental Relations Phillip Hamilton, Assistant to the President, Office of the President Desiree Rodriguez, Chief of Staff, External Relations Catherine Torres, Coordinator, Administrative Services, Office of the President
24
2009 Community Leaders Summit | Final Report
3
FIU Board of Trustees OFFICERS Chairperson Albert E. Dotson, Sr. Chairman and CEO Puryear, Inc. Vice Chair/Treasurer Albert Maury President and Chief Operating Officer Leon Medical Centers Health Plans Secretary Mark B. Rosenberg President Florida International University MEMBERS Cesar L. Alvarez CEO Greenberg Traurig LLP Jorge L. Arrizurieta Chair, International Policy Group and Governmental Consultant Akerman Senterfitt, Attorneys at Law Betsy S. Atkins President and CEO Baja, LLC Patricia Frost Philanthropist S. Lawrence Kahn, III President and Chief Executive Officer of Lowell Homes, Inc. Miriam L贸pez CEO TransAtlantic Bank R. Kirk Landon President The Kirk Foundation David Parker Chief Operating Officer of The Archstone Partnerships Claudia Puig Senior Vice President and Southeastern Regional Manager Univision Radio FACULTY MEMBER Thomas Breslin Chairperson, FIU Faculty Senate Florida International University STUDENT MEMBER Anthony Rionda President, Student Government Association University Park Campus Florida International University
For more information contact Lori-Ann Cox, Director of Community Relations in the Division of External Relations at 305-348-0372.