&
artsdesign culture SPRING
2010
A W A R D S
A N D
B E N E F I T
MARCH 25, 2010
MARK B. ROSENBERG—WELCOME MESSAGE President, Florida International University
Florida International University is Worlds Ahead in many ways, and our College of Architecture + The Arts is a shining example. It is a vibrant and diverse community of scholars, educators, performers, practitioners, and students who are unified by a vision of excellence in art, design, performance, and communication. With more than 1,100 majors in seven academic departments, the College of Architecture + The Arts is proud to offer undergraduate and graduate students an intimate and nurturing atmosphere and individual attention in their pursuit of knowledge and the cultivation of their imagination, intellectual curiosity, and artistic expression. As such, it plays a key role in giving our students the essential tools they need to compete in the global marketplace. So it is fitting that tonight’s Spring 2010 Arts, Design & Culture Awards and Benefit—the first of what I hope will be many—is honoring Ambassador Paul L. Cejas, who is likewise Worlds Ahead. His life and career serve as an example of the kind of engaged global citizen that we would like each of our students to become. Congratulations to Ambassador Cejas and thanks to all of you for your continued support of FIU.
BRIAN SCHRINER—WELCOME MESSAGE Interim Dean, College of Architecture + The Arts
On behalf of the College of Architecture + The Arts at Florida International University, welcome to the Spring 2010 Arts, Design & Culture Awards and Benefit. Tonight, we proudly gather to honor Ambassador Paul L. Cejas for his generous commitment and contributions to Florida International University and the College of Architecture + The Arts. Ambassador Cejas, as a member of the state Board of Regents, was a leading force behind the establishment of the FIU School of Architecture, the creation of the FIU Engineering and Applied Sciences Campus, and the founding of new graduate programs. Ambassador Cejas has also made significant philanthropic gifts to the University in support of the School of Architecture and the Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture Building is appropriately named in his honor. Thank you for supporting our students by attending this event and thank you to our numerous sponsors who have generously donated items for this evening’s auction. The funds raised this evening will enhance our already excellent academic programs by providing additional scholarships to help our students receive an education that is Worlds Ahead.
EVENING SCHEDULE 6:00 pm RECEPTION 7:00 pm performance by the FIU School of music’s amernet string quartet 7:15PM
Dinner and auction
8:00 pm
Arts, design + culture Award Presented to Ambassador Paul L. Cejas
Master of Ceremonies—Bruce Smirnoff
AMBASSADOR PAUL L. CEJAS
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer PLC Investments, Inc.
Ambassador Cejas presented his credentials to His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, on October 6, 1998 and served as U.S. Ambassador to Belgium until March 2001. Mr. Cejas, of Miami, Florida has been a business and civic leader in the South Florida community for more than 30 years. He is currently Chairman and CEO of PLC Investments, Inc., a wholly-owned company managing family investments in real estate, equities, and venture capital projects. He was founder, Chairman, and CEO of CareFlorida Health Systems, Inc., the country’s largest Hispanic-owned healthcare company. CareFlorida received numerous corporate awards and accolades, including recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of the country’s largest and fastest growing privately owned companies. In 1994 CareFlorida was listed as the fourth largest Hispanic business in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine’s top-500 list. Mr. Cejas has maintained an extensive involvement in the area of community and public service. He served as Member of the Miami-Dade County School Board—the country’s fourth largest school system—for eight years and was its Chairman for five years. Mr. Cejas’ additional past public service and community involvements include Trustee of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C, Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Board of Florida International University, Board Member of the National Board of Diabetes Research Institute, Board of Directors of the Center for National Policy, Washington D.C, Trustee of the United Way, Board of Directors of the Community Partnership for the Homeless, Board Member and Vice President of the Dade County Center for the Fine Arts, and Board of Governors of the Dade Community Foundation. He is currently a Trustee of the University of Miami, Vice President of the Board of the Miami Art Museum, and Chairman of the Miami Business Forum. He also serves on the Tate Museum Latin American Advisory Board, London; the Board of the Hispanic Council on International Relations, Washington, D.C.; and on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C. Ambassador Cejas has received many personal awards including The Anti-Defamation League Leonard Abess Award-Human Relations Award; the Dade County Fair Campaign Practices Committee for Advancing the Cause of Prejudice, Free Politics; Dade County Chapter Institute of Certified Public Accountants, C.P.A. of the Year; B’nai B’rth International, National Public Service Award; Latin Builders Association, Man of the Year; the United Way Alexis de Toqueville Award; University of Miami Merrick Medal of Honor; the Diabetes Foundation Research, Perpetuation; Casita Maria Gold Medal Award NYC; and the NCCJ Humanitarian Award. Poder Magazine included Mr. Cejas as one of the Top 100 Hispanic Leaders in America, in The Black Book of Poder publication. He also received The Pillar Award from Florida International University—one of only four awarded in the history of the University. The Florida International University School of Architecture Building is named in his honor. Mr. Cejas graduated from the University of Miami with a B.B.A. in Accounting and was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Cejas has also received a Doctorate Honoris Causa for Public Service from Florida International University.
THE ARTS, DESIGN, AND CULTURE AWARD The Arts, Design, and Culture Award is presented by the College of Architecture + The Arts to individuals and organizations that have, through their leadership, demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of education for students in arts, design, and performance.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS This event was made possible in part by the generous support of our sponsors and community partners.
Gold Sponsors
420 Lincoln Road Associates, Ltd.
blue sponsors panther sponsors
BEA International, Inc. David F. Bergwall Biltmore Construction FIU Division of External Relations FIU Interior Design Florida Power & Light Company Abel and Fana Holtz Brian and Camila Schriner Zyscovich Architects
patrons of the college
Akerman Senterfitt All in One Direct Marketing Solutions The Continental Companies, Inc. Board of Trustees, Miami Art Museum HSBC Private Bank Lorraine Letendre Associates, Inc. Perkins + Will Workplace Resource
Special thanks to the following individuals and organizations who have generously contributed to this evening’s auction. Listed in alphabetical order: Allegro Music Center
FIU Theatre
Norman’s
Amernet String Quartet
FIU Music
Office Interiors International
ArquitectonicaGEO
GAP Architectural Products, Inc.
Starling & Associates
Coalesse
ICF Group
Steelcase
College of Architecture + The Arts
JC White Office Furniture
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
William Burke
Juan Martínez
Mette Tommerup
FIU Alumni Association
Mega Discount Liquors
Westin Colonnade
FIU Architecture
Knoll, Inc.
Workplace Resource
FIU Communication Arts
Miami Children’s Museum
Sponsors as of print deadline. For a complete list, please visit carta.fiu.edu
carta.fiu.edu