MONDAY, MAY 14, 2018
AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE MIAMI HERALD
SPECIAL AWARDS
Legacy Miami Salutes 2018 Class of Powerful and Influential Business Leaders
Honor. Service. Esteem. These are just three of the qualities that emanate from this year’s class of Miami’s “50 Most Powerful and Influential Black Business Leaders.” These honorees
are not only great because of their personal achievements, they are great because of their contributions to South Florida’s civic and corporate communities. Legacy is saluting its special
award honorees and the Miami and South Florida classes of powerful and influential business leaders at an awards gala scheduled for June 2, from 7 p.m. until midnight.
Educator of the Year:
Trailblazer of the Year:
The Honorable Steve Gallon III, Ed.D.
The Honorable Andreana Jackson
North Bay
Village Vice Mayor
Andreana Jackson
arrived in South
Florida in 2009
and has taken the
region by storm.
Since then, the
Kansas-native has earned a master’s degree
in Organizational Learning and
Leadership from Barry University, worked
as a civilian contractor with the U.S.
Army, and started a burgeoning luxury
real estate career. The North Bay Village
Commission appointed Jackson to serve a
vacated commission seat in 2015. She
won a full term the next year. In regard to
being labeled a trailblazer, Jackson said,
“It only means something if it enables you
to help others breakthrough as well.”
Community Citizenship Award:
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing
Arts of Miami-Dade County Corporate Citizenship Award:
Located in downtown Miami, The
Arsht Center is a premiere global
humanitarian venue. Suzette Espinosa,
vice president of Communication, said,
“The Arsht Center belongs to this
community. Community citizenship is
about acknowledging the needs of the
people in our neighborhoods and creating
opportunities to improve each other’s
lives.” Each year, the center offers more
than 100 culturally inclusive events
serving 40,000 people of all ages. Espino-
sa shared, “We present a wide variety of
artists on our stages. Free programs, such
as free Family Fest and Free Gospel
Sundays, are opportunities to decrease
barriers to enjoying the live performing
arts at the Arsht Center.” Knight Foundation invests in
journalism, the arts, and in the success of
26 cities where brothers John S. and
James L. Knight once published
newspapers. Andrew Sherry, Knight
Foundation’s vice president of
Communication, explained, “Our
approach is to listen first to what a
community wants to do to build its
future. In Miami, where our headquarters
is located, that means supporting the tech
startup ecosystem and the arts, both in
inclusive ways so they not only flourish
but are as diverse as the city itself.” The
Miami program director is Raul Moas
and the Arts program director is Adam
Ganuza.
Business Person of the Year: Corporate Executive of the Year: Connie Kinnard Business of the Year:
Andrea Trowers, M.D. In the medical
practice of Andrea
Trowers, M.D.,
patients are the
priority and
dermatology is
dharma. The board
certified
dermatologist declared, “I believe in
Dharma, which means that you want to
find the one thing that you enjoy doing so
much that you lose track of time. The
earlier you find your dharma the earlier
you can find that fulfillment in your work
life. That spills over to your private life as
well.” Dr. Trowers and her team deliver
turnkey co smetic and medical dermato-
logical solutions. Her golden rule-based
business philosophy is grounded in
consideration and patient education. As Greater
Miami Convention
and Visitors
Bureau’s vice
president of
Multicultural
Tourism and
Development,
Connie W. Kinnard is charged with
supporting convention sales efforts and
promoting Miami’s multicultural
neighborhoods, attractions and events.
Kinnard offers this advice to aspiring
executives: “If a seemingly good
opportunity arises but puts your integrity
into question, choose integrity. By doing
these things, you can sleep better at night
and awake in liberation.”
Knight Foundation
Dr. Steve
Gallon was elected
District 1’s school
board member for
the Miami-Dade
County Public
School Board in
2016. A career
M-DCPS educator
and administrator, Dr. Gallon affirmed,
“I am a diehard believer in the educability
of children, especially those in the urban
core.” He added, “Education is another
form of social justice.” The Florida
International University doctoral graduate
declared, “Silence is unacceptable and
actually perpetuates a vicious,
generational cycle of poverty, illiteracy,
crime, and violence in communities of
color in Miami and across the nation."
Public Official of the Year:
CrabMan 305 The Honorable Shevrin D. Jones
Cousins
Johnny Fannin and
Darren Whitaker
crafted their
version of the
American Dream
inside a family
member’s garage.
The enterprising duo built CrabMan 305
into a cafeteria selling surf and turf
delights at 2006 Opa-Locka Blvd.
Whitaker said, “Having a great team is
key. The better you do for your team, the
harder they will work for you.” He
continued, “We’re here to provide a
service and make sure everybody’s
experience is the same every time they
come.” The Opa-Locka-natives take pride
in serving patrons and creating jobs in
their hometown. Shevrin D.
Jones is the
three-times elected
state representative
for Florida’s House
District 101. Jones
said, “I did not
pursue public office
to raise my voice. I
pursued public
office to help the people I serve raise their
own voices.” In addition to serving on the
Appropriations Committee, Jones is the
Democratic ranking member on the
Education Committee and Health
Quality Subcommittee. He is the founder
of LEAD Nation, one of South Florida’s
premiere youth leadership development
organizations.
BB5