Korn Ferry Selected to Lead Search for New Miami-Dade Beacon Council President & CEO

Nationwide executive search follows the unexpected passing of Beacon Council President and CEO Michael A. Finney

MIAMI, FL – August 1, 2022 – The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official economic development partnership, announced today that Korn Ferry has been engaged to manage the organization’s search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Korn Ferry, the global organizational consulting firm that helped The Beacon Council hire Michael Finney in 2017, will be leading the organization’s nationwide search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was selected from a pool of leading executive search firms that were invited to submit proposals when the search process was initiated in May 2022 after Finney’s unexpected passing in April. The search engagement will be led by Charles Ingersoll, Senior Client Partner, Washington, DC, in coordination with Bonnie Crabtree, Senior Client Advisor at Korn Ferry’s Miami office, and Lorraine Lavet, Senior Client Partner, Washington, DC.

“The Search Committee, led by Yolanda Cash Jackson, Beacon’s Chair-Elect and Shareholder at Becker, is confident that partnering with Korn Ferry will allow us to find an experienced economic development professional of the caliber required to lead this organization,” said George Bermudez, 2021-2022 Chair and Senior Vice President, Miami Business Banking Market Executive at Bank of America. “The 2022 Search Committee includes a diverse group of leaders representative of Miami-Dade’s business community, all of whom have a deep understanding of this organization and its mission. Together, we know we will find the right leader to continue championing growth for this community.”

The Beacon Council’s 2022 President and CEO Search Committee members are:

  • Yolanda Cash Jackson, Becker; Search Committee Chair and FY 21-22 Chair-Elect, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
  • George Bermudez, Bank of America; FY 21-22 Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
  • Xavier Gonzalez, Cyxtera Technologies; FY 21-22 Secretary, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
  • Gary Goldfarb, Interport Logistics; Immediate Past Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
  • Jaret Davis, Greenberg Traurig; FY 16-17 Past Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
  • Donna Abood, Avison Young; FY 14-15 Past Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
  • Sheldon Anderson, Grove Bank & Trust; FY 13-14 Past Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
  • Alexandra Villoch, Baptist Health South Florida; FY 09-10 Past Chair, Miami-Dade Beacon Council

“The Committee appreciates how important it is to find the right person to head this organization, and Korn Ferry is best suited to help us identify that leader,” said Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq., Search Committee Chair, FY21-22 Chair-Elect, and Shareholder at Becker. “We know firsthand the positive impact that a visionary, experienced leader can have on this community. The Beacon Council is committed to engaging someone that not only understands and values our diverse global community but will champion collaboration and drive long-term inclusive prosperity for Miami-Dade’s residents and businesses.”

The Beacon Council appointed William D. Talbert III as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer in late April until a new leader is confirmed.

The job profile has been posted on both Korn Ferry’s website (here) and on the Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s website (here).

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About the Miami‐Dade Beacon Council

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council is the county’s official economic development partnership. Attracting and retaining companies that create high-value jobs and invest in our community, The Beacon Council is committed to driving long-term economic prosperity and inclusive growth for Miami-Dade County, its businesses, and residents. We achieve this by marketing Miami- Dade as a world-class business destination; growing local companies and fostering entrepreneurs; and shaping Miami-Dade’s economic future. Established in 1985, The Beacon Council has attracted more than 120,000 new jobs and $7 Billion of new investment to Miami- Dade County. For more information, visit BeaconCouncil.com.

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. For more information, visit KornFerry.com.