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Award nominations now open
MIAMI, FL (April 17, 2025) – The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public-private economic development partnership, is excited to announce the return of its signature event, The Beacon Awards and its call for nominations. The award ceremony will be hosted on Oct. 22, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to honor the innovators, transformative companies, and visionary changemakers shaping the future of Greater Miami.
Expanding Legacy Through New Award Categories
The awards program, presented through the Beacon Council Foundation, honors industry leaders across established categories, celebrating excellence in key sectors that drive Greater Miami’s economy. To mark its 40-year anniversary, The Beacon Council added two new awards to this year’s lineup, recognizing individuals whose leadership, vision, and impact have played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s economic trajectory. The 2025 Beacon Awards will include:
- Six (6) Industry Awards—representing outstanding achievements in Aviation & Aerospace, Finance, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Professional Services, Technology, and Trade & Logistics.
- Two (2) Category Leadership Awards—a Small Business (50 employees or less) and One2Watch New Leader (45 & Under) award.
- Two (2) Jay Malina Leadership Awards—While this prestigious award is traditionally given to one individual, this year, it will be presented to both Dr. Eduardo Padrón, whose 2020 honor was postponed due to the pandemic, and a second honoree to be announced at a later date.
- One (1) Founders’ Award—inspired by the legacy of the late tri-chairmen Sidney Levin, Theodore Hoepner, and Merrett R. Stierheim who tirelessly championed the need for a public-private partnership to guide and enhance Greater Miami’s economic development. This new recognition goes to an individual whose entrepreneurial leadership, collaboration, and vision have positively and profoundly shaped Greater Miami’s economic landscape.
“I’m incredibly proud to bring back the Beacon Awards during my term,” said Juan Carlos Liscano, Vice President of Operations at American Airlines and Chair of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. “It’s a true honor to recognize the visionary leaders who uplift our community and who embody the mission of The Beacon Council—to grow a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Miami-Dade. We reimagined these awards, introducing new and meaningful ways to recognize and celebrate the people who pour their heart and hustle into building a brighter future for Greater Miami.”
As the Beacon Council celebrates its 40th year, this year’s awards represent a rallying moment for the community to reflect on the people and partnerships that have powered Greater Miami’s evolution.
“The Beacon Awards celebrate the bold vision and leadership it takes to champion innovation and economic growth,” said Rodrick T. Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. “We take great pride in recognizing those who help us to elevate Greater Miami’s global profile, boost its economic appeal, and shape it into a world-class business hub.”
2025 Beacon Awards Criteria and Host Committee
The recipient of the Jay Malina Leadership Award is chosen exclusively by The Beacon Council’s Past Chairs. All other award recipients are selected by the Beacon Awards Host Committee, a distinguished group of business leaders committed to recognizing Miami-Dade County’s most impactful innovators and changemakers. The evaluation criteria includes job creation, capital investment, commitment to innovation, and impact on Greater Miami’s business community.
The 2025 Beacon Awards Host Committee includes:
- Donna Abood, Savills – Host Committee Chair & MDBC Board Member & Past Chair
- Rodney T. Miller- President & CEO of the MDBC
- Juan Carlos Liscano, American Airlines – 2023-2025 MDBC Chair
- Christine Barney, rbb Communications – 2023-2025 MDBC Chair-Elect
- Sheldon Anderson, Grove Bank & Trust – MDBC Board Member & Past Chair
- George Bermudez, Bank of America – MDBC Past Chair
- Antonio Dias, Jones Day – MDBC Officer & Board Member
- Austin Hollo, Florida East Coast Realty – MDBC Board Member
- Basil Khalil, FedEx Latin America – MDBC Officer & Board Member
- Olga Naumovich, Millennium – MDBC Board Member
- Pablo Pino, TD Bank – MDBC Board Member
- Madeline Pumariega, Miami Dade College – Academic Leaders Council Chair & MDBC Board Member
- Alexandra Villoch, Baptist Health Foundation – MDBC Board Member & Past Chair
“The Beacon Awards pay meaningful tribute to the visionaries who champion the region through their groundbreaking work,” said Donna Abood, Savill, Host Committee Chair & MDBC Board Member & Past Chair. “We feel honored and incredibly privileged to serve on the Beacon Awards Host Committee, especially in this milestone year and strongly encourage businesses and community leaders to submit a nomination for those who are transforming industries, strengthening our communities, and broadening access to opportunity—all of which are building a bigger, better, brighter future for our region.”
Nomination Process Now Open
The nomination form is now open, inviting businesses and community leaders to recognize individuals and organizations making a lasting impact. For nomination details, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket information, visit LINK.
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About The Beacon Awards
The Beacon Council Foundation is a 501(C) 3, a Florida not-for-profit organization and an affiliate of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, a 501(C) 6, created exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The Miami-Dade Beacon Council is the sole member of the Foundation and has oversight and control over the Foundation’s fiscal and programmatic activities. The Beacon Awards program is a component of the current One Community One Goal (OCOG) initiative to diversify the local economy and promote higher-paying jobs.
About the Miami-Dade Beacon Council
The Miami-Dade Beacon Council is the County’s official economic development partnership, focused on driving a more sustainable, inclusive, and competitive economy for Greater Miami. Since 1985, The Beacon Council has attracted more than 160,000 new jobs and $8.4 billion in investments to the region. For more information, visit The Beacon Council’s website.
Press Contact:
Laina Kawass | laina@kandcobranding.com | 305-984-7036
