Sheldon T. Anderson and Nitin R. Motwani Named New Co‐Chairs of The Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s One Community One Goal Initiative

First Access Breakfast as Co-Chairs to be held on August 27th

(Miami, FL) August 8, 2019 The Miami‐Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public‐private economic development partnership, and The Beacon Council Economic Development Foundation are pleased to announce that Sheldon T. Anderson and Nitin R. Motwani will be joining Miami‐Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez as the new Co-Chairs of the organization’s One Community One Goal initiative. On August 27, 2019 at the OCOG Access Breakfast on Education & Workforce Development, both Nitin and Sheldon will be discussing their vision and plans as new  Co-Chairs of One Community One Goal.

One Community One Goal (OCOG) is a community-wide initiative focused on generating high paying jobs in Miami-Dade. The initiative is guided by a long‐term strategic plan launched in April 2011 which has galvanized a broad spectrum of professionals and organizations working to advance the goal of creating a thriving, inclusive and diverse community.

During their two‐year tenure as Co‐Chairs, Anderson and Motwani will provide leadership and counsel to ensure the expansion and development of seven elements essential to Miami‐Dade’s economy: physical infrastructure and resiliency; entrepreneurship and innovation; education and workforce development; business climate and policy; leadership; economic development marketing; and growth of target industries. Additionally, they will continue to drive support for the five-year, $15 million capital campaign designed to secure additional resources for stimulating the creation of high paying jobs.

From 2012 through 2018, One Community One Goal helped create 171,855 new jobs in Miami-Dade, including 67,000 jobs across eight targeted sectors: aviation, banking and finance, creative design, hospitality and tourism, life sciences and healthcare, technology, and trade and logistics. The most significant growth during that span came in the technology industry, a critical engine for skilled labor growth that is a top priority of The Beacon Council. The tech sector saw the number of new jobs in Miami-Dade grow by 40 percent, from 8,173 in 2012 to 11,440 in 2018.

Mr. Anderson is a respected business and community leader and a strong advocate for economic growth, education and the arts.  He is the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Southeast Region of the Northern Trust Company.  He is an active philanthropist and Board member of many south Florida organizations; including Baptist Health South Florida, Miami Dade College Foundation, Institute of Contemporary Art, New World Symphony, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and the Orange Bowl Committee.  He is a Board member and past Chair of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council.

“I am pleased to join Mayor Gimenez, and Nitin Motwani in this venture to expand the economic growth of my home town, Miami Dade County.  I appreciate being entrusted with the work that began with so many outstanding community leaders.  We are committed to making a meaningful impact during our tenure,” said Sheldon T. Anderson, Co-Chair of One Community One Goal.

Mr. Motwani is Managing Principal of Miami Worldcenter, the $4 billion, 27-acre real estate development rising in the heart of Downtown Miami. In this role, he is responsible for everything from land acquisition, zoning, and entitlements to financing, joint ventures, and development. Mr. Motwani serves as a board member for the Miami Downtown Development Authority, where he has led efforts to attract hedge funds and financial services firms to Miami over the past six years. He also serves as the advisory board chair of the Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism program (MRED+U) at the University of Miami.

“As someone who was raised in South Florida before leaving my hometown for college, only to return years later, I’ve seen first-hand how Miami-Dade can be fertile ground for career advancement,” says Mr. Motwani. “Reversing the trend of brain drain and attracting top-quality talent to Miami begins with creating a deep pool of workforce opportunities and ensuring that the companies doing business here have the resources and support they need to grow in place. One Community One Goal has been an effective platform for fueling that growth, and I look forward to building the program alongside Sheldon and Mayor Gimenez.”

“We couldn’t be happier that these two successful business leaders have agreed to be the new Co‐Chairs of One Community One Goal. Our community is experiencing one of the best economic times, with our unemployment rate continuing to decline and our One Community One Goal strategic plan helping drive more than 172,000 new jobs in the past six years,” said Michael A. Finney, President & CEO of the Miami‐ Dade Beacon Council.

“Our most recent co‐chairs—Penny Shaffer and Maria Alonso—did an amazing job, passing on the baton even stronger than they found it. We appreciate all the work they did for OCOG, the foundation and this community. We are confident both Sheldon and Nitin, working with Mayor Gimenez and the rest of OCOG leadership, will continue this momentum to ensure the success of One Community One Goal.”

The new Co‐Chairs will succeed Penny Shaffer, Florida Blue Market President and Chair of the Miami‐Dade Beacon Council, and Maria Alonso, CEO at United Way of Miami‐Dade.

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About One Community One Goal (OCOG)

One Community One Goal is a roadmap for Miami-Dade County’s future economic development success.  This initiative provides a collaborative platform that promotes community-wide economic development and prosperity in Miami-Dade County, by driving innovation, leveraging strengths, providing clear thought leadership, and coalescing public and private priorities. One Community One Goal brings together a broad spectrum of Miami-Dade organizations, working to advance the goal of a thriving, inclusive and diverse community.

About The Miami‐Dade Beacon Council

Miami‐Dade Beacon Council is the official economic development organization for Miami‐Dade County. Its mission is to increase jobs and investment through marketing Miami as a world class business destination; helping grow local companies; and shaping Miami’s economic future. Since 1985, the

organization has assisted more than 1,000 businesses that have created nearly 70,000 direct jobs and added more than $4.7 billion in new capital investments. A professional staff and volunteer community leaders work to promote Miami as a world‐class 21st century community at the forefront of a changing global economy. For more information: www.beaconcouncil.com.

About the Beacon Council Economic Development Foundation

The Beacon Council Economic Development Foundation, Inc. is a Florida Not For Profit Corporation created exclusively for charitable and educational purposes:

  • To compile, prepare, and publish statistical data concerning Miami‐Dade County Florida and make such data available to all segments of the community;
  • To lessen the burdens of government;
  • To combat community deterioration; and to do all lawful acts incidental to the accomplishment of said charitable and educational purposes. The sole member of the Foundation is The Miami‐Dade Beacon Council, Inc.

For more information on OCOG and to review the OCOG Strategic Plan, go to https://www.beaconcouncil.com/ocog/the‐plan/