The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) hosts 16 of themth ANNUAL Champions of Business Awardson March 30 at 7:00 PM at the Miami Beach JCC. The annual event recognizes pillars of the business community including a Chamber board member for their leadership.
This year’s honorees are:
- Michael Shvo, SHVO | Business Award Champion
- John Stuart, FIU | James McDonnell Outstanding Board of Governor Award
- Reinaldo Borges, Borges Architects + Associates | Boutique Innovative Firm of the Year Award
- Stephanie Leger, First Rate Hospitality | DeAnne Connolly Graham is Amazing Woman in Business Award
“The Chamber is excited to continue its tradition of honoring visionaries in our business community,” said Jerry Libbin, President and CEO, of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. “The honorees are champions in their respective industries, which include real estate development, architecture, education, and hospitality – all of which are instrumental to Miami Beach’s economy.”
The Champions of Business Honorees are:
The Champion of Business Award: The award is given to a successful entrepreneur who effectively changes the dynamics within an industry, develops groundbreaking ideas and business strategies and uses technology to promote a brand. while maintaining philanthropic activities.
- Michael Shvo, Chairman and CEO | SHVO
Michael Shvo is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of SHVO, the nation’s leading development, ownership, and investment firm in luxury real estate.
Headquartered in New York City with offices in Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago, SHVO owns and operates a national portfolio with more than $8 billion in assets under management with more than 4.5 million square feet in industrial sectors, including commercial office and retail, hospitality, and luxury residential assets.
The company’s select portfolio of significant architectural properties, from newly built new developments to transformed landmarks that define the skylines of the world’s leading cities includes Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, The Raleigh Miami Beach, 333 South Wabash Avenue also known as, “The Big Red,” in Chicago, Mandarin Oriental Residences at 9200 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, Mandarin Oriental Residences, Fifth Avenue in New York City and the AMAN New York, Hotel and Residences in the Crown building.
Michael draws from his diverse real estate background – from brokerage to sales and marketing to development – to guide his company in creating and transforming one-of-a-kind properties into some of the most important and searched world locations.
He leads the company’s investment and transaction strategy, capital markets, site selection, design and conceptualization – and anchors a team of some of the world’s most respected investors including pension funds, companies of insurance, financial institutions, and other leading institutional investors, who participate in SHVO’s. vision to create tremendous value by elevating the way people live and work.
The James McDonnell Outstanding Board of Governors Award: Awarded annually to the outstanding Board of Governors for their years of dedication to the advancement and growth of the Chamber and Miami Beach.
- John Stuart, Associate Dean for Cultural and Community Engagement at FIU and Executive Director at Miami Beach Urban Studios in the College of Communication
John Stuart, AIA, Distinguished University Professor of Architecture, Associate Dean for Cultural and Community Engagement and Executive Director of Miami Beach Urban Studios is an architectural historian and a visual artist who develops collaborative research projects on complexity, community , identity, technology, environment and public space with funding from the Van Alen Institute, The National Endowment for the Arts, The National Science Foundation, The National Endowment for the Humanities, and The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.
The Boutique Innovative Firm of the Year Award: Presented to a new and growing business for their outstanding achievements.
- Reinaldo Borges, Principal and CEO | Borges Architects + Associates
Reinaldo Borges has a Masters Degree in Architecture with a focus on Mixed-Use and Hybrid urban projects and urban design. With over 25 years of Professional experience, he has won many awards in international design competitions. His work has been published in national and international architectural publications and ranges from the design collaboration on the New American Airlines Arena in Miami, to the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort Hotel in South Miami Beach, to the New Carillon Canyon Ranch Resort in Miami Beach , up to. Community Centers and Fire Stations in Sunrise Florida. He is a registered architect in Florida and Maryland, a certified member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and an active member of the American Institute of Architects and the US Green Building Council.
Reinaldo has developed a solid background in the field of architecture, in projects ranging from luxury high-rise multi-family residences to resort/urban hotels and complex mixed-use facilities to Fire Stations and Building renovations. Moderate to Luxury condominium high-rise design and hospitality projects are his strongest design specialties. Reinaldo uses responsive creative problem solving from concept to final detailed work execution, with a passionate team oriented approach. He has successfully collaborated with national design teams in design collaborations many times. During the design of the new American Airlines Arena where Mr. Borges as a design leader, directs a team of more than 20 design professionals from Sports Architects to Structural and Mechanical Engineers. Rigorous design focused and balanced with a strong technical background is Borges’ leadership approach to the profession of architecture and systems engineering.
The DeAnne Connolly Graham Woman in Business Award: Initiated in 2015, this award was initiated by the Women’s Business Council, chaired by DeAnne Connolly Graham and recognizes an exceptional woman, who is a leader in the business community. The honorees are recognized for their continued growth, success and being an inspiration to the Miami Beach community. In 2022, the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce honored DeAnne by renaming the award in recognition of her life’s work and commitment to empowering women.
- Stephanie Leger, president | First Rate Hospitality
Stephanie Leger has over nineteen years of experience in the hotel industry worldwide, including Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Forbes Travel Guide Inspector, AAA, and many others involved in the luxury hotel industry.
Over the years, Stephanie has delivered countless operational evaluation reviews and trained employees on global service standards at the world’s leading hotels. He has also helped hotels during times of crisis such as hurricanes, ZIKA, COVID-19, and the 2008 recession.
His passion for employee performance, development and engagement makes him a qualified professional who works well with individuals of any cultural background. Other areas of expertise in the hotel industry include Spa, Food & Beverage, Recreation, and Casino.
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