The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Announces Call for Nominations for the HYPE Awards

Distinguished Awards Will Acknowledge Innovation and Achievement Among Miami-Dade’s Best Young Professionals

MIAMI , FL , December 16, 2009  – HYPE Miami®, the young professionals committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, is accepting applications for its first annual HYPE Awards which recognizes innovation and achievement.  Applications must be received by the Chamber on or before January 15, 2010.

The Chamber is strongly encouraging the business community and its institutions to support their young professionals and their notable achievements.  As nominees, these professionals will also give their respective organization an opportunity to showcase their brand and talent.

The awards include five uniquely tailored categories:

·         Entrepreneur Award will recognize young professionals who have succeeded at establishing and maintaining their own business. The business must be established for at least 12 months.

·         Go Getter Award will recognize young professionals who have exceeded the goals, benchmarks and other quantitative measures set forth by their company (i.e. sales, business development, all around performance, promotions, etc.).

·         Difference Maker Award will recognize those professionals who are dedicated to community service and who volunteer for a non-profit organization outside of their primary employment. The award will be presented to the individual who has made a real difference in Miami .

·         Rookie of the Year will honor professionals who have stood out during the first 12-15 months at their current employment.

·         Most Valuable Graduate (MVG) Award will honor a recent graduate from one of the local institutions located in Miami-Dade County . Applicants must have graduated within the last 12 months of the date this application is submitted.

HYPE Miami developed this program with the true young professional in mind.  All applicants must be under the age of 35, born on or after March 25, 1975; and have lived or worked (or attended a university or college if applying for MVG Award) in Miami-Dade County for at least four consecutive years.  Nominations are open to Greater Miami Commerce Chamber members and nonmembers.  Applications are available online at www.miamichamber.com. 

The HYPE Awards will be presented at a luncheon on March 25, 2010 at Jungle Island located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami , FL 33132 . Corporate and table sponsorship packages are available for a limited time.  For information contact Deanna Dolan: 305-577-5444 or ddolan@miamichamber.com.

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About the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professions organized to create economic progress in Miami-Dade County . To carry out its mission, the Chamber serves as the voice of business enterprise and involves the private sector in community leadership. For more than 100 years, the Chamber has been widely recognized and respected for its extraordinary record of economic development and community improvement.

The Greater Miami Chamber is an activist chamber. Its program of work is organized in five areas: Advocacy, Domestic Business Development, International Business Development, Leadership Programs and Marketing & Member Services. The Chamber has an award-winning website, www.MiamiChamber.com; holds the license to the Miami Free Trade Zone, Inc.; and has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Executive Speaking Forums in America .

About HYPE Miami

HYPE Miami (Helping Young Professional Engage) is a committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.  The committee was created to provide networking opportunities that connect young professionals with prominent business leaders throughout the Greater Miami community. Its mission is to facilitate business development opportunities among young professionals by providing the perfect environment to meet, exchange ideas, expand and/or learn about new business as well as proactively shape the future workforce of the region and build the next generation of leaders.