INTRODUCING THE FIRST ANNUAL HYPE AWARDS FINALISTS

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

Miami, Florida, March 18, 2010 – HYPE Miami®, the young professionals committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, announces the 15 finalists for its inaugural HYPE Awards to be presented March 25, 2010 at Jungle Island. 

The awards luncheon will recognize Miami-Dade’s brightest young professionals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements. Three finalists were announced for each award category:

·         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. Finalists: Adam Bergman, MyLLCAgreement.com; Frank J. Peña, The FJP Group; and Brian Rechtman, Blue Tree Marketing Corp.

·         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.).

Finalists: Adrian Judson Khaw, University of Miami Pediatric Mobile Clinic; Gabrielle Rapke, Citi; and Estrellita Sibila, Esq., Weis Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole and Boniske, LLP

·         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.  Finalists: Norie del Valle, United Way of Miami-Dade; Michel Petit-homme, Care Resource; and Theresa Therilus, TGT Sports and Marketing

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

Finalists: Michael Brodie, Aon Risk Services, Inc. of Florida; Nicholas Gavronsky, Citi; and Eric Wenke, Baptist Health South Florida

·          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.  Finalists: Steven Balch, Trustee Alliance, LLC; Laura Brill, Partners for Youth with Disabilities; and Arthur Meyer, Florida International University

HYPE Miami developed this award program with the true young professional in mind. All finalists are under the age of 35 and have lived, worked or attended a university or college in Miami-Dade County for at least four consecutive years.

The awards luncheon features a keynote presentation by Nitin Motwani, principal and managing director, Miami Worldcenter Group; and will be emceed by Lissette Gonzalez, weather anchor, CBS4. Corporate sponsors include Ford, Media Stage, Brian K. Video Productions, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and JBG Communications.  

Corporate, table sponsorship packages and individual tickets are available.  Online registration available at www.MiamiChamber.com. 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 is 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 is widely recognized as one of the Top 10 Executive Speaking Forums in America.

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.