Miami-Dade Beacon Council

Led by Council Chair Olga Naumovich, our Q3 Tech Advisory Council meeting featured a distinguished panel of leaders dedicated to the growth of our innovation economy: Kerry-Ann Royes, M.B.A. – President & CEO of the YWCA South Florida Michael Simas – President & CEO of the The Florida Council of 100 Lana (Gilyalova) Simkins – VP of Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations at Florida International University The discussion explored the critical crosscurrents shaping our industry, followed by strategic updates on: 🏙 Infrastructure: Data centers and navigating the evolving political landscape. 🧠 Workforce Development: Comprehensive talent mapping and pipeline growth. 📈 Economic Strategy: Business promotion and high-level market positioning. Together, we are strengthening the #MiamiTechEcosystem and ensuring it remains a global competitor. We invite you to join the conversation and help drive the next phase of our city's growth. IInterested in helping drive change in Miami’s Tech Industry as an Advisory Council member? Become an MDBC Investor! Contact Ilona Vega Jaramillo, CEcD at ivega@beaconcouncil.com to learn how your organization can support the mission of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. #TechAdvisoryCouncil #MiamiBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #WorkforceDevelopment #MiamiTech #StrategicGrowth Evgeny Yudin | Dr. Paula Hopkins | Ayla Brandt

We're incredibly proud to announce that our President & CEO, Rodrick Miller was recognized as one of Be Strong International's 2026 Stronger Together Honorees at their annual Hearts in Rhythm event. This honor highlights a fundamental truth about our region's growth: in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving ecosystem like Miami-Dade, cultivating mental, emotional, and social health is more critical now than ever before. Be Strong International operates on a powerful principle: strong families build strong communities. By providing relationship education, fostering emotional resilience, and building healthy support systems, they are creating the essential human infrastructure that keeps our community grounded. This mission directly intersects with the core values of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council. We believe that true economic development is about more than just business expansion and job metrics—it is about empowering equitable growth and taking care of the people of Miami-Dade. Watch the full video to learn more: https://lnkd.in/exD2s8Qc #BeaconBuildsMiami #BeStrongIntl #MiamiPhilanthropy #MentalHealth #SocialHealth

We are thrilled to officially welcome Evgeny Yudin to our team as Business and Economic Development Manager! Following his successful impact as our Business Development Fellow, this Barry University Honors grad and former Stamps Scholar brings a deep passion for global business attraction and community impact to his role. Please join us in welcoming Evgeny as he helps drive long-term innovation and economic growth across Miami-Dade County! 🚀 #BeaconBuildsMiami #EconomicDevelopment

We are proud to announce that Ayla Brandt, Manager of Marketing & Events at the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, has been selected to receive North America’s Top 50 Economic Developer Award for 2026. Each year, Consultant Connect recognizes the "best in the business" by asking site consultants and economic developers to nominate peers who demonstrate exceptional leadership and impact in their communities. From a pool of over 150 nominations, Ayla was selected by a panel for her significant contributions to both the Miami-Dade region and the broader #EconomicDevelopment industry. Please join us in celebrating Ayla’s hard-earned achievement and her dedication to the socio-economic vitality of our community! 👏 #BeaconBuildsMiami

Why did FEAM Aero choose Miami for its global headquarters? 🔹Miami is a Premier Global Hub: Miami’s positioning as a leading international passenger and cargo gateway provides the high-volume environment essential for world-class #MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services. 🔹Dedicated Talent Pipeline: The Beacon Council works with local leadership and educational institutions to prioritize #WorkforceDevelopment, creating a stream of highly skilled technicians ready to support a fleet that spans the globe. The Miami-Dade Beacon Council is proud to be a long-standing partner to FEAM Aero, helping the past Beacon Award recipient achieve local success through: 🔹Facilitating Expansion: Supporting the strategic relocation of their corporate headquarters to MIA grounds. 🔹Workforce Integration: Connecting FEAM with regional talent initiatives to ensure their growing team of over 1,500 technicians remains the best in the industry. Are you ready to discuss relocating your company to Miami? Email us at bizdev@beaconcouncil.com. #BeaconBuildsMiami

Affordable childcare is essential in ensuring that professional growth for working families translates into true economic mobility instead of financial instability. As a key partner in the Miami-Dade County Fiscal Cliff Collaborative, the Beacon Council is dedicated to aligning #childcare solutions with workforce needs to secure the region's future prosperity. Read the full insight from Rodrick Miller and Alfred Sanchez here: https://bit.ly/3RFDCPP The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County | Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce #BeaconBuildsMiami #EconomicMobility #MiamiDade #AffordableChildcare

There are moments when you walk into a space and immediately feel hope, humanity, and courage. The Tour of the future Baptist Health Al and Jane Nahmad Women’s Cancer Center was a powerful reminder that South Florida is not only growing as a global healthcare destination we are shaping the future of life sciences, research, innovation, and human-centered care. A the Miami Cancer Institute the feeling began in the lobby with the jellyfish aquarium then came the bell of Courage…with more than 3.2 million patients served, Baptist Health continues to stand as a beacon of courage for South Florida and beyond. It was inspiring to hear the vision from leaders including Alexandra Villoch, M. Beatriz Currier, MD, and John P. Diaz, MD FACOG FACS, whose commitment goes far beyond treating illness. From healing the whole patient to advancing the future through AI, robotics, precision medicine, and evidence-based care, Baptist Health is contributing to the future of healthcare right here in South Florida This transformational investment reflects exactly why the Miami-Dade Beacon Council continues to champion industries that create opportunity, attract innovation, and improve quality of life for our residents. Special thanks to Cristiana Glassford, Erika Marin, Erin Dowd, Aura M. Montoya, Marina Haro, and Fabrizio Cisternino for an incredible tour. I appreciate all who joined me today, Corey Brown, CFRE, Rodrick Miller, Madeleine Thakur, Cristina Miller, CEO, Deborah Spiegelman, Ayla Brandt, Julio P., Yolanda Nader and Angeline Huang Evans.

Exponential growth in Miami-Dade is built on strategic partnerships that turn potential into reality. ✈️📈 Doing business in Miami means having a partner like the Miami-Dade Beacon Council to open doors that would otherwise remain closed. We are proud to have supported FEAM Aero, a past Beacon Award recipient, by facilitating critical airfield access and lease negotiations at Miami International Airport. By securing these essential connections and airfield deals, the Beacon Council helped provide the foundation for FEAM to scale exponentially. Today, they leverage Miami’s global positioning and robust talent pipeline to provide high-wage jobs in our vibrant aviation sector. Ready to discuss your move to Miami? Email us at BizDev@beaconcouncil.com #BeaconBuildsMiami | Cam Murphy

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council was proud to host an international delegation of business leaders for our official SelectUSA Spinoff event. As an appointed spinoff city by SelectUSA, we welcomed delegates from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Romania, and across the United States to experience the strength of our business ecosystem firsthand. This multi-day touchpoint served as a powerful catalyst for business attraction, connecting global investors with the specialized infrastructure and talent that define Miami-Dade. Highlights of the Spinoff included: Downtown Immersion: Day 1 programming featured a tour of the Downtown core supported by the Miami DDA and a cultural visit to the historic Freedom Tower. Strategic Programming: Insightful panels and municipality spotlights featured leaders from Miami-Dade County focusing on the "Pathways to Opportunity" within our region. Networking & B2B: We facilitated direct B2B meetings and hosted a premier networking reception, generously sponsored by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. Economic Support: A special thank you to our sponsor Florida Power & Light for their continued commitment to powering growth in our community. As delegates head home from the main SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland, we hope you had the chance to reconnect with our Business Development team at the SelectFlorida booth. We look forward to continuing the conversations started here in Miami-Dade and helping your business take flight! #SelectUSA #EconomicDevelopment #MiamiMeansBusiness #BeaconBuildsMiami #InvestinMiami Dade #GlobalBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #FDI #SelectFlorida Marixell Garcia | Madeline Mesa | Ilona Vega Jaramillo, CEcD | Rodrick Miller | Ayla Brandt | Evgeny Yudin | Amy V. | Aliyah Blake

The Beacon Awards are back—and we’re ready to celebrate the leaders shaping the future of Greater Miami. This signature event will honor the innovators, businesses, and changemakers driving economic growth, job creation, and transformative impact across our community. 📅 Join us on October 26th for an unforgettable evening of recognition, connection, and inspiration alongside Miami’s top leaders. 👉 Learn more and submit your application for one of the three award categories here: https://lnkd.in/eK_jQZ7q 💚 Sponsorships are now available for organizations looking to align with our mission of fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive economy. By sponsoring the Beacon Awards, your company supports the strategic initiatives that help our local businesses grow and thrive. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ert9raa9 #BeaconAwards #MiamiMeansBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #Leadership #Innovation #GreaterMiami