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Miami Today - Mark Kent

Always striving to improve himself and his community, Mark Kent became CEO for the CAC-Florida Medical Centers last November. He hopes to add value to the products the health care organization delivers by providing education and preventative care while putting patients first.
“By focusing on those unmet needs,” he said, “by focusing on you as a holistic patient, by designing the proper prevention and chronic disease management programs, by helping you not only to stay out of the hospital but ensuring that you’re getting the right care at the right time, that adds the value to the system.”

 

Shortly after Mr. Kent assumed his current role CAC-Florida Medical Centers opened two centers in Orlando. Mr. Kent said the company is planning other expansions.
With a Medicare-eligible patient base that is about 83% Hispanic, CAC-Florida Medical Centers often partners with the state, Medicaid and Medicare to create a benefit structure for patients with an income of less than $20,000 a year, Mr. Kent said, adding that health care reform is necessary to combat the rising costs associated with receiving care.
A nurse by training, Mr. Kent said that his background has helped him understand and engage with physicians and staff to better serve patients.
“We’re in the health care delivery space, so it’s critically important and fundamentally helpful to have a clinical understanding when you’re engaging staff, speaking with a physician or engaging the patient,” he said. “I love being in our medical centers. That adds credibility when you’re having conversations with a provider that you truly understand.”
Mr. Kent discussed his career and CAC-Florida Medical Centers with Miami Today staff writer Patricia Hoyos at a Hialeah medical center.

Miami Today Profile: Ysela Llort

Ysela Llort has spent a lifetime in transportation.

Before joining Miami-Dade County Ms. Llort worked as an assistant district engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation, overseeing the Virginia portion of the Washington, DC region.

 

She was assistant secretary for intermodal systems development at the Florida Department of Transportation, where she was responsible for the executive management and operation of the department’s planning, environmental management and public transportation programs.

Upon moving to Miami-Dade, Ms. Llort served as an assistant county manager – overseeing the county’s many transportation departments, including the transit department, the public works department, the aviation department, the seaport, the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust and the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Following the 2011 county restructuring, Ms. Llort served as Miami-Dade Transit’s interim director from Aug. 2011 to Feb. 2012, when Mayor Carlos Gimenez officially appointed her to the position.

“One of the interesting things about working in government is that you have an opportunity to change people lives, but in order to do that you have to understand what it is that people want in terms of service,” she said. “Then you have to understand the options on how to make that happen. That only happens if you listen actively.”

In her first month in her new post, Ms. Llort said that she has been working on the county’s airport link metrorail project, which will offer an extension from Earlington Heights to Miami International. The project, she said, is 97% complete.

“That’s going to be a fabulous service,” she said. “The other challenge is to make sure that project could be delivered timely and cost effectively.”

Ms. Llort discussed her push to open the airport link station and increase transit ridership with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins in her downtown office.

 

Miami Today Profile: Eduardo Padron

Since moving to the United States as a refugee at 15, Eduardo Padron has spent 41 years at Miami Dade College, working his way through the ranks at the only school he said would give him a chance after high school.

 

Since graduating from the college, Mr. Padron has worked as an assistant professor of economics, department chair, division director, associate dead, dean, vice president, campus president and now college president.

His goal is to ensure that all students, young and old, rich or poor, receive access to a quality education at a low cost.

“Opportunity changes everything,” he said, “and our concern is making sure that people who have the least opportunity are given a chance to get an education…Education is the passport to a better life and we’re worried about the low-income people and their ability to obtain a college [degree].”

As head of one of the most diverse institutions in the nation, in 2003 Mr. Padron pushed to receive state approval to offer bachelor’s degrees through the college. He has advocated on behalf of the Dream Act to provide those born outside of the US with cheaper tuition costs, and has been asked to serve on the White House Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans, where he works to provide educational opportunities to all nationalities.

“This institution has changed many lives,” he said, “and it’s demonstrated that you can have open access and excellent academic programs. The students who finish here are second to none and are able to compete in the best universities in the country.”

Mr. Padron discussed his plans to provide Miami-Dade residents with a quality education, how he plans to counter recent reductions in state funding and what the college is doing to better the community with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins at his downtown office.

Miami Today Profile: Julie Grimes

When Julie Grimes is not busy overseeing operations at the Hilton Bentley Hotel in South Beach as its managing partner, she invests her time helping the community through numerous organizations. She has helped provide training and opportunities for inner city residents, particularly those residing in the Overtown area. 

Among her main efforts has been her involvement with Miami Dade College’s Hospitality Institute, a program that provides Overtown residents in need training for jobs in the hospitality industry. Funding for the program primarily comes from grants from the Southeast Overtown/ParkWest Community Development Agency and through funding partners. Over 1,000 people have gone through the five-day program, with about 300 of those getting jobs in hospitality. Her goal is to expand the program so it can reach people beyond those in Overtown.
“We need additional funding partners into the Hospitality Institute so we want to go beyond the CRA and get corporate partners engaged with funding and job opportunities for those in need,” she said.
Through the Hilton Bentley Hotel, she has also helped spearhead the hotel’s community outreach program. The hotel currently works with Big Brother Big Sister, providing high school students the opportunity to shadow someone in the hospitality industry and be eligible for a college scholarship. She is also on the board of the Miami Dade College Foundation and the Camillus House.
Her dedication to helping those in need has gone beyond Miami city limits and for the past couple of years she has been involved with World Vision, which not only has helped provide supplies to Haiti in times of need but is also providing training for residents to help developed rural communities in Haiti.
Originally from Canada, Ms. Grimes said she has noticed Miami transform into an international hub full of wealth in the past 20 years. She said she hopes her community outreach efforts will help inner city residents not be left behind and have opportunities available to them as Miami growths.
“I just wish everyone would give more, not only of treasure but of their time,” she said. “I think it’s coming to an understanding that those that are in a position to help really if ever there was a time to do so, this is the time to do what you can, to connect with those in need and really reach out and touch them.”
Ms. Grimes discussed the need to get Miami business leaders involved in the community and her goal of expanding the Hospitality Institute with Miami Today staff writer Patricia Hoyos in her downtown apartment.

Miami Today Profile: Braulio Baez

As the newly appointed executive director of the Florida Public Service Commission, Braulio Baez has dedicated his career to the state’s many utility and telecommunications industries.

After working as a chief advisor for the Public Service Commission from 1994 to 1998, Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Mr. Baez to serve as a commissioner, a position he held from August 2000 to January 2006, eventually serving as chair.

As a commissioner Mr. Baez put his utility experience to work, using the knowledge he gained at Leibowitz & Associates to help the Public Service Commission regulate utilities statewide.

As an associate at Leibowitz & Associates, Mr. Baez worked to advance legislative policies and negotiate municipal agreements in all aspects of telecommunications law. He held this position from 1998 until 2000 and said that it gave him the experience needed to succeed in the commission.

 “If nothing else, exposure to policy issues has helped me gain an understanding of how the agency works,” he said.

Mr. Baez was serving on the commission during the 2004 hurricane season, when Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne flew through Miami waters. Calling the storms the “transcendent issue” of his time, the commissioner helped rebuild South Florida utilities.

“You never realize how much you take for granted – the fact that when you flip a switch the light comes on or you have a dial tone when you pick up the phone – as when you don’t have it,” he said. “Everyone having lived in South Florida has the unfortunate experiences of learning that the hard way.”

From 2006 to 2010 Mr. Baez worked for Holland & Knight and Akerman Senterfitt, developing legal strategies involving critical infrastructure issues for Florida utility providers and telecommunications firms.

When the Public Service Commission’s former executive director, Timothy Devlin, resigned after 35 years of service, it was Mr. Baez’s experience that catapulted him to the top of the pack. During a national search for a new head, Mr. Baez’s beat out more than 130 applicants for the top spot.

In October Mr. Baez moved to disband his own consulting firm, the Baez Law Group, to dedicate himself to the commission full time.

“I felt I brought to the position an understanding of what the agency does, how it works,” he said. “I did have a history with the staff, with working with them through my private service. I understood what the folks making the decisions go through on a daily basis, having served on the commission. I think that experience spoke to [the selection committee].”

Mr. Baez discussed the Public Service Commission current initiatives and his push to create a sense of stability among staff with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins at the Miami Today offices.

Miami Today Profile: Raquel Regalado

Growing up in the halls of radio studios as the daughter of two on-air personalities, Raquel A. Regalado was exposed to a wide range of characters from a young age.

That upbringing, in addition to observing her father Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado’s approach to elected office, has led her down an ambitious path: practicing patent litigation with Feldman Gale, serving the public as District 6’s school board member – which encompasses South Miami, Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, Miami and East Kendall – not to mention motherhood, teaching and hosting radio and television shows.

“I was given the ability from a very young age to be exposed to so many amazing public servants,” Ms. Regalado said. “As a child, perspective is so important, and I was exposed to fantastic people who were doing fantastic things. For me [public office] was always attainable because I had met those people.”

Elected to the school board in August 2010, Ms. Regalado’s priorities inc"district 6" miami-dadelude lobbying Tallahassee and Washington for more infrastructure funding, minimizing disparity between schools and placing restrictions on virtual schooling.

“If we’re going to give academic autonomy, it should come with a certain amount of responsibility,” she said. “We can’t just say every child can take a class virtually, and they’re going to have the same outcome.”

Ms. Regalado discussed key education issues affecting Miami-Dade’s students, what she has learned from her father and how she finds balance with Miami Today staff writer Jacquelyn Weiner in her downtown Miami school board building office.

Miami Today Profile: Juan Ortiz

Medley-based Navarro Discount Pharmacy is in the midst of a major business-model revamp, fueled by an aggressive 20-store expansion, a new e-commerce site and the upcoming launch of a private-label brand, Vida Mia.

 

Leading Navarro’s strategic growth and its 1,400 employees is Juan M. Ortiz, who was named CEO in July after serving as the company’s chief financial officer since 2008.

Navarro – which is the largest Hispanic-owned pharmacy chain in the US – plans to grow its wholesale business and launch a specialized-medicine pharmacy as new revenue generators.

“Specialty pharmacies, as the name implies, focus on certain disease states,” Mr. Ortiz said. “We’re going to focus on providing specialty medication for oncology, for rheumatoid arthritis and for HIV in South Florida.”

Through these initiatives the company aims to broaden its reach beyond Miami-Dade County, expanding wholesale operations to the Caribbean and Latin America and delivering Hispanic goods through online sales to areas across the US where they aren’t readily available.

“The goal there is to reach customers that we would not normally reach through our brick and mortar,” Mr. Ortiz said. “The Hispanic market is underserved in this country, and that’s a great way to address that need.”

Mr. Ortiz discussed Navarro’s growth plans, why he places a major emphasis on customer service and how being a “discount” store helps long-term with Miami Today reporter Jacquelyn Weiner at Navarro’s Medley headquarters.

Miami Today Profile: Mindy McIlroy

Mindy McIlroy began her journey in real estate at Terranova Corp. 15 years ago as administrative assistant to its leader, Stephen Bittel.

 

But her hard work and drive revealed potential for much more and she was given the opportunity to learn the sale and leasing side, leading to her current role as executive vice president.

In this position, Ms. McIlroy focuses on marketing the company’s services, retail leasing and developing new business.

Despite the economic challenges, the company’s real estate practice continues to grow and it seeks to hire new associates.

“The immediate focus that we have is that we have to hire,” Ms. McIlroy said. “We are hiring in every department within our company, which I think definitely speaks to our optimism with what’s happening with our industry.”

Terranova acquired three retail buildings on the popular corridor Lincoln Road earlier this year and also handles the leasing of the retail complex CocoWalk in Coconut Grove.

Most recently, it was selected to lease the retail space at the parking garages of the new Marlins ballpark.

“So our role there is just to lease, lease, lease, I mean we just need to get that thing full,” she said. “Our goal is to try to get some of these restaurants opened by game day which is quickly approaching in April.”

Ms. McIlroy discussed her responsibilities, market trends and what’s ahead for Terranova with Miami Today reporter Yudislaidy Fernandez at the company’s Miami Beach headquarters.

Miami Today Profile: Suzanne Amaducci

An attorney with the growing law firm Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod since 1998, Suzanne Amaducci leads the firm’s hospitality group.

In this role, she represents clients from family-owned businesses to corporations, coaches and trains younger associates and attracts new clients.

 

 

In the 13 years she’s been part of the Bilzin Sumberg team, Ms. Amaducci said she has seen the law firm develop from a small operation in the late 1990s to a leading player today with more than 100 associates.

“It was a small firm then. We only had just over 30 attorneys and it was June of 1998 when I started and the law firm was only five months old, so I've been here ever since,” she said. “I have no desire to leave or go anywhere else and what not. We've grown the firm, we've grown the practice, grown a level of sophistication for the last 13 years.”

At a time when some law firms have closed their doors or downsized, Bilzin Sumberg moved to its new home at 1450 Brickell and continues to grow its practice.

When she’s not busy working on deals and meeting with clients, Ms. Amaducci takes the time to get involved in local professional and social organizations, such as Commercial Real Estate Women’s Miami chapter, Coral Reef Yacht Club and her most recent endeavor, the Orange Bowl Committee.

Ms. Amaducci discussed her law practice, career plans and community involvement with Miami Today reporter Yudislaidy Fernandez at Bilzin Sumberg’s Brickell headquarters.

Miami Today Profile: Eveline Pierre

As the Haitian Heritage Museum enters its eighth season, Executive Director Eveline Pierre is working to expand the facility – increasing both its reach and yearly budget.

Always the historian, she founded the museum out of her desire to expose Miami-Dade youth to Haitian culture. As a South Florida native, Ms. Pierre said that while her parents taught her Creole and exposed her to Caribbean cuisine, the education she received at home did not carry over to the classroom.  

 

 

“I didn't want that to happen with this new generation,” she said, adding that the facility is the first of its kind outside of Haiti. “I created the Haitian Heritage Museum to teach them about their culture and connect all the dots. A lot of other cultures have a great connection with Haiti that a lot of people don't know about.”

The facility is bringing children face-to-face with Haitian culture through Miami-Dade County Public School’s museum magnet program. Through the program, museum officials work one-on-one with students, integrating the arts with math, science and English lesson plans.

“Art really does change the kids,” She said. “It is a different way of learning. Not everybody is a conventional learner. Bringing artifacts and objects is relatable and tangible. It makes the learning experience new and fun. They learn through discovery.”

While the museum recently moved from a 3,000-square-foot space on North Miami Avenue to a 2,000-square-foot space in Midtown, Ms. Pierre said that visitation has increased 100%. She hopes to up that number by expanding into a 65,000 foot space, increasing the facility’s budget from $200,000 to $1 million and by bringing more staff onboard.

“That day- to-day is [about] bringing awareness of who we are, where we are and what we're trying to do,” she said. “[We’re] bringing the cultures and the people of our community together.”

Ms. Pierre discussed her plans to expand the facility’s scope at the Haitian Heritage Museum with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins.