Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Awards Marty Kurtz
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance announced the establishment of the Ray Ferrero, Jr. Economic Development Leadership Award at their annual meeting on October 13, 2011. The annual meeting, with more than 500 in attendance, was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. “The award will be presented annually to the Greater Fort Lauderdale business leader who embodies the qualities, vision and commitment towards the community and economic development that Chancellor Ferrero exhibits every day,” said Bob Swindell, president and CEO of the Alliance.
The first award was presented to Ferrero, who is Chancellor of Nova Southeastern University and who has served as a past chair of the Alliance and founding and current chair of the Alliance’s CEO Council, by City Furniture President and Alliance CEO Council Vice Chairman Keith Koenig. The CEO Council has underwritten a national/international headquarters marketing and recruitment program over the past 3 1/2 years. A perpetual plaque honoring Ferrero and new recipients has been prominently placed at the entrance to the Alliance Boardroom.
The Alliance was also pleased to present economic development leadership awards to six individuals who have gone above and beyond in their work in the community helping to grow jobs and strengthen the economy. Those honored, with the Council who presented the awards in parenthesis, are: Roy Krause, SFN Group (CEO Council); Andrew D. Berns, City of Tamarac (Governor Council); Thomas Irwin, HEICO (Leadership Council); Martin Kurtz, Kaufman Rossin (Corporate Council);Diane L. Brennan, MetLife (Entrepreneur Council); and Michael Stamm, City of Pembroke Pines (Partner Council). The Sun Sentinel was also awarded the Alliance’s Educational Excellence Builds Business Partnership Award.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance is Broward County’s official public/private partnership for economic development. Its mission is to lead Broward County in building a stronger and more diverse economy by stimulating the creation of new jobs and capital investment while facilitating the growth and retention of businesses in Broward County. Some of the services offered by the Alliance staff include assistance with business relocation or expansion and site selection; incentive programs and information; market research; and serving as a liaison for workforce development between educational institutions and the business community.
