The founder of a home-grown global fashion brand, a philanthropist committed to the arts and education, and the manager of a top New York asset management fund are among five Florida International University (FIU) College of Business alumni who will be inducted into the 2014 FIU Hall of Fame. Philanthropist R. Kirk Landon will receive the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his success in the world of business and banking and his efforts to cement the educational, civic and cultural foundation of South Florida. Landon served as CEO and chairman of the board of American Bankers Insurance Group for two decades, and now serves as a director and supporter of major educational and cultural organizations in South Florida through The Kirk Foundation and The Kirk A. and Dorothy P. Landon Foundation. Pamela Silva Conde, Emmy award winning journalist and co-anchor of Univision Network’s weekday TV news magazine show, “Primer Impacto,” will serve as MC of the ceremony, which will take place on September 12, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the FIU Arena. The 2014 Hall of Fame inductees:
- Eric Maldonado, managing director at Markit, a global provider of financial information services, will receive the Innovation Award. He is a member of the Dean’s Council, the college’s primary advisory board.
- Alexander Mijares, COO of precision sheet metal company MJM Manufacturing and a prominent local artist, will receive The Young Alumnus Spotlight Award. His commissions work includes the 2014 Coconut Grove Arts Festival poster. As part of his art-inspired philanthropic work, he develops projects with at-risk children and young artists.
- Alina Villasante, creator of global fashion brand Peace Love World, will receive The Entrepreneurship Award. The Miami-based company has seven stores in South Florida and three in Hong Kong and the brand is sold in 2,000-plus retailers worldwide.
- Guillermo G. Castillo, president, middle market banking JP Morgan Chase, will receive The Growth Award. He led the build-out of the Commercial Banking business franchise in South Florida.
- Randy Robertson, managing director, BlackRock, will receive The Global Award. Founded in 1988, BlackRock is the largest asset management company in the U.S. today with $4.3 trillion under management.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Hall of Fame has expanded into a three-day event, September 11-13, that now includes the gala ceremony, an alumni panel and networking event on September 11, and a tailgate party at the Panthers vs. Pittsburgh football game on September 13. Tickets to the gala are $300 per person and can be purchased here. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information on sponsorships, click here.