Community Champions Event

Thank you to everyone who attened our Community Champions event on Thursday, Sept. 15. It was an unforgettable evening! We raised more than $100,000 for our Family Retreat Program!

Congratulations to Paul Sallarulo who won the first place individual top fundraiser award by raising more than $30,000 and Bluegreen’s BEAR Team won first place in the team category by raising more than $11,000.

Jeff Bailey was the second place top fundraiser who raised more than $7,000 and Beverly Vesel came in third place by raising more than $6,000. The Memorial Breast Cancer Center Team came in second and raised more than $5,000 and Dr. Will Richardson and the Natura Dermatology Team came in third in the Team category.

Please click here to read the press release.

 A very special thank you to all of our esteemed honorees!

Pamela Adams

Ms. Adams is the President and founder of Adams Consulting Group (ACG). ACG is a full service public outreach and engagement consulting firm, specializing in the design and execution of public engagement and involvement strategies and programs for high impact public transportation, planning, neighborhood revitalization, and quality of life infrastructure improvement projects. Also included in the scope of services provided are government and community relations project management.

Jeff Bailey

Jeff Bailey joined Del Monte Fresh Produce Company in 1999 as Associate General Counsel.  He oversees the company’s North American operation and is responsible for a diverse range of legal matters including commercial litigation, commercial transactions, employment and labor related issues, immigration matters and acquisitions.  Mr. Bailey also provides counseling, instruction and training with respect to corporate compliance matters nationwide. 

Prior to joining Del Monte, Mr. Bailey was a Senior Associate with Akerman Senterfitt, a leading Florida law firm, representing a variety of companies, ranging in size from small to international, in produce, manufacturing, retail, health care, leisure services and professional sports teams.  Mr. Bailey was named a “Top Dealmaker” in the corporate/domestic category by the Miami Daily Business Review in 2009.  He was also recognized as a “Top Young Lawyer in Florida” by Florida Super Lawyers 2009.

He is Co-Chair, 40 under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade Committee, a member of Florida International University’s President’s Council, a member of the Miami-Dade Volunteer Leadership Initiative Committee, a member and supporter of The St. Patrick’s Day Committee, Inc. (a 501(c)3 organization) and a Board Member of The South Florida Emerald Society.

Jimmy Barkan

Jim Barkan is the Founder of the Barkan Method of Hot Yoga and a master yoga teacher certified by Ghosh’s College of India, Calcutta, India in 1981. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of yoga in the United States, practicing long before yoga became popular and mainstream. Mr. Barkan began his yoga career under the guidance and wisdom of Bikram Choudhury and was honored when he became known as Bikram’s Most Senior Teacher, an accomplishment very few have since obtained. Mr. Barkan’s first yoga studio opened in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January 1983 and in Davie, Florida in 2001.
 
Since the establishment of The Barkan Method of Hot Yoga in 2002, Mr. Barkan’s Level I Teacher Training programs, held in Fort Lauderdale and Westchester, N.Y., continue to be sought out by students from all over the world.  With a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts from NYU, Mr. Barkan uses his education as a foundation for helping his teachers find their own voice and personal expression.

There are national and international studios and teachers practicing The Barkan Method Hot Yoga including; Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Austria, South America, Thailand, South Africa, The United Kingdom and throughout the United States. Mr. Barkan also offers Level, II, and III Teacher Training programs throughout the year in Florida and Costa Rica. He has also trained many of our country’s top professional athletes throughout the years including members of the NFL, NBA, NHL, the 1997 World Series Champions Florida Marlins and PGA Tour players
 

Bluegreen BEAR Team

The BEAR Team includes Luisa David, Sarah Edwards, Amber Fox, Marlenys Gargiulo-Gonzalez, LisaMarie Hayes, Mary Hironimus, Mercedes Ingram, Cheryl Jozefiak, Kristine Lenza, Trish Martinache, Bianca Medina, Mariela Montgomery, Rhoda Rubin, Laurie Scher, Jamie Stewart, Martha Storey, Kari Suto, Grace Ultsch & Dina Winger.

The BEAR Team is a professional group from the Bluegreen Corporation that make a difference not only to their corporation but have an impact on their community by volunteering, especially at our retreats.  Bluegreen Resorts markets, manages and sells a flexible real estate-based ownership system. By purchasing an allotment of vacation points, owners can customize their vacation experiences by redeeming vacation points for stays at Bluegreen resorts. Bluegreen delivers nearly 300,000 unique vacation experiences to over 185,000 owners through Bluegreen resorts and vacation exchanges. 

Fred Bredemeyer

Fred Bredemeyer, a senior executive in the parking industry, has leveraged his operational and financial expertise to form ConsulPark, a parking consulting company launched to add value to parking related assets. Former Chief Operating Officer of the Miami Parking Authority, Fred now leads ConsulPark to perform parking asset valuations and provide recommendations to enhance parking income for municipalities and for private equity firms investing in parking systems. ConsulPark also assists companies with strategic planning and corporate positioning within the parking and transportation sector. Mr. Bredemeyer is a devoted child advocate and currently serves as Board President of Kristi-House, a non-profit organization dedicated to healing and preventing child sexual abuse. He is also an Advisory Board Member of Best Buddies of Broward.

Sheriff Al Lamberti 

Sheriff Lamberti holds a unique place of honor in the 93-year history of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. He  worked his way through the ranks, proudly wearing the uniform for over 30 years, to become the Sheriff of Broward County. BSO has been his only place of employment as career law enforcement professional from detention deputy to Sheriff. In the fall of 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist appointed Al Lamberti interim Sheriff. Soon after, the Governor re-designated him permanent Sheriff through 2008. He is now an elected official.

Dr. Marah Lee

Dr. Lee is a medical doctor practicing in Ft. Lauderdale and has been practicing since 1991. She graduated from Kirksville College Of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri with an American Academy of HIV Medicine Specialist degree.

Memorial Breast Cancer Center Group

The group includes Dr. Alejandra Perez, Dr. Carmen Calfa, Dr. Maricer Escalon, Dr. Aruna Mani and  Dr. Tejal Patel.

Dr. Will Richardson

Dr. Richardson is a well renowned  board certified dermatologist and owns Natura Dermatology and Cosmetics in Ft. Lauderdale. He is also opening an office on New York City's Fifth Avenue. He supports research for skin cancer and enjoys bicycling, travel and reading.

Paul Sallarulo

Mr. Sallarulo is President of Nexera.  He is also the Board Chair of Special Olympics in South Florida and is a Board Member at Nova Southeastern University.  Mr. Sallarulo has brought recognition to the South Florida Special Olympics by raising millions of dollars for this cause including securing a permanent home for them on the Nova campus.

Beverly Vesel

Ms. Vesel is an attorney specializing in family law.  In addition to a very successful private practice and a tremendous and persistent advocate of children's rights, she is one of three women to sit on the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors for Nova Law School.