The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s BHI is welcoming new board members to enhance scholarship opportunities, promote workforce development, and assist emerging hospitality professionals.  

The BPRW of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s BHI board members are working to expand scholarships, promote workforce development, and train future generosity professionals. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau ( GMCVB ) has expanded its board of directors to include 22 Miami-Dade County leaders in the fields of education, business, civics, and non-profits ( full list below ). The BHI’s goal is to promote financial participation and to make opportunities available to students from the customer industry in Greater Miami. The tourism and hospitality industry contributes more than$ 20 billion annually to Miami-Dade County’s economy, underscoring the importance of creating skilled workers to fill urgent industry positions. The new board of directors may help make a proper roadmap to give students the best chances to triumph and benefit from Miami-Dade’s leading visitor industry, according to GMCVB President &amp CEO David Whitaker.” Our future depends on developing a lively, determined tourism and hospitality workforce. The expanded BHI board of directors may promote initiatives like expanding scholarships, launching workplace coaching programs, and collaborating with local businesses to make Greater Miami’s hospitality sector’s hospitality sector more equal opportunities. There are few points more satisfying than inspiring people to take on new challenges and witnessing how they learn, grow, and broaden their perspectives, according to Desmond Alufohai, the head of the BHI board of directors. BHI’s annual H. O. T. Challenge Golf Tournament will be held on May 9 in Aventura in order to increase scholarship funds to improve workforce career education and advancement.” This industry connects but many people in this community, and our success as an organization may be measured by how we continue to find innovative ways to reach those who might not be aware of the industry’s substantial career opportunities and educate them on professional development options they may pursue,” BHI said. The H. O. T. Challenge, which is held at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa, gathers industry executives for world-class golfing and networking. The annual tournament has a 32-year track record of funding students in Miami-Dade County with scholarships and the raising more than$ 3.5 million. Visit HotChallenge .com to register your foursome or find out how you can help with the BHI mission. Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau ( GMCVB): David Whitaker, President & CEO
Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Yarzabal
Connie Kinnard – Senior Vice President, Development and Multicultural Tourism
U. Desmond Alufohai, Chairman of the Board, Miami-Dade County and Miami Beach ( Protocol &amp, International Affairs Division, Miami-Dade Aviation Department ).
Retha Boone-Fye, vice-chair, program director, Black Affairs Advisory Board
Rick Beasley, CEO of CareerSource South Florida
Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust Executive Director, Bill Diggs
Debra Owens, PortMiami’s Director of Government and International Affairs
Heather Shaw, City of Miami Beach Economic Development Department, is the interim director.
Education and Workforce Development: Julie Kennedy, Facilitator of the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism’s NAF Career Academy
Miami Dade College Career Specialist, David Countin
Florida International University – Katheryn Martin – Assistant Director, Career Development
Dr. Samer Hassen, Program Director for the St. Thomas University Culinary Arts &amp, Hospitality Management Program, is Dr. Samer Hassen.
Executive Director, Educate Tomorrow, Allison Auston
Corporate and Non-Profit Sector: Rednop MG LLC founder Ed Ponder
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami CEO and President & Gale Nelson
Director, Expedia Group, Nashara Frazier
One Community Alliance Network, LLC & Foundation CEO, Karen Hunter-Jackson
Community and Advocacy: Yvette Harris, President and CEO, Harris Public Relations, Inc.
Carole Ann Taylor– Chair Emeritus, BHI
William Anderson – Research and Evaluation Consultant
Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce President and CEO G. Eric Knowles
Dr. Graylyn Swilley-Woods serves as the BHI’s executive director, liaison with the board, and liaison with the staff. About the BHIBHI was founded in 1991 to advance the tourism industry’s career and educational opportunities. BHI has supported equitable economic participation for students pursuing careers in Miami-Dade’s hospitality industry for more than 30 years. BHI focuses on three program components: advocacy, talent development, and career coaching, with the support of the GMCVB and industry partners. Visit www.bhiinitiative .org to learn more about the BHI Initiative and its impact, as well as to learn about partnership opportunities. gmcvb/bhi .html at miamiandbeaches.com. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau ( GMCVB ) is a recognized, independent not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose goal is to draw people to Greater Miami and Miami Beach for business, leisure, meetings, and conventions. Visit www. for more information. MiamiandMiamiBeach.com/About-GMCVB or call ( 305 ) 539-3000. Follow us on our corporate communications and external affairs social media accounts, Instagram and X.com ( Twitter.com )/ @GreaterMiamiCVB and Linked In.com / Visitors Bureau, to stay connected with the GMCVB. ###