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 kindness professionals. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau ( GMCVB ) has expanded its BHI board of directors to now 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 encourage financial participation and to create opportunities for students in the guest business of Greater Miami. The tourism and hospitality industry contributes more than$ 20 billion annually to Miami-Dade County’s economy, underscoring the importance of creating a skilled workforce to fill desperately needed industry positions. The new board of directors may assist in creating a proper roadmap to give students the best chances to succeed and gain 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 give priority to activities like expanding scholarships, starting workforce training programs, and working with local businesses to improve opportunities for greater Miami’s kindness industry. 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 will keep its quarterly H. O. T. Challenge Golf Tournament on May 9 in Aventura in order to increase scholarship funds to improve workplace career education.” This industry connects but many people in this community, and our success as an organization may be measured by how we continue to find new ways to reach those who might not be aware of the industry’s substantial career opportunities and educate them on professional development options they can pursue,” BHI said. The H. O. T. Challenge, which is held at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa, brings together industry leaders for networking and golfing of the highest caliber. The annual tournament has a 32-year track record of raising more than$ 3.5 million and awarding 450 scholarships to students pursuing careers in Miami-Dade County as a hospitality professional. 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 and program director, Black Affairs Advisory Board
CareerSource South Florida’s CEO, Rick Beasley
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 NAF Career Academy, American College of Hospitality and Tourism
Miami Dade College’s Career Specialist, David Countin
Florida International University’s Assistant Director, Career Development, Katheryn Martin
Dr. Samer Hassen, Program Director for the St. Thomas University Culinary Arts &amp, Hospitality Management Program, is Dr. Samer Hassen.
Allison Auston, Executive Director, Educate Tomorrow
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
Yvette Harris, President and CEO, Harris Public Relations, is known for her advocacy and community.
Carole Ann Taylor– Chair Emeritus, BHI
William Anderson– Researcher, Consultant, and Evaluation
G. Eric Knowles, President and CEO, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce
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’s three program components are advocacy, talent development, and career coaching, and receive funding and operational support from the GMCVB and industry partners. Visit www.bhiinitiative .org to learn more about the BHI Initiative and its impact, or to find out about partnership opportunities. miamiandbeaches.com/about-gmcvb/bhi. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau ( GMCVB ) is a recognized, independent, not-for-profit sales and marketing agency whose goal is to draw people to Greater Miami and Miami Beach for business, meetings, and conventions. Visit www. for more details. 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. ###