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’s BHI seeks out new committee members to expand scholarships, promote workforce development, and train future hospitality 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 contribution and create opportunities for students in Greater Miami’s guest industry. The tourism and hospitality industry contributes to Miami-Dade County’s economy by contributing more than$ 20 billion annually, underscoring the importance of creating skilled workers to fill pressing industry needs. The new board of directors may assist in creating a proper plan to give students the best chances to achieve and profit from Miami-Dade’s leading user 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 labor coaching programs, and collaborating with local businesses to make Greater Miami’s hospitality sector’s hospitality sector more equal opportunities. There are few things more satisfying than inspiring people to take on a new issue and witnessing how they learn, develop, and broaden their frontiers, according to Desmond Alufohai, 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 raise money to support labor job 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 teach them on professional development options they can do,” 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 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 and 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 – Interim Director, Economic Development Department of the City of Miami Beach
Education and Employment Development: Julie Kennedy, director of the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism’s NAF Career Academy
Miami Dade College 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 Nonprofit Sector: Ed Ponder, co-founder of Rednop MG LLC.
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, BHI Chair Emeritus
William Anderson– Researcher, Consultant, and Evaluation
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, 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 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/GreaterMiamiConvention& Visitors Bureau. ###