The H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship will present its 35th Annual Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Rick Case Arena in the Don Taft University Center at Nova Southeastern University, SW 75th Avenue, Davie, Fla.
The Hall of Fame continues to celebrate the stellar achievements and contributions of influential individuals in the regional business community. Among its past recipients have been Rita Case, Guy Harvey, Terry Stiles, and H. Wayne Huizenga. This year’s inductees are Thomas M. McDonald, president of Craven Thompson & Associates, Inc.; John E. Miller, founder and creative director of Hutton Miller, LLC; and Daniella Ortiz, co-founder and co-owner of Daniella Ortiz Design.
McDonald, Miller, and Ortiz have not only built their own prosperous businesses, but they have often taken their profits and paid them forward in philanthropy. Here is a snapshot of the inductees:
Thomas M. McDonald moved from Ohio to Florida in 1979 and began his career at Craven Thompson & Associates, Inc. as their chief financial officer. In 1986, McDonald became president of the firm. The firm engages in a wide variety of land development projects including commercial, industrial and residential projects, together with public infrastructure projects for South Florida governmental agencies. In addition to Tom’s 40-plus years of professional leadership at one of the region’s most respected engineering and land consultants, his civic involvement is equally extensive. Tom and his wife, Vickie, founded the McDonald Family Foundation, which provides funds to various worthwhile charities associated with children’s issues and the disadvantaged in our community. In 2013, Tom and Vickie McDonald established “The McDonald Family Endowed Scholarship Fund” at Nova Southeastern University.
John E. Miller moved to South Florida from New York in 1973 and attended the University of Florida from 1980 to 1983, focusing on broadcast journalism, advertising, and business administration. In 1983, Leon Golnick of Golnick Advertising hired Miller giving him a chance to hone his multimedia, account services and leadership skills for three years. In 2000, John founded Miller Direct, LLC, focusing on direct-to-consumer products. The venture’s success on home television networks QVC and HSN garnered recognition for outstanding sales performance. In 2005, John founded Hutton Miller, LLC, a brand-building marketing firm that would achieve more than $4 billion in worldwide product sales, consistently awarded for its creativity and hit campaigns for a diversity of clients. Miller supports charities such as the Boca West Foundation, Bound for College, Place of Hope, Boys and Girls Clubs, and served as a board member of the Allstar Smiles Foundation.
Daniella Ortiz first came to the U.S. in 1999 from Argentina to pursue her MBA at Nova Southeastern University. During her time at NSU, a seed was planted in her heart to always give back to her community. In 2005, she and her husband, Alfredo, launched Daniella Ortiz, a high-end handbag and jewelry line. Since opening their flagship boutique on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Daniella has partnered with more than 100 nonprofits around the country and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, American Cancer Association, JAFCO, several hospitals, and shelters for abused women and children. Now a mother of two with a busy schedule, Daniella and Alfredo host charitable events and shows throughout the year, helping to support those in need, as well as emerging designers just beginning their careers in the industry.
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About NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship: The AACSB-accredited college, which is ranked by The Princeton Review as 44th in the US for graduate entrepreneurship education, prioritizes a passion for innovation, vision, creativity, and daring – all essential to being a difference maker in today’s global economy. As one of the few U.S. schools with entrepreneurship in its name, it has been the choice for more than 43,000 business professionals who strive to fulfill their career ambitions. The college is housed in the Carl DeSantis Building on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale-Davie campus, and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in accounting, finance, human resource management, and more. The college prepares business and entrepreneurial leaders to embody values-based decision making to tackle today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s challenges. The college’s alumni innovate, influence, and transform organizations to become Best for Our World™. Visit business.nova.edu for more information.
About Nova Southeastern University (NSU): Florida’s largest private research university, NSU was established in 1964 in Fort Lauderdale with a focus on graduate and professional education. Now with 14 colleges, nine campus locations spanning seven cities in Florida plus Denver, Colorado and San Juan, Puerto Rico, as well as dozens of online offerings, NSU delivers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs and provides high-quality educational, research, and health care programs that will generate a $5-billion economic impact to the state of Florida by 2025. Visit www.nova.edu for more information.
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