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ABOUT US SPONSORS VISITOR INFORMATION TICKET INFORMATION VENUES SCHEDULE OF EVENTS MEDIA VOLUNTEERS
| | Mike Sophia | Jose “Pepe” Diaz | Larry Gautier | Gillermo Tofoni | Dr. Fernando O. Berot |
Mike Sophia Prior to joining the Sports Commission, Mike was the Vice President of the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports development and promotion organization for the state of Florida, overseeing corporate development, major and regional grant programs, marketing and promotions for Foundation programs, development of Florida as a sports destination, member services, and new partnerships. Mike joined the Foundation in 1999 as the Director of Events with responsibility for Florida’s Sunshine State Games, the Florida Senior Games and other Foundation events. He served in the same capacity for two years, with the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, prior to the merger with the Florida Sports Foundation. From 1993-1996, Mike was an Assistant Competition Manager with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG). As a member of the ACOG Sports Department, Mike was heavily involved in the development of the new Aquatic Center facility at Georgia Tech, and also designed the Olympic road cycling course through the streets of Buckhead. During the Centennial Games, he had responsibility for the three cycling venues. Mike is a graduate of the University of Florida, with a degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences with a specialization in Sports Administration. <top> Jose “Pepe” Diaz He was appointed by former County Mayor Alex Penelas to represent the county internationally as chairman of the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium (ITC). Commissioner Diaz held that position until January 2006. During his tenure, he was instrumental in making profitable connections for businesses in Miami-Dade County and in the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition to his leadership role with ITC, he is also a member of the Florida FTAA Board. Florida FTAA was formed to support hemispheric free trade with the ultimate goal of bringing the permanent Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) to Miami. Commissioner Diaz’s efforts to become heavily involved in both the FTAA and ITC stem from his goal to secure jobs for thousands of residents in Miami Dade County and to participate in making Miami-Dade County the true “Gateway to the Hemispheres”. <top> Larry Gautier – Co-Chair He currently sits on the Orange Bowl Committee, the Salvation Army Board of Directors, International Council of Shopping Centers, and is the Chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Sports Council. He successfully helped lead the Orange Bowl’s effort in doubling the University of Iowa attendance at the 2003 Orange Bowl Game and Festival, and continues to add to the economic growth of the community through industry-specific efforts such as sports development. <top> Guillermo Tofoni From 2003-2006, Mr. Tofoni acted as a CNN en Español Analyst, reviewing and analyzing worldwide tendencies of the game of football, some of these segments can be seen at www.worldeleven.com. In 2004, he became the creator and conductor of the “EL Mundo Necesita Jugadores” (“The World Needs Players”) show. This job was specially produced for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, ACNUR. FIFA’s official player’s representative, consultant and advisor for coaches, scouting prospects and professional teams’ counselor, particularly in South America, Europe and others, as requested. <top> Dr. Fernando O. Berot He is Chairman, President and Founder of International Foundation Center, of Legal Investigation, as well as, Founder and present President of BEROTLAWYERS, legal company/signature, with offices and representations in several countries. Fluent in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian). As an entrepreneur, his activities have brought him close to the production of sport and artistic events and the export and construction of public and private works. In the production of events, he has ventured into the television broadcasting area in Miami, jointly with Ticketcenter Inc. Entertainment as well as in Europe, producing sport events especially for the Club Atletico Boca Juniors out of Argentina. At the moment he directs the Legal Department of World Eleven, company/signature that manages the interests of Argentinean Soccer National Team among other activities, advisor to Mr. Guillermo Tofoni in its multiple contracts and actively participating in the representation of that company in the United States. <top> Miami-Dade Sports Commission Board of Directors
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