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Created: August 03 2016

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Leadership Broward Foundation (LBF) will honor Broward County business and community leaders during the 2016 Profiles in Leadership Gala, hosted by the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six Resort & Spa, from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th. The following honorees are recognized for their talent and resources in helping to make Broward County a great place to live and work:

Richard Berkowitz, CEO of Berkowitz Pollack Brant, had a vision 35 years ago of a firm that would hire talented people and create an environment for them to build outstanding careers. Today the firm he founded continues to operate on these principles which have led to its success. Under his guidance, the firm has grown into a top 100 accounting and advisory firm and one of the largest in Florida.

Kim Paucek Haley is owner and inventor of Medebra, which is a patented, innovative, multipurpose post-surgical bra/vest and mastectomy kit. As a cancer survivor herself, Haley set out on a passionate and divine-intervention fueled mission to create a long-overdue change needed and the first post-surgical clinical bra.

Karan Munuswamy M.D., part of the Holy Cross Medical Group, is dedicated to medical research and public health education. He is an affiliated assistant professor at University of Miami School of Medicine and is actively involved in clinical research at the Jim Moran Heart and Vascular Research Institute and has contributed numerous articles in scientific journals.

Roy Ripak is regional vice president for the Walgreen Company and supervises 340 stores, 17 Walgreen Clinics and 7 on-site pharmacies in South Florida. A 40-year veteran of the Walgreen Company, Ripak joined the company in 1974 as a stock boy in New York. He has held the position of store manager, district manager and now regional vice president. For the past 10 years, Ripak has had similar roles in Walgreen locations along Florida’s west coast and in Denver. 

George Taylor is an attorney at Brinkley Morgan. His practice focuses on solving legal problems arising from commercial business relationships, including the litigation of those matters in both state and federal courts. He also practices in the area of probate litigation, where he resolves disputes that arise in the context of estate litigation. He is also an active member of the community and serves on the boards of ARC Broward and Salah Foundation.

Leadership Broward Foundation will also present the Special Recognition Award to Josie Bacallao and the Lifetime Achievement Award to James M. Gress:

Josie Bacallao is President/CEO of Hispanic Unity of Florida (HUF), a 34 year-old not-for-profit which serves 17,000 individuals annually from more than 25 countries, in four languages. Their agency’s key program areas are: Education, Economic Development and Civic Engagement. Bacallao is a board member of CareerSource, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

James M. Gress is executive director of Covenant House Florida. Under Gress’ leadership, Covenant House Florida today reaches nearly 200 youth per day in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando through street outreach, crisis shelters and transitional housing projects, making it one of the largest agencies serving runaway youth in Florida.

The black tie gala, which is themed Once Upon A Time, is co-chaired by Penelope Blair, U.S. Trust/Bank of America; Ellice Martinez, Broward College; Maria Pierson, Pierson Grant Public Relations; Mary Lou Ruderman, Ruderman and Company CPAs; and Cindy Schutt, Schutt PR.  Shelly Bradshaw, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, is the Foundation’s Vice President of Special Events and will be working with the co-chairs, along with Patty Sacco, Associate Director Resource Development/Special Events at Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc.

“Our Profiles in Leadership Gala is Leadership Broward Foundation’s annual opportunity to shine the spotlight on individuals who have set a high standard of philanthropy and leadership for our community,” said Jeff Cato, LBF board chair. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the effort and hard work of our dedicated volunteers, donors and partners.”

More than 450 guests are expected to attend. The annual Profiles in Leadership Gala is one of the best attended and widely recognized events of the season. Guests will enjoy a sumptuous dinner, an over-the-top live and silent auction, a special tribute to the honorees and live entertainment by Gregory Griffith Productions.  The attire is black tie. Tickets are $550 for Leadership Broward Foundation couples; $300 per person for Leadership Broward Foundation members; $350 per person for guests and non-members; and $200 for Emerge Broward members. The Leadership Broward Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit dedicated to developing and inspiring individuals to serve our community. The Foundation offers six premier leadership development programs:  Leadership Broward, Youth Leadership Broward, Executive Leadership Orientation, Follow the Leader in You, Women Leading Broward and Emerge Broward.

“A very special experience will be created for our honorees and our guests and we look forward to a memorable celebratory evening,” said Michael L. Gaylor, CEO of the Leadership Broward Foundation.

For sponsorship, tickets and more information, contact Patty Sacco at 954-767-8866 or patty@leadershipbroward.org.