The 2012 Father of the Year honorees are:
 
Edward Easton Chairman of The Easton Group,has been actively involved in his community, serving on many boards, including: Trustee of University of Miami and past Chairman of the Master Planning Committee, overseeing all real estate interests and acquisitions of the University; past Chairman of The Salvation Army of Dade County; Trustee of Mercy Hospital; past President of the SSJ Mercy Health System, Inc.; past President of the Key Biscayne Athletic Club. He served as Co-Chairman of the Dade County Finance Committee for the election of Jeb Bush as Governor of the State of Florida. Mr. Easton was appointed, by Governor Jeb Bush in 2001, to Chair the Miami-Dade Land Acquisition and Facilities Maintenance Operations Advisory Board for the Miami-Dade County Public School System. Mr. Easton is Chairman of the Village of Key Biscayne 2020 Vision Plan Committee, Trustee of WPBT Channel 2 and member of the Florida Council of 100 and the Council for Educational Change.
 
 
Sheldon Anderson is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Southeast Region of Northern Trust. In this position, he has responsibility for managing the company’s investment management, trust and estate planning, private and business banking and financial consulting business in Florida and Georgia. Prior to serving in his current role, Anderson served as President of Northern Trust for Miami-Dade County with responsibility for all banking, trust and investment activities. He has also served as Senior Vice President and Senior Banking Officer for Miami-Dade County. Prior to joining Northern Trust in 1992, Anderson was Senior Vice President at Southeast Bank. A Miami native, Anderson graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in International Studies. Anderson is active in many civic organizations. He lives in Miami with this his wife, Florence and together they have two children Matthew and John Allan.
 
 
Miguel Farra CPA, JD, is the principal-in-charge of the Tax and Accounting Department at MBAF. Miguel has over 34 years of experience in the areas of tax planning and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, accounting and audit services for domestic and international businesses. He has wide industry experience that includes, automotive dealerships, aviation, electronic commerce, financial institutions, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, real estate,technology and wholesale/distribution. Miguel has been involved in corporate reorganizations,international tax and corporate structures, tax planning for real estate developers and income and estate planning for high net worth individuals. Miguel leads a team of international tax professionals dedicated to forensic accounting on voluntary disclosure cases, pre-immigration planning, inbound and outbound corporate structures to minimize worldwide taxation and international tax compliance.
 
 
David Lawrence, Jr. retired in 1999 as publisher of The Miami Herald to work in the area of early childhood development and readiness. He is president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and “University Scholar for Early Childhood Development and Readiness” at the University of Florida. He leads The Children’s Movement of Florida, building an enduring, sustainable movement to make all children the state’s No. 1 priority in investment and decision-making. He is a member of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet and twice chaired the Florida Partnership for School Readiness. In 2002 he led the campaign for The Children’s Trust, a dedicated source of early intervention and prevention funding for children in Miami-Dade – with an 85% reaffirmation in 2008. He is the “founding chair.”He serves on the boards of the Foundation for Child Development in New York and the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
  
 

Last year’s honorees:
 
2011 Honorees
  • Juan Del Busto, active community leader
  • Mario Murgado, President and owner, Brickell Motors
  • Dr. Rudolph Moise, President and Medical Director, Comprehensive Health Center
  • Tom Cornish, President and CEO, Seitlin Insurance

2010 Honorees
  • Manny Medina, CEO, Terremark Worldwide, Inc.
  • Benjamin Leon, Jr., Chairman, Leon Medical Centers
  • Antonio Vilariño, Owner, Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine Restaurants
 
 

Dear Friends:

As many of you know, I was recently honored by the Father’s Day Council and the American Diabetes Association as one of the South Florida 2010 Fathers of the Year. I was humbled and it was a true honor to have received such recognition and the award in its inaugural year in Miami.

The special event held to recognize the honorees was a beautiful tribute to me and the other deserving fathers. Being surrounded by my family, friends and colleagues at the ceremony was unforgettable and the heartfelt comments offered by my lovely daughter Melissa touched me to the core. The video and stores shared by the other honorees were moving reminders of how blessed we are to have such wonderful families. They also reiterated how the support of our families and our hard work has allowed us to take advantage of the many opportunities and freedoms offered by this great Country. This was an experience I will always cherish.

The evening was even more special because the benefited the American Diabetes Association’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. I was proud to reach out to my friends and colleagues to ask for their support for such a worthwhile cause, especially given the increasing effect diabetes is having among the Hispanic population in the United States. I am certain the other honorees from South Florida shared my passion and commitment to help the ADA.

I am truly excited to have received this award and to be in the company of such distinguished previous honorees. I encourage all who can become involved with the Father of the Year program to seize this once in a life time opportunity
 
 
  Terremark Worldwide, Inc.
 
     
HONOREES