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Miramar in the News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shaun Gayle
Assistant City Manager / City Spokesperson
City of Miramar
Phone: 954-495-3644; E-mail: sdgayle@miramarfl.gov
City of Miramar’s Economic Development and Housing Department Receives Accreditation by the International Economic Development Council
The Only City in Broward County to Receive the Designation
MIRAMAR, FL- Wednesday, November 23, 2022- The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) announces that the City of Miramar’s Economic Development and Housing Department (EDH) has been recognized as one of 71 economic development organizations across the United States and Canada to be accredited by IEDC as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO).
“Miramar’s Economic Development and Housing Department displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.
Anita Fain Taylor, Director of Miramar’s EDH added, “My team is honored to be given this distinction by the IEDC. We have a hard-working and dedicated staff who administer the various programs that benefit our local businesses, and they continue to deliver with consistency and excellence.”
The AEDO program is a comprehensive peer review process that measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. The program consists of two phases: a documentation review and an onsite visit. Each phase is designed to evaluate information about the structure, organization, funding, programs, and staff of the candidate economic development organization.
Earning the AEDO accreditation tells the community and prospects that Miramar’s Economic Development and Housing Department has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well-placed and their business is in good hands.
Maintenance of the AEDO status is required every three years and is accomplished through documentation submission and/or onsite visits by a team of the AEDO subcommittee.
The International Economic Development Council is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world. With over 5,000 members nationwide and abroad, IEDC offers the economic development profession one source for information and professional development, one voice for the profession and one force for advocacy. For more information on IEDC or the AEDO program, call Dana Crater at (910) 821.0245; fax (202) 223.4745; write to IEDC at 1275 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005; email dcrater@iedconline.org; or visit IEDC’s website at www.iedconline.org.
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Haitian Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions Haitian Americans have made to American history, society and culture.
Top Haitian Heritage Month Resources
- 7 Inspiring Children’s Books about Haiti
- Haitian Arts Podcast Series
- Haitian Heritage Month: Resources for Celebrating
- National Geographic Kids: All About Haiti
Source: https://www.njsacc.org/2021/05/njsacc-celebrates-haitian-heritage-month-you-can-too/
In The Spotlight
Women’s History Month is here, and while it’s not the only time to consider the value of different voices, it is a good chance to do so. With that in mind, Women’s History Month is meant to be a celebration of the often-overlooked contributions of women to business, culture, and society throughout American history. We went to shine a light on current incredible and unique Women-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators!
Every February, we as a nation commemorate Black History Month. It’s a time to recognize the struggle for freedom and equal opportunity Black Americans have long faced and continue to fight. It is also a time to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans throughout history and today.
Spotlighting Black-Owned Businesses in Miramar
Throughout the month of February, we’re highlighting Miramar Businesses owners who self-identified as Black-owned. The City of Miramar is dedicated to supporting our Black and Black-identifying business partners, not only during Black Business Month but beyond.
Check out the Black Businesses being highlighted!
History of Black History Month
The official celebration of Black History in February dates back to 1926. According to the Library of Congress, the tradition began when Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 and introduced what was then called Negro History Week in 1926. He chose February because the month included the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist, writer, and statesman Frederick Douglass. In 1976, the association, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, expanded the occasion to Black History Month. In 1986, Congress passed a law that made the occasion an official “annual public and private salute to Black History.”
Challenges Black Entrepreneurs Face
According to the Small Business Association, there are 2.5 million veteran-owned small businesses in the United States. Of those 2.5 million small businesses, Black entrepreneurs and small business owners were majority owners in nearly 11 percent of firms. Roughly speaking, that means there are around 270,000 Black-owned, small businesses in the United States.
Black entrepreneurs and small business owners face disproportionate challenges, however, when it comes to operating a business. According to SCORE, lack of capital and cash flow are among the biggest challenges. At The City of Miramar, we are committed to supporting Black entrepreneurs and small business owners through our community programs, and we strive to provide resources that help mitigate these barriers.
October is Women’s Small Business Month, a month dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the female entrepreneurs that strengthen our local communities. As a City that champions small businesses, The City of Miramar EBD is excited to bring awareness to the women-owned businesses and to celebrate the outstanding progress that female and female-identifying business owners have made and continue to make.
Spotlighting Women-Owned Businesses in Miramar
Throughout the month of October, we’re highlighting Miramar Businesses owners who self-identified as women-owned. The City of Miramar is dedicated to supporting our female and female-identifying business partners, not only during Women’s Small Business Month but beyond. If you would like to nominate a business please Click Here
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Meet Ms. Nadeige Sterlin:
Nadeige is Co-founder and Co-Owner of La Paix Bakery—a family-owned and operated business in the Historic Miramar community since November 2005. “La paix” means peace in French, and the bakery specializes in traditional Haitian beverages and baked goods such as pastries, hard-dough bread, cakes, buns, and sweet brittles. La Paix Bakery can also be found on the local grocery shelves across chains such as Presidente Supermarket, Key Foods/Bravo, Price Choice, and more. Nadeige is currently leading the 2022 expansion of the second bakery location in Dade county, while strategically revamping the existing bakery business model to become more business conscious.
Nadeige also brings over thirteen years of experience from PepsiCo, across various HQ and field leadership roles in sales, change management, marketing, and commercial strategy. On a personal note, Nadeige is passionate about supporting issues grounded in education, equity, and economic development across communities. As an agile leader, Nadeige leverages her time within the public sector as a volunteer in the local Broward county community. Nadeige was appointed Vice-Chair of the Historic Miramar Advisory Board and currently interns part-time for local FL State Representative Marie P. Woodson in District 101. Nadeige is also a board member of LitWorld—an international non-profit organization focused on child literacy while strengthening kids and communities through the power of stories.
Nadeige will complete her Executive Master of Public Administration degree at NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service remotely this fall. Born and raised in South Florida, she earned her undergraduate degrees with a double major in finance and marketing at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL in 2006. Nadeige believes in the power of mentorship and is keen on using her platform to pay it forward for others.
Website: www.lapaixbakery.com
Follow Us on social media: @LaPaixBakery
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Meet Ana Gil:
Pacesetter Academy is a Miramar-based preschool for students ages 1 – 5. The school offers 9 age-based classrooms, an indoor gym for gross-motor development, a library, two playgrounds, a swimming pool, and a STEAM-focused media lab. Our media lab is set up with computers, iPads, and a HATCH smart board – all used to enhance classroom lessons. We were voted the #1 Preschool in Miramar in the “Our City Best of Miramar 2020 Magazine” due to our high academic standards, highly credentialed staff, student-body diversity, and integrative curriculum.
Using our curriculum as a baseline, Pacesetter’s lead teachers create challenging lesson plans based on the skills and needs of the students in their particular classroom. The flexibility and autonomy our staff has over their classroom learning have driven our students to graduate Pre-K with the knowledge of a child graduating Kindergarten. Clearly, Pacesetter Academy takes Kindergarten readiness very seriously. So much so that during COVID, we realized a lot of students were missing out on necessary learning, so we created OnlineVPK.org. The site provides the Pacesetter Academy Pre-K curriculum for free in order to ensure students all over the state are prepared for Kindergarten in the safety of their homes.
All in all, Pacesetter Academy has positively impacted hundreds of families and students in both the Miramar area and the state of Florida, and hope to continue to do that in the years to come! www.pacesetteracademy.com (www.onlinevpk.org
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Meet Saman Movassaghi, Esq:
Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez, Esq. is dedicated to producing the results her clients need. She has over 18 years of experience helping both corporate and individual clients navigate through the murky waters of US Immigration Law. As the Managing Attorney at Florida Immigration Law Counsel, Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez and her team are capable of representing and helping individuals looking to attain family, employment and investment visas. Her experience in successfully representing clients in front of the Department of Justice for cases involving Deportation/Removal Proceedings will lead to success in your case. Counselor Gonzalez is also experienced in helping corporate clients through the process of filing for Employment-Base Visas, Labor Certifications, and Business/Investment Visas. She takes on the entire case from start to finish, simplifying the process for her clients and allowing them to focus on their business. Her goal is to ensure that those who want to live the American dream have a professional fighting for them and making the process as painless as possible. She earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington in Political Science, a minor in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from the St. Thomas University School of Law at the age of 22. Mrs. Gonzalez is very active in the South Florida community and speaks regularly on various immigration and diversity issues throughout the State of Florida. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Iranian American Bar Association and past president and current board member of the Florida Muslim Bar Association. She is previously served in the Committee of Diversity and Inclusion with the Florida Bar. She is a former Adjunct Professor at Nova University School of Law where she taught Immigration Law. She can personally understand the struggle of immigrants navigating through the bureaucratic process of immigration law and dedicates herself fully and provides her personal attention to every case. She prides herself on developing a strong relationship with each client and is not afraid of pushing the envelope and looking for answers where other attorneys have failed. She makes it her goal to provide you with the best representation for immigration matters because she believes it’s time for you to live the American dream!
Website/Social Media:
- Link to your website or landing page- www.FL-ILC.com
- IG: @immigration_attorney_saman
- FB: www.facebook.com/FLImmigrationLawCounsel
- You Tube: Florida Immigration Law Counsel - YouTube
- TikTok: @immigration_attorney_sam
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Meet Kristi Mooti Persad, B.S.C. ’11, M.B.A. ’14:
Co-Founder and Managing Director, Premium Quality Group of Companies.
Kristi launched Premium Quality Group of Companies (PQGC) together with her brother and business partner in October 2014. PQGC is a full-service event company where she has held the position of Managing Director since inception. She made her first business acquisition in 2015 with the asset purchase of party rental company Tio Fiesta Events, followed by the acquisition of linens manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer Linens Design Inc. in 2016. A few months later in January 2017, another acquisition followed when PQGC took ownership of all-inclusive event venue La Vie en Rose Banquet Hall. PQGC launched a photography and videography company Captivate Productions later in 2017. In June 2020, Kristi merged all existing brands together as Premium Quality Events, a full service, one-stop shop for all your event needs. She also sits on the advisory board for her family’s company, Premium Quality Meats, located in Trinidad and Miramar, FL.
Kristi holds both a Bachelors of Science in Communication and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami. She is also a Six Sigma Champion and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society. During her studies she won several awards including the Dr. William R. Butler Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Principles of International Educational Exchange, The Dean’s Leadership Award, Emery Means Findley Jr. Endowed Fellowship and was inducted into the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She is currently a volunteer leader at the University of Miami’s Young Alumni Leaders Council and sits on its executive committee as programming co-chair.
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Meet Mrs. Rhonda Sheffiled:
Rhonda Sheffield is the owner of Good Hearts Home Care Agency in Miramar Florida. Good Hearts Home Care is a Non-Skilled Home Care Agency founded to serve and meet the needs of the community with Personal Care, Companion/Sitter, Homemaker service, and Post-operative care. Motto: “Good Hearts with Caring Hands”. Her desire is to make a positive impact in the lives of people. As a business owner, Rhonda is always focusing on positive ways to improve the community through outreach and giving back to those who are less fortunate.
Rhonda is Board Certified Life Coach, Speaker, Published Author, Mentor, Marriage Counselor, and a Phenomenal Entertainment Host. Her purpose is to equip, inspire, motivate, encourage and empower individuals to a place where they are able to understand their purpose, gifts, and self-worth.
She is the CEO/Founder of Treasure of Love Mentoring Inc. and the Co-Founder of Marriage DO Matter Inc. Treasure of Love mission is to empower young ladies to become Self-Confident in all areas of their lives while developing into “The Total Woman. Rhonda is the co-founder of Marriage ‘DO” Matter with her husband Darrell Sheffield. The purpose of Marriage “DO” Matter is to provide biblical, realistic and transparent perspectives to marriages while providing workshops, individual counseling, couple counseling, and biblical studies to empower and strengthen them spiritually.
Rhonda is also the Co-Author of the 31 Devotional Journal for Marriages. The book was inspired and written to encourage and prepare couples and singles, how to build and strengthen their relationship with God and with each other. She's also Co-Author of Cream Colored Sisters as she shares her story When Betrayal Leads To Your Blessing. Rhonda is also the author of Forever Daddy’s Girl: Treasuring His Love & Memories. The book was inspired after the passing of her father. The book helps to encourage young learners and adults to grieve the death of a loved one by treasuring the memories that were created. Rhonda Sheffield is a Serial Entrepreneur and always tells people "Do what you love and love what you do and PUSH forward."
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Meet Patty Garcia:
Patricia currently works in R&D systems Group, Inc. as President since 2004. R&D is a minority-owned Family (IT) information technology Solutions Company located in Miramar, FL. Specializing in telecommunications providing businesses basic telephone communications to full IT services. In 2021, she also became President of the Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce and Weston FL chamber of Commerce as an integral part of her community. Her latest accomplishment is graduating from Leadership South Broward and becoming a Project Management Professional (PMP)
Patricia holds a Bachelor in MIS/Ecommerce from Barry University where she studied Management Information Systems with a concentration in E-commerce. Patricia is affiliated with a variety of IT professional organizations including Mainline Information Systems, the top 2 business partners in the U.S, and others.
Did you know?
- In 1972, women only owned 4.6% of all businesses in the United States. As of 2019, women-owned 42% of all businesses.*
- 99.9% of women-owned businesses are small businesses (500 employees or fewer).†
- Women-owned businesses grew 21% from 2014 to 2019, and businesses owned by women of color grew at double that rate. Numbers for black women entrepreneurs grew the fastest, with an increase of 50%. In fact, as of 2019, women of color accounted for 50% of all women who owned businesses.*
- There are nearly 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States, employing 9.4 million workers and generating revenue of $1.9 trillion.*
You can read more about these facts and a host of information in The National Women’s Business Council 2020 Annual Report and State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, by American Express. Definitely worth a full read.
Resources for women-owned businesses
There are some helpful groups supporting and promoting women entrepreneurs:
- IFundWomen.com, a crowdfunding platform for women entrepreneurs to raise money, get coaching, and make connections
- MWBE Enterprises, Inc., a way to find consulting for obtaining minority and women-owned business certification
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) (https://www.nawbo.org/), an advocacy organization for women
- SBA, providing information about certification Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs)
- WomenAndMinorityBusiness.org, a link to applicable crowdfunding platforms
Celebrating Women in Business
Additionally, if you’re looking for other ways to celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month, October is a great time to network. Make a special effort to connect with women in your field and build meaningful connections. For women, utilizing established local business groups can help women in various fields find like-minded peers.
Larger organizations like the National Association of Women Business Owners, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, National Association for Female Executives, American Business Women’s Association, and National Women’s Business Council all host events and help connect women with similar business interests.
* According to American Express State of Women-Owned Business Report
† According to U.S. Small Business Association Office of Advocacy