Business Person of the Year
Rodney McGilvery
Rodney McGilvery is a South Florida business leader with more than 26 years of experience building and operating Dream Clean, a commercial cleaning company servingmunicipalities, condo associations, office buildings, and venues like Bayfront Park, Lincoln Road, and the iTHINK Financial Amphitheater.
He is recognized for advancing environmentally responsible pressure-washing solutions, deploying bio-augmented degreasers and stain removers that break down grease, mildew, and algae without harming local waterways.
As a coastal community partner, he prioritizes protecting flood and water-pumping systems from toxic runoff and maintains a strict commitment to locally sourced, safety-first products. This is a standard he has defined and upheld since founding Dream Clean.
Business of the Year
Italian Vice
Italian Vice earns Business of the Year for turning a simple concept into a recognizable Miami brand. Founders Aamir Taylor and Patience Dean have taken Italian ice and developed it into a signature experience across stadiums, events, and neighborhood spaces. It has become one of the most recognizable emerging brands in Miami’s event and activation space.
By pairing disciplined operations with bold, memorable flavors, they have built a loyal customer base while creating opportunities for local vendors and partners.
Italian Vice shows how consistency, cultural awareness, and focused execution can scale a business while maintaining a strong connection to the communities it serves.
Not for Profit of the Year
Orange Blossom Classic
The Orange Blossom Classic stands among the nation’s most premier HBCU cultural and sports experiences, anchoring Labor Day weekend at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Since its revival, it has rapidly become a flagship event celebrating HBCU pride, heritage, and excellence on a national stage.
The Classic delivers a high-impact, televised showcase that elevates tradition, community, and innovation while generating substantial tourism and economic activity across South Florida. It creates meaningful opportunities for businesses, students, and alumni, solidifying its position as a leading cultural institution and powerful economic driver in the region and beyond.
Public Official of the Year
Christine King
City of Miami Chairwoman and District 5 Commissioner Christine King has built futures.
Born in Guyana and raised in Miami, King is the first Guyanese American elected to the Commission and its first female Chairwoman.
As the architect of a zero-interest first-time homebuyer program offering up to $200,000, she has converted vacant lots into pathways to generational wealth for working families. Six homes stand completed, with sixteen in development.
A trained attorney and former CEO, King operates with precision, accountability, and follow-through, turning policy into measurable progress and expanding ownership in Miami.
Citizenship Award
The Children’s Trust
The Children’s Trust is Miami-Dade’s leading force in advancing child and family well-being, strategically investing in education and health to drive measurable outcomes.
Through its Thrive by 5 early learning program, it strengthens school readiness by elevating child care quality and equipping educators with targeted, high-impact support.
Its HealthConnect in Our Schools initiative invests annually to deliver comprehensive physical and mental health services. In partnership with families and community organizations, The Children’s Trust delivers holistic, sustained support. Together, these efforts demonstrate data-driven leadership that transforms systems and secures lasting success for children.
Corporate Executive of the Year
Ken Frazier
Ken Frazier is a financial services executive whose work at JPMorgan Chase & Co. focuses on expanding access to capital, coaching, and opportunity for underserved entrepreneurs and communities.
As vice president, community and business development – community manager , he builds strategic relationships, leads outreach initiatives, and helps small businesses navigate resources to grow.
His work places him among the most consistent connectors between corporate resources and local entrepreneurship. Recognized among Miami’s Most Powerful and Influential Black Professionals, Frazier connects business performance to economic mobility, strengthening pathways for entrepreneurs and supporting long-term community growth.
Miami Trailblazer
Zakiyya White
Zakiyya White is a community builder, event strategist, and civic connector who designs experiences that translate into networks, opportunity, and shared momentum.
As events manager at the Center for Black Innovation, she curates programs and partnerships that support Black founders and drive inclusive innovation. She also helps lead initiatives such as Tech Tuesdays Miami and Bold Fridays, as well as networks including the Black Professionals Network – Miami and the PWRHAUS Golf Society.
Her efforts establish her among the most active conveners building Black professional ecosystems in Miami. Grounded in education, nonprofit leadership, and her consultancy, ZW Eventz, she treats events as infrastructure, where relationships become resources and ideas move into action.
