The 100 most powerful people in South Florida

South Florida CEO,  Jan, 2004  

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POWER. We measure it in many ways: corporate, personal, social, financial. Some wield the power of their organizations, some influence through the power of their personal wealth, some through their network of connections and others through the "bully pulpit" of their elected offices. The following were winnowed from a huge list with the help of more than two dozen corporate and political leaders in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Not all the people on this list are beloved, and not all are feared. But all share the patina of power, the exclusive mantel of prestige, authority, command and control. These are the people who can make things happen, and change the course of entire communities for better or worse.

Cesar Alvarez

President/CEO, Greenberg Traurig

He runs the country's 15th-largest law firm, which now has additional offices from England to Dallas--and more than 1,000 lawyers. The former Mesa Redonda chairperson is extremely influential with the Cuban-American "old guard."

Ed and Andy Ansin

CEO, Sunbeam Television and CEO, Sunbeam Properties

TV station WSVN Channel 7 influences more South Floridian's mornings than any other with its top-rated morning news show. The father and son team own hundreds of acres of developed and developable space in Miramar at their Miramar Park of Commerce.

Micky Arison

Chairman/CEO, Carnival Corp.

With Princess Cruises now within his Carnival empire (2002 revenues: $4.4 billion), his ships at Port of Miami and Port Everglades make him the unchallenged biggest player in the world cruise industry. One of the area's largest employers, he also owns the Miami Heat.

Adrienne Arsht

Chairman, TotalBank

A major advocate for female executives in the male-dominated corporate world of Miami, and an insider with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arsht is one of the great networkers of Miami. Everybody in business has attended at least one of her "desayunos."

Walter Banks

Owner, Lago Mar Resort

Among the "first families" of Broward tourism, and one of its most active boosters. Chairman of Visit Florida, he is also on the board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Lodging and Hospitality Association. The Florida Hotel & Motel Association named him 2003's Hotelier of the Year.

Rodney Barreto

Partner, Barreto Cunningham May Dudley Maloy

One of the powerful behind-the-scenes movers, Barreto is the man to know if you want to get something through the government circles in Miami, Miami Beach or Miami-Dade County. This year, he is also chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Larry Behar

President, Larry J. Behar, PA

This year's Broward Alliance chairperson, this immigration attorney is also a key player in Broward's international business community. As the Alliance chair, he is pushing for serious growth in membership and diversity.

Ron Bergeron

President, Bergeron Land Development

He could be called the "Don of Davie," as one of that city's key landholders. One of western Broward's founding families, the developer and infrastructure builder takes his legacy seriously. He's a key campaigner for Everglades preservation, and political leaders listen to him.

Don Bowen

President, Urban League of Broward County

Long the most vocal champion of black issues in Broward, his power is growing as he seeks to include other people of color in the urban league, while continuing his efforts to revitalize Fort Lauderdale's most neglected neighborhoods.

Barbara Carey-Shuler

Chairperson, Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners

A county commissioner since 1979, she is beloved by her constituency. An overhaul of the county's governing bylaws, enacted by voters around the same time her chairmanship began in late 2002, has given Carey-Shuler unprecedented control over which legislation gets to the floor at commission meetings.

Paul Cejas

CEO, PLC Investments

The former ambassador to Belgium has been part of Miami-Dade's power elite for decades. A member of the UM Board of Trustees, and former member of FIU's board, FIU's architecture school is named after him. Recently he was named co-chair of the Miami Art Museum's capital campaign.

Juan Cento

President, Latin America & Caribbean Division, FedEx Express

On the boards of The Beacon Council and the World Trade Center, Cento has stepped up his involvement in civic and charitable causes. As co-chair of Florida FTAA's fundraising committee, he helped convince area businesses to give more than $1.5 million towards Miami's efforts to win the FTAA secretariat.

Chuck Cobb

Chairman, Florida FTAA, Inc.

This former Arvida chieftain and ambassador to Iceland has long been one of Miami's senior statesmen. As chairman of the campaign to win the FTAA secretariat, Cobb has risen to the task in a big way. The successful FTAA ministerial in 2003 solidified his reputation.

Armando Codina

Chairman, Codina Group

A pioneer in the development of Airport West, and a pivotal player in uniting Anglo power groups with the Hispanic power groups he helped usher in. A beloved civic leader and potent board member of General Motors and American Airlines.