Miami Dade College honored a new class of outstanding community leaders at its 21st MDC Alumni Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel.

The annual Hall of Fame ceremony recognizes alumni who are civic and business leaders in the community and across the nation, while raising vital funds to support student scholarships. Since 2003, more than 400 alumni have been inducted, representing various industries from banking and architecture to journalism, philanthropy and entertainment, to name a few. MDC’s Hall of Fame is the signature fundraising event of the Miami Dade College Foundation.

“It is an honor to welcome a new group of extraordinary alumni making an impact in our community,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “Through their professional and personal accomplishments, they truly exemplify what it means to ‘Be MDC,’ while helping to support the growth and development of future MDC trailblazers.”

MDC Alumni Hall of Fame inductees, 2023

Accounting
Suzel Broe
Chief Financial Officer
Orion Real Estate Group

Architecture
Daphne I. Gurri
Principal/Owner
Gurri Matute PA

Banking
Felipe F. Basulto
Market President – South Florida, Retail

Entertainment
Nelson J. Albareda
Chief Executive Officer
Loud And Live

Entrepreneurship
Joseph Akar
Founder
Watchstox

Financial Services
Obdulio Piedra
Chief Business Development Officer
BRP Mortgage LLC

Insurance Services
Vince Castro
President/Managing Partner
Hotaling Insurance Services

Journalism – Print        
Grant Miller
Publisher
Miami’s Community Newspapers

Public Safety – Police  
Stephanie V. Daniels
Deputy Director
Miami-Dade Police Department

Public Service 
The Honorable Carlos A. Gimenez
Member, Congressional District FL 28
U.S. House of Representatives

About the Miami Dade College Foundation

Founded in 1965, Miami Dade College Foundation raises essential private funds to support scholarships, academic programs, and support services so MDC students have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. MDC Foundation also supports world-class arts and cultural programming at MDC that enriches the community. In 2020-2021, MDC Foundation distributed $30.5 million to benefit the students and programs of MDC. Known as Democracy’s College, MDC changes lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences that prepare students for tomorrow’s workforce. Miami Dade College is the largest degree-granting institution in the nation. The college’s eight campuses offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways, including several baccalaureate degrees in biological sciences, engineering, data analytics, information systems technology, education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film, and others. For more information about the MDC Alumni Hall of Fame, please visit www.mdc.edu/halloffame.