Press Release Adrienne Arsht Center Trust elects new board members

Adrienne Arsht Center Trust
Elects New Board Members

Miami, FL – November 2022 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) announces the appointment of new board members to the Adrienne Arsht Center Trust (AACT) Board of Directors: Meme Ferré, Brian Y. Goldmeier, Akiva Gross, Yosbel A. Ibarra, Armando Olmedo and Y. David Scharf.

“We are proud to welcome this highly accomplished group of individuals who, together, offer the Arsht Center expertise in various nonprofit organizations as well as a deep commitment to the cultural environment,” said AACT Chairman Richard Milstein. “Their breadth of experiences will support the Arsht Center team on its continued mission to connect people from every corner of our community through inspiring artistic experiences.”

Meme Ferré is an artist, art educator and art activist who has dedicated her life to the advancement of the arts in Miami and in Puerto Rico. Her artwork is in the collections of the Museo de Arte de Ponce (Puerto Rico), Perez Art Museum Miami, Miami-Dade Public Library and in many private collections. She was an art educator with Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 31 years and is currently producing an ongoing documentary film project with Glickman Media that is working to define civic leadership and civic engagement in America. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Maurice A. Ferré Institute for Civic Leadership at Florida International University (FIU), an organization that builds on the legacy of Miami Mayor Maurice A. Ferré, Ms. Ferré’s father and the first Hispanic mayor of a major U.S. city. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pratt Institute and a master’s degree in art from New York University.

Brian Y. Goldmeier is the founder and president of BYG Strategies, Inc., a Miami-based strategic advisory and political consultancy with clients across the United States, regionally, and local to South Florida. With his national reach and extensive, trusting network of relationships, Brian serves as the primary advisor and strategist to key public officials, policymakers, opinion leaders, C-suite executives, and nonprofit leaders.  He and his firm have assisted various companies with significant economic and business development drivers, new-to-market strategies, corporate strategy, and team building. Among his activities, Brian is a member of the United Way of Miami-Dade County, where he co-chairs the Tocqueville Society. Brian also chaired sponsorships for the Young Leaders Executive Committee and was the vice-chair of the United Way's Annual Mayor's Ball. He currently serves on the board of Voices for Children, The Underline and previously served on the boards of City Year Miami and the University of Miami's Citizen's Board. Brian is also a graduate of Leadership Florida's Connect program and Leadership Miami. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in hospitality management and an MBA degree from Endicott College.

Akiva Gross, Ph.D. has been involved in the world of food and nutrition in the private sector and academia for over 30 years. He has held key managerial positions in large companies including Monsanto and CP Kelco and was part of the founding team of Enzytech and Opta Food Ingredients, where he helped to invent and commercialize novel food ingredients. Dr. Gross currently serves on the boards of The New World Symphony and the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. He has previously served on the boards of the American Friends of The Weizmann Institute, the Institute of Clinical Social Work in Chicago and the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Funding Art Network in Miami.

Yosbel A. Ibarra serves as co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office and previously served as co-chair of the firm’s Latin America practice. Ibarra represents clients on international corporate transactions, including multinational corporations and prominent Latin American investors on their investments, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures throughout Latin America and the U.S. Ibarra has been recognized by leading publications, including The Legal 500 Latin America Guide, Chambers and Partners and The M&A Advisor, for his more than 20 years of experience representing clients on cross-border matters. He is vice-chair of Amigos for Kids; a member of the Law360, Florida Editorial Advisory Board; serves as an officer of the Law Firm Management Committee of the International Bar Association; and serves on the boards of MCCJ and the Council of the Americas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida and a juris doctorate from New York University School of Law.

Armando A. Olmedo is Vice President/Assistant General Counsel for Univision Televisa Communications, Inc. and heads its immigration group. He is responsible for the corporate immigration matters related to the transfer of individuals to and from the U.S. for all Univision corporate entities. His practice focuses on nonimmigrant visas, visa applications at consulates abroad, obtaining lawful permanent residence for employees and naturalization matters. In addition, Olmedo also handles all immigration-related audits and assists employees with social security administration issues. He also works directly with company radio, online and television content producers on immigration content aired or published by its units. Olmedo currently serves on the board of IlluminArts, Miami's Art Song and the Vocal Chamber Music series. He is a past two-time president of the Miami Council for International Visitors (now known as Global Ties Miami). A graduate of Leadership Miami and NYU School of Law, Olmedo has written numerous articles on immigration law and is a frequent speaker on corporate immigration matters.

Y. David Scharf is one of the country’s leading trial and appellate lawyers and serves as a senior counselor to CEOs and multi-national companies. As chair and co-managing partner of Morrison Cohen, Scharf oversees the strategic planning and day-to-day operations of the firm encompassing 200 attorneys and staff. He has more than 30 years of experience representing and advising clients in securities, M&A, complex commercial and real estate transactions and other high-stakes business matters. Scharf leads a vibrant litigation and counseling practice that services some of the country’s foremost companies, financial institutions and entrepreneurs and family offices. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the School of Business and Public Administration at New York University and a juris doctorate cum laude from Brooklyn Law School. Among his philanthropic activities, he serves on the Chairman’s Council of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as treasurer and member of the board of directors of the U.S. Tennis Association Foundation and as a trustee and board member of the Lifetime Care Foundation for the Disabled, Inc.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.

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AboutUs
Set in the heart of downtown Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is committed to welcoming and connecting ALL people to the arts, to the Arsht Center and to each other. Our stages are alive year-round with artists from around the world, innovative programming from our resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and arts education experiences for thousands of Miami children each year.

Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has been recognized as a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area, a leader in programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity, a host venue for historic events and Miami’s hub for arts education.

Each year, we serve more than 60,000 young learners and offer more than 100 culturally diverse and inclusive education programs — many enhanced by the Arsht Center’s relationship with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, local teaching artists and Miami-based arts organizations.

The Arsht Center is also a home stage for three resident companies — Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony — and a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on the international stage. Our 300+ events each year include the Center’s Signature Series of classical, jazz, Broadway, local theater and much more. We present a robust series of touring Broadway musicals direct from New York, the largest jazz series in South Florida, a major annual Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, our Family Fest, Free Gospel Sundays, CommuniTea LGBTQ+ celebration and Heritage Fest are among dozens of free events that bring together people from all corners of our community. For more information, visit arshtcenter.org.