NSU’s Huizenga Business School Honors South Florida Entrepreneurs

NSU’s Huizenga Business School Honors
South Florida Entrepreneurs

 Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship honored Florida business leaders who were inducted into its Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, the Huizenga Business School’s highest honor.
The 2015 honorees are: Steven M. Mariano, Ramola Motwani and Joseph E. Farrell, Jr.

“I congratulate these exemplary business leaders who will be joining the ranks of an elite group of world class entrepreneurs in our Hall of Fame,” said J. Preston Jones, D.B.A., dean of NSU’s Huizenga Business School. “Each honoree’s story is exceptional and it will be my privilege to share their accomplishments at our awards ceremony in April.”

The H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Hall of Fame program is celebrating its 26th year in 2015. The Hall of Fame awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 22nd, at the Signature Grand in Davie, FL, and was by invitation only. The nominees and their respective accomplishments include:

• Steven M. Mariano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Patriot National, Inc., an independent national provider of comprehensive, full-service outsourcing solutions for the workers’ compensation area of the insurance industry. Customized programs are marketed through the company’s broad distribution network of more than 1,000 independent retail agencies. Mariano also founded Strategic Outsourcing Inc., a professional staffing company which he grew to more than $1 billion in revenue. The company was sold to Union Planters Bank (Regions Bank, NYSE).

• Ramola Motwani, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Merrimac Ventures, a real estate management, investment and development company with interests throughout the United States and India. Merrimac Ventures—a family business that was started 30 years ago by the late Ramesh Motwani– has owned several hotels in Ft. Lauderdale Beach since 1986 and also is the owner of the Sawgrass Inn and Conference Centre, located on Sunrise Boulevard. Today, Ramola Motwani manages the family business with her two sons, Dev and Nitin Motwani.

• Joseph E. Farrell, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, RESOLVE Marine Group, Inc., a leading, global marine services provider that specializes in vessel emergency response, ship rescue, salvage, maritime training, naval architecture and marine engineering. Farrell, who has more than 45 years of experience in the maritime industry, has led RESOLVE for 35 years. The company maintains an extensive fleet that is strategically positioned with operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Gibraltar, China, Ireland, India and New Zealand.

Mike Jackson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AutoNation, Inc. and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame program. Jackson replaces Joseph C. Amaturo, who is stepping down from this role, one that he has held since 2009.

Jackson stated, “It is my honor to take the helm as Chairman of this distinguished group. The H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University is providing a world class education and preparing students for the future. Allow me to pay tribute to Joe Amaturo for serving as Chairman for many years.”

Dean Jones added: “We thank Mike Jackson for assuming the chairmanship. We are energized by his acceptance of this important role. His support of education has made an impact in our community. We look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

“I’d also like to thank our immediate past Chairman, Joe Amaturo, for his leadership and service to the Huizenga Business School and NSU,” Jones added.

The Entrepreneur Hall of Fame was established in 1990 to honor the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs and recognize them for contributions made towards bettering the communities in which we live.

The Lifestyle Media Group (LMG), publisher for the South Florida Business and Wealth magazine, among its many other titles, has partnered with the Huizenga Business School as the exclusive media sponsor for this year’s program.