Miami has long been known as the gateway to Latin America with its strong logistics industry and second most important international banking hub after New York. Now, with our port ready for increased trade opportunities from the expanded Panama Canal and Miami International Airport one of the busiest in the world with over 80 airlines traveling to 150 destinations around the globe, our city is poised to be a global business center.
Pieter Bockweg put together the entire package for a state-of-the-art movie and TV production studio downtown now used by Viacom International Media Networks for the Americas, said Marc Sarnoff, nominating him as a leader growing the city’s international business. Mr. Sarnoff and Mr. Bockweg worked together when they were formerly chair and executive director, respectively, of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, which funded the project through a public/private partnership.
“By bringing this studio to Miami, Pieter is responsible for at least 150 direct jobs and at least 1,500 indirect jobs,” Mr. Sarnoff said. “He’s self-deprecating, has a good sense of humor and is a relationship builder.”
The key, he said, was Mr. Bockweg looked for a management company to operate the studio. When EUE Screen Gems responded, he listened to the company’s design criteria demanded by the industry.
The studio will continue bringing international business to Miami, Mr. Sarnoff said. “The Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States went on a trade mission to Almeria, Spain, and Pieter was invited. He’s in final negotiations to build a studio there, based on the model he created here,” Mr. Sarnoff said. “There’s been discussion about a sister city relationship and work between the chambers.”
David Schwartz, president and CEO of the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA), said his colleague Teresa P. Foxx, as Barclays Miami branch general manager, is a true representation of a leader contributing to the overall growth of Miami’s international business scene. “She promotes money markets and corporate banking business opportunities as part of client services to Barclay’s Latin American and Caribbean-based clients,” he said. In addition, Ms. Foxx is serving as FIBA’s chair.
Throughout the term, which began July 1, 2015, and runs to the end of this month, she is carrying out FIBA’s mission of international banking education and building a network of banking and finance partnerships around the globe. Mr. Schwartz said she has “played an instrumental role in generating awareness of trade finance and treasury and liquidity management over the course of her tenure.”
During her tenure as FIBA chair, Ms. Foxx highlighted the significance of treasury and liquidity risk management for international banks. It is a crucial element of doing business, which has been subject to expanded regulations due to the bank crisis, she said.
She said she played an instrumental role in establishing FIBA’ s Treasury and Liquidity Management Committee with the objective of bringing together the treasury and finance professionals within the banking community to talk about the new regulatory requirements, as well as standards that are significantly impacting banks such as more stringent capital requirements, stress testing and liquidity coverage ratios.
Other highlights of her year include
- Worked collaboratively with FIBA’s Trade Finance Committee to exhibit high levels of support for the trade finance industry
- Had continual voice on the Miami-Dade International Trade Consortium Board with John Rodriguez, past chair representing FIBA
- Helped launch the first Women on Boards of Directors program in partnership with IESE Business School which provided senior women with the continuing-education critical for serving in board and committee leadership positions.