* The Keyes Company/Realtors experienced a 21% increase in sales volume in 2002. Based on this growth, corporate management has implemented an aggressive expansion plan for 2003. The Miami headquartered company, which is also the largest independently owned real estate company in the state, recruited over 1,050 associates last year. In an effort to better accommodate the new associates and bring a higher and more sophisticated level of service to their clients, the company has authorized the expansion and relocation of the Miami Beach office.

“With almost 100 associates, it was imperative that we have a location to successfully accommodate our professionals. Additionally, the office will provide better access to Keyes’ resources and support system and allow each associate to utilize the facilities as much as possible. The Keyes Company likes to open every possible avenue to ensure their success,” said Frank Jewett, District Branch Manger, in a press release.

The office will be relocating from their Lincoln Road location to the Lincoln Center at 690 Lincoln Road. The new location is a fully renovated historical building, with a lobby reception area with two conference rooms. Associates have access to the third floor “penthouse” office space, with 15 private offices, large workstations, two more conference rooms, HomePartners Mortgage/Title office, separate training facility, kitchen and state of the art equipment and furnishings.  The new Miami Beach office will occupy 6,000 sq. feet of space.

Congrats:

José Valdés-Fauli, President and CEO of Colonial Bank’s South Florida region, is pleased to announce the promotion of Raúl Valdés-Fauli to Executive Vice President and Senior Lending Officer for the South Florida region. Raúl Valdés-Fauli is responsible for Colonial’s South Florida region's lending division, which specializes in real estate and
corporate related loans.

“Raúl is well-versed in the local real estate market, including the existing commercial aspect, as well as future trends and developments,” said José Valdés-Fauli in a press release. “His extensive lending expertise and proven management skills provide our clients a superior resource for all their lending needs, while helping us to expand our presence in the South Florida communities we serve.”

With more than 10 years of banking experience in the South Florida market, Valdés-Fauli has served Colonial Bank for more than five years, most recently as Senior Vice President/Commercial Lending.

Valdés-Fauli, known for his commendable community involvement, currently serves as chairman of the board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami-Dade County.  He also serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Miami Art Museum, and was an inaugural member of the Miami Fellows Initiative.

* Miami Mayor Manny Diaz has been appointed to serve as Chair of the Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Standing Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors by Conference President and Hempstead Mayor James Garner.  He was appointed to the post during the Conference’s 71^st Annual Meeting in Denver. 

The Committee seeks to develop and recommend policy positions they believe should be adopted by the organization that will benefit cities in the areas of – arts, sports and recreation, parks, arenas, stadiums and tourism.

“I am honored to welcome Mayor Diaz as Chair of the Conference’s Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Standing Committee,” said Hempstead (NY) Mayor James Garner, the new President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  “As a member of my leadership team, I look forward to working closely with him in advocating aggressively and successfully for the key priorities facing U.S. cities.”

As part of the this 71^st Conference, the City of Miami was also recognized by the Conference of Mayors for best practices by a large City in two categories, Faith Based Initiative and Small Business Outreach Program.

“It is honor for both our City and our administration to be recognized by the Conference for our hard work and innovation in both these programs," said Mayor Diaz, "As such, I ask the Conference to look towards our City in the future for additional Best Practices recognition in other areas such as our Poverty Initiative, our Bay Walk plan, our new City administrative model, and the Heart of Our Parks programs.”

Business Focus

AJ Japour Gallery Soon to Open In Miami Beach 

A special exhibit will feature a unique selection of Salvador Dali sculptures. Prominent art dealers, galleries and dignitaries are expected to be among the attendees. 

Caption: Anthony Japour 

The intersection of arts and sciences is an evocative process of creativity and technology. In creating The AJ Japour Gallery, a new art gallery in Miami Beach, Dr. Anthony Japour blends his passion for both art and science. The 2,600 square-foot showcase space will house a permanent collection and highlight different artists during a series of Sunday afternoon salons. The gallery will feature abstract and contemporary works, specifically 3-D, sculptural and textural art. He calls upon favorite artists who employ natural elements such as clay and glass and use chemical processes to create their masterpieces. The Harvard doctor is bringing a new form of art to the area and promoting artists who share his vision.

The AJ Japour Gallery is dedicated to supporting established 21^st century artists and public service organizations and communicating the vision of 20^th century artists. The business venture was born out of an epiphany he experienced while on sabbatical. Although Japour was always an art lover, he found that throughout the 1990’s, art was predominantly uninspiring, representing little more than “pretty pictures.” However, following the events of September 11, he realized the significant role artists had played in restoring the health of the country. People were beginning to find comfort in art. “It had become alive, serving as an escape from the everyday, yet still capturing elements of every day life.” The gallery is a channel for accomplishing his personal mission of giving comfort to the world, and providing some kind of relief.

AJ Japour Gallery will kick off its grand opening with “Art with A View,” an upcoming art show and gala event. A special exhibit will feature a unique selection of Salvador Dali sculptures. Prominent art dealers, galleries and dignitaries are expected to be among the attendees. While new to the area, the respected doctor has already made significant headway by establishing important local alliances. He is also fostering relationships with the Corcoran Gallery, various hospitals and other prestigious organizations throughout the country.    

Born and raised in Michigan, Japour was educated at the University of Michigan, Harvard and Northwestern Universities. Following a residency and fellowship, he became assistant professor at Harvard. He balanced his time between a small clinical practice and the laboratory bench in AIDS research. Because current medications were still unavailable in the late 80’s and early 90’s, seeing severely ill patients was too emotionally devastating for him. He found solace in lab research and instead, pursued the academic side. While on the faculty there, he held leadership roles on numerous national and local infectious disease committees. “I felt I could still contribute to society and medicine by researching treatments. I never imagined we would get as far as we did in such a short period of time. At that time it was so new, exciting and important. It was also quite intellectually stimulating.”

In 1989, Japour was one of 10 recipients nationally awarded the AMFAR (American Foundation for Aids Research) Scholar Award, familiar to many as the foundation Elizabeth Taylor spearheaded. It was a prestigious honor and according to Tony, “an opportunity I never took for granted.” Three years of funding at a critical point in his career became a life-changing event for the young doctor.

After seven years in research, Japour was lured away from academia and into corporate America to help develop the new HIV drug, Kaletra. From 1996-2002, he held several positions at Abbot Laboratories in Chicago, including Director of Professional Development and a Global Director for Marketed Products. There he oversaw post-marketing clinical development programs for HIV, Transplant, Immunology and Pain. During his tenure at Abbott, he played an integral role in empowering patients by making himself available to the community and by helping to keep lines of communication open between the pharmaceutical industry and consumer advocates.

While Dr. Japour had become a distinguished leader in laboratory and clinical science, by mid 2001, he found himself at a crossroads in his career. Japour felt he had reached a kind of success that left few stones uncovered. It was then that he approached Harvard Provost Harvey Fineberg, for professional direction. The long time friend and colleague suggested he consider public service. Over the following year, he considered many opportunities and also traveled the country to pitch Americans about drug development and safety issues. 

In September of 2002, over 20 senior physicians recommended him to President George Bush as a candidate for Commisisoner of the FDA, however another candidate had just been selected. Shortly after, Japour began his sabbatical. He moved to Miami in the fall of 2002 to recover from the rigors of his travels and has since made Miami Beach his home.

To some, the brilliant individual as well as his vision will be welcome additions to a flourishing community of young professionals, artists and intellects. To Japour himself, AJ Japour gallery will be a dream realized, and heeding the advice of Fineberg, his foray into public service. 

“Art with A View” art show and gala event will be held on Saturday, March 29^th from 8pm till midnight. A special exhibit will feature a unique selection of Salvador Dali sculptures. Tickets are $150 per person in advance and a portion of proceeds will benefit the Miami Children’s Museum. A cocktail party and viewing will be held in the AJ Japour Gallery at Murano at Portofino, 1000 South Pointe Dr., No 3302, Miami Beach.  The celebration will continue at La Piaggia with dinner, dancing and entertainment. For tickets or more information, please call 305-538-7209.

Tony Japour is a senior fellow at the University of Chicago McLean Center for Medical Ethics and is co-editing a book, “Where Science Meets Ethics in Clinical trails: the AIDS Program.”  He is the recipient of numerous awards including the reoccurring Physician Scientist Award by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1992-1996 and the 2001 Global Medical Affairs Education Award by Abbott Laboratories. Japour has been published in national publications and medical journals. He is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the National Board of Medical Examiners, is a Massachusetts and Illinois licensed physician and is currently a Senior Affiliate Consultant to Seraphim LifeSciences, LLC.