ICABA Salutes Caribbean Excellence
Karolin Troubetzkoy with her husband Nick Troubetzkoy, at the awards event. At right is Horace Hord, ICABA’s Senior Vice President.
Germain Bebe, CEO, The Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce, Rising Stars Award
Carl Juste, Founder, Iris Photo Collective, saluted for Distinguished Achievers
Dr. Hyacynthia M. Leonce, LPC, LMHC Entertainment Reporter
Launched in 2015, ICABA (International Career and Business Alliance, Inc.) has been taking the business world by storm. This organization is a Media Group which helps to “build social network, publish profile directories, and produce events targeting Black professionals and entrepreneurs.”
This past Saturday (October 22, 2016) ICABA hosted their annual business meeting and Gala. The Gala was held at the Tower Club, 28th floor in Fort Lauderdale. This venue was breathtaking looking out over the city of Fort Lauderdale.
The Recognition Networking Lifestyle Black-Tie Gala seem to draw all the who is whom in the business world and it did not disappoint.
There were three main categories of honorees: The Pinnacle Honorees, The Distinguished Achievers, and The Rising Stars. Several people were in each category approximately five to seven. From the Pinnacle Honorees category, I spoke with Ms. Karolin Troubetzkoy. Troubetzkoy, the executive director of operations at Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain resorts in Soufrière, St. Lucia, received the honor at the awards spectacle, a tribute to the accomplishments and contributions of individuals and organizations throughout the Caribbean Diaspora.
“I am very flattered and humbled to be recognized by ICABA along with a host of Caribbean pioneers,” said Troubetzkoy who currently serves as the president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.
Ms. Troubetzkoy was asked why she does what she does and she stated “I love the Caribbean; I have been in business there for 35 years.”
Pinnacle award recipients were recognized for a life’s work which reflects sustainable excellence and accomplishment. Other Pinnacle winners included Aubyn Hill, Deputy President of the Jamaica Senate; Rohan Marley, Founder and Chairman of Marley Coffee; Haitian philanthropist Dr Rudolph Moise; Dr. William Thompson, President of the Bahamas National Baptist Convention; Barbadian Bernard Weatherhead, Chairman of Sun Group Inc; and Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.
From the Distinguished Achiever’s category, I spoke with the very energetic Carl Juste, a Photo Journalist, founder of Iris Photo Collective, who offered this about this night’s event “I think the organization (ICABA) creates a synergy for excellence for people of color, it displays a fine example of the process of the diverse sources of excellence.”
He was a world wind on the dance floor, a joy to dance and speak with. Mr. Germain Bebe, CEO, The Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Rising Star honoree, offered “this was very well executed, I had a great time with the distinguished quest, it was great to see many diverse people from the Caribbean and the united states.”
Other honorees, who included more than 20 “Distinguished Achievers” and “Rising Stars”, were selected from a broad cross-section of professionals and entrepreneurs from multiple disciplines from the Caribbean and the United States.
There was a special salute to Artists (David I. Muir, Mark Cameron, Robyn Martin, and Mark Phi) and organizations (Caribbean Tourism Organization, Haitian Heritage Museum, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Caribbean Bar Association).
Mr. Harrison Thompson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism from the Bahamas, when asked why he came this far for this event he relayed; “I think it is good to pay homage to those who deserve to be honored and who has made various contributions. It is always good to hear thank you, we appreciate you and the work you are doing.”
Well said Mr. Thompson a simple thank you go a long way.
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