INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT SYMPOSIUM
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 23-26, 2005
HTTP://WWW.INTERNATIONAL-SYMPOSIUM.COM
INFO@INTERNATIONAL-SYMPOSIUM.COM
Keynote Speakers
(Click on the person's name to access his or her biography)
Gov. Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida
Sen. George Firestone, Florida Secretary of State (ret.)
Mr. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma
Sen. Giampaolo Bettamio, Undersecretary of State in the Italian Ministy of Foreign Affairs
Rep. Allen Boyd, U.S. Congressman for Florida’s 2 nd Congressional District
Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, Dean of the Barcelona Bar
Dr. Horst Schmid, International Trade Minister of Canada (ret.)
Hon. Ambler H. Moss, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Panama (ret.)
Carl M. Kuttler, Jr., President of St. Petersburg College (Florida)
BIOGRAPHIES
Gov. Jeb BUSH was born in Midland, Texas. After first arriving in Florida, he helped start a real estate development company that today is one of the largest, full-service commercial real estate companies in South Florida. In 1987-1988, he served as Florida’s Secretary of Commerce and promoted Florida’s business climate worldwide. Following an unsuccessful bid in 1994 for the Governor's Office, Governor Bush founded the Foundation for Florida's Future, a not-for-profit organization to influence public policy at the grassroots level. As chairman of the foundation, he co-founded the state's first charter school - Liberty City Charter School - with the Urban League of Greater Miami.
He was elected Florida's 43rd Governor in 1998 and re-elected in 2002, becoming the first Republican to be re-elected Governor in the state's history. Since taking office, his top priority has been creating a world-class educational system through high standards and increased accountability. To achieve this goal, he has provided a record four-year increase of $2.9 billion (26 percent increase) in K-12 funding. He believes passionately that all children should learn a year's worth of knowledge in a year's worth of time.
Governor Bush also boosted the state's reserve funds while reducing the state's tax burden to its lowest level in a decade. He has focused the state's resources toward protecting Florida's natural environment with an historic $2-billion commitment to saving Florida's Everglades. He has also increased health insurance coverage for needy children and provided unprecedented levels of funding and services to the elderly and the developmentally disabled.
By taking advantage of online technology such as the state's web portal, www.myflorida.com, and thanks to outreach programs like his monthly "Open Office Hours" around Florida, Governor Bush continues to be the most accessible Governor in the state's history, providing all Floridians with greater opportunities to directly participate and communicate with their government and elected officials.
Sen. George FIRESTONE was elected Florida ’s twentieth Secretary of State of Florida in 1978, and was re-elected for two additional terms. Previously, he served as a member of the House of Representatives and as a member of the Florida Senate. The Capitol Press Corps named Senator Firestone as the most outstanding Senator. He was responsible for the passage of laws permitting international banking and foreign trade zones. This provided the groundwork for Florida becoming a major center for international business and finance. He has led trade missions and traveled extensively throughout Europe , Asia , Africa and South America and has visited forty-one countries. He currently serves as the state of Florida ’s “Special Envoy” to the Foreign Consular Corp of Florida . Sen. Firestone speaks English and German.
Vladimir Volfovich ZHIRINOVSKY currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of The State Duma, of which he has been a member since 1993. Mr. Zhirinovsky holds a Doctor of Philosophy. In 1970, he graduated honorably from Moscow University of Asia and Africa (Middle Eastern Language Department-Master Degree). In 1977, he graduated Honorably from Moscow State University (Master of Law). He is a Member of The Academy of Sociology and he is also an Honored Lawyer of The Russian Federation. Mr. Zhirinovsky also serves as a Professor. From 1969-1970, he held an internship in Gosteleradio and State Committee of Foreign Economic Relations and from 1970-1972, he served in the Soviet Army. Mr. Zhirinovsky was employed by The Department of Western Europe of The Soviet Committee for Peace from 1972-1975, by the Supreme School of the Trade Unions from 1975-1977, and the Ministry of Justice from 1977-1983. From 1983-1990, Mr. Zhirinovsky served as the Chief of the Legal Department of the World Publishing House. Since 1990, he has served as Chairman of The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. Mr. Zhirinovsky has authored many politically oriented books and publications. He is also a Colonel of the Russian Army. He was born April 25, 1946 in Alma-Ata ( Kazakhstan). He is married and has a son. Mr. Zhirinovsky speaks English, French, German, and Turkish. In the United States, Mr. Zhirinovsky can be contacted through Alexander Bavelsky [Tel: 781-492-6465; E-mail: intlaw@temple.edu].
Sen. Giampaolo BETTAMIO serves as Undersecretary of State in the Italian Ministy of Foreign Affairs. Sen. Bettamio acquired a law degree at the University of Bologna, where he also worked as assistant to the Chair of the History of Political Doctrines Department. In 1964, he was Director of the Economic and Social Studies Centre (CERES) of the Union of Chambers of Commerce of the Emilia Romagna region. Later, he joined the Italian Chambers of Commerce Union and in 1968 was sent to Brussels to manage its liaison office with the European Commission. In1973 he joined the European Parliament as Chief Press Officer. From 1976 to1986, Sen. Bettamio was Secretary General of Political Groups, and from 1986 to 1992, he was Director of the European Parliament and was appointed Special Counsellor to the President of the European Parliament, Lord Plumb. Sen. Bettamio was appointed Head of Cabinet to the President of the European Parliament in 1992. In 1994, he served as Secretary General of the Forza Europa Group and in 1996, he was elected to the Senate for Piacenza on the Forza Italia list. He is a member of the President's Office and Administrative Head of his group in the Senate. Sen. Bettamio is also the Vice President of the European Affairs Committee and Head of Group on the Agriculture Committee. In 2001, he was once again elected to the Senate for Rimini on the Forza Italia list. Member of the President's Office and Administrative Head of his group in the Parliament. He is the Vice President of the 10th Permanent Commission (Industry, Trade, Tourism), a member of the Control Committee for the implementation of the Schengen Agreement, and a member of the Parliamentary Investigative Committee for the Mitrokhin Affair. He is also the National Director of the Forza Italia Foreign Trade Section. He received the silver medal of European Merit. Sen. Bettamio speaks Italian, French, English, and Spanish.
Rep. Allen BOYD was sworn into office on January 7, 1997 , as a Democratic member of the 105th Congress representing Florida ’s 2nd Congressional District. The District spans 16 counties, from South Walton County , through Tallahassee , almost reaching Jacksonville , making up the largest geographic Congressional district in the state. This area of North Florida is distinctly rural yet surprisingly diverse. The regional economy is as reliant on small fishing villages and rural farming operations as it is the higher education and state government communities of Tallahassee .
Congressman Boyd is a leader of Congress’ Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 35 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives who advocate fiscal responsibility in the Federal budgeting process. They are centrist legislators working to build consensus between the two parties in Congress to find workable solutions for the most pressing budget issues. The Blue Dogs have been called upon to lead the House to a comprehensive fiscal policy anchored in Federal debt reduction for America and tax relief for all citizens. Boyd was instrumental in the successful efforts by Congress to reach the historic 1997 balanced budget agreement. He has been a leader of the coalition since his election to Congress in 1996. During his first term, Boyd led the charge to reform our Federal campaign finance laws by serving as a member of the Freshman Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Task Force. The hard work of Boyd and his colleagues finally came to fruition in March of 2002 when President Bush signed sweeping reform of the campaign finance system, the result of several years of bipartisan cooperation.
In the 106th Congress, Boyd was appointed by his peers to the powerful and highly-coveted Appropriations Committee where he works to restore fairness in funding to North Florida ’s priorities. Throughout his tenure in Congress, Boyd has worked to protect Florida ’s military community and bring much-needed aid to the agriculture industry. Additionally, Boyd has been active across the district in the effort to fight drug abuse among Florida ’s young people. He spearheaded Coalitions United for a Drug Free North Florida, a project to unite and assist local drug prevention programs.
Further, as a farmer and business-owner, Congressman Boyd is conscious of the issues facing small businesses and workers in today’s economy. He knows that in order to grow the economy and achieve long-term stability, government must act as a catalyst, not an obstacle, for empowering companies to grow and thrive in a changing world market. He believes that government should provide an economic model for businesses to follow in order to stimulate growth. That central belief has earned him endorsements over the years from the United States Chamber of Commerce and the fiscal watchdog group, the Concord Coalition.
From 1989 until his election to Congress, Boyd served in the Florida House of Representatives. Throughout his career in public service, Boyd has led the charge for government reform and fiscal responsibility. He is also known as an articulate voice for consensus building and reasonable compromise. As Chairman of the Florida House Democratic Conservative Caucus, Boyd helped build bridges between diverse interests on such difficult issues as public education, health care, and welfare reform, issues he continues to work on in Congress.
In the current 109th Congress, Boyd co-chairs with Congressman John Peterson the Congressional Rural Caucus. Together the members focus on issues that impact rural America , such as access to health care, education, and technology.
A fifth generation farmer, Boyd graduated from Florida State University in 1969, and served his country in Vietnam . To this day, he continues to oversee the family farm operations on land that has been in his family for five generations. He and his wife, Cissy, reside on their farm in Monticello , FL. Their children, Suzanne, John, and David, are also Florida residents.
Boyd currently serves on the Military Construction Subcommittee and the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.
Dr. Horst A. SCHMID was born in Munich, Germany and emigrated to Canada in 1952. He worked in the gold mines of Yellowknife until 1956, when he came to Edmonton (Alberta) and supplemented his accountants training with courses in business administration, business
psychology and business finance from the University of Toronto. With a partner, he established an export company, exporting manufactured goods and commodities such as sulphur and fertilizer to the Far East. In 1971, Dr. Schmid was elected MLA (Member of the Legislature) of Alberta. He served in the Alberta Government as Minister of Culture, Youth and Recreation, Minister of Government Services, Minister of State for Economic Development, and Minister of International Trade for a total of 15 years. He was the first post-World War II immigrant to be elected MLA in Alberta and appointed to a Cabinet in Canada. For the following 10 years, he was Commissioner General for Trade and Tourism for the Government of Alberta. His success, during Trade Missions from Alberta to many countries in the world, where he was accompanied by Alberta representatives of major corporations, medium and smaller companies, and where he helped in their negotiations with foreign buyers, is legendary. He has been invited as a guest speaker to numerous symposiums on international investments in North America, Europe, Asia and the C.I.S. countries. After retiring from public office, he recommenced his international trade business as President and CEO of Flying Eagle Resources Ltd. He is Chairman of Deep Well Oil & Gas, Inc., Chairman and CEO of Portwest Investments Ltd., Chairman of Aspire Capital Inc., Member of the Advisory Board for the Petroleum Institute of Thailand, Advisor for IBC INTERNATIONAL, Miami, Florida, Member of the Advisory Board of "Project Germany" (for the promotion of investments from Germany in the Capital Region of Edmonton), Executive Officer and/or Director of other Alberta Public and Private Companies. Dr. Schmid has been awarded numerous National and International Honors, including: Hon. Doctor of Laws, (University of Alberta); Honorary Indian Chief Flying Eagle; The Great Canadian Award; The Silver Ribbon (highest) Award of the City of Edmonton; Appointed to the Cultural Hall of Fame of Edmonton; The International Award for Tourism "Golden Helm"; The Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; The Order of Merit of Bavaria; "Man of the Year" of the Commonwealth Games Foundation; The Blue Ribbon Award of the Western Fairs Association. Dr. Schmid also serves as an honorary director of several foundations in countries such as Canada, China, Thailand, etc.
Hon. Ambler H. MOSS, JR. is Of Counsel to Greenberg Traurig’s Global Practice Group. He served as Ambassador to Panama from 1978 until 1982, having been appointed successively by Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. He also served as a member of the U.S.-Panama Consultative Committee from 1978-1982 and from 1995-2001. Prior to his appointment, he was involved with the negotiation of the U.S.-Panama Canal Treaties and their ratification, and was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations. Previously, as a member of the career Foreign Service, he served in Spain, in the U.S. Delegation to the Organization of American States, and as Spanish Desk Officer in the Department of State. He has practiced law in Washington, D.C., Brussels, Belgium, and Miami. Ambassador Moss is a Professor of International Studies at the University of Miami. He is member of the Board of the Espirito Santo Bank in Miami and a member of the Board of Caucedo Investments in The Dominican Republic. He is a member of the President's Advisory Council of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA). He is a Senior Advisor to the Society of International Business Fellows (Atlanta-based) and International Affairs Advisor to the Latin American Chamber of Commerce (CAMACOL) in Miami. He was a member of the Steering Committee for the first Summit of the Americas in Miami (December 1994). Ambassador Moss has been active in the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in the areas of international economic development and is on the Board of Advisors to Florida FTAA, Inc., a public-private entity which promotes the Free Trade Area of the Americas. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations ( New York) and the Royal Society of International Affairs and International Institute of Strategic Studies ( London). Ambassador Moss received a B.A. from Yale College and a J.D. from George Washington University. He speaks English, Catalan, French, and Spanish.
In September 1990, Dr. Kuttler served in Russia as honorary president (rector) of Leningrad ( St. Petersburg) University as part of an exchange that brought that university’s rector to St. Petersburg Junior College. While in Russia, Dr. Kuttler worked with President Vladimir Putin, who at that time served as the Assistant to the President for Internal Relations. In October 1992, Dr. Kuttler served in the heartland of China as honorary president of Baoji Teachers College. In May/June 1993, he was selected by the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to be the technical advisor to assist in setting up a community college system for the entire nation of Russia. He was then named the "Father of the Russian Community College System." In April 2003, Dr. Kuttler attended an international law summit in St. Petersburg, Russia with Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Jacques Chirac, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and in May 2004, he was named Honorary Consul to the Russian Federation by Russia’s Prime Minister.
Other awards received by Dr. Kuttler include the American Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award and the Community Colleges for International Development, Inc.’s Werner Kubsch Award for outstanding achievement in International Education. In 1996 he was named one of nine worldwide judges for the Templeton Prize in Religion.