Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq. has served with distinction as the 2022-2023 Chairman of the Beacon Council, a public/private economic development partnership with Miami-Dade County. PHOTO COURTESY OF X.COM

MIAMI- During Yolanda Cash Jackson’s tenure as the first Black Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the county saw record business growth and expansion, and received roughly $70 million from President Biden’s designation program for Tech hubs for job creation and innovative projects, just to name a few.

But the most challenging task for the economic development organization was finding a new President and CEO. Chaired by Jackson, the selection committee settled on Roderick T. Miller, a seasoned economic developer for urban areas who was familiar with South Florida’s business and economic culture.

Jackson reflected on the Beacon Council’s accomplishments during her reign in 2022-2023 as her tenure ended on October 9 when Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Jackson’s colleagues and representatives of the business community celebrated her efforts during the organization’s Building a Greater Miami annual meeting in Miami Beach.

There, Jackson, an attorney and managing shareholder with the law firm of Beacker and Poliakoff in Broward County, will turn over the gavel to incoming Chair Juan Carlos Liscano, who is vice president of American Airlines Miami.

The venue for the annual meeting is sort of a twist for Jackson, who was born in Miami, because her mother and other Blacks were required to have identification cards to enter Miami Beach and had to leave the city at a certain time during the 1960s. "How’s that for a story?" Jackson told the South Florida Times.

Created in 1985, the Beacon Council, a private-public partnership organization, is the steward for the county-wide economic development plan to strengthen and diversify the economy with high paying jobs.

Each year can pose challenges especially due to the economy with the latest that companies were still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

But most companies weathered the storm and decided to stay, some had to rebuild, and other businesses moved to Miami-Dade at a record pace in 2022-2023.

Jackson said the county experienced growth and business expansions in Miami Gardens, Doral, Hialeah and other communities.

Jackson said she credits members of the Beacon Council and the community for bolstering economic development opportunities to make Miami-Dade the business hub of the country.

"Providing sustainability to businesses was important for businesses that chose to come to Miami and who have been here for 20 years and decided to stay," she said. "The Beacon Council does all of the things to make people feel they want to do business anywhere in the county."

Jackson said 50 percent of MiamiDade businesses are international and the rest are national and local small businesses.

But they all are treated equally under the Beacon Council’s initiatives to boost economic development including providing educational consulting, and programs to help keep them in business. "Whether businesses are big or small, the Beacon organization deals with economic development as a whole," Jackson said.

Jackson said another achievement was the record number of job creation which was aligned with Cava’s proposal to offer businesses incentives to expand and relocate to Miami-Dade. "I work in the world of politics and I know what the mayor is looking for in the future of Miami," she said. "The mayor wants Miami-Dade to be future ready. The Beacon Council has been at the forefront of a lot of conversations for the future of Miami-Dade."

Jackson merely uses her lobbying skills to point some business owners in the right direction who might be unaware of resources to help them thrive.

For example, she said Barrington Irving Jr., who was the youngest pilot to fly around the world solo in 2007, found resources to partner up with aviation stakeholders to build an aviation workforce training center at Miami-Opalocka Executive Airport.

The training center’s goal is to increase the number of young professionals in the aviation industry.

Jackson said the owner of the historic Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Brownsville, where one of her relatives is buried, was unaware of state funding which was set aside to maintain and restore abandoned cemeteries in Florida.

It is one of the oldest Black cemeteries in Florida and the final resting place for soldiers who fought in wars and pioneers who reshaped the culture of Miami including D.A. Dorsey, the first Black millionaire in Florida. "Because of resources, some businesses are thriving," Jackson said. "They just needed resources that provided an opportunity for growth." But the biggest challenge for Beacon Council during Jackson’s tenure as chair was finding the right candidate for CEO and president to replace Michael A. Finney, who died in 2022.

Jackson led an eight-member search committee which chose Miller in January 2023 after a seven-month search to take over the reins.

Jackson said Miller is among the nation’s foremost economic development leaders and brings a wealth of experience in sustainable development to one of the fastest growing and most diverse business destinations.

Miller previously served as CEO of Invest Puerto Rico, joining the organization in 2019 and building a world-class team to lead its mission of attracting business and investment to the island.

"A world-class economic developer, Rod Miller’s understanding of diverse, international markets and the importance of intentionally inclusive, sustainable development make him the right leader for this organization at this time in Miami-Dade’s growth," Jackson said.

“The Beacon Council has an incredible team of best-in-class professionals that have outperformed year after year, even when faced with unforeseen challenges. Rod’s energy and strategic vision for what we can build together, for, by, and with Miami, is infectious. We are confident he will be embraced by this community and help to drive our shared mission forward."

Jackson said she sees more economic growth in Miami-Dade’s future with leadership from designated Florida House Speaker Republican Daniel Perez, a Republican from Miami.

"Why is it the right time? Jackson said. "We have a House Speaker designate from Miami-Dade who is extremely important to leadership at this time."

As for Jackson, she was recognized this month among Florida’s 500 most influential executives for the second time.

The Florida 500, which is conducted by editors of Florida Trend, said Jackson has demonstrated leadership in her law career which was extended to service in the community.

"Her dedication extends to civic, charitable, and professional organizations, where she has earned a strong reputation," the Florida 500 said. Yolando Jackson has fostered outstanding working relationships with several of Florida’s leading elected officials and policy makers."