Beacon Awards honor those who shape area’s economy

Written by Miami Today on October 27, 2026

The Beacon Council Foundation and the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the county’s economic development organization, on Monday unveiled winners of the 2026 Beacon Awards. More than 600 business and community leaders gathered at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami for the annual dinner that recognized leaders, companies and organizations whose contributions have helped shape Greater Miami.

Winners included three special honorees. The Jay Malina Leadership Award was presented to Helen and Jacob Shaham, founders and owners of The Palace Group of Senior Living Communities.

The Founders’ Award was presented to veteran Miami banker and Miami native Sheldon T. Anderson, chairman of Grove Bank & Trust and a past chairman of the Beacon Council. And the Corporate Catalyst Award was presented to Florida Power & Light.

Those award winners were known before the ceremony, but six sector and two category awards were not. They were presented in groups of three or four finalists, with the winners then unveiled one by one.

In the first award category, Aviation & Aerospace, STEM education organization Flying Classroom and integrated aviation and aerospace solutions provider GA Telesis both won as the Beacon Awards had its first-ever tie in voting.

In Professional Services, the Sidley Austin LLP global law firm that opened in Miami in 2022 and now has about 80 professionals was selected.

In Finance, Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager that has grown from three Miami employees in 2021 to 300 today, was chosen.

For Technology, telecommunications company Hotwire Communications, which serves residential communities and businesses, was selected.

For Life Sciences & Healthcare, the Miami-based nonprofit Health Foundation of South Florida, which has invested $153 million in local nonprofits, was chosen.

In Trade & Logistics, the honors went to ALLYO Global Logistics, a Miami-based supply chain management company ocean and air freight, customs brokerage, Foreign Trade Zone operations and more.

In the category awards, the One2Watch was presented to Soraya Roberts, founder and CEO of the Wynwood Chamber of Commerce, who also founded the Greater Brickell Chamber.

The Small Business Award was presented to Amatheon Animal Health, a Miami-based pharmaceutical distributor founded in 2020.

“We are seeing established companies making significant investments coupled with small businesses and emerging leaders building for the future while creating jobs, driving innovation and strengthening our community,” said Rodrick T. Miller, Beacon Council president and CEO.