NSU’s Huizenga Business College Recognizes Prominent South Florida Entrepreneurs


NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship is proud to announce three well-known business leaders who were inducted April 11 into the 2019 class of the Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame, the Huizenga Business College’s highest honor: Rita Case, Rob Kornahrens and Arlene Pecora.

“I congratulate these exemplary business leaders who are joining the ranks of an elite group of world-class entrepreneurs in our Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame,” said Dr. George Hanbury, President of NSU. “Each honoree’s story is exceptional and it was my privilege to share their accomplishments at our awards ceremony in the hopes that they will inspire the next generation of business leaders.”

The H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Hall of Fame program celebrated its 29th year in 2019. The event was chaired this year by three former honorees and well-known South Florida entrepreneurs: Rick Case, Keith Koenig and Alan B. Levan.

The Hall of Fame awards ceremony was held Thursday evening, April 11, at NSU’s Rick Case Arena in the Don Taft University Center. The nominees and their respective accomplishments include:

  • Rita Case is President and Chief Operating Officer of Rick Case Automotive Group, an organization of 16 dealerships in three states with more than one billion in sales. The company’s Florida Honda, Hyundai, VW and Kia dealerships are the largest in the United States. Rick Case Automotive Group has been recognized for its retailing success, earning multiple accolades throughout the years. Rita has been individually recognized for her contribution to the auto industry, earning many major achievement awards including Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry. She is dedicated to customer service and community support and has been honored by many local organizations for her philanthropic efforts. Rita is passionate about all her philanthropic and community support such as with NSU, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Habitat for Humanity and the American Heart Association to name a few.
  • Robert P. Kornahrens serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Advanced Roofing, a commercial roofing contractor based in Fort Lauderdale. Kornahrens is very active in a variety of professional associations and community organizations, including the National Roofing Contractors Association and Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Association. He has also served as Board Chair of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Winterfest Boat Parade, President of the Executive Association of Fort Lauderdale, President of the Construction Executives Association and board member of the Center for Environmental Invention in Roofing. He has been awarded the Habitat for Humanity Spirit of Humanity Award, the Junior Achievement Laureate, Sun Sentinel Excalibur Award and the Fort Lauderdale Alliance Education Award. At NSU, Rob is actively involved in many ways such as serving on the Dean’s Development Council in the Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography. He is a long-standing supporter and participant in the Halmos Scholarship Fishing Tournament and served as co-chair of the committee in 2017.
  • Arlene Pecora is President and Chief Operating Office of Signature Grand, a premier venue for weddings, special events, charity galas and business meetings in Broward County. Under her leadership, Signature Grand has set the standards for memorable events and over-the-top customer service. In keeping with her strong values of community service, Arlene has served on many non-profit boards and committees in Broward County, including Women in Distress, Community Foundation of Broward County, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and others. She has also received many accolades for her leadership including being inducted into the Junior Achievement Laureate and earning the Sun Sentinel’s Excalibur Award. Arlene is a two-time alumnus of NSU’s Huizenga College having earned her B.S. in Hospitality Management in 1999 and an MBA in 2001.

“With great pleasure, I welcome the 2019 class,” said James Simpson, Ph.D., interim dean of NSU’s Huizenga Business College. “The honorees are not only accomplished, but leaders who have had influence and impact. The college’s namesake, H. Wayne Huizenga, would be very proud indeed that these distinguished entrepreneurs were inducted into the Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame joining an exclusive group of men and women who have left a mark on the entrepreneurship community in South Florida.”

There were several sponsors for the event including: Advanced Roofing; AutoNation; BBX, Berger Singerman; Castle Group; City Furniture; Codina Partners; Entrepreneur Council; Falcone Group, LLC; Halmos Holdings, Inc.; Hudson Capital; Lago Mar Beach & Resort Club; Mahoney & Associates; Medina Capital; Miller Construction; North America LLLP; Penske; RCC Associates & Altman Company; Resolve Marine; Rick Case; Signature Grand, and Zimmerman Advertising.

 

For more information on the Huizenga College of Business Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, please visit.