This month we suffered the losses of two pioneers who helped make Miami and Florida the international business centers they are today.

Alan Becker passed away on July 4^th.  He graduated from the University of Miami School of Law and received the highest grade on the Florida state bar exam in 1969.  He began his legal career in the Office of the Attorney General and as an Assistant Public Defender

(1969-1972). At the age of 26, Mr. Becker became the youngest person to be elected as a State Representative in the Florida Legislature, where he served three terms (1972-1978).  Alan was a founder of Becker & Poliakoff, one of the top twenty largest law firms in Florida with 12 offices throughout the state as well as in New York, Washington, D.C., and the Czech Republic.  He served on the board of Enterprise Florida, Inc. for 20 years and was heavily involved in attracting international business and investment in Florida.  Frequently, Alan participated in Enterprise Florida’s trade missions led by our Governors.  He was also Chair of The Beacon Council from 2011-2012 and was Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic.   His passion and love for our community will be profoundly missed.  

Wayne Mixson passed away on July 8^th and was a Florida’s 12th Lieutenant Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987.  Prior to being elected as lieutenant governor he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1967 to 1978.  During his tenure as Lieutenant Governor, he also served as Florida’s Secretary of Commerce and was a tremendous supporter of international trade and business development.  He worked closely with the Florida Council of International Development in developing an international marketing strategy for Florida.  He led many state trade missions to Florida’s top markets and spearheaded Florida’s involvement in the Caribbean Basin Initiative.   He was instrumental in the Haiti relief efforts that resulted in the creation of the Florida Association of Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA), which became known as the state’s Peace Corps.  His efforts compelled legislators and communities to support initiatives to promote Miami and Florida as the “Gateway to the Americas”