Hall of Fame Honorees

2024 Hall of Fame Honorees

Congratulations to our 2024 Hall of Fame Honorees— Thomas M. McDonald, John E. Miller, and Daniella Ortiz

The Inductees and Their Accomplishments

 

Thomas M. McDonald

President, Craven Thompson & Associates

Thomas M. McDonald graduated from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio in March 1976 with a degree in Business Administration. Tom moved from Ohio to Florida in 1979 and began his career at Craven Thompson & Associates, Inc. as their chief financial officer.  In 1986, McDonald became president of the firm.

The firm engages in a wide variety of land development projects including commercial, industrial and residential projects, together with public infrastructure projects for governmental agencies. CTA is also the consulting engineers, surveyors and landscape architects for a number of municipalities within Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

In addition to Tom’s forty-plus years of professional leadership at one of the region’s most respected engineering and land consultants, his civic involvement is equally extensive. Tom’s community leadership spans a broad spectrum which has included serving on the Broward County Community Development Committee, Broward County Water Resources Board, Broward County Environmental Quality Control Board, and the Broward County Planning Council. Tom was a member of the Broward County Management Review Committee from 1987 to 1989 and served as a Port Everglades Commissioner from 1990 to 1994.

For nearly two decades, Tom has been a member of the Housing Finance Authority of Broward County and he is a past president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. Tom was the Chairman of the Broward County Charter Review Commission from 2015 to 2018.

The McDonald Family Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Tom and his wife, Vickie, provides funds to various worthwhile charities associated with children’s issues and the disadvantaged in our community.  In 2013, Tom and Vickie McDonald established “The McDonald Family Endowed Scholarship Fund” at Nova Southeastern University.

 

John E. Miller

Founder/Creative Director, Hutton Miller, LLC

Born in Brooklyn, New York, as a child, John E. Miller moved to South Florida in 1973. He went on to attend the University of Florida from 1980 to 1983, delving into the realms of broadcast journalism, advertising, and business administration.

In 1983, Leon Golnick of Golnick Advertising gave John the break he needed. Golnick Advertising became the canvas where John honed his multimedia, account services and leadership skills for three years. His early work collaborating on a video with H. Wayne Huizenga gave John what he calls a life-altering master class in what it takes to be a successful business leader and philanthropist.

In 1986, John and a partner founded Broadcast Arts Group, LLC.  This two-person start-up with $308 in the bank evolved into a thriving enterprise with 10 employees, two studios, and an annual revenue of two million dollars. In 2000, John founded Miller Direct, LLC, focusing on direct-to-consumer products. The venture's success on home television networks QVC and HSN garnered recognition for outstanding sales performance. In 2005, John founded Hutton Miller, LLC, a brand-building marketing firm that would achieve over four billion dollars in worldwide product sales, consistently awarded for its creativity and hit campaigns for a diversity of clients. In 2015, John further expanded his horizons with the creation of Hutton Miller Films/Single Malt Films with his partner Peter Hutton. The company funds and produces short and feature films for worldwide distribution.

John Miller also believes in giving back to the community. He supports charities such as the Boca West Foundation, Bound for College, Place of Hope, Boys and Girls Clubs, and served as a board member of the Allstar Smiles Foundation. One of John’s proudest moments came as a tribute to his late mother. His donation to the BiCol Foundation contributed to the building of the "Carol Miller Memorial Hospital" in the Philippines, named in her honor.

 

 

Daniella Ortiz Baeza

Co-founder and Co-owner, Daniella Ortiz Design

When Argentine-native Daniella Ortiz first came to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue her MBA at Nova Southeastern University, her first job was in the Advancement Office where she helped raise money for the university. It was during this time that a seed was planted in her heart to always give back to her community.

But Daniella began the path to her true calling in 2005, when she and her husband Alfredo launched Daniella Ortiz, a high-end handbag and jewelry line. Their flagship boutique opened on Worth Avenue in 2008, and they later opened a boutique at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Each piece designed by Daniella Ortiz is meticulously handcrafted in Argentina by some of the best artisans in the world, using only the finest leathers and exotic skins. Elegant, sophisticated and sexy, the handbags and jewelry from Daniella Ortiz imbue a sense of timeless style while instilling a playful side indicative of the Palm Beach lifestyle.

Since starting their company, Daniella has partnered with more than 100 nonprofits around the country and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, American Cancer Association, JAFCO, several hospitals and shelters for abused women and children, to name a few.  Now a mother of two with a busy schedule of designing and marketing their company, with the Worth Avenue boutique acting as a party headquarters, Daniella and Alfredo host charitable events and trunk shows throughout the year, helping to support those in need, as well as emerging designers just beginning their careers in the industry. Daniella also shares her goodwill throughout the country through more than 60 pop-up trunk shows a year, providing an average of fifteen to twenty percent of profits to the charities. 

Daniella Ortiz has built a loyal brand following with clients that include Hollywood celebrities, two former U.S. presidents, and two former First Ladies. Daniella's vivacious personality, love for her community and her elegant style are helping to make charitable philanthropy fashionable.  This is at the heart of the Daniella Ortiz mission and operation: cultivating lasting friendships is how people remember Daniella and their brand wherever she goes.