Michael Bienes, Rick Case, Alan B. Levan Named to Nova Southeastern University Board of Trustees
Business Editors/Education WritersNOTE TO MEDIA: Multimedia assets available
Photos are available at URL:
Michael Bienes:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.111802/bb15
Rick Case:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.111802/bb15a
Alan B. Levan:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.111802/bb15b
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--Nov. 18, 2002--In a unanimous vote, South Florida business leaders Michael Bienes, Rick Case and Alan B. Levan have been named to Nova Southeastern University's Board of Trustees, according to NSU President Ray Ferrero, Jr.
"We are honored to have these men of vision joining our board of trustees," said Ferrero. "During this time of significant change in the education system, I believe their willingness to become further involved with the university reflects an appreciation of NSU's commitment to the entrepreneurial spirit, and emphasizes the importance that independent institutions play in Florida's higher education system."
The newly elected trustees have been big supporters of NSU and each has been inducted into the school's Entrepreneur Hall of Fame (Case in 2001, Bienes and Levan in 2002).
Individually, the men have had a major impact on the South Florida community. Bienes has changed South Florida with his philanthropic dedication to improving arts, culture, and education. His generosity has enriched countless organizations including the Opera Guild of Fort Lauderdale, Miami City Ballet, Holy Cross Hospital, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and the Archdiocese of Miami. He has since established a private foundation, S.H.A.P.E., which underwrites concerts, operas, and ballet performances, and provides scholarships for children. Bienes made the largest single donation to the Broward Public Library, which resulted in the establishment of The Bienes Center for the Literary Arts. His financial support has extended to a multitude of educational entities, such as Pine Crest School, Archbishop McCarthy High School, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and the African American Research Centre, to name a few.
Case is the owner of 10 car dealerships, including the Fort Lauderdale Acura dealership, which is world's largest Acura dealership for six years in a row. He is no stranger to setting records -- in 1972 his Honda car dealership became the country's largest dealer within the first month in business, and his motorcycle dealership earned him the title of the largest motorcycle dealer in America. This past March, his new Honda Dealership in Davie became world's largest dealer the first month it opened and in August broke the all time world sales record selling 1,033 new Hondas.
In addition, Case is actively involved in the community and a member of the Broward Workshop and Broward Sheriff's Advisory Board. He has served as a board member, president, and chairman for the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County and helped the organization grow to one of the largest clubs in the nation. As a result of his efforts, Case was presented with the Silver Medallion Award, which is the highest honor bestowed nationally by the Boys and Girls of America Club to an individual that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment.
Levan has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BankAtlantic since 1987. Today, BankAtlantic is the largest Florida based financial institution with over $5.8 billion in assets. BankAtlantic has 72 branch locations, operates more than 180 conveniently located ATMs and offers 7 Day Branch Banking and is Florida's Most Convenient Bank.
Levan served as Chairman of the Broward Community College Foundation and is a board member of the Florida Grand Opera, Broward Leadership and the University of Miami Citizens Board. In 1994 Levan founded the BankAtlantic Foundation, which has provided more than 600 grants to deserving non-profit organizations and funded more than $2.5 million. The Foundations' charitable contributions further education, culture, the arts, and supports social service agencies within South Florida. A recent recipient of the Habitat for Humanity of Broward "Spirit of Humanity Award 2000," Levan has been dedicated to the eradication of poverty housing. To date, through his partnership with Habitat, 52 homes have been constructed for those less fortunate.
The addition of civic-minded Bienes, Case and Levan to the Board of Trustees is a perfect fit for NSU, which was ranked third among all private colleges nationally in the percentage of federal student work study dollars that it devotes to community service.
With a fall term (2001) enrollment of more than 19,000, Nova Southeastern University is the largest independent institution of higher education in the Southeast, and the 12th largest independent not-for-profit institution nationally. NSU awards bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, doctoral, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, psychology, and other social sciences. The university also offers 19 undergraduate majors through the Farquhar Center for Undergraduate Studies. NSU also has more than 78,000 alumni residing in all 50 states, and in more than 53 other countries.
Note: Photo are available at URL: Michael Bienes: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.111802/bb15 Rick Case: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.111802/bb15a Alan B. Levan: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.111802/bb15b