Our interview with Xavier Gonzalez, executive director of eMerge Americas, made me think about how things are changing in South Florida.
That is, changing for the better. The eMerge Americas Techweek conference is an indication of the continuing growth and maturation of my hometown and my community here.
When I was growing up, the big industries were farming, tourism and the export of raw materials to Latin America. That was about it, and it all was very cyclical.
Now the economy is so much more diverse and stable, and that is leading to growth in places some never thought possible. Doral, for instance, was once just a golf course. Now it’s a city in itself. The vibrant Wynwood was a place to pile shipping containers. Biscayne Boulevard is finally poised to take its place among the great thoroughfares in Miami.
The reality is that Miami’s in the right place. Look at a map from the right perspective, and you’ll see that Miami is strategically placed in the center of the world.
And as all of these economic and social forces come together, what is it doing? It certainly benefits me, I gotta’ say. I sell sites for those condos. I help put together the financing for the apartment buildings. I sell the office buildings, and buy and trade the shopping centers.
It used to be that real estate was the only beneficiary of this growth, but now you can be in technology, international trade, education, healthcare and other sectors and still prosper.
The emergence of Miami is an international phenomenon. All of the critical elements are coming together.
If you’ve been on the fence about South Florida, now’s the time to hop off and discover how you can get in on the action. As we all pull together as a community, the opportunities are unlimited.
The path to the American dream travels right through the city of Miami, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Click here to listen to my take on Miami and its promising future.
