May 12, 2003

Contact:
Jennifer Meriam, Director (954) 262-5355
Mike Laderman, Associate Director, (954) 262-5354
Mara Kiffin, Coordinator, (954) 262-5350

John E. Abdo, Frederick A. Deluca, and Thomas J. Miller Inducted Into NSU’s Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame

Left to right, Dean Randolph Pohlman, Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Frederick A. DeLuca,, president and co-founder of Subway, Thomas J. Miller, chief executive officer of Miller Construction Company, John "Jack" E. Abdo, vice chairman, Board of Directors and chairman, Executive Committee of BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc. and Ray Ferrero, Jr., President of NSU.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL— Three of South Florida’s most notable entrepreneurs were recently inducted into Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees included John E. Abdo, vice chairman of the board of directors and chairman of the executive committee of Bank Atlantic Bancorp, Inc., Frederick A. DeLuca, president and cofounder of Subway Restaurants, and Thomas J. Miller, CEO of Miller Construction Company. Each has consistently demonstrated a willingness to contribute time, effort, and financial resources to enhance the quality of life in the South Florida community.

Abdo learned very early to never underestimate what you can do. At age seven he was delivering newspapers and later in life, he sold insurance during the week while searching for ideas and things to do on the weekends. An uncanny ability to find value, whether it relates to a single piece of real estate, a sub-division, or a company, has contributed to his success as a developer of residential communities and commercial structures for the past 25 years.

Today, in addition to his position with Bank Atlantic Bancorp, Abdo is vice chairman of BFC Financial Corporation, president and CEO of Levitt Corporation, and vice chairman of the board of directors of Bluegreen Corporation. Always active in the community, Abdo contributes generously of his time and resources to help many charitable groups. He is especially proud of serving as president of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation.

Described as the consummate deal maker, a man with incredible patience, and an extremely dynamic leader who is willing to share, Abdo considers himself very fortunate and credits his parents, who always encouraged him, with much of his success. “I get to go to work everyday and do something I love, and do it with people I love,” he said. Abdo’s advice to other entrepreneurs, “Find something you love to do and have the courage to follow it relentlessly.”

Frederick A. DeLuca, like Abdo, started his entrepeneurial career at a young age. In addition to a paper route, he collected and returned bottles for the deposit so he could buy baseball cards. When he was 17 he needed funds to finance college. A $1000 loan from a family friend and a suggestion to open a sandwich shop started him on the way to owning the largest sandwich franchise in the world.

Today, there are more than 18,000 Subway franchises in 72 countries.

The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Inc. was established to grant annual academic scholarships and provide job training and arts and education grants. DeLuca also founded the non-profit organization called MILE (Micro Investment Lending Enterprise), which offers small business loans to those who cannot obtain financing through traditional loan avenues.

He offers advice and insight on how to start a business and make it a success in his book, Start Small Finish Big – Fifteen Key Lessons to Start and Run Your Own Successful Business. The book chronicles his mistakes and successes as he transformed himself from being the owner of one sandwich shop in 1965 to being ranked number one in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 listing eight times and number one by America’s Top Global Franchises in 2002. Proceeds from the book are donated to MILE.

“I think an entrepreneur is anyone who goes out to make money on his own,” said DeLuca. Described as a wonderful listener and very accepting, DeLuca is very interested in helping people meet their potential and realizes when you build an organization, you don’t do it by yourself.

Miller’s entrepreneurial spirit and the belief in giving back to the community also began at an early age. He remembers walking with his mother when he was nine years old and collecting for the United Way. He also remembers cleaning out cats litter boxes to earn money.

In 1973, he began the Miller Construction Company with his brother, Harley and his wife, Virginia. Since that time, the company has won numerous awards including the Construction Association of South Florida’s Craftsmanship Award, the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Excellence in Construction Award, and the South Florida Manufacturers Association’s Manufacturing Award. Miller Construction Company has a reputation for consistently delivering value and keeping their clients happy.

Miller feels very fortunate and very lucky about his success and he believes in giving back. An active community supporter, Miller has served on many community, civic, and field boards. He has been the president and chairman of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County and is currently a board member. Under Miller’s direction the clubs have increased from four locations to twelve.

“No one can be a successful entrepreneur without clients,” said Miller noting that ten of his clients have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. “When you see the names that have been previously inducted, it is very humbling to me,” he added. Miller’s advice to budding entrepreneurs, “Don’t let anyone keep you from your dreams. Go for it.”

Each year since 1990, the H. Wayne Huizenga Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship has recognized and honored the lifetime achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs. Past honorees include Dave Thomas, Kay Smith, Jim Moran, H. Wayne Huizenga, Ron Bergeron, and Robert Steel.

Attributes for selection to NSU’s Hall of Fame include recognition for their success as entrepreneurs, general peer identification among other successful entrepreneurs, how their wealth was accrued, their contribution to education, social and other broad-based philanthropic organizations, and interest in supporting opportunities for people seeking entry into business.

Randy Pohlman, Ph.D., Dean of the Huizenga School explained the selection committee is comprised of Hall of Fame members and the members carefully deliberate on each inductee. “This evening epitomizes what NSU and the Huizenga School is all about, exceptional lives of exceptional people, quality entrepreneurship, and great success. We are truly honored to be associated with these people,” he said. Pohlman also pointed out that the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship is the only business school in the country with entrepreneurship in its name. “We try to teach entrepreneurship across the curriculum,” said Pohlman.

The annual ceremony and dinner has become the ultimate networking experience in South Florida with more than 700 attending, many of them corporation presidents and CEOs. Honorees inducted into the Hall of Fame have risen to the top of their fields and, in some cases, created new industries that previously did not exist. “These honorees bring to our university outstanding qualities and they honor us by accepting this award,” said Ray Ferrero, Jr., president of NSU.

For more information about the Hall of Fame and the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, call 954-262-5000.