Finney had an empowering economic vision for Miami-Dade’s future and showed us how to get there | Opinion
Mike Finney was a Miamian at heart. He just didn’t know it until he moved here.
In five short years as president and CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, he embraced this community and left a legacy for the county with several game-changing initiatives. More important, Mike made an impression on me and everyone with whom he dealt, because he was the consummate gentleman.
Some believe that leadership requires pomp and a demonstration of strength, but Mike led through skill and integrity. He could command a room when he spoke, not by overtly exercising his power, but purely from earned respect. In return, he gave respect to everyone else — whether it was the CEO of one of Miami’s top companies or unemployed workers trying to get back on their feet.
Mike’s brilliance was evident from the onset. I had the privilege of chairing both the Beacon Council’s board of directors and heading the CEO Search Committee that recruited him. Mike was the last candidate we met after a long, exhausting day of interviews. Though conventional wisdom says that being last puts a candidate at a significant disadvantage, Mike’s intellect and insight shone through and floored committee members. By the time the interview was over, there was unanimous consensus that he was our choice.
Mike was universally recognized as one of the top thinkers in the country in the realm of economic development. This grand recognition is not an easy feat, since economic development demands a mastery of both strategy — to create a plan to grow your state or local area — and marketing, leveraging that strategy to effectively engage the world. It’s no wonder that Mike was probably the single most sought-after individual to serve on some of Miami’s top boards, including his recent appointment to the board of directors of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
He already was quite distinguished before coming to Miami, having served as president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the right-hand man to then-Gov. Rick Snyder.
Beyond economic development, Mike’s greatest gifts were his ability to collaborate and his conviction that we are stronger when united rather than functioning as separate entities. As head of the team that pitched the proposal for Amazon’s HQ2 to South Florida, Mike championed a regional bid that included Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Miami ended up a finalist, and the effort paid great dividends, highlighting the power of this regional approach. That groundwork propelled Miami-Dade further onto the tech map, in part sparking the tech renaissance we’re experiencing now.
Another of Mike’s successes was the creation of Miami Community Ventures, which successfully brought the corporate community closer to those most in need of help. This program connects low-income, structurally unemployed residents to living-wage jobs and career pathways, and encourages local companies to create hiring opportunities.
Under Mike’s leadership, the Beacon Council also recrafted its One Community One Goal county-wide strategy into Opportunity Miami, focusing on building the Miami of 2040 and the jobs of tomorrow. A practical businessman, Mike developed an additional funding mechanism for sustainability of these and other important initiatives, using the organization’s 501(c)(3) foundation arm to petition for national grants. This model is now being replicated by other top community institutions in Miami.
We love to say that, because Miami-Dade County is so wonderfully complex, it can take outsiders a while to get acclimated. Yet, Mike mastered this town quickly and made it his own through his ability to build coalitions and bring various stakeholders together. He loved our rich, diverse community, our golf courses open year-round and his home in Coconut Grove, where he loved to entertain with his beloved wife, Gina. He was a natural in capturing our Miami swagger, cruising in his self-rebuilt ’71 Corvette — and wearing his Beacon Council guayabera.
His passing on April 3 is a massive loss for Miami-Dade County, but his legacy will live beyond his time here. Mike leaves us with an enhanced commitment to inclusion, with the goal that even those who are struggling can benefit from the region’s continued economic growth and an enhanced focus on regionalism designed to propel South Florida to its destiny as one of the truly great communities in the United States.
Jaret L. Davis is co-managing shareholder of the Miami office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig and served as chair of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council from 2016-2017.
This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 5:57 PM.