Deering Estate Foundation honors its 2023 Champion Partners

The Deering Estate Foundation honored its 2023 Champion Partners of the Year on November 15, 2023. A group of awardees were recognized for their accomplishments, and were accompanied by dedicated community leaders, collaborating partners, and Estate volunteers and staff. 

In presenting the 2023 Champion Partner Awards, Deering Estate Foundation President Carole Wright, Executive Director Nina Zanella, and Deering Estate Director Jennifer Tisthammer, emphasized the importance of cooperative efforts and community engagement in preserving and enhancing the Deering Estate and fulfilling its mission.

Celebrating and receiving their awards were:

Josh Billig, Rockers Stone – 2023 Restoration and Preservation Partner of the Year  
Josh and his team at Rockers Stone have been a key partner in helping  to maintain and preserve the historic structures of the Deering Estate for many years. Bringing over 30 years of experience with masonry and stonework, Josh is a true artisan and incorporates historical approaches, techniques, and masonry traditions to everything he does. Through storm damage and vandalism Rockers has been a steadfast partner in helping  to address several projects over the years, including repairing and rebuilding damaged areas of  historic rock wall after it sustained damage from Hurricane Irma. He and his team also helped to repair areas of the courtyard and main pathway to ensure the safety of  guests.  And most recently, Josh helped  repair and reinstall a vandalized urn on the Chinese Bridge.  Working carefully, tirelessly and in the rain, his team was able to repair the damage as if it had never happened. We are so thrilled to have Josh Billig & Rockers Stone, Inc as  the 2023 Preservation Partner.

Javier Borges, Ernst & Young – 2023 Corporate Partner of the Year
Javi grew up in Miami, graduating from Saint Brendan High School in 1993. He went to college at Florida State University, and after graduation began his professional career at Ernst & Young (EY) in New York City. He’s been with EY for over 23 years, working in and traveling to many different cities and countries. 

In 2022, Javi became the Managing Partner for the EY Miami office, leading over 500 professionals across the full portfolio of business offerings. He also serves as a Global Client Service Partner for some of the largest companies in Miami. He works with E&Y’s Government & Public Sector practice in serving Miami’s local governments.

Javi is passionate about educating future generations and mentoring young professionals across all walks of life. He is a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion. He was selected as a Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever by the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility. He also serves on E&Y’s Latino Professional Network Steering Committee.

Javi believes in the importance of creating an impact in his community through meaningful skill-based volunteerism. Thus, he serves on many local boards and actively participates in growing each association. Javi is on the board of directors at Saint Brendan High School, ZooMiami, and the Orange Bowl committee. He is also the first Latino to be elected as the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee for the Florida State University Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors. Sponsoring and championing the Deering Estate is another example of Javi’s tireless dedication to his community and ensuring Florida’s historic landmarks are maintained for future generations. 

Miguel Garcia, Carpet Boutique - 2023 Programming Partner of the Year
Since 2018, Miguel Garcia has brought his talents to the Deering Estate’s annual holiday décor showcase led by Designer in Residence Alfredo Brito. Each year, Miguel and the Carpet Boutique of North Miami have brought thoughtful and elegant designs to Mr. Deering’s bedroom. His work blends the traditions of the holidays with old world sophistication. Miguel and his team devote countless hours to making the holidays merry and magical for our guests. During the pandemic, the Carpet Boutique opened their doors to our cameras to allow us to create original video content for guests to enjoy the holidays while staying home, with Miguel sharing his tips and tricks for making your help splendid for the holidays. 

He brings fresh ideas to our decor and holiday programming and works very closely with Alfredo and staff to make sure each year surpasses the last. We are so honored to have Miguel & the Carpet Boutique as our 2023 Programming Partner and look forward to his whimsical plans for this year’s theme, Holidays in Wonderland.

Mary Pettit – 2023 Champion Partner of the Year
Mary Pettit joined the Deering Estate Foundation in January 2007, offering a broad experience in private and non-profit business operations, finance, marketing, and special events. Under her leadership, the Foundation’s portfolio of assets, membership, events, and private and public funding grew substantially, including elevating the Deering Seafood Festival to one of South Florida’s premier annual signature events.   Mary was also instrumental in the creation of the 100 Ladies of Deering.

Originally from Minnesota, Mary has lived in the Palmetto Bay area since 1972, where she and her husband John raised their two daughters. Following a long management career in the private sector, Mary served as Director of Advancement for Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and Director of Operations for the South Dade.  She has also been an active community volunteer serving on boards of various civic and community based organizations and is past President of the Economic Development Council of South Miami-Dade and Palmetto Bay Business Association.

Mary retired from the foundation in 2017 to spend time with her grandchildren.  But, as anyone who becomes involved with the foundation knows, her involvement just took a different form.  She now serves as an ambassador for the foundation and the 100 Ladies of Deering and remains an integral part of the annual Deering Seafood Festival on the Bay.  Mary is also a listening ear and a welcome advisor and volunteer.

Gustavo Matamoros, Subtropics Festival – 2023 Community Partner of the Year
Gustavo Matamoros was first brought to the Deering Estate by one of our artists in residence and quickly became a regular fixture. He saw the potential and magic of the Deering Estate in ways that only he can. He has created original work here with his music collective Frozen Music and curated countless programs at Deering Estate, including the 25th iteration of the Subtropics Festival, inviting top artists, musicians, curators, and music historians to participate and helping to continue to make Deering Estate a center for art making and discussion in Miami.

In 2022, with support from the Knight Foundation, Gustavo created a four-episode series of sound-based multimedia events titled And Sometimes The Space is Full of a Previous Space that brought renowned artists from all over the world to Deering to premiere new work. 

Through his creativity and ingenuity, he has helped us to reimagine our black box community theater into a multisensory sound and visual experience. As a community partner, Gustavo has brought and mentored countless other artists at Deering. 

As artistic director of the Subtropics Festival, he has introduced Miami to world premiere performances and exhibitions by most pioneers of the American avant-garde and has helped champion the work of experimentalists and sound artists from the Southeast. We are so lucky to have his talents and enthusiasm here at the Deering Estate.

Wendie Whitton – 2023 Volunteer of the Year
Wendie is a fixture on the Deering Estate and in Palmetto Bay.  She is easily recognized in tennis shoes typically carrying a racket, a guitar, or her camera.  It can be said that Wendie has a “keen eye” and that would be true as she is both a great tennis instructor and a gifted photographer.  Many have seen Wendie on the estate, camera in hand, capturing photos of owls, manatees, birds, marine wildlife, flora, and fauna.   But it is her sunrise photography that will take your breath away.  Wendie has shared her photos with us to assist in raising funds for the foundation and her work is featured in the coffee table book, Legacy, produced by the 100 Ladies of Deering. The Deering Estate Foundation is grateful to members, neighbors, and friends like Wendie for their love and stewardship of the Deering Estate.  

Maredith Ehrman – 2023 Volunteer of the Year
Throughout the year, Maredith Ehrman has shown her dedication and passion for the Deering Estate. As a member of the 100 Ladies of Deering, Maredith is part of a key group of women that work tirelessly to help promote, preserve, and enhance the historic houses for our and future generations. In her role as Committee Chair of the Furnishing and Design Committee, Maredith has worked many long hours with Designer in Residence Alfredo Brito and staff to bring countless enhancements to the Stone House and Richmond Cottage, including new rugs in several rooms, a set of hand quilted covers for beds inside the Richmond Cottage period rooms; museum quality lightings inside our Stone House Library to illuminate original paintings; and she spearheaded the effort to bring brand new furnishings to the Richmond Cottage front and back porches which was have been beloved by so many of our guests, program partners and staff.  Currently, Maredith is working with her committee and selected vendors to bring more museum quality lighting to more of our Stone House galleries and working on plans to bring beautiful new window treatments to our Great Hall. 

Howard Tendrich – 2023 Volunteer of the Year
Howard Tendrich has been volunteering his time, talent, and treasure with the Deering Estate Foundation from the foundation’s beginning in 1989! Howard’s participation has been significant and his hats many.
 
Howard has served as both a director and President of the Deering Estate Foundation Board of Directors and currently serves on several different board committees.   He is a fixture at the Seafood Festival Kids Concessions area and has been for many years.  Howard was the event co-chair at the beloved Wine on Harvest Moon event and steps up to serve as one of the “the official” bartenders for the 100 Ladies of Deering Fireflies and Friends event. Mr. Tendrich is the President of Heritage House fine clothing for boys and men and is a proud sponsor of the Bike Valet at the annual Seafood Festival.  

Howard was a Village of Palmetto Bay council member from 2008 to 2014.  Mostly, Howard is a wonderful family man, friend, and neighbor.  He is honest, forthright, hardworking, dedicated to those he loves, and always willing to help.   

Miami New Times – 2023 Marketing and Media Partner
The 2023 Marketing and Media Partner award is presented to Miami New Times for their efforts in celebrating South Florida culture, covering the region's music, arts, and dining scenes. Several Deering Estate’s signature events are featured in Miami New Times digital and print publications. The Historic Holiday Décor is recognized by Miami New Times as one of the Best Holiday Events in South Florida. The Valentine’s Day Concert is also featured as one of the Ten Best Valentine’s Day Events in Miami. Through these promotional efforts, Deering Estate is able to expand its audience reach to more than 1 million monthly active users who visit miaminewtimes.com and the weekly print edition attracts another 400,000+ readers.

As a top attraction for wildlife viewing and views of Biscayne Bay, Deering Estate is honored to receive the 2023 Best of Miami – Reader’s Choice Award – for Best Outdoor Attraction. Deering Estate is happy to be among the list of winners in the 36th Best of Miami, the largest issue of the year, which boasts a 99% pick up rate, and is part of the 413,000 readership and near 2 million monthly page views MiamiNewTimes.com receives.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Michelle Bassis – 2022 Educational Partner of the Year
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been working with the Learning and Conservation Programs Dept. for many years but this year their work at the Estate has been amplified. Michelle Bassis and her team have hosted our team for workshops on how to properly remove nonnative, invasive reptiles. They also conducted monthly surveys to help stop the spread of nonnative, invasive reptiles. During those surveys the team was able to go out with them and learn about the surveys and how to do them which we can they can bring back to our education programs. 

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About the Deering Estate
Deering Estate is a 21st Century house museum, cultural and ecological field station, and a national landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, owned by the State of Florida, and managed by Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Deering Estate is designated as one of seven Miami-Dade County “Heritage Parks” which have a vital role in our community’s history, environment and in providing recreational and cultural experiences. 

About the Deering Estate Foundation
For those who treasure the Deering Estate, who advocate for its preservation and wish to invest in its future, the Deering Estate Foundation provides opportunities for individuals and corporations alike to partake in membership, signature events, and one-of-a-kind experiences, all in service of providing vital funding and support to the Deering Estate. Through these efforts, the foundation fulfills its mission to uphold the legacy of Charles Deering's cherished 1920s-era property, to provide funding for the cultural, educational and recreational experiences it offers, as well as its significant scientific and archaeological endeavors to conserve its diverse flora, fauna and the eight native ecosystems that thrive on its 450 acres, and to ensure its longevity as a prized American heritage site. Established in 1989, The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc. is a community-based charitable 501(c)3 Florida Corporation and the philanthropic partner of the Deering Estate.