Dr. Richard E. Dodge Selected as 2010 South Florida Business Leader

Seafarer's House at Port Everglades has announced Dr. Richard E. Dodge, Dean and Professor at the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center as the 2010 South Florida Business Leader. Phil McNally, Area President of Paradise Bank and the South Florida Business Leaders' Luncheon Chairman, said "Dick was a natural selection for this honor. His long career has been focused on the science of coral reefs and the ramifications of the changes in our oceans and ocean reefs. The economy of South Florida certainly depends upon maintaining this delicate balance; it's good business. We welcome the rest of the community to this special event on Friday, November 12th, where we will take the time to acknowledge the many gifts and contributions of Dr. Dodge."

Dr. Dodge is the Executive Director of the Oceanographic Center's National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI). He received the B.A. degree from Univ. of Maine in 1969, and the M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Yale University in 1973 and 1978. He has served as Editor of the international scientific journal Coral Reefs and now serves on the editorial Board. He was the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium 2008. He is the elected Secretary and Board member of the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) which includes the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Dr. Dodge is a recognized authority on corals and coral reefs. His research has centered on the growth rates of reef-building corals, coral reef structure, fossil coral reefs, the ecology of recent corals reefs, coral reef damage assessment, and oil effects on corals and coral reefs. He has conducted reef related research in Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Panama, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Florida. Dodge has held grants and contracts for reef related work from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the US Geological Survey, the U.S. Navy, Florida SeaGrant, NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency, South Florida Water Management District, Marine Spill Response Corporation, Office of Naval Research, State of Florida, Broward County Department of Planning and Environmental Protection, and the US Department of Justice. He is the author of many publications in the scientific literature and reports for various agencies and companies. He has served as an expert witness. He has been involved in the study of coral reef ecosystem injury and restoration related matters.

The South Florida Business Leaders' Luncheon is an annual event which draws together 350 members of the South Florida business community to honor those individuals who have distinguished themselves and made a difference. The 2010 Honoree was selected early this year for his many contributions to the increased understanding and protection of our oceans and coral reefs.

November 12th, 2010 will mark the 15th Annual South Florida Business Leaders Luncheon and it will be again hosted by Holland America Line. A full course luncheon followed by the award presentation and remarks will take place aboard ms Statendam, berthed in Port Everglades. All proceeds from the event benefit Seafarers' House in Port Everglades.

Various levels of sponsorship, individual seating and congratulation ads are available by visiting www.seafarershouse.org or calling 954-734-1580.

About Seafarers' House
Seafarers' House at Port Everglades is a multi-faith cooperation among Christians, Muslims and Jews as well as labor, business and civic leaders. It is open throughout the year as a safe, friendly place where mariners can connect with their families, relax, or get emergency assistance if needed. With the help of its supporters and volunteers, Seafarers' House offers many services including low cost international phone calls, free transportation, Internet access, counseling services, liaison with authorities as well as recreational facilities. Seafarers' House is the busiest such agency in the world, annually hosting more than 100,000 visits by cruise and cargo ship crewmembers.

Website: http://www.seafarershouse.org/events.php