Gran Caiman of the Year
S. Daniel Ponce
2008 Gran Caiman
Born October 12, 1948, in Miami, Florida. Third generation Hispanic Floridian whose parents were born in Key West, Florida. A Lawyer in the State of Florida since 1974 and Certified Public Accountant since 1972. Received his Bachelors Degree in Business (BSBA) with honors in 1970 and his Juris Doctor (JD) in 1973 both from the University of Florida. He is married to Nancy Sebek Ponce and has three children, Scott Daniel Ponce age 34, Allison Nicole Ponce age 31, and Morgan Beau Johnson age 18.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Partner in Legon, Ponce & Fodiman, P.A. A Miami based law firm specializing in complex business and commercial litigation. An A.V. Rated Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Ponce is admitted to practice law in all courts of the State of Florida and Federal Courts including the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; the Eleventh and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Ponce served as Senator Bob Graham’s Special Counsel in Washington, D.C. in the year 2002.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Imperial Industries, Inc., a Florida based NASDAQ public company headquartered in South Florida. Imperial is primarily engaged through its subsidiaries in the manufacturing and distribution of building materials in the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean. The company has manufacturing and distribution facilities in Pompano Beach, Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Panama City, Tampa, Pensacola and Destin, Florida as well as various locations in the states of Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Formerly Assistant General Counsel and Acting Executive Assistant to the State of Florida Comptroller and Cabinet Officer (1974-75).
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS:
- University of Florida Board of Trustees,
Appointed by Governor Charlie Crist – 01/08/08 - Orange Bowl Committee
President and Chairman (2008 – 2009)
Member 1994 – Current
Member Board of Directors
and Football Committee - New World School of the Arts, Miami, Florida
(State of Florida’s Professional School in the Arts: A partnership of the Dade County School Board, Miami Dade Community College and the University of Florida)
Executive Board (1994 - Current)
Chair, Executive Board (1996 - 1999) - University of Florida Foundation, Inc.
Board Member (1984 - Present)
Chairman, Audit Committee (1991 - 2003)
Member Finance Committee (1993 - Present) - University of Florida, National Alumni Association
President – (1983 - 1985) (First Hispanic)
Executive Committee (1980 - 1985; 1993 - 1995) - Chairman, University of Florida
College of Fine Arts Capital Campaign (1997 - 2001) - University of Florida Athletic Association
Board Member (1985 - 1990, 2003 - Present)
Chairman, Audit Committee (1989-90)
Member, Finance Committee (1986-87, 2003 - Present)
Chairman, Finance Committee (2005 – Present)
Member, Athletic Director Search Committee (1986) - Gator Boosters
(South Florida Representative)
Board Member 1980-1984; 1994 - 1998 - Miami Senior High Football Booster Club,
Founding Member - Miami Senior High Football Hall of Fame Committee
Founding Member
OTHER CIVIC ACTIVITIES, HONORS AND AWARDS:
- University of Florida; Dade County Outstanding Alumnus Award (1987)
- University of Florida National Alumni Association, President’s Award (1995)
- President, Centurion Council (1977-78)
- President, University of Florida Alumni Association of Greater Miami (1977)
- President, Florida Blue Key (1973)
- General Chairman, University of Florida Homecoming - Gator Growl - 1972
- Member, Florida Blue Key Alumni Advisory Committee Member (1981 - Present)
Chairman (1983-85) - Secretary, Young Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar (1981-82)
- Member Board of Governors, Florida Institute of CPA's (1985-1987)
- President, Florida Blue Key (1973)
- University of Florida, Member Presidential Search Committee (1983)
- University of Florida, Member Vice Presidential Search Committee (1985)
- University of Florida Hall of Fame
- Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges
MEMBER OF:
- Florida Bar
- American Bar Association
- Cuban American Bar Association, Inc.
- Dade County Bar Association
- Florida Institute of C.P.A.'s
- American Institute of C.P.A.’s
LANGUAGES:
English and Basic Fluency in Spanish
INTERESTS:
Skiing, Water Sports, Travel, Bicycling
Gran Caiman of the Year
Related Links
- Past Recipients
- Manny Fernandez, 2007
- Pedro Jose Greer Jr., M.D., 2006
- Juan Carlos Galan, 2005
- Selection Process
- Description of Award