International Achievement Awards
Prior Recipients

2024 

  1. Grisel Vega, General Manager of Banco de Crédito y Inversiones (Bci) Miami

2023 

  1. American Airlines

2022 

  1. U.S. Senator Rick Scott, State of Florida

2013

  1. Governor Rick Scott, State of Florida

2011

  1. Manny Mencia, Sr. Vice President, Enterprise Florida, Inc.

  2. Jose Perez-Jones, Seaboard Marine

  3. Bill Talbert, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

2010

  1. Bill Johnson, Port Miami

  2. Jose Abreau, Miami-Dade Aviation Department

2005

  1. Juan Cento, President, Latin Americas-Caribbean Division, FedEx Express

2004

  1. Ambassadors Chuck Cobb and Luis Lauredo, Armando Codina and Jorge Arrizurieta for the for their leadership and outstanding performance in managing the VIII Americas Business Forum and Trade Ministerial.

2002

  1. Governor Jeb Bush State of Florida

2000

E-commerce Awards of the Americas

  1. Best B2B (Marketplace):  TradeOut.com

  2. Best B2C:  TigerDirect, Inc.
  3. Best Collaboration:  LexGo.com
  4. Best Customer Service: LatPro.com
  5. Best e-Nabler: Fusive.com Corp.
  6. Best International e-Transactions: Foodtrader.com
  7. Best Portal:  StarMedia
  8. Devotion to Design: 2envision.com

1999

  1. Strategic Daring:  MovilGo.com
  2. Mayor Alex Penelas
  3. Miami-Dade County
  4. Jay Malina, President
  5. XEBEC Trade Finance Corp.

1997

  1. Lynn Gordon, Manager South
  2. Florida, U.S. Custom
  3. Management Center

1996

  1. George J. Weise, Commissioner

  2. U.S. Customs Service

1995

  1. Honorable Lawton Chiles, Governor of the State of Florida

1994

  1. Vice Chairman Maurice A. Ferre, Board of County Commissioners

1992

  1. Charles Dusseau, Secretary Florida Department of  Commerce
  2. Charles McKay, President Charles McKay & Associates
  3. Florida International Bankers Association
  4. Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce/Congressional Workshop

1989

  1. U.S. Senator Bob Graham State of Florida

1988

  1. Jeb Bush, Secretary Florida Department of Commerce

1986

  1. Esso Caribbean Central America

1984

  1. Richard H. Judy, Director Dade County Aviation Department
  2. Carmen J. Lunetta, Director Port of Miami

1983

  1. Milton N. Fisher, President Panelfab International Corporation

1982

  1. E. Cardon Walker, Chairman Walt Disney Productions

1981

  1. Dr. Horacio Aguirre, Publisher Diario Las Americas

1980

  1. Dr. Gregory B. Wolfe, President Florida  International University

1979

  1. Mayor Maurice A. Ferre City of Miami

1978

  1. U.S. Congressman Dante B. Fascell State of Florida

1977

  1. Governor Reuben Askew State of Florida

1976

  1. Colonel Frank Borman, President & CEO Eastern Air Lines, Inc.

1975

  1. Mrs. Isa McCartney, Executive Director, Council for International Visitors
Ivan Barrios - President and CEO

Ivan Barrios

President & CEO

Ivan Barrios is the President/CEO of the World Trade Center Miami. Ivan has served in this role since January 2020.

He most recently worked as Vice President for International Trade Development & TEAM Florida missions at Enterprise Florida, Inc., the state of Florida’s official economic development agency. He managed a statewide team of trade specialists that assisted Florida companies to export their products and services overseas.

Ivan has organized 28 Governor led trade missions to 22 countries from 1999–2015 for three governors. Special projects included 3,000 one-on-one business matchmaking appointments for exporters, managing two hemispheric trade shows, producing and publishing five Florida International Trade and Services Directories, coordinating the activities of the Florida International Bankers Association and creating the Florida Trade Data Center, a first of its kind information hub for Florida exporters.

Ivan holds a position on the Board of Directors of the World Trade Centers Association, where he represents the North American region. His extensive experience includes serving as a board member for the South Florida District Export Council and the Miami-Dade County International Trade Consortium. Ivan is an alumnus of the University of Miami, where he earned his degree in Business Administration.

Alice Ancona

Chief Operating Officer
Alice Ancona has held this role since January 2020.  She is charged with boosting organizational resilience and value creation of the operations, events, strategic programing, marketing and trade shows of the World Trade Center Miami (WTCM). With over two decades of experience, she brings a wealth of expertise to her position. In addition, she is charged with creating and executing international trade programs, trade missions, economic development initiatives, advocacy efforts, and innovative revenue-generating solutions as well as providing strategic long-term planning for the organization.
Before joining WTCM, Ms. Ancona led the international endeavors of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, serving as a prominent advocate for policies that enhance international trade, logistics, and investments. Her efforts centered on removing trade barriers, expanding market access, facilitating exports, negotiating trade agreements, and strengthening Florida’s trade infrastructure. Ms. Ancona played a pivotal role in connecting Florida to the global trade arena, facilitating relationships with international stakeholders, foreign agencies, elected officials, member companies, and governmental bodies at the state and federal levels.
Prior to her work at the Florida Chamber, Ms. Ancona spearheaded the governmental affairs division at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. In this capacity, she directed policy agendas on a diverse range of issues, including trade, infrastructure investment, transportation, and workforce development. Her accomplishments include leading successful campaigns for the passage of crucial trade agreements, such as the Colombia FTA, DR-CAFTA, Panama FTA, Chile FTA, and KORUS. She also contributed to efforts to secure the Free Trade Areas of the Americas.
Ms. Ancona’s contributions extend beyond her professional roles.  She is a recognized thought leader and speaker at industry conferences, providing insights on global market dynamics, trade policy, and cross-border strategies. She has actively participated in various steering committees for Florida’s transportation planning initiatives and has been an active member of the Florida International Trade Partnership. Her involvement also includes serving on the Board of the Miami Dade County International Trade Consortium. Her dedication and achievements have earned her recognition, including the 2014 International Women’s Day Award from World Trade Center Miami, the 2015 Person of the Year designation by the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association, Inc., and the 2016 Women of Distinction Award from the Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce.