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April 20, 2016 – MIAMI, Fla. – This afternoon, in celebration of the achievements of women who hold leadership positions across Florida, The Commonwealth Institute of South Florida (TCI) honored the state’s top 50 women-led businesses at its 11th annual luncheon at Jungle Island. Celebrity Cruises’ president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, who has led the modern luxury vacation brand since late 2014, took top honors: Lutoff-Perlo and Celebrity were named the number-one woman-led business in Florida for 2016.
“For the past eleven years, we have made it our objective to understand how so many smart, committed women run their companies, overcome challenges, and celebrate success, and then pass that inspiration onto every woman in the room,” says TCI’s executive director, Laurie Kaye Davis. “This event celebrates the achievements of these women and focuses on how they are leading the charge in companies across the state. Our top honoree, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, superbly exemplifies these qualities and we are thrilled to recognize her leadership."
Lutoff-Perlo is an accomplished leader who sets the bar high as an example of what an influential businesswoman personifies. Leading the helm at Celebrity Cruises, Lutoff-Perlo has been an agent of change in helping the company to make significant strides in building a luxury brand while setting new standards on diversity in its ranks. Whether challenging assumptions about the cruise industry with a bold new advertising campaign, raising the bar on diversity and inclusiveness by hiring the first American female cruise ship captain, changing the face of the cruising experience by introducing the industry-changing Solstice Class, or rallying young women to dream differently, she is a purposeful disruptor uncompromisingly committed to her core values.
To compile the ranked list, TCI sent a survey to over 4,000 women-led businesses, providing questions that revealed the companies’ successes and how they leverage their distinct attributes to advance professionally. Kaufman Rossin & Co. collected and analyzed the information, identifying the top 50 businesses as well as top 10 non-profits.
At the event, before the lists of Florida’s top women-led businesses and non-profits were revealed, Lutoff-Perlo joined three other leaders for a dynamic panel discussion about their individual paths to success and the business climate for female executives.
About The Commonwealth Institute:
The Commonwealth Institute (TCI) is a vibrant nonprofit organization, founded to help women-led businesses become and stay successful. Our mission is to help women CEOs, Entrepreneurs, Senior Executives, and Executive Directors grow their business through peer mentoring, education, development and high-level networking. The cornerstone of TCI’s approach is peer-to-peer mentoring in a confidential, small group atmosphere called forums. TCI also raises money to provide scholarships for emerging women business owners and executive directors of not-for-profits. TCI supports members’ leadership efforts, gives them an opportunity to share in each other’s networks and provides a path for success through collaborative business relationships. The organization is “community-based” and the programs and events are varied, motivational and unique- always focused on helping participants develop personal and professionally. Since its inception, TCI has worked with hundreds of women-led companies. TCI currently has more than 300 members whose companies have annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to more than $200 million. TCI has chapters in South Florida and Boston. The South Florida region serves Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Visit www.commonwealthinstitute.org or TCI’s Facebook page at facebook.com/commonwealthinstitute.
About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity Cruises' 10 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of six cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com, or call your travel agent.
