Past Recipients of the GABC

Distinguished German Award of Excellence

2019

Jan Heck

Jan Heck has been the President of Miele USA since August 2016 and has focused on forging new partnerships, engaging new channels, as well as strengthening existing ones. Jan Heck joined the GABC Board of Directors in 2018 and has ever since brought a lot of big members on board. His ideas and his thrive were always a great contribution to the GABC.

2015

Vera Mender

Fashion Photographer and Architectural and Interior Designer. Upon completion of her modeling career she moved behind the camera and became a fashion photographer. She the first Teen and Children's Modeling Agency, World of Kids, which is today one of the largest and most successful agencies in the US in this field.

2014

Dr. Bernd Wollschläger

Author, Physician and Founder of Aventura Family Health Center. Bernd Wollschläger, MD, FAAFP, FASAM is a board-certified family physician in private practice.

2013

Jost J. Hellmann

Jost Hellmann, together with his cousin, Klaus Hellmann, are the managing owners of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. Together they represent the 4th generation of family members at the helm of the company.

2012

Claudia Hillinger

Dr. Claudia Hillinger helped establish the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, serving as the research coordinator and head of Central Scientific Laboratories and Technical Facilities. She also served within the US Information Agency and worked both with the Amerika Haus München and the American Embassy in Bonn.

2011

Dr. Hans C. Graber

Dr. Graber is Associate Dean for Infrastructure at the University of Miami, Executive Director at the Center for Southeastern Tropical Advance Remote Sensing and Professor in Applied Marine Physics.

2010

Klaus H. D. Ranner

Klaus H.D. Ranner was Consul General of the Federal REpublic Germany in Miami from 2007 to 2010 and among other achievements was instrumental to finalize the cooperation between the GABC Miami and GACC South.

2009

Kirsten Kuhnert

Kirsten Kuhnert founded the non-for-profit organization dolphin aid in 1995, which has been established on three continents and motivated people on an international scale, to make things happen and strive for the impossible.

2008

Madhu Mehta

Ms. Mehta established the cultural organization "German-Indian Society", in 2004 she started the "India-US Chamber of Commerce Inc of South Florida" and today, she runs "India Silk", a business of fine hand-woven silk textiles.

2007

Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy

Consul General of the Federal Republic Germany in Miami from 2004 to 2007, she especially promoted economic ties between Germany and Florida and fostered a close relationship between the business community and the GABC.

2006

Walter A. Loy

Mr. Loy was a founding member of the German American Business Chamber, intensely active in numerous community organizations.

2005

Hugo Stamp

Founder of Motor-Services Hugo Stamp, one of the leading and most successful companies in the marine and industrial field in South Florida.

2004

Sabina Horak

German teacher at Sunset Elementary School, holds the position of Department Head for the German Program.

2003

Dr. Jürgen Eisermann

Founder of the South Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Miami. He is one of the most well-known fertility specialists in the United States, Europe and Latin America.

2002

Johann Hellenkamp

Inventor and developer of numerous patents and the device for automated lasik surgery.