Haute 100 Miami Update: J. Ricky Arriola

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. On our Haute 100 Miami list is J. Ricky Arriola, the entrepreneur who was recently celebrated by South Florida Business Journal with the Ultimate CEO Award.

J. Ricky Arriola

Category: Entrepreneurs

Company: Inktel Direct

Industry: Direct Marketing

What Made Him Haute: Not only is he the CEO of Inktel Direct, a company that is consistently voted the best place to work in South Florida, he also is the chairman of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, where he is credited with getting the institution’s financials out of the red and into the black years ahead of schedule, thanks in part to innovative programming decisions. On a national scale, this Aspen Institute fellow was appointed by President Barack Obama to be on the President’s Committee of Arts and Humanities alongside luminaries like Forest Whitaker, Sarah Jessica Parker, Yo-Yo Ma, and Anna Wintour. He’s also a member of the Democratic National Committee and currently working on three political campaigns, including one for Alex Sink, who is running for governor of Florida.

What Makes Him Haute Now: As a recent winner of the 2010 Ultimate CEO Award by South Florida Business Journal, J. Ricky Arriola has proven he is a standout businessman who continues to be recognized with prestigious distinctions. The award, which distinguishes business leaders of Miami-Dade County for their accomplishments and dedication to the greatness of the community, is deemed by Arriola as a “special honor.” In addition to the praise, Arriola’s company, Inktel Direct Corp., was credited again in 2010 as “Best Place to Work” and received an Honorable Mention “Best Place to Work in Chicago” by Crain’s Chicago Business. The South Florida Business Journal Ultimate CEO Awards Ceremony was held on June 24 at the Ritz-Carlton in Coconut Grove. As a contributor to the arts, Arriola was a panelist for a round-table discussion with Rocco Landesman hosted by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs on the topic, “Greater Miami–A New Cultural Capital Shaped by Design, Architecture and Arts Pioneers.”