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. J. Ricky Arriola leaves a lasting legacy as he exits his position as chair at the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts.

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 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: Arriola recently said his goodbyes as chair of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts during its milestone fifth anniversary season on Tuesday, Sept. 28. During his term, Arriola is credited as uplifting the center’s financial standing and acquiring support from philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, who donated $30 million in 2008.

Some of his contributions include the fortuitous presentation of the center’s first summer season in 2008; sponsorships with some of South Florida’s most renowned businesses; a stable budget; restoring the center by eliminating the debt; and implementing the “Learning through the Arts,” a companionship with Miami-Dade County Public Schools whose goal is to promote live theater to the youth in Miami.