BY: Ambar Perez of AC GRAPHICS DIGITAL
On Wednesday, October 11TH, Miami -Dade County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, spoke during the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce’s monthly membership luncheon hosted at the Miami Lakes Hotel. This month’s luncheon had over 60 attendees, anticipating the guest speaker, Juan Fernandez-Barquin. The crowd in attendance came from many industries of our community including, doctors, lawyers, store owners, business people, and more. Attendees were given the opportunity to network and share their businesses with fellow members in the lobby before the luncheon began. Prior to the Comptrollers speech, guests enjoyed sweet treats by BB’s Bakehouse. After half an hour of networking, guests headed into the ballroom and took their seats, where they were provided a delicious full-course meal provided by the Miami Lakes Hotel. After each member introduced themselves, their businesses, and offered services, guest speaker Juan-Fernandez Barquin was introduced, and began his presentation.
Juan Fernandez-Barquin is a graduate from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and graduated cum laude and a Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, and District of Columbia. He now serves as a Belen Jesuit Preparatory School Alumni Delegate and served on the Board for Public Health Trust of Miami Dade County, the governing body for Jackson Health Systems, and the Children’s Trust. As clerk, he serves the fourth largest judicial circuit in the United States.
Juan Fernandez-Barquin is the city’s Comptroller, where he is in charge of tickets including, parking, traffic violations and more. Another one of his duties includes Jury Duty. Juan Fernandez-Barquin introduced several programs created and being introduced to save citizens money on their tickets, as well as property fraud. Mr. Fernandez Barquin introduced Operation Green Light, a trial program utilized for the courts office to catch extra fees collection agencies charge for tickets, saving citizens over 275,000 dollars. In addition, this trial assisted over 1,500 people become eligible to reinstate their suspended licenses. After Juan Fernandez-Barquin presented, attendees spent the rest of the luncheon connecting with fellow members. The Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their next membership luncheon on Wednesday, November 8th at the Miami Lakes Hotel with guest speaker retired U.S. Marine Colonel and Miami Lakes Veteran’s Committee chair William “Bill” Perez.
