South Florida has what Amazon values — we embrace change, innovation, reinvention

President Mark B. Rosenberg wrote the following op-ed in the Miami Herald on Feb. 5, 2018. 

“Jeff, what does Day Two look like?”

The excitement surrounding Amazon’s search for a location for its second headquarters is about more and better jobs, a way to keep talent from having to move elsewhere for better opportunities and a vibrant, thriving economy — and it’s also about this “Day 1” thinking that Amazon is known for.

A spirit of determination that is always focused on pushing the boundaries of innovation to make our lives easier and better.

When we talk about HQ2, we’re also talking about Amazon finding a new home that embraces change, innovation and reinvention. A region that knows the future has arrived.

Miami is that place. Making the Top 20 list puts to rest any doubts about our region’s capacity to support innovation.

It is a true indication that South Florida is an incredible cluster of talent — and a great investment. I believe that in many ways, geography is destiny.

That has never been more true. We are the gateway to the Americas, we have a thriving start-up ecosystem and an ever-growing creative economy.

Also, we have an outstanding, thriving and collaborative educational ecosystem. Colleges and universities in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties go above and beyond.

Among our institutions of higher education, both Florida International University and University of Miami have achieved Carnegie R1 classification for highest research activity.

In South Florida, Amazon will find two medical schools, highly ranked business and law programs, innovative incubators such as StartUP FIU and engineering talent that is hard at work pushing the boundaries of science with multiple patents every year.

Read Rosenberg’s op-ed in its entirety on the Miami Herald website.