ABOUT US

The Beacon Experience is in partnership with the well-known, “I Have a Dream” Program, which essentially aims at encouraging and stimulating students to continue their education beyond high school.

“The Beacon Experience” also has this vision and intention. It proposes to identify and work with a group of selected students throughout their schooling so that they can become not only educationally successful while in school, but also motivated to further their studies beyond the primary and secondary level. It is the intent of the Beacon Experience to help and work within the educational context so that each child develops to his/her fullest potential – educationally, intellectually, socially and emotionally.

BOARD/STAFF BIOGRAPHIES


Dany Garcia Johnson-
Founder and Sponsor,
Chief Executive Officer, JDM PARTNERS, LLC

Dany Garcia Johnson is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of JDM Partners LLC, a Miami-based investment advisory firm that specializes in providing superior investment counsel to high net worth individuals, families and corporations. The firm founded in 2002 by Mrs. Johnson, provides traditional investment advisory services as well as alternative investment opportunities through the Legacy Partners Growth Fund LTD., an equity only hedge fund, JDM Development, the real estate investment arm of the firm and JDM Entertainment which focuses on investment opportunities within the entertainment industry including film, television and the internet. Most recently Mrs. Johnson serves as Chairman for White Buffalo Productions and is Executive Producer on such projects as the soon to be released documentary Theater of War, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline.

As CEO of JDM Partners, Mrs. Johnson is charged with the responsibility of upholding the Firm’s corporate mission of providing outstanding investment counsel, superior customer service and personalized attention to its clients.  With over 16 years experience in the wealth management arena, Mrs. Johnson has developed an expertise in the areas of financial planning, portfolio development and management, liability management and estate and tax planning. 

A dedicated philanthropist, Mrs. Johnson is also founder and president of The Beacon Experience, A Foundation for Success. The foundation’s mission is to assist in developing outstanding individuals and to provide opportunities for at-risk children to create and achieve their dreams.   To this end, the organization is designed to provide both educational and social tutoring to a designated inner-city kindergarten class throughout their primary and secondary schooling.  Upon their acceptance into college, the foundation will provide full scholarships for each one of its participants.

In addition, Mrs. Johnson is co-founder and vice president of The Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation.  The foundation seeks to brighten the lives of hospitalized children throughout the nation with toys from “The Rock’s Toy Chest.

Mrs. Johnson serves as a member of the University of Miami Board of Trustees and as a Director of the Florida International University Foundation Board.  In addition Mrs. Johnson is on the National Advisory Board for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is also a member of the Vizcayan Board of Directors and serves as an advisory Board Member for the Nova Southeaster University’s Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies. Mrs. Johnson is currently the Honorary Chairperson for the Mercy Hospital Emergency Department campaign.
Mrs. Johnson earned a bachelors degree in international marketing and finance from the University of Miami School of Business.  She has a 5 year-old daughter named Simone.

Dwayne Johnson-
Director

Ana de Solo-
Project Coordinator

Ana de Solo has been working with children for over nine years.  She also has background in psychology and has worked as a psycho-social rehabilitation counselor for the mentally ill.  She graduated Cum Laude from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is currently working towards her Master’s in Counseling Psychology.

Howard Lipman-
Director

Donna Arbide-
Director

Donna Arbide is the Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund and the Executive Director of the University of Miami Alumni Association. She joined the Office of Alumni Relations in 1993 and became the Executive Director in 2001.

Under her leadership, the UMAA has made great strides including an increase in the alumni participation rate from 12% in 2001 to 18% last fiscal year. With Donna’s supervision the UMAA has completed two strategic planning processes, expanded its national programming, enhanced the alumni education program, and expanded its membership to include more than 143,000 members.

She is the driving force behind the vision of an alumni center. Last year, through the generous donations of our alumni, the UMAA was able to raise $16 million dollars toward our $20 million dollar goal.  Thanks to her and the efforts of our dedicated alumni, we are closer to having our very own “home away from home” on campus.

Donna Arbide has been recognized nationally for her success in building a world-class Alumni Association.  Since taking reign in 2001, the University of Miami Alumni Association has been recognized for six-consecutive years for the Award of Excellence and the Grand Award as the best overall alumni relations program in the Southeast by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).  In addition to this award, Donna Arbide and her team have recovered numerous national awards for individual marketing and annual fund programs and appeals.

She is a member of the alumni leadership group PCUAD and a leader in the ACC Alumni Directors Conference.  In addition, she is also involved in various community activities including Coral Gables Congregational Church.

In 1984, she received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Alabama. She received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami in 1995.