The Downtown Council of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, an area Council of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, recently named Bolz Center alumnus Mark Nerenhausen, President & CEO of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, as the 2002 Downtowner of the Year.

As President & CEO of the Broward Center for the past five years, Nerenhausen has channeled arts and culture into an important economic engine for downtown Fort Lauderdale. As the county's largest arts organization the Broward Center generates approximately $20 million in annual sales. The Center also attracts visitors to the area while serving as a catalyst for business and downtown residential development.

Nerenhausen's influence extends far beyond The Broward Center. He was instrumental in organizing the area's foremost arts and cultural organizations to band together to promote the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District as a major South Florida cultural destination.

Mr. Nerenhausen is chairman of the Riverwalk Marketing Alliance as well as a board member of the Downtown Council Steering Committee, Art Serve, Concert Association of South Florida and The Carbonell Awards. He was recently named by South Florida CEO magazine as one of the 100 most powerful people in South Florida. He has a master's degree in Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin and is an adjunct professor at Florida International University. He and his wife Martha have three children.

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