Former Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess Joins Becker & Poliakoff as Chief Operating Officer

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - Jun 14, 2011) - Becker & Poliakoff today announced that former Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess has joined the law firm as Chief Operating Officer. In his new position, Mr. Burgess will lead and supervise the firm's administrative, management and operational strategy and structure, including IT, human resources, administrative and financial functions. Mr. Burgess will be involved in all aspects of the firm's management and will report directly to managing partner Alan Becker.

Mr. Burgess joins Becker & Poliakoff after a 28-year career in Miami-Dade County government, where he served in numerous leadership capacities, including Budget Director and Assistant County Manager. Most recently he served as County Manager for eight years, the highest executive position in one of the largest and most complex metropolitan regional governments in the United States. With nearly 30,000 employees, literally hundreds of different product and service lines and a budget of $7.6 billion, Miami-Dade County is larger than many states and several dozen countries.

As County Manager, Mr. Burgess oversaw one of the most ambitious metropolitan public infrastructure development programs in the county and was nationally recognized for implementing results-oriented strategic and business planning, and performance measurement practices to County government. He is credited with many initiatives that improved the quality and responsiveness of County services, expanded the government's service delivery systems, and strengthened the County's financial position.

"We are thrilled to have George Burgess as Chief Operating Officer," said Alan Becker. "George brings extraordinary knowledge, experience and leadership abilities to our growing firm that will keep the firm on the leading edge of technology and financial strategy."

Becker & Poliakoff was founded 38 years ago in Miami-Dade County and today has 135 attorneys and lobbyists in 13 Florida offices, New York City and New Jersey and Washington, D.C. The firm provides a broad array of services to its clients in seven primary practice areas including Real Estate, Construction, Community Association, Customs & International Trade, Business Litigation, Corporate & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying.

"I am looking forward to making the transition from the public to the private sector at Becker & Poliakoff," stated George Burgess. "This firm has played an important role in our community, and I am excited to work with Alan and his colleagues to assist the firm with its administrative, managerial and operational goals so the firm can continue to serve its clients' needs and look for new opportunities for growth."

Prior to his appointment as County Manager, Mr. Burgess held senior roles with both the County and Miami-Dade Public Schools. As Chief Financial Officer for the school system from 2002 to 2003, Burgess was responsible for all budgetary, financial, procurement and risk management functions for the fourth-largest school district in the United States. As Assistant County Manager he oversaw all financial procurement, strategic planning, budgetary and performance improvement functions for Miami-Dade County.

Earlier, Mr. Burgess served as the County's Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Deputy Budget Director, and Capital Budget Coordinator. He began his career with Miami-Dade County in 1982 as a management trainee.

Mr. Burgess holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in public administration from the University of Maine. In 2007, he received the Distinguished Public Service Practitioner Award from the American Society for Public Administrators Southeast Conference. He lives with his wife Karen and his sons Ryan and Michael in Pinecrest, Florida.

About Becker & Poliakoff
Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 145 attorneys and lobbyists in 13 Florida offices, New York City, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Nassau (Bahamas), and Prague. Celebrating its thirty-eighth (38th) year of serving clients, the firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction, Community Association, Customs & International Trade, Business Litigation, Corporate & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying. For more information, visit: www.becker-poliakoff.com.