exceptional-jamaicans

[exceptional-jamaicans]

The Global Space: Joe Issa among Prime Jamaican Occupiers

With 2,723,246 people or 0.037 per cent of the world’s population of 7.31 billion, Jamaica is ranked 139 out of a total of about 200 countries and dependent territories on the planet, most of which are too large to compare with the island.

 But despite its small size, Jamaica has churn out many notable sons and daughters who are comparable with anyone in their field world-wide, including sports, music, science and medicine, beauty pageant and even politics.

 Issa, who is founder and executive chairman of Cool Corporation, is none of the above, save for the fact that he was once voted one of Jamaica’s 10 sexiest men. Instead, his recognition has come by way of philanthropy, academia and business.

 Issa was first recognized while he was a student at the world renowned London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he left a legacy of advocacy for the education of disadvantage children.

 The charity which he founded while at the LSE to raise funds to buy school books for disadvantaged Caribbean and Jamaican children was launched at the Jamaican High Commission in London. The widely-publicized charitable foundation, “Educate the Children Fund” was taken over by the university and given a life of its own.

 But little did Issa know, that the recognition he received in England would pale in comparison with what he would receive on the other side of the Atlantic, as a result of his record-breaking feats at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, USA.

 ssa famously smashed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination by passing all four parts in one sitting, becoming the first resident Jamaican to do so, and in the process, Jamaica’s youngest CPA.

 His achievements earned him the Massachusetts Society of CPA's Inc. Most Outstanding Junior Student Award in 1988 when he graduated cum laudi and was valedictorian. Nearly a decade later in 1997, Issa was given the Keys to the City of Lauderhill, Florida by the Mayor.

He has also been recognized as a dynamic businessman and placed in the company of Jamaicans like Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman/CEO of AIC Limited and Chairman of NCB Jamaica; Chris Blackwell, president and CEO of Island Records and Palm Pictures, NYC; Levi Roots, Chairman of Reggae Reggae Sauce; as well as Englishman Sir Richard Branson, whose business model has been compared with that of the Cool Group, which celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2016.

 Cool Group of over 50 companies is engaged in an array of businesses through its affiliates and subsidiaries, some of which are located beyond Jamaican shores, ranging from telephone card distribution to the utilization of automated fuelling systems.

 An Honorary Kiwanian for Life since 1996, Issa was us-based Travel Agents Magazine’s 100 Rising Stars four years in a row from 1997 -2000; and Young Hotelier of the World, 1994 by the Paris-based International Hotel Association. Hq�%

[exceptional-jamaicans]

Young Hotelier of the World – Joe Issa

Montego Bay, Jamaica: Joey Issa, the 28 year-old general manager of Sans Souci Lido in Ocho Rios, has been awarded “Young Hotelier of The World, 1994”, by the International Hotel Association (IHA).

The award is based on professional achievements, commitment to excellence, and service to community. Also, the candidates must be thirty years or younger; must acknowledge extensive command of the expertise in their discipline; possess leadership abilities; display commitment to excellence, quality and ethics; involvement in community services – (e.g. charitable work, business development, tourism councils), and must show evidence of commitment to development skills through continuing educational programmes.

Mr. Issa is the youngest general manager in the SuperClubs chain of resorts, and has been in the hotel business from a very young age. A past student of Campion College, he graduated from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was Valedictorian.

While in school, he initiated the programme, “Global 2000” recognised by the Florida State Board of Education for being “Most Promising International Intercultural Programme”, as it sought to twin local schools with international schools to provide cultural awareness and an exchange of ideas, He is currently a director of the Finance Committee of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, a Council member of the JHTA, as well as a member of the Marketing Committee of that body.

Joe Issa will receive his award during the forthcoming IHA Annual Congress in Sydney, Australia, October 2-6, 1994.

[exceptional-jamaicans]

Joe Issa wins ‘Young Hotelier of the World’ award

Hotelier Joey Issa has been given the “Younger Hotelier of the World” award by the International Hotel Association (IHA).

This award, according to IHA, is presented to two junior executives, one make and one female, for professional achievements, commitment to excellence and service to community.

It also demonstrates the significant contributions young persons can make to a hotel’s operations and highlights career opportunities offered by the hospitality industry worldwide.

Hundreds of nominations poured in from all over the world. The criteria for the recipient included the following:

Candidates must be 30 years or younger

Must have acknowledge extensive command of the technical expertise in their discipline

*have leadership abilities

*Proven commitment to excellence, quality and ethics

*Community service (e.g. charitable work, business development community, tourism councils)

* Evidence of commitment to development skills through continuing education programmes

Joe Issa, at 28 years old, is the youngest general manager in the SuperClubs chain of resorts. From early, his desire was to be in the hotel business. He received extensive international hotel training at the Grosvenor House in London the Forte Hotel Village in Sardinia, Italy, and many others throughout Jamaica.

He graduated from Campion College, Kingston, and from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts where he was Valedictorian. Joe, initiated the programme, “Global 2000”, which was recognised by the Florida State Board of education for being the “Most Promising Inter-cultural Programme”. The purpose of this programme is twin local schools with international schools to improve the education of Jamaica’s children.

He is currently a director on the finance committee at the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, and a council member to the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association.

[exceptional-jamaicans]

A closer look at Joe Issa ‘Young Hotelier of the world’

At 28 years, Joey Issa is the youngest general manager in the SuperClubs group of five resorts in Jamaica.

During its annual congress in Sydney, Australia, October 26, the Paris-based International Hotel Association will name him “Young Hotelier of the World 1994.”

The award, which honours one male and one female hotelier under the age of 30, recognizes professional achievements, commitment to excellence and service to the community. It also draws attention to career opportunities for the young people in the hospitality industry worldwide.

“This is a great and completely unexpected honour,” said Joe Issa. “I have dreamed of succeeding in the hotel business since I was 11 years old. To achieve this recognition so soon after my father was named ‘Caribbean Hotelier of the Year’ has made 1994 a very special year for my family.”

Earlier this year, Mr. Issa’s father, John Issa, chairman of the SuperClubs Super-Inclusive Resorts was named “Caribbean Hotelier of the Year” by the Caribbean Hotel Association.

Said John Issa, “Naturally, we’re all very proud of Joey. He has shown much promise since he entered the hotel industry, and has done an outstanding job at San Souci Lido since SuperClubs took over last November. Positioned as one of our flagship properties, with Joey at the helm Sans Souci Lido is fulfilling its promise.”

Education

Educated at Campion College in Kingston, Jamaica, he continued his studies in Economics at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was the first international economics student to valedictorian his class.

A member of Phi Bera Kappa, he was also the youngest  resident Jamaican, at  age 22, to pass all four parts of the American  Institute of Certified Public Accountants national examination at the first sitting. Before joining Sans Souci Lido, he held posts at hotels in Europe including the Grosvenor House in London and the Forte Hotel Village in Sardinia, Italy, and at hotels in Jamaica including the Jamaica Pegasus and Grand Lido in Negril.

Appointed general manager of Sans Souci Lido in November 1993, Mr. Issa closed the property for major renovations, which he accomplished in only six weeks. Within seven months after reopening, not only was the hotel headed for success, its food and beverage swept the Jamaica Culinary Arts Competition with three gold medals in July 1994, more than any other hotel.

Mr. Issa currently serves on the Council and the marketing committee of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and is a director of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce.

Spurred by commitment to improve the education of Jamaica’s children, Mr. Issa also initiated “Global 2000,” which twins Jamaica’s elementary schools with international schools with international schools in extensive learning and exchange programs, and has been recognised by the Florida State Board of Education as the “Most Promising Intercultural Program.”

[exceptional-jamaicans]

Chief Justice niece weds

Monique Zacca, niece of Chief Justice Edward Zacca, married Charles Mustell (from Michigan) earlier this month on the lawns of Sans Souci Lido.

Monique is the daughter of Amil and Mimo Zacca who have four other children – Wade, Brigette, Robert and Janine (Monique’s twin). The family migrated to Miami in 1976 and although that was 18 years ago, Monique, a quality control manager for F3 Software, wanted to return home to get married.

John Issa is the godfather of the twins.

Charles is the son of Bo and Charlene Mustell from St. Joe, Michigan. They have one other son, Chris. Charlie is a lawyer with the law firm, Kubiki Draper, in Miami.

The couple got married at the Our Lady of Fatima Church in Ocho Rios by officiating priest, Fr. Leo Quinlan.

The bride wore an elegant off-the-shoulder satin wedding dress with a tulle train and matching veil. The groom was suited in the traditional black tuxedo.

The wedding reception on the lawns by the sea had a fairy tale ambience, created by tents strung with scores of pepper lights under which was spread of haute cuisine, including filet mignon, lamb and stuffed snapper. For dessert, there was the traditional wedding cake plus a buffet of 10 different types of dessert.

Guests dined under the stars.

Master of ceremonies was Chief Justice Zacca who had the audience laughing from his humorous toastings. He praised the staff of Sans Souci Lido and especially Joey Issa, general manager, whom he had said was well deserving of ���The Young Hotelier of the Year Award”.

The father of the bride told a few jokes in his speech. He advised Monique not to spend too much of her time trying to change Charlie and then complain that he was not the man she married.

Janine Zacca, the bride’s twin, brought tears to everyone’s eyes when she said her few words. She told Charlie that she had no doubts that he would take care of Monique and that maybe now she could stop worrying about her. Janine, to add her “twinly” touch to her sister’s wedding, got engaged on the Sunday morning under a gazebo at Sans Souci Lido.

Wedding celebrations started on Thursday, December 1, when more than 40 rooms of family and friends from Jamaica, San Salvador, the United States and Lebanon arrived at Sans Souci Lido. Charles and Monique Mustell spent the first three days of their honeymoon at Sans Souci Lido then on to Grand Lido for the remainder of the honeymoon.