TONY ARGIZ

SOUTH FLORIDA MANAGING PARTNER, BDO, MIAMI

Argiz was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. in 1962 as part of Operation Pedro Pan at the age of 9. He lived at a Catholic boarding school in Tampa until he was reunited with his parents in 1968. Today he’s at the helm of BDO, one of the largest accounting and advisory firms in Florida. He has served on leading industry associations and chaired Florida’s Board of Accountancy. He and his family created the Argiz Family Eminent Scholarship Endowment at Florida International University to help accounting students complete their studies.

EDUCATION: Florida International University (BBA)

LISTENING: I love The Daily from the New York Times.

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: Bob Graham, because he was a true leader and he put the needs of the community ahead of following party lines. He appointed me to the Florida Board of Accountancy in 1986, even though I was not in the same political party as him at the time, and ever since then I’ve held a deep respect and admiration for him.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA
“Never forget when you were poor, hungry and determined. I consider that to be the best Ph.D. you can get.”