Board Members

Howard Salus

Howard Salus was born and raised in Philadelphia and graduated from Central High School as a Barnwell Honor Student. He attended Penn State and Temple Universities earning a BS degree in business, then taking additional courses at Temple and Fairleigh-Dickinson. After two years in the Army, Howard entered the pharmaceutical industry in 1958, advancing to National Sales Promotion manager at Sandoz and Group Marketing Director at USV-Revlon. In 1970, he moved to Miami to assume the position of vice president of marketing and member of the board of directors of Key Pharmaceuticals. He served as President of certain subsidiaries and periodically taught market planning for the AMA and participated in the problem solving institute at SUNYAB.

While Howard was embarking in the publishing industry with TV News & Views, he met, hired, fell in love with and married Mavis, his life-partner, in every sense. Though the business was successful, the creative stimulus was absent. They started entering theater, film and dining reviews. The scope widened. The excitement increased. Ultimately the TV listings were shed and the name was changed to Entertainment News & Views. Over the years, the product has become known as the premier independent arts, dining and entertainment newspaper. With this niche came more popularity and exclusivity. More tangential areas came into the fold, including society, fashion, increased cultural-oriented topics, and more good life subjects. With that came a good number of years on the radio, where various luminaries assisted, including Michael Aller, the late Sam Finkelstein and Jordy Childs. One of its features, the Arts Season Preview, was a successful, semi-annual, sought-after product and the 25th Anniversary edition was the pride of thousands.

Civic involvement is paramount with the Saluses. Mavis is on the board of Children’s Cancer Caring Center in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Howard is a member of the Miami International Press Club (past president), trustee at North Dade Regional Chamber of Commerce, Aventura Marketing Council, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and active with Leading Ladies-Transplant Foundation. In addition, Howard serves on the boards of  the Eco-Chamber, Greater Miami Festivals and Events Association and Sunday Afternoons of Music, Redland Tropical Gardens, serves on the steering committee of FANO  and on panels reviewing under-graduate and graduate business plans at the Entrepreneurship Center of FIU.

After the sale of the company in May, 2007, Mavis was finally able to readdress a long passion – writing about the environment, nutrition, healthful living and spirituality. From that moment in early February, 2008, plans were made for the development of such a product. ENV was changed from “Entertainment” to “Environmental” News & Views, with our motto now being. “Dedicated to the Quality of Life” as a result of our focus taking on even greater significance. The mission is to gather the many aspects of this highly important subject and communicate them to the world in an exciting and entertaining manner via the web and frequent e-mail newsletters and to increase regional awareness via events and seminars and to contribute to different charities on a yearly basis.

As is our planet, ENV intends to be a constant work-in-progress, sharing knowledge and growing and having fun learning and doing. Go Green with ENVy.

Mavis Salus

Mavis Salus is from Brisbane, Australia. She attended the University of Queensland and the Sydney University, where she studied Biochemistry. After working at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney for 2 years, she left Australia to live in Europe and the UK for several years before coming to the United States where she lived in Manhattan , Philadelphia and Detroit for a few years before moving to Florida in 1972.
Here Mavis met her husband Howard. Together they published Entertainment News & Views (ENV), a publication which became a force in the entertainment field, and highlighted many charities. Civic involvement was paramount with the paper and Mavis is on the board of Children’s Cancer Caring Center in Miami-Dade and Broward counties
After selling the company in May, 2007, Mavis’s 15 year dream is finally becoming a reality. After 27 wonderful years of publishing Entertainment News & Views and becoming the premier Arts, Dining and Entertainemnt newspaper in South Florida, ENV will now be your roadmap to the critically important green movement.
The decision was made to take an entirely different approach. The name Entertainment News & Views became Environmental News & Views (Still ENV) Go Green with ENVy. and ENV has applied for non- profit status.

This will be an exciting adventure as they will be working with scientists and other vital people who are experts in fields such global warming, solar energy, wind energy, green buildings, food supplies, fair trade and many other modalities concerning the health and well-being of us and our planet. Mavis invites everyone to join her on this exciting journey and to enjoy the ride.Together we can make the difference which is so necessary.

Wayne Rassner

Wayne Rassner is a native Floridian and the managing partner of the law firm of Kramer & Rassner, P.A. Mr. Rassner specializes in complex commercial and real estate transactions, and his partner of 30 years specializes in personal injury litigation. Mr. Rassner is AV-rated with Martindale-Hubbell and received both his BBA and JD from the University of Miami where he also served as an adjunct professor. Mr. Rassner is a volunteer park ranger for Everglades National Park with concentration on guiding visitors into the back country by canoe, and leading groups from the community on swamp walks. He is an Eagle Scout, as are both of his sons. He credits much of his success to his wife Deborah of 30 years. He has been passionate about the Everglades and its future for over four decades and continues to devote all of his available time to bringing awareness of the importance of the Everglades to the community and beyond. Mr. Rassner has recently been appointed Trustee of the South Florida National Parks Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization responsible for funding projects for Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve. Mr. Rassner has been awarded the District Award of Merit from the Boy Scouts of America, served as Vice-Chairman of the Tequesta District and served as both a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader. He is an amateur herpetologist and a former member of and attorney for the Everglades Herpetological Society. Mr. Rassner has recently founded Rassner Rescue, LLC, an animal rescue organization, and has been a dedicated supporter of the SFSPCA.

Tia Diaz Balart

Tia Diaz-Balart has over 19 years of experience in marketing for multi-national companies, including seven years with Hewlett-Packard. Her experience includes creating and implementing campaigns in the consumer and business-to-business space in-store, online and direct for clients including Office Depot, Staples, Wal-Mart and Costco. Diaz-Balart is also a named partner at a South Florida firm, Gordon|Diaz-Balart and had originally worked with them in 1994 where she joined following her service on the staff of the Summit of the Americas, the unprecedented gathering in Miami of the heads of state of the 34 nations of the Western Hemisphere. She is also the founder of Kids at Ease, a non-profit organization providing services and funding research to ease the trauma of children who are hospitalized. Tia is active within the community and serves on the steering committee of the United States Conference of AIDS, is on the national committee for the American Red Cross Annual Gala and works to support the Caribbean Heart Menders which is a group of health professionals who provide free life-saving surgery in the poorest Caribbean countries to children who would otherwise not survive. Diaz-Balart’s husband, U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, and their son live in Miami, Florida.

Harris Cohen

Mr. Cohen has been a practicing pharmacist since 1955, starting in his home town of Philadelphia, PA for one year. Since 1956, he has been in staff and management positions in Miami, FL. He became a retail pharmacy owner in 1964 enjoying continuous growth through 1986, when it was sold. Within the first ten years of ownership, because of expansion, Mr. Cohen purchased property and built a shopping center around the pharmacy. During this period he received his pharmacy Consultant’s license and provided services for extended care facilities and hospitals. Since 1986, he has been employed as pharmacist-in-charge by Rite Aid, Eckerds, JC Penneys, and presently CVS pharmacies. The company that bought his store wanted him to stay, but he preferred the added challenge of training and integration offered by Rite Aid getting some major groups coordinated via PharmHand, a program that had been mastered by him.

He successfully completed the National Certification Program, certified by APhA Nova Southeastern University on January 27, 2007. And, he successfully completed An Update on Immunizations at University of Florida College of Pharmacy on February 11, 2007. Mr. Cohen attended LaSalle University and graduated from Temple University School of Pharmacy in 1955.

Over the last six years, Mr. Cohen has become significantly involved in recycling, within his company and his home and circle of friends. He is very supportive of institutions whose goal are nature conservancy and sustainability. He looks forward to being active in ENV’s sterling future.

Rene Alvarez

Since I first opened a browser to surf the World Wide Web nearly 12-years ago I was hooked. In that time the Web has become a revolutionary cultural force as well as a technological juggernaut that is making lives easier for millions, if not billions of people. In that time, I have become an Internet evangelist.

I uprooted myself from my broadcast and print advertising background where I worked with regional and national brands that included Macy’s, World Wrestling Federation and Verizon, and planted myself in the
interactive universe.

Currently I lead Sumo Media in working with local businesses to develop their online strategies and objectives. I also teach interactive courses as a full-time faculty member at Miami International University.

Susie Glass

Susie Glass currently serves as the Communications and GREENworking Chair for the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) South Florida Chapter’s Miami Dade and the Keys Branch. Ms. Glass is LEED Accredited Professional and was the youngest as well as the first female ‘real estate’ industry professional to earn this designation in 2008. Ms. Glass currently serves as the Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Cervera Real Estate. Cervera exclusively represents
several green development projects including Brickell House and a soon to be
released residential high-rise seeking LEED Silver certification. Prior to joining Cervera Susie was Vice President of Marketing & Operations for Metro 1 Properties, a sustainable brokerage in Wynwood. Glass spearheaded the
sustainable initiatives and programming for Metro 1, which regularly hosted
seminars, training and networking events for the green building community.

Ms. Glass holds her Florida Real Estate License and is a member of the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers. In addition, Glass is very active in the community and has participated in numerous environmental committees for organizations such as the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, World Wildlife Fund and the City of Miami.

Glass is a Certified Green Real Estate Professional (GCREP-GL) and has earned numerous certificates of completion including Funding Green Buildings and the CMP Green Building Underwriting Standard. Since 2008 she has attended over 50++ seminars pertaining to green building, sustainability and real estate. Ms. Glass holds a B.A. in Philosophy and English from Florida International University.

Doug Young

Doug Young, MES, President/ Executive Director, South Florida Audubon Society (SFAS);
Lead – Global Climate Change Committee, SFAS;
Member, Broward County Climate Change Task Force and Chair, Greenhouse Gas Reductions Subcommittee;
Audubon TogetherGreen  Conservation Leadership Fellow;
Member, Environmental Education Council of Broward;
Member, Green League of Broward Leadership Advisory Team; Member, Everglades Coalition;
Member, Executive Committee, Broward County Haiti Relief Task Force and Co-Chair, Business Relations Subcommittee; Member, Haiti Conch Project-Sustainable Conch Farming Certified, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward

Mr. Young has been an Environmental Activist for over 35 years.  He holds a Masters of Environmental Studies degree (areas of concentration:  Media, Environment and Education) from York University, Toronto, Canada, and had a Graduate Assistantship from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he worked on limnological studies and eutrophication of lakes in Central Massachusetts.

Doug is a pioneer in the Oil Sands industry of Northern Alberta, Canada, and worked for five years at the Syncrude Canada Limited Project north of Fort McMurray.  He was a Senior Environmental Advisor for a Public Relations firm, and an Assistant Professor of Public Relations, where he designed and instructed courses in Broadcast News and Audiovisual Communications.  For over 35 years, Mr. Young has been a Training Consultant/Instructional Designer, developing training solutions and interventions using innovative and interactive multimedia/video technology.

For many years, Mr. Young was an award-winning independent video writer/producer/director of corporate training and communications for NGOs, government/environmental departments, utilities, and the private sector.

Finally, Mr. Young was one of 20 chosen to attend a NWF (National Wildlife Federation) Workshop in Washington, DC in May, 2009 and to lobby for the Waxman-Markey Energy and Climate Change Bill which went to Congress and was subsequently approved in 2009, was one of 18 chosen to attend the NAS (National Audubon Society) Climate Change Advocacy Workshop held May 4-7, 2008, in Washington, D.C., and in 2007, was trained by NWF to deliver Climate Change presentations to a diverse group of audiences.

In December 2008, Doug was one of 25 appointed by the Broward County Commission to the Broward County Climate Change Task Force and Chair, Greenhouse Gas Reductions Subcommittee.  He also serves on the Leadership Advisory Team of the Green League of Broward.  Mr. Young is also an active member of the Everglades Coalition, a group of 52 local, regional and national conservation, wildlife and environmental groups dedicated to Everglades Restoration and of the South Florida Branch of the USGBC (US Green Building Council).