Movers, Shakers and Rainmakers

Movers, Shakers and Rainmakers: Eric Pettus and Amy Dawkins - Pettus & Dawkins Financial Group

Eric Pettus - Pettus & Dawkins Financial Group
Pettus
Amy Dawkins - Pettus & Dawkins Financial Group
Dawkins

Pettus & Dawkins Financial Group (PDFG) is an independent, full-service, financial planning and consulting firm that serves individuals, businesses, churches, unions, associations, and non-profit organizations.  Keeping financial education as the cornerstone of their business model, PDFG does not subscribe to the theory of insisting that clients and prospective clients automatically adhere to the recommendations that have been presented.  Instead, they are taken through a process of exploration and analysis which allows those in need of guidance to make more informed decisions as it relates to their financial interests.  Maintaining a non-proprietary operation allows PDFG to sell over 76 insurance companies, 65 group benefit plans, 25,000 mutual funds, open-platform 401(k)/403(b)/457 plans, as well as stocks and bonds.

Eric Pettus is the president and founder of the Pettus & Dawkins Financial Group.  Prior to establishing PDFG, Pettus was the owner of an American Express Financial Advisors franchise (n/k/a/Ameriprise Financial Services).  He was with the company, formerly known as American Express Financial Advisors, for seven years where he earned several awards for providing superior levels of financial planning and client service.  In 1997, Pettus started a consulting firm that specialized in small business development and quickly learned of the financial divide between small and minority businesses and their mainstream and larger counterparts.  It was at this point that he shifted his focus to spreading an attainable financial message throughout South Florida.  Recognizing his contributions to the South Florida community, in 2007, Pettus was included in the Inaugural Edition of Who’s Who In Black South Florida. He has also been featured in local and national media for providing advice and commentary on personal financial issues. Pettus balances his professional time with several social and civic activities including Iota Phi Theta Fraternity and the NAACP. He also mentors young people and supports local up and coming artists.

Amy Dawkins is the co-founder of the Pettus & Dawkins Financial Group.  Being a native of Miami, FL, Dawkins has seen the vast economic disparity that plagues this community and is determined to positively impact the financial lives of South Floridians.  In 2004, Dawkins earned a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Florida A&M University where she graduated magna cum laude.  Prior to establishing PDFG, Dawkins was an Ameriprise Financial Services advisor.  She was with the company, formerly known as American Express Financial Advisors, for two years.  During that time, Dawkins earned recognition and invitations to events, conferences, and seminars attended by some of the top ranking advisors in the country.  In 2006, Dawkins acquired the prestigious Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) designation from the College for Financial Planning. Dawkins has been featured as the go to financial advisor in local media and balances her profession with community involvement including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and her church, Immanuel Temple.

Through PDFG, Eric and Amy take pride in providing a suite of high-quality financial services to the South Florida area. PDFG’s depth of knowledge and expertise has earned it top-producer awards from various financial services firms, insurance carriers, and other professional associations.  With the principals having over 25 years of financial services and management experience, PDFG has garnered a reputation that speaks to proficiency and integrity.  In 2010, PDFG was recognized as the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Of The Year. Their unparalleled proficiency and extensive capabilities will become more visible in 2013 as they have been selected to serve as the exclusive provider of financial planning and consulting services to all of the employees of Miami-Dade County, Jackson Health System, as well as the State of Florida Health Department. 



Movers, Shakers and Rainmakers: Matthew Beatty, Communications Officer - The Miami Foundation

The Miami Foundation has announced that Matthew B. Beatty has joined the organization as communications officer.

In his new role, Beatty will lead and manage the foundation's communications strategies and ensure that all efforts are integrated and reflect the organizationfs message. He will coordinate public relations and marketing content development for the foundation, in addition to managing and growing social media network outreach. 
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Beatty


A key component of his position will be building relationships throughout the community and increasing brand awareness. This will include crafting the communications approach as the foundation brings stakeholders together to tackle issues in greater Miami.

Beatty was most recently communications director of Sonshine Communications, Florida's largest African-American, full-service marketing communications firm, and Black PR Wire, the nationfs first and largest black newswire distribution service.

A native Miamian, Beatty attended The Cushman School, Ransom Everglades School and earned his B.S. in management and M.B.A. in marketing at Florida A&M Universityfs School of Business and Industry. 

Beatty has managed public relations outreach for Baptist Health South Florida, Port of Miami Tunnel, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade, National Environmental Education Foundation and numerous other companies and organizations across the United States. He is a seminar presenter in Miami Dade College's Small Business Education Program, speaks on panels regarding marketing strategy, and was named one of South Florida's 40 Under 40 Black Leaders of Today & Tomorrow by Legacy magazine of The Miami Herald.