THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

                          PRESIDENT CLINTON 
                         NAMES PAUL L. CEJAS 
                    AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BELGIUM

The President today announced his intent to nominate Paul L. Cejas to be U.S. Ambassador to Belgium.

Mr. Cejas, of Miami, Florida, has been a business and civic leader in the South Florida community for more than twenty-five years. Currently, he is Chairman and CEO of PLC Investments, Inc.-- a family owned company that manages investments in real estate, healthcare, and various venture capital projects. Mr. Cejas was the founder, Chairman, and CEO of CareFlorida Health Systems, Inc., the country's largest Hispanic-owned healthcare company. Prior to the company's sale in 1994, CareFlorida received numerous corporate awards and accolades, including recognition by Inc. Magazine as one of the country's largest and fastest growing privately owned companies. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Mr. Cejas has maintained an extensive involvement in the area of community and public service. He served as Chairman of the Dade County School Board-- the country's fourth largest school system-- for five years, and in 1994, he was appointed by Governor Chiles to the State of Florida University System's Board of Regents. Mr. Cejas has held other positions in the public sector including service as: Chairman of the Post-Summit Committee for the historic 1994 Hemispheric Summit of the Americas; Chairman of the Florida Partnership of the Americas from 1994 to 1997; and Representative to the 1996 United States Delegation to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS). Mr. Cejas' additional community efforts include work with the United Way, the Community Partnership for the Homeless, and the Miami Art Museum of Dade County.

Mr. Cejas graduated from the University of Miami with a B.B.A. in Accounting in 1969, and later obtained his CPA license.

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