Hal Herman is Worth International Media Group’s founder and chairman. Hal worked at a Miami newspaper, a radio station and a public relations firm before launching his own business in 1953 as a newspaper rep. In 1970, he started Worth International as the parent company of three publications he created: Recommend magazine, the Florida International Travel Planner and the Florida Official Meeting Planners Guide.

Hal currently serves as ex-officio member of the board of directors of VISIT FLORIDA (the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation). He was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame in 2003. His alma mater, the University of Florida, also inducted him into the school’s Hall of Fame. Hal is currently chairman of the advisory board for the Center for Tourism Research and Development at the University of Florida. He also serves on the UF Today Magazine advisory board and as a member of the board of advocates of the University of Florida Journalism and Communications School. Hal is also on the Leadership Council of the Broward County American Diabetes Association.

He is past chairman of the Florida Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association and a past member of the board of directors of International Travel and Tourism Research Association. He is also a past board member of the Greater Miami Hotel and Motel Association, and holds membership in the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Travel Industry Association of America. Hal is a former Florida ambassador to the Southeast U.S./Japan Association (appointed by former Governor Reuben Askew) and former member of the Florida Council on International Development.

He has received numerous awards and recognition for his civic and industry work, including the prestigious Silver Medal from the American Advertising Federation. He is past president of the SKAL Club of Greater Miami and former chairman of the Florida Tourism Association.

Laurel Herman is president and CEO of Worth International Media Group. She was Recommend’s publisher for more than 20 years and serves as its president and editorial director. In her present role as Worth’s president, she manages the day-to-day operations of the company and is expanding its product line. In the last three years she added Spirit Airlines, Paseo Herencia (Aruba), Gaylord Hotels, National Harbor and Broward Health to the company’s list of clients. As new publisher of the airlines’ inflight magazine, skylights, Worth has redesigned the magazine and re-launched it in May 2005.

A native of Miami, Laurel joined the company in 1974 after graduating from the University of Florida. She started as an assistant to the editor of one of the company's publications and has worked in almost every department.

In 1985, she spurred the expansion of Recommend magazine from regional editorial to global coverage, during which time she lived in New York City. In 2001, Laurel was named president and CEO of Worth International Media Group.

Laurel is also active in the community, serving on several committees. She is currently on the board for SKAL Miami, serving as an executive committee member. She also serves on their hospitality committee. Laurel is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), serving on the ASTA South Florida Chapter Board of Directors. She was also a member of the Miami host committee for the October 2003 ASTA World Congress. She is active in other major organizations, including TIA (Travel Industry Association of America), USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association) and TCI (The Commonwealth Institute). She previously served as board director for the Advertising Federation of Greater Miami.

Gary Herman is the executive vice president and chief technology architect for Worth International Media Group. He joined the company in 1992 and immediately began adding new technology systems to streamline the company’s internal computer operations.

In 1974, Gary attended the University of Florida for four years before starting his own computer company during the microcomputer revolution in 1978. He has more than 25 years of designing, developing, integrating and installing a diverse range of hardware and software technologies. In the late 70s, he was writing application software for the first microcomputers in the marketplace. In the early 80s, he developed and wrote software for accountants, which was distributed nationally and designed custom application systems for a wide range of industries.

Gary continues to develop mainstream and added-value technology products for the parent company. He is an active member of the SKAL Club.