ARE YOU READY TO "DO BIG THINGS!" It’s July! And that means our Annual Conference is right around the corner! The Annual Conference marks our Chamber's embarkment on a new year. Join us as we commemorate this milestone on August 23rd and 24th at the historic Biltmore Hotel. Here's the breakdown on the program: On Thursday, August 23rd, the Chamber will host our 11th annual George E. Merrick Award of Excellence Dinner, presented by The Allen Morris Company. This event recognizes the outstanding achievements of an individual who has excelled in continuing the vision of our City and Chamber Founder, George E. Merrick. Additionally, we will recognize three up-and-coming
"Merrick's" with the fifth annual Merrick-in-the-Marking Awards, presented by City National Bank. Honors will be bestowed in three categories: Entrepreneur, Community Builder, and Philanthropist. Then, on Friday, August 24th, the Chamber will host our 2018 Annual Conference. This year’s conference encompasses various break-outs, including a business boosting breakfast, luncheon, and interactive educational sessions. This year's theme is - Do BIG Things! Furthermore, the Chamber is pleased to ecognize Patrick O’Connell, Senior Vice President of EWM Realty International, our 2018 - 2019 Chair of the Chamber Board. We are looking forward to a year of BIG things under Patrick's leadership!
IN THIS ISSUE: Thoughts from our Chair Page 2 President’s Perspective Page 3 Trustee Talk
Page 5
Upcoming Events
Page 6
Membership Highlights Page 8 Calendar of Events
Page 9
Sponsor Recognition
Page 10
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Martha de la Peña Rojas
Chair of the Board, CGCC Florida Blue Martha.DelaPenaRojas@bcbsfl.com
Greetings Everyone: Summer is upon us and we certainly feel it in the hustle and bustle of the Chamber and in our City Beautiful. The Chamber team continues to offer educational, engaging, interactive and relevant events and seminars with topics and speakers that support my theme year of "Better Business, Community and You.” This is a very tall order given the ever-changing business and community environment we live in. Winston Churchill, considered one of greatest strategic minds, knew that continued progress could only be done through constant adaptation. We know that we all want to do better. The Chamber is designing its vision for the future and is developing programs to achieve it. The Chamber will move beyond “better” by coming up with specific goals that will deliver tangible, measurable progress towards that vision that has your business and personal growth in mind. You will learn more about this at the Annual Conference where we will transition from “Better" to "Doing Big Things”. Please save the date August 23rd - 24th! Until then, have a safe summer and it has been a pleasure to be in your spotlight.
2017 - 2018 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board Martha de la Peña Rojas (Florida Blue) Chairman-Elect Patrick O’Connell (EWM Realty International) First Vice Chairman Brian Barakat (Barakat Law, P.A.) Treasurer Ana Chaoui (Grove Bank & Trust) Parliamentarian Carolina Rendeiro (Connect2Global, LLC) Immediate Past Chairman John Allen (Coral Gables Museum) Vice Chairman-Global Business Affairs Arthur Freyre (Poblete Tamargo) Vice Chairman-Community Affairs Melanie Sanchez (Florida Community Bank) Vice Chairman-Business & Economic Dev. Eric Gros-Dubois (EPGD Business Law) Vice Chairman-Member Affairs Amy Donner (Miami’s Community Newspapers) Vice Chairman-Special Events Jessica Wilcox (J. Wilcox Consulting) Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs Efrain Sora (Sora Global Insurance & Consulting) Trustee Council Chair Tom Weinkle (Vortex Communications) Chair’s Appointee Yesenia Moreno (Albion Staffing Solutions, Inc.) President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge BOARD OF DIRECTORS Elected-term expires 2018 Thad Adams (The Allen Morris Company) Addys Kuryla (Florida Power and Light) Nikki Deas (Vine Communications) Rene Negron (AXA Advisors, LLC) Elected-term expires 2019 Pilar Baena (Smiles & Sonrisas) Zachary Sulkes (Bacardi USA) Christopher Spuches (Agentis, PLLC) Elected-term expires 2020 Andria Hanley (Camillus House) Alex Jimenez (Apollo Bank) Matthias Kammerer (The Biltmore Hotel) Nelson Lazo (Doctors Hospital) Anabella Smith (Zyscovich Architects)
Madam Chair
Martha de la Peña Rojas, MBA Regional Corporate Social Responsibility Florida Blue
Chairman’s Appointees-term expires 2018 Chris Colston (Second Chance Credit LLC) Nicolas Eterovic (Edward James) Jorge Martinez (The Conroy Martinez Group) Cristina Miller (Intermedia Touch, Inc.) EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS City of Coral Gables Commissioner Patricia Keon Business Improvement District Truman Skinner Coral Gables Community Foundation Mary Snow, Executive Director
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE - THIS IS FFITY! Mark A. Trowbridge
President & CEO Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce mtrowbridge@coralgableschamber.org
On the occasion of my 50th birthday in May, I gifted myself a two-year membership to AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. While I am definitely a few years away from retirement, I am a strong believer in member-based organizations. Thus, I decided to openly embrace turning the Big 5-0 by joining a throng of 40 million fellow Americans. This advocacy group is the largest member-based organization in the US and keeps its constituents informed of issues affecting those 50+, curates travel trips, recommends restaurants, offers up the latest happenings in your hometown and of course, secures discounts that make you proud to be a card-carrying member. Yes, I will take $3 off that buttered tub of popcorn at Regal Cinemas, thank you. As AARP likes to say, Aging is Changing. No limits. No labels. I like the sound of that, although I cannot imagine using the fact that I have turned 50 to suddenly own up to any new (or lingering) limitations. I still hate lima beans, hold my breath in elevators above the 20th floor, geek out at documentaries (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) and on-line shop like a champ. But, now I can do all of those things better informed, better connected and better prepared for the next chapter in my life. It seems that a lot of people are turning 50, including a significant number of friends and colleagues who were also born in 1968, a seminal year in American history and in the lives of our families. Later in 2018, I am planning a rowdy lunch for all of us born in 1968, so stay tuned for more on that. Much like AARP, our Chamber is committed to helping your businesses grow without limitations. Whether that be new contacts, professional development or advocating for a better business climate, our role as chief advocate is changing, too. We also understand the expectation of a return on your investment in our organization, something you tell us we do better than our peers. You are stakeholders in our Chamber – shareholders in our collective success – and so it is our mission to exceed your expectations. And, just like for-profit companies, we too have recently updated our business plan over the past year and will roll-out this new strategy at our Annual Conference in August at The Biltmore. The focal point of this new plan is on growth – growing your business, growing our benefits and services and growing our membership. The SFBJ just ranked us in June as the fourth largest Chamber in the tri-county area in terms of annual fees collected, third in total revenue and second overall if you consider all of our assets. As a Chamber that has served our community for more than 93 years, those are some pretty heady numbers and rankings thanks to all of you and so we are going to take them out for a spin! We have expanded our outreach based on where our members are located, especially with large numbers of stakeholders on Brickell/Downtown Miami and in Doral. Just this past month we hosted a networker in Downtown Doral at Bulla Gastrobar and had more than 50 members and prospects attend. There are significant areas of need in our community where businesses are not being served by other Chambers (or not served well), and given the alignment of our growth plan, we will be filling that void. We know we start from a position of financial strength, followed closely by the seasoned tenure of our leadership and the depth of our community profile and engagement. But that is just the key to opening the door. Now, we kindly call upon each of you, no matter where your business is based, to help us move our Chamber forward, expand your network and grow your footprint. We bring focused relevance to the conversation and credibility to our base and we are honored that you not only expect that, but support us fully. Aging may indeed be changing, but with no limits in sight, we are just getting started!
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
TRUSTEE TALK Tom Weinkle
Principal Vortex Communications tweinkle@vortexmiami.com
Since the last issue of CONNECTion, we’ve enjoyed exclusive receptions at City Na tional Bank and the Lennar Foundation Medical Center at the University of Miami. Trustee members have also enjoyed Trustee Luncheons focusing on the future of business and Alzheimer’s, where we learned more about treatment, research and ways the business community can help. At the luncheon, we welcomed new trustee members: USHEALTH Advisors; Morton’s the Steakhouse; The Trembly Law Firm, and Exeter Medical.
Guidewell and Florida Blue President René Lerer in conversation with Mark A. Trowbridge at the May Trustee Luncheon. As a Trustee member you have an "all access pass" to leading CEOs in industry. This is just one example of your Trustee Membership at work! Want to get on that level? Contact the Chamber today to find out how you can upgrade your membership
I’m excited to let you know that Grove Bank and Trust’s Ana Chaoui will be the incoming Chair of the Trustee Diplomat. As a longtime Chamber member and leader, Ana is ideally suited to lead our Trustee membership program and communications. As a GEM level member of Coral Gables Chamber, her employer, Grove Bank & Trust exemplifies the tremendous partnership opportunity between business and Chamber. Unsure if Trustee membership is a fit for your company? I invite you to contact me directly to discuss how this exclusive membership level can help you meet your goals for the coming quarter.
"SCENE" FROM OUR TRUSTEE EVENTS May - June
The May Trustee Reception was full of networking, business building and one special surprise! On the evening of @ChamberPrez's 50th birthday, host sponsor City National Bank surprised him with one sparkly cake!
Incoming Chairman Parick O'Connell is pictured with current Chair Martha de la Peña Rojas and Past-Chair Christopher Zoller at our June Trustee Reception hosted and sponsored by UHealth.
Ron Leonard of USHEALTH Advisors accepts his Trustee plaque at the June Trustee Luncheon. Ron is pictured with Tom Weinkle, Chair of the Trustee Diplomats and Martha de la Peña Rojas, Chair of the Board of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
UPCOMING EVENTS
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
SAVE THESE IMPORTANT DATES Tuesday, July 10, 2018 - 5:30 PM Trustee Reception Host Sponsor: Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables 300 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables Complimentary registration for all Trustee & GEM Level Members Wednesday, July 11, 2018 - Noon RE-Connect Luncheon - Note date change due to July 4th holiday! Location: Morton’s the Steakhouse 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Barakat Law, P.A., EPGD Business Law, Michael Forman, DOM, P.A., Sora Global Insurance & Consulting Speaker: Deirdre Nero, NERO Immigration Law, P.L. Cost: $25 er-person - Online registration and payment are required
Featured Chefs: Andres Vega & Sachi Statz, Sansara Sponsorship and VIP Tables of 8 are available. Reserve yours today! Cost: $99 for an individual ticket by 7/13 - or - $1,000 for a reserved VIP Table of 8 Program includes unlimited vino and bubbly and a three-course Interactive Luncheon prepared by you! Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - Noon RE-Connect Luncheon Location: Morton’s the Steakhouse 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Barakat Law, P.A., EPGD Business Law, Michael Forman, DOM, P.A., Sora Global Insurance & Consulting Cost: $25 er-person - Online registration and payment are required
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 - 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday - Note date change due to July 4th holiday! Location: Seasons 52 321 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sponsored By: The Law Office of Justin B. Stivers Cost: $25 Registration Fee by 7/6; $35 Chamber Members after 7/6 & Guests
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday - Note date change due to July 4th holiday! TBD, Coral Gables Sponsored By: The Law Office of Justin B. Stivers Cost: $25 Registration Fee by 7/27; $35 Chamber Members after 7/27 & Guests
Friday, July 13, 2018 - 8:00 AM Legislative Round-Up Join us for an engaging review of the past State Legislative Session and the bills that directly impact our business community; plus, get a preview of the 2019 session from our elected leaders in Tallahassee. Finally, hear more about the various ballot initiatives related to the Constitutional Review Commission, a process that happens every 20 years! Location: University of Miami Newman Alumni Center 6200 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables Host Sponsor: University of Miami Sponsored By: Sora Global Insurance & Consulting In Partnership With: City of Coral Gables, Ronald L. Book, P.A., Southern Strategy Group Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests
Friday, August 3, 2018 - 8:30 AM Trow Knows CEOs Location: INFINITI of Coral Gables 2701 Le Jeune Road, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Apollo Bank Featuring: Chip Bowers, President of Business Operations, Miami Marlins Cost: $25 Registration Fee - Limited to the first 25 guests!
Friday, July 13, 2018 - 11:30 AM Take Your Intern to Lunch It’s time to celebrate our summer interns and the impact of experiential learning on the workforce of the future! Location: La Jolla Ballroom 301 Alcazar Avenue, Coral Gables Hosted By: The University of Miami Toppel Career Center & The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Cost: $30 Registration Fee; $55 for 2; $300 for Reserved Table of 8 & Sponsor Acknowledgement Tuesday, July 17, 2018 - 11:30 AM Women’s Business Network Luncheon Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Coral Gables Trust Cost: $45 Chamber Member by 7/13; $50 Guests & On-Site Registration Wednesday, July 18, 2018 - 3:45 PM IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business Leadership – Finding your passion and how to prepare and take on this role! Host: Morton’s the Steakhouse 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Mercantil Bank Presented By: Anne B. Freedman, Founder & CEO, Speakout Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests
Thursday, August 23, 2018 - 6:30 PM George E. Merrick Awards of Excellence Dinner The Geroge E. Merrick Awards of Excellence recognize the outstanding achievements of an individual who has excelled at perpetuating the vision of our City and Chamber Founder, George E. Merrick. They are presented annually by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with The Allen Morris Company. Location: The Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Annual Conference Sponsor: UHealth Presenting Sponsor: The Allen Morris Company In addition, the Chamber and City National Bank will honor three outstanding leaders with the fifth Annual Merrick-in-the-Making Awards. Submit your full bio to events@coralgableschamber.org by July 6th at Noon. Cost: $199 Per-Person by 7/27; $1,925 Reserved VIP Table of 10 Friday, August 24, 2018 Annual Conference Do Big Things! 8:00 AM | Good Morning Coral Gables Breakfast 11:00 AM | Breakout Session Featuring: Jonathan Tavss, Kaleidoko In a world of ever-expanding change and growth, those who take a moment to step back and grasp the possibilities place themselves in a prime position to rise. The opportunities in the market are great, but where do you begin? When 50% of today's jobs will have been automated, what tips the scale for investment and exponential growth? By 2030, the world may be explosively different, but there's already fissures revealing how AI, Blockchain and Genetics are about to radically transform everything. Luckily, humanity will be deeply rooted at the core. To be viable in the next decade, a radical rethink in innovation, productivity and efficiency will be required. Presented in an engaging format that challenges perceptions and beliefs, Jonathan turns different lenses on today's bleeding-edge developments in technology, business and society to reveal true implications for industry, unearth possibilities for tomorrow and share tools for success at scale.
Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 7:30 AM Good Morning Coral Gables Presenting the 2018 City Beautiful Awards! Location: The Biltmore Hotel Noon | Annual Conference Luncheon 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Feat. Dr. Henri Ford, Dean, University of Miami - Miller School of Medicine Sponsored By: UHealth Speaker: Dr. Carlos Torre, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology | Sleep Surgery and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine Topic: Sleep: The New Status Symbol - and Presenting the 2018 City Beautiful Awards Sponsored By: City of Coral Gables Cost: $25 for Chamber Members by 7/13; $35 Chamber Member On-Site Registration; $40 Guests Friday, July 27, 2018 – 11:45 AM Trustee Invitational & Interactive Luncheon This Summer’s Hottest Culinary Experience! Location: The Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Presented By: Florida Blue Supporting Sponsors: The Club at The Biltmore Hotel, Intermedia Touch
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS
SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through June 2018
May - June 2018 Atlantic Coast Consultants, LLC Public Adjusters Brooklyn Fitboxing Coral Gables CenterState Bank Colbert Boué and Associates, LLP Connect2Global, LLC Edward Jones Elements Massage Pinecrest EWM Realty International Exeter Medical (Doctors' Office) Flamingo Paper & Food Service Products LLC Gables Columbus Center Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at Miami Dade College HUGO BOSS Retail, Inc. Intercorp MS, LLC Ivette Arango Interiors Ivette O’Doski Consulting Jurney & Associates, Inc. Kimonus M House Miami Maria Nunez Murdock LLC at EWM McGuire Woods Old Bull Athletics Raymond James & Associates Realty World M Realty Group Salumeria 104 Smash Pixel Studio Spring Chicken Coral Gables STAPLES, Inc. Teresa Safie/Real Estate Match Maker The Kampong of NTBG The Mayfair Hotel at Coconut Grove Topgolf Miami Doral Trembly Law Firm USHEALTH Advisors Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce Zoo Miami Foundation *BOLD denotes new Trustee member *BOLD denotes new GEM Level Member
$5,000 and Above • The Allen Morris Company • AXA Advisors, LLC • Brown-Forman Beverages • Business Improvement District of Coral Gables • City of Coral Gables • City National Bank of Florida • Doctors Hospital • Agentis • EWM Realty International • Florida Blue
• Gulliver Schools • Mercantil Bank, N.A. • Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables • Photo Offset, Inc. • Samuel Adams Boston Lager • South Motors BMW • Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill • University of Miami • UHealth
$2,500 - $4,999 • Apollo Bank • Flor de Caña • Florida Power & Light • Grove Bank & Trust • MG Developer • Southern Audio Visual
Want to see your ad in the 2018-2019 City Beautiful Magazine? With a distribution of 250,000+ magazines annually, this is one publication that you want to feature your business in! Access the Coral Gables market and beyond with this great Gables guide. Magazines are direct mailed to every household in the The City Beautiful, placed in hotel rooms and at concierge desks year-round, mailed to each Chamber member and distributed at all Chamber events, and various City and community events throughout the year. For more information on pricing and ad space, e-mail mhuling@coralgableschamber.org. Act quickly, space is going fast!
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
EVENTS CALENDAR
‘18
July | August
Monday
Tuesday
2
Wednesday 3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
6
OFFICE CLOSED
9
10 8:00 AM 11 8:00 AM 12 13 Business & Gov’t Affairs 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Chairman’s Ambassadors Committee Meeting Committee Meeting Global Business Affairs 2018 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Committee Meeting Legislative Round-Up Small Business Committee Meeting Membership Committee Meeting 9:00 AM 11:30 AM Women’s Business Network Take Your Intern to Lunch Committee Meeting
Noon Re-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday
5:30 PM Trustee Reception
16 17 11:30 AM Women's Business Network Luncheon
18 19 8:00 AM 7:30 AM SEE Green Good Morning Coral Gables Task Force Meeting 9:15 AM 3:45 PM 20/30 Group Meeting IMPACT Seminar
23
24
30
31 8:00 AM
25 8:00 AM One Community One Goal Report to the Community @Marlins Park
27 11:45 AM Trustee Invitational & Interactive Luncheon feat. Andres Vega & Sachi Statz of Sansara @The Biltmore Hotel
1
Small Business Committee Meeting
12:00 PM RE-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday
2 3 8:30 AM 8:00 AM Chairman’s Ambassadors Trow Knows... CEOs Committee Meeting feat. Chip Bowers, President of Business Operations, Miami Marlins
6
7
13
14
20 21 11:30 AM Women's Business Network Luncheon
22
27
29
5:30 PM Trustee Reception
26
20
8 9 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Membership Committee Business & Gov’t Affairs Meeting Committee Meeting
3:45 PM IMPACT Seminar
28
15
10
16 9:00 AM Chamber 101
17
23 24 6:30 PM 8:00 AM George E. Merrick Awards Annual Confernce of Excellence @The Biltmore Hotel 30
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018
31
SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
JUNE
WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
MAY
JUNE
TROW KNOWS CEOS
GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES MAY
JUNE
TRUSTEE RECEPTION MAY
JUNE
IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES
HOST SPONSOR
RE-CONNECT LUNCH
GABLES GLOBAL GROOVE
RISING STAR AWARDS
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │July - August 2018