JULY - AUGUST 2020 CHECK OUT OUR NEW DIGS! After 15 years on Catalonia Avenue, and just in time for our organization’s 95th anniversary, your #1 ranked Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce will be moving to a brand new home at the intersection of “Main & Main” of our business community – Alhambra Circle and Ponce de Leon Boulevard! To better serve you, our members and generous investors, we are thrilled to return to our roots in Downtown Coral Gables. We will open the doors to our new home - and our community's own Welcome Center – at 201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 100, later this summer. This engaging, ground-floor retail space will allow us to provide you with a more complete array of Chamber services, greater visibility and higher-level business support than ever before. Fully connected, designed and equipped to function in today’s fast-paced, integrated business climate, our new space will boast two state-of-the-art conference rooms (one named in honor of The Allen Morris Company), a sleek, modern office design by Anabella Smith of Zyscovich Architects, plug-and-play areas to connect and collaborate with your fellow members, and a fully outward-facing Welcome Center, curated by Cristina Miller of Intermedia Touch, for the entire South Florida community to engage around! Stay-tuned for more updates on our new home as we continue to make progress with the build-out and move-in.
IN THIS ISSUE: Thoughts from our Chair
Page 2
President’s Perspective
Page 3
Trustee Talk
Page 5
The City Beautiful Magazine Page 6 Save These Dates!
Page 7
Membership Highlights
Page 8
Chamber Calendar
Page 9
Sponsor Recognition
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2020
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THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Change is the only constant. That’s a phrase often quoted but truly felt in 2020. Your Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce has been reacting and adapting to those changes. As we move forward, we hope to lead that change. To do so we encourage each member, in each unique circumstance, to reach out and share your experience, your needs, and your thoughts on how the #1 ranked Gables Chamber can best serve you.
BRIAN BARAKAT
CHAIR OF THE BOARD PARTNER | BARAKAT LAW, P.A. BRIAN@TRIALLAWMIAMI.COM
Right now, we are planning what we hope is our first in-person meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic, our Annual Conference on August 27th & 28th at The Biltmore Hotel. As we Come Together for the first time in months, this year's program line-up is scheduled to include our beloved Interactive Luncheon. Between now and then we have a whole lot of summer programming planned. Stay tuned for great content including our 15th annual International Business Forum, our Commercial Real Estate Outlook , Virtual Happy Hours and more!
On behalf of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce we Thank You for your continued involvement and for being a great member and investor. Your participation lifts us all up. Sincerely yours ,
SAV E T H E DAT E! - A N N UA L CO N F E R E N C E THURSDAY, AUGUST 27TH
Rising Star Awards Signature Soireé
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH
Annual Conference, featuring some of your favorite Chamber events
THE BILTMORE HOTEL Along with virtual options PRESENTED BY:
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2020
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE | THE GREAT COMEBACK One weekend this past month, I was enjoying CBS Sunday Morning, a personal favorite of mine, and watched veteran newsmanTed Koppel interview a number of small business owners across the US who have been adversely affected and heavily impacted by COVID-19. There was a nail salon owner, truck driver and dairy farmer all sharing their personal stories. I felt like I was listening to the many challenges happening right here at home in the Gables - the stories of frustration, fear and uncertainty were familiar. It was raw, it was powerful and it was heartbreaking to see how small businesses, who make up the backbone of the American economy, are suffering greatly in every city and town across our great country. Small businesses are the heart of most communities – they are owned and operated by our neighbors, our fellow citizens and our friends. They are the place we go to each week to get our hair cut, fill our tanks or our cupboards, pick-up our dry cleaning, outfit our closets, purchase a best seller, buy that something special for a friend or enrich our own lives. They are essential in every sense of the word. MARK A. TROWBRIDGE
PRESIDENT & CEO CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MTROWBRIDGE@CORALGABLESCHAMBER.ORG
Over the past three plus months, most have been shuttered and closed, trying to survive with on-line sales, free delivery or curbside pick-up and doing everything in their power to take care of their employees. It has been a heavy-lift and even with a month’s worth of re-opening revenue behind us, it has been very difficult, albeit nearly impossible.
Most are continuing to struggle as commercial offices remain nearly empty and consumers are nervous about venturing out. The spike in recent cases across Florida the past two weeks only makes matters worse as the fear of infection has not abated and the small businesses worry about another shutdown to re-flatten the curve. Most agree they won't survive it. Toss in the fact that as job creators, they have been the best in the business for decades – hiring two out of three employees who seek to join and grow the workforce. Now, without the critial funds available via the Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL Loan or another cash infusion, most cannot afford to pay wages, benefits, rent, or even pay themselves. It is the perfect storm for failure and closure. You see, it was just not a pandemic that hit us, it was a plague that then sent aftershocks in the form of an economic meltdown. Now, as the heat of the summer arrived, we have seen tremendous public outcry over palpable racism in this country, precipitated by police brutality and the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. The perfect storm for unrest and protest. Then, if that was not enough to create more challenges, we as Floridians can only brace ourselves for another catastrophe – a hurricane. With an economy built on visitors and tourism, we have had to pivot away hard from this expectation. No matter how many staycations we promote, how many Miami Spice menus we order from, it will not be enough – for the businesses or the state’s coffers. Nearly 75% of our Florida economy is based on sales tax receipts, many paid by visitors during the heart of travel season. That is now gone. That means spending – in restaurants, stores, hotels and more. That has been reduced to a trickle from a necessary faucet and that type of flow won’t help us recover as quickly as we hope. And then, there is an election – in August to determine a County Mayor – and in November once again to determine who will be President. Leadership is tough on the best of days in this country. What about the worst of times? It requires more than just stepping-up – it requires courage, bold action, facing down our long-standing biases and a desire to put everyone else before one's own ego. That is what we need right here in our hometown, our community, our neighborhood. A creative approach to solving an enormous array of challenges, some so raw that they require tough conversations and even greater introspection and honesty. I know our small businesses are up for it. I know business owners are hopeful for it. And, I promise our Chamber will step-up and help create it. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, our businesses have been fighting to survive every day of their lives – but that is not new and that did not just begin with a pandemic. Now, it is just more life-threatening in every sense of the word and the recovery will be long and difficult. Small businesses are used to big challenges, but often toil alone. Let's rise up with them to meet these fears head on. Small businesses have always known the reality of big challenges. Let's each do our part. All of us. Right Now. In this moment.
TRUSTEE TALK The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Trustee Diplomats would like to welcome you to this latest edition of the Chamber CONNECTion, Day 114 as of writing of the "New Normal." Your Diplomats have been doing our best to adapt to the changing times and support our Chamber and the excellent work of President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge and the entire team to continue to bring vital, relevant connectivity to our community. The world has been mostly "virtual," but the cracks of light can be seen and hopefully it is indeed the light at the end of the tunnel. In addition to a Zoom monthly Trustee Luncheon, with excellent speakers and presentations, the Diplomats have been holding monthly virtual happy hours and breakfast meetings to keep the team together. ERIC GROS-DUBOIS
CHAIR, TRUSTEE DIPLOMATS CEO, FOUNDER | EPGD BUSINESS LAW ERIC@EPGDLAW.COM
In the coming months we will be doing our best to get back to "normal," including an intended in-person Interactive Luncheon, and celebrating our new Chairman Brian Barakat's Annual Conference with the new and improved Interactive Luncheon as part of the festivities at the end of August, 2020.
I think we all agree that now more than ever, it’s important to "Come Together", as our community needs us just as much as we need our community. Please join me for one of these many great programs, and feel free to ask me how I can help you in coming out of these strange times stronger than ever.
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2020
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2020
SAVE THESE DATES
2019 - 2020 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board | Brian Barakat Barakat Law, P.A. Chairman-Elect | Ana Chaoui Grove Bank & Trust Vice Chair | Rene Negron Equitable Advisors, LLC Vice Chair | Efrain Sora Sora Global Insurance & Consulting Vice Chair | Nicolas Eterovic Edward Jones Vice Chair | Mike Ybarra Northwestern Mutual - Coral Gables Vice Chair | Sara Hernandez First Citizens Bank Trustee Council Chair | Eric Gros-Dubois EPGD Business Law Treasurer | Pilar Baena Smiles & Sonrisas Parliamentarian | Cristina Miller Intermedia Touch, Inc. Chairman's Appointee | Addys Kuryla Florida Power & Light Chairman's Appointee | Martha de la Pena Rojas Florida Blue Immediate Past Chair | Patrick O’Connell Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty
May - June 2020
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thad Adams, The Allen Morris Company Ricardo Alberty, Well-Groomed Gentleman Chris Colston, Second Chance Credit, LLC Amy Donner, Coral Gables Magazine Frank Fernandez, CenterState Bank Elsa Figueredo, Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health Alex Fonseca, Apollo Bank Maria Garcia, Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton Matthias Kammerer, The Biltmore Hotel Jorge Martinez, The Conroy Martinez Group Alina Menendez, American Airlines Deirdre D. Nero, NERO Immigration Law, P.L. Audrey Otero, BankOZK Melanie Sanchez, Fifth-Third Bank Monique Selman, Albany Homes International Lillian Ser, Ser & Associates Anabella Smith, Zyscovich Architects Cinthya Urena, City National Bank Myrna Vaca, UHealth Jessica Wilcox, J. Wilcox Consulting
Ayala Law PA B.House Barlop Business Systems Beat Culture Brewery Clear Solution Connect2Global, LLC gA - Grupo ASSA La Bella Salon La Sandwicherie The Morgan Law Group Travel by Design t/hawk digital Resorcity Robert Half Technology Snyder Media *BOLD denotes new Trustee Member *BOLD denotes new GEM Member
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Honorable Patricia Keon City of Coral Gables Mary Snow Coral Gables Community Foundation Truman Skinner Business Improvement District of Coral Gables Julian Perez City of Coral Gables James Kohnstamm The Beacon Council President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2020
CHAMBER CALENDAR
‘20
July | August Monday
Tuesday 29
Wednesday 30
10 AM | STATE OF FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE ROUND-UP
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING
1
NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON
6
7
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING
13
14
Friday
2
8
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV'T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING
8 AM | MEMBERSHIP TEAM COMMITTEE MEETING
10 | CORPORATE COVID-19 TESTING PRESENTED BY GENTERA CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
10 AM | INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM
OFFICE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF JULY 4TH
8 AM | CHAIRMAN'S AMBASSADOR'S COMMITTEE MEETING
3
9 AM | WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING
5 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
Thursday
9
10
9 PM | BOOKS & BOOKS VIRTUAL EVENT W/ JIM CARREY
15
4 PM | IMPACT SEMINAR PRESENTED BY DALE CARNEGIE TRAINING
16
17
10 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BRUNCH 11:30 AM | 20/30 GROUP MEETING
20
21
27
3
22
23
28
29
30
31
4
5
6
7
NOON | COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE
NOON | TRUSTEE LUNCHEON
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING
8 AM | CHAIRMAN'S AMBASSADOR'S COMMITTEE MEETING
NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON
10
11
17
18
24
25
NOON | WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
24
9 AM | TROW KNOWS...CEOs
NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB
12
13
14
19
20
21
26
27
28
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV'T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING
4 PM | IMPACT SEMINAR
9 PM | CHAMBER 201
9 AM | WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING
5 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
10 AM | D.i.S.C. ANALYSIS PRESENTED BY SANDLER TRAINING MIAMI
8 AM | MEMBERSHIP TEAM COMMITTEE MEETING
ANNUAL CONFERENCE - DAY 1 PRESENTED BY FLORIDA BLUE
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2020
9 AM | CHAMBER 101
ANNUAL CONFERENCE - DAY 2 COME TOGETHER
SPONSOR RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through June 2020
SERIES SPONSOR
$5,000 & Above
GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES MAY
WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON MAY
JUNE
TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON MAY
JUNE
• The Allen Morris Company • Amerant Bank • Equitable Advisors • Bacardi USA • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty • Business Improvement District of Coral Gables • Capital One • CenterState Bank • City of Coral Gables • City National Bank of Florida • Clear Channel Outdoor • Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida • Florida Blue • Home Financing Center, Inc. • Photo Offset, Inc. • Samuel Adams Boston Lager • South Motors • UHealth
$2,500 - $4,999
• Baptist Health South Florida • Florida Power & Light • Gulliver Schools • Intermedia Touch, Inc. • Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables • NERO Immigration Law, P.L. • Smiles & Sonrisas
TROW KNOWS CEOS
Someone’s Son
IMPACT SEMINAR
e m a G ON!
RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON
TOTAL HEALTH RESTORATION Dr. Michael Forman DOM, P.A.
TM
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2020