JULY - AUGUST 2021 REUNITED... AND IT FEELS SO GOOD! With a renewed sense of normalcy dawning over the horizon, our Chamber is excited to present our Annual Conference, LIVE and in-person! In partnership with our title sponsor Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida, we're directing our efforts on re-invigorating, re-focusing and re-vitalizing our local business community and beyond! We invite you to join us on Thursday, August 19th and Friday, August 20th at The Biltmore Hotel as we ring in the start of a new Chamber year with our Incoming Chair Ana Chaoui of Grove Bank & Trust. Over the course of the two days, we'll hear from community leaders such as Kim Ng, General Manager for the Miami Marlins, Author Les Standiford discussing his latest work 'Battle for the Big Top' and more! Stay tuned as we reveal more information on our Conference in the weeks to come, including more speaker spotlights, exciting added value and more on our annual George E. Merrick Awards of Excellence honoree. Now, don't walk, run to our website to take advantage of our early, early bird pricing... now!
IN THIS ISSUE: Thoughts from our Chair
Page 2
President’s Perspective
Page 3
Trustee Talk
Page 5
Save the Date!
Page 6
Membership Highlights
Page 7
May Calendar
Page 8
June Calendar
Sponsor Recognition
Page 9 Page 10
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2021
THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR
No more pencils, no more books, no more boss’ dirty looks. One way or another, masks and all, summer is here, so let’s have a ball! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to throw the kids in the car and head over to The Biltmore Hotel for a relaxing poolside staycation. Then we’ll hop on our bicycles and take a dip in the turquoise waters of the aquifer-fed Venetian Pool. Perhaps we'll go kite surfing at Matheson Hammock Park, or just relax and enjoy the lush tropical paradise found right outside our doors. BRIAN BARAKAT
CHAIR OF THE BOARD PARTNER | BARAKAT + BOSSA, P.A. BARAKAT@B2B.LEGAL
I hope you all made it out to our Summer Lovin’ Soirée at the Shops at Merrick Park. Our retailers and restaurateurs opened their doors providing quite the welcome for us as we walked, live, in person, and together for this quaint summer stroll.
This summer also marks the return of our in-person events and with it, perhaps if you’re vaccinated, a hug. We are kicking-off our cautious return to normalcy with our signature networking event Good Morning Coral Gables breakfast on July 15th, followed by our Chamber’s 2021 Annual Conference on August 19th and 20th. After the last 18 months, it’s great to be RE-UNITED... and it feels so good! Can’t wait to see you all. CHAIR OF THE BOARD PARTNER | BARAKAT + BOSSA, P.A. BARAKAT@B2B.LEGAL
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2021
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE | MY LONG AWAITED QUINCEANERA This past month, I reached my 15th anniversary at the helm of our Coral Gables Chamber. My, how time flies! In Miami, that would typically call for a Quinceanera celebration filled with friends, great food, bright colors and a stunning new outfit. Of course, these are not typical times and so, we will celebrate quietly at our Chamber with the joint announcement of a long-term contract extension between me and our leadership. I want to thank our Board of Directors for their continued confidence in me as our CEO, as well as their recognition of my time already devoted here at our Chamber. It is hard to believe that 15 years ago as our Chamber was in transition, a formal job search was done that ultimately led to my hiring. It was a daunting process, but one that I embraced. And while it may seem hard to believe now that I have been in the post for a decade and a half, it has been an incredible journey with more ups than downs, more successes than failures, and a Chamber in a better place than when I began. MARK A. TROWBRIDGE
PRESIDENT & CEO CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MTROWBRIDGE@CORALGABLESCHAMBER.ORG
In that time, we have faced down the Great Recession, a global pandemic, multiple hurricanes, economic uncertainty, changing presidential administrations and a cycle of community crises. And, in early 2020, we sold our Chamber HQ and moved back downtown to a new home that we are eager to show-off to all of you (and not just on Zoom!).
Yet, this opportunity almost never happened. That’s right, there is always a story behind the story. The headhunter hired by the Chamber met me at another Chamber’s annual Goals Conference. He invited me for breakfast at Hotel St. Michel to talk about the opportunity and for me to share my experiences. At the end of our chat, he let me know I “was not what the Chamber was looking for”. So, we parted ways and I thanked him for breakfast, curious to not have made the cut so quickly. A few weeks later, he called and said he had winnowed the list down to five and was going to include me as his sixth choice. He could not guarantee an interview, but it was his style as a headhunter to offer up a “wild card” to every search committee. They ultimately agreed and my interview was set. We met at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel early on a Monday morning a few days later. I was the first candidate of the six and was greeted by members of the selection committee, some of whom are familiar to you even to this day (Ron Shuffield, Mike Tomas, Ann Pope, Sergio Barrera, Carolina Rendeiro, Dennis Doucette, Neil Linden). It was a thoughtful and engaging conversation and given that I was not who they were looking for – nor was I desperate for work or between jobs – it took on more of a conversational tone and brainstorming session. Within a few days, I was invited back for the next round; this time, I would be presenting my 100 Day Plan to the full Board of Directors (nearly 40 strong!) at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. My focus for the first 100 days would be on RELEVANCE. In 2006, Chambers were going through their usual challenges – and in a roaring economy, it was hard to sell the Chamber as a business networking organization and connector, mostly because business was booming. So, I drilled down on the way I would approach this opportunity and then answered a maelstrom of very direct questions about how to help a once mighty group regain its place in the community. I remember telling John O’Rourke – our Chamber is like one of your diamonds. It just needs a little polish to return its brightness and sparkle. Needless to say, things worked out in my favor and after an official vote, the Board unanimously agreed to begin negotiations. That was late June 2006 and my first official day was set for August 7th. So much has happened in the ensuing years. Many members of old may not recognize our Chamber today. From our modern branding and our expanded committee structure to our more diverse membership and top tier ranking. We have increased our budget by more than 100%, as well, mostly driven by membership growth at the Trustee and GEM levels, as well as greater activity in the programming and sponsorship space. We also created such winning programs as Burgerliscious, expanded all our awards programs, participated in regional, state and national initiatives and became a best practice leader for Small Business Saturday. We found our footing, driven by our members’ passionate hearts, and have never looked back.. And now, after 15 years, I commit to a ten-year agreement to continue to serve our Chamber, Coral Gables, as well as our greater community and state. That will make me one of the longest serving Chamber leaders in our community, as well as eclipse all other who have served our Chamber. Yet, I am reminded of the first conversation I had about this job. I wasn’t what they were looking for. Thankfully, I don’t give up that easily and in the end, ultimately we found one another. All the best,
Be Part of the Next Annual Edition As the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & GUIDE TO DOING BUSINESS, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL magazine is a comprehensive showcase of all local business resources.
L U F I T U A E B Y CIT THE
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Y ERCE DIRECTOR
Featuring WORLD-CLASS DESIGN AND CONTENT by CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE, the magazine is distributed to the 20K+ HOUSEHOLDS in the city, as well as to numerous hotels, and local businesses. Most importantly, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL will also be distributed by the city’s ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT to all new businesses, government agencies and prospective companies looking to relocate in Coral Gables.
COVER 2020
Find it on-the-go: The MOBILE-OPTIMIZED DIGITAL EDITION is also available on a DEDICATED WEB PAGE on both the Coral Gables Chamber and Coral Gables Magazine websites. With thoughtfully curated SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, monthly EBLASTS, informative PRESS RELEASES and TARGETED DISTRIBUTION, your message will get the kind of intelligently crafted exposure that only an awardwinning media company and an award-winning Chamber of Commerce can provide. For more information and to secure your premium ad space, contact
Morgan Mongelia Communications Manager Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, 201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 100, Coral Gables, FL 33134 T: 305-446-1657 ext. 123 • E: mmongelia@coralgableschamber.org
CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE
TRUSTEE TALK
Greetings and Welcome to this Summer edition of the Chamber CONNECTion! Quarantine life feels like it is coming to an end and with many of us vaccinated, feeling brave about travel, dining out, and getting together with friends and colleagues, there’s no better time than the current to renew or upgrade your investment in the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Speaking on behalf of the Trustee Diplomats, we are eager to get back out into the community and continue to be the bridge between our Chamber’s leadership, staff, and our Trustee investors. ERIC GROS-DUBOIS
Your Chamber Trustee Diplomats especially want to thank and commend our President, Mark A. Trowbridge for his steady and strong leadership in getting us through the pandemic year. The Chamber has grown and it shows! We encourage you to consider visiting the new(ish) offices on Alhambra Circle and saying "hi" to the team. They are already gearing up and planning for the Annual Conference on August 19th & 20th as we transition to our next slate of Chamber leadership, including our Chair Ana Chaoui of Grove Bank & Trust. My how time flies... CHAIR, TRUSTEE DIPLOMATS CEO, FOUNDER | EPGD BUSINESS LAW ERIC@EPGDLAW.COM
As with everything, it is a team effort to keep the Chamber growing and engaged in our community, and Mark, Erica, and our Chairman, Brian Barakat, have all stepped up and shown, by example, how to "Come Together" to support each other and our community as we transition to the "new normal." I am here, along with the rest of the Trustee Diplomats to answer any questions, and act as a liaison for any members (or even non-Chamber members) who are interested in learning more about the Trustee level membership. And now that we are getting back out there, I'd love to grab a coffee with any of you to share my experiences, and discuss the value that the Chamber has brought to me personally and professionally. I hope to see you all very soon at an up-coming live event!
CHAIR, TRUSTEE COUNCIL CEO, FOUNDER | EPGD BUSINESS LAW ERIC@EPGDLAW.COM
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2021
2020 - 2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board | Brian Barakat Barakat + Bossa, P.A. Chair-Elect | Ana Chaoui Grove Bank & Trust First Vice Chairman | Thad Adams The Allen Morris Company Treasurer | Sara Hernandez First Citizens Bank Parliamentarian | Addys Kuryla Florida Power & Light Immediate Past Chairman | Patrick O’Connell Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty Vice Chairman-Global Business Affairs | Deirdre Nero NERO Immigration Law, P.L. Vice Chairman-Community Affairs | Mike Lasley Northwestern Mutual - Coral Gables Vice Chairman-Business & Economic Development Carolina Rendeiro, Connect2Global Vice Chairman-Member Affairs | Lauren Dowlen Lowell International Realty Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs | Maria Garcia Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton Trustee Council Chair | Eric Gros-Dubois EPGD Business Law Chairman’s Appointee | Martha de la Peña Rojas
MAY - JUNE 2021
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ricardo Alberty, The Well Groomed Gentleman Steven Bradley, Clutch Burger Chris Colston, Second Chance Credit LLC Amy Donner, Coral Gables Magazine Frank Fernandez, CenterState/SouthState Bank Matthias Kammerer, The Biltmore Hotel Alina Menendez, American Airlines Cristina Miller, Intermedia Touch, Inc. Rene Negron, Equitable Advisors Elsa Powers, Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida Monique Selman, Albany Homes Construction Lillian Ser, Ser & Associates, PLLC Anabella Smith, Zyscovich Architects Efrain Sora, Sora Global Risk Advisors Cinthya Urena, City National Bank of Florida Myrna Vaca, UHealth Jessica Wilcox, J. Wilcox Consulting
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS City of Coral Gables | Vice Mayor Michael Medina City of Coral Gables | Julian Perez Business Improvement District of Coral Gables Coral Gables Community Foundation | Mary Snow The Beacon Council of Miami-Dade | James C. Kohnstamm Coral Gables Chamber Foundation | Cristina Miller President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge
120% Lino 718 Management Group LLC Aerus Electrolux LLC AMLOAD LLC Blanca Commercial Real Estate Borkat Plumbing Services LLC Carlos Botty Delta Air Lines DLE Legal (Process Servers and Court Reporters) Dr. Scarlet Constant, MD, PA Eclectico Restaraunt & Bar Forte by Chef Adrianne Friends of WLRN, Inc. General Concrete Services GROU coffee + cowork Hoover Pumping Systems Corp. International Business Academy Intuition Stylists iV Bars of Coral Gables Jacqueline A. Salcines, P.A. Jaguar Therapeutics Jaxson Maximus JWR Construction Karibe Mechanical Service, LLC KAT Marketing Group, LLC Kreps PR & Marketing Lanco Medical Group MDL TRAVEL SERVICE CORP MED Expeditors, Inc. MKT Kitchen Morgan Horton Law MSP Recovery, LLC One Health Medical Centers Redfish by Chef Adrianne Sanz Distribution LLC Schooley Mitchell - Coral Gables Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Sobe Promos LLC South Florida Friends of Classical Music Spine Center of Miami Straight 2 U Solution Services, LLC Sunshine For All, Inc. The Campbell Law Group, PA The de Moya Foundation Employment Opportunities The Doug Willliams Group Timothy Oulton Tommy Bahama USA Sports Therapy Village Medical Center WEP Sourcing Zitz Sum *BOLD denotes new Trustee Member *BOLD denotes new GEM Member
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2021
CALENDAR | JULY 2021 Sunday 27
Monday 28
Tuesday
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
1
Friday 2
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
Saturday 3
OFFICE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY
9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
4
5
6
7
OFFICE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY
8
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON
11
12
13
14
15
9
10 9 AM | CHAMBER ENGAGEMENT 101
NOON | RISING STAR AWARDS DEADLINE
16
17
23
2
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS 8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T 7:30 AM | GOOD AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MORNING CORAL - HYBRID MEETING GABLES BREAKFAST FEAT. CONVERSATION - HYBRID LIVE & IN PERSON W/A CONSUL SERIES FEAT. THE CITY NOTE DATE CHANGE! BEAUTIFUL AWARDS 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY 9:15 AM | 20/30 @ ECLECTICO RESTAURANT & BAR IN GROUP MEETING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE @THE BILTMORE HOTEL CORAL GABLES BAR ASSN.
18
19
20
21
NOON | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
22
10 AM | IMPACT: A SEMINAR SERIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE!
OPENING CEREMONIES
25
26
27
THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
28
GABLESCHAMBER
29
CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
coralgableschamber.org | (305) 446-1657 | info@coralgableschamber.org
30
31
GABLESCHAMBER
CALENDAR | AUGUST 2021 Sunday 1
Monday 2
Tuesday
Wednesday
3
4
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
9
10
11
16
17
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
9 AM | TROW KNOWS... CEOS
9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
12
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
15
Friday
5
NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON
8
Thursday
18
19
23
24
25
26
5:30 PM | CHAMBER ROAST FEAT. OUR CHAIRMAN BRIAN BARAKAT
29
30
31
13
14
9 AM | CHAMBER ENGAGEMENT 101
20
21
7:30 AM - 5 PM 2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE @ THE BILTMORE HOTEL
27
28
3
4
8 AM | BUSINESS & EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
1
2
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
7
NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB FEAT. HOW PEOPLE MATTER BY ISAAC PRILLELENTSKY
8 AM | MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
5:30 PM | GEORGE E. MERRICK AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS DINNER & LIVE AUCTION KICK-OFF TO OUR 2021 ANNUAL CONFERECE @ THE BILTMORE HOTEL
22
6
Saturday
GABLESCHAMBER
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING
9 AM | TROW KNOWS... CEOS SEASON 11 PREMIERE
9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING
CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
coralgableschamber.org | (305) 446-1657 | info@coralgableschamber.org
GABLESCHAMBER
SPONSOR RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY MAY
JUNE
SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through June 2021 $5,000 & Above
• Amerant Bank GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES MAY
• Equitable Advisors • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty • CenterState Bank • City of Coral Gables
WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON MAY
• City National Bank of Florida • Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida • Florida Blue • UHealth
BUSINESS BOOK CLUB LUNCH & LEARN SERIES SPONSOR
PARTNER
$2,500 - $4,999
TROW KNOWS CEOS
• Florida Power & Light • Home Financing Center, Inc.
SERIES SPONSOR
• Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables • NERO Immigration Law, P.L. IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES SPONSOR
RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON SERIES SPONSORS
The Maulini Group at Morgan Stanley
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | July - August 2021