MAY - JUNE 2021 SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT - THE DAILY RUNDOWN This Friday, May 7th, our Chamber, in partnership with small business aficionado, Ser & Associates, will host our inaugural Small Business Summit. This program will feature some of the leading minds in our local business community and beyond. With an engaging line-up of keynote presentations from leaders like our newly installed Mayor Vince Lago, economist extraordinaire Dr. J. Antonio Villamil the Founder of The Washington Economics Group, stunning storyteller Tamika Bickham and Authors of “The New Builders: Face to Face with the True Future of Business” Seth Levine & Elizabeth MacBride, the day is bound to be a top-notch program. Mark your calendar for an information packed morning, 8 AM - Noon, that you won't want to miss! There are in-person and virtual opportunities to attend and we encourage you to follow us on social media (@GablesChamber) for the latest updates on this poppin' program. Be a part of our day! BIG opportunities to make a BIG impact are coming your way!
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 | May - June 2021
THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR
As Mother’s Day approaches, I think about what a great influence my own Mom has had on my life. Her strength of character, her joie de vivre, her commitment, love and support for my sister and I are the foundational element of the person I hope to be. I hope that each of you are thinking of, connecting with, and remembering the brave women who made us who we are.
BRIAN BARAKAT
CHAIR OF THE BOARD PARTNER | BARAKAT + BOSSA, P.A. BARAKAT@B2B.LEGAL
As spring dissolves into summer and the heat approaches, it’s time for seersuckers and sun dresses. Update your summer wardrobe by heading over to the Shops at Merrick Park or home town clothier Artigiano for something with a custom flair. I have to find a way to balance client expectations of dress with my continued desire to ride my bike to work. So, if you see me passing by in my undershirt, look away, baby, look away!
Finally, I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the upcoming Small Business Summit. We have an amazing cadre of speakers who will provide a current look at doing business in 2021. I’m excited to be at the event and thankful to Ser & Associates for sponsoring and the Coral Gables Art Cinema for providing the venue. CHAIR OF THE BOARD PARTNER | BARAKAT + BOSSA, P.A. BARAKAT@B2B.LEGAL
Please be advised that the annual process of electing Officers and Directors of the Chamber is about to begin. On Monday, May 17th, 2021 you will receive an e-mail entitled "Vote now! Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce - Board of Directors Election | 2021 - 2024 Term" inviting you to participate in the Chamber's annual Board elections. Chamber Board elections are being hosted online through a secure voting resource known as Election Buddy. Please follow the instructions in that e-mail to submit your secure and anonymous vote. Please contact the Chamber at (305) 446-1657 if you have any questions regarding elections or your electronic ballot. The nominees, as determined by the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors, for the 2021 2024 Board of Directors are: • Tamika Bickham | TB Media Group • Giselle Breto | Best Practices Title • Chris Colston | Second Chance Credit, LLC • Rudford Hamon | Jelly Places • Mitchell Mandler | SMGQ Law
• Vonnell Martinez | VIM Consulting • Rosella Papale | RP Branding Studio • Monique Selman | Albany Homes Construction • Myrna Vaca | UHealth • Jessica Wilcox | J. Wilcox Consulting
Remember, you may vote for up to five (5) candidates! Voting closes on Tuesday, June 1st at 11:59 PM.
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE | SMALL BUSINESS - BIG HEARTS!
Small businesses are the very backbone of our local economy and embody the amazing spirit of our business community. They are the job creators, the forward-facing innovators and the investors in our collective future. They are also the heart and soul of our Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and Coral Gables community. This past year has been devastating to so many; but through it all, our small businesses pivoted and prevailed, changed course and set the pace, reimagined their business models and are now poised for a robust recovery. Through it all, our small businesses have been awe-inspiring! MARK A. TROWBRIDGE
PRESIDENT & CEO CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MTROWBRIDGE@CORALGABLESCHAMBER.ORG
That's why we are very excited to share the good news of our inaugural Small Business Summit on Friday, May 7th from 8am to 12:15pm, presented by Ser & Associates.
As the son of an entrepreneur and restaurateur, I can speak firsthand on how running a small, family-owned businesses requires every ounce of energy, ingenuity and investment. But, you also have to work ON your business as much as your work IN it. Our Summit is a great place to re-start, re-set or re-energize. Designed as a gathering of brilliant voices, thought leaders and practitioners, our first-ever Summit is dedicated to those who make our economy hum. We are excited to share that we will gather together in-person and in the virtual space. We will celebrate these entrepreneurs and so much more this National Small Business Week via our Chamber's Small Business Summit. This capstone conference has been designed with you in mind. Whether your business has one or 101 employees, from the reception desk staffer to the C-Suite leader, this Summit is the perfect program for you and your team. No matter your industry, your role or how long you have been in business, this half-day program is as essential as your business has been the last 13 months. Hear from the experts, the small business gurus, the top-of-their game professionals who are leaned into what small businesses want and need. Walk-away with practical tips, new knowledge, a plethora of contacts and resources galore, courtesy of our Chamber and our presenting sponsor, Ser & Associates. I look forward to welcoming you to this program and to sharing the good news of our business community’s recovery. This is just one of the tools to help us keep that momentum going. So, please make plans to join us in person or via Zoom on Friday, May 7 from 8am - 12:15pm as more than a dozen local business organizations Come Together in support of this inaugural effort. Let’s celebrate those heroes who have the biggest hearts – our small businesses!
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
THE COMP
DOING BU LETE GUIDE TO
The
SINESS IN CORAL
GABLES & CHAM
BER OF COMM
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
Welcome from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Trustee Diplomats to the May/June 2021 edition of the Chamber CONNECTion. It finally feels like we are turning the corner and getting back to "normal," and the Trustee Diplomats are excited about everything the Chamber is doing to support our local business community. The Diplomats are here to serve the Chamber, acting as a liaison between the amazing folks running our Chamber, and our key group of investors, the Trustees and the GEM Level Investors. ERIC GROS-DUBOIS
CHAIR, TRUSTEE DIPLOMATS CEO, FOUNDER | EPGD BUSINESS LAW ERIC@EPGDLAW.COM
Mark Trowbridge, our President & CEO, has been a shining example of what we can all accomplish in these interesting times, and we thank him for his leadership. The Chamber has settled into their new offices on Alhambra, and we are excited about in-person events that are to be hosted at the new location soon!
We are all working hard to "Come Together," and Mark, his team, and Brian Barakat, our Chairman of the Board of Directors, have been leading the way. We had our first live Trustee event in over 13 months in the month of April. Thanks to our friends our CenterState /SouthState Bank, our Trustee and GEM Level Investors gathered for a Reception at Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen, and while we did our best to be socially distant, masked up, hands sanitized, etc., it was great to see so many friendly faces in person. I can speak for myself that it was a lot of fun, and I am eager for more live events soon. As always, I want to invite any of you who have questions about the Chamber or the Trustees to reach out to me personally. The Chamber has meant so much to me professionally and is the platform I use to build my business. The Diplomats are proud to serve as the connection for members who are curious about Trustee membership. We have many great events on the horizon, including Trustee Luncheons and hopefully another in-person reception. Stay tuned, stay connected, and stay engaged! I hope to see you soon!
CHAIR, TRUSTEE COUNCIL CEO, FOUNDER | EPGD BUSINESS LAW ERIC@EPGDLAW.COM
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | May - June 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-Special Events | Darryl Rosenbaum Bigfoot Construction 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
MARCH - APRIL 2021
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ricardo Alberty, The Well Groomed Gentleman Steven Bradley, Clutch Burger Natalia Collazo, Miami Heat/AA Arena Chris Colston, Second Chance Credit LLC Amy Donner, Coral Gables Magazine Frank Fernandez, CenterState/SouthState Bank Alex Fonseca 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 | 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
Alhambra Station Cafe Allegiant Business Consulting, LLC arely PR Ascendo Resources LLC Bean Automotive Group Lexus of Kendall/ Kendall Toyota Common Area Factor B-More Arepas LLC (WELL FED) Burton Hersh Architects Calle 23 Miami Canopy Roofing INC CareerSource South Florida Clementine's Wine Gourmet Consulate General of Canada in Miami Copper 29 Bar Diamond Banc Holdings LLC El Car Wash Financial Insurance Brokers Gables Corporate Plaza In Motion Mobility LLC KAIA Greek Earth Grill Kanner & Pintaluga Kaufman Lynn Construction MHCP COLAB Miami Center for Architecture & Design Porpoise Evans, P.A. Portfolio Healthcare LLC Premier Pediatric Dentistry Pure Water Factory, LLC Quinn Reed Associates LLC RMO LLP Sapphira Privé Scenthound Coral Gables Severance Security - Miami The Pantin Partnership U.S. Century Bank Verdeja, De Armas, Trujillo, LLC Victor A Diaz Interior Vila Kids *BOLD denotes new Trustee Member *BOLD denotes new GEM Member
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | May - June 2021
CALENDAR | MAY 2021 Sunday 2
Monday 3
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
4
5
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING - HYBRID FEAT. CONVERSATION W/A CONSUL SERIES, HON. CRISTIANO MUSILLO, CONSUL GENERAL OF ITALY IN CONVO. W/ CAROLINA RENDEIRO, HONORARY CONSUL OF PORTUGAL
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
6
9 AM | PUBLIC POLICY TASK FORCE CALL NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY @ THESIS HOTEL MIAMI
7
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID 9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
CELEBRATING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 9
10
11
12
16
17
18
19
NOON | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON SPEED NETWORKING
|
8
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT - HYBRID @ CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL BUSINESS [ A SUMMIT FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY ]
14
15
9 AM | CHAMBER ENGAGEMENT 101
8 AM | MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID 10 AM | CHAMBER SPECIAL PRESENTATION FEAT. ARMANDO CODINA & REGENCY TOWER
20
4 PM | IMPACT: A SEMINAR SERIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS CYBER SECURITY
Saturday
MAY 3 RD - 7 TH
13
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
Friday
21
22
28
29
4
5
10 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BRUNCH FEAT. DR. MICHAEL McDERMOTT, BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA 11:15 AM | 20/30 GROUP MEETING - HYBRID -
23
24
25
26
27
NOON | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON
30
31
1
2
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
3
9 AM | PUBLIC POLICY TASK FORCE CALL NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON
CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED
5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GABLESCHAMBER
8 AM | BUSINESS & EDUCATION COMMITTEE - HYBRID -
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID 9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
coralgableschamber.org | (305) 446-1657 | info@coralgableschamber.org
9 AM | TROW KNOWS... CEOS NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB
GABLESCHAMBER
CALENDAR | JUNE 2021 Sunday 30
Monday 31
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
2
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
7
8
Friday
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
9 AM | TROW KNOWS... CEOS
3
NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON
6
Thursday
9
10
14
15
16
NOON | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
11
17
12
9 AM | CHAMBER ENGAGEMENT 101
8 AM | MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
4 PM | IMPACT: A SEMINAR SERIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS
5
NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB
9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
13
4
Saturday
18
19
25
26
2
3
10 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BRUNCH 11:15 AM | 20/30 GROUP MEETING - HYBRID -
20
21
22
23
24 8 AM | BUSINESS & EDUCATION COMMITTEE - HYBRID -
27
28
29
30
1
NOON | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID 9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GABLESCHAMBER
CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
coralgableschamber.org | (305) 446-1657 | info@coralgableschamber.org
9 AM | TROW KNOWS... CEOS NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB
GABLESCHAMBER
SPONSOR RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY MARCH
APRIL
SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through April 2021 $5,000 & Above
• Amerant Bank GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES MARCH
APRIL THE CHAMBER'S GEM LEVEL INVESTORS
WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON MARCH
APRIL
• Equitable Advisors • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty • CenterState Bank • City of Coral Gables • 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 | May - June 2021