TRUSTEE TALK Greetings, fellow Trustees! Our luncheon in September was the perfect launch event for the Chamber year, featuring Miami Heat all-stars Udonis Haslem and James Jones, as well as orthopedic surgeon extraordinaire, Dr. Harlan Selesnick. J. Dustin Symes, City
Due to popular demand, we are planning to make this program an annual event. Many dustin.symes@citynational.com thanks to Linda Knudsen and Nelson Lazo from Baptist for helping make this happen for our Chamber and our Trustees. National Bank & Trustee Council Chair
In October, we hosted Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who had just returned the evening prior from New York City, having received the Broad Prize in Education on behalf of our school district. This honor, tops in the field of education, comes with $550,000 in scholarships for minority students.
Next month, we will be hosted by John & Marichi O’Rourke at Montica Jewelry for our Trustee Reception (November 13th), where we will fete all of the Diamond Award winners. In addition, Art Torno, new head of operations for American Airlines in Miami and Latin America, will fill us in on what is happening with our region’s biggest airline carrier (November 28th) as it emerges from reorganization. AA is a long-time Trustee of the Chamber and has its corporate headquarters in Coral Gables and we look forward to welcoming Art formally to the City Beautiful. Finally, we are pleased to share that Trustee renewals remain above 80%, which means that our Trustee members are finding great value and true benefits through their Chamber membership. Help us grow our Council of Trustees to new heights by making direct referrals of prospects to one of our Diplomats or a member of the Chamber leadership team. We know that we are judged by the companies we keep – starting with each of you!
Carvalho also spoke on the 21st Century Schools Bond program, an important ballot item (#222) that will raise more than $1.2 billion for new facilities, upgrades/renovations, new technology and infrastructure investments. Our Chamber Board voted unanimously to support the bond issue and urges our members to vote YES on #222 on November 6th!
2012 DIAMOND AWARDS PRESENTED BY MONTICA JEWELRY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2012 DIAMOND AWARD WINNERS!
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Hearts on Fire Award (Large Business) City National Bank Princess of Hearts Award (Small/Medium Business) ProMD Practice Management Diamond in the Rough Award (Emerging Business) S.T.A.R.S. School for Autism Outstanding Non-Profit Award Seraphic Fire & Firebird Chamber Orchestra
City of Coral Gables Envision Possibilities City National Bank Logistical Outsourcing, LLC U.S. Century Bank
Outstanding Restaurant Award Cibo Wine Bar
In-kind support provided by: Belle Fleur Frameworks Photo Offset Hyatt Regency Coral Gables
Ideal Workplace Award Guardianship Program of Dade County
Media Sponsor: South Florida Business Journal
Minority-Owned Business Award Sonshine Communications
ALBERTO ROMEU | ALBERTO ROMEU PHOTOGRAPHY Bottom Left: Anthony Di Donato, Coral Gables Country Club; Raquel Hickey, City National Bank; Salvatore Catania, Cibo Wine Bar; Karen Pascual, City National Bank; Dustin J. Symes, City National Bank; John O’Rourke III, Montica Jewelry; Jerry Santeiro, Guardianship Program of Dade County; Marisol Martinez & Eglee Nunez, S.T.A.R.S School for Autism, Bernadette Morris, Sonshine Communications; Chair Darla Thompson, Cherry Bekaert & Holland; Jose Carreras, ProMD Practice Management; Patrick Quigley, Seraphic Fire & Firebird Chamber Orchestra; Cindy Birdsill, City of Coral Gables and Nelson Penalver, Logistical Outsourcing, Inc. Bottom Right: Sponsor - Montica Jewelry: Marichi O’Rourke and John O’Rourke III, Owners.
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www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012