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5TH ANNUAL BURGERLISCIOUS FIRES UP NOV. 5TH The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce will host our fifth annual burger bonanza, Burgerliscious, on Thursday, November 5th from 6 PM – 10PM at Fred B. Harnett / Ponce Circle Park, located at 2800 Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables. Join over 1,500 of your closest friends as twenty-plus restaurants go head-to-head, competing in a meaty match-up to be named this year’s ‘Best in Bun’ honoree. Returning to this year’s event and defending their title is reigning champ ROK: Brgr! Also bringing their fiery fare to this year’s Burgerliscious festival are: Blue Martini-Brickell, BrickTop’s, BurgerFi, BULLA Gastrobar, Café at Books & Books, Christy’s Restaurant, Doctors Hospital, Fetes & Events, Jr’s Gourmet Burgers, Pardo’s Peruvian Cuisine, Pincho Factory, Pisco Y Nazca, Randazzo’s Little Italy, Rock That Burger, ROK: Brgr, Seasons 52, Shake Shack, Shula’s 347 Grill, Spring Chicken, Swine Southern Table & Bar, Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill and Vicky Bakery. With just a few days to go, things are starting to heat up! Burgerliscious also highlights the best of beer and live music. Enjoy ice-cold, seasonal favorites courtesy of Samuel

Adams beverages and the best in live music. Taking center stage are The Regs, a killer classic / modern rock band and local fan favorite making their debut with us! Launching Miami Live Month, a program presented by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the rockin’ set by The Regs is one you won’t want to miss! New wrinkles at this year’s Burgerliscious is Firecracker the mechanical bull, unique Burgerliscious themed merchandise, including the always popular burger hat! Plus, enjoy a selfie station / photo booth to capture all of your meaty memories. Now that your mouth is watering, head over to coralgableschamber.org and purchase your tickets today. General admission is $50 and includes six sliders and two beers and VIP admission is $100 and includes unlimited sliders and beers, in addition to exclusive, early access to the Jack Daniels VIP tent. To learn more about this event, contact Erica Simons at 305-446-1657.

MEAT YOU THERE!

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 │November - December 2015

THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Wayne Cameron Eldred Chair of the Board, CGCC Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill weldred@tarponbend.com Dear Chamber Friends, The time has arrived for our highly anticipated 5th annual Burgerlicious! This grand event will kick off at 6pm this upcoming Thursday evening, November 5th at Ponce Circle Park. This is a City Beautiful fave, with our Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager and other fine dignitaries attending. We’ve sent a special request to the CEO upstairs for heavenly weather; given our good work this year, our request may just come true. Remember that this year is all about being “At Your Service”, so, if you are looking to get more involved in our Chamber, please feel free to let me know. Reach out to me at weldred@tarponbend.com and it will be my absolute pleasure to help guide your future ambitions. As always, I am…at your service,

Wayne Cameron Eldred Chairman

2015 - 2016 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman: Wayne Eldred, Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill Chairman-Elect: John Allen, Home Financing Center First-Vice Chair: Martha de la Pena Rojas, Florida Blue Treasurer: Patrick O’Connell, EWM Realty International Parliamentarian: Brian Barakat, Barakat Law, P.A. Immediate Past Chairman: Linda Knudsen, Baptist Health South Florida Vice Chair, Global Affairs: Carolina Rendeiro, eMerge Americas Vice Chair, Community Affairs: Jon Ridley, Honeywell Vice Chair, Business & Economic Development: Nelson Penalver, LOI Marketing, Inc. Vice Chair, Member Affairs: Gabriel de Armas, Jr., Home Instead Senior Care Vice Chair, Special Events: Willy Espinosa, Epinosa Financial Vice Chair, Government Affairs: Bruce Bounds, Bounds Law Offices Trustee Council: Nicole Waters, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Chairman’s Appointee: Luis Requejo, One Payment President & CEO: Mark A. Trowbridge BOARD OF DIRECTORS Elected-term expires 2016 Amy Donner (Miami’s Community Newspapers) George Feliciano (Bay Plumbing Company) Charles Knight (Florida Power and Light) Al Peraza (Mercantil Commercebank) Frank Fernandez (BankUnited)

LET'S EAT DINNER SERIES @ TARPON BEND RAW BAR & GRILL

Elected-term expires 2017 Andria Hanley (Camillus House) Raquel Hickey (City National Bank) Matthias Kammerer (The Biltmore Hotel) Barbara Norland (YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade Inc.) Anabella Smith (Zyscovich Architects) Elected-term expires 2018 Thad Adams (Allen Morris Company) Ana Chaoui (Coconut Grove Bank) Nikki Deas (Vine Communications) Yesenia Moreno (Albion Staffing) Rene Negron (AXA Advisors) Chairman’s Appointees-term expires 2016 Carlos Garcia (Goldstein Schechter and Koch) Manny Garcia (Concierge Esq) Drew Kern (EWM Realty International) John O’Rourke (Montica Jewelry) Zachary Sulkes (Bacardi USA)

PHOTOS BY: DANIEL QUINONES, DQ FILMS MEDIA

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS City of Coral Gables Commissioner Patricia Keon City of Coral Gables TBD Business Improvement District F. Michael Steffens (Neville Steffens Architects, PA) Coral Gables Community Foundation Mary Snow The Beacon Council of Miami-Dade Nelson Lazo (Doctors Hospital)

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE - PLAY BALL Mark A. Trowbridge

President & CEO Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce mtrowbridge@coralgableschamber.org

grasp. My father, the lifelong Yankee, remained stalwart in his support and reminded me it was all part of the game.

I have always loved the Fall season. To me, it meant crisper weather, trees ablaze with fiery reds and oranges and bronzes and night falling in the early evening. Maybe it was because I grew up in Northwest Ohio where by mid-October I was already wearing a fleece jacket to the bus stop in the morning gloam. Halloween was not nearly as much fun wearing long johns under your costume. As kids, we would hope that the rain would clear in time to go door to door begging for caramel covered apples, pop corn balls and the occasional chocolate bar. Better yet, Fall signaled the arrival of college football and baseball's post-season, a chance to stay up late and watch the Fall Classic with my Dad and older brothers. Rarely was my team ever in it (the Detroit Tigers), but more often than not the Big Red Machine (Cincinnati Reds were my Dad’s favorite) that featured the finest infield ever assembled in baseball history was there right to the very end.

Since that time, that phrase has always caused the little hairs on the back of my neck to come to attention. Maybe it is because I still have a very strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. I am amazed when people knowingly break the rules or bend the social mores of the community to their liking in the hopes that they won’t get caught or even called out on it. And sometimes the rules are really about just having good manners and doing unto others as you would have done unto you. Funny how that works. I know we are not all blessed with them especially in our diverse and dynamic community that is hard charging and hip thrusting.. But that doesn’t mean we should allow those who exhibit poor behavior to go unchecked, especially in a business environment where one’s word should be as good as if you signed it in blood and one’s demeanor professional. We should all expect that and moreover, we should demand it. If it is all part of the game, let’s find a way to win for all the right reasons. Now, let's play ball!

Sure, many of those years belonged to Tommy Lasorda's Dodgers or Billy Martin's Yankees (the team my Dad loved most next to his Reds), with perennial all-stars who would become Hall of Famers, including Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry and Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson. I loathed Reggie - and while I did not know exactly why as a pre-teen – with that smug arrogance that made him the perfect Yankee, the perfect foil, the perfect superstar of the World Series. It was 1978, and I can still see Reggie sticking his hip out on a routine double play that allowed a run to score. No interference, no replay, no fair. Lasorda went nuts...and I mean NUTS! The umpires were sympathetic, but the call stood and the series changed with that one little hip check. I was so mad, a 10 year old kid who had been taught right from wrong since the day I could comprehend the words. And yet, this seemed so wrong and Jackson got away with it. I was outraged, sure that there would be some recourse. There was none. I wanted to write the Commissioner. My Dad found it completely amusing. The Yankees repeated as world champions that year thanks to Reggie’s little move and Bucky Dent was named MVP. At least that didn't go to the cocky cheater. I didn't even actually like the Dodgers, but I felt that they had been wronged and that their chance at the title was stolen from their coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

EXPERTS FOCUSED ON YOU. What sets us apart is who we bring together. At UHealth – the University of Miami Health System, you don’t just get a doctor. You have a specialized team of physicians, researchers, nurses and other experts relentlessly focused on you. UHealthsystem.com

TRUSTEE TALK Nicole Waters

Chair, Trustee Council Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables waters@mbcoralgables.com

TRUSTEE EVENTS:

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

You know what’s scary…. Scary is sitting down to prepare your 2016 budget realizing marketing and advertising investments made in 2015 were not maximized to DRIVE business. Everyone knows you have to spend money to make money, but the KEY is paying attention to the details of your investment to ensure a return is achieved. In order to see a return on your Trustee Level membership investment, we recommend these steps for driving success.

The September Trustee Luncheon featured Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Harlan Selesnick, for HEAT player Alonzo Morning, players Udonis Haslem, Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic and CEO of Doctors Hospital, Nelson Lazo.

FIRST GEAR Participate in Chamber events and activities. Consistency in participation will assist in the relationship building necessary to gain referrals and ultimately business.

SECOND GEAR Utilize your Trustee Diplomat to help you navigate the right events and opportunities for your company. Diplomats are experienced, loyal Trustee members who can save you time and assist with strategic introductions.

The team from Doctors Hospital poses with our Miami HEAT stars at the September Trustee Luncheon!

THIRD GEAR Sponsor events in order to spotlight your company and get in front of your new and existing customers. People love to support companies who share their same interests. The Chamber, business development and community involvement are a great start.

Trustee members enjoyed a vibrant Trustee Reception at Canala Diaz Art Center.

The Trustee Council is excited to be a part of your pit team. Let’s drive success together. Contact your Trustee Diplomat, myself or the Chamber today for more information and to sponsor a Trustee Luncheons or Reception! Happy Halloween! Trustee Member, Chris Colston of Second Chance Credit takes home his very own piece of original artwork from Canale Diaz Art Center.

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Presents:

BURGERLISCIOUS

Get Your Tickets @

coralgableschamber.org

Thursday, November 5th

Fred B. Hartnett / Ponce Circle Park | Coral Gables | 6-10 PM

WE’RE COOKING UP SOMETHING BIG! . EAT

THE BURGERS | BEER | LIVE MUSIC F REGS | ENDLESS FUN!

GA $50 • 6 Sliders & 2 Beers | VIP $100 • Unlimited Burgers & Beer

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

SAVE THESE IMPORTANT FALL DATES Wednesday, November 4, 2015 - Noon Wednesday, November 18, 2015 - 8:30 AM RE-Connect Luncheon IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business Location: Morton's the Steakhouse Reduce - Reuse - Recycle! 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Coral Gables Location: 2000 Ponce Business Center Sponsors: Credomatic Merchant Services, EPGD Attorneys at Law, 2000 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 5th Floor, Coral Gables P.A. & Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Sponsor: Mercantil Commercebank, N.A. Speakers: Efain E. Sora, Sora Global Insurance & Consulting, LLC Breakfast Provided By: Vicky Bakery Coral Gables Cost: $25 per-person Panelists: Reduce - Pierre Sierralta, Corporate Manager-Supply Online payment and registration is now required! Chain, Baptist Health South Florida; Reuse - John C. Farina, Retired Professional, Department of Environmental Resources Wednesday, November 4, 2015 - 5:30 PM Management; Recycle - Shiraz Kishar, Community Relations SpeWind Down Wednesday cialist, Waste Management Location: Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests 169 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables - located adjacent to the Westin Colonnade Coral Gables Thursday, November 19, 2015 - 7:30 AM Sponsor: MAPFRE Insurance Good Morning Coral Gables Cost: $25 Chamber Members by 10/30; $35 Chamber Members & Guests Annual Education Breakfast presented by the Business & Education After 10/30 Committee! Location: Biltmore Hotel Thursday, November 5, 2015 - 6:00 PM 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Burgerliscious Series Sponsor: UHealth Location: Fred B. Hartnett / Ponce Circle Park Breakfast Sponsor: Florida Power & Light 2800 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Speaker: Evelio Torres, President & CEO, Early Learning Coalition Presenting Sponsors: Business Improvement District of Coral Cost: $25 Chamber Member by 11/13; $40 Guests Gables & South Motors Supporting Sponsors: Clear Channel Outdoor, Bay Plumbing Tuesday, December 1, 2015 - 11:45 AM Company, Brown-Forman, City of Coral Gables, Doctors Hospital, Trustee Luncheon FirstBank Florida IPFone, Jack Daniels, LOI Marketing, Inc., One Location: The Biltmore Hotel Payment, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Samuel Adams Cost: $45 Trustee Members; $55 Guests Participating Restaurants: Blue Martini Brickell, Burger Fi, BrickWednesday, December 2, 2015 - Noon Top's, BULLA Gastrobar, Cafe at Books & Books, Christy's RestauRE-Connect Luncheon rant, Doctors Hospital, Fetes & Events, Jr's Gourmet Burgers, Location & Sponsor: Morton's the Steakhouse Pardo's Peruvian Cuisine, Pincho Factory, Pisco Y Nazca, Randa2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Coral Gables zzo's Little Italy, Rock That Burger, ROK:BRGR, Seasons 52, Shake Sponsors: Credomatic Merchant Services, EPGD Attorneys at Law, Shack, Shula's 347 Grill, Spring Chicken, Swine Southern Table & P.A. & Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Bar, Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill and Vicky Bakery Cost: $25 per-person Online payment and registration is now required! Cost: VIP Admission - unlimited burgers and beer and early access to the Jack Daniels VIP tent - $100 Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - 5:30 PM General Admission - includes 6 sliders and 2 beers - $50 Wind Down Wednesday VIP Admission 10 pack - $750 Location: Bottle & Bottega Miami General Admission 10 pack - $400 2765 SW 27th Ave, Miami Sponsor: MAPFRE Insurance Friday, November 6, 2015 - 8:30 AM Cost: $25 Chamber Members by 11/27; $35 Chamber Members Trow Knows... CEOs and Guests after 11/27 Sponsor & Location: Goldstein Schechter Koch 2121 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 1100, Coral Gables Friday, December 4, 2015 - 8:30 AM Speaker: Bruce Hayden, CEO, Banyan Health System Trow Knows... CEOs Cost: $20 Registration Fee Sponsor & Location: Goldstein Schechter Koch Registration is limited to the first 25 guests! 2121 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 1100, Coral Gables Cost: $20 Registration Fee Tuesday, November 10, 2015 - 5:30 PM Registration is limited to the first 25 guests! Trustee Reception Sponsor & Location: Montica Jewelry Tuesday, December 8, 2015 - 5:30 PM 75 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Trustee Reception Complimentary registration for Trustee Members. Location & Sponsor: International Finance Bank 777 SW 37 AVE, Suite 700, Coral Gables Friday, November 13, 2015 - 11:30 AM Complimentary registration for all Trustee Members Diamond Awards Celebrating all the sparkles about business! Friday, December 11, 2015 - 9:00 AM Location: Coral Gables Country Club Chamber 101 997 N. Greenway Drive, Coral Gables Want to learn more about YOUR Chamber? Then join us at ChamPresented By: Banks United & Goldstein Schechter Koch ber 101! Get information about the many programs and services Supporting Sponsors: LOI Marketing, Inc., Montica Jewelry, that the Chamber offers and meet Chamber leaders, staff and UHealth, Abundance, City of Coral Gables, Frames USA + Art Gallery, other members! Photo Offset, Inc. Location: Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Cost: $50 Member Fee by 11/5; $60 Guests; $750 Reserved VIP 224 Catalonia Avenue, Coral Gables Table of 10 Tuesday, December 15, 2015 - 11:30 AM Monday, November 16 - Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Women’s Business Network Luncheon Tallahassee Fly-In Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Make plans to join us up in Tallahassee for our annual Chamber 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Fly-In. Cost: $40 Chamber Members by 12/11; $50 On-Site & Guests Chamber room block at the Aloft Hotel in Tallahassee. Full slate Thursday, December 17, 2015 - 7:30 AM of meetings with partner organizations, Senators and RepresenGood Morning Coral Gables tatives and a private reception hosted by Baptist Health South Location: Biltmore Hotel Florida. 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables There is no cost to attend the Fly-In; however participants are Sponsor: UHealth responsible for air fare, hotel nights and meals. Supporting Sponsor: Home Financing Center Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - 11:00 AM Cost: $25 Chamber Member by 12/11; $35 Chamber Member late Women's Business Network Luncheon & on-site; $40 Guests Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Includes networking, program and full breakfast buffet. 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Sponsor: Marquis Bank Cost: $40 Chamber Members by 11/13; $50 On-site & Guests

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS

SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME

September - October 2015

$5,000 and Above

AVATAR Real Estate Services Ambrosia Doves Catering arely PR Barbados Liaison Service/ Consulate General of Barbados Blueprint22 Byrd Martinez CPA LLC Cartridge World Miami Caviar Inc. Cherry Blow Dry Bar Chocolate Fashion Coral Gables Garden Club Corporate Financial, Inc. Corporate Financial, Inc. Costco Wholesale Creative Staffing Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar Esteban "Steve" Perez, Estate Agent l ONE Sotheby's International Realty Estevez-Pazos Law Firm, P.A. FAS CPA & Consultants Fetes & Events Figurella USA GIG - Gifts in Golf Green Goddess Public Relations Grove Networks, Inc. Hillstone Restaurant Ileana Cabrera-Rodriguez Insurance Agency State Farm Interamerican Bank FSB J. Mclaughlin Juniors Catering of Miami - Concession Service Systems La Dorada Coral Gables, Inc. Le Tartine DiTeresa Maspons Sellek Jacobs LLP Medi-Station Urgent Care Miami Seaquarium Northwestern Mutual - Coral Gables OBBA Sushi & More Pacific National Bank Rewards Network Ser & Associates Suzanne A. Dockerty, P.A. The Toothhealer – For Children Around the World U.S. Wealth of Coral Gables Vicky Bakery Vixi Gelateria Well Groomed Gentleman

Through October 2015

• A Joy Wallace Catering, Design & Special Events • The Allen Morris Company • AXA Advisors, LLC • Bacardi USA • Baptist Health South Florida • Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc. - Miami Division • Bay Plumbing Company • Brown-Forman Beverages • Business Improvement District of Coral Gables • Cherry Bekaert LLP • City of Coral Gables • City National Bank • Credomatic Merchant Services

• EWM Realty International • Doctors Hospital • FirstBank Florida • Florida Blue • Gulliver Schools • Home Financing Center, Inc. • Intermedia Touch, Inc. • LOI Marketing, Inc. • Mercantil Commercebank, N.A. • Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables • Miami Herald • One Payment • Photo Offset, Inc. • Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill • University of Miami

$2,500 - $4,999 • Coral Gables Hospital • Florida Power & Light • South Motors BMW • Withers Worldwide Transportation

*BOLD denotes Trustee Member

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

EVENTS CALENDAR

‘15

November │ December

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting 10 5:30 PM Trustee Reception

Thursday

Friday

8:00 AM 4 6 Chairman’s Ambassadors5 12:00 PM Committee Meeting 8:30 AM RE-Connect Luncheon 9:00 AM Trow Knows... CEOs Women’s Business Network 5:30 PM featuring Bruce Hayden, Committee Meeting Wind Down Wednesday Banyan Health Systems 6:00 PM Burgerliscious! 11 12 13 8:00 AM OFFICE CLOSED 11:30 AM M-Team Committee Meeting Diamond Awards Luncheon Veteran's Day

30 8:00 AM 1 2 8:00 AM 3 4 12:00 PM Chairman’s Ambassadors Global Business Affairs 8:30 AM RE-Connect Luncheon Committee Meeting Committee Meeting Trow Knows... CEOs

18 7:30 AM 19 Good Morning Coral Gables 8:00 AM 9:00 AM IMPACT: A Seminar Series 20/30 Group for Small Business 11:30 AM Committee Meeting Tallahassee Fly-In • Tallahassee Fly-In • Tallahassee Fly-In 8:00 AM S.E.E. Green Committee Meeting

11:30 AM Trustee Luncheon

25 26 OFFICE CLOSED 27 Observance of OFFICE CLOSED Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day 28 Small Business Saturday

5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday

9:00 AM Women's Business Network Committee Meeting

8 8:00 AM 9 10 Business & Gov’t Affairs 8:00 AM 9:00 AM Committee Meeting Chamber 101 M-Team Committee Meeting 8:00 AM Small Business Committee Meeting 9:00 AM Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting

7 5:30 PM Trustee Reception

14 8:00 AM 15 16 17 7:30 AM S.E.E. Green 8:00 AM Good Morning Coral Gables Committee Meeting IMPACT: A Seminar Series 9:00 AM for Small Business 11:30 AM 20/30 Group WBN Luncheon Committee Meeting

29 30 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon

23 OFFICE CLOSED Christmas Eve

24 OFFICE CLOSED Christmas Day

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES

OCTOBER

SERIES SPONSOR

SEPTEMBER JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL

WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

TRUSTEE RECEPTION

SEPTEMBER

TRUSTEE LUNCHEON SEPTEMBER

and the Chamber's Board of Directors OCTOBER

IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES

OCTOBER

CHAIRMAN'S RECEPTION

LEGISLATIVE ROUND-UP

LET'S EAT DINING SERIES

SEPTEMBER

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE BRUNCH

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │November - December 2015

OCTOBER