PROGRESS WEEK - 90 YEARS OF HONORING MERRICK'S LEGACY In November of 1926, the City of Coral Gables and our Chamber hosted the first Progress Week with a parade down Miracle Mile. Nearly 89 years later, we will pay homage to this time in our collective history and host Progress Week 2015. Beginning October 8th at 7:30 AM with our Good Morning Coral Gables Breakfast, Progress Week will be celebrated with a series of events commemorating the vision of City and Chamber founder, George E. Merrick. Founded in 1925, Coral Gables was Merrick's biggest accomplishment. Perfectly blending all aspects of life: education, commerce, aesthetics and involvement, Coral Gables was Merrick’s vision of paradise nestled along the quiet waters of Biscayne Bay. Today, we are still that paradise and more. We've "progressed" into the Top Foodie City in the nation by Livability.com, one of the Top Ten Dreamiest Places to Live in the United States by HGTV's FrontDoor.com and one of top five most livable communities in the world!
. Calendar of Events:
IN THIS ISSUE:
Thursday, October 8 •7:30 AM: Good Morning Coral Gables/Chamber Birthday Breakfast/Progress Week Launch
Thoughts from our Chair Page 2
Saturday, October 10 •3:00 PM: Chamber Anniversary (cake and ice cream with release of The City Beautiful Magazine, 90th Anniversary issue) @ Family Day at the Coral Gables Museum on Aragon •TBA: University of Miami at Florida State
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
th
th
Wednesday, October 14th •5:30 PM: Chairman’s Reception @ the Westin Colonnade Coral Gables Thursday, October 15th •6:30 PM: Launch of Arva Moore Park’s new biography on George Merrick @ the Coral Gables Museum "George Merrick: Son of the South Wind"
Sunday, October 11th •7:00 PM: Seraphic Fire Concert at The Biltmore Hotel
Friday, October 16th •7:00 PM: Coral Gables Community Foundation Gala – A Night in Old Shanghai •8:00 PM: Opening Night and Season Premiere at Actors’ Playhouse, featuring "The Toxic Avenger"
Monday, October 12th •Columbus Day
Saturday, October 17th •TBA: University of Miami hosts Virginia Tech
Tuesday, October 13th •5:30 PM: Trustee Reception @ Mercatil Commercebank, N.A.: A view of Merrick's paradise
Sunday, October 18th •10:00 AM: Coral Gables Museum presents Coral Gables Landmarks Bike Tour
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │September - October 2015
THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Wayne Cameron Eldred Chair of the Board, CGCC Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill weldred@tarponbend.com
Salutations, my Chamber family. Friends, please help me in giving a warm and heartfelt thank you to our dear friend, mentor and outgoing Chairman- Linda Knudsen - as she relinquishes her role as the Chair of the Board of our Chamber of Commerce. We graciously salute her for nearly two decades of service and thank her for her continued efforts as she assumes the role as our Immediate Past Chair and Executive Committee member. Over the course of Linda’s chairmanship, she has helped our Chamber grow in fiscal leaps and bounds. Linda’s amazing ability to share her positive, humorous and intellectual energy with each of us has been utterly contagious. Linda’s theme “Chamber YOU” allowed each of our businesses to focus on interpersonal and business development. Starting today, September 1st, I depart on a very humbling journey as I attempt to follow in the footsteps of Linda and so many other great Chairmen who have generously served our community with their time, talent and treasure. I respectfully thank each member for your trust and vote of confidence as I start this year. I feel blessed to be surrounded by so many spectacular Board members and a Chamber team led by our charismatic leader, Sir Mark Trowbridge. This year, our Chamber will be focusing all of our efforts on being “At Your Service”. The theme is focused on four pillars: Community Service, Public Service, Service Above Self and Customer Service. Our purpose is to help businesses and individuals develop a stronger skill set when venturing into these arenas. I am looking forward to seeing each of you at our upcoming events. Sincerely,
Wayne Cameron Eldred Chairman
COMMEMORATING 90 YEARS
We're excited, are you? To celebrate the 90th anniversary of our City Beautiful, Miami's Community Newspapers will be producing a commemorative issue. Now is the time to reserve your space in these issues and show your support of Coral Gables! This special edition section will hit the presses September 29th, a pre-cursor to Progress Week! For more information on Miami's Community Newspapers commemorative issue, contact Amy Donner at amy@communitynewspapers.com.
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) Ramon Ferrer (Florida Power and Light) Al Peraza (Mercantil Commercebank) Frank Fernandez (BankUnited) 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) 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 │September - October 2015
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE - AT YOUR SERVICE Mark A. Trowbridge
President & CEO Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce mtrowbridge@coralgableschamber.org
munity.
Happy New Year Chamber members! September marks the beginning of our fiscal year, as well as the opportunity to welcome our new Chair of the Board, Wayne Eldred, to the helm of the Chamber. Wayne has served in a variety of capacities in the Chamber over the past few years on his pathway to the Chairmanship, most notably on our Board of Directors and as our Treasurer. He will lead a group of 40 committed volunteers this year who all have invested their time, talent and treasure. Wayne and his Board will be sworn-in officially at the September 17th Good Morning Coral Gables breakfast, where Mayor Cason will give his annual State of the City Beautiful address. You will not want to miss the amazing breakfast – always a highlight in our cadre of programming during the year. UHealth will also be rolling-out a new annual sponsorship for the breakfast – our signature monthly program – and be joined by Dr. Julio Frenk, the new president at the University of Miami.
As I begin my tenth year at the helm of the Chamber, I am constantly reminded how fortunate I am to lead a Chamber that is dynamic and diversified, committed and community-oriented, responsive and relevant, as well as in-touch and in-sync with the needs of our members. Thank you for your confidence and commitment to our Chamber.
Applications are now available for the 2015 Diamond Awards! Apply today in one of our fourteen dazzling categories! Applications are due by Friday, October 9th at Noon. For more information on how to apply, contact Erica Simons at (305) 446-1657 or by e-mail at esimons@coralgableschamber.org!
These are exciting times in our Chamber, with our leadership and volunteers engaged in numerous activities that will impact our business community significantly over the next year. Our theme, At Your Service, is entrenched in the four pillars of serving: community, customer, public and service above self. This theme serves as a call to action and galvanizes our members around the singular goal of service. With a refined focus on local, state and federal issues affecting businesses of all sizes, to events that explore our real estate, non-profit and international markets, the Chamber is committed to our members and helping you grow your businesses. Plus, our large-scale annual events are sure to wow: Small Business Saturday, Burgerliscious, Diamond Awards and more! Even in a rebounding economy fueled by cautious optimism, the Chamber is the one constant – growing and strengthening relationships that will lead to new business, new partnerships and even new friendships. Now is the time to reup your membership, get more strongly engaged, and find the right spot in the Chamber that will help you build your business. It is our goal each day to be responsive to our members, our community and our businesses. This requires a total team effort, each of us excelling in our respective roles and committing fully to developing business and building comcoralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │September - October 2015
TRUSTEE TALK Nicole Waters
Chair, Trustee Council Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables waters@mbcoralgables.com
What’s All the Buzz About? Trustee members are talking about our exciting events, membership benefits, and their favorite Trustee Diplomat. As the newest Trustee Council Chair, allow me to introduce myself. A long-time Chamber member and Marketing Director at Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, it’s my honor to lead the Trustee Council for the next year. Five years ago I was simply a member attending events before taking on the role of Baptist Health 5K Chair. After two years of leading the 5K event, I was invited to the Executive Committee as Vice-Chair of Special Events and most recently accepted the invitation to Chair the Trustee Council. The goal of Trustee Council to navigate our Trustee level members in networking, maximizing their membership, and ultimately leading to business development. I’m joined by the following Trustee Diplomats, who along with myself, remain at your service. Alex Jimenez, Apollo Bank Ana Chaoui, Coconut Grove Bank Cristina Miller, Intermedia Touch, Inc. Eric Gros-Dubois, EPGD Attorneys at Law, PA George Feliciano Jr., Bay Plumbing Company Laura Beaton-Aguilera, Sabadell United Bank Marianne Sioli, Benefit Life Corporation Nelson Penalver, LOI Marketing, Inc. Orestes Hernandez, PGA TOUR World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship Pete de la Torre, Pete de la Torre Enterprise Rene Negron, AXA Advisors Sara Hernandez, C1Bank Susan Rutrough, Raymond James Wealth Management Yesenia Moreno, Albion Staffing Solutions, Inc. If you haven’t already, review our September events and mark your calendars. Our next event is the Trustee Reception at the beautiful Canale Diaz Art Center. Trustee Members kindly register before September 4th. And don’t forget, we have several other general membership events such as the Women’s Business Networker, Impact Series, and our monthly Good Morning Coral Gables Breakfast.
speakable value. We look forward to seeing YOU soon.
TRUSTEE EVENTS: JULY - AUGUST 2015
Trustee members Alexandra Salcedo, along with Marti Mang and Marianne Sioli admire a beautiful Mercedes at the July Trustee Reception hosted by Mercedes-Benz Coral Gables.
Over a hundred Trustee members gather around as Mercedes-Benz hands out sizzling summer prizes!
Long time Chamber members and past chairmen Ron Shuffield and Drew Kern of EWM Realty International enjoy a night of networking at the August Trustee Reception hosted by City National Bank.
Lastly, a trivia question. How many companies have been members of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for more than 25 years? Please email your answer to waters@mbcoralgables.com for a gift of uncoralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │September - October 2015
Networking at its finest!
UPCOMING EVENTS
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │September - October 2015
SAVE THESE IMPORTANT SPRING DATES Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - Noon RE-Connect Luncheon Please note new location! Location & Sponsor: Morton's the Steakhouse 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Coral Gables Sponsors: Credomatic Merchant Services, EPGD Attorneys at Law, P.A. & Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Speaker: Eric Gros-Dubois, EPGD Attorneys at Law, P.A. Cost: $25 per-person Online payment and registration is now required! Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday Location: Randazzo's Little Italy 385 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sponsored By: MAPFRE Insurance Partner: The Business Improvement District of Coral Gables Cost: $25 Chamber Members by 8/28; $35 Chamber Members and Guests after 8/28 Friday, September 4, 2015 - 8:30 AM Trow Knows... CEOs Join us for the season five premiere! Please note new location! Sponsor & Location: Goldstein Schechter Koch 2121 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 1100, Coral Gables Speaker: Tim Rodgers, Director, The Wolfsonian-FIU Cost: $20 Registration Fee Registration is limited to the first 25 guests! Tuesday, September 8, 2015 - 5:30 PM Trustee Reception Location & Sponsor: Canale Diaz Art Center 146 Maderia Avenue, Coral Gables Complimentary registration for all Trustee Members Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 11:00 AM Women's Business Network Luncheon Join us as we break the ice with YOUR Florida Panthers! Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Sponsor: Doctors Hospital Featuring: Florida Panthers Hockey Team and their mascot, Stanley! Cost: $40 Chamber Members by 9/11; $50 On-site & Guests Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - 8:30 AM IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business Location: 2000 Ponce Business Center 2000 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 5th Floor, Coral Gables Sponsor: Mercantil Commercebank, N.A. Topics: Hire Slow Fire Fast - Throw Them in the Deep End - Building Your Culture Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 7:30 AM Good Morning Coral Gables Join us for the installation of the Chamber's 2015 - 2016 Board of Directors along with the unveiling of the new City Beautiful Magazine and Mayor Cason's State of the City Beautiful Address! Location: Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Series Sponsor: UHealth Supporting Sponsors: Junior Orange Bowl & the Chamber's Board of Directors Speaker: Mayor Jim Cason, City of Coral Gables Tpoic: State of the City Address Cost: $25 Chamber Member by 9/11; $40 Guests Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 11:00 AM Trustee Luncheon Location: The Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsor: Doctors Hospital In Partnership With: Miami HEAT Cost: $45 Trustee Members; $55 Guests; $500 Reserved VIP Table of 10
Friday, October 2, 2015 - 8:30 AM Trow Knows... CEOs Sponsor & Location: Goldstein Schechter Koch 2121 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 1100, Coral Gables Cost: $20 Registration Fee Registration is limited to the first 25 guests! Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - Noon RE-Connect Luncheon Location & Sponsor: Morton's the Steakhouse 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Coral Gables Sponsors: Credomatic Merchant Services, EPGD Attorneys at Law, P.A. & Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Cost: $25 per-person Online payment and registration is now required! Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday Location: Lowe Art Museum 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables Sponsor: MAPFRE Insurance Cost: $25 Chamber Members by 10/2; $35 Chamber Members and Guests after 10/2 Thursday, October 8, 2015 - 7:30 AM Good Morning Coral Gables Location: Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsor: UHealth Keynote Speaker: Aruna Mani, M.D., Breast Oncology and Internal Medicine, UHealth Cost: $25 Chamber Member by 8/2; $35 Chamber Member late & on-site; $40 Guests Includes networking, program and full breakfast buffet. Tuesday, October 13, 2015 - 5:30 PM Trustee Reception Location & Sponsor: Mercantil Commercebank, N.A. 220 Alhambra Circle, 9th Floor, Coral Gables Complimentary registration for all Trustee Members October 14, 2015 - 5:30 PM Chairman's Reception Join us as we introduce the 2015 - 2016 Board of Directors and Chairman, Wayne Cameron Eldred! Location: Westin Colonnade Coral Gables 180 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables Cost to Display: $250 Chamber Members; $350 for Non-Members Tuesday, October 20, 2015 - 11:30 AM Women’s Business Network Luncheon Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Cost: $40 Chamber Members by 10/16; $50 On-Site & Guests Friday, October 23, 2015 - 9:00 AM Chamber 101 Want to learn more about YOUR Chamber? Then join us at Chamber 101! Get information about the many programs and services that the Chamber offers and meet Chamber leaders, staff and other members! Location: Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce 224 Catalonia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsor: Mercantil Commercebank, N.A. Complimentary registration for all new Chamber members! Wednesday, October 28, 2015 - 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon Location: Miami Airport Hotel Keynote Speaker: Emilio T. Gonzalez, Director & Chief Executive Officer, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Cost: $45 Trustee Members; $55 On-Site & Guests
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │September - October 2015
MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS
SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME
July - August 2015
$5,000 and Above
Amore Gelato Art Caffè Arven Financial Bottle & Bottega Miami CADISA, Inc. CenturyLink Business Command Security Corporation Crown Wine & Spirits Disfrutar Magazine, Inc. Ducks in a Row Coaching Limited eMerge Americas Engel & Völkers Miami Espirito Santo Marketing Solutions Florida Unemployment Cost Management Inc. Green Monkey Yoga Hayes Bookkeeping, Inc. Hope Physical Rehabilitation Kudos Events LLC Miami Center For Oriental Medicine Miami Pet Concierge Michael Forman DOM, P.A. Mind Body Weight Olé Restaurant OptFirst Inc. Prime Medical & Rehab Services Propel Marketing Rex Fabrics Rex Fabrics Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. Shinieshears Silverberg|Brito, PLLC SMF Law The Nail Scholarship Foundation The OIS Group Title Town, llc., A Law Firm T-Mobile U.S. Army Recruiting Center Kendall University of Florida MBA Programs Valley National Bank Wade Trim, Inc. XO Communications YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade, Inc.
Through August 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 │September - October 2015
EVENTS CALENDAR
‘15
September │ October
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
31
1
8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting OFFICE CLOSED Labor Day
7
5:30 PM Trustee Reception
14
8:00 AM S.E.E. Green Committee Meeting
8
15
11:30 AM WBN Luncheon
21
28
8:00 AM 9 8:00 AM 10 Business & Gov’t Affairs Committee Meeting M-Team Committee Meeting 8:00 AM Small Business 6:00 PM Committee Meeting 9:00 AM Town Hall Meeting with Cultural Affairs Dr. Julio Frenk, President, Committee Meeting University of Miami 10:00AM Travel & Tourism @University of Miami Committee Meeting
22
29
8:00 AM Business & Education Committee Meeting
5 8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting
23 24 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon
5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday
9:00 AM Women's Business Network Committee Meeting
9:00 AM 20/30 Group Committee Meeting
12
19 8:00 AM 20 21 22 9:00 AM S.E.E. Green 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Chamber 101 Committee Meeting Business & Education IMPACT: A Seminar Series Committee Meeting for Small Business 11:30 AM WBN Luncheon
26
5:30 PM Trustee Reception
14
15 8:00 AM M-Team Committee Meeting
27 28 11:45 AM AM 11:45 Trustee Luncheon Luncheon Trustee
9/10
3:00 PM Chamber's 90th Anniversary @Coral Gables Museum
OFFICE CLOSED Columbus Day
8:00 AM Business & Gov’t Affairs Committee Meeting 8:00 AM Small Business Committee Meeting 9:00 AM Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting 5:30 PM Chairman's Reception
25
30 8:00 AM 1 2 Chairman’s Ambassadors 8:30 AM Committee Meeting Trow Knows... CEOs
6 7 8 7:30 AM 12:00 PM Good Morning Coral Gables RE-Connect Luncheon
13
11
16 7:30 AM 17 18 Good Morning Coral Gables 8:00 AM 8:30 AM 9:00 AM IMPACT: A Seminar Series Coffee & Conversation 20/30 Group for Small Business Committee Meeting
2:00 PM Miami Begins With ME Seminar
Friday
2 8:00 AM 3 4 12:00 PM Chairman’s Ambassadors 8:30 AM RE-Connect Luncheon Committee Meeting Trow Knows... CEOs 9:00 AM 5:30 PM featuring Tim Rodgers, Wind Down Wednesday Women’s Business Network The Wolfsonian-FIU Committee Meeting
7:00 PM Let's Eat Dining Series @Swine Southern Table & Bar
Thursday
16
23
29 30 10:00 AM Residential Real Estate Brunch & Learn
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │September - October 2015
SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY JULY
AUGUST
JULY
AUGUST
TRUSTEE LUNCHEON
GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES
WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
JULY
AUGUST
TRUSTEE RECEPTION JULY
AUGUST
IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES
CITY BEAUTIFUL AWARDS
JULY
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS-2-BUSINESS FORUM
BOOGIES NIGHTS
SUMMER SCREENING
TRUSTEE INVITATIONAL & INTERACTIVE LUNCHEON
coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │September - October 2015