Chamber CONNECTion | March - April 2019

GET IN THE GAME @ OUR ANNUAL BUSINESS EXPO! Make 2019 a slam dunk for you and your business! buzzer-beating bites.

Our March Madness Business Expo is one of the Chamber's signature annual events. Presented each March, this is our premier table-top showcase and your only opportunity to display your goods and services to a diverse audience of business leaders, movers, shakers and community decision makers this year.

Companies that are already getting in the game include: EWM Realty International | Gables Columbus Center | Home Financing Center, Inc. | Hyatt Place Miami Airport - East | Mayfair Coconut Grove | Miami Airport Marriott | Miami Herald Media Company | Retreat Premier Addiction Treatment Centers | Smash Pixel Studio | UHealth

Take full-court advantage of this alley-oop of a networker on Thursday, March 14th at as we take home court inside the famed Rotunda at the Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables.

Don't double dribble and miss out; make a fast break and reserve your Expo table today! Chamber members can enjoy a piece of the action for just $250, while non-members are $350. Each table top includes two admissions to the Expo.

This event includes high-impact networking, a mega business-to-business table-top showcase, Stay tuned as things are just starting to heat up! limitless libations courtesy of Bacardi USA and Visit coralgableschamber.org to register.

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 │March - April 2019

THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Patrick O'Connell

Chair of the Board, CGCC SVP, EWM Realty International oconnell.p@ewm.com

Dear Chamber Friends, Let’s all celebrate ‘National Old Stuff Day’ on Saturday, March 2nd!

What better way to start the month of March than to celebrate National Old Stuff Day. Yes, this really is a day observed each year on March 2nd. In my research to discover every available fact about this baffling day of observance, I found a few curious items to report: 1) National Old Stuff Day is a day to give notice to all your old stuff and try something new. Not necessarily old clothes, furniture, etc., but more old ways of thinking and behaving. (Maybe this has something to do with the start of Spring?).

2) We are asked to collectively ‘approach the day with a new attitude and consider alternative choices.’ I guess this has a different meaning for each of us- find yours!

3) No one knows who originated this day or when it began.

So, I challenge each of you to embrace the month of March in the spirit of ‘National Old Stuff Day’. Attend a new Chamber event, make new acquaintances at the next Chamber meeting or join a committee.

We have endless means to rid ourselves of ‘old stuff’ and find new and more meaningful ways to spend our precious time. If this particular day of observance holds no interest for you, just wait a few more weeks for ‘International Tatting Day’ on April 1st. Tatting has something to do with knitting -you can look it up.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Chamber CONNECTion and have a fantastic and productive March 2019.

Sincerely,

2018-2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board Patrick O’Connell (EWM Realty International) Chairman-Elect Nelson Lazo (Doctors Hospital) First Vice Chairman Brian Barakat (Barakat Law, P.A.) Treasurer Alex Jimenez (Grove Bank & Trust) Parliamentarian Tom Weinkle (Vortex Communications) Immediate Past Chair Martha de la Peña Rojas (Florida Blue) Vice Chairman-Global Business Affairs Rene Negron (AXA Advisors, LLC) Vice Chairman-Community Affairs Melanie Sanchez (BB&T) Vice Chairman-Business & Economic Dev. Eric Gros-Dubois (EPGD Business Law) Vice Chairman-Member Affairs Amy Donner (Coral Gables Magazine) Vice Chairman-Special Events Yesenia Moreno (Albion Staffing Solutions, Inc.) Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs Efrain Sora (Sora Global Insurance & Consulting, LLC) Trustee Council Chair Ana Chaoui (Grove Bank & Trust) Chairman’s Appointee Anabella Smith (Zyscovich Architects) President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Elected-term expires 2019 Pilar Baena (Smiles & Sonrisas) Carolina Rendeiro (Connect2Global) Claudine Claus (Home Financing Center, Inc.) Zachary Sulkes (Bacardi USA) Cheli Cerra (Mass Mutual Miami) Elected-term expires 2020 Andria Hanley (Camillus House) Phil Stevenson (Columbus Capital) Matthias Kammerer (The Biltmore Hotel) Jorge Martinez (The Conroy Martinez Group) Cinthya Urena (City National Bank) Elected-term expires 2021 Thad Adams (The Allen Morris Company) Chris Colston (Second Chance Credit LLC) Deirdre D. Nero, Esq (NERO Immigration Law, P.L.) Monique Selman (Albany Homes International, Inc.) Jessica Wilcox (J. Wilcox Consulting) Chairman’s Appointees-term expires 2019 Rosary Plana Falero (Marquis Bank) Nicolas Eterovic (Edward Jones) Addys Kuryla (Florida Power & Light) Cristina Miller (Intermedia Touch, Inc.) Myrna Vaca (UHealth)

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Patrick M. O'Connell Senior Vice President - New Business Development EWM Realty International Chairman of the Board Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

City of Coral Gables | Commissioner Patricia Keon City of Coral Gables | Pamela Fuertes Business Improvement District | Truman Skinner Coral Gables Community Foundation | Mary Snow The Beacon Council of Miami-Dade

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE - IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU! Every other year in The City Beautiful, our Chamber hosts a Candidate Forum on behalf of the local community as our ongoing contribution to the diverse civic landscape of Coral Gables. It is true that as a chartered Chamber, we are a non-partisan, apolitical, membership-based association and are by nature not engaged in endorsing candidates, only issues. However, we also understand the critical nature of electing pro-business, open minded, community oriented, ethically sound, well-mannered, thoughtful leaders. Thus we engage in a discovery and educational process that brings this information to light for the entire electorate to make the best choice possible for Coral Gables.

In doing so, we believe it is incumbent upon us to produce this Forum as a service to our residents, business leaders and voters of Coral Gables. We have the capacity to plan and execute such an event and are often credited with producing the largest, most successful candidate event each election cycle. In fact, at this moment, we have further engaged with five partners who reached out to us and wished to work together to promote our Forum to their members. That is not only an indication of our value, but also trust in us.

Our partner in this process over the past ten years (and five election cycles) has been the University of Miami, due in no small part to the leadership of Associate Vice President (and Chamber Past Chair) Sarah Nesbitt Artecona. She has been supported in this endeavor by her committed colleagues, including Rudy Fernandez. It is our belief that this unique and valued partnership brings top-notch credibility to the event, along with a tremendous venue to engage in the democratic process, supported by open and authentic candidate discourse.

While not a debate, the Forum allows for the free flow of ideas and a better understanding of where each candidate stands on the issues most critical to the local community. While our interest as a Chamber often focuses on the business climate, we go far beyond this scope and cover myriad topics and questions submitted by you, our members, as well as residents and engaged citizens alike. There is an expectation of decorum during the Forum, but no less desire for candor and honesty.

It is our hope that all of you – and your friends who live and vote in the Gables – will join us on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 6pm at the University of Miami Fieldhouse. The event is free and open to the public, underwritten by our hosts and our Chamber, along with Sora Global Insurance and Consulting. Dr. Jennifer Connolly, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami will moderate the two panels, featuring all six qualified candidates. Each has already agreed to join us.

We have also brought back a critical component of our 2017 event – the Chamber's Pledge of Positivity. Over the years of hosting these candidate events, we have seen negativity creep into the conversation in both the Forum hall and in the campaigns. It has become very un-Coral Gables like and well, we wanted to make an effort to curtail this behavior by asking candidates to commit to rise above the rhetoric. And so, we have again asked each candidate to sign the Pledge and then you, the voter, will hold them accountable on election day. It is just that simple.

In truth, we are a community of engaged citizens and even those that are not, understand the important role our elected leaders play. They are critical to moving our City forward, keeping our streets clean, our crime rate low and our businesses strong. We are very proud that our business community contributes nearly 37% to the tax base…and that number approaches 50% when you factor in additional fees businesses pay. It is incredible what we bring to the table and it is one of the reasons we spend time and energy on a Forum like this.

So, make plans to join us on Thursday, March 7th, send us your most pressing questions (events@coralgbleschamber.org) and most importantly, go out and vote on April 9th. In the end, and after all is said and done by us and others, that is the most important thing you can do!

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019

TRUSTEE TALK Ana Chaoui

Senior Vice President | Market Manager Grove Bank & Trust achaoui@GroveBankandTrust. com

Is it still winter?

We Miamians do not really know what that is and since the Groundhog did not see his shadow, it will be 90 degrees by the start of Spring.

January and February just flew us by and we had some amazing events to get the new year rolling.

The Palace Coral Gables hosted and sponsored January’s Trustee Luncheon, a place I may just retire later on in life. Thank you to Giselle Breto of Best Practices Title LLC for her supporting sponsorship, as well, for the luncheon. Not only was it a full house with great networking, what can't we say about the speaker? Our very own Board Member Chris Colston of Second Chance Credit, LLC did a great job giving us valuable tips on how to take control of our credit and maximize our money power. Thank you, Chris!

Our February Trustee Reception, hosted by Calas Group & EPGD Business Law, gave over 100 guests a spectacular evening of networking with a gorgeous view of our City. Trustee members and guests were treated to great food from our own Catering by Lovables, while our friends at Salon and Beauty Bar by Well Groomed provided the women and some gents wait a paraffin hand treatment.

Rick Alberty and his team at The Well Groomed Salon and Beauty Bar pulled out all the stops as we kicked off 2019 feeling like a million bucks at their Trustee Reception. Located at 261 Miracle Mile, the Beauty Bar provides and array of women's services.

Mary Scott Russell accepts the Trustee plaque on behalf of one of our newest members, East Ridge at Cutler Bay. East Ridge was founded in 1972 and is a 72-acre, non-profit LifeCare retirement community located in Cutler Bay. They offer independent and assisted living solutions in a neighborhood setting.

There are many more exciting events coming your way.

I hope you will join us and bring a friend or two so that they can see for themselves the value of becoming a Trustee Member of this amazing Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

Let's keep Doing Big Things!

P.S. Join me on Tuesday, March 12th at my own bank, Grove Bank & Trust, for our next Trustee Reception! I look forward to welcoming you.

Trustee members enjoy the view from the rooftop terrace at our February Trustee Reception. Hosted by Calas Group and EPGD Business Law, this reception boasted beautiful views, cigar rolling, scrumptious catering and more! Find out how you can upgrade your investment today!

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019

UPCOMING EVENTS

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019

SAVE THESE IMPORTANT DATES Wednesday, March 6, 2019 | Noon RE-Connect Luncheon Location: Morton’s the Steakhouse 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Barakat Law, P.A., EPGD Business Law, Total Health Restoration / Dr. Michael Forman, DOM, P.A., Sora Global Insurance & Consulting Featuring: Humberto Comellas, ulltium consulting, Inc. Cost: $25 Per-person Advance online registration and payment required

Includes high-impact networking, business-to-business table-top showcase, limitless libations and buzzer-beating bites!

Get off the sideline & get in the game! Purchase your expo table today! $250 Chamber members; $350 Guests Includes two admissions to March Madness Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | 4:00 PM IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business Location: Morton’s the Steakhouse 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Mercantil Bank Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 | 5:00 PM - Note earlier time!

Wind Down Wednesday Join us for a grand slam night of networking as the UniThursday, March 21, 2019 | 7:30 AM versity of Miami Hurricanes take on the Appalachian State Good Morning Coral Gables University Mountaineers!

Location: The Biltmore Hotel Location: Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables 6201 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Miami Herald Media Company Host Sponsors: University of Miami & University of Miami Featuring: Jenny Starr Perez, Editor in Chief, INDULGE Magazine Athletics Cost: $25 Chamber Members by 3/13; $35 Member On-Site Sponsored By: Total Health Restoration/Dr. Michael Registration; $40 Guests Forman, DOM, P.A. Cost: $25 Registration Fee by 3/4; $35 Chamber Members Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 11:45 AM after 3/1 & Guests - Includes networking reception, refreshTrustee Luncheon ments and admission to the game with advance request.

Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Additional ticket requests must be made by 3/4 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Speaker: Javier Betancourt, Executive Director, Thursday, February 7, 2019 | 6:00 PM Transportation Trust Candidate Forum Cost: $45 Member Registration by 3/22; Meet the candidates for City Commission and Mayor, hear $55 On-Site Registration & Guests their thoughts on the critical issues and submit your most pressing questions!

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 | Noon Location: Fieldhouse at the University of Miami Re-Connect Luncheon 1245 Dauer Drive, Coral Gables - Located next to the Watsco Center Location: Morton’s the Steakhouse Hosted By: University of Miami 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Moderated By: Jennifer Connolly, Assistant Professor of Sponsored By: Barakat Law, P.A., EPGD Business Law, Total Political Science, University of Miami Health Restoration / Dr. Michael Forman, DOM, P.A., Sora Group IV: Ralph Cabrera | Jorge L. Fors, Jr. | Jackson Rip Global Insurance & Consulting Holmes | Carmen Olazabal Featuring: Eric Gros-Dubois, Esq., EPGD Business Law Group I / Mayoral: Jeannett Slesnick | Raul J. Valdes-Fauli Cost: $25 Per-person Submit your questions for the candidates in advance by Advance online registration and payment required e-mailing events@coralgableschamber.org Tuesday, March 12, 2019 | 11:30 AM AXA Advisors Businesswomen of the Year Awards Honoring professional women in our community who make a difference each day!

Location: Coral Gables Country Club 997 N. Greenway Drive, Coral Gables Presented By: AXA Advisors Supporting Sponsors: City National Bank of Florida, George A. David, P.A., Sir Speedy, Flower Fanatic, EPGD Business Law Cost: $65 Chamber Members by 3/1; $75 Chamber Members after 3/1; $80 Guests; $750 Reserved VIP table of 10 Tuesday, March 12, 2019 | 5:30 PM Trustee & GEM Reception Host Sponsor: Grove Bank & Trust 2151 S. Le Jeune Road, Suite 100, Coral Gables Complimentary registration for Trustee & GEM Members Thursday, March 14, 2019 | 5:30 PM March Madness Make 2019 a Slam Dunk for Your Business!

Host Sponsor: Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables 180 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsored By: UHealth, Home Financing Center, Inc., Bacardi USA Cost: $25 Chamber Members; 2 for $50; 5 for $125; $40 Guests

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 | 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday Location: KAO Sushi & Grill By SushiClub 127 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Total Health Restoration/Dr. Michael Forman, DOM, P.A. Cost: $25 Registration Fee by 3/29; $35 Chamber Members after 3/29 & Guests

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, April 27, 2019 | 6:30 AM Lace up your running shoes and meet us at the Starting Line of the Doctors Hospital Tour of the Gables 5K/10K Location: Coral Gables City Hall 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables Presented By: Doctors Hospital Be among the first 750 runners to cross the finish line and get your very own custom finisher medal,

by Zyscovich Architects!

Cost: $35 Early Bird 5K Registration $45 Early Bird 10K Registration $10 Kids Dash (Ages 2-9)

Visit ATHLINKS.com and use keyword 'Tour of the Gables' to register!

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS

Through February 2019

January - February 2019 1st Financial Inc. Kendall Branch 50 Eggs Inc. Ad Lib Coral Gables Airtech Air Conditioning Appelrouth Farah & Co., P.A. Authentic Self Counseling Group Bird Rides Inc. Boies Schiller Flexner LLP Caterina Sastri @ EWM Realty International City Year Miami Cloud Team FL CompassMSP, LLC. Dojnia HR & Staffing EVEN Miami Airport Hotel Forma Dental Fulla Corp.

G.W. Carver Elementary School Gisela Cacciamani @ EWM Realty International Grove Station Tower Isabelle’s Grill Room & Garden Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli and Pratt Law Offices of Ena T. Diaz, P.A. Let them have cake LLC Live Like Bella® Childhood Cancer Foundation Luisa Cabrera Mendoza @ EWM Realty International Lutron Electronics Miami Jewish Health Micro Media Marketing Nicest Barbers Barbershop Office Pride of Miami – Coral Gables Orion Electric, Inc. Pandora at Shops at Merrick Park Powering Elite Performers LLC Publishers Direct Choice Rhonda A. Anderson - P.A. Rock and Candy S.H.I.N.E. Networking Inc. Schwartz Media Strategies Sherry Law Office PLLC Somi Pet Resort South Florida Philanthropic Consulting Services, LLC St. Thomas University Sykes Printing Vivan Serralta @ EWM Realty International

$5,000 and Above • The Allen Morris Company • AXA Advisors, LLC • Bacardi USA • Brown-Forman Beverages • Business Improvement District of Coral Gables • City of Coral Gables • City National Bank of Florida • Doctors Hospital • EWM Realty International • Florida Blue • Florida Power & Light

• Grove Bank & Trust • Gulliver Schools • Mercantil Bank, N.A. • Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables • MG Developer • Photo Offset, Inc. • Samuel Adams Boston Lager • South Motors BMW • Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill • University of Miami • UHealth

$2,500 - $4,999 • Apollo Bank

Please be advised that the annual process of electing Officers and Directors for our Chamber is now underway. The general membership of our Chamber has the opportunity to provide names of candidates to the Nominating Committee, as well as nominate members directly via a petition for Board membership.

In order to be nominated directly, a member must submit his or her request to be added to the ballot by returning twenty-five (25) signatures of Chamber members in good standing to the Chamber office by Wednesday, April 3rd at Noon.

Any submission from the membership will be added to the slate of nominees determined by the Chamber’s Nominating Committee and Board of Directors, led by Nelson Lazo, CEO of Doctors Hospital, our Chamber Chairman-Elect.

Chamber Board elections and member voting will be held in mid-May, 2019 and you will receive your ballot electronically.

*BOLD denotes new Trustee Member *BOLD denotes new GEM Member

Please contact the Chamber at (305) 446-1657 if you have any questions regarding this process.

Thank You!

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019

EVENTS CALENDAR

‘19

March | April

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

4

8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting

5

8:00 AM

6 Small Business Committee Meeting

Thursday

Friday

8:00 AM

7 Chairman’s Ambassadors Committee Meeting 9:00 AM Women’s Business Network Committee Meeting

Noon RE-Connect Luncheon 5:00 PM Wind Down Wednesday

6:00 PM Candidate Forum

11 12 13 14 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 11:00 AM Membership Committee Business & Government AXA Advisors Meeting Affairs Committee Meeting Businesswomen of the Year Awards 5:30 PM March Madness 5:30 PM Business Expo Trustee Reception

18

19

8

15

20 21 7:30 AM 4:00 PM Good Morning Coral Gables IMPACT Seminar

22

9:15 AM 20/30 Group Meeting

25

26

1

2 8:00 AM

8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting

27 28 11:45 AM 8:00 AM Trustee Luncheon Business & Education Committee Meeting

Small Business Committee Meeting Noon RE-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday

8

15 16 11:30 AM Women's Business Network Luncheon

5:30 PM Trustee Reception

22

29

9

29

3

4 5 8:00 AM 8:30 AM Chairman’s Ambassadors Trow Knows...CEOs Committee Meeting

9:00 AM Women's Business Network Committee Meeting

10 11 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM Business & Gov’t Affairs Membership Committee Chamber 101 Committee Meeting Meeting

4:00 PM IMPACT Seminar

17 18 7:30 AM Good Morning Coral Gables

12

19

9:15 AM 20/30 Group Meeting

23 24 25 26 8:00 AM 11:45 AM Business & Education Trustee Luncheon 27 Committee Meeting 6:30 AM Doctors Hospital Tour of the Gables 5K/10K

8:00 AM 30 Small Business

Committee Meeting

1

2

12:00 PM RE-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Rising Star Awards

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019

3

SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES JANUARY

FEBRUARY

TRUSTEE RECEPTION

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

WELL GROOMED SALON AND BEAUTY BAR

TROW KNOWS... CEOS

IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES

HOST SPONSOR

RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON

REALTOR SHOWCASE

NEW YEAR'S NETWORKER

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK

PRESENTED BY:

PRESENTED BY:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2019