Chamber CONNECTion | March - April 2023

MARCH - APRIL 2023

CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH!

What began in 1982 as 'Women's History Week' and was later passed by Congress in 1987 to encompass the entire month of March, is now a celebration of the contributions that women have made throughout the course of American history.

To kick-off this year's Women's History Month celebrations, our Women's Business Network Committee teamed up with our 20/30 Group to host a joint Wind Down Wednesday networking event at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse where the finslists for the 2023 Equitable Advisors Businesswomen of the Year Awards were announced.

For over two decades this awards program has recognized professional women in our community who make a difference each day, while achieving excellence in their profession and serving as role models for others. This year will be no different.

Additionally, we will pay homage to Margaret St. Germain, our Chamber's first female Chair, by bestowing the Margaret St. Germain Cornerstone Award to Ruth Riley Hunter. Ruth is the Senior Director of Team Development with the Miami HEAT. She is also a gold-medal Olympian, former WNBA player, and long-time NBA analyst and commentator.

The culmination of Women's History Month will take place on Friday, March 24th as we host the 2023 Equitable Advisors Businesswomen of the Year Awards Luncheon.

In the meantime, we encourage you to reach out and congratulate the finslits of this year's awards program! These women are true leaders, both in and out of the board room, and there's not better time than the current to show them how much we appreciate everything they do!

See page 5 for the complete list of finalists:

Women's History Month Page 1

Note From President Mark A. Trowbridge Page 2

City Beautiful Magazine Page 3

BWOTY Award Finalists Page 4

Upcoming Events Page 5

Board of Directors + New Members Page 6

March Calendar Page 7

April Calendar Page 8

Sponsor Recognition Page 9

Mental health has been top-of-mind for so many of us over the past few years, especially as we emerge from a nearly three-year pause on work and life that took a significant toll on so many of us. We have all been impacted by the global pandemic and every one of us bears the scars of isolation, loneliness, and fear to this day. These are our long-haul outcomes.

We may feel fine most days, but the reality is we are likely a little less patient, a little grumpier and a little less willing often embrace the unintended woe inflicted by others.

I remember a conversation with our Chairman at the time of the shut-down as we were in the midst of closing our offices, powering down our programming and heading home for what no one could imagine would be months and months. He asked me what I was going to do. I was a little surprised by the query, but then realized I didn’t actually know the answer. I was so used to being out every night, working every weekend, and attending events every single day that my very full life was now likely going to feel suddenly empty. Now, I would just be at home. Alone. Just me and the dog. Binge watching Tiger King and staring at my new Peloton Tread.

Like most, I had no plan for my own emotional and psychological well-being and none of us was really prepared for such a long and disruptive period in our lives. A deadly virus was even more dangerous when it came to our own mental health. Yet, I would posit that even as we have returned to the workplace and emerged from our cocoons to gather and network, there has been a thick pall hanging over our longer-term recovery. People are more challenging, customers more fiesty, co-workers more impatient, and certainly, everyone is a bit more bombastic than pre-pandemic.

I think it emanates from the “does not play well with others” syndrome we often see in kids who have no siblings when they first head off to school or entrepreneurs who work from home and have limited interaction with others. Being socially distant for so long did not do us any favors when it comes to our own mental health and our ability to relate, commiserate and show empathy.

That’s why our Chamber has seen such growth over the past few years – we are the conduit to others for those that have been working in isolation. Our networking events are more than just a business development exercise; they are an outlet for greater human connection. But it can come with a price if you have forgotten what my mother called the social graces. In fact, I was at a Board meeting this past week of another community organization and a gentleman who I did not know came up to me and said, “you look like you lost a penny, but picked up a few pounds”. It took me a moment to realize he was insulting me and when I turned around to respond, he had walking away. Mrs. Doubtfire would call that a drive-by fruiting. So, I left it alone, realizing that you never know what demons other people are fighting in their own lives.

Thankfully, we are blessed to have many wonderful health professionals in our Chamber who work each day in this space, and most have lent (and continue to lend) a helpful hand as we navigated a global pandemic together as a society. We talk more openly about mental health in our Chamber – a lane that we previously left to the pros.

We have all grown overly comfortable saying we are fine when we are asked. But are we? Let’s keep asking.

We know that an effective staff starts with a healthy group, including mental health. Something to keep top-of-mind as we continue to re-engage with our employees and support our teams.

MARK A. TROWBRIDGE PRESIDENT & CEO CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MTROWBRIDGE@CORALGABLESCHAMBER.ORG

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 Friday, March 31st 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 Sara M. Hernandez, First Citizens Bank, our Chamber Chairman-Elect.

Chamber Board elections and member voting will be held in mid-May, 2023 and you will receive your ballot electronically via ElectionBuddy.

Please also join us for a conversation on future Chamber leadership where you will learn more about our Board of Directors, committee leadership and the nominating process. This workshop is focused on our volunteers who are willing and interested to serve our Chamber at an even higher capacity in the coming year. Come on out on Friday, March 24th at 8:30 AM for this hour-long session. We will host at our Chamber HQ in the Allen Morris Conference Room.

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

2022 - 2023 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Welcome

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair of the Board

Thad Adams, The Allen Morris Company

Chair-Elect

Sara M. Hernandez, First Citizens Bank

First Vice Chair

Addys Kuryla, Florida Power and Light Treasurer

Audrey Otero, PNC Bank

Parliamentarian

Alina Menendez, American Airlines

Immediate Past Chairman

Ana Chaoui, Southstate Bank

Vice Chairman-Global Business Affairs

Deirdre Nero, NERO Immigration Law, P.L.

Vice Chairman-Community Affairs

Adrian Nunez, University of Miami

Vice Chairman-Business & Economic Development

Rick Alberty, Well Groomed Gentlemen

Vice Chairman-Member Affairs

Nguyen Cabanilla, ContactLink

Vice Chairman-Special Events

Lauren Dowlen, Lowell International Realty, LLC

Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs

Maria Garcia, Kozyak Tropin and Throckmorton

Trustee Council Chair

Mitchell Mandler, SMGQ Law

Chairman’s Appointee

Jose Romano, Doctors Hospital President & CEO

Mark A. Trowbridge

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Greg Barnes, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables

Steven Bradley, Clutch Burger

Giselle Breto, Best Practices Title, LLC

Melissa Castro, M.E.D. Expeditors

Amy Donner, Coral Gables Magazine

Drew Kern, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices EWM Realty

Matthias Kammerer, The Biltmore Hotel

Andre Luck, Miami Marlins

Jorge Martinez, Florida Blue

Cristina Miller, Intermedia Touch

Rosanna Molinari Weber, Pita Weber Del Prado

Rene Negron, Equitable Advisors, LLC

Rosella Papale, Higgs Hubb

Monique Selman, Albany Homes Construction

Lillian Ser, Ser & Associates, PLLC

Anabella Smith, Zyscovich Architects

Arianna Urquia, Nicklaus Childrens Hospital

Cinthya Urena, City National Bank of Florida

Myrna Vaca, UHealth

Jessica Wilcox, J. Wilcox Consulting

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

City of Coral Gables

Vice Mayor Michael Mena

City of Coral Gables

Belkys Perez

Coral Gables Community Foundation

Eric Grois-Dubois

Miami-Dade Beacon Council

James C. Kohnstamm

TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2023

Alto

Arleen Regnault

Arthur Murray Coral Gables

Dance Studio

Bankers Life

Between Sessions Resources

Between Sessions Resources

Boy Scouts of America

Brito, PLLC

Children's Home Society of Florida

Christ Journey Church

Corey Advertising

Courtyard by Marriott Miami at

Dolphin Mall

Cristina Brennan @ One

Sotheby's International Realty

Cutting Edge Home Improvement

Deering Bay Yacht & Country Club

Element Miami International Airport

F45 Coral Way

Get Armored LLC

Guilford & Associates

Guilford Property Group, Inc.

Ideas Open

Karibe Construction Inc.

Keller Williams Realty

KEYPHARMA USA INC.

La Bella Salon

L'Artisane Bakery & Bistro

Live Like Bella® Childhood Cancer Foundation

Mack Ventures Realty LLC

Maynard Nexsen, PC Notary Closers, Inc.

Office Edge Coral Gables

Olga Granda ~ Fine Art & Antiques

Olios Health

Robinson Commercial Real Estate

SB Architects

Silver Spoon Mia

TCM Acupuncture

The AO Insight Group LLC

The Keyes Company - Coral Gables Office

Total Private Home HealthAlejandro Fiallos

Tutor Doctor of Coral Gables

Viamericas Corporation

Winnie Chang Consulting

*BOLD denotes new Trustee Member

*BOLD denotes new GEM Member

9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING FEAT. CONVERSATION WITH A CONSUL SARAH KAVANAGH, CONSUL GENERAL OF IRELAND IN MIAMI

8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE & SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT PLANNING MEETING

9 AM | PUBLIC POLICY CALL NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON @MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE

5 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY @FLEMING’S

8 AM | BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING

6 PM | CANDIDATES FORUM @UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI NEWMAN ALUMNI CENTER

8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING

9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING

8 AM | MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

5:30 PM | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS RECEPTION @JAGUAR LAND ROVER OF CORAL GABLES

4 PM | IMPACT: A SEMINAR SERIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS @MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE

7:30 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BREAKFAST @BILTMORE HOTEL

3 PM | REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE MEETING

9 AM | CHAMBER ENGAGEMENT 101 10

11 AM | EQUITABLE ADVISORS BUSINESSWOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS @HYATT REGENCY CORAL GABLES

WASHINGTON, D.C. FLY-IN

10 AM | DEI COMMITTEE MEETING

- ZOOM MEETINGS -

3 PM | RESTAURANT MEETING

11:45 AM | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON

8 AM BUSINESS & EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

1 PM | CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSES

4:10 PM MIAMI MARLINS VS. NEW YORK METS

|

TRAIN

10 AM | DEI COMMITTEE MEETING - ZOOM MEETINGS -

11:45 AM | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON

8 AM BUSINESS & EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

1 PM | CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSES

4:10 PM MIAMI MARLINS VS. NEW YORK METS

AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING

8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING

9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING

5:30 PM | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS RECEPTION

11:30 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON

7:30 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BREAKFAST @BILTMORE HOTEL

11:45 AM | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON

8 AM BUSINESS & EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

3 PM | REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE MEETING

WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY

JANUARY

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES

CHAMBER'S BOARD

FEBRUARY

SPONSOR RECOGNITION

SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME

Through February 2023

$5,000 & Above

Amerant Bank

Equitable Advisors

SouthState Bank

City of Coral Gables

City National Bank of Florida

Doctors Hospital, part of

Baptist Health South Florida

Florida Blue

UHealth

Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Bean Automotive Group

WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON

JANUARY FEBRUARY

BUSINESS BOOK CLUB LUNCH & LEARN

SERIES SPONSOR PARTNER

IMPACT SEMINAR

SERIES SPONSOR

HOST SPONSOR

RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON

SERIES SPONSORS

$2,500 - $4,999

Home Financing Center, Inc.

NERO Immigration Law, P.L.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty

Florida Power & Light

M.E.D. Expeditors

First Citizens Bank

Albany Homes Construction

Pita Weber Del Prado

Terranova Corp.

Miami Marlins

BURGERLISCIOUS