CONNECTion | March - April 2018

MAKE 2018 A SLAM DUNK FOR YOUR BUSINESS! Don't wait until the final quarter!

Make 2018 a slam dunk for your business!

Mix and mingle with hundreds of our community's All-Stars on Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at The Biltmore Hotel (1200 Anastasia Avenue).

Showcase your business to new and potential customers while enjoying an evening of connection, camaraderie and

savory tastings courtesy of The City Beautiful's hottest restaurants!

Get your display table before they're gone!

Display tables are $250 for Chamber members and $350 for non-members and includes two admissions to the event.

Take a look at these scenes from last year's expo.

SCENES FROM 2017:

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 2018

THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Martha de la Peña Rojas

Chair of the Board, CGCC Florida Blue Martha.DelaPenaRojas@bcbsfl.com

Greetings: Our amazing Chamber year got off to a great start with our fabulous New Year’s Networker event in early January at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center, followed by many other outstanding events that have had the focus on topics that add value to your membership.

A lot of thought goes into the planning of these events on subjects that we feel are relevant not only to the Chamber membership, but to the larger community, as well.

Unfortunately, there are times when senseless tragedies overtake the focus of our attention from everyday business matters requiring us to stop, reflect and often grieve together. There aren’t enough words of comfort or even anger for the lives lost and families destroyed by the atrocity that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School just two short weeks ago.

Tragic incidents like this are a call to action on all of our parts as community leaders. And, as members of a civil society who are responsible to stop these horrors from being forgotten or happening again, we must ensure they do not become the norm. These attacks on our citizens, especially our youngest and most vulnerable, cannot become the noise of a divided political landscape.

Leaders lead in a time of crisis and take a stand in unison against actions that allow these senseless acts to continue.

Our great country has a mental health crisis that is affecting us all in our everyday lives. We need to address it now. We are all accountable to each other.

To that end, our Chamber will host its annual legislative trip to Washington, DC in March. Be assured that we will respectfully address these issues - and others - with our elected officials and legislators.

Only by working together will we be a better community and more civil society.

2017 - 2018 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board Martha de la Peña Rojas (Florida Blue) Chairman-Elect Patrick O’Connell (EWM Realty International) First Vice Chairman Brian Barakat (Barakat Law, P.A.) Treasurer Ana Chaoui (Grove Bank & Trust) Parliamentarian Carolina Rendeiro (World Strategic Forum) Immediate Past Chairman John Allen (Home Financing Center, Inc.) Vice Chairman-Global Business Affairs Arthur Freyre (Poblete Tamargo) Vice Chairman-Community Affairs Jon Ridley (Johnson Controls) Vice Chairman-Business & Economic Dev. Nicole Waters (Bill Ussery Motors) Vice Chairman-Member Affairs Amy Donner (Miami’s Community Newspapers) Vice Chairman-Special Events Jessica Wilcox (J. Wilcox Consulting) Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs Efrain Sora (Sora Global Insurance & Consulting) Trustee Council Chair Tom Weinkle (Vortex Communications) Chairman’s Appointee Yesenia Moreno (Albion Staffing Solutions, Inc.) President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge BOARD OF DIRECTORS Elected-term expires 2018 Thad Adams (The Allen Morris Company) Charles Knight (Florida Power and Light) Nikki Deas (Vine Communications) Rene Negron (AXA Advisors, LLC) Elected-term expires 2019 Pilar Baena (Smiles & Sonrisas) Christie Grays (Baptist Health South Florida) Zachary Sulkes (Bacardi USA) Christopher Spuches (Agentis) Elected-term expires 2020 Andria Hanley (Camillus House) Alex Jimenez (Apollo Bank) Matthias Kammerer (The Biltmore Hotel) Nelson Lazo (Doctors Hospital) Anabella Smith (Zyscovich Architects) Chairman’s Appointees-term expires 2018 Chris Colston (Second Chance Credit LLC) Nicolas Eterovic (Edward James) Jorge Martinez (The Conroy Martinez Group) Cristina Miller (Intermedia Touch, Inc.) EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS City of Coral Gables Vice Mayor Patricia Keon Business Improvement District Mindy McIlroy, Terranova Corp.

Coral Gables Community Foundation Mary Snow, Executive Director

Martha de la Peña Rojas, MBA Regional Corporate Social Responsibility Florida Blue

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE - BOOM Mark A. Trowbridge

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

Sitting in the audience at the Adrienne Arsht Center this past month waiting for what was billed as an historic announcement confirmed my realization that we are a community intently focused on winning. And I mean winning HUGE – especially at the painful detriment of others.

Sure, the arrival (return) of Major League Soccer in Miami was four-plus years in the making. The ups, the downs, the bumps in the road made it all the sweeter to hear MLS Commissioner Don Garver officially award Miami its new franchise – complete with confetti and cheers.

This was not an easy moment to get to, by all accounts, and there were many in the audience (yours truly included) who doubted that a deal that would be good for all parties would ever be struck. Yet, here we were in the middle of a celebratory party with the leaders of our community in rare agreement.

Add to that the partners involved in assembling the franchise, led by the galactically talented and uber handsome David Beckham, and you had all the ingredients that led to the magic of the moment.

Even if you are not a soccer fan, we are all fans of our hometown. We relish in the victory and wallow in the defeats.

And there have been plenty of both in the past few years, most notably around our sports franchises.

There have been ups and downs in all of them, as well as changes in ownership, high profile drafts and trades, near misses in the playoffs and well, a fan base that sometimes struggles to stay firmly planted on the proverbial bandwagon.

Remember, this town loves a winner!

And so, here we were cheering and chanting for an idea, an opportunity, a dream…and yet, no mascot was unveiled, team colors remain a mystery to all, the exact location and the timeline for the first tilt on the pitch were not revealed, ticket prices and packages have no dollars attached and even the team name was notoriously absent. Being light on the details simply did not matter to us. We were here to celebrate what was to come.

I only hope that in a few short months, a similar crowd will gather at the Arsht Center on a moment’s notice and cheer the announcement that Miami will be home to the new HQ2 for Amazon. Wow! Wouldn’t that just be the cherry on the top of this ice cream sundae? From a Chamber perspective, I certainly think so.

Until then, we will google David Beckham on the regular to see what he is up to (be careful, some pics of him are NSFW); do our level best to lure his lovely bride Victoria to the 305 for more than just posh weekend jaunts; and bone up on our soccer skills, helping move the proverbial needle on the new Miami... well, whatever they will ultimately be called.

I envision a contest in the near future with the hopes that the team name is ultimately a carefully crafted blend of soccer speak and South Florida swagger wrapped in a brand master’s alliterative charm…Miami Marvels? Miami Boom? How about just simply The Victors?

I am just hoping this franchise achieves immediate success and becomes a Miami mainstay!

Now, after all this, I just can’t imagine life without David.

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018

TRUSTEE TALK Tom Weinkle

Principal, Vortex Communications tweinkle@vortexmiami.com

Trustee membership brings many rewards.

ness intelligence.

Along with access to the Coral Gables Chamber's leaders and decision-makers, Trustee exclusive events deliver tons of value in relationship-building and busi-

Trustee members kicked-off 2018 with a reception hosted by the University of Florida Coral Gables. Pictured alongside @MisterCoralGables is Christina Villamil and Alexa Butler both with UF Coral Gables.

Since the last issue of CONNECTion, we’ve enjoyed Trustee Receptions at the University of Florida’s Coral Gables office and at the new location of EPGD Business Law and Calas Group. Additionally, we have enjoyed a Trustee Luncheon hosted by The Palace Coral Gables where we were treated to unique insights from the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s research and projections about Florida’s economic outlook via their Scorecard.

Unsure if Trustee membership fits into your company's business model? I invite you to contact me directly to discuss how this exclusive membership level can help you meet your goals for the coming quarter and beyond.

SCENES FROM OUR TRUSTEE EVENTS January - February

There was a sold out crowd at February's Trustee Luncheon featuring Dr. Michael Forman (left), pictured alongside Lacey Stevenson, Chamber Chair Martha de la Peña Rojas, @ChamberPrez Mark A. Trowbridge, our luncheon sponsor Phil Stevenson with Columbus Capital and Chair of the Trustee Diplomats, Tom Weinkle.

Chair of the Trustee Diplomats Tom Weinkle, in collabortaion with our Chair of the Board Martha de la Peña Rojas, present a Trustee plaque to Al Maulini, Owner of The Well Groomed Gentleman on Miracle Mile.

Trustee Members experienced the sights and sounds of the Magic City from the balcony of the new offices of Calas Group and EPGD Business Law at our February Trustee Reception.

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018

SAVE THESE IMPORTANT DATES Wednesday, March 7, 2018 - 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, Michael Forman, DOM, P.A., Sora Global Insurance & Consulting Speaker: Ricardo Trillos, Cao Chocolates Cost: $25 Registration Fee Online payment and registration is required in advance!

Wednesday, March 7, 2018 - 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday Location: Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill 65 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sponsored By: The Law Offices of Justin B. Stivers, LLC Cost: $25 Chamber & #YoPro Members by 3/2; $35 Members & Guests After 3/2 Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 5:30 PM Trustee Reception Host Sponsor: WeWork Ponce de Leon 2222 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Complimentary registration for all Trustee & GEM Level Members Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 7:30 AM Good Morning Coral Gables Location: The Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsored By: UHealth Featuring: Dr. Stephen D. Nimer, Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Health System Cost: $25 Chamber Members by 3/9; $40 Guests Monday, March 19 - Tuesday, March 20, 2018 Washington DC Fly-In Meetings will take place all day with our South Florida Congressional delegation, headlined by retiring Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, our final time with her after a stellar career.

In addition, our delegation will visit the US Chamber of Commerce, the European Union, Sister Cities International and other partners. We will be welcomed by the Portuguese Ambassador for a reception at the embassy on Monday night, as well as a breakfast briefing at Florida House the following day.

You cover your own travel costs (air fare, hotel, meals, transportation).

As always, this fly-in is open to all members!

Wednesday, March 21, 2018 - 3:45 PM IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business Grow Your Business Through Thought Leadership Host Sponsor: Coral Gables Museum 285 Aragon, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Mercantil Bank Featuring: Kristin Abele & James Schulman, Co-Founders of The Found Gen Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests Thursday, March 22, 2018 - 6:00 PM March Madness Make 2018 a slam dunk for your business. Mix and mingle with local business owners while networking with hundreds of our community’s first stringers and All-Stars! March Madness is going to be bigger, better and tastier than ever before! Come out for a championship evening!

Location: The Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Get your display table today!

Cost: $250 Chamber Members; $350 Non-Members Just want to attend the expo?

Cost: $30 Chamber Members | 2 for $50 | 5 for $125 | $40 Guests Includes high-impact networking, business-to-business table-top showcase, limitless libations and buzzer-beating bites.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018 – 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Sponsored By: City National Bank Keynote Speaker: Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade State Attorney Cost: $45 Chamber Members; $55 On-Site Registration & Guests

Wednesday, April 4, 2017 - 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, Michael Forman, DOM, P.A., Sora Global Insurance & Consulting Cost: $25 Registration Fee Online payment and registration is required in advance!

Wednesday, April 4, 2018 - 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday Location: Capital One Cafe 50 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sponsored By: The Law Offices of Justin B. Stivers, LLC Cost: $25 Chamber & #YoPro Members by 3/30; $35 Members & Guests After 3/30 Friday, April 6, 2018 - 8:30 AM Trow Knows... CEOs Host Sponsor: INFINITI of Coral Gables 2701 S. LeJeune Road, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Apollo Bank Featuring: Christopher Sopher, Founder & CEO, WhereBy.US & The New Tropic Cost: $25 Registration Fee - Limited to the first 25 guests!

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 5:30 PM Trustee Reception Location: Florida Community Bank 2020 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, #102, Coral Gables Complimentary registration for all Trustee & GEM Level Members Friday, April 13, 2018 - 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!

224 Catalonia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsor: Mercantil Bank Complimentary registration for all new Chamber members!

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 - 11:30 AM Women's Business Network Luncheon Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Speaker: Erin Kobetz, PhD, MPH, Associate Director for Population Science and Cancer Disparity, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center & Senior Associate Dean for Health Disparities University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Cost: $40 Chamber Member by 4/13; $50 Chamber Members after 4/13 & Guests Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 3:45 PM IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business An Update on Tax Reform! How to Maximize Planning Opportunities For Business Owners & Executives Host Sponsor: Coral Gables Museum 285 Aragon, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Mercantil Bank Featuring: Luis Chiappy, Executive Vice President, Southeast Region, AXA Advisors, LLC Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests Thursday, April 19, 2018 - 7:30 AM Good Morning Coral Gables Location: The Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Gulliver Schools Cost: $25 Chamber Members by 4/13; $40 Guests Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Sponsored By: UF Coral Gables Cost: $45 Chamber Members; $55 On-Site Registration & Guests SAVE THE DATE Saturday, May 19, 2018 - 7:00 AM Doctors Hospital Toour of the Gables 5K/10K Location: Coral Gables City Hall 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables Presenting Sponsor: Doctors Hospital Register @ Eventbrite.com

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS

SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through January 2018

January - February 2018 Advanced Physical Therapy Specialists Airport One Express, LLC Bayshore Risk Blue Martini - Brickell Christopher Piña Comcast Spotlight Compass Office Solutions Coral Gables Magazine Coral Pine Real Estate Cristo Rey Miami Corporate Work Study, Inc. Cynthia Demos Communications Daniel Rosales, Resident Denise Minakowski, Resident Dominguez Law Firm, PLLC Dr. Lastra & Alfonso Orthodontics Eastern National Bank EWM Realty International Herald Square SEO International Data Depository Jim McLean Golf School at The Biltmore Marriott Dadeland Mercantil Bank Miami Center for Oriental Medicine Miami Implant Perio - Dr. Beatriz E. Terry Mosquito Joe of South Miami MOVEO LLC One Miami Financial Group Osmundo O. Martinez, Attorney At Law Oxi Fresh Cleaning Paylocity Quirch Foods Co. Quontic Bank Randstad Professional Solutions Richman Greer P.A. Sight Supply Inc. Skala Connections, LLC Snip-Its South Miami Well Groomed Gentleman Westminster Christian School

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

• Gulliver Schools • Mercantil Bank, N.A. • Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables • 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 • Flor de Caña • Florida Power & Light • G-Force Waterproofing & Restoration • Grove Bank & Trust • MG Developer • Southern Audio Visual

*BOLD denotes new Trustee member *BOLD denotes new GEM Level Member coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018

EVENTS CALENDAR

‘18

March | April

Monday

5

Tuesday

Wednesday

6 8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting

8:00 AM

Small Business Committee Meeting

Thursday

Friday

7

8 8:00 AM Membership Committee Meeting

9

14 15 8:00 AM 7:30 AM Business & Gov’t Affairs Good Morning Coral Gables Committee Meeting 9:15 AM 20/30 Group Meeting

16

12:00 PM RE-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday

12

13

19

20

5:30 PM Trustee Reception

21 6:00 PM 8:00 AM March Madness SEE Green Business Expo Task Force Meeting

26

27

2

3 8:00 AM

9

10

16 17 11:30 AM Women's Business Network Luncheon

5:30 PM Trustee Reception

28 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon

23

30

29

30

4 5 6 8:00 AM 8:30 AM Chairman’s Ambassadors Trow Knows CEOs Committee Meeting feat. Christopher Sopher, 12:00 PM Founder & CEO, WhereBy. RE-Connect Luncheon 9:00 AM US & The New Tropic Women's Business Network 5:30 PM Committee Meeting Wind Down Wednesday Small Business Committee Meeting

11 12 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM Membership Committee Business & Gov’t Affairs Chamber 101 Meeting Committee Meeting

8:00 AM SEE Green Task Force Meeting

18

3:45 PM IMPACT Seminar

23

3:45 PM IMPACT Seminar

Washington DC Fly-In • Washington DC Fly-In

8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting

22

19 7:30 AM Good Morning Coral Gables

20

9:15 AM 20/30 Group Meeting

24 25 26 8:00 AM 11:45 AM Business & Education Trustee Luncheon Committee Meeting

8:00 AM

1 Small Business

Committee Meeting

12:00 PM RE-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday

13

2 8:00 AM 3 Chairman’s Ambassadors Committee Meeting 9:00 AM Women's Business Network Committee Meeting

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018

27

4

SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

TROW KNOWS CEOS

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES JANUARY

FEBRUARY

TRUSTEE RECEPTION

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES

HOST SPONSOR

RE-CONNECT LUNCH

NEW YEAR'S NETWORKER

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │March - April 2018