Chamber CONNECTion | May - June 2018

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! The official countdown to race day is on!

It's time to lace up your running shoes and sprint, jog or walk to the starting line of the 23rd Annual Doctors Hospital Tour of the Gables 5K, and our all new 10K! Runners will take their marks on Saturday, May 19th in front of Gables City Hall.

The course takes you on a scenic stroll through our historic City.

ning at 6:45 AM; then, get warmed up during prerace plyometrics at 7:00 AM, and finally hit the ground running at 7:30 AM signaled by a shotgun start.

And that’s not all! The first 750 pre-registered runners are guaranteed to receive a commemorative tech running shirt AND the first 750 runners to cross the finish line will get a custom finisher medal, designed by Zyscovich Architects.

Arrive early and check out the Runners Expo begin- Enjoy these scenes from2017:

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 │May - June 2018

THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Martha de la Peña Rojas

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

Greetings: It’s a busy time at the beautiful Coral Gables Chamber.

I do hope that you have been able to enjoy and have taken advantage of the many relevant networking events the Chamber has to offer.

Spring is here and what a better time to focus on a Better You. It is never too late to focus on your wellness journey. We all know the importance of diet, exercise and utilizing programs that allow you to establish and then build upon new habits that will allow you to accomplish your physical and overall healthy habits.

Here’s a fun fact. Did you know that lack of sleep can make an already significant medical condition worse? A sufficient amount of sleep gives your body an opportunity to restore mind and overall strength.

I encourage all of you to make your health a top priority and to take care of your family’s health at the same time.

Commit your family to being fit by bringing the whole gang to run with us at the 23rd Annual Doctors Hospital Tour of the Gables 5K/10K on Saturday, May 19th.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the starting line!

All the best,

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 (Coral Gables Museum) 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) Chair’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) Addys Kuryla (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)

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

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 Commissioner Patricia Keon Business Improvement District Truman Skinner Coral Gables Community Foundation Mary Snow, Executive Director

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE - THIS IS ME! Mark A. Trowbridge

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

On the 8th day of this merry month of May, I turn 50 years old. Five decades. One half century. Officially middle aged.

While most would consider this date and age a milestone in anyone’s life, I find it to be more a moment of real reflection and honest assessment.

This is me at... 50!

Truth be told, I am a big believer in periodically taking stock of where we are, who we are, and what we are to others – three questions that often require us to hit the pause button – and then possibly the re-set and re-start ones, too.

And you don’t have to be turning 50 to do this.

So, here goes nothing.

Fact: I have been in the same job for 12 years, lived in the same town for 26, same house for 14, owned the same dog for 8 and even driven the same model of car for the past 10 years.

To the outside world, it may seem like I am in a rut. I would counter with I know what I like and am loyal to a fault.

Friends and colleagues might say…"it is actually a little bit of both, Mark." That is fair.

Fact: Each of us have blind spots and I think I know what mine are – but that is probably not quite the honest truth. I struggle to eat right, hate to exercise, buy way too many things on-line, cry at Publix commercials, have an over-indulgent and equally impatient personality and am terrible with intimate relationships. Yep, that’s me. So, it is fair to say that I have an enormous appetite that transcends just food, although just barely.

Fact: I think big, talk big, am big and act even bigger, sometimes to my own detriment. Ironically enough, I try to punch above my weight. It is just who I am and always have been. This chunky ginger from Ohio has never lacked in confidence, even when I probably should have been curled up in a ball somewhere salving my wounds.

Fact: When you tell me I cannot do something, you have likely just strengthened my resolve. That includes when I was recruited for the Chamber job – I was told by the headhunter at a nice breakfast I was not what they were looking for.

The Board wanted something (and someone) else. Twelve years later, 101 other candidates left in the dust, here I am, still enjoying the entire Chamber experience.

Fact: There is a certain charm to my humor and candor, but let’s be real, it does not always work and is not always appreciated. Just ask Mother Trow. She has been long suffering in her role as my mother. I get it – I’m not easy. From my 7 pound, 4 ounce arrival in May 1968 at 3:49am to our latest email exchange regarding some sensitive subject, I have been both her joy and her pain.

Fact: To commemorate the big birthday, I joined AARP. For just $12 a year, I now am a member of what is essentially a Chamber of Commerce for older Americans. Paying it forward, always.

In closing, as the clock strikes 12:01 on May 8, I am not afraid to admit my shortcomings, or embrace my faults, or own it all. I have laid myself bare. I am a puzzle no more.

By the end, I only ask for your patience and understanding as I get started on the next 50.

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018

TRUSTEE TALK Tom Weinkle

Principal Vortex Communications tweinkle@vortexmiami.com

Since the last issue of CONNECTion, we’ve enjoyed an exclusive reception at the Florida Community Bank branch in Coral Gables and a Trustee Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, sponsored by UF Coral Gables, where we learned more about partnership opportunities for research and development with UF.

Trustee MOVEO LLC accepts their membership plaque during the March Trustee Luncheon. Pictured is @ChamberPrez Mark A. Trowbridge, alongside Braidor Jiminez, Director of Sales and Mario Medina, CEO of MOVEO LLC. We thank you for your investment in the Chamber!

I’m often asked how my firm benefits from Trustee membership. Along with access to the Coral Gables Chamber's leaders and decision-makers, Trustee-only events deliver tons of value in relationship-building and business intelligence.

I like the fact that my firm gets added brand awareness value and exposure to opportunities for new business.

Does it pay? Absolutely!

Unsure if Trustee Membership is a fit for your company? I invite you to contact me directly to discuss how this exclusive membership level can help you meet your goals for the coming quarter.

"SCENE" FROM OUR TRUSTEE EVENTS March - April

Chamber members enjoyed the sights and sounds of The City Beautiful from the terrace at the WeWork Ponce de Leon location at their March Trustee Reception.

Florida Community Bank pulled out all the stops when hosting the April Trustee Reception. A BIG thank you goes out to Trustee Diplomat Melanie Sanchez for putting the whole evening together.

A very rare sighting of two Florida Gators outside of the swamp! Former Alumni Association President (2010-11) Mark A. Trowbridge, is seen with Cherrie Hughes, Assistant Director Industrial Outreach Office of Research at the University of Florida and keynote speaker at our April Trustee Luncheon; pictured with Chair of the Board Martha de la Peña Rojas of Florida Blue.

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 10, 2018 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM

WeWork Ponce de Leon | 2222 Ponce de Leon Boulevard ------>

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018

SAVE THESE IMPORTANT DATES Friday, May 4, 2018 - 5:30 PM Friday, June 1, 2018 - 5:30 PM Trow Knows ... CEOs, in onor of National Small Business Week Trow Knows ... CEOs Host Sponsor: INFINITI of Coral Gables Host Sponsor: INFINITI of Coral Gables 2701 LeJeune Road, Coral Gables 2701 LeJeune Road, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Apollo Bank Sponsored By: Apollo Bank Featuring: Dr. Jose Gurevich, D.D.S., President, Smiles & Sonrisas Featuring: Marly Q. Casanova, CEO, Marly Q. LLC Cost: $25 Registration Fee Cost: $25 Registration Fee Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - 5:30 PM Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - Noon Trustee Reception RE-Connect Luncheon Host Sponsor: City National Bank of Florida Location: Morton's the Steakhouse 2855 LeJeune Road, Coral Gables 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Complimentary registration for all Trustee & GEM Level Members Sponsored By: Barakat Law, P.A., EPGD Business Law, Michael Forman, DOM, P.A., Sora Global Insurance & Consulting Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 5:30 PM Cost: $25 Registration Fee Gables Global Groove Online registration and payment must be made in advance Location: WeWork Ponce de Leon 2222 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 3rd Floor Terrace, Coral Gables Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - 5:30 PM Sponsored By: Poblete Tamargo, LLP, NERO Immigration Law Wind Down Wednesday Consuls General Confirmed: Brazil| Canada | Ecuador | Hungary |Japan Location: Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables Jamaica | Mexico | Monaco | Netherlands | Peru | Turkey | Honduras 180 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables Trade Office of Canada in Miami | Trade Office of Spain in Miami | Taipei Sponsored By: The Law Office of Justin B. Stivers Economic and Cultural Office in Miami Cost: $25 Registration Fee by 6/1; $35 Chamber Members after 6/1 & Supporting Sponsors: UHealth, Sora Global Insurance & Consulting, Guests and our Flags on Ponce Sponsors Bites Provided By: Pollo Tropical Friday. June 8, 2018 - 9:00 AM Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests Chamber 101 Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - 11:30 AM Want to learn more about YOUR Chamber? Then join us at Chamber Women's Business Network Luncheon 101! Get information about the many programs and services that the Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Chamber offers and meet Chamber leaders, staff and other members!

50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables 224 Catalonia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsored By: First Bank Florida Sponsor: Mercantil Bank Speaker: Debbie Rodriguez, Co-Founder, Bodhi Wellness Complimentary registration for all new Chamber members!

Topic: Stress Management Cost: $40 Chamber Member Registration Fee by 5/11; Tuesday, June 19, 2018 - 11:30 AM $50 Guests & On-Site Registration Women's Business Network Luncheon Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Wednesday, May 16, 2018 - 3:45 PM 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business Sponsored By: Albany Homes Construction Are you Planning, Launching, Managing or Want to Grow Your Small Keynote Speaker: Maria Cardenas, Head of School & Dr. Mallory KojkowsBusiness? ki, Director of Admissions & Outreach, Fusion Academy Host Sponsor: Morton's the Steakhouse Topic: Empowering Girls Through Education to Become Women Leaders 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables of the Future Sponsored By: Mercantil Bank Cost: $40 Chamber Member Registration Fee by 6/15; Presented By: Althea Harris, Assistant District Director for Marketing and $50 Guests & On-Site Registration Outreach Area 1, Small Business Administration & John Hall, Executive Director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Wednesday, June 20, 2018 - 3:45 PM Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests IMPACT: A Seminar Series for Small Business Host Sponsor: Morton's the Steakhouse Thursday, May 17, 2018 - 7:30 AM 2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables Good Morning Coral Gables Sponsored By: Mercantil Bank Location: The Biltmore Hotel Cost: $25 Chamber Members; $35 Guests 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Doctors Hospital Thursday, June 21, 2018 - 7:30 AM Speaker: John Morales, Chief Meteorologist, NBC6 Good Morning Coral Gables Cost: $25 for Chamber Members Registered by 5/11; Location: The Biltmore Hotel $35 Member On-Site Registration; $40 Guests 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Saturday, May 19, 2018 - 7:30 AM Cost: $25 for Chamber Members Registered by 6/15; $35 Member OnDoctors Hospital Tour of the Gables 5K/10K Site Registration; $40 Guests Lace up your running shoes & meet us at the starting line! The first 750 registered runners will receive their very own commemorative tech running shirt!

Location: Coral Gables City Hall 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables Presenting Sponsor: Doctors Hospital Supporting Sponsors: City of Coral Gables, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, Marcantil Bank, Vine Communications, Miami's Community Newspapers, Agentis PLLC, Florida Community Bank, Smiles & Sonrisas, Edward Jones - Nicolas Eterovic, GardaWorld Participating Sponsors: Waste Management, Friendly John, Vortex Communications, WaterBiking Studio, J. Wilcox Consulting, Barakat Law, P.A., Coral Gables Museum Cost: 5K - Adult - $35 | 18 & Under - $25; 10K - Adult $45 18 & Under - $30; Kids Dash - $10 Be among the first 750 runners to cross the finish line and get your own specially designed finisher medal!

Wednesday, May 30, 2018 - 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables Sponsored By: Intermedia Touch, Inc. / Nicklaus Children's Hospital Speaker: Dr. Rene Lere, President of GuideWell and Florida Blue In conversation with: Mark A. Trowbridge, President & CEO, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Cost: $45 Trustee Member Registration by 5/25; $55 On-site Registration Fee

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS

SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through January 2018

March - April 2018 American Stem Cell Centers of Excellence B&T Corretora de Câmbio Ltda.

Bell Accounting & Tax Solutions Burn Boot Camp - Coral Gables Café Grumpy Dave Bricker - Resident Deco Coffee Co. Douglas LLC Florida Law Title & Trust, PLC Integrative Health Care Institute Jackson Health Foundation LR Executive & Business Coaching and Consulting Manry PLLC | CFOforce, Inc. Mercedes Martin & Company Miami-Dade County | Transportation Trust Morton's The Steakhouse On The Map Marketing Sandler Training, Miami Smash Pixel Studio Sonrie Dental Studio Suncycling T&A Builders Inc. Town of Miami Lakes *BOLD denotes new Trustee member *BOLD denotes new GEM Level Member

$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

Want to see your ad in the 2018-2019 City Beautiful Magazine?

With a distribution of 250,000+ magazines annually, this is one publication that you want to feature your business in! Access the Coral Gables market and beyond with this great Gables guide.

Magazines are direct mailed to every household in the The City Beautiful, placed in hotel rooms and at concierge desks year-round, mailed to each Chamber member and distributed at all Chamber events, and various City and community events throughout the year.

For more information on pricing and ad space, e-mail mhuling@coralgableschamber.org. Act quickly, space is going fast!

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018

EVENTS CALENDAR

May | June

Monday

30

Tuesday

‘18

Wednesday

1 8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting

8:00 AM

Small Business Committee Meeting 12:00 PM RE-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Rising Star Awards

Thursday

2 8:00 AM

Chairman’s Ambassadors Committee Meeting

Friday

3

9:00 AM Women’s Business Network Committee Meeting

4 8:30 AM Trow Knows... CEOs feat. Jose Gurevich, DDS, President, Smiles & Sonrisas

N ati o n a l S m a l l Bu s in e ss We e k • Nat io nal Small B usine ss We e k • N at ional Small Busine ss Week

7

8

5:30 PM Trustee Reception

8:00 AM Business & Gov’t Affairs Committee Meeting

9

10 8:00 AM Membership Committee Meeting

11

5:30 PM Gables Global Groove

14 15 11:30 AM Women's Business Network Luncheon

16 17 18 7:30 AM 8:00 AM Good Morning Coral Gables SEE Green Task Force Meeting 19 9:15 AM 6:45 AM 3:45 PM 20/30 Group Meeting Doctors Hospital Tour IMPACT Seminar of the Gables 5K/10K

21

22

28

29 30 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon

23 24 8:00 AM Business & Education Committee Meeting

25

31 1 8:30 AM Trow Knows... CEOs feat. Marly Q Casanova, CEO, Marly Q. LLC

OFFICE CLOSED

4

8:00 AM Global Business Affairs Committee Meeting

5

6 7 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Small Business 9:00 AM Chairman’s Ambassadors Committee Meeting 12:00 PM RE-Connect Luncheon 5:30 PM Wind Down Wednesday

Chamber 101

Committee Meeting

9:00 AM Women's Business Network Committee Meeting

11

13 14 8:00 AM 8:00 AM Membership Committee Business & Gov’t Affairs Meeting Committee Meeting

15

18 19 8:00 AM 20 21 7:30 AM 11:30 AM SEE Green Good Morning Coral Gables Women's Business Task Force Meeting Network Luncheon 9:15 AM 3:45 PM 20/30 Group Meeting IMPACT Seminar

22

25

5:30 PM Trustee Reception

12

8

26 27 11:45 AM Trustee Luncheon

28

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018

29

SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY

MARCH

APRIL

MARCH

TROW KNOWS CEOS

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES

WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON APRIL

APRIL

TRUSTEE RECEPTION

MARCH

APRIL

IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES

HOST SPONSOR

RE-CONNECT LUNCH

BUSINESSWOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS

coralgableschamber.org │ CHAMBER CONNECTION │May - June 2018