MAY - JUNE 2022 OUR SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT RETURNS! The U.S. Small Business Administration has dubbed the first week of May as National Small Business Week. Created as an opportunity to highlight small businesses, both locally and nationwide, NSBW is packed with programming aimed at the enrichment of small and medium-sized businesses and their owners.
We've invited an impressive group of speakers discussing topics like the Recovery Economy, Small Business Investment, Infrastructure & Inflation, HR Challenges, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, and more! Make plans to join us: Friday, May 6th 7:30 AM - 11:45 AM $35 Chamber Members | $45 Guests | $100 for 5 Location: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables Small businesses are the heartbeat of our Chamber.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Your #GablesChamber takes this opportunity each year to host a celebration of our own! Known as our annual Small Business Summit, we're dedicating the morning of Friday, May 6th to you! Thoughts from our Chair
Page 2
President’s Perspective
Page 3
City Beautiful Magazine
Page 6
Save THESE Dates!
Page 7
Membership Highlights
Page 8
May Calendar
Page 9
June Calenda
Page 10
Sponsor Recognition
Page 10
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | May - June 2022
THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Greetings fellow Chamber leaders! These past few months have been busy for our Chamber and its members. We have welcomed 114 new member companies since the beginning of 2022 and there are no signs of slowing down. Our members have Re-United in all things Chamber, from our committee meetings to our wide range of events that included the 10th Annual Burgerlicious, our Businesswomen of the Year Awards and most recently, the 25th year of running with our Doctors Hospital Tour of the Gables 5K/10K. The Chamber is not alone; our restaurants and shops are also filled with many patrons enjoying the rather mild and dry weather we have been experiencing. Small Businesses are the heartbeat of any community as nearly half of all Americans are employed by small businesses. May 1st - May 7th is National Small Business Week and the Chamber will be highlighting ANA CHAOUI and celebrating all our small businesses throughout the City Beautiful. CHAIR OF THE BOARD We hope to see you at our Small Business Summit where we will SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT MARKET MANAGER | SOUTHSTATE BANK be talking all things small business, followed by the 2022 Diamond Awards. Summer is slowly approaching and the kiddos are getting anxious for school to end and vacation to start (honestly so am I). We are so excited as the City of Coral Gables will once again host a spectacular Gables Fourth at The Biltmore Golf Course. I have so enjoyed this event in the past and look forward to seeing the fireworks display together with my friends and family. The Chamber is also cultivating some amazing programing for our members, and we hope that you will join us as we continue to Re-Engage with our community. Lastly, I would like to say Thank You to our Chamber staff and to all our Committee, Board, and Executive Board members for their hard work and efforts in creating an environment of community and engagement. I am so proud of the work they do, and I am honored to be our Chair. On Behalf of the Chamber, we look forward to seeing you at our events. Best regards, CHAIR OF THE BOARD SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - MARKET MANAGER | SOUTHSTATE BANK ANA.CHAOUI@SOUTHSTATEBANK.COM
- OUR GEM LEVEL INVESTORS -
The Maulini Group at Morgan Stanley
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE | NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK National Small Business Week is an opportunity to celebrate our much-heralded Coral Gables business community – featuring the independently owned and operated companies that are the job creators, dedicated innovators, and prosperity makers. They are the types of businesses we visit each day in search of the perfect cup of coffee that get our juices flowing, the suit maker who ensures we look spiffy, the drycleaner who presses out our wrinkles, the little store that has the perfect gift for any occasion, and of course, the restaurant we duck into for lunch on the run for a great bite to eat.
MARK A. TROWBRIDGE
PRESIDENT & CEO CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MTROWBRIDGE@CORALGABLESCHAMBER.ORG
The last two years have put a tremendous strain on our small businesses, especially our restaurants. More than 90,000 closed across this great country due to the ravages of COVID the past two years due to the inability to open their doors and do what they do best – serve the hungry customer and offer a respite from the doldrums of brown baggin’ it. Those that did survive have struggled to get back on their feet with worker shortages, supply chain issues and lingering fears of dining indoors thanks to the surges of the Delta and Omicron strains.
Yet, through it all, these quintessentially small businesses have found ways to survive and thrive. And, with the generous support of the SBA and programs like PPP, EIDL and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, many remain on the rumbling road to recovery. In fact, Coral Gables has witnessed an incredible number of new restaurants opening in the past few months despite the challenges of the pandemic. From Calista Taverna to Opera on Miracle Mile to the soon to re-open Talavera on Giralda Plaza and the eagerly awaited Dickey’s BBQ Pit. There is something for everyone to savor and enjoy. As the leading small business champion, our Chamber has long hosted programs and events that synergize around our small businesses – whether it be Small Business Saturday every November or National Small Business Week in May. Coral Gables is small business strong, and we celebrate these incredible dreamers daily. Last year, we launched our inaugural Small Business Summit. This half-day conference focusing on the needs of our small businesses was a huge success. Not only was it timed out perfectly, it built upon the needs of our recovering businesses. This year will be no different and we hope you will join us. Slated to occur on Friday, May 6th, our second annual summit will focus on such top-of-mind topics as the recovering economy, cryptocurrency, human resources, leadership, small business opportunities and more. The program kicks-off with a networking breakfast on Friday morning at 7:30am at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. Space is limited, but there is also a virtual option to join the event. Presented by Ser & Associates, we hope you will take the time out of your busy day to join us on Friday, feed your professional soul and take back tangible opportunities for your co-workers to implement. All of this is a prelude to our Diamond Awards, presented by South State Bank, that same day at 11:45am at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables. Over lunch, we will bestow 10 awards – recognizing 9 local businesses across myriad categories and one outstanding corporate citizen. This year, our Business Leader of the Year is Alirio Torrealba of MG Developers. Mr. Torrealba is not only a thoughtful business leader and dynamic developer; he is also a generous neighbor who has helped launch numerous public art investments and installations. We cannot wait to share this moment of joy and great honor with him. While National Small Business Week allows us the unique opportunity to gather, honor and celebrate – it is also the perfect time to pay homage to those businesses who serve you each day. So, use this week to get out there and make an impact. Visit a fave local business (or start a new trend) and put your arms around those amazing organizations who contribute so much to our lives. They make all the difference in the world.
Be Part of the Next Annual Edition As the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY & GUIDE TO DOING BUSINESS, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL magazine is a comprehensive showcase of all local business resources. FEATURING WORLD-CLASS DESIGN AND CONTENT by CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE, the magazine is distributed to the 20K+ HOUSEHOLDS in the city, as well as to numerous hotels, and local businesses. Most importantly, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL will also be distributed by the city’s ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT to all new businesses, government agencies and prospective companies looking to relocate in Coral Gables.
COVER 2021
Find it on-the-go: The MOBILE-OPTIMIZED DIGITAL EDITION is also available on a DEDICATED WEB PAGE on both the Coral Gables Chamber and Coral Gables Magazine websites. With thoughtfully curated SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, monthly EBLASTS, informative PRESS RELEASES and TARGETED DISTRIBUTION, your message will get the kind of intelligently crafted exposure that only an award-winning media company and an awardwinning Chamber of Commerce can provide. For more information and to secure your premium ad space, contact
Morgan Mongelia Coral Gables Magazine Communications Manager sales@coralgablesmagazine.com Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, 201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 100, Coral Gables, FL 33134 call 305-995-0995 T: 305-446-1657 ext. 123 or • E: mmongelia@coralgableschamber.org
CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE
SAVE THESE DATES - UPCOMING EVENTS
Please be advised that the annual process of electing Offficers and Directors of the Chamber is about to begin! On Monday, May 16th, 2022 you will receive an e-mail entitled "Vote now! Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce - Board of Directors Election | 2022 - 2025 Term" inviting you to participate in the Chamber's annual Board elections. Chamber Board elections are being hosted online through a secure voting resource known as Election Buddy (www. electionbuddy.com). Please follow the instructions in that e-mail to submit your secure and anonymous vote today. Please contact the Chamber at (305) 446-1657 if you have any questions regarding elections or your electronic ballot. The nominees, as determined by the Nominating Committee, for the 2022 - 2025 Board of Directors are: • Giselle Breto, Best Practices Title • Christopher Colston, Second Chance Credit, LLC • Amy Donner, Coral Gables Magazine • Jorge Fernandez-Pla, Keller Williams Capital Realty / KW Commercial • Drew Kern, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty • Rene Negron, Equitable Advisors • Phil Stevenson, PS Mortgage • Cinthya Urena, City National Bank • Rosanna Weber, Pita Weber Del Prado Remember, you may vote for up to five (5) candidates! Voting closes on Tuesday, May 31st at 11:45 PM.
2021 - 2022 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board Ana Chaoui, SouthState Bank Chair-Elect Thad Adams, The Allen Morris Company First Vice Chair Sara M. Hernandez, First Citizens Bank Treasurer Audrey Otero, PNC Bank Parliamentarian Addys Kuryla, Florida Power and Light Immediate Past Chairman Brian Barakat, Barakat+Bossa 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 Cristina Miller, Intermedia Touch, LLC Vice Chairman-Member Affairs Lauren Dowlen Lowell International Realty, LLC Vice Chairman-Special Events Jose Romano, Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs Maria Garcia, Kozyak Tropin and Throckmorton Trustee Council Chair Sara M. Hernandez, First Citizens Bank Chairman’s Appointee Carolina Rendeiro, Connect2Global President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ricardo Alberty, The Well Groomed Gentleman Greg Barnes, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables Steven Bradley, Clutch Burger Giselle Breto, Best Practices Title, LLC Chris Colston, Second Chance Credit, LLC Amy Donner, Coral Gables Magazine Rudford Hamon, Jelly Places Matthias Kammerer, The Biltmore Hotel Mitch Mandler, SMGQ Law Jorge Martinez, Florida Blue Alina Menendez, American Airlines Rene Negron, Equitable Advisors, LLC Rosella Papale, RP Branding Studio Monique Selman, Albany Homes Construction Lillian Ser, Ser & Associates, PLLC Anabella Smith, Zyscovich Architects Efrain Sora, Sora Global Risk Advisors 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 Julian Perez Business Improvement District Ari Bittel, Terranova Corp Coral Gables Community Foundation Mary Snow Miami-Dade Beacon Council James C. Kohnstamm Coral Gables Chamber Foundation Cristina Miller, Intermedia Touch, Inc.
Welcome
TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS MARCH - APRIL 2021
305 Hive La Jolla Ballroom Algo Law Firm Lavender Greenberg PLLC All My Sons Moving & Storage Level Up Impact Group, LLC of Miami, LLC Loews Coral Gables Hotel Alternative Behavior Counseling LLC Manhattan Mandarin Alto MED Expeditors, Inc. American Express Meredith Kallaher Marketing, LLC BizPln, LLC Michelle Hernandez, P.A. Bookkeeping by Pujol Miro's Boutique Caballero Rivero Woodlawn North NSI Insurance Group Carve & Burn Designs, Inc. Paychex Centennial Bank Paycor Chalk and Brush Design Permuy Architecture Interior Chef Tania, LLC Design Planning Community Arts Program Pierre Lenis Styles (CAP) Poshi LLC. Consulate of Belize in Florida Power Financial Credit Union Coral Gables Museum RESF - Real Estate Sales Force Cresa Global Inc. Rojos Bakery Deliverect Salumeria 104 Dopazo & Associates Scavolini USA Inc. Insurance Services Seacoast Construction Inc. DSignage Straight 2 U Solution Sereffectv vices, LLC Entelechy Wealth, LLC Stretch Zone Coral Gables Family Resource Center of Suited for Success / Dress for South Florida, Inc. Success Miami Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust The Women's Fund Garcia Santa María Miami-Dade J. Muir & Associates, P.A. Vinya Table KAT Marketing Group, LLC VLL Consulting LLC
*BOLD denotes new Trustee Member *BOLD denotes new GEM Member
CALENDAR | MAY 2022 Sunday 1
Monday 2
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
3
4
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
5
NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON @MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY @MANKIND GROOMING & SERVICES
8
9
10
11
6
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID 9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
12
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
Friday
Saturday 7
7:30 AM | SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT PRESENTED AS PART OF THE SBA’S NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 11:30 AM | DIAMOND AWARDS LUNCHEON @HYATT REGENCY CORAL GABLES
13
14
9 AM | CAFE CON CHAMBER @WELL-FED.
8 AM | MEMBERSHIP TEAM COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
5 PM | GABLES GLOBAL GROOVE @THE DECK AT ISLAND GARDENS
15
16
17
18
11:30 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON @HYATT REGENCY CORAL GABLES
22
23
24
25
30
31
1
20
21
27
28
3
4
7:30 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BREAKFAST @THE BILTMORE HOTEL LIVE & IN-PERSON 11 AM | 20/30 GROUP MEETING - ZOOM -
26
11:45 AM | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON @HYATT REGENCY CORAL GABLES
6 PM | RECEPTION 5 PM | DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES CLEAN- 7 PM | BOOK SIGNING BUSINESS BOOK CLUB UP @CORAL GABLES FEAT. W. ALLEN MORRIS CHAMBER OF “ALL IN” COMMERCE @BOOKS & BOOKS
29
19
4 PM | IMPACT: A SEMINAR SERIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS FEAT. COMMISSIONER RHONDA ANDERSON @MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE
10 AM | INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM - ZOOM MEETINGS FEAT. THE OFFICIAL RELEASE OF THE LATIN AMERICAN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT REPORT
2
OFFICE CLOSED
THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GABLESCHAMBER
CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
coralgableschamber.org | (305) 446-1657 | info@coralgableschamber.org
GABLESCHAMBER
CALENDAR | JUNE 2022 Sunday 29
Monday 30
Tuesday
Wednesday
31
Thursday
1
2
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON @MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
OFFICE CLOSED
5
12
6
13
7
8
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
14
15
3
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID 9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
9
Saturday 4
9 AM | TROW KNOWS CEOS NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB: A LUNCH & LEARN
10 8 AM | MEMBERSHIP TEAM COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
16
4 PM | IMPACT: A SEMINAR SERIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Friday
11
9 AM | CHAMBER 101 - HYBRID -
17
18
24
25
7:30 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BREAKFAST @THE BILTMORE HOTEL LIVE & IN-PERSON 11 AM | 20/30 GROUP MEETING - ZOOM -
19
20
21
22
23
10 AM | ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR
11:30 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON @HYATT REGENCY CORAL GABLES
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
11:45 AM | TRUSTEE & GEM INVESTORS LUNCHEON @HYATT REGENCY CORAL GABLES
THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GABLESCHAMBER
CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
coralgableschamber.org | (305) 446-1657 | info@coralgableschamber.org
GABLESCHAMBER
SPONSOR RECOGNITION WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY MARCH
APRIL
SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through April 2022 $5,000 & Above
Amerant Bank
GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES APRIL
Equitable Advisors Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty SouthState Bank City of Coral Gables
WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
City National Bank of Florida
APRIL
Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida Florida Blue UHealth
BUSINESS BOOK CLUB LUNCH & LEARN SERIES SPONSOR
PARTNER
$2,500 - $4,999
Florida Power & Light Home Financing Center, Inc. NERO Immigration Law, P.L.
IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES SPONSOR
PARTNER
TROW KNOWS CEOS
BUSINESSWOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
SERIES SPONSOR
PRESENTED BY
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON SERIES SPONSORS
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | May - June 2022
