NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021 BURGERLISCIOUS IS BACK! Burger lovers rejoice! We're celebrating a decade of everything we love about America's favorite fare with South Florida's meatiest, juciest, most downright most delicious foodie festival ever Burgerliscious 10! Back by long-awaited, popular demand, we're turning up the heat for this special anniversary edition with our very own burger block party!
Join us on Thursday, January 13th on Alhambra Circle as we close down the street in front of our Chamber's Downtown Coral Gables headquarters, for you to chow down on your fill of meaty masterpieces, courtesy of Coral Gables' most delicious eateries. Stay up to date on all the latest deets by heading over to burgerliscious.com and signing up for our mailing list. You can also follow along as we countdown toour 10th year of meaty mayhem on Facebook and Instagram, @Burgerliscious_
IN THIS ISSUE:
You read that right - a block party! Thoughts from our Chair
Page 2
President’s Perspective
Page 3
Small Business Saturday
Page 5
Trustee Talk
Page 6
Save THESE Dates!
Page 7
Membership Highlights
Page 8
October Calendar
Page 9
December Calendar
Page 10
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | November - December 2021
THOUGHTS FROM OUR CHAIR Greetings and Happy Fall! Let’s take a moment to embrace the crisp air and warm colors in the world around us. Here in The City Beautiful we have been re-connecting with our members safely, live and in-person. In September, we welcomed over 150 guests to the historic Biltmore Hotel for our Annual Installation of the Board of Directors and had the pleasure of listening to Mayor Lago give his inaugural State of the City Beautiful address and vision for the City of Coral Gables. October was filled with many in-person events including: RE-Connect Luncheon, Wind Down Wednesday and Chamber Engagement 101, to name a few. ANA CHAOUI
CHAIR OF THE BOARD SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT MARKET MANAGER | GROVE BANK & TRUST
We are thrilled with the result of our 2021 Annual Goals Conference on Friday, November 5th and our George E. Merrick Awrds of Excellence dinner on Monday, November 8th.
I'd like to thank our remarkable lineup of speakers including: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava of Miami-Dade County, Josh Young of Formula 1, Ron Magill of Zoo Miami, Kim Ng of the Miami Marlins; Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. of the Society of Human Resource Management; Dr. Karim Elish of Florida Poly University; Adrianne McCullars of Rogers Behavioral Health; David Whitaker of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Author, Les Standiford. My sincere appreciation to Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida, the Presenting Sponsor of our Annual Conference and to all of our Premier and Supporting Sponsors for their participation. Thank you for allowing me to serve you and your business. All my best, CHAIR OF THE BOARD SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - MARKET MANAGER | GROVE BANK & TRUST ACHAOUI@GROVEBANKANDTRUST.COM
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER TO REMEMBER - FOR REAL With the COVID-19 numbers steadily on the decline over the past few weeks, along with a positivity rate now under 2%, it is time for our Chamber to turn our attention to a November and December to Remember. As it is every almost every year, November will be a busy month for our leadership and membership – with not only our usual monthly programs, but a few added opportunities to Re-Unite, Re-Engage and Re-Imagine your business during the final weeks of the calendar year.
MARK A. TROWBRIDGE
PRESIDENT & CEO CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MTROWBRIDGE@CORALGABLESCHAMBER.ORG
This included our Annual Conference, presented by Doctors Hospital, and the George E. Merrick (GEM) Awards of Excellence dinner, created by the Allen Morris Company. These heralded events took place on Friday, November 5th and Monday, November 8th, respectively. What normally occurs in August slid headfirst into the first week of November and we appreciated the unique opportunity to honor our communities finest.
We also hosted a great line-up of speakers for the Annual Conference full-day program, featuring the Equitable Advisors Businesswomen of the Year Awards Luncheon, led-off by the General Manager of the Miami Marlins, Kim Ng. Our sold out George E. Merrick Awards of Excellence Dinner honored Ron Shuffield, as well as three Merrick-in-the-Making awardees, Vanessa Liebl, Adrian Nuñez and Mary Snow. Finally, we wrapped-up the middle of the month with our State of Florida Legislative Fly-In (virtually) on November 15th an 16th and look forward to hosting Small Business Saturday, the 11th year we have participated in this national initiative on November 27th. Whew! Now that is an incredible array of programs for you, our members. Or as we like to say – something for everyone (and every type of business). December promises to be equally exciting... so stay tuned! Such activities as our Book Club, featuring Mitchell Kaplan and a fun Mingle & Jingle networker at Crate & Barrel. Our New Year’s Networker will return on January 13, 2022 and be hosted jointly with Burgerliscious. We think the synergy is just perfect for these two exciting and popular events to come together for an even greater cause – YOU and our local restaurants! Here’s to new beginnings (again), the new normal, and the new way forward. Trust me, we couldn’t do it without the (new) you! Now, let’s make it a November (and December) to Remember, for sure.
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | November - December 2021
THINK BIG! SHOP SMALL They are the local coffee shops where you order your morning brew, the independent bookstore that has all the latest reads, the bridal shop ready to help you celebrate your big day and the salon that spiffs up your date-night hairdo. Small businesses are deeply woven into the fabric of vibrant cities nationwide and Coral Gables represents one of the most beautiful tapestries for these essential businesses. We all know the impact that they have on our local economy as job creators, and how they’ve been heavily impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. So this year (like every year) we’re pledging our enduring support to the little guys right here at home - the brick and mortar locations that bring so much charm and appeal to our City Beautiful. Whether you choose to patronize them in-person or online, we hope that you will join us in safely celebrating all that we know and love about Small Business Saturday!
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2021 Join us as we kick-off our #ShopSmall sell-bration at 10 AM at Bliss Imprints & Gifts, located at 293 Miracle Mile.
Take the #ShopSmall Pledge!
SAVE THESE DATES - HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
2021 - 2022 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board Ana Chaoui, Grove Bank & Trust Chair-Elect Thad Adams, The Allen Morris Company First Vice Chair Sara 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 Elsa Powers, Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs Maria Garcia, Kozyak Tropin and Throckmorton Trustee Council Chair Frank Fernandez, SouthState Bank Chairman’s Appointee Carolina Rendeiro, Connect2Global President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ricardo Alberty, The Well Groomed Gentleman Steven Bradley, Clutch Burger Greg Barnes, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables 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 Rick Alberty, Well Groomed Gentleman 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 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 A & M Hurricane Protection, LLC Miami Airport Shuttle and Abes Limousine Service LLC Tours LLC Audio Visual Group LLC Miami Herald Berkshire Hathaway Miami-CFO HomeServices EWM Realty Mobili Enterprises Ltd. Bliss Imprints & Gifts Modamado Blonde Tulip Inc. Motivational Talks with Megan Blue Horizon Windows & Doors MP BBQ Restaurant, LLC LLC Ogletree Deakins Captured Glory Miami On Time MTS, Inc. Citi Marine Motors LLC Petstyle, LLC D & D On Time Company Inc. Premium Events & Planning DC Style, Corp Services Destination S. Florida USA Quintero & Partners DoGoods Inc. Residences at THesis East Coast Plumbing and Drain Sabina Plumbing Corp. Services Corp Sanatos Restaurant & Market Eddie Lopez Technologies Sanctuary of the Arts Elevate Lounge & Restaurant ServPro of West Miami Emergent Global Investments, LLC Shogun LLC ESQ.suites / Shared Office Skillset, LLC Space for Lawyers Slesnick & Jochem Goodwin Recruiting: Jamaloan Sonesta Miami Airport Abraham Stefania Harangus Portrait HL Service & Repair, Inc. Photography Hotel St. Michel Straight 2 U Solution Services, LLC INFINITI of Coral Gables Talavera Cocina Mexicana JC Arnova Upholstery, Inc. The Opera Atelier JM MOTORSPORTS LLC Timeless Essence JW Allen Cleaning Services Corp Tomas Luis Building KESK Global Advising, LLC Contractor, Inc. KS & AAA, LLC Ultimate Medical Center & La Zarzuela, Inc. Spa, LLC Las Tapas Gables Vera Painting, Inc. Legal Services of Greater MiVeranda Plants & Gifts ami, Inc. Vice Towing Inc. Lombardi Aguilar Group WASFO Laundry Services Lovely Orchid, LLC Zativa Life Health and M & J Mirrors and Glass, Inc. Wellness of Coral Gables Maya & Maya Inc
*BOLD denotes new Trustee Member *BOLD denotes new GEM Member
CALENDAR | NOVEMBER 2021 Sunday 31
Monday 1
Tuesday
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
4
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS 8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON @MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY @BAY 13 BREWERY & KITCHEN
7
8
9
10
6 PM | GEORGE E. MERRICK AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE DINNER @THE BILTMORE HOTEL
14
15
17
22
9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
11:45 AM | EQUITABLE ADVISORS BUSINESSWOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS LUNCHEON
12
13
19
20
OFFICE CLOSED
18 7:30 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BREAKFAST LIVE & IN-PERSON CELEBRATING EDUCATION
9 AM | CHAMBER ENGAGEMENT 101
9:15 AM | 20/30 GROUP MEETING @THE BILTMORE HOTEL
VIRTUAL TALLHASSEE FLY-IN
21
Saturday 6
7:30 AM | ANNUAL CONFERENCE @HOTEL COLONNADE CORAL GABLES
11
11:30 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
DAY 1: 12:15 PM - 4 PM
5
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
16
Friday
DAY 2: 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
23
24
25
26 OFFICE CLOSED
27 OFFICE CLOSED
10 AM | KICK-OFF EVENT BLISS IMPRINTS & GIFTS 293 MIRACLE MILE
28
29
30
1
2
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
3
4
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING
9 AM | TROW KNOW CEOS FEAT. LINDA LECHT & PABLE PINO, THE EDUCATION FUND
9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING
NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB FEAT. MITCHELL KAPLAN, BOOKS & BOOKS
6 PM | DOWTOWN CORAL GABLES HOLIDAY CLEAN UP
THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GABLESCHAMBER
CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
coralgableschamber.org | (305) 446-1657 | info@coralgableschamber.org
GABLESCHAMBER
CALENDAR | DECEMBER 2021 Sunday 28
Monday 29
Tuesday
Wednesday
30
Thursday
1
2
8 AM | SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID NOON | RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON @MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE 5:00 PM | WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY
Friday 3
Saturday 4
8 AM | CHAIRMAN’S AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
9 AM | TROW KNOWS CEOS FEAT. LINDA LECHT & PABLO PINO, THE EDUCATION FUND
9 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
NOON | BUSINESS BOOK CLUB: A LUNCH & LEARN
6 PM | DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES HOLIDAY CLEAN-UP
5
6
7
8
9
9 AM | GLOBAL BUSINESS 8 AM | JINGLE & MINGLE 8 AM | MEMBERSHIP TEAM HOLIDAY EVENT @ AFFAIRS COMM. MEETING COMMITTEE MEETING CRATE & BARREL CORAL GABLES @SHOPS AT MERRICK PARK
12
13
14
15
8 AM | BUSINESS & GOV’T AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING - HYBRID -
16
4 PM | IMPACT: A SEMINAR SERIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS
10
11
9 AM | CHAMBER ENGAGEMENT 101 - HYBRID -
17
18
7:30 AM | GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES BREAKFAST LIVE & IN-PERSON HOLIDAY EDITION! 9:15 AM | 20/30 GROUP MEETING @THE BILTMORE HOTEL
19
20
21
22
23
24
11:30 AM | WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON
26
27
28
25 OFFICE CLOSED
29
30
31
1 OFFICE CLOSED
OFFICE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
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 SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
CRAFT CORAL GABLES
$5,000 & Above
GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES SEPTEMBER
SPONSORSHIP / INVESTOR HALL OF FAME Through October 2021
OCTOBER
OUR CHAMBER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Amerant Bank Equitable Advisors Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty CenterState Bank City of Coral Gables
WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
City National Bank of Florida 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. Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables
IMPACT SEMINAR SERIES SPONSOR
PARTNER
NERO Immigration Law, P.L.
TROW KNOWS CEOS SERIES SPONSOR
RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON SERIES SPONSORS
coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | November - December 2021
