President’s Perspective

MARK A. TROWBRIDGE

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

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.

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!