P u b l i s h e d i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h T h e M i a m i B e a c h C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– C o n n e c t i n g L o c a l B u s i n e s s e s s i n c e 1 9 5 8
APRIL 5 - 18, 2012
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Gary R. Gerson to receive Hi-Tides Outstanding Achievement Award
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n Saturday, June 2nd, the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce will recognize Gary R. Gerson, Founding Partner of Gerson, Preston, Robinson, and Company, P.A., for the City National Bank Hi-Tides Outstanding Achievement Award at its 90th Annual Dinner Gala and Silent Auction. This year’s event will attract over 1,100 of the most influential Miami Beach business professionals to celebrate the success of local icons for their outstanding contributions to the Miami Beach community. The City National Bank Hi-Tides Outstanding Achievement Award was created last year, based on the phrase, “High-Tides raise all ships” and the Beach High Hi-Tides, to be presented to an outstanding business professional, who began in Miami Beach, and whose achievements have extended into assisting the greater economy. The Hi-Tides is also the mascot of Miami Beach Senior High School from where Mr. Gerson graduated. “Gary is a great role model and pillar of the community,” said Miami Beach Chamber Chairman, Jason Loeb. “We are pleased to recognize him at this year’s Gala for he sets an example for entrepreneurs by representing the importance of education, business and philanthropy.” With more than 40 years of experience in public GARY R. GERSON
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AWARD, page 4
Pro Wrestling Returns to Miami Beach
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he Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), proudly managed by Global Spectrum, once a frequent destination for prowrestling events, was one of several South Florida venues selected to host an ancillary event for Wrestlemania XXVIII. WWE brought pro wrestling back to Miami Beach on the grandest of scales. The MBCC welcomed WWE’s most loyal fans in hosting Wrestlemania Fan Axxess from March 29th through April 1st. When it was announced that WrestleMania would be coming to Miami, many likened it economically to an event that South Florida is intimately familiar with, the hosting of a Super Bowl.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) did not fail to disappoint, putting together an impressive and diverse week-long schedule of events including everything from fashion, art and golf to unrestricted access to pro wrestling’s biggest stars. Diehard pro-wrestling fans flocked to Miami from all over the world to see one of the most well-attended and watched annual entertainment events. “We can’t give enough thanks to the WWE, the Miami-Dade Sports Commission and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau for working together to bring Wrestlemania to South Florida, for what is hopefully the ––––––––––––– See
WRESTLING, page 4
Phone: 305-669-7355
Letter from the Chair BY JASON LOEB
Chairman, Miami Beach Chamber Spring is officially underway. But with those May flowers comes the dreaded Spring cleaning. Yes, it’s that time to once again get our homes back in order. Everyone knows I’m certainly a fan of a cleanliness, but I’m thinking that even our companies could benefit from a little metaphorical Spring tidying as well. Here are some tips: S t a y o n t re n d. It’s out with the old and in with the new. Like the fashions in our closets, business trends change rapidly. What has worked for you over the years might not anymore, even if it’s comfortable. To remain competitive, you must always be on your toes and anticipate new trends, not just follow them. It’s a fine balance - an unwavering approach can stagnate business, while adapting too many changes can make your company appear wish-washy, so incorporate only those trends that align with your core vision and are relevant for your customers. Dust off old gems. Sometimes logistics command our attention, forcing the big picture to fall by the wayside. As leaders, it’s easy to get caught up in the web of tasks, but we really need to use our talents as visionaries. Entrust the operations to a solid manager, so you can tend to those great business ideas that got put on the backburner and make them a reality. De-clutter. Sure, an ornate design can be pretty, but it can also be distracting. Review your processes and identify and any repetitive or ineffective steps. Simplifying things not only makes things clearer for your employees, but is also likely to lead to time- and cost-efficiencies. Polish Up. Now that you have a solid infrastructure in place, refine your ideas. How can you improve upon them and/or expand to enhance the customer experience and your brand? Put together, it can be a daunting undertaking, but is well worth the organized structure, clear head and fresh perspective you and your business will enjoy once complete. Need some guidance? We at the Chamber are happy to roll up our sleeves and help via advice from our broad leadership and membership base on how to make your company sparkle. Now, let’s get scrubbing!