Chamber Connection November/December 2012

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION |NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2012

BURGERLISCIOUS RETURNS TO THE GABLES FOR A SECOND COURSE

Savor the flavor and take a bite out of the sec-ond annual BURGERLISCIOUS festival on Thursday, November 8, 2012, from 6 p.m.

- 10 p.m. at Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park (2810 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables).

Bonafide burger aficionados will be able to sink their teeth into gourmet burgers made by more than twenty of Coral Gables’ premier restaurants. The festival also kicks-off Miami Live Music Month (www.livemiamimusic.com), a premier program of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Energetic entertainment, pre-sented by The Stage, will feature DJ Mayner and Mad World Orchestra.

“Burgerliscious was inspired by the very best in burgers and to remind everyone that food can be both flavorful and fun – as well as a reason to gather as a community,” said Mark A. Trow-bridge, President and CEO of The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. “Our burger festival is designed to position Coral Gables as a foodie mecca, no matter your style, budget or gastro-nomic cravings. It is about more than meat and cheese and bacon and toppings; it is about the experience.”

Participating Coral Gables restaurants include (to date): 1862 Restaurant at the Westin Colonnade Hotel Coral Gables | The Café at Coral Ga-bles - Books & Books | Burger & Beer Joint | Christy’s Restaurant | Crave | Elevation Burger Pao Town | Pincho Factory | Rok:Brgr | Route 9 | Seasons 52 | Shake Shack | Shula’s 347 Grill | Sushi Maki | Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill | Angelique Euro Café | John Martin’s Irish Pub & Restaurant | Morton’s the Steakhouse | The Dome | The Batting Cage | The Bar

Meat alternatives (veggie and fish options) will be available for those with restricted diets.

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Sam-uel Adams, Jack Daniels, South Motors BMW, the City of Coral Gables and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau have partnered to present this appetizing event to the public. A por-tion of the evening’s proceeds will also benefit the Coral Gables Community Foundation to help support local small businesses.

BURGERLISCIOUS is sponsored by Sam Ad-ams, the City of Coral Gables, Brown-Forman Beverages, South Motors BMW, AT&T U-Verse, Amway, Credomatic Merchant Services, Y-100 FM Radio, Clear Channel Outdoor, Miami.com, the Naked Grape, PopChips, Zico Water and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

Ticket packages are broken down into general admission and VIP tiers. General Admission is $50 and includes 6 “sliders” and two 16 oz. Samu-el Adams beers. VIP tickets are $100 and includes unlimited “sliders” and two Samuel Adams beers, as well as access to the Jack Daniels VIP Lounge.

Tickets are currently available online at www.burgerliscious.com. For updates and more in-formation, please visit BURGERLISCIOUS on Facebook (www.facebook.com/burgerliscious) or follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Burgerliscious_).

JOSHUA JONESCoral Gables Chamber of Commerce

IN THIS ISSUE

• Chair’s Corner Page 2

• President’s Perspective Page 3

• Trustee Talk Page 4

• Chamber Events Page 5

• Membership Highlights Page 6

• Calendar of Events Page 7

• Sponsor Recognition Page 8-9

JOSHUA JONESCoral Gables Chamber of Commerce

BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH

CORAL GABLES CHAMBER KEEPS SPIRITS BRIGHTER WITH ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

Tis’ the season to be giving...gener-ously! With the holidays right around the corner, The Coral

Gables Chamber of Commerce prepares to host its 16th annual Holiday Party, presented by Cherry Bekaert & Holland, LLP. on Thursday, December 6th at the historic Biltmore Hotel. For this year’s theme, “Holidays in Paradise”,

we are asking guests to bring unwrapped gifts or gift cards to put a glowing smile on the face of a child, teen or senior. All of the gifts collected will be distributed to the following Chamber member charities:

• CHARLEE Homes for Children• Police Athletic League of Coral Gables• Home Instead Senior Care• Family Resource Center• The YMCA of Greater Miami

The cost of this event will be $25 for members who pre-register and $35 for future members and guests. Sponsors include: Cherry Bekaert & Holland, LLP, Bay Plumbing Company, City National Bank, Smiles & Sonrisas, Right Space 2 Meet, Credomatic Merchant Services, Biltmore Hotel, Bacardi USA and Frame-works.

For more information on how to regster, visit www.coralgableschamber.org.

Darla ThompsonCherry, Bekaert & HollandCGCC [email protected]

With the “Chamber of

Commerce weather” now settling in…our thoughts turn to the culinary arts.

As a bonafide foodie and FOOD NETWORK devotee, I enjoy the best of all worlds by being in South Florida’s food central. The Gables offers so many wonderful choices EVERY DAY and NIGHT!!!!

BURGERLICIOUS, THE SECOND COURSE, kicks off the foodie fall on November 8th from 6-10pm at the Ponce Circle Park. Twenty-two of our finest restaurants will serve outrageous burgers that defy description, accompanied by refreshments and a great band. This is one you really don’t want to miss!

The glorious twinkle-lit Biltmore is the back drop for our annual Holiday Party on December 6th from 5:30-8PM. This, too, is a mandatory event for merry makers and, especially culinary fans. We welcome some of the area’s top restaurants and their

chefs showcasing bite size tasty treats. Partiers in the ballroom wend their ways through booths of aperitifs, entrees and desserts, accompanied by the libations from our friends at Gallo and Bacardi.

And best of all is that we help make the holidays happy for hundreds of underprivileged kids, teens and seniors by asking each reveler to bring an unwrapped gift for one of our charities to distribute. Presents for any age are welcomed – gift cards too!

On behalf of the Chamber, I wish everyone a joyful Thanksgiving, cheerful holidays and a happy and healthy New Year.

Darla Thompson, Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, Chair of the Board, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

CHAIR’S CORNER

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 20122

2012-2013 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND

BOARD OF DIRECTORSEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair: Darla Thompson (Cherry, Bekaert & Holland)

Chairman-Elect: Perry Adair (Becker & Poliakoff, P.A.)

Vice Chairman-Business & Economic Dev: Barbara K. Norland (Junior Orange Bowl)

Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs: Laura Russo (Laura Russo, PA)

Vice Chairman-Community Affairs: Amy Donner (Community Newspapers)

Vice Chairman-Member Affairs:Marianne Sioli (Filer Insurance, Inc.)Vice Chairman-International Affairs:

Marco Ibarra (Eliptek Technology Group)Vice Chairman-Special Events:

Gabriel de Armas Jr., Home Instead Senior CareTreasurer: John Allen (Home Financing Center, Inc.)

Parliamentarian: Martha de la Pena Rojas (Florida Blue)

Trustee Council Chair: J. Dustin Symes (City National Bank of Florida)

Past Chairman: Drew Kern, Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell Realtors

Chair’s Appointee:Linda Knudsen, Baptist Health South Florida

President & CEO: Mark A. Trowbridge

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Elected-term expires 2013Dixie McDaniel de Andrade (Envision Possibilities)

George Feliciano Jr. (Bay Plumbing Company)Ramon Ferrer (Florida Power & Light)

Nelson Lazo (Doctors Hospital)Deirdre Nero (Nero Immigration Law)

Elected-term expires 2014

Thad Adams (Allen Morris Company)Brian Barakat (Barakat Law, P.A.)

Wayne Eldred (Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill)Frank Fernandez (US Century Bank)

Anabella Smith (Zyscovich Architects)

Elected-term expires 2015Nikki Deas (Vine Communications)

Rosemary Guilfoyle (Planning Consultants Group)John Knowles (Photo Offset, Inc.)

Marti Mang (TotalBank)Zachary Sulkes (Bacardi USA)

Appointees-term expires 8/31/2013

Dr. Andy Gomez (University of Miami)Dr. Jose Gurevich (Smiles & Sonrisas)

Joe Hovancak (Comcast Business Class)Ramon Usategui (Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust)

Al Peraza (Mercantil Commercebank)

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Business Improvement DistrictAbe Ng, Sushi Maki/Pao Town

City of Coral GablesCommissioner Frank C. Quesada

City of Coral GablesCynthia Birdsill

(Economic Sustainability Department)Education Foundation of the Coral Gables Chamber

Darla ThompsonCoral Gables Community Foundation

Andria HanleyCoral Gables Chamber of Commerce

305.446.1657

SPONSORSHIPOpen Doors to Greater Exposure and Bigger Business!

The Coral Gables Chamber has many high profile events that offer outstanding promotional value to your business. Get involved in the community and sponsor one of our upcoming events. For more information, contact Erica Dominguez

at [email protected].

ADVERTISINGWhat happens if you do not advertise your business?

Absolutely nothing.

Make your business stand out and take full advantage of your Chamber mem-bership. There are sponsorship opportunities, newsletter advertising, City Beau-tiful magazine, website advertising and much more available to you to help pro-mote your business. Rates are available on the front page of our website, www.coralgableschamber.org or you can contact Joshua Jones at [email protected].

SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

Mark A. Trowbridge, President & CEOCoral Gables Chamber of [email protected]

It is no secret that one of the resonating buzzwords of the 2012 presidential campaign is small business. We

all know that the great majority of job creation over the past few years is directly

happening in small businesses across the country and that these types of businesses have been hit the hardest in the economic downturn of the past four years. While there are brighter days ahead, small business continues to struggle to survive in the hopes that they will once again thrive.

Last year, our Chamber took the lead in the community – and in South Florida – in promoting Small Business Saturday via more than 20 participating retailers and a progressive day of activities featuring such outstanding businesses as Books & Books, Rene Ruiz, Montica Jewelry, Tarpon Bend and Sloane Square.

Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is the antidote to Black Friday and the calm before the storm of Cyber Monday. It is a national program designed to help our small business community share in the sunshine of consumer spending during the largest shopping weekend of the year.

Coral Gables was one of 16 featured business communities and one of two featured in a national commercial campaign that aired during the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards, featuring Mitchell Kaplan from Books & Books and our friends at Shell Lumber. We will once again be promoting Small Business Saturday, which takes place on November 24th this year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Our goal is to engage and involve as many of our retailers and restaurants in the program as possible, in Coral Gables and beyond. More importantly, we encourage all of you to show a little love to our small businesses and make purchases, dine out, and patronize your favorite stores on the 24th. The process is simple: show up, browse, choose and spend!

Our event will once again be of a progressive nature, with a kick-off at the Village of Merrick Park featuring the Mayor and other dignitaries at one of our retailers, a lunchtime stroll along Miracle Mile and an afternoon program at Books & Books, featuring a competition called the $100 Start-Up! This contest is geared toward the small business visionary/entrepreneur who wants to get feedback on their business plan. With Small Business Saturday – and the undeniable power and reach of American Express - there is something for everyone during this program, including a $25 credit on AMEX by pre-registering your card and making a purchase at a small business on November 24th. We are also launching our City-Wide Festival of Lights Program and Holiday Storefront Décor Contest that day. Come on down and see the incredible displays of creativity and ingenuity put on by

our small business owners, retailers and restauranteurs.

In closing, on Small Business Saturday, the ultimate winners are our retailers, restaurants, consumers and business community. There is no greater opportunity to invest in the future growth of our local economy and spur true job creation than by supporting small business. And, there is no greater time to do it than Small Business Saturday.

So, stay tuned for more information as the list of participating retailers grows as November 24th approaches by following Small Business Saturday on Facebook and on our Chamber’s website.

Remember, THINK BIG…and shop small!

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 4

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE: Small Business Thinks BIG!

5

TRUSTEE TALK


Greetings, fellow Trustees!

Our luncheon in September was the perfect launch event for the Chamber year, featuring Miami Heat all-stars Udonis Haslem and James Jones, as well as orthopedic surgeon extraordinaire, Dr. Harlan Selesnick.

Due to popular demand, we are planning to make this program an annual event. Many thanks to Linda Knudsen and Nelson Lazo from Baptist for helping make this happen

for our Chamber and our Trustees.

In October, we hosted Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who had just returned the evening prior from New York City, having received the Broad Prize in Education on behalf of our school district. This honor, tops in the field of education, comes with $550,000 in scholarships for minority students.

Carvalho also spoke on the 21st Century Schools Bond program, an important ballot item (#222) that will raise more than $1.2 billion for new facilities, upgrades/renovations, new technology and infrastructure investments. Our Chamber Board voted unanimously to support the bond issue and urges our members to vote YES on #222 on November 6th!

Next month, we will be hosted by John & Marichi O’Rourke at Montica Jewelry for our Trustee Reception (November 13th), where we will fete all of the Diamond Award winners. In addition, Art Torno, new head of operations for American Airlines in Miami and Latin America, will fill us in on what is happening with our region’s biggest airline carrier (November 28th) as it emerges from reorganization. AA is a long-time Trustee of the Chamber and has its corporate headquarters in Coral Gables and we look forward to welcoming Art formally to the City Beautiful.

Finally, we are pleased to share that Trustee renewals remain above 80%, which means that our Trustee members are finding great value and true benefits through their Chamber membership. Help us grow our Council of Trustees to new heights by making direct referrals of prospects to one of our Diplomats or a member of the Chamber leadership team. We know that we are judged by the companies we keep – starting with each of you!

J. Dustin Symes, City

National Bank & Trustee

Council Chair

[email protected]

2012 DIAMOND AWARDS PRESENTED BY MONTICA JEWELRY

ALBERTO ROMEU | ALBERTO ROMEU PHOTOGRAPHYBottom Left: Anthony Di Donato, Coral Gables Country Club; Raquel Hickey, City National Bank; Salvatore Catania, Cibo Wine Bar; Karen Pascual, City National Bank; Dustin J.

Symes, City National Bank; John O’Rourke III, Montica Jewelry; Jerry Santeiro, Guardianship Program of Dade County; Marisol Martinez & Eglee Nunez, S.T.A.R.S School for Autism, Bernadette Morris, Sonshine Communications; Chair Darla Thompson, Cherry Bekaert & Holland; Jose Carreras, ProMD Practice Management; Patrick Quigley, Seraphic Fire & Fire-

bird Chamber Orchestra; Cindy Birdsill, City of Coral Gables and Nelson Penalver, Logistical Outsourcing, Inc. Bottom Right: Sponsor - Montica Jewelry: Marichi O’Rourke and John O’Rourke III, Owners.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2012 DIAMOND AWARD WINNERS!

Hearts on Fire Award (Large Business)City National Bank

Princess of Hearts Award (Small/Medium Business)ProMD Practice Management

Diamond in the Rough Award (Emerging Business)S.T.A.R.S. School for Autism

Outstanding Non-Profit AwardSeraphic Fire & Firebird Chamber Orchestra

Minority-Owned Business AwardSonshine Communications

Outstanding Restaurant AwardCibo Wine Bar

Ideal Workplace AwardGuardianship Program of Dade County

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

City of Coral GablesEnvision PossibilitiesCity National Bank

Logistical Outsourcing, LLCU.S. Century Bank

In-kind support provided by:Belle Fleur

Frameworks Photo Offset

Hyatt Regency Coral Gables

Media Sponsor: South Florida Business Journal

6www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012

FALL FEATURED FESTIVITIES

November 15thGood Morning Coral Gables

November 30th

Residential Real Estate Outlook Luncheon

November 20thWomen’s Business Network Luncheon

November 8thBurgerliscious! The Second Course


MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTSWELCOME

TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS!

Abrakadoodle

Alfalit International Inc.

Artemides

Bellin & Pratt Architects

Child Educare

The Continental Group

Coral Gables Bridal

Hines

Immaculata - La Salle High School

Jackson Memorial Foundation

Katz Barron Squitero & Faust

La Jolla Ballroom

Lisdaws Timepieces & Eyewear Boutique

Mercy Hospital

Michael Jaspan Consulting

Oceanview Shades & Drapery

Orita Issartel

Peek-A-Boo

Planning Consultants

PURE Environment Maintenance

The Roig Academy

Service Master Restoration Services

Shops at Sunset Place

South Florida Luxury Guide, Inc.

Torre Construction & Development

Tourneau

Vortex Communications

We Simplify the Internet (WSI)

* BOLD denotes new Trustee member

SAVE THESE IMPORTANT DATES!

SPONSORSHIP/INVESTOR HALL OF FAMESeptember 2012 through October 2012

AT&TBay Plumbing CompanyBecker & Poliakoff, P.A.Coastal Construction GroupComcast Business ClassDoctors HospitalEast Coast Public Adjusters, Inc. Gulliver SchoolsGibralter Private BankLogistical Outsourcing, Inc.Photo OffsetU.S. Century Bank

USAA Realty Company/CBRE Wal-Mart Stores

$2,500 - $4,999The Allen Morris CompanyAXA Advisors, LLC Baptist Health South FloridaThe Biltmore HotelCherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P.City of Coral GablesCity National BankCredomatic Merchant ServicesEsslinger-Wooten-Maxwell RealtorsFlorida Blue Florida Power & LightHome Financing Center, Inc.Hyatt Regency Coral GablesMercantil Commercebank, N.A. Miami’s Community NewspapersMontica JewelryTotalBankUniversity of Miami

$5,000 AND ABOVE

RE-CONNECT LUNCHEON - 12:15 PMSpeaker: Marianne Sioli, Filer Insurance, Inc.Anacapri on Ponce

2530 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables

NOVEMBER 7th

WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY - 5:30 PMIn Partnership with: University of Miami Toppel CenterAngelique Euro Cafe117 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables

NOVEMBER 7th

WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON - 11:30 AMSpeaker: Katie Meier, UM Women’s Basketball Head Coach

Hyatt Regency Coral Gables 50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables

NOVEMBER 20th

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY - 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Presented by American Express

For more information, visit www.smallbusinesssaturday.com

NOVEMBER 24th

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES - ANNUAL EDUCATION BREAKFAST- 7:30 AM Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables Spomsor: Florida Power & Light

NOVEMBER 15th

TRUSTEE LUNCHEON - 11:30 AMHyatt Regency Coral Gables

50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral GablesSpeaker: Art Torno, Vice President of American Airlines, Inc.

NOVEMBER 28th

HOLIDAY PARTY - HOLIDAYS IN PARADISE - 5:30 PMBiltmore Hotel

1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables

DECEMBER 6th

BURGERLISCIOUS! THE SECOND COURSE - 6:00 PMFred B. Hartnett / Ponce Circle Park2800 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral GablesSponsors: AT&T U-verse, Brown-Forman, The City of Coral Gables, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, South Motors BMW, Credomatic Merchant Services, Jack Daniels, Samuel Adams,Y-100 and Zico Water

NOVEMBER 8th

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE OUTLOOK LUNCHEON - 11:30 AM Hyatt Regency Coral Gables

50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral GablesModerator: Michael Lewis, Publisher, Miami Today

Sponsor: Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell Realtors

NOVEMBER 30th

8:00 AMBusiness & Education Committee Meeting

Office Closed in Observance of Christmas

Day

8www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION |NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012

EVENTS CALENDAR

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

11:30 AMWomen’s Business Network Luncheon@ Hyatt Regency

Coral Gables

8:00 AMBusiness & Education

Committee

9:00 AMSmall Business Committee

Meeting

29/30

8:00 AM

E.V.E.R. Green

Committee Meeting

11:30 AM

Women’s Business Network

Luncheon

@ Hyatt Regency Coral Gables

5 6 7 8 9 10/11

12 13 14 15 16 17/18

19 20 21 22 23 24/25

17 18 19 20 21 22/23

24 25 26 27 28

ELECTION DAY

8:00 AMInternational AffairsCommittee Meeting

8:00 AM

Ambassador Meeting

9:00 AM

Women’s Business Network

Committee Meeting

11:30 AM

Diamon Awards Luncheon


Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday / Sunday

8:00 AMInternational AffairsCommitte Meeting

8:00 AMBusiness & Government

Affairs Meeting

9:00 AMCultural Affairs

Committee Meeting

7:30 AMGood Morning Coral

Gables

9:00 AM20/30 Group Meeting

9:00 AMChamber 101

@ Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

5:30 PMTrustee Reception

8:00 AME.V.E.R. Green Committee

Meeting

8:00 AMM-Team

Committe Meeting

6:00 PM Burgerliscious!

The Second Course@ Ponce Circle Park

12:15 PMRE-Connect

@ Anacapri on Ponce

5:30 PMWind Down Wednesday

@ Talavera Cocina Mexicana

3 4 5 6 7 8/9

1 2 3/4

12:15P MRE-Connect

@ Anacapri on Ponce

5:30 PMWind Down Wednesday@ Angelique Euro Cafe

5:30 PMTrustee Reception@ Montica Jewelry

8:00 AMBusiness & Government

Affairs Meeting

9:00 AMCultural Affairs

Committee Meeting

7:30 AMGood Morning Coral Gables

9:00 AM20/30 Group Meeting

@ Biltmore Hotel

8:00 AMSmall Business

Committee Meeting

Office Closedin Observance

of Day After Thanksgiving

26 27 28 29 30

10 11 12 13 14 15/16

11:45 AMTrustee Luncheon


8:30 AMTrow Knows...CEOs

featuring Abe Ng, Sushi Maki/Pao Town

8:00 AMM-Team Committe Meeting

8:00 AMAmbassador Meeting

9:00 AMWomen’s Business Network

Committe Meeting5:30 PM

Holiday Party@ Biltmore Hotel

11:30 AMResidential Real Estate

Outlook Luncheon@ Hyatt Regency

Coral Gables


of Veteran’s Day


of Thanksgiving Day Small Business SaturdayPresented by

American Express

Office Closed in Observance of Christmas Eve

New Year’s Eve

31

9 www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012

WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLESOCTOBERSEPTEMBER

WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK LUNCHEON

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

TRUSTEE LUNCHEON

SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION

CHAIRMAN’S RECEPTION

TRUSTEE RECEPTION

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER

Chamber Connection November/December 2012

Documents

Transcript of Chamber Connection November/December 2012