Are you just a little bit mystifi ed by social media? Not sure how a social platform will help your business? Is it really an eff ec-

tive business tool? Th e answer to all these questions is a resounding YES!

Social Media has forever changed that way we do business and has forced us to re-think how we “sell”. It all starts with caus-ing your customers to engage. If you’re not sure, pick a well-known brand name and look them up on Facebook – chances are they’re already there and successfully lev-eraging social media to engage with their customers and grow their business.

Th e Chamber’s series of Social Media Workshops, sponsored by Mercantil Com-mercebank, Social Media Studios and 2000 Ponce Business Centers, will teach you everything you need to know to put social media to work for your business.

Th is 12-part workshop series give you a game plan and show you how to customize your Facebook, Twitter, Four Square, and other platforms to fi t your needs.

$20 per workshop, $200 for the entire se-ries. Workshops start Wednesday, May 11th from 8:00AM – 10:00PM at 2000 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables. To sign up go to www.coralgableschamber.org .

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION |MAY / JUNE 2011

IN THIS ISSUE• Chairman’s Remarks Page 2

• President’s Perspective Page 3

• Trustee Talk Page 4

• Commercial Real Estate Page 5

• Membership Highlights Page 6

• Calendar of Events Page 7

• Sponsor Recognition Page 8

MAY | JUNE 2011

The 2011 Goals Con-ference is all about Opening Doors; doors to new oppor-

tunities, new business and new relationships. Th is year’s Con-ference opens with the George E. Merrick Award of Excel-lence on Th ursday, June 23rd at the historic Biltmore Hotel and will feature goal-setting sessions, high profi le speakers and high value networking.

During this annual member-ship meeting, Coral Gables leaders will meet to discuss the Chamber’s vision for the upcoming year, set priorities, and develop a plan to make our collective vision a reality. Th e event will feature various breakout sessions, for each Chamber committee.

Th is year’s conference is pre-sented by many outstanding sponsors, including the Allen Morris Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield, EWM, Rockefel-ler Business Centers, Mercantil Commercebank, Miami Her-ald, US Century Bank, Univer-sity of Miami, Baptist Health South Florida, Barakat Law, Becker & Poliakoff , P.A., Cher-ry Bekaert & Holland, Doctors Hospital, Eliptek Technology Group, Logistical Outsourcing, Th reefold Studios, Sabadell United Bank, Compupay, Cre-domatic, Laura L. Russo, Esq. LLC, and Vine Communica-tions. More sponsorship op-portunities are available.

Th e most eff ective way to keep the doors of possibility open for your business is to partici-pate in the session that best aligns itself to your business’ goals and objectives. In joining one or more of these commit-

tees you will meet fellow mem-bers and create new business opportunities for each other.

Th is is also the time for our in-coming Chairman, Drew Kern of Esslinger Wooten Maxwell, Inc., to set his sights on the goals he wishes to accomplish with the Chamber in the up-coming year. Drew will be of-fi cially sworn in on Th ursday, September 15th at the Good Morning Coral Gables Break-fast.

With 13 years of real estate achievements, Drew is known for his exceptional service and ability to negotiate the best possible deals for his clients. He is an ex-afi cio member on the Economic Development Board for the City of Coral Ga-bles and a founding member of the Miami-Dade Region of Business Network Internation-al, a global networking group

now with 1,000 members alone in Miami-Dade County; he is also past-Chair and cur-rent member of the Franchise Advisory Board for that or-ganization. Drew’s high level of commitment continues to earn respect among colleagues, friends and family.

2011 GOALS CONFERENCE - OPENS DOORS!

ADRIANA SERNACoral Gables Chamber of Commerce

TWEET ALL ABOUT IT - SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOPS ALL THE RAGE

Drew KernChamber Chairman-Elect

ADRIANA SERNACoral Gables Chamber of Commerce

John O’Rourke IIIMontica JewelryCGCC Chairmanjohn@montica.com

Have you ever heard of John C. Maxwell?

He’s a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Business Week 3 time bestselling author, having sold more than a million books. He’s virtually a rock-star in the self-help business world and someone you may want to check out at your local bookstore. He’s a very inspiring and insightful guy and I recently read a wonderful interview he conducted with UCLA coaching great, John Wooden.

For those of you that may not know, John Wooden is considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball coaches that ever was. He has the enviable record of leading the UCLA Bruins to an unprecedented 10 national championships over 2 decades. From what I know, which isn’t all that much, “he was a highly respected teacher, father fi gure, mentor and master motivator”. It was truly an inspirational article and included coach Wooden’s nine promises to live by. I thought that they were right on the money and wanted to share them with you:

1. Promise yourself that you will talk health, happiness and prosperity as oft en

as possible.2. Promise yourself to make all your

friends know there is something in them that is special that you value.

3. Promise to think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best from yourself and others.

4. Promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

5. Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

6. Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future.

7. Promise to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile.

8.Promise to give so much time improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

9. Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press you on.

Coach Wooden has since passed on, but his credo to live by has not. What impressed me the most as I was reading the article was that he was well into 90’s during the interview and still doing his best to live up to his principles. He was still working “on himself ”.

I believe that leadership comes from within each and every one of us. Our challenge is not in leading others, but rather in having the courage and self-discipline to lead ourselves.

OUR CHAMBER CHAIRMAN’S KEYS TO SUCCESS

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION |MAY / JUNE 20112

2010-2011 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND

BOARD OF DIRECTORSEXECUTIVE COMMITTEEChairman: John O’Rourke III

(Montica Jewelry)Chairman-Elect:

Drew Kern (Essingler-Wooten-Maxwell Realtors)Vice Chairman-Business & Economic Dev.

Brian Barakat (Barakat Law P.A.)Vice Chairman-Gov’t & Legislative Affairs:

Mark Meranda (Turner Construction)Vice Chair-Community Affairs:

Nikki Deas (Vine Communications)Vice Chairman-Member Affairs:

Frank Fernandez (U.S. Century Bank)Vice Chair-International Affairs:

Carolina Rendeiro (Right Space Management)Vice Chair-Special Events:

Anabella Smith (Zyscovich Architects)Treasurer:

Gabe Castrillon (Hyatt Regency Coral Gables)Trustee Council Chair:

Linda Knudsen (Baptist Health South Florida)Parliamentarian:

John Knowles (Photo Offset)Past Chair:

Sarah Nesbitt Artecona (University of Miami)Chairman’s Appointee:

Raquel Hickey (Coconut Grove Bank)President & CEO:

Mark A. Trowbridge

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Elected - term expires 2011Thad Adams (Allen Morris Company)

Dennis Doucette (Biltmore Hotel)Gloria Bracciano (Gulliver Schools)

Martha de la Peña Rojas (BlueCross BlueShield of Florida)Emilio Vazquez (Coconut Grove Bank)

Elected - term expires 2012Manny Alvarez (International Finance Bank)

George Feliciano (Bay Plumbing Co.)Marco Ibarra (Eliptek Technology Group)

Maria Llorca (Village of Merrick Park)Marti Mang (TotalBank)

Elected - term expires 2013Perry Adair (Becker & Poliakoff)

Ramon Ferrer (Florida Power & Light)Nelson Lazo (Doctors Hospital)

Deirdre Nero (Nero Immigration Law)Naida Torres (AM Insurance Group)

Chairman Appointees - term expires 2011Wayne Eldred (Tarpon Bend)

Sandra Gonzalez-Levy (Florida International University)Edward Holden (Mercantil Commercebank, N.A.)

Laura Russo (Laura L. Russo, Esq. LLC)Barbara Schumann (Touche Beauty)

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Business Improvement District:Brad Rosenblatt (Rene Ruiz)

City of Coral Gables:Cynthia Birdsill (Economic Sustainability Department

City of Coral Gables:Vice Mayor William H. Kerdyk, Jr.

Coral Gables Community Foundation:Andria Hanley

VISION Coral Gables:Marc Berenfeld (Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, LLP)

Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce305.446.1657

SPONSORSHIPGet Involved, Get Noticed, Get Business!

Th e Coral Gables Chamber has many high profi le events that off er out-standing promotional value to you business. Get involved in the communi-ty and sponsor one of our upcoming events. For more information contact

Erica Dominguez at edominguez@coralgableschamber.org

ADVERTISINGWhat happens if you do not advertise your business? Absolutely nothing.

Make your business stand out and take full advantage of your Chamber membership. Th ere are sponsorship opportunities, newsletter advertising, website advertising and much more available to you to help promote your business. Rates are available on the front page of our website, www.coral-gableschamber.org or you can contact Adriana Serna at aserna@coralgab-leschamber.org.

SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES

Mark A. Trowbridge, President & CEOCoral Gables Chamber of Commerce

I have always been fond of the month of May, mostly because I was born on the 8th day of the month under the sign of Taurus. I was born on a Wednesday at

3:49am and my mother likes to remind me even now that had I not possessed such a

large, unforgiving head, she could have attended church services the following Sunday and won some type of prize as the brand spanking newest mother on Mother’s Day. It seems that from the very beginning, I was nothing but trouble, always seeking forgiveness - the best part of being a Taurus, I suspect, and very much the same today.

May also sees Spring come into full bloom, the last month of calm and loveliness before the humid and steamy summer months arrive…and feel like they will last forever. Having grown up in Ohio, it was always possible that it might actually snow in May, depending on a variety of factors. It could certainly be chilly and create confusion for the fl ora and fauna who did not have a calendar (or thermometer) to gauge these things by. Alas, I do not miss those Buckeye State days, nor do I miss the fact that every few years, my birthday would fall on Mother’s Day, thus requiring me to share my birthday with the boss lady of the house. And I am sure you can fi gure out how that turned out for me.

My birthday would be moved back a day to the 7th of May so as not to confl ict with Mother Trowbridge’s unique position on the calendar. A delicious cake from Publix would fi nd its way home magically as my mother would announce that she was not in the mood to bake as she was preparing for her Mother’s Day bacchanalia. Now, I am not complaining…just merely stating the historical signifi cance of these two days colliding on the calendar. Where is a leap year when you need it?

And so, my “fake” birthday would arrive with talk centered on what would we be doing for Mother’s Day. Breakfast in bed for mom? Burnt toast with generous amounts of margarine? Fried

eggs that were just a little bit too runny for consumption? A hot cup of Sanka brewed in the microwave? We spared no expense or level of creativity to make Mother T happy – even if it really was my birthday, too. I remember making a coupon book for her one year that had redeemable options in it like a hug, foot rub, or even a willingness to fold the laundry (sheets and towels – her least fave). Alas, when she fl ipped through it, she did so with a certain amount of vigor as if hoping a $20 bill might pop out. Sadly, there was none.

Now, I don’t mean these observations to demean my childhood or paint a negative picture of my upbringing. It was typically Midwestern with lots of high fat foods and sedentary activities. In other words, I loved it. But, on this one occasion every few years, it was clear that I was the child and Mary Lou was…well, Mary Lou. She let it be known that had it not been for her, there would be no me. (Still wondering what role my father may have played). Th us, Mother’s Day was superior to my birthday... or anyone’s birthday for that matter. And if I did not like my Publix cake served on a Saturday evening during commercial breaks of Th e Lawrence Welk Show, well, I could just learn to do without.

By the way, Mother’s Day was created in 1912 by Anna Jarvis and signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. Th e phrase is singularly possessive in such that it is meant to have each family honor their individual mother. In ancient Rome, a festival to celebrate motherhood and the goddess Juno was held in March for three days – ironically beginning on the Ides of March. So, thank you ancient Romans and President Wilson for…well…absolutely nothing.

Th is year, I had planned to buy my mother the usual…a gorgeous gift package from Harry & David fi lled with candy and fl owers. However, my mother announced at Christmas that she would no longer be receiving any gift s from Harry & David. She was just kinda “tired of it”. Still the boss, still in charge. So this holiday, while I enjoy a piece of Publix cake on Saturday (instead of on my Sunday birthday), I will be holding a coupon book I have made for her (with the $20 safely tucked inside), and I will thank my lucky stars I was born in May.

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | MAY / JUNE 2011 3

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE - MAY-BE, MAY-BE NOT

Left (from left to right): John O’Rourke III, Chamber Chairman; Mark A. Trowbridge, Chamber President & CEO; Nelson Lazo, CEO, Doctors Hospital Baptist Health South Florida; Javier Hernandez-Litchl, CEO, West Kendall Baptist Hospital, Drew Kern, Chamber Chairman-Elect. Right: John O’Rourke, III, Chamber Chairman; General

Douglas Fraser, Commander U.S. Southern Command;Mark A. Trowbridge, Chamber President & CEO.

Trustee Luncheon - April 27th, 2011

Spring cleaning –– tossing out what has outlived its usefulness, embracing what still works. As you’ll learn from Marti Mang, our

May profi le, Chamber membership is one professional tool that works –– but you have to work it!

“I started my career in banking more than 30 years ago with the Denver Clearing House Association. I joined TotalBank –– a subsidiary of Banco Popular Espanol, S.A. –– in 1996, where I am currently a senior vice president in corporate lending. My eff orts

were rewarded when I received the Th elma Gibson Award for Business Excellence in 2010 and the AXA Business Woman of the Year Award in the Corporate Category for 2011.

“I have been a member of the Coral Gables Chamber since

2004 and a Trustee member since 2007. Like most of us, I joined to build my business network. What I discovered are exceptional professionals who off er a wealth of wisdom and experience. Being a Trustee further enhances my membership by aff ording me the opportunity to meet and serve with some of our community’s top business leaders.

“I love the fast pace of the South Florida business community and its diversity –– which is refl ected in the owner-operated businesses,

commercial real estate investors, professionals, mortgage lending companies and various other businesses I work with every day. Th e relationships I’ve forged here are invaluable to my success –– and theirs.”

If you are a Trustee member and would like to be featured in Trustee Talk, please e-mail lindak@baptisthealth.net.

4

TRUSTEE TALK

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | MAY / JUNE 2011

Linda Knudsen,Baptist Health South Florida andTrustee CouncilChair

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES - Thursday, April 21st, 2011

ALBERTO ROMEU | ALBERTO ROMEU PHOTOGRAPHYTop Left: UM’s Head Football Coach Al Golden, Chairman-Elect Drew Kern, President Mark A. Trowbridge, Chairman John O’Rourke III, Mario Cristobal FIU’s Head Football Coach.

Top Right: Chairman-Elect Drew Kern, UM’s Head Football Coach Al Golden, Mario Cristobal FIU’s Head Football Coach.

AXA ADVISORS BUSINESSWOMEN OF THE YEAR - Friday, March 11th, 2011

ALBERTO ROMEU | ALBERTO ROMEU PHOTOGRAPHYTop Left: Patricia San Pedro, Philanthropy Award Winner; Marti Mang, Corporate Award Winner; Marge Hunt Hartnett, Margaret St. Germain Cornerstone Award Honoree; Misha Kuryla-Gomez, Retail / Restauranteur Award; Representative of Joy Wallace, John McPhee, Entreprenuer Award Winner. Top Right: Marge Hunt Hartnett, Margaret St. Germain

Cornerstone Award Honoree; Mark A. Trowbridge, Chamber President.

Marti Mang, Sr. Vice President, TotalBank & Diplomat

TAt noon on Friday, May 13th, the dark clouds of superstition will part and sunshine will suddenly appear as we discuss the current

state of the commercial real estate industry in our community.

Headlined by leading brokers, industrial experts and other commercial real estate stars, this luncheon will give an up-to-date look at the state of the industry. Th is is the fourth year that this luncheon has focused on the commercial market and the timing is perfect as the economy begins to recover, with some of this movement coming in the commercial industry.

Moderated by Michael Lewis, Publisher of Miami Today, followed by table-setting remarks by renowned economist Dr. Tony

Villamil, this luncheon sells out each year as we hear from the following leading ex-perts in the commercial real estate: Aud-ley Bosch, Director, Industrial Brokerage Services; W. Allen Morris, Chairman & CEO, Th e Allen Morris Company; Antonio Puente, Senior Vice President, Fairchild Partners; Peter Zalewski, Principal, Condo Vultures L.L.C.

Partner support is provided by East Coast Public Adjusters, Miami Today, Realtors Commercial Alliance (RCA) Miami, Th e Commercial Industrial Association of South Florida (CIASF) and the Coral Ga-bles Chamber of Commerce.

Networking begins at 11:30am and the luncheon will start promptly at noon. Tick-ets are $50 per person and reserved tables of 10 are also available. For more informa-tion on the event, location, and confi rmed speakers, please visit our website at www.coralgableschamber.org.

5www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | MAY / JUNE 2011

ADRIANA SERNACoral Gables Chamber

A SUPERSTITIOUS DATE FOR AN AUSPICIOUS EVENT

MARCH MADNESS BUSINESS EXPO - March 24th, 2011

Top Left: Sponsor Viviana Laboy, Credomatic; Mark A. Trowbridge, Chamber President; Maritza Garabento, Credomatic. Top Right: FIU Alumni Association. Bottom Left: Sponsor Nelson Penalver, Logistical Outsourcing. Bottom Right: New Chamber Members, Chispa Marketing Team.

www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | MAY / JUNE 20116

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTSWELCOME TO OUR NEWEST

CHAMBER MEMBERS!

1st United Bank

Alvarez Carbonell Feltman Jimenez & Gomez, PL

Biltmore School

Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Inc.

Cayamas Electric Corporation

Chispa Marketing, Inc.

Corevents

DesignHouse

Elizabeth L. Perez, P.A. At The Keyes Company

Equinox Fitness

First Citizens Bank

FIU College of Business Administration

Gables Diagnostic Center

Global Cargo Alliance

Gustavo A. Cisneros State Farm Insurance

InSource, Inc.

Lizarran

McLuskey & McDonald, P.A.

Miami Payroll Center

Misha’s Cupcakes

Modern Luxury Media - Miami Magazine

NIS Print

Northwestern Mutual

OBM International

Olazabal Hair & Skin Salon

Risk Reduction Group

Route 9

Smith & Wollensky

Stand Out Media, Inc.

Star 102.1 FM

TECKpert

The Local

The Plastic Surgery Institute of Miami

Violetas

* BOLD denotes new Trustee member

SAVE THESE IMPORTANT 2011 DATES!

WIND DOWN WEDNESDAY - 5:30 PMPor Fin Restaurant

MAY 4

SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP - 8:00 AMWorkshop #1 - Face Book Marketing 1012000 Ponce Business Centers

MAY 11 GOLF CLASSICRegistration & Lunch 11:00 A.M.Shotgun Start Noon

JUNE 10

BAPTIS HEALTH TOUR OF THE GABLES 5K7:30 AM StartMerrick Park, 405 Biltmore Way

MAY 21

GOOD MORNING CORAL GABLES - 7:30 AM & RISING STAR AWARDSBiltmore Hotel

MAY 19

SPONSORSHIP/INVESTOR HALL OF FAMEDecember 2010 through March 2011

$5,000 AND ABOVE AXA Advisors, LLC Baptist Health South FloridaThe Biltmore HotelBrown-Forman BeveragesCherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P.Hyatt Regency Coral GablesInternational Finance Bank Montica Jewelry

$2,500 - $4,999

The Allen Morris CompanyAT&TBlueCross BlueShield of FloridaCredomaticEast Coast Public Adjusters, Inc.Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell Realtors Florida Power & LightGulliver SchoolsHome Financing Center, Inc.Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, P.A.Port of Miami University of Miami

GOALS CONFERENCE & GEORGE E. MERRICK AWARD OF EXCELLENCEBILTMORE HOTEL

JUNE 23 & 24

VISION INVESTORSBaptist Health South FloridaBay Plumbing Company* Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. The Biltmore HotelCherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P.Coconut Grove BankCoral Gables Trust CompanyEliptek Technology GroupExpress TravelGulliver SchoolsHotel St. MichelHyatt Regency Coral Gables

* Commitment paid in full

International Finance BankMercedes Benz of Coral GablesMontica JewelryPhoto OffsetRight Space ManagementSabadell United Bank, N.A. Sharff, Wittmer, Kurtz & JacksonTransatlantic BankThe University of MiamiVictoria & Associates Career ServicesWaste ManagementThe Westin Colonnade Coral Gables Hotel Williamson Cadillac - HUMMER

7www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | MAY / JUNE 2011

EVENTS CALENDAR

MAY / JUNE 20111

2 3 4 5 6 7/8

9 10 11 12 13 14/15

16 17 18 19 20 21/22

23 24 25 26 27 28/29

30 31 1 2 3 4/5

6 7 8 9 10 11/12

13 14 15 16 17 18/19

20 21 22 23 24 25/26

27 28 29 30

8:30 AMInternational Affairs

Meeting

8:00 AMGo Green Committee

Meeting12:15 PM

RE-Connect Luncheon5:30 PM

Wind Down Wednesday

8:00 AMChairman’s Ambassador

Meeting9:00 AM

WBN Steering Committee Meeting

8:30 AMThe Trow Knows... CEOs

featuring Alberto Carvalho

MOTHER’S DAY

5:30 PMTrustee Reception

8:00 AMSocial Media Workshop 1

9:00 AMCultural Affairs

Committee Meeting

8:00 AMM-Team Committee

Meeting6:00 PM

Gables Global Groove

9:00 AMChamber 101

11:30 AMCommercial Real Estate

Outlook Luncheon

11:30 AMWomen’s Business Network Luncheon

10:00 AMTravel & Tourisim

Committee Meeting

7:30 AMGood Morning Coral

Gables featuring the 5th Annual Rising Star Award

9:00 AM20/30 Group Meeting

8:00 AMBusiness & Government

Affairs Meeting

7:00 AMBaptist Health Tour of the

Gables 5K

8:00 AMSocial Media Workshop 2

11:45 AMTrustee Luncheon

8:00 AMBusiness & Education Committee Meeting

8:00 AMLegislative Wrap-up

2011 Session

Chamber Offi ce Closed

MEMORIAL DAY

8:00 AMGo Green Committee

Meeting12:15 PM

RE-Connect Luncheon6:00 PM

Theater Night

8:00 AMChairman’s Ambassador

Meeting

8:00 AMM-Team Committee

Meeting

11:00 AMGolf Classic

8:00 AMBusiness & Government

Affairs Meeting

6:00 PMGeorge E. Merrick Award

of Excellence Dinner

7:30 AMGood Morning Coral

Gables9:00 AM

Goals Conference

FATHER’S DAY

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday / Sunday

8:00 AMSocial Media Workshop 3

8:00 AMSocial Media Workshop 4

8 www.coralgableschamber.org | CHAMBER CONNECTION | MAY / JUNE 2011

SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION

CALENDAR OF EVENTS & MEETINGSWind Down Wednesday

Social Media Workshops

Gables Global Groove

Commercial Real Estate Luncheon

Good Morning Coral Gables

Rising Star Awards

Baptist Health Tour of the Gables 5K

Golf Classic