Dear Chamber Members,

As we enter the second quarter of 2023, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the progress we have made so far. It has been an eventful quarter, marked by several significant events that have contributed to many Chamber successes.

Just recently we hosted The South Florida Economic Summit, which provided us with an opportunity to connect with industry leaders to gain valuable insights into the current state of the local, state, and national economy.

At the March Trustee Luncheon, we had a productive discussion about the recent legislative changes surrounding property insurance and how those changes impact you and your business from a legal and financial perspective. Thanks to Carlton Fields and Grant Thornton who provided background papers for our members’ benefits which are hyperlinked to their company names.

The Leadership Miami® Spring Cohort teams hosted Project Pitch Night to raise funds for their nonprofit projects in a Shark Tank-style competition. The projects presented by each team were truly inspiring, and I was impressed by the creativity and innovation on display to make a positive impact on our community and beyond. Find out more about those projects here.

Rejoining the Chamber’s offering of leadership programs, the Senior Executive Orientation® (SEO) graduated its first class since being revised and updated. The cohort of twenty senior executives and their spouses included members of various industries as well as several Consular Generals from Canada, Ireland, and Israel The eight-week program concluded with a special tour of Royal Caribbean Group’s virtual innovation lab "The Cave,” and a discussion about the future of Miami with The Honorable Daniella Levine Cava Mayor of Miami Dade County and Greenberg Traurig’s managing partner who helped establish the tech industry in Miami, Jaret Davis.

The SEO program is targeted to C-suite level executives who have recently entered the Miami market or were recently promoted to their role. It offers a unique, behind-the-scenes immersion experience to Miami, its top issues and its offerings, in an intimate setting with other executives and their partners. It’s a great way to learn about Miami from some of our top leaders.SEO is offered three times during the year, and thanks to our partnership with Miami-Dade County and Mayor Levine Cava, it is offered free of charge to qualifying executives. The second SEO class of the year begins again in May. Click here to find out more and to apply.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Alberto Ibargüen, President & CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and former publisher of the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald, will be honored with the Chamber's 2023 Sand in My Shoes® Award. During his time in Miami, he has had a tremendous impact on our community. As publisher, he took the El Nuevo Herald from being a translation insert of the Miami Herald to its own, stand-alone publication that gained preeminence in the market. As head of the Knight Foundation, Alberto was instrumental in establishing the tech ecosystem with early investments in startups and incubations that laid the ground for the tech hub emerging today. We are proud to celebrate Mr. Ibargüen’s many achievements and contributions. The Sand in My Shoes event will be on October 4th at Jungle Island.

We have many accomplishments to be proud of in the first quarter of 2023, and I am confident that we will continue to thrive in the months and years ahead. Our Goals Conference is June 2, which will be upon us in no time. I encourage all our members to register now and take advantage of the early-bird special. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication, and I look forward to sharing more of the Chamber’s achievements at the Goals Conference!

Sincerely,

Alfred Sanchez

Senior Executive Orientation®

The first class of our modernized Senior Executive Orientation® program (SEO2.0) concluded their program with a special tour of Royal Caribbean Group’s virtual innovation lab "The Cave", A discussion with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava covering the many Miami-Dade County innovations under her administration and ended the evening with a 3D virtual reality tour of one of their ships currently being built " Icon of the Seas" coming January 2024. The Senior Executive Orientation® program in partnership with Miami-Dade County to help top-level executives recently relocated to Miami get involved in the community by exchanging views with experts and visionaries about the different issues. Learn more about our Program 

South Florida Economic Summit

The Chamber held its 2023 South Florida Economic Summit , convening the most influential executives, banking professionals, and top experts in the industry to discuss Workforce and Talent Development, the Economic Impact of Crypto Currency Crimes in Miami, and What Banks are Doing to Prepare for 2023. We had the opportunity to hear from The Honorable Mayor Levine Cava share insights about the about the current Economic Outlook of Miami-Dade County and providing a roadmap for how the County plans to address any challenges to help the business community thrive. Read more about our South Florida Economic Summit

March Trustee Luncheon: Impact of Property Insurance Legislation

On March 1, The Chamber hosted its March Trustee Luncheon focused on the impact of property insurance legislation. The panel of industry professionals provided an overview on property insurance pricing trends, the impact of legislation in the community including; legal and financial implications for property owners, and how insurance brokers, agents, and carriers adjust their offerings in reaction to these new laws. Learn more about our Financial Services Committee 

Leadership Miami® Pitch Night 

Leadership Miami’s 44th Spring Cohort teams pitched their Non-Profit Organizations to judges for the opportunity to win funds for their project in a shark-tank style competition. This year all of the projects are supporting an initiative for our children of Miami and all teams walked away a winner with funds distributed evenly from The Honorable Daniella Levine Cava to help fund five very impactful projects being accomplished in our community. Congratulations to team Making Magic 4 Miami supporting Chapman Partnership awarded Alumni Choice Award and Team Ignite supporting Care Elementary for winning the Best Pitch Award for the ultimate grand prize. Read more about our Leadership Miami® Program 

Cocktails to Closing

On March 30th the Real Estate Committee hosted the return of our unique networker Cocktails to Closing; bringing together South Florida's top real estate industry professionals to network, mingle and get deals closed while exploring Wynwood Walls. Learn more about our Real Estate Committee

Chamber Connections

The Chamber offers monthly networking opportunities to allow our member community connect, collaborate, and expand your professional & personal networks in a fun, casual environment.

Learn more about our membership levels and benefits

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View PDF of April 2023 President's Report