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Lights, camera, action!
What an incredible year it has been as the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce took center stage and was led by Sara M. Hernandez in her starring role as chair of our chamber board.
To say this year has been a triumph would be an understatement. Sara came to the helm by hosting a spectacular Annual Conference focused on our members and their expectations of an outstanding year of involvement and engagement. The takeaways and ROI were many, including how to be a better manager and leader. The program set the stage for success for all.
From Day One, Sara took note of the needs of our members – and our chamber team – working closely with both in a time of transition as our CEO recovered from cancer and prepared for a stem cell transplant. She stepped into the spotlight and led from the get-go, making sure we didn’t miss a beat as we pressed forward with our program of work and created new opportunities for success.
From the energy of the Chair of the Board Reception to the launch of a new Health Care Committee, Sara was ready from opening night to put her energy and expertise to work for our members. She leaned into our programs, set the tone for our leadership meetings, and made sure to be as accessible as possible to all. Her volunteer team responded and helped create an environment where every event sold out, especially our Women’s Business lunches, real estate events and IMPACT seminars.
Her fortitude and keen understanding of how to motivate fellow volunteers – learned during her time as chair of MCAD and CREW Miami – was a perfect opening act and prelude to celebrate her time at our Chamber. She always had a smile on her face, never took her eye off the ball and found ways to create success with her leadership team. From the beginning, we were on our way to a great year filled with energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment.
As the New Year dawned – a leap year for those who enjoy one extra day in the calendar – we hosted a great New Year’s Networker courtesy of UHealth at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center. Our 5K/10K featured two presenting partners for the first time — Baptist Health and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital — as over 900 runners came out to celebrate this family friendly event, the first time we have achieved that number of participants in nearly a decade.
And Burgerliscious was a smash hit, drawing over 1,200 attendees, with nearly 20 restaurants competing for Best in Bun, an honor that went to Fogo de Chao, a first-time participant. Way to FO-GO!
Finally, with the summer fast approaching, it was time to begin the transition to a new chair of the board, and like most leading ladies, Sara was there both backstage and center stage to help make the process smooth. That’s what leaders do – especially outstanding ones.
As she looks back on her legacy of service, she will no doubt remember the nearly 300 members who joined our chamber during her tenure, as well as the more than 760 new businesses that opened in the City Beautiful, including such global brands as Ryder Corporation and FIFA. Together, we cut a lot of ribbons and welcomed even more businesses to the chamber family.
It was a year to remember, filled with action, activity, and activation…illuminated by the bright lights of her enduring success.
Congratulations, Sara, and thank you for your service to our chamber.
We are forever grateful!
Mark A. Trowbridge is president and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.
Join us a Sara officially passes the gavel to Addys Kuryla, on Thursday September 19th at our Good Morning Coral Gables breakfast at The Biltmore Hotel and we embark upon a new Chamber year discovering the Power of YOU! That’s a wrap!
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