Trowbiz

In a world that is constantly changing, we can often take solace in things that remain the same.

Think about it. Whether you’re on vacation, traveling for business, or spending a Sunday with the family, a lot of our leisure activities are centered around places with historical significance. There’s something to be said about a structure that has experienced things we can only ever read about in books. To stand in the East Front of our nation’s Capital Building adjacent to the Dome where Abraham Lincoln stood prior to being sworn in as our country’s 16thpresident is a surreal and utterly moving experience.

Buildings like these dot our landscape, including many right here at home in The City Beautiful.

In this latest episode, Cheryl Jacobs, Executive Vice President of AIA Miami, shares how she has dedicated much of her career to preserving these legacies.

On this edition of TrowBiz, @MisterCoralGables chats it up with long-time friend and colleague Cheryl Jacobs for what is a candid conversation of the past, present, and future of our beloved architectural landscape.

In the world of transformational leadership, Scott Jeffrey Miller is The Man!  And we mean THE MAN!

Scott spent 25 years at Franklin Covey before he penned a few books of his own, earning him multiple bestselling author accolades.  He is also a renowned radio and leading podcast host, columnist, and global keynote speaker, among other leadership-focused programs, putting him front and center in this sought after space for professionals.

In his latest literary venture, Scott takes a deep dive into the lives and legacies of 30 individuals he considers to be Master Mentors and shares a bit about their story and how they ultimately 'made it'.

Tune-in to this repackaged Trowbiz Podcast featuring our Business Books Club, presented by First Citizens Bank, as Scott dishes out the deets on his book Master Mentors: Transformative Insights from Our Greatest Minds.

And just a hint, a follow-up book is coming soon!

Frankie Ruiz is 100% Miami, through and through. And, if you live in the #305, then you likely know Frankie, too.

But, if the name isn’t ringing a bell, then let us give you a hint, THINK: Miami Marathon. Yeah, that Frankie. The running man!

Born and raised in the county of Dade, Frankie has successfully created, curated, and completed one of the most well-known and beloved community events, THE Miami Marathon. Amassing a field of 25,000 runners, Frankie was fresh out of college when he thought to combine his love of running with his passion for the 305.  And now, 20 years later – here we are.

On this latest episode of our TrowBiz podcast, Mark chats it up with his long-time friend, colleague and compatriot, Frankie Ruiz. A beloved evangelist for the Greater Miami community, Frankie is a young and dynamic business owner who attributes his love for South Florida to his father, who immigrated to Miami many years ago and taught him to love his hometown.

Now sit back, fire-up your airpods, lace up those running shoes and join us on this journey as we experience Miami through Frankie’s eyes.

Most restaurateurs remember the first time they set foot in a commercial kitchen, even if it was a family business. This memory is no different for Abe Ng, Owner/Operator of Sushi Maki.  You see, Abe’s father, Allen Ng, moved his family from Hong Kong to Miami with just $70 in his pocket and a dream. That dream was Canton Restaurants. Abe watched his father, day in and day out, serve homemade Chinese food to hungry patrons, silently taking note of his creativity and work ethic. Fast forward a few years and Abe found himself earning a degree from our nation’s leading Hospitality School at Cornell University, along with winning the hand and the heart of his now wife of 21 years, Christina. After moving back to Miami, Abe decided it was time to open his own concept, now known and beloved by all, Sushi Maki. Tune-in to the latest episode of TrowBiz as Chamber President and CEO Mark A. Trowbridge sits down with Abe Ng, Owner/Operator of Sushi Maki as they chat about his culinary creations, sources of inspiration, how their forward thinking management approach led them through the COVID crisis, and of course - the many joys of Bubble Tea!

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Out of the darkness shines a bright light.

Although we have seen many dark days over the past ten months, the looming presence of the COVID-19 pandemic has also allowed for captivatingly beautiful things to come to fruition. In some cases, this moment of struggle has provided us with an opportunity to be creative and to get in touch with sides of ourselves that might have otherwise been wrapped up in the daily hustle and bustle of an ordinary world.  On episode #9 of Trow Biz, our sparkling Chamber leader Mark Trowbridge (with an appropriate filter applied) sits down with Patrick O’Connell and Venny Torre, co-founders of Illuminate Coral Gables, who share with us some exciting news on behalf of this world-class light and art installation. As the name suggests, ICG will turn the streets, historic buildings, and public spaces of Coral Gables into a brilliant outdoor museum, complete with interactive art, video projections and light sculptures. Set to debut Friday, February 12th ICG will light up the night through Sunday, March 14th.

We invite you to tune-in to learn more about this exciting exhibition as you prepare to experience this light show!

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Trow Biz is back and better than ever!  Forgive our brief hiatus, but we have been cooking up something big for Episode 8!  Straight out of the kitchen and into our hearts, we present a spicy conversation between our very own Trow and the incomparable and indefatigable Lee Schrager.  The very face of Miami’s hospitality scene, Lee got his start in the industry thanks to a ‘missed train stop’ and the most beautiful bowl of lemons ever to be seen in a window. From his cobalt blue Pontiac Trans Am to rubbing elbows with the world’s most notable chefs, Lee shares his story from the bustling streets of New York City to South Florida’s sandy shores and back again. As the creator of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and the New York City Wine & Food Festival, Lee isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves, " be a connector" and help make the magic happen. Tune-in to learn more about the state of the hospitality industry and how you can help save this essential business sector!

From a young age, Coral Gables Police Chief Edward Hudak knew that when he grew up, he wanted to help people. Born and raised in Bethlehem, PA, a city known for its rich industrial history, Ed Hudak found his way to The City Beautiful by way of America’s favorite pastime - college football. A life-long University of Miami Hurricane recruited by Lou Saban and playing for Howard Schnellenberger, it took just one trip to Versailles for Ed to know he was right where he was meant to be. Fast-forward a few years and today Chief Hudak sits down with our Chamber Prez Mark Trowbridge for a candid and humbling conversation about what it’s like to protect and serve in this period of great challenge and uncertainty. Tune in!

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The University of Miami was founded in 1925 by the same community leader who founded both our City and Chamber, George E. Merrick.  Over the past 95 years, the University of Miami has honored Merrick’s vision by remaining steadfast in their pursuits of creating a world-class, international educational institution.

Leading this critical partnership organization in the global age of innovation is Dr. Julio Frenk. The former Minister of Health of Mexico, leader at the WHO, and a former Dean at Harvard University, Dr. Frenk sits down with Chamber President & CEO Mark A. Trowbridge to discuss what it’s like to be at the helm of the University of Miami during a world-wide pandemic.

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Placing energy and attention upon your mental health and hygiene are of the upmost importance during this time of separation and isolation. Beatriz Martinez Penalver of Triumph Steps discusses this timely topic during Episode 5 of Trowbiz. Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert or just feeling a little cooped up at home, there’s no better time to start practicing self-care than this moment. Listen-in as our Chamber President Mark Trowbridge shares some of his own challenges while social distancing and learn how to channel your inner strength to overcome our current situation and to come out of it stronger than before!

In the challenging wake of COVID-19, we have all had to adjust our business operations to take place in a virtual space, which is being dubbed the “new normal.”  Violette de Ayala, on the other hand, has been operating in a virtual landscape for nearly two decades. Author, social entrepreneur, and Founder & CEO of FemCity, Violette “sits down” with Chamber Prez Mark A. Trowbridge in the latest episode of his Podcast, Trowbiz. During the course of this candid conversation, the dynamic duo covers the tales of The Tiger King (you see what we did there), Violette’s new book ‘The Self-Guided Guru’, which is available for a limited time at a deep discount, her personal tips on going from quarantine to queen, the meme game in the age of Coronavirus and much more!  Tune in to tune out some of the negative noise and enjoy Episode 4 of Trowbiz.

A lot has changed in our world since that last episode of Trowbiz, especially in the real of your business. Chamber President Mark A. Trowbridge sits down with bookstore guru, independent Business owner, co-founder of the Miami Book Fair, and film producer Mitchell Kaplan for episode three of his series. When these two business minds collide, the conversation simply soars! They cover an array of topics, including the effects of COVID-19, managing a remote operation, and adapting your business model to survive this pandemic. It's not all business though. Mitchell discusses his favorite reads for the Safer at Home set and shares some of his favorite flicks too.

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S1 | E2 - A little something extra!

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In the latest episode of Trowbiz, Chamber President Mark Trowbridge sits down with Francesca Madeo Valdes, Retail Strategist with the City of Coral Gables. As the retail landscape continues to change in the City Beautiful and beyond, are brick and mortar stores still relevant? What will be the fate of Mom & Pops?  What brands are hot right now?  Tune in to find out the answers to your most pressing questions on retail and more as these self-proclaimed professional shoppers chat about the current state of industry and what's on the horizon.

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Chamber President Mark Trowbridge sits down with movers, shakers and decisions makers for what we affectionately call, Trowbiz. Tune-in to this series of interviews as we share loads of laughs, maybe a few tears and highlight what's hopping in today's business culture.

In this episode we hear from Lady Sarah, that's Sarah Nesbitt Artecona, Associate Vice President, Community Engagement with the University of Miami, Chamber Past Chair and third generation Gableite!

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