Following the death of its long-time executive director and rebounding from the coronavirus pandemic, the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce is making a fresh start.
During the first meeting in more than a year on May 26th at Trattoria Pampered Chef Italian Restaurant, Chamber President Fred Senra described changes to come.
A Young Professionals Committee was introduced. They will expand the chamber’s presence on social media, improve the website, use video and work to grow membership.
The new committee members are Philip Graham, commercial leasing manager for The Graham Companies; mental health therapist Rosa Barroso of The Therapy Labs; Apollo Bank Vice President Nancy Fernandez; Willie Sanchez, coordinator for special events for the Town of Miami Lakes; Brandon Diaz, the town’s digital marketer and Matthew Casamayor, a digital media coordinator for AC Graphics.
The 2021 chamber directory lists 144 members from health care, law, banking, insurance, hospitality, government, personal services, education and other sectors in the local economy.
Senra is a partner in Miami Lakes AutoMall.
He said Marta Diaz, the chamber’s executive director for 13 years, died on May 17th after a brief illness.
“She gave her life to the chamber,” he said. “May she rest in peace.”
Senra said the past year was especially difficult for area businesses and that the chamber was criticized by some for not doing enough to help.
“We lost friends and family during the pandemic, and we lost our jobs,” Senra said.
Some businesses -- forced to close by county order, later to open and serve a limited number of customers -- didn’t survive.
“I think we did what could be done,” Senra said. “The good thing is we are restarting again, businesses have reopened.”
Senra said the chamber
is ready to get back to work and its goals remain the same: Promoting and protecting
the interests of the business community and supporting economic development.
Senra said of the new committee, “Their goal is to bring the chamber up to the 21st Century. Not one person has all the answers ... But we have new and young blood with fresh and new ideas.”
Fernandez from Apollo Bank said her goal is to make the chamber the best in Miami-Dade County by increasing membership and business participation.
“We are counting on each and every one of you to make this a success,” she said.
Sanchez said he plans to draw on his experience working for municipalities.
“The same expertise I have with the town I will use here,” he said. “We can do some amazing things here and have the opportunity to work together.”
The next chamber meeting is June 23rd at 11:30 a.m.
at Trattoria Pampered Chef, 7347 Miami Lakes Dr. in Miami Lakes.
Reservations may now be made on the chamber website.
The luncheon costs $30 for members, $35 for non-members.
Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce President Fred Senra during the group’s meeting on May 26th. Photo by Tico Casamayor.