The Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce held elections and made appointments to fill some seats on its board, the business boosters announced during their March 12 luncheon.
Fred Senra stepped down as president of the chamber after leading it for nearly five years.
During his tenure, it has grown to 185 members, created a functioning website; launched an annual charity golf tournament, continued the annual Business Expo and began monthly networking cocktail parties at area restaurants that included BNI Miami Lakes and the town’s Economic Development Committee.
It also sponsors ribbon cuttings and events such as Main Street Live! and the Miami Lakes Food & Wine Festival; and it awards scholarships and supports organizations that educate children with special needs.
“It’s been really an honor and it is an honor to stand here before you today as I conclude my time as president of the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce,” Senra said. “The moment is a little bit bittersweet. While I’m excited about the future of the chamber under the new leadership, I will deeply miss the privilege of serving this incredible group, all of you.”
He thanked members for their commitment to the organization and the Young Professionals Committee for its contributions.
He also praised his family members who are very active in the chamber: his son-in-law Tico Casamayor, President of Public Relations, and his firm AC Graphics, and his grandson Matthew Casamayor and his firm, AC Digital.
“Without you guys it would have been impossible to do everything we do,” Senra said. “The communication and hard work behind the scenes has been invaluable.”
He challenged the new board members to “think boldly. The future of Miami Lakes depends on leaders who embrace innovation, welcome fresh ideas and adapt to the evolving needs of our business community. To all of our members I challenge you as well. … Get involved, collaborate, mentor, support each other. Our community-established businesses are some of the best around. The success of one business is the success of all the businesses.
“The foundation is very strong,” Senra said. “The energy is here and the opportunities are limitless. So let’s continue to build our own momentum and make Miami Lakes not just a place to do business, but THE best place to do business.”
The new Board of Directors are: President Ray Palacios, partner, First Origin Mortgage Lenders; Vice President Jerry Menendez, Senior Vice President, TD Bank; Treasurer Rafael Schuck, partner, R&L Schuck CPAs; Secretary 1 Rosa Barroso, founder and clinician, The Therapy Labs; Secretary 2 Dr. Eddie Sedeno, partner, Specialty Smiles; Membership Chair 1 Natalee M. Lima, Vice President, Hemisphere Title Company; Membership Chair 2 Denise Sainz, Realtor, The Sainz Group; Chamber Legal Counsel Rodolfo M. Blanco, Esq.; Chamber Public Relations President Tico Casamayor, President, AC Graphics. Young Professionals Committee members are Jessica Zaldivar, Partner, DRIP Health & MedSpa; Roxanne Miranda, Partner, Vellu Laser; Norma Lorenzo, Partner, Alexandra Lozano Immigration Law, and Yaimet Palacios, Vice President, First Origin Mortgage Lenders. Matthew Casamayor, Owner, AC Graphics Digital, runs the chamber’s marketing and social media.
Board Vice President Magaly Rubio, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, also stepped down and will join Senra as an advisor to the chamber.
Ray Palacios thanked Senra and Rubio. She said she was proud to serve the chamber and its predecessor, the Miami Lakes Business Association.
“These two definitely did shape what the chamber has become today,” Palacios said.
“I’ve been a member and a board member of various chambers and different organization and none of them compare to this one,” Palacios said. … “I’m thrilled to be your leader for the next couple of years and it’s all because of the level of professionalism and class in this group that I see in front of me.”
The next luncheon is April 9 at the Miami Lakes Hotel on Main.
For information go to MiamiLakesChamber.com.