By Rafael Hernandez

Nearly two months into his tenure as president and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Jorge L. Arrizurieta is hitting the ground running with what he calls a “listening tour” that will shape the organization’s future.

Arrizurieta, who started October 2nd, has spent his first weeks meeting with board members, leadership teams, stakeholders, and community leaders both within Coral Gables and across Miami-Dade County. 

Role sparked by an unexpected conversation

The 60-year-old Cuban American businessman never imagined himself in this role until a February conversation with Mayor Vince Lago changed everything.

“The mayor dropped in my mind the thought that he believed that I’d be great for that role,” Arrizurieta said. “Four days later, I called him. I said, “I am completely in.”

The position became available following the death of Mark Trowbridge in last February. Trowbridge had led the chamber for nearly 20 years, leaving behind what Arrizurieta describes as “a very strong legacy and a very strong and relevant chamber.”

Forging his own path after a longtime leader

Rather than attempting to emulate his predecessor, though, Arrizurieta is charting his own course.

“I think the worst thing anybody can do when they are following the footsteps of somebody as big as Mark was is to try to be the 2.0 version of that person,” he said. “You’ve got to be yourself. You’ve got to be comfortable in your own skin.”

Arrizurieta emerged from a national search that drew more than 40 applicants. His four decades of experience in leadership roles, community relations, fundraising, marketing communications, advocacy, and business development aligned closely with what the chamber sought in its next leader.

“They were looking for somebody that could hit the ground running immediately,” he said. “Not somebody that needed to learn on the job in any way.”

Listening tour aimed at resetting strategy

By year’s end, Arrizurieta plans to combine his observations from the listening tour with the chamber’s existing strategic plan, charting a five-year roadmap from 2022 that was disrupted by Trowbridge’s illness and passing. The goal is to present a clearer path to the board by early next year.

But Arrizurieta’s first months haven’t been solely about listening. 

Balancing daily demands with long-term vision

The chamber hosts an average of 15 events monthly, and he’s been attending ribbon-cuttings, conducting press interviews, and managing the day-to-day operations of an organization with 1,600 members.

Among his priorities is addressing the needs of small businesses, which he says compose the majority of the chamber’s membership despite perceptions that it primarily serves large corporations.

“A lot of times people don’t understand or really recognize that,” Arrizurieta said, noting the chamber includes everyone from major companies like FIFA and Apple to mom-and-pop shops along Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

Navigating development debates without taking sides

When it comes to balancing resident concerns about development with the interests of developer members, Arrizurieta takes a pragmatic stance. 

The chamber, he explains, represents diverse business interests and won’t advocate for or against development projects.

“It’s kind of above our pay grade,” he said. “I can’t advocate for less development as, you know, I’ve got a significant number of developers in our chamber who obviously are not going to want to hear the chamber use their bully pulpit to say, you know, shut development down.”

Opening the door to broader community input

Instead, Arrizurieta emphasizes that the chamber remains open to all community input, even from non-members. He encourages residents to schedule appointments and share their perspectives.

“We are completely committed under my leadership to be a forum that listens to citizen input whenever they deem appropriate, necessary,” he said. “I don’t limit the access to the information I want to gather only to those who pay me.”

Leader focused on momentum

As Arrizurieta settles into his role, he makes his intentions clear: he wants to be a mover-and-shaker. 

“I’m not here to be a caretaker. I’m here to be the change agent for wherever there is a need for change.