By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Before his death in February 2025, longtime Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Trowbridge spent nearly two decades building the organization into one of South Florida’s most visible business groups. His successor is out after less than nine months.

In a brief message sent to chamber members last week, Board Chair Maria D. Garcia announced that Jorge L. Arrizurieta had concluded his service as president and CEO. The statement offered no explanation for the departure.

“Jorge L. Arrizurieta has concluded his service as President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, and we want to thank him for his leadership and the contributions he made during his tenure,” Garcia wrote. “We wish Jorge the best in all his future endeavors.”

The chamber simultaneously announced that Gloria V. Baez had been appointed vice president and would lead the organization while the board begins the search for a new president. Baez has served as an adjunct professor and administrator and most recently as chief operating officer of the Miami JCC for the last 12 months.

According to multiple sources, the chamber’s board voted unanimously to remove Arrizurieta from the position, bringing an abrupt end to what was expected to be a long-term leadership transition.

What prompted the board’s unanimous decision remains unclear. The chamber has offered no explanation beyond Garcia’s three-sentence farewell message. Arrizurieta has said nothing publicly. The Gazette’s independent inquiries have not produced a confirmed account of what drove the decision — leaving the city’s business community with a significant leadership vacancy and no clear answer as to why.

Political ties drew attention from the start

Arrizurieta, 60, is a businessman with four decades of experience in leadership, fundraising, advocacy and business development. He emerged from a national search of more than 40 applicants and officially took over the position on October 2, 2025.

In an extensive interview with the Gazette shortly after assuming the role, Arrizurieta said Mayor Vince Lago first suggested the position to him in February 2025 — the same month Trowbridge died — and that he committed to pursuing it four days later. Lago had also appointed Arrizurieta to the city’s board of adjustments and was among his most vocal supporters.

Beyond his Coral Gables connections, Arrizurieta brought a well-established political profile. A Republican operative and lobbyist, he held appointments tied to the administrations of former Governor Jeb Bush and former President George W. Bush, with decades of experience in international trade and South Florida’s business establishment. Supporters viewed those connections as an asset. Critics questioned whether his political profile risked entangling the traditionally business-focused organization in local political disputes.

Arrizurieta’s close association with Lago drew attention from the start. His departure is likely to renew broader questions about how the chamber balances political access with institutional independence.

At the time of his appointment, the chamber counted approximately 1,600 members and hosted an average of 15 events per month.

A listening tour, then an abrupt exit

During his early weeks, Arrizurieta conducted what he described as a wide-ranging listening tour, meeting with board members, stakeholders, and community leaders across Miami-Dade County. He repeatedly characterized himself as a “change agent” who was “not here to be a caretaker.” He had also committed to presenting the board with a five-year strategic roadmap this year.

Several sources familiar with chamber discussions said concerns had been raised internally about membership, fundraising and event attendance, though the Gazette could not independently verify the extent of any decline.

A vacancy at a difficult moment

The leadership shakeup comes at a challenging moment for the city’s business community. Efforts to establish a new downtown business improvement district have stalled after months of community meetings failed to generate sufficient support to advance the proposal to the City Commission. The Fritz and Franz World Cup watch party dispute generated negative regional attention and criticism that the city was sending an unfriendly message to businesses.

The timing is particularly notable because Coral Gables is enjoying unprecedented international exposure during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both FIFA and the Miami Host Committee maintaining significant operations in the city.

For the chamber, the departure leaves a significant vacancy just as it prepares for its centennial celebrations — and raises questions about what went wrong after a national search identified Arrizurieta as the leader entrusted with carrying forward Trowbridge’s legacy.