The George E. Merrick Awards of Excellence honor individuals who have made a significant impact on The City Beautiful. Honorees embody the vision that City and Chamber Founder, George E. Merrick, had for our beloved Coral Gables. This award is sponsored and co- presented with The Allen Morris Company, who has championed this program since day one.
Presented on Thursday, August 25th during a stunning awards dinner, this year’s Geroge E. Merrick Award of Excellence recipient was former Coral Gables Mayor Dorothy H. Tomson. In her remarks, Dorothy said “Winning the coveted George E. Merrick Award is a highlight of my political life. I am honored to join eight other recipients from prior years, individuals who are recognized for their contributions to the City of Coral Gables that have carried forward the goals and ideals of our founder, George Merrick. It is humbling to be recognized for my efforts and achievements in the city that we all love. I applaud the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for carrying the torch of Merrick’s dream through this award.”
The other distinguished honorees that evening were:
Claudine Claus | Home Financing Center, Inc.
Dr. Carol Damian | Florida International University
Dr. Narendra Kini | Miami Children’s Health System / Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Coach Jim Morris | University of Miami
Additionally, the Chamber, in partnership with City National Bank, presented the third annual Merrick-in-the-Making Awards. The Merrick-in-the-Making Awards recognize up-and-coming professionals who emulate a young George Merrick. Merrick was an innovator, an entrepreneur and a community builder and with these awards, we pay homage to those enduring qualities.
The recipients of the 2016 Merrick-in-the-Making Awards were:
Innovator | Melissa Medina Jimenez, eMerge Americas Entrepreneur | Jeff B. Weiner, MDW Insurance Group Community Builder | Carlos Garcia, Hancock, Askew & Co., LLP
Melissa Medina Jimenez said this about receiving the Merrick-in-the-Making award, "I am extremely humbled and honored to have received the Merrick-in-the-Making Innovator award. It is with the support of organizations such as the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and several others in our community that eMerge Americas has been able to achieve the success that it has. I look forward to continuing to work together in building a strong and robust entrepreneurial tech hub in our region."
Lastly, the Chamber honored an organization dedicated to propelling the vision of George Merrick’s Coral Gables into the future. In celebration of their 90th anniversary, we honored the City of Coral Gables with the 2016 Merrick Legacy Award.
“The fundamental principles of George Merrick’s early vision for an elegant architecture surrounded by romantic Mediterranean images and a lush tropical landscape still exist today in Coral Gables,” said Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason. “This is a great testament to our organization and its team of leaders that ? 90 years later? dutifully carry on this poetry on land legacy we are proud to call Coral Gables.”
The 2016 George E. Merrick Award of Excellence Dinner and Auction was the kick-off event to the Chamber’s Annual Conference that took place on Friday, August 26th hosted by The Biltmore Hotel, and presented by Baptist Health South Florida. A special thank you to Bacardi USA for their smooth spirits and Cao Chocolates for sweet treats.
We would like to thank our panel of Judges:
Wayne Eldred | Chairman, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce & Owner, Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill
Dr. Julio Frenk | President, University of Miami
Barbara Stein| Executive Producing Director, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre and Past Winner (2014)
Ron Shuffield | President, EWM Realty International and Past Chairman of the Chamber Jana White | Past President, Coral Gables Garden Club
About the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce
The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1,600 members and is the second largest business association in Miami-Dade County. For over 90 years, our mission has been to foster and enhance the economic interests of the Coral Gables community, while advancing the quality of life of our members, partners, neighbors and visitors. For more information on our Chamber, please visit www.coralgableschamber.org or follow-us on Facebook at www.facebook/coralgableschamber.
