{"id":13508,"date":"2017-02-06T12:32:10","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T19:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/?p=13508"},"modified":"2017-02-07T08:50:03","modified_gmt":"2017-02-07T15:50:03","slug":"addressing-business-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/addressing-business-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"ADDRESSING BUSINESS LEADERS"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/a>

\"\"ChamberSOUTH kicked off its 2017 General Membership Breakfast series at the Miami Dadeland Marriott by welcoming our \u201cMade-in-Miami\u201d Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera in his hometown.<\/p>\n

County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava opened the breakfast meeting with introductory remarks, and unveiled \u201cMore to Explore,\u201d a new branding campaign for South Dade that touts the unique and plentiful locations and activities throughout\u00a0her district.<\/p>\n

Randy Gross, Chief Operating Officer<\/p><\/div>\n

Kendall Regional Medical Center was the sponsor of the breakfast and its Chief Operating Officer, Randy Gross, offered welcoming remarks and presented hospital service data for the past year and plans for extensive facility improvements.\u00a0He concluded with an entertaining video of super heroes providing services to\u00a0children which was received with much delight by the attendees.<\/p>\n

The Lieutenant Governor\u2019s keynote address before the gathering of business and\u00a0civic leaders carried a theme of continued growth and prosperity for the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlorida\u2019s economy has seen profound growth: We are on the right track with increases in private-sector job growth, a housing market that continues to grow,\u00a0and the lowest unemployment rates we\u2019ve seen in years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Lopez Cantera noted that although 820,000 jobs were lost across the state in 2014, by 2016 1.26 million new jobs were created and 25 percent of the state\u2019s debt was paid down \u2013 while $6.5 billion in taxes have been cut since 2010.<\/p>\n

He also reported an effort to eliminate sales tax on college textbooks, as well as a 25 percent reduction in commercial-lease taxes \u2013 two important items being considered as part of a $618 million tax-cut package in 2017.<\/p>\n

ChamberSOUTH Board Chair Joe Gallaher of NAI convening the General Membership Breakfast meeting.<\/p><\/div>\n

All this while making record investments in education, based on \u201cperformance funding\u201d and the elimination of 4,500 \u201cunnecessary regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have completely turned our economy around,\u201d he said. Florida recently surpassed 20 million residents and is adding more than 1,000 new residents per day \u2013 growing faster than California and New York.<\/p>\n

ChamberSOUTH thanked its sponsor and speaker with \u201cMade in South Florida\u201d signed and framed Art Festival Posters, featuring an image of the Boca Chita Lighthouse by well-known photographer, Marilyn Brown.<\/p>\n\n\t\t