 Since taking
the helm of the Doral and Airport West Chamber of Commerce, Roger
Slade has overseen a dramatic alteration, including a name change, the
hiring of an executive director, doubling the membership totals for
the organization, and the imminent addition of a new, state-of-the-art
office to that list.
(Left to right) Vice President Andre Abbate, President Roger Slade,
and Executive Director Art Walker
Slade was recruited to run for the presidency and then stayed on
for a second term after two-and-a-half years on the board of the
directors and five years as a member of the organization.
"I was drafted into the presidency," he explained,
"I didn't really run. I'm glad I had two terms though--the job
requires learning, there is such a learning curve associated with the
position. We got a lot of things done, increased membership, our
visibility in the community, things that couldn't have done in just
one term."
In addition to changing the logo, which Slade cited as a major
factor in the increased visibility of the chamber, the chamber has
also added an executive director--quite a departure for the
ten-year-old organization.
"Our new Executive Director Art Walker has brought in an
avalanche of new ideas," Slade said. "He's helped with
marketing the chamber and event coordination--he's got us on the road
to where we want to be."
One major goal that Slade and the rest of the chamber had been
working towards was a dramatic increase in membership--a task that had
been difficult despite the size and diversity of Doral's business
community.
"We've managed to keep membership prices about the same, at
$150 per member," he said, "but the membership totals have
increased from about 150 to over 300 since I started."
The chamber also wanted to strengthen its ties to the Doral
community and as a result added "Doral" to its name--it had
simply been known as the Airport West Chamber until recently.
As a part of that process, the chamber has also started to
re-examine its stance on incorporation given the obvious inclination
towards municipal development that the community has exhibited.
"The chamber has in the past taken a neutral position on
incorporation," Slade explained, "but we are currently in
the process of re-evaluating that. The way the boundaries are being
drawn right now for the city of Doral, very few member businesses will
be in the boundaries."
But Slade pointed out that the chamber has come to the aid of the
community several times recently and said that as a result of their
new relationship it would continue to do so.
"In light of the recent name change, and our greater affinity
for the Doral area," he said, "we will get involved. We want
to be a good leader, and in order to do so we need to constantly
re-evaluate as situations change. We did fight to keep the both the
INS and the Juvenile Detention Center out; we worked with other
organizations to keep those groups from relocating to Doral for the
good of the community."
To further emphasize their commitment to the community, Slade said
that the chamber would soon be moving into new offices in the Doral
area.
"We've had a very small office since we started," he
said, "but we should be moving into our new space within six to
eight weeks. It will be a marquee presentation spot with a reception
area, a conference room, and three offices. Board members can meet
there, members can meet there, and people coming from out of town can
stop in there first before visiting the community. We'll also give
community organizations without a location the opportunity to meet
there."
Slade foresees a bright future for the chamber in part because he
believes that businesses located outside the area that do a great deal
of business in Doral will see the wisdom of becoming a member. He
joined for similar reasons--he is a commercial litigator by trade
whose office is in downtown Miami but became a member of the chamber
because his office handles a great deal of aviation work.
"We will pull more people in from outside the area," he
predicted, "because things are happening here and people want to
be involved."
Beyond that, Slade said that he believed the area itself with its
mix of residences and businesses would be attractive to prospective
members.
"I love Doral," he said. "It has been wonderful to
participate out here both professionally and personally."
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