Remembering Mark A. Trowbridge
Mark A. Trowbridge ran the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce as president and CEO for almost 19 years. He was a pillar of our community. He died on February 21 at the age of 56 from heart complications, following a bout with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer he had been in remission from.
Trowbridge, known affectionately as “Mister Coral Gables,” was a champion for small businesses in the City Beautiful, a mentor to many, and the genius behind events like Burgerliscious (the Chamber’s annual burger festival) and Small Business Saturday. Under his leadership, Coral Gables became one of the first cities to partner with American Express for the latter. More recently he was instrumental in bringing Ryder’s headquarters to Coral Gables. During his tenure, the Chamber’s revenue grew by over 40 percent.
Trowbridge graduated from the University of Florida in 1990 and received a master’s in education two years later from the same school. He moved to South Florida in 1992 and began a long career of community service that, beyond the nonprofit Chamber, included consulting for the Orange Bowl Committee, the Miami Open, the Mayors’ Summit of the Americas, and International Pow Wow. He supported myriad local organizations and small businesses from the Books & Books Literary Foundation to the Junior League of Miami, New World School of the Arts, and Miami Springs’ Business and Economic Development Task Force, to name only a few.
From 1995 to 1998, Trowbridge served as the director of student activities at the University of Miami before he began his nonprofit career by working as director of development and training at Switchboard of Miami, a nonprofit that provided crisis counseling, information, and referrals to those in need. From 2002 to 2006, when he became the Chamber’s leader, he served as the deputy executive director for the Miami Parking Authority, a government agency responsible for the planning, development, and management of parking within Miami.
Trowbridge was known for his larger-than-life personality, which included a quick wit, a dry sense of humor, and an unbridled passion for life. He was a consistently cheerful presence, always ready with a joke or a quip, and always showcasing grace and empathy in his leadership. The lives he touched number in the thousands, and he is remembered by many who had the privilege of calling him a friend and mentor.
Since the news of Trowbridge’s passing broke, hundreds of messages of support have poured in not just from Coral Gables, but from across South Florida. In our April Centennial Edition, we hope to honor the man we had the privilege to work alongside for many years, by publishing his friends and colleagues’ stories and memories of “Mister Coral Gables.” Please email editor@coralgablesmagazine.com with your submissions.
Funeral and memorial arrangements for Trowbridge will be posted on the Coral Gables Magazine’s website and social media when they become available.—Kylie Wang
Celebrate Mark A. Trowbridge’s legacy—revisit our past stories on his impact.