In Miami, some of the most valuable conversations don’t happen on a stage. They happen over morning coffee in Coral Gables, in the stands at the Miami Open, over cigars after work, or at an invitation-only gathering that never appears on a public calendar. That increasingly describes the Economic Club of Miami.

 

Known for bringing CEOs, entrepreneurs, elected officials and thought leaders together for high-level conversations about business, public policy and the future of South Florida, the Economic Club has built its reputation around signature programs ranging from intimate fireside chats to its annual Miami Economic Forum.

 

But behind those marquee events is another side of the organization — one deliberately reserved for its members.

 

With more than 400 active members, the Economic Club of Miami has evolved into something beyond an events organization. It has become a community where many of Miami’s business and civic leaders are developing relationships outside the traditional confines of networking receptions and formal luncheons.

 

The philosophy is simple: relationships are rarely built from exchanging business cards. They are built by spending time together.

 

That was evident at the Miami Open, where the Economic Club brought together 120 members and guests for an evening of world-class tennis. Instead of meeting across a conference table, members found themselves grabbing drinks, introducing spouses and friends, and cheering together from the stands.

 

The Club has also introduced smaller gatherings designed to be deliberately informal.

 

Its “Coffee with the Club” series brings approximately 20 to 25 members together at local cafés with no speaker, formal program or agenda. Recent gatherings have taken place in neighborhoods including Brickell, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. The objective is simply conversation — creating an environment where a member who has attended several Economic Club programs might finally have the opportunity to spend 20 minutes getting to know someone they previously only recognized from across the room.

 

 

After hours, the atmosphere changes again.

 

The Club’s cigar socials have attracted members looking for an even more relaxed setting to talk business, exchange ideas and enjoy an evening together. The format is intentionally uncomplicated: no presentations and no name tags.

 

Many of these gatherings are never promoted publicly. Members learn about them through private communications, including the Club’s members-only WhatsApp community and email invitations.

 

That exclusivity is less about keeping people out than creating a stronger experience for those who have chosen to become part of the community.

 

Membership has also opened doors to experiences hosted by organizations throughout Miami. Through partnerships and relationships developed across the city, Economic Club members have received invitations to conferences, private dinners, philanthropic events and major openings.

 

Members have participated in gatherings surrounding the James Madison Institute’s Technology & Innovation Summit, attended Miami’s Ball to End Homelessness, and joined the celebration marking the opening of FC Barcelona’s Americas headquarters in Downtown Miami.

 

Those experiences reflect the broader transformation taking place across the city.

 

Miami has become an increasingly important crossroads for finance, technology, real estate, hospitality, international commerce and professional sports. Companies and organizations that once viewed Miami primarily as a gateway to Latin America increasingly see it as a global business capital in its own right.

 

 

For the Economic Club of Miami, the opportunity is to connect the people helping shape that evolution.

 

“Everything is about who you know and how you get to know them.”

Francisco Gonzalez, Club’s executive director

 

That second part may be the more important one.

 

A formal luncheon can introduce two people. A morning coffee, tennis match, cigar social or unexpected invitation can turn that introduction into a relationship.

 

It is why the Club continues to invest in experiences beyond its headline events. Some are sophisticated. Others are remarkably simple. What connects them is the opportunity to bring accomplished people together without always asking them to sit quietly and listen to someone on a stage.

 

In a city built on relationships, that may ultimately be one of the Economic Club of Miami’s greatest assets.

 

The public sees the speakers, forums and high-profile events.

 

Members experience everything in between.

 

For membership information, visit the Economic Club of Miami’s website.