William H. Kerdyk, Jr.
William H. Kerdyk, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | William H. Kerdyk, Jr. February 1960 Coral Gables, Florida, United States |
| Spouse | Lynn Kerdyk |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Florida International University |
| Occupation | Businessman, politician, philanthropist |
William H. “Bill” Kerdyk, Jr. is an American businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He is known for serving as the President and CEO of Kerdyk Real Estate and as Vice Mayor and Commissioner of the City of Coral Gables.[1][2][3]
Early life and education[edit]
William H. Kerdyk, Jr. was born to William H. Kerdyk, Sr. and Marlene Schulte Kerdyk at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida.[4][5] He attended Coral Gables High School.[5] Kerdyk received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University in 1985.[3]
Business career[edit]
After graduating from college, Kerdyk began working for his family’s business, Kerdyk Real Estate, and eventually purchased the company from his uncle in 1992.[5]
Kerdyk founded and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Bank of Coral Gables in 2006.[5][6][7] He remained a member of the bank’s board of directors after it was purchased by the Chicago-based First American Bank in 2014.[8]
Kerdyk co-founded and has served as chair of the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, held in Japan, since 1992.[9]Kerdyk also served as chairman of the Junior Orange Bowl Golf Tournament.[9] He also served as the president of the Junior Orange Bowl Committee.[9]
Political career[edit]
Kerdyk served in public office from 1995-2015.[4][5] He began serving as a city commissioner in 1995 and was reelected in 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011.[10] He also served as Vice Mayor of Coral Gables in 1999, 2001, and from 2007-2015.[3]
During his tenure as city commissioner, Kerdyk instituted the Coral Gables Trolley System, which began service in November 2003.[11] In 2009, he initiated the Parknership program, a public/private partnership throughout the City of Coral Gables to purchase and enhance open spaces.[12] He also instituted the downtown Ponce de Leon Median project in 2012 and replaced trees on Ponce de Leon Boulevard in front of the University of Miami.[13] Other initiatives he founded include the Downtown Landscape Plan to increase tree canopy and the establishment of Traffic Calming measures throughout the City of Coral Gables.[14]
Philanthropy[edit]
In memory of his father, Kerdyk also founded the Kerdyk Family Music Scholarship Fund in 2002, which awards scholarships to high school seniors with an interest in music.[15][16][17]To date, the Kerdyk Family Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $80,000 to students.[18]
In September 2018, Kerdyk and his sisters Kim Kerdyk and Tracy Kerdyk donated $75,000 to the Coral Gables Garden Club to establish the Marlene Kerdyk Beautification Fund in memory of their mother.[19]
In July 2022, Kerdyk organized the renovation of Camp Mahachee, a camp for the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida.[20][21][22] Kerdyk and his wife Lynn, invited the leadership of the Coral Gables Garden Club to participate in the renovation along with a team of experts from Miami-Dade County, the Coral Gables Community Foundation, and the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida.[21][22]
Awards and honors[edit]
- 2015 - George E. Merrick Award of Excellence - Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce[1]
- 2015 - Legacy Honoree - Junior Orange Bowl Gala[23]
- 2015 - Green Legacy Award - Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce[14]
- 2015 - Citizen of the Year Award - Rotary Club of Coral Gables[14]
- 2018 - Present - Florida 500 Influential Business Leader - Florida Trend Magazine[24]
- 2020 - Apogee Award for Real Estate - South Florida Business & Wealth Magazine[10]
Personal life[edit]
Kerdyk is an avid golfer.[25] He is married to Lynn, a clinical child psychologist.[25] They have three children, William H. Kerdyk III, Lindsay Kerdyk, and Leigh Kerdyk.[4][26]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Friends and Neighbors: Reagan/Doral High murals honor two killed in car accidents". miamiherald.com. September 16, 2015.
- ^ "Coral Gables legend steps down; commission talks trolleys and building development". miamiherald.com. March 31, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Florida International University Magazine Spring 2002". digitalcommons.fiu.edu. Spring 2002.
- ^ a b c "Matriarch of Coral Gables, Marlene Kerdyk, dies at 84". miamiherald.com. May 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Guru of the Gables". S. Florida Business & Wealth. 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "New Coral Gables bank counting on its board". bizjournals.com. Jan 30, 2006.
- ^ "Banking & Financial Services New Coral Gables bank counting on its board". Bizjournals. January 30, 2006. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Bank of Coral Gables sale closes". Bizjournals. December 5, 2014. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ a b c "Bill Kerdyk Jr. carries on family tradition of community service". communitynewspapers.com. 2014-01-07. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ a b "Former Vice Mayor William H. 'Bill' Kerdyk, Jr. Selected As 2020 Apogee Award Honoree In Real Estate". gablesinsider.com. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "The Coral Gables Trolley System and Pedestrian Resources". greatgables.com. 2014.
- ^ "Parknership". gablesfoundation.org. 2010.
- ^ "Coral Gables News 4.3.2012 by Community Newspapers - Issuu". issuu.com. 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ a b c "Chamber gives Merrick Award to William H. 'Bill' Kerdyk Jr". communitynewspapers.com. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "School Scene: Two students win Kerdyk Music Scholarship for future music studies". Miamiherald.com. May 5, 2015.
- ^ "Kerdyk Family awards scholarships to two talented student musicians". communitynewspapers.com. 2015-05-14. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "5 Questions with Bill Kerdyk Jr., CEO, Kerdyk Real Estate". Lifestyle Media. 2019-01-07. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "16 High School Seniors Receive $80K In Scholarships". Coral Gables-Coconut Grove, FL Patch. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "Kerdyk Family Donates $75,000 to Coral Gables Garden Club in Memory of Mother, Marlene Schulte Kerdyk". sun-sentinel.com. October 18, 2018.
- ^ "Coral Gables Philanthropy for Camp Mahachee Restoration". communitynewspapers.com. 2022-07-18. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ a b "Historic Gables camp lets Girl Scouts enjoy the outdoors. Now, the outdoors need help". miamiherald.com. May 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "Coral Gables Magazine June 2023 by Coral Gables Magazine - Issuu". issuu.com. 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Friends and Neighbors: Jr. OB honors four community leaders who've made a big impact on area youth". miamiherald.com. March 20, 2015.
- ^ "William H. 'Bill' Kerdyk Jr. included in inaugural edition of the Florida 500 | Coral Gables Community News#". 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ a b "Weekend Golfer/Miami - September 2010 Issue by WG Magazine - Issuu". issuu.com. 2010-09-04. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "Coral Gables News 8.9.2011 by Community Newspapers - Issuu". issuu.com. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2024-05-08.