William H. ‘Bill’ Kerdyk Jr.

William H. ‘Bill’ Kerdyk Jr. is an American entrepreneur, politician and international golf tournament organizer.[1]

Photograph of Bill Kerdyk Jr

Early life

Kerdyk was born in Doctor’s Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida to William Kerdyk Sr. and Marlene Schulte Kerdyk. His father, Bill Sr. was raised in Gloversville, New York, the son of a direct immigrant from the Netherlands. His mother, Marlene was the child of German immigrants, from Mankato, Minnesota.[2] Kerdyk was raised in Coral Gables, graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School and earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Real Estate from Florida International University. In 1985, Kerdyk joined the family-owned business, Kerdyk Real Estate. He purchased the business from his uncle in 1993.

Business career
William H. "Bill" Kerdyk Jr.
Assumed Office 1995
Born February 19
Spouse Lynn Kerdyk
Children 3
Alma Mater Florida International University
Websites to link to www.coralgables.com

Kerdyk Real Estate

Kerdyk is President and CEO of Kerdyk Real Estate, a full service real estate brokerage company headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. In addition to its residential and commercial division, the company also focuses on its management portfolio and the disposition of REO and distressed properties through its Division of Bankruptcies and Foreclosures. Kerdyk is also president of Kerdyk Referral Services for licensed real estate agents.[3] Kerdyk Real Estate is involved with several professional and service organizations:

First American Bank/Bank of Coral Gables

Kerdyk was the founder and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Coral Gables, a community bank that he and a group of investors founded in 2006 with $20 million in capital.[4] In December 2014, First American Bank, a full service bank with 53 branches located in 3 states and headquartered in Elk Grove Village, IL with assets of $4 billion, received regulatory approval to merge with the Bank of Coral Gables, located in Coral Gables, Florida. Kerdyk led the merger negotiations and has joined the Board of Directors of First American Bank.[5]

Toyota Junior Golf World Cup

Kerdyk, an avid golfer,[6] founded the Toyota Junior World Cup with Japanese business partners Yasmasa Tagashira and Eiji Tagashira in 1992. This junior golf tournament was formed to allow the finest junior golfers in the world the opportunity to compete in an international team event.[7]

More than 70 countries participate in qualifying tournaments held throughout the year in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa. The winners and second-place finishers in the qualifying tournaments are invited to participate in the finals held in Japan. Toyota and Japan Airlines are the major sponsors of the tournament.

Some notable junior golfers who have participated in previous tournaments and later gained prominence include 2016 British Open Champion and 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist Sweden's Henrik Stenson, 2013 US Open Champion and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist England's Justin Rose, 2011 Masters Tournament Champion Charles Schwartzel, 2010 British Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and 2008 Masters Tournament Champion Trevor Immelman.[8] The tournament qualifying system is modeled after the World Cup soccer tournament, where regional tournaments are held to allow countries to qualify and play. Kerdyk also chaired the Junior Orange Bowl Golf Tournament in Miami for several years, one of the premier invitational amateur golf tournaments in the world.

In 2014, the championship announced a girl’s event as part of the tournament.

Political career

After serving for 20 years, Kerdyk stepped down from public office in April 2015 and the City of Coral Gables bestowed the title Vice Mayor Emeritus upon him in recognition of his many years of service. He served as a Coral Gables Commissioner on a citywide, nonpartisan basis starting in 1995 and was subsequently re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. He served as Vice Mayor in 1999, 2001 and from 2007 to 2015. In April 2015, in recognition of his longstanding career as a public servant, the 3.5 acre Riviera Park, located at 6611 Yumuri Street in Coral Gables, was renamed ‘William H. Kerdyk, Jr. Family Park’. At a Coral Gables City Commission meeting held in April 2015, the following video commemorating the Kerdyk legacy was broadcast:

Stands

Kerdyk had four major stands as a Coral Gables Commissioner, which include support for strong zoning codes, fiscal conservation, strong advocacy for ‘best in class’ city services and quality of life issues for residents[9]

Programs

Throughout his political career, Kerdyk has initiated several city programs:[10]

  • Coral Gables Trolleys:[11] A free intra-city transportation connector system that serves over 1.25 million riders annually and has enhanced overall mass transit throughout the community.
  • Parknership Program: A public/private partnership to purchase and enhance open spaces throughout the City of Coral Gables.[12] $2 million in private funding has been raised to date.
  • Downtown Landscape Plan: he orchestrated an ordinance that required landscaping for all new developments in the community areas of Coral Gables. The purpose of the plan is to increase tree canopy, improve natural beauty of the area and create a pedestrian friendly environment.
  • Ponce de Leon Boulevard Median: Initiated and assisted in securing funding for a landscaped median on Ponce de Leon Boulevard in the heart of Coral Gables that has improved traffic flow and enhanced the boulevard.[13]
  • Traffic Calming: Proposed and initiated traffic calming measures throughout Coral Gables residential areas.

Political Organizations

Kerdyk has served on numerous political organizations affecting Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida:

  • Public Service Commission Nominating Council: Nominated by Senator Marco Rubio and appointed by the State of Florida to serve on nine-member council.
  • Metropolitan Planning Organization: Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve on panel responsible for Miami-Dade County's transportation planning process.
  • Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Panel: Appointed by Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas to negotiate the relocation of Cunard Cruise Lines to Miami-Dade County.
  • Miami-Dade County Charter Review Task Force: Appointed by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.[14]

Personal life

Kerdyk and his wife, Lynn, a clinical child psychologist at the University of Miami, have three children – William H. Kerdyk, III, Lindsay Kerdyk and Leigh Mason Kerdyk.

Philanthropy

In September 2018, Kerdyk along with sisters Tracy Kerdyk and Kim Kerdyk, donated $75,000 to the Coral Gables Garden Club in memory of their mother, Marlene Schulte Kerdyk. The donation will be held in the Marlene Kerdyk Beautification Fund established at the Coral Gables Community Foundation. Its purpose is to support landscape beautification projects in the City of Coral Gables and improve the quality of life for its residents.[15] [16]

Kerdyk founded the Kerdyk Family Music Scholarship Fund in October 2002 in memory of his father, William H. Kerdyk Sr., who shared his love of music with his own children and grandchildren. A financial scholarship is given annually to a graduating senior that lives in Coral Gables who has shown an interest in music during high school. To date, more than $60,000 has been awarded to deserving music students.[17]

  • Board of Directors, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America
  • Board of Trustees, Gulliver Schools
  • Graduate, Leadership Florida
  • Graduate, Leadership Miami
  • Host Committee, Miami-Dade County Super Bowl
  • Board of Directors, Bach Society
  • Member, Rotary Club of Coral Gables
  • Member, Orange Bowl Committee

Awards and honors
  • Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida 500 - selected for inclusion in the inaugural edition that highlights the 500 most influential business leaders in Florida, September 2018[18]
  • On June 25, 2015, Kerdyk received the George E. Merrick Award from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, bestowed on a leader and visionary in Coral Gables, in memory of George E. Merrick, the father and founder of Coral Gables.
  • Rotary Club of Coral Gables Citizen of the Year, May 2015
  • Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Green Legacy Award in recognition of the City of Coral Gables Parknership program, April 2015
  • Legacy honoree at the first Annual Junior Orange Bowl Gala in Coral Gables recognized for tireless and selfless work and
  • Impact on youth through philanthropic endeavors, February 2015
  • Coral Gables Foundation Legacy Award[19]
  • Designated among Outstanding Young Men of America
  • Recipient, Ronald McDonald House Twelve Good Men of South Florida Award Member
  • Selected Who's Who of America (for achievements and contributions)
  • Chamber gives Merrick Award to William H. 'Bill' Kerdyk Jr.
  • Friends and Neighbors: Reagan/Doral High murals honor two killed in car accidents

References
  1. Burns, Gloria (7 January 2014). "Bill kerdyk jr. carries on family tradition of community service". Coral Gables News. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  2. "William H. (Bill) Kerdyk Sr". Ching Tang 1946. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
  3. "William H. (Bill) Kerdyk Jr". (n.d.). Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  4. Freer, J. (30 January 2006). "New coral gables bank counting on its board. South Florida Business Journal". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  5. "Financial Reports | firstambank.com". www.firstambank.com. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  6. Santagata, J. (1 September 2010). "Balancing act: Bill Kerdyk on top of his game". Weekend Golfer, Miami. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  7. Van Smith, B. (12 June 2013). "Kerdyk still an influence" (PDF). the Miami Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  8. Smith, B (13 June 2012). "Kerdyk still making a difference with golf tournament in Japan". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  9. Lepe, D. (11 June 2008). "William H. Kerdyk, Jr. fiel creyente del intercambio". Mundo y Motor. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  10. "Vice mayor William H. Kerdyk, Jr". Coral Gables, C.O. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  11. "The coral gables trolley system and pedestrian resources". Retrieved 2005. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. Hairston, P (2009). "Parknership working to save the alhambra water tower". Coral Gables Community Foundation. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  13. Tobalina, R. (3 April 2012). "City restoring landscaping on ponce de leon near UM". Coral Gables News. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  14. "William H. 'Bill' Kerdyk Jr. named to county's Charter Review Task Force". Miami's Community News. 2017-06-16. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  15. "Kerdyk Family Donates $75,000 to Coral Gables Garden Club in Memory of Mother, Marlene Schulte Kerdyk". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  16. "5 Questions with Bill Kerdyk Jr., CEO, Kerdyk Real Estate". Media Group Lifestylel. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  17. Hanley, A. "Kerdyk family trust scholarship fund". Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  18. Becker, Jeanne. "William H. 'Bill' Kerdyk Jr. included in inaugural edition of the Florida 500". Miami's Community Newspapers. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  19. "20th anniversary Coral Gables Foundation homecoming gala honorees". Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  • Coral Gables legend steps down; commission talks trolleys and building development
  • Seven-decade tradition ends in Gables; commissioner Bill Kerdyk terms out
  • Susan Danseyar, Miami Today, “Coral Gables Creates First American Tie”, December 18, 2014
  • The Bank of Coral Gables completes sale to First American Bank
  • Official website for Kerdyk Real Estate
  • Official website of the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup
  • First American Bank
  • Kerdyk continues to serve city even out of office 6/2015
  • Guru of the Gables
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