Alberto Dosal is the founder and CEO of Compuquip, a 30-year-old business with more than 70 employees based in Doral. He is also first vice chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and chair of its 2012 Economic Summit.

Q: You’re the chairman of the upcoming Economic Summit put on by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. When did the chamber start putting on this summit, and why?

The first South Florida Economic Summit, held in January of 2011, was a huge success with more than 250 attendees and presentations by Gov. Rick Scott, the U.S. Secretary of Education and a senior economist with JPMorgan Chase. At the time, the Chamber saw a need to expand its outreach to both members and nonmembers and provide both audiences with the opportunity to hear where our economy was, where we would like it to be and what we need to do to get there.

The second summit, set for Jan. 13, 2012, will continue to enable the South Florida business community to participate in important discussions and exchange ideas that will help to shape the future of our local economy and the success of Miami’s key industries.

Q: What topics will the summit cover, and how will it be different from last year?

This year, the summit will focus on four key drivers of South Florida’s economy: Healthcare; Banking & Financial Services; Real Estate & Construction; and Travel, Tourism & International Trade.

Panels of senior-level executives representing these industries will lead discussions focused on topics that we consider to be the “key pillars” of our community. Attendees will get valuable information from these in-depth discussions and have the ability to ask and have their questions answered by successful stewards of business and government.

Q: What do you expect attendees to get from the conference in terms of take-aways?

The Economic Summit is a great way for attendees to start the New Year with a clear snapshot of where the economy stands and how they can implement strategies to plan properly for a successful 2012. With more than 25 industry experts participating in panel discussions, the summit is sure to address the top issues affecting all attendees.

Q: Why does the Chamber do this instead of some other group, like the Beacon Council or a government entity?

For more than 100 years, the Chamber has served as the voice of Miami’s business community. We work closely with government officials and a variety of civic and business groups, including the Beacon Council, to educate members and develop programs that support local businesses and generate economic progress. We developed the Economic Summit to serve as a critical component of our educational programming initiatives and to help existing Miami-based businesses, their executives and their employees exchange ideas and learn new ways to advance their businesses in the New Year.

Q: Some locals have complained that the chamber doesn’t always represent the community in its broadest terms. Do you think that’s true, and how do you reach out to segments that might not be in touch with the chamber, especially for this event?

Over the years, the Chamber has not only expanded the scope of its educational programming, it has also expanded the marketing of these programs to businesses that are not Chamber members. As a result, business professionals who attend events such as the Economic Summit experience first hand the role the Chamber plays in contributing to the local community.