William H. ‘Bill’ Kerdyk, Jr.
William H. ‘Bill’ Kerdyk, Jr. is an American entrepreneur, politician and international golf tournament organizer. He is a Coral Gables elected official and serves as Vice Mayor on a citywide, non-partisan basis beginning in 1995.
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. 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 Forclosures. Kerdyk is also president of Kerdyk Referral Services for licensed real estate agents. Kerdyk Real Estate is involved with several professional and service organizations:
- The Beacon Council
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
- Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce
- Gulliver Schools Academy Board of Trustees
- Miami Association of Realtors
- Realtors Commercial Alliance
- Rotary Club of Coral Gables/Rotary International
- Super Bowl Host Committee
- Past National Delegate, National Association of Realtors
Bank of Coral Gables
Kerdyk is the founder and serves 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. The Bank of Coral Gables, located at 2295 Galiano Street, is a $110 million state-chartered bank headquartered in downtown Coral Gables. The Bank of Coral Gables offers a variety of personal and business banking services including residential and commercial lending.
Toyota Junior Golf World Cup
Kerdyk, an avid golfer, 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.
Each country has four male players 18 years of age or younger. More than 65 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 2013 US Open Champion Justin Rose, 2011 Masters Tournament Champion Charles Schwartzel, 2010 British Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and 2008 Masters Tournament Champion Trevor Immelman. 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
Kerdyk has 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 2013.
Stands
Kerdyk has 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
Programs
Throughout his political career, Kerdyk has initiated several city programs:
- Coral Gables Trolleys: A free intra-city transportation connector system that serves over one 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. $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.
- Traffic Calming: Proposed and initiated traffic calming measures throughout Coral Gables residential areas.
Political Organizations
As a Coral Gables Commissioner, 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.
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
Kerdyk founded the Kerdyk Family Trust 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 $30,000 has been awarded to deserving music students.
- 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
- Coral Gables Foundation Legacy Award
- 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)