NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
HAIR SALONS
Oasis Salon and Day Spa
Ms. Christal Hall
565 W. Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 450-7945
website
Join Date: 03/09/2015
Ribbon-cutting:
April 15, 9:30 a.m.
MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Orpheum Theatre and Academy of Performing Arts
Ms. Jenny Heidtman
Bartow, FL 33830
(718) 408-0653
website
Join Date: 03/12/2015
INSURANCE AGENCIES
LegalShield
Mr. Clive Harding
Winter Haven, FL 33884
(863) 324-1058
website
Join Date: 03/13/2015
ASSNS, CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
Mid-Florida SHRM
Ms. Andrea Prather
(863) 640-2459
website
Join Date: 03/30/2015
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
45 YEARS
WBF FM102.9 and AM1130
35 YEARS
SEMCO Construction, Inc.
30 YEARS
Henry Company
Sabal Transport, Inc.
Trans-Phos, Inc.
25 YEARS
Kiwanis Club of Bartow
15 YEARS
Keith D. Miller
5 YEARS
Neon Octopus
Donna Delf
CHAMBER EVENTS & MEETINGS
Meetings are at the Chamber unless listed otherwise.
MARCH MEETINGS
Tuesday, Mar. 31, 4:00 p.m.
Chamber Golf Scramble
Committee
APRIL
Wednesday, April 1, noon
Delegate / Ambassadors
Thursday, April 2, 1:00 p.m.
Diplomat Birthday Get Together
Friday, April 3, 11:30 a.m.
Downtown Cross Walk ends at
Polk County History Center
Chamber Closed
Thursday, April 9, 5:15 p.m.
Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation
1239 E. Main St., Bartow
Fun Thursday featuring
Peace River Center
Terrie Lobb Catering
Good Shepherd Hospice
Heartland For Children
Friday, April 10, 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start
Chamber Golf Scramble
Wednesday, April 15, 9:30 a.m.
Oasis Salon & Day Spa Ribbon-cutting
565 W. Main St., Bartow
Thursday, April 16
Leadership Bartow XVI
Polk County Sheriff Day
Friday, April 17, noon
ENGAGE Chamber Young Professionals
Lunch & Learn
FIPR, 1855 W. Main St., Bartow
Wednesday, April 29, 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Professional Development Academy
Sherran Spurlock Small Business Development
Polk State College Clear Springs
Advanced Technology Center
310 Technology Dr., Bartow MAY Dates here.
COMMITTEE OF 100
The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, April 10, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Committee of 100 meetings are held at the Health and Life Center (old Hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. If you are interested in becoming a member of this prestigious group, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at (863) 533-4196. CLICK FOR A LIST OF MEMBERS
CHAMBER GOLF SCRAMBLE
Event Date: April 10, 2015, Bartow Golf Course. Sponsorships available! Call Linda Holcomb for more information, 863-533-7125.
CLASSIFIEDS
$25 per run (up to 35 words), call 533-7125 or email Virginia.
COMMERCIAL RENTAL SPACE perfect for small business client consultation and/or satellite office space in Polk County's county seat. Minutes from the courthouse and county administration buildings. The 40-600 square foot move in ready space is located at 1480 N. Broadway Ave., Suite C in Bartow. Rental rates $450-$650 per month. Interested parties should call (863) 559-3180 or (863) 559-0101.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDING FOR SALE Furnished: $2500 square feet; $250,000. 690 E. Davidson Street, Bartow, FL 33830. Former law office in excellent condition, only 6 blocks from the Polk County Courthouse. Large foyer and central work area with multiple high-end filing cabinets, surrounded by 6 private offices and library/conference room, with built-in bookshelves, kitchenette, 2 ceramic tile bathrooms, 1 shower stall, cable, and security system. Corner lot with plenty of off-street parking. Excellent location in County Seat for any enterprise dealing with state and local government. Contact Chuck Bentley at (863) 533-7733 or email Chuck.
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW FOR THE MAGAZINE
Reserve your space now in the Summer Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 20,000 households for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.
2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sharon Casey, President
Community Southern Bank
Myrtice Young, Immediate Past President
Polk County Board of County Commissioners
Jennifer Hall, President-elect, Vice President
SEMCO Construction
Gail Smith, Treasurer
Community Southern Bank
Emily Spath Clark, Vice President
Spath Jewelers
Clint Edwards, Vice President
Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Rob Clancey, Vice President
Polk State College
Carole McKenzie, Vice President
Polk County Farm Bureau
Shannon Medley, Vice President
Florida Industrial and Phosphate
Research Institute
DIRECTORS
David Carmichael
Boswell & Dunlap, LLP
Lennon Jordan
Madrid Engineering Group
Jeremy M. Katzmann, MD
Watson Clinic
Jeff Kincart
A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure
J.C. Martin
Kelley Buick GMC
Phil Minden
Bartow Regional Medical Center
Callie Neslund
Mosaic
Josh Palmer
Palmer Insurance Agency, Inc.
Freda Ridgway
Mosaic
Carlos Sandoval
Bartow Ford Company
David Sandow
Spherion Staffing
Anita Stasiak
CenterState Bank
Lea Ann Thomas
Polk County Board of County Commissioners
Valerie Tillmon
Citizens Bank & Trust |
FROM THE PRESIDENT:
If you browse through the Chamber website you will notice that you can benefit from Business Referrals, Business Promotion, Business to Business networking, Business Community Support, and also Business Marketing on our website, and through various types of sponsorships.
The Chamber is here for you, please get involved and take advantage of the great tools it offers to help you and your business.
From regular seminars and workshops such as developing your business, business tips, how to communicate with and focus on your customers - to marketing your business, the Chamber is ready to play a role in making your business a success.
Networking opportunities are available almost every month. Please take the time to introduce yourself to your peers in business. Be sure to bring your business cards and pass them out at the next Fun Thursday, hosted by Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation on April 9, 2015.
And here's a helpful tip I've learned from the Chamber - when you hand out your business cards, give each person two or three. You'll find that most people don't mind passing along your information to someone else. It works!
Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Community Southern Bank, VP
Chamber President, 2015 Photos from J. Lenora Bresler Workshop
SCORE ROUNDTABLE IN BARTOW COMING UP
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FREE to Business Owners and those interested in starting a business, beginning Thursday, April 9th and continuing with the second Thursday of each month, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Chamber: The popular SCORE Roundtable has come to Bartow! Join us the 2nd Thursday of every month as we explore various topics of interest to our members. On April 9th, the topic is: 3 THINGS TO MAKE YOUR CUSTOMER REMEMBER YOU! Create a customer base that remembers you and becomes loyal, repeat customers that you can count on. Watch for sign up information on facebook, also.
Chamber Business Roundtable is brought to you through the partnership between SCORE, Polk County SBA Center and the Chamber. To register, go to www.bartowchamber.com, or you may click here.
SIGN UP AT THE CHAMBER WEBSITE!
Polk State Corporate College, Bartow Chamber
Partner for Professional Development Academy
Polk State College and the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce are partnering to create a series of seminars and classes for local professionals.
The Greater Bartow Chamber Professional Development Academy's next workshop is at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center, 310 Technology Drive in Bartow.
The initial installment of the Academy, “Business Development and Marketing Tips for Small Businesses,” will be presented by Sherran Spurlock, a Consultant and Business Development Trainer. Cost is $39 per person.
Click here to sign up today! read more...
MEMBER MICRONEWS
Topic: International Trade
Port Tampa Bay Building Tampa
Experienced executives will share their accounts of what it takes to successfully export overseas and the obstacles they encountered along the way. Hear from long-term entrepreneurs. Their perspectives are sure to provide valuable time and money-saving insights for those just starting or wanting to take a fresh look at their exporting options. Space is limited.
Note: Event designed for those in business for at least 3 years.
Speaker: Jorge Astorquiza, Flayco Products
YOUTH VILLA LUNCHEON IS MAY 20, 2015
The annual Youth Villa Luncheon will be held on May 20, 2015 at the Bartow Civic Center. Catered by Curly Tails, the cost is $10.00. per person. Rotary and other Civic Clubs have agreed to use the luncheon as their meeting date. Andy Bean, the PGA tour golfer is keynote speaker. During the luncheon, long-time Villa Golf Tournament player Herb Dixon, who is 95 years old, will be honored. Dixon has played in the Villa every year except the year he was inducted into the African American Golfer Hall of Fame in 2012. Emcee is Sheriff Grady Judd. For more information, please call Karen B. Guffey, (863) 533-3131. read more...
25th ANNIVERSARY OF JUST SAY NO
It's hard to believe, but on Wednesday, May 5, 2015, we'll be celebrating 25 years of the Community-based public education effort, JUST SAY NO to drugs. If you'd like to donate to help fund this program, send your check payable to "JUST SAY NO" to CenterState Bank, ATTN: Anita Stasiak, 1375 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830. Thank you for your consideration to help support this struggle against drugs!
ENGAGE FAB FRIDAY COMING UP!
MAY15, 2015: Fab Friday for our Chamber Young Professionals is coming up! If you are between the ages of 21 and 42 and are interested in networking with other young professionals, please come to the ENGAGE social, Fab Friday. For information about ENGAGE or if you'd like to sign up as a member, check out the Chamber's website, www.bartowchamber.com. FAB FRIDAY location TBA.
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: SPATH JEWELERS!
Spath Jewelers became the first business to display the "IT PAYS TO BUY LOCAL" eight foot banner, which also let's shoppers know that Spath's is the Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for March.
ABOUT SPATH JEWELERS:
"We have been blessed to have the opportunity to serve our wonderful customers and friends in Florida with our retail locations in Bartow and Valrico, Florida for a combined 38+ years," said owner Tina Spath. Spath Jewelers is an industry leader for repairs and custom design. Spaths has four jewelers on-site that have over 70 years of combined experienceassuring customers the highest degree of quality work. Spath's offers custom design work, insurance appraisals, on-site jewelry repair, expert watch repair, layaway and financing programs. Spath Jewelers also carries the finest selection of loose diamonds and fine jewelry, and features Bulova, Citizen, Pulsar, Private Label, Fossil, Seiko and reconditioned Rolex Watches at the lowest prices around. For more information, click here.
SMALL BUSINESS HELP IS ON ITS WAY
Florida SBDC Is Available At
Bartow Chamber On Apr. 9
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida, assists existing and emerging businesses in Polk County, through no-cost confidential business consulting, and low-cost training. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business topics, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization. A consultant will be at the Chamber on April 9, 2015 and available to Chamber Businesses. To schedule an appointment, visit www.bartowchamber.com and follow the links on the home page, or call (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.
LEADERSHIP XVI'S TRIP TO TALLY
By Jeff Roslow, Class Historian TWO DAYS IN TALLAHASSEE
Part of the mission of the Leadership Bartow crew going to Tallahassee was to raise awareness of Polk County in Florida's Capital. We probably did that in the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Not a Chamber of Commerce as one may think, this agency could be billed as a political action group, according to our speaker, Greg Blose. Blose told us the Florida Chamber is a political group and explained the Florida Chamber endorses candidates for the Legislature and the Florida Cabinet. He said in the last election the Chamber backed many Democratic candidates who were successful.
I was skeptical, as both houses in Tallahassee have major Republican majorities and my memory of the 2014 races went more toward the GOP candidates than it did for Democrats. read more...
NEW BANNERS GO UP!
The City of Bartow worked hard last week to install the new banners designed by Chamber Executive Director Jeff Clark for the Bartow Marketing Partnership. The banners feature 20 different styles promoting different events and locations within Bartow. The Bartow Marketing Partnership consists of the City of Bartow, Bartow's Community Redevelopment Agency and the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce. |