SCORE ROUNDTABLE IN BARTOW COMING UP
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FREE to Business Owners and those interested in starting a business, on the second Thursday of each month, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Chamber: The popular SCORE Roundtable for businesses! Join us the 2nd Thursday of every month as we explore various topics of interest to our members. 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.
NEXT ROUNDTABLE: The Essentials of Social Media
NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
BOTTLED WATER & FILTER COOLER SYSTEMS
Water Boy, Inc.
Mr. Scott McLaughlin
1808 Olive St.
Lakeland, FL 33815
(800) 346-6080
website
Join Date:04/01/2015
ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING/ TAX SERVICE
Small Business Accounting
Ms. Sheree Vickers
1135 W. Clinton St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 712-0894
Join Date:04/13/2015
ACCOMMODATIONS
Hampton Inn Bartow
Ms. Jennifer Welch
205 Old Bartow Eagle Lake Rd.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 535-5007
Join Date: 05/01/2015
SMALL BUSINESS HELP IS ON ITS WAY
Florida SBDC Is Available At
Bartow Chamber On May 14
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 May 14, 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.
CHAMBER EVENTS & MEETINGS
Meetings are at the Chamber unless listed otherwise.
MAY
Wednesday, May 13, 11:30 a.m.
Spirit of Bartow Awards
Luncheon
Bartow Civic Center
2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow
Thursday, May 14, 7:30 a.m.
SCORE Roundtable
Thursday, May 14, all day
SBDC at Chamber
Friday, May 15, 11:00 a.m.
National Bike To Work Day
Fort Blount Park
Friday, May 15, 5:00 p.m.
ENGAGE FAB FRIDAY
at Villages at Laurel Meadows
100 Laurel Circle, Bartow
Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 a.m.
Reading of Emancipation
Proclamation for Florida
on the North Lawn of the
Polk County History Center More May Dates here.
COMMITTEE OF 100
The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, May 8, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Committee of 100 meetings are held at the Health and Life Center (old Hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. Our speaker is Claire Orologas, Executive Director of the Polk Museum of Art. 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
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.
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
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.
TRAVEL WITH THE CHAMBER!
We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:
We will have a travel presentation on Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 at the Chamber for anyone who may be interested in either or both trips and would like to find out more.
New York Presentation from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Tuscany Presentation from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
RSVP for this informative meeting by May 15 here. |
FROM THE PRESIDENT:
It's very busy this time of year at the Chamber. So busy, in fact, that this newsletter is a day late! Thanks for your patience.
It's also the time of year when school is winding down and the kids will be out for the Summer. Bartow is fortunate that the Chamber, along with Main Street Bartow, Inc., and the CRA, have a really neat program for kids going into third grade and finishing 8th grade called BIZ KIDS.
Now in its fourth year, Biz Kids features businesses within the CRA district that teach kids how to run a business on the day to day level. At Maura Galbraith's Cookie Jar, for example, the kids make and decorate cookies and cupcakes. Shayann Jones at Especially 4 U Catering has them washing dishes, sweeping floors, bussing tables. Trish Pfeiffer plays a game where she opens a storage unit and have the kids bid on it with Simply Storage Bucks. Jeff Roslow at The Democrat lets them write, take photos, and go on assignments for the newspaper. It's exciting for the kids, and the businesses get a summertime monetary "boost," for taking their time to teach about the real nuts and bolts of their businesses.
If your business is within the CRA district, won't you teach a child this summer? Read below for more information about Biz Kids.
Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Community Southern Bank, VP
Chamber President, 2015
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: TERRIE LOBB CATERING
Terrie Lobb (left) of Terrie Lobb Catering along with Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson, proudly display the Chamber's Business of the Month banner in Terrie's restaurant and catering business located at 1239 E. Main Street, Bartow. For more information, contact Terrie at (863) 533-6483.
Business of the Month of May is . . .
Terrie Lobb Catering
At Terrie Lobb Catering, Terrie and the staff pride themselves in delivering a wide variety of menu choices, along with the experience and expertise that make every event memorable. Known throughout Polk County, Terrie Lobb Catering specializes in custom menus designed for cocktail receptions, weddings, corporate events and home parties. Terrie and her staff always provide professional services from box lunches to elegant plated dinners. They can even assist with decor and entertainment. The catering company is unsurpassed in paying attention to detail; and the team of culinary professionals are dedicated to making your event an unforgettable one.
SPIRIT OF BARTOW 2015
The May joint civic club luncheon, the annual Spirit of Bartow Awards, is set for Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at the Bartow Civic Center, where individuals and/or groups will be honored for their contributions to the Bartow community and whose accomplishments made a positive impact on the area’s quality of life.
Recognized at the luncheon will also be the Bartow Chamber Diplomats, a special group of volunteers who donate their time to operating the Chamber’s Visitors and Welcome Center. Some Diplomats work in the front office, while others continue to help with the newsletter, special projects and events.
Public safety professionals of the year for EMT, firefighter and Bartow police officer will be given awards.
The event, including lunch, is $10. Watson Clinic and the Center for Cancer Care and Research are luncheon sponsors.
The serving line opens at 11:45 a.m., and the program begins at noon. For more information, please contact Linda Holcomb at the Bartow Chamber, (863) 533-7125.
Carver Young receives a Spirit of Bartow award from another winner of the award in 2014, Dr. Thomas McMicken.
MEMBER MICRONEWS
CAREERSOURCE POLK WINS FPRA AWARD
Public relations projects implemented in the past year by Florida Presbyterian Homes of Lakeland and CareerSource Polk were the big winners in the 2015 Image Awards competition sponsored by the Dick Pope/Polk County chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). Florida Presbyterian Homes (FPH) earned both a Judges Award and an Award of Distinction in the Internal Public Relations Programs category for a project called
“Operation Volunteer Hours,” while CareerSource Polk won a Judges Award in the Community Relations category for a project known as “Fashion Frenzy.”
The awards were presented to Jennifer Olivier, public relations manager at FPH, and Marybeth Soderstrom, community outreach coordinator at CareerSource Polk, by chapter President Amy Wiggins during the chapter’s “Morning with the Stars” themed professional development meeting on March 19 at the Cleveland Heights Golf & Country Club. FPRA offers professional development, networking and recognition for 1,300 public relations practitioners in Florida. Visit www.fpra.org for information on the state organization or www.fprapolk.org/home for local information.
ENGAGE FAB FRIDAY COMING UP!
MAY 15, 2015, 5:00 p.m: 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 will take place at The Villages at Laurel Meadows, 100 Laurel Circle, Bartow, FL 33830.
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
30 YEARS
OneBlood
Junior Service League of Bartow
20 YEARS
Systemized Properties, Inc.
15 YEARS
Bruce and Pam Renew
10 YEARS
Bright House Networks Business Solutions
5 YEARS
Lane Construction Corporation
BIKE TO WORK DAY
The Bartow Warriors, the unofficial cycling group of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce will be participating in the Friday, May 15, 2015 Polk County Commuter Services Day, "National Bike To Work Day" event. Here's the scoop:
Polk County Commuter Services Day and National Bike to Work Day - Friday, May 15
Event times: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Partner and vendor setup: 9:30 am
Event Details: • Interactive bicycle course, FREE helmet fittings*, Participation from local businesses, organizations, county offices and elected officials • Learn the rules of the road, transit information, and other activities • Freebies, prize drawings, free lunch and goodie bag donated by local organizations, commuter challenges, and more. Call Christine Diaz at the number below if you'd like to participate.
For more information, please contact Commuter Services at 1.866.585.RIDE (7433), CustomerService@CommuterServicesFL.com or visit CommuterServicesFL.com
INTERESTING IN VOLUNTEERING FOR THIS FUN DAY? EMAIL virginia@bartowchamber.com
PDA ON MAY 20TH TO FEATURES JENN BISH
Professional Development Academy: 
PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP EVENT
The Power of a Presentation
Presented by Jenn Bish, Polk State College
Presentations can be a source of anxiety or a tool for empowering the professional. With proper preparation and a few simple tecniques, anyone can deliver a powerful presentation. This workshop provides tips and tools for engaging the audience, effectively communicating information, and leveraging skills for better performance and message delivery.
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Location: Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center/
Polk State Corporate College Auditorium
310 Technology Drive, Bartow, FL
Cost: $39.00 Per Person read more...
BLUEGRASS & GOSPEL HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Doors2Change and Main Street Bartow, Inc. event featuring Bluegrass and Gospel Music, with a side order of history will be happening downtown on Saturday, June 13, 2015, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The festival will include live music and entertainment, a children’s carousel, folk art and Steampunk vendors, plant and farmer’s market vendors, and a children’s area with games, paintball design competition and Legoland sculpturing competition. The Lego sculpture will become part of the traveling Art In Public Places program. Mark your calendars for this exciting event today! Free, downtown Bartow. For more information, contact the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, 863-533-7125.
Entertainment:
Sound of Joy
K’Lyn & Her Bluegrass Friends
Mamie’s School of Dance
Psalms 101
Union Academy Bluegrass Band
Strawberry Express Cloggers
Calvary Country Bluegrass Band
Dixie Bluegrass Express
Joey Poley and the Midnight Clogging Express
POLK EMERGING LEADERS AWARDS
NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY FOR
POLK EMERGING LEADERS AWARDS
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 - 6:00 PM - Bartow Civic Center - 2250 Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830
The annual Polk Emerging Leaders Awards will once again be a collaborative event of the three young professional groups in Polk County. Continuing a new era of collaboration and blurring the east/west dividing line, the awards have been established to annually recognize five young professionals between 21- 42 who have made significant contributions and commitment to the Polk County community.
To nominate an individual for the Polk Emerging Leader Awards, simple fill out the form below between April 13 and May 31, 2015. The nominee will be notified of the nomination and asked to complete an application to provide more information. The nominee will be emailed the application but it can also be downloaded here.
BIZ KIDS GEARING UP FOR A GREAT SUMMER!
BARTOW RETAIL ACADEMY
BARTOW RETAIL ACADEMY TO TEACH
MARKETING & SALES TACTICS TO BUSINESSES
Polk County business owners are invited to learn new marketing and sales tactics for their small businesses at the Bartow Retail Academy, beginning June 9 at DMAR Business Center, 300 East Summerlin Street, Bartow. The Academy, presented by Main Street Bartow, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Florida Small Business Development Center at University of South Florida, will include four seminars for just $120.
Businesses in the Bartow CRA District qualify for a scholarship and can register by
calling Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508 or Greater Bartow Chamber at 863-533-7125. |
