August 31, 2015

OUR SPONSOR THIS WEEK:

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

RESTAURANT/GIFT BOUTIQUE
Sweet Magnolias Café & Gift Shop
Ms. Sandy Mendez
125 & 139 S. Central Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-6083
Join Date; 07/30/2015
RIBBON-CUTTING SEPT. 1, 9:30 a.m.
 
PAINTER - COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL
Goff Painting, Inc.
Mr. Cory Goff
Winter Haven, FL 33880
(863) 877-5252
Join Date: 07/30/2015
 
WEB DESIGN
Torch Designs, LLC
Mr. Kevin Farnsworth
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 614-0029
website
Join Date: 07/30/2015

CLEANING - INDUSTRIAL
Orange Industrial Services, Inc.
Mr. Eric Knaak
1420 Chamber Dr.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 519-0831
www.orangeindustrial.com
Join Date: 08/14/2015

HOSPICE
Vitas Healthcare
Ms. Dora Viltre
6850 New Tampa Hwy., Suite 600
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 583-7100
www.vitas.com
Join date: 08/13/2015

FINANCIAL PLANNING
The Lem Group, LLC
Mr. Bernardo Rossello
Davenport, FL 33896
(863) 353-7916
www.thelemgroup.com
Join date: 08/21/2015
 
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
Blackmon Roberts Group, Inc.
Ms. Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts
902 S. Florida Ave., Suite 205
Lakeland, FL 33803
www.blackmonroberts.com
Join date: 08/21/2015
 
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER
Chamber Diplomat
Ms. Diane Oesterreicher
Join date: 08/20/2015

FINANCIAL PLANNING,
PERSONAL & CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT TRAiNING

The Lem Group, LLC
Mr. Bernardo Rossello
Davenport, FL 33896
(561) 308-3460
www.thelemgroup.com
Join date: 08/21/2015

INSURANCE AGENCIES
HealthMarkets
Ms. Janice Basham Wright
2298 Lakeland Hills Blvd.
Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 853-8000
www.healthmarkets.com/jbasham
 Join date: 08/25/2015

ASSOCIATIONS, CLUBS
& ORGANIZATIONS

Polk Arts Alliance
Ms. Meri Mass
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 804-0494
www.polkarts.org
 Join date: 08/25/2015

FINANCIAL SERVICES
Burks Financial Guide
Ms. Noreen Talbott
5143 S. Lakeland Dr., Suite 4
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 940-4755
Join date: 08/28/2015
 

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN BARTOW

Looking for a commercially zoned lot, building for rent or to buy for your business? Please check out this site :

You'll get to create an account for free and check out MLS commercial listings for Bartow.
For a downloadable CRA District map, click here, scroll down and look under IMPORTANT LINKS in the right hand column of the Chamber's website.


$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.

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

SUPPORT YOUR ADVERTISERS




















WANT YOUR COMPANY
LISTED HERE?
Contact Barbara@bartowchamber.com

REACH 22K HOMES WITH YOUR MESSAGE

 Reserve your space now in the Winter 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.

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

For Myrtice Young, Historic Preservation Manager of the Polk County History Center, collecting history is more than just a job. It's her passion. When talking about the History Center, Myrtice lights up with so much enthusiasm that it is contagious.
 
I am sure that like me, most of you have visited the History Center many times. As you know, there is always something new and exciting to see. 
 
This incredibly beautiful piece of architecture was built in 1908 at a cost $100,000. Did you know the land where the Polk County History Center sits was donated by the King of the Crackers, Jacob Summerlin, Jr.?

read more...

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: TIM'S BARBER SHOP


Left to right, Barbara Adamson, Bartow Chamber; Tim Jones and Kathy (Kat) Farrer Mullins of Tim Jones Barber Shop.

Business of the Month for August is . . .
TIM JONES BARBER SHOP
We are a friendly small town barber shop with a comfortable atmosphere. We offer discounts to policemen, firemen, active duty military and Summerlin Academy students. Come in and pick up your customer loyalty card, and the 10th haircut is on us! Tim Jones Barber Shop is located at 170 S. Wilson Ave., Bartow. Call 863-224-6114 for more information.

TRAVEL WITH THE CHAMBER!



We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:

NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY
November 30 - December 4, 2015

(Deadline: Coming Up. Reservations made after this date are subject to availability)
and
DISCOVER TUSCANY
April 14 - April 23, 2016
Check out this great link!

 

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Please join us on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m. for the Discover Tuscany travel presentation hosted by the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce. Italian food samples will be provided by Cruise Planners, Ruthelise Anderson. Reservation required.
Call Barbara Adamson, 533-7125, for more information and to secure your seat.

DIVERSITY AWARDS AND LUNCHEON



Diversity Luncheon
To Promote Equality

 
To reaffirm its commitment to racial and ethnic equality, the City of Bartow’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) will hold a Diversity Luncheon on September 16, 2015, at noon, at the Bartow Civic Center in conjunction with Bartow’s Multicultural Awareness Month in September.
 
The month is set aside by Bartow’s City Commission to spotlight racial and ethnic equality and justice issues that confront people every day.
 

read more...

NEW CHAMBER PROGRAM PROMOTES FAMILY FITNESS

FORTRESS FITNESS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER

The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce presents “FORTRESS Fitness,” a new program to promote family fitness beginning in September at Fort Blount Park.
 
“FORTRESS Fitness is a community-wide outdoor workout program for all fitness levels, all ages, and it’s absolutely free,” said Marie Wilmot, organizer of the new program. Wilmot is a wellness and fitness enthusiast and instructor of Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba and other cardio-fitness programs.
 
“We hope whole families will join us for a variety of unique group workouts led by professional wellness instructors,” Wilmot added. “FORTRESS Fitness is free and open to all ages, instruction is for all levels.”

read more...

CHAMBER EVENTS

(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)

SEPTEMBER

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 9:30 a.m.
SWEET MAGNOLIAS CAFE & GIFT SHOP
RIBBON-CUTTING

125 & 139 S. Central Ave.

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 4:00 p.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES COMMITTEE

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6:00 p.m.
TRAVEL PRESENTATION

Thursday, Sept. 10, 5:15 p.m.
BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY
2800 US 98 N., Bartow

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 4:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11:45 a.m.
CRC DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Bartow Civic Center
Tickets, $10, at the Chamber

Thursday, Friday, Sept. 17, 18
LEADERSHIP XVI SECOND YEAR RETREAT
Clearwater

Monday, Sept. 21, 4:00 p.m.
ANNUAL EVENT COMMITTEE

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
WATSON CLINIC HIGHLANDS OPEN HOUSE
& RIBBON-CUTTING

2300 E. County Road 540A, Lakeland Highlands

Thursday, Sept. 24, 4:30 p.m.
HAMILTON ENGINEERING & SURVEYING, INC. RIBBON-CUTTING
& Grand Opening - Barbecue

310 E. Main Street, Suite 4, Bartow

Saturday, Sept. 26, all day, 11:00 a.m. RC
NICKELODEAN DAY OF PLAY AT NYE JORDAN PARK
with Ribbon-cutting for new tennis courts

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 4:00 p.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES COMMITTEE

OCTOBER


Thursday, October 15, all day
FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Representative Available to All Chamber Business Members. Call to schedule an appointment: (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.
 

MEMBER MICRONEWS

WATSON CLINIC HIGHLANDS OPEN HOUSE AND RIBBON-CUTTING
Please join Watson Clinic for an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony at this new location. Providers and staff members will be onsite to provide informative tours of this new facility. Light refreshments will be served and all patients & members of the community are welcome to attend.

Venue: NEW Watson Clinic Highlands Location
Address: 2300 E. County Road 540A Lakeland, FL 33813
Date: 9/23/2015
Time: 3 - 7 pm


The exciting new location offers a variety of popular specialties to serve your healthcare needs:
• Primary Care
• OB-GYN
• Dermatology
• Otolaryngology (ENT)
• Hearing Center
• XpressCare Walk-in Services

 

read more...

WANT TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD?

ATTENTION: SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IS IN NEED OF LOCAL VENDORS!
FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION SESSION AT THE CHAMBER ON
SEPTEMBER 9TH 7:30a.m.-8:30a.m.

 
Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts, Blackmon Roberts Group, will be at the Chamber to provide free expert advice on how your company can become an approved Polk County School Board  vendor. Don’t pass up this opportunity to “grow your business.” Please take advantage of this free small business resource!
R.S.V.P.  by calling the Chamber (863) 533-7125 or email Barbara,  Barbara@bartowchamber.com.
 

SMALL BUSINESS HELP IS ON ITS WAY

SBDC Is Available At
Chamber On October 15th

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 October 15, 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.

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

15 YEARS
The Buerger Law Firm, PA

10 YEARS
Cornerstone Hospice

5 YEARS
AAA Top Quality Asphalt
Citrus Air Conditioners, Inc.
Gary Sykes Spray Service
Hall Insurance Services, Inc.
HDPE, Inc.
Wally and Shiela Reynolds
RNB Accounting & Tax Services, Inc.
Road & Trail Bicycles
Ultimate Fitness Center, Inc.

A SALUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVED: HOMETOWN HEROES

BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY IS SEPT. 10

SEE US HERE!

Newsletter1 - August 31, 2015