December 7, 2015

OUR SPONSOR THIS WEEK:

COMMITTEE OF 100

     The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, December 11, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Guest speaker is Florida House of Representative Ben Albritton.
      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 grouip, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at 863-533-4196.

Click here for a complete listing of Committee of 100 members.

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

25 YEARS
Ronald N. Toward, Attorney

15 YEARS
Good Shepherd Hospice

10 YEARS
A and A Accounting Tax Services and More
Florida Engineering & Design, Inc.

CHAMBER EVENTS

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

DECEMBER

Thursday, December 10, 5:15 p.m.
SUNSHINE BANK FUN THURSDAY
Mulligans Restaurant - at the Golf Course

Friday, December 11, 6:00 p.m.
LIGHT UP BARTOW CHRISTMAS PARADE

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

Tuesday, December 15, 4:00 pm.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS


JANUARY

Friday, January 8, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
BARTOW CHAMBER JOB FAIR
Bartow Civic Center

Thursday, January 14, 5:15 p.m.
SACKETT RANCH FUN THURSDAY
Highland City

Friday, January 15, 6:00 p.m.
FRIDAY FEST DOWNTOWN

Tuesday, January 19, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 19, 4:00 pm.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Saturday, January 23, 6:00 p.m.
BARTOW CHAMBER ANNUAL EVENT
TOTALLY AWESOME 80S

Bartow Civic Center

CHAMPIONS CUP WINNERS!

CHAMPIONS CUP
Champions Cup was created to recognize and honor businesses and organizations that have championed exemplary best practices, and have had a positive influence on the economic well being of the area's business environment. Congratulations to the 2015 Champions Cup Winners! Here they are:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS:
Tindale Oliver
SERVICE/PROFESSIONAL:
Bartow Regional Medical Center
RETAIL BUSINESS:
Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure
NOT FOR PROFIT/ COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY:
Bartow Rotary Club
MAIN STREET BUSINESS:
Travel Leaders / International Sun Travel
EMERGING BUSINESS:
Broadway Diner

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE:
Don Wilson


Click here to see past winners of this prestigious award.

SEE PHOTOS HERE!

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

Apparel
LegaCy Unique Designz
Sylvia W, Mildrena D, Jennifer C
195 S. Central Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-7422
Join date: 10/08/2015

Restaurants
Mosaics Community Café
Ms. Elizabeth Combee
315 E. Main St.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 534-3000
Join date: 10/21/2015
 
Car Wash/Express Tunnel
Super Suds Car Wash of Bartow
Mr. Brian Briggs
1025 N. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-7628
Join date: 10/21/2015

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.

FOR RENT: OFFICE SPACE
In Historic Bartow Building.
310 East Main Street, one block from Polk County Courthouse.
2 EXECUTIVE OFFICES
3 STAFF OFFICES
2 shared conference rooms and kitchen. Partially furnished with phone system in place. Reserved indoor parking space. Additional parking on-site.
CALL (863) 224-3503 for more information

SUPPORT YOUR ADVERTISERS














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

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

REACH 22K HOMES WITH YOUR MESSAGE

 Reserve your space now in the Spring Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 22,000 households for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.

New Article

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

     We are so very fortunate here in Bartow to be home to the Polk County Extension Office located on Highway 17. This place is amazing and I am completely in awe of the programs and expert advice that they have to offer to the folks in our community.
      The UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Service is a partnership between the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences and the Polk County Board of County Commissioners.
     The staff at the Extension Office are experts in their field offering advice on everything from growing citrus, livestock forage, small farming, plants and pesticides. They also offer advice on food health and nutrition to families and consumers.
      In addition, they offer a 4-H development program using a learn by doing approach to help youth gain the knowledge, confidence and experience necessary to grow into responsible adults.
      There are more than 500 youth and adults that volunteer their time at the Extension Office each year as 4-H club leaders and instructors and as certified master gardeners.
      The resources offered at the Extension Office are unbelievable and they are too numerous too mention here. I urge you to check out their website (www.polk.ifas.ufl.edu) and explore it for yourself. I think that you will be as amazed as I am. Or better yet, pay them a visit, it will be well worth your time.
 
Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Chamber President, 2015  

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: JEFFRIES BOOKKEEPING


Left to Right: Barbara Adamson, Bartow Chamber membership director; Donna Jeffries (owner) and
Michelle Littlejohn of Jeffries Bookkeeping.

Business of the Month for December:
Jeffries Bookkeeping and Income Tax Services, Inc.
180 S. Broadway Avenue, Bartow
Phone: 863-533-1416


Call today! "Our services range from the smallest of deeds to full charge bookkeeping and accounting. Our goal is to make your job less stressful and to provide you accurate and reliable help. We structure our services around your needs." - Donna Jeffries

HAMPTON INN BY HILTON BARTOW RC



The ceremonial red ribbon was cut for the long-awaited opening of the Hampton Inn by Hilton Bartow on December 1. George Santora, vice president-finance with Beechwood Hotels Group, Inc., promised the hotel would open on that day back in April, 2015. The Bartow facility was the 89th open for Beechwood.

ANNUAL EVENT 2016: TOTALLY AWESOME 80s!

PRESENTING SPONSOR: SEMCO CONSTRUCTION
Let’s go back to the days of metal bands and big hair. Grab some leg warmers, muscle shirts and head bands to wear. Bring on the hairspray, the press-on nails and the blue eyeshadow, and join us for a Totally Awesome 80’s celebration night: a party dedicated to the decade of decadence and over-the-top everything! Remember Dynasty and Dallas? You can even show up in a little red Corvette. Don’t forget your dancing shoes if you feel like getting footloose! If it’s the Bartow Chamber Annual Meeting, you know you’re going to have fun - and you just might win a great prize. Be there, or be square!
Saturday, January 23, 2016 - Bartow Civic Center, 6:00 p.m.
TO REGISTER TO ATTEND OR TO BE A SPONSOR, CLICK HERE.

MEMBER MICRONEWS

ADOBE FLASH PLAYER IS DEAD.
DOES THAT AFFECT MY COMPANY?


Bartow Chamber member Hearts and Minds Studios, LLC can take the mountains of .swf training materials on a company’s learning management system (LMS) and either convert the modules directly, or rebuild them to meet current HTML5 and security standards.

This is actually very important information for local companies with training departments.

Why?  

Adobe confirmed that its premiere program – Flash Player – that was used as the standard for delivering high-impact, rich web content, is now considered flawed and a high online security risk.

And, if a company has a training department, there’s a good chance that nearly every “intro to clicking next” course was made using Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, Adobe Presenter, Camtasia, or any number of tools designed to output in Flash.

In fact, out of 10 major vulnerabilities hackers use to exploit information, eight of them target Adobe Flash Player.

What to do?

read more...

DECEMBER FUN THURSDAY - DEC. 10

LEADERSHIP XVI DRIVES RUDOLPH ROUNDUP


Left to right, Leadership Bartow Class XVI members Kathryn Bevilacqua-Ely, Roxanna Tovrea, Sherrie McCullough and Barbara Adamson.

  This year's Rudolph Roundup is a project of Leadership Bartow XVI,  and the class has plans to make this year the best yet!
     Did you know that there are more than 3,200 children in Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties that have experienced abuse and/or neglect? We need your help to provide holiday gifts for these children in foster and shelter care, or with relatives or non relatives, many times away from family and friends. Won’t you help the Bartow Chamber fill Santa’s sleigh?
How you can help
     Bring an unwrapped toy(s) to the Chamber at 510 North Broadway Avenue by noon on December 7th. Heartland for Children will pick up the toys from the Chamber office. For a PDF of the most needed items, click here.

FORTRESS FITNESS PROMOTES FAMILY FITNESS

FORTRESS FITNESS IS SECOND SATURDAY

     The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce presents “FORTRESS Fitness,” a program to promote family fitness began 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, instructor of Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba and other cardio-fitness programs Please mark your calendars for these second Saturdays:
  • December 12th – Olly and Anitra Goddard
  • January 9th – Greg, Rick & Krissy
  • February 13th – Darwin Manzueta
  • March 12th – Marie Wilmot
  • April 9th – John Abad
  • May 14th – Jude Dauphin
     “Whether it’s just you, grandparents and grandkids, or your whole family, you are welcome to join us,” Wilmot said. For more information, contact: Virginia Condello at the Chamber, (863) 533-7125 or email virginia@bartowchamber.com. 
 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!


FREE CAREER EVENT - ARE YOU LOOKING FOR QUALITY EMPLOYEES? Your search could end here. The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce is holding a job fair, giving quality job seekers access to more than 30 employers throughout the Polk County area. Want to participate as an employer? Contact Barbara Adamson, 863-533-7125 or email: barbara@bartowchamber.com for more information. Presenting Sponsor: Spherion Staffing Services
BARTOW CHAMBER JOB FAIR
Friday, January 8, 2016, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Bartow Civic Center, 2250 South Floral Ave.

SMALL BUSINESS HELP IS ON ITS WAY

SBDC Is Available At
The Chamber On
December 10th

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 December 10, 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.

TRAVEL WITH THE CHAMBER!



We have an exciting Chamber trip coming up:

DISCOVER TUSCANY
April 7 - April 16, 2016. Check out this great link!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?  Call Barbara Adamson, 533-7125, for more information and to secure your seat.

LEADERSHIP BARTOW SOCIAL

The Holiday Social for Leadership Bartow Alumni and the current class was held at Harmony Haven Event Venue on Thursday, December 3. Special thank you to our sponsors, Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation, Bartow Regional Medical Center and Harmony Haven Event Venue. Also thanks to Bartow Perkins Restaurant for providing the desserts.

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE.

SEE US HERE!

Newsletter1 - December 7, 2015