Leadership 2015-2016 Applications are now available on Pages 24-25 Chamber Connections ~ May 2015 Special points of interest: Highlights from the 1st Annual Health & Fitness Challenge on Page 27 Check out information on the upcoming Bike Fest on Page 6 Business After Hours will be held on May 21st. For more information see Page 7 See what Leadership 2015 is doing on Page 16 Inside this issue: President’s Message 2 Calendar 3 New Members 4 Anniversaries 5 Contact Breakfast 8-9 Business Spotlight 10 Thank You Corner 11 Ambassador Corner 14 Business After Hours 15 Ribbon Cuttings 18 Ambassador Spotlight 19 Mark your calendar for Egg’s and Issues On June 2nd… More information on Page 13 The 1st Annual Health & Fitness Team Challenge took place on April 17th with many teams competing. The events consisted of fun tasks such as a trike race, football challenge, ball bounce race, and rope and tire drills. For the more adventurous, the extreme events of car pushing, warped wall challenge and the traverse wall race may have tested their skills. This fun and energetic outdoor team event was such a hit it may become a semi-annual event. If you are interested, contact Amy at (813) 754-3707 for more information. President’s Message Dear Chamber Members, The first week of May is going to be very busy for the Chamber! This coming Saturday we have our “bigger and better” Plant City Bike Fest with extended hours of 4:00pm - 10:00pm. There will be two bands playing that evening, plus we have some great new vendors for you to look over. We hope you will consider coming out and enjoying the event. Our next one will be October 3 rd, so come out while you can! On Wednesday, May 6th, we are partnering with the City of Plant City and the Tampa Economic Development Council in hosting our own Plant City EDC Forum. Real estate brokers, commercial real estate agencies, developers, etc., from Tampa to Orlando are invited to see an overview of our available properties and buildings that we have to offer. Guests will see a video about Plant City and why they should consider developing here, along with City and County officials discussing the ease of doing business in our community. We want to thank our many sponsors who have made this event happen. We will be sure to update you in next month’s newsletter regarding the meeting. CHAMBER STAFF President Marion Smith Vice President Amy Nizamoff Tourist Information Coordinator Jane Gonzalez Administrative Assistant Joyce Nestor Membership Director Tammy Mitchell Communications Director Evelyn Clay On May 13th, at our regular monthly Contact Breakfast (for this monthly only, the event will be located in the Ag. Building at the Festival grounds), our City Manager, Mike Herr, will give a recap of the Forum and the initial reactions by those in attendance. Please get your rsvp in as soon as possible. For the rest of the month, we will begin planning our New Teacher Coffee, Business of the Year banquet, and start on the 13 th annual Plant City Pig Jam! I would like to take a moment to remember a good friend of mine and Chamber member, Barbara Powers. Barbara battled cancer for four years and finally made her way home on Monday, April 20th. She owned Barbara Powers Promotions before selling her business to another party. Barbara was an active Chamber member serving as Chairman of our Community Expo Committee for 8 years, Ambassador for 3 years, and served on the Plant City Bike Fest committee and Plant City Pig Jam committees for many years. She had just accepted the task of serving on the Contact Breakfast committee when she was diagnosed. She is survived by her husband, Matt, and will be sorely missed. Warmest regards, Marion Executive Board Board of Directors Chairman of the Board Michael Cameron Cameron Financial Management Matt Buzza Platinum Bank Chairman-Elect Brian West Publix Super Markets, Inc. Immediate Past Chairman Nate Kilton Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth Management, LLC. The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce shall work for its members and be the leading force in promoting the commercial, industrial, agricultural, and civic interests of Greater Plant City and East Hillsborough County. Martyn Clay, Ed.D. Hillsborough Community College Paul Hackney Sunshine Bank Charles Harris Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bradley Herremans Suncoast Community Health Centers Pediatrics Treasurer Michael Watkins V & R Insurance Vice Chairman Membership Division Edwena Haney Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens Vice Chairman Community Program Division Verna McKelvin Wells Memorial & Event Center Vice Chairman Economic Development Division Phil Waldron Waldron Consulting Services Vice Chairman Community & Governmental Affairs Division Yvonne Fry Lines of Communication Larry Jimenez, Jr. Star Distribution Systems. Jason Jones Advantage Restoration, Inc. Karen Kerr South Florida Baptist Hospital Kenneth Parker, Florida Strawberry Growers Association Jim Scott Jarrett-Scott Ford Keith Smith Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton, Davis, & Smith, P.A. Darcy Stottlemyer All A Bloom Florist Carole Wright, Myers & Wright, P.A. 2 Page 3 3:00 PM Pig Jam 3 2015 Chamber Trustees Chamber Connections ~ May 2015 Thank you for your commitment to the Chamber of Commerce Bealls Outlet 1407 South Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563-6577 CITY PROPERTIES Office: (813) 752-1004 COMPANY Ryan Fitzgerald, Store Manager CONSOLIDATED ELECTRI- Www.beallsoutlet.com CAL DISTRIBUTORS Retail Store dba RAYBRO ELECTRIC Edward Jones SUPPLIES Melissa Haskins FLORIDA STRAWBERRY 2501 Thonotosassa Road FESTIVAL Plant City, FL 33563-1464 Office: (813) 759-1491 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & Melissa.haskins@edwardjones.com SUITES Www.edwardjones.com Financial Planning & Investments HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME & MEMORIAL Lakehouse Luxury GARDENS Apartment Homes IDEAS & INNOVATIONS, INC. (JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY) JARRETT-SCOTT FORD MOSAIC-PLANT CITY FACILITY 3001 Lakehouse Cove Isle Plant City, FL 33566 Office: (813) 756-5800 Brenda Rodriguez, Property Manager Brenda@lakehouseapartments.com Apartment/Condominium LeAnne’s Old Fashioned Cookies Seffner, FL Office: (813) 651-0045 LeAnne Crabtree, Owner Leanne@leannescookies.com Www.leannescookies.com Cookie Gift Baskets Pete The Painter 514 Kingsway Road Brandon, FL 33510-3826 Office: (813) 391-1642 Pete Kelly, Owner pgkelly50@gmail.com Painting Contractors Plant City Life Improvement Center 102 North Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563-3312 Office: (813) 752-0148 Anamaria Gaffney, Director anamariatampa@gmail.com Church SEDITA KILTON & COMPANY SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL SUNSHINE BANK WELLS MEMORIAL & EVENT CENTER To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart. – Sr. Thomas Watson Since 1964 4 15-20 Years Bealsville, Inc. Best Western Plus Burris Refrigerated Logistics Capital Resource Group of Naples, Inc. International Softball Federation OVER 50 YEARS! SUNTRUST BANK (59 YEARS!) Anniversaries 10-14 Years Dykstra Construction Hawthorne Health & Rehabilitation Linda’s Cleaning Sedita, Kilton Life & Wealth Management, LLC The Lakeland Center WW Pallet, Inc. 5-9 Years OVER 30 YEARS! All A Bloom Florist Business Archives Tampa Dental Associates of Plant City Gaffney Eye Clinic H. Charles Locksmith Helping Hands Thrift Store Stone Ledge Manor Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort FAMILY PRACTICE CENTER OF PLANT CITY THE HEALTH CENTER OF PLANT CITY 1-4 Years A to Z Rental Center Allen & Company Children’s Board of Hillsborough County Cruise Planners David Ham Security Agency, Inc. Anna Mae Harris Hillsborough County Economic Development-Small Business Development Center Safety Training & Consulting The Computer Force, Inc. Barbara Twine Thomas 3-116th Field Artillery Battalion University of Florida-Plant City Campus Urgent Care USA, LLC OVER 20 YEARS! CASE CONTRACTING COMPANY FLORIDA STRAWBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION TRAPNELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “Hire character. Train skill.” – Peter Schutz *Screen Enclosures * Carports *Siding & Soffits * Vinyl Windows 5 Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers for making this the BikeFest Event of the Year! Fran Haasch, Attorney Harley-Davidson of Lakeland Florida Fun Bike Center General RV C1 Bank Cycle Stop Bulldog Leather Steve Clark Barney’s of Brandon and the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce 6 7 Sunshine Bank graciously sponsored the April Contact Breakfast, treating the membership to a presentation by Southeastern University (SEU) and Dr. Kent Ingle, President of the college. Marc Waller, Owner of I-4 Power is presented with the Good Egg by Chairman Michael Cameron Matias Pertula, Dr. Brian Carroll, Jennifer Closshey, Paul Hackney, Dr. Kent Ingle, Paul Pritt, Lea Sacco, and Bruce Carr. Dr. Ingle spoke of the expansion to SEU’s curriculum as well as their sports programs. Located in Lakeland, the University is convenient for residents of Plant City. Offering undergraduate degree plans from nursing to education, masters programs, as well as a doctoral program in education, SEU has much to select from. For more information, visit www.seu.edu. Eric Barber with the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum Society carries home a tote filled with goodies from Sunshine Bank The Good Egg was presented by Chairman Michael Cameron to Marc Waller, owner of I-4 Power, for his consistent support of all Chamber events and community involvement. Congratulations, Marc! Kori Harbaugh with CenterState Bank shows off her good fortune at winning a $50 gift card! The cashpot drawing remained unclaimed as Lisa Greer, Mark Gordon, Ed Verner, Brian Wilson, and Roy Rogers were not in attendance when their names were drawn. The drawing in May will be $200, so don’t miss this opportunity. You must be present to win. May’s Contact Breakfast will be sponsored by Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens with Mike Herr, City Manager, as guest speaker. Please be sure to RSVP either online or by calling the Chamber office at (813) 754-3707. See you May 13th! Thank you again to Sunshine Bank for their generosity and sponsorship. To learn more about Sunshine bank, stop by 102 W. Baker Street or online at www.sunshinestatefederal.com. Maribel Lorenzo is the winner of a basketful of LeAnne’s Old Fashioned Cookies...YUM! 8 Harold Falls with Mosaic Company wins a $50 gift certificate as a door prize courtesy of Sunshine Bank. New Member, David Thornburg (WBF FM102.9) takes home a beautiful arrangement. Jon Poppell (Poppell Insurance) walks away a winner of a $50 gift certificate provided by Sunshine Bank. Cookie Smith wins a door prize! Rev. Scott Lawry with Evangelical Presbyterian Church is the winner of an awesome $50 Bruce Rodwell is a winner! Shea Pennington with Hope Lutheran Church takes home a $50 gift card! The May 13th Contact Breakfast will be held at the AG Building at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds 9 55 Business Spotlight Peggy Forget, Life Skills and Team Leader for MacDonald Training Center, Inc. How was your business founded? MTC was founded in 1953 by J. Clifford MacDonald and a group of visionary parents of individuals with developmental disabilities. At a time when the alternative to being sent to a state institution was to sit at home and do nothing, these individuals rejected both options and with the support of local civic groups such as the Sertoma Club, and Junior League, proceeded to create one of the first alternatives in the nation for children with special needs. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert James donated their ranch to MacDonald Training Center in 1966 in order to advance the then revolutionary idea that young men with disabilities could succeed if they were provided specialized job skills training. Many civic groups from the Civitans, Lion’s and Kiwanis Club including Alex B. Hull, chairman, shared the vision and supported us with time, treasure and talent. We would not be where we are today without the support of the Plant City community over the past 50 years. Tell us something about yourself and your business we don’t know. I’ve been employed with MTC for 13 years. I supervise the team in our Life Skills program. This supports adults with challenges that will preclude most from ever obtaining community based employment. But that does not mean they can’t learn or that we are a day care provider. Our services are dedicated to providing meaningful daily activities which include self advocacy, social skills, daily living skills, and job related skills. We are highly involved in this community. Our individuals are proud to be part of the community and our volunteer trips to work at the United Food Bank are well attended! One of MTC’s most significant business partnerships is with the Florida Department of Transportation. MTC is the sole packager for the SUNPASS transponder, which provides real world skills training for the people we are privileged to serve. Our latest job skills training program is “ e -Quality Recycling” which is the de-manufacturing of electronics such as computers, servers, hard drives, cable boxes, cell phones etc. Sims Recycling, one of the largest recycling businesses in the world, is partnering with us and mentoring our service delivery. We have lots of experience with de-manufacturing as one of our skills training contracts at James Ranch is with Nestle. Our trainees de-manufacture those soft drink dispensers you see on cruise ships. What tips of your trade would you like to share? It is MTC’s mission to empower people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose. We want to change societal perceptions and expectations about what people with disabilities can or cannot do. But we cannot do that alone, which is why we actively network with community based organizations like the Chamber. We are proud that we began one of our favorite and long lasting business partnerships, that with Alligator Bob, at a Chamber breakfast! What benefits have you seen due to your Chamber membership? Since graduating from the Plant City Leadership Class of 2013 and being a member of the Chamber it has given me the opportunity to share information about MTC and partner up with business owners/leaders and build relationships where we can support one another. In the past decade MTC has gone from providing business services to 20 companies to about 80 today. We need more business partnerships, but we also need more opportunities for the people we serve to become employed. We are actively seeking volunteer opportunities, internships and jobs for the people we serve. To learn more about the MacDonald Training Center call Peggy at (813) 752-6508 or visit them at 2902 North Cork Road in Plant City. Ch 10 Thank you to Sunshine Bank for sponsoring the April Contact Breakfast and for the wonderful door prizes! Also, thank you to All A Bloom, Creative Flowers by Glenn, and LeAnne’s Old Fashioned Cookies for providing lovely gifts. The Business After Hours was sponsored by Mango Cleaners; thank you to Marc and his team for holding a terrific networking event for the members. We greatly appreciate your generosity and commitment to the Chamber! Next month we will need YOUR help… The newsletter will include the application for the 2015 Businesses of the Year Awards Please take a moment to consider those businesses in our Chamber who have made a difference, fill out the nomination form, and fax or drop it by our office. Thank you in advance for your help! We could not do what we do without YOU! 11 12 13 Ambassador Team #3 led the April luncheon with their version of Jeopardy. Thank you to David Tomlin, Verna McKelvin, Polly Wiggins, Dean Pfeffer, Charlie Wells, Taylor Clark, Alice Bullard, Karen Crumley, and Carole Wright for making it memorable. Also, the staff wishes to say “Thank You” for the wonderful goodie baskets and certificates they presented to the Chamber Staff. Thank you also, to Verna McKelvin (Wells Memorial & Event Center) and Lea Sacco (Sunshine Bank) for sponsoring the April lunch. To join the Ambassador Team, contact Tammy at (813) 754-3707 or email her at tammy@plantcity.org Ambassador Team—April Team # 2 Candace Downing, Maribel Lorenzo, Lea Sacco and Carter Metts (Not pictured-Donna Cade, Frank Cummings, Nancy Miller, Karen Griggsby, Linda Dunn, Jim Young, and Jason Jones) 14 Marc Poling, Owner of Mango Cleaners, shows off “before” and “after” his leather restoration process. Looking good….on the right! Mango Cleaners was THE place to be on April 16th for their annual Business After Hours on the patio event. They went all-out for the Chamber members to make this event full of great food, great libations, and excellent networking. Thank you to Marc Poling for a job very well done. Everyone had a great time...so great that we are looking forward to your next one! (l-r) Pat Pogue, Christine Miller, Frank Cummings, and Joan Davies Steve Champagne with Mango Cleaners entertains the crowd. Joan Davies (Board member for the Florida Court Ordered Classes) and Al Berry (Florida Strawberry Festival Board) (l-r)Margaret Rodwell, Terrie Cameron, Nicholas Cameron, Michael Cameron, Bruce Rodwell, Marion Smith, and Marc Poling. (l-r) Karen Griggsby (GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City) and Dottie Minnick (SBDC of Hillsborough County) 15 (l-r) Mango Cleaners employees: Nancy Hanchett, Felix and Cayla Ramirez, and Steve Grant April was Healthcare, Wellness & Social Services month for the Leadership class. We would like to thank MacDonald Training Center, Plant City United Food Bank, the YMCA, and One Blood for graciously providing of their facilities to our class. A special “thank you” to South Florida Baptist Hospital and Karen Kerr for the VIP tour as well as, the delicious lunch. Each tour was very informative, but the tour of the MacDonald Training Center left the class feeling humbled and thankful for the everyday things they take for granted. Plant City has so much to offer its citizens! Business Tagline or Motto Thank you to our coordinators, Alann Figga, Teresa Armbruster, and Lizzette Sarria along with Jane Gonzalez and Joyce Nestor for organizing this insightful day for our class. See you in May for Economic Development, Transportation Planning & Historic Preservation tours. If you are interested in participating in the 2016 Leadership class, please contact the office at (813) 754-3707 to sign up as seating is limited (application may be found on Page 25). Photos and information provided by Alice Bullard, OnPoint IT Solutions. 16 17 Pa ge Chamber Connections ~ May 2015 Lance Roberts, Agency Director AIG Financial Network 10002 Princess Palm Avenue Suite 106 Tampa, FL 33619-1357 April 2, 2015 Richard Pelligrini, President/CEO Pilgrim Associates 667 Grasslands Village Circle Lakeland, FL 33803-5479 April 9, 2015 Lloyd and Tani Summers, Owners Tani’s for Dessert 2804 James Redman Parkway Plant City, FL 33566-9410 April 14, 2015 Kim Large, Store Manager Sprint MayCom Communications 2126 James Redman Parkway Plant City, FL 33563-7105 April 21, 2015 18 Reverend Dean Pfeffer, Senior Pastor HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH What is unique and/or interesting about your church? Hope has been a part of Plant City for 58 years and in her 58 years, I am only the 4th Pastor in her history. Our Music Director, Christine Mansell has served Hope for 42 years (she started at 3 years old ) How long have you been a Chamber Ambassador? I am privileged to be in my 2nd year as a Chamber Ambassador. What do you enjoy most from serving as an Ambassador and why? There are many things to enjoy about being a Chamber Ambassador, but probably the number one reason to be an ambassador is the friendships that are made along with the contacts among the other ambassadors and the Chamber as a whole. Who is the most influential person in your life and why? The most influential person in my life would be a toss up between my grandmother who lived with us growing up and instilled the desire in me to become a pastor and saw to it that I attended Lutheran elementary and high school in New York and Rev. Otto J. Fink my childhood pastor and the only pastor I ever really knew for almost 20 years. He is the one who saw the desire and potential in me from very young to serve in full time ministry as a called and ordained servant of the Word. What are your interests and hobbies? Naturally, I love spending time with my wife as we ride bikes together. My interests and hobbies have taken various forms, but until knee issues and need for a replacement became a reality, running was more than a hobby for me... now that has been replaced with the eliptical every morning. While a way of life, my hobby and passion is working out/ exercising. I am at the Plant City YMCA every morning by 5:00 AM for my workout and return later in the day, twice a week for BodyPump with my youngest son. I would say my newest hobby/ passion will be our first grandchild, Alexander Paul Attalla who is due in May to my daughter and son in law, and I do enjoy reading non work related books when I can. What is your favorite quote? My favorite quote would be the verse I was given at my confirmation and was used for my ordination, "I am the Vine, you are the branches, he that abides in Me and I him will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 To contact Rev. Pfeffer or to learn more about Hope Lutheran Church, call (813) 752-4622, or stop by 2001 North Park Road to say “hello” . 19 Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Plan 40% of Small Businesses that Close Because of a Disaster Never Re-open. You’ve invested a lot of time and resources into making your business a success—Be Business Ready. Protect Your Assets Review your current policy with your agent—most policies do not cover flood damage. Understand your deductibles. Buy business income interruption and extra expense insurance. Inspect and assess the impact of a natural or man-made disaster on your facility. Keep a backup copy of your computer operating system, critical software programs and data—explore using an off-site storage center. Make a photographic or videotaped record of your inventory. Have a camera ready to take pictures of damage after a disaster. Support Your Employees Assemble an emergency employee contact information form. Have a plan to provision quickly for emergency housing for displaced employees. Determine how you will meet the immediate needs of your employees, including short-term financial aid. Plan for the possibility of security/access for your employees. Will they need badges or security clearances? Be prepared! Establish a special telephone number for employees to call with a recorded message, an out-of-state message line, designate a contact person or create a calling tree. Safeguard Your Critical Business Processes Develop a business continuity plan that documents the processes critical for your business to operate and meet the needs of key stakeholders. Contact the Florida SBDC Network for assistance with developing a plan. Create a Business Ready “Records-To-Go” box that includes copies of all important documents and supplies necessary for business to continue after a disaster. Share the plan with your employees and practice it periodically. Revise when necessary to keep it up-todate. Communicate with your key customers to let them know your status in the event of a disaster—check on the status of their business operations. Diversify your customer base geographically—if one area is severely impacted by a disaster, it’s likely that customers in another area will continue business as usual. Lessen the impact on your bottom line. Develop relationships with back-up suppliers before a disaster strikes. Encourage your suppliers to have a business continuity plan. Talk to your accountant, insurance agent and banker, along with other professional advisors. Know when and how to access your records— and your money—in the event of a disaster. 20 Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Plan Business Ready “Records-To-Go” Every business should have a Business Ready “Records-To-Go” box that includes important documents and supplies necessary for business to continue after a disaster. Make sure the box is fire- and waterproof. Some suggested records include: Business Continuity, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery Plan to include documents required for disaster loans and/or other assistance available after a disaster: Current profit & loss statement and balance sheet with schedules Inventory list and pictures Current schedule of liability Tax returns for the last three years Emergency contact list of employees and key customers/clients Insurance policies and agent information List of suppliers and vendors Copies of your "authorized passage under emergency conditions memo or letter" Voice mail box number and remote password information Back-up computer systems/data files General office supplies Pictures of business inside and out Camera to document damage Cash reserves Bank records including checking, savings, credit and debit cards, loans and letters of credit Bring your “Records-To-Go” box with you—store it at a safe off-site location. Article credit: Florida SBDC Network State Office, UWF, Office of Economic Development & Engagement, info@FloridaSBDC.org UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTINGS MAY 5TH MAY 14TH PLANT CITY DERMATOLOGY @ 11:00 AM (1501 South Alexander Street) EDWARD JONES, Melissa Haskins @ 11:00 AM (2501 Thonotosassa Road) MAY 12TH MAY 19TH REMAX REAL ESTATE PRO @ 11:00 AM PLANT CITY LIFE IMPROVEMENT CENTER (316 North Alexander Street) @ 11:00 AM (102 North Collins Street) MAY 28TH BEALLS OUTLET 9:00 AM (1407 South Collins Street) 21 22 23 24 25 New members listen to a presentation by Executive Director, Marion Smith, regarding the opportunities the Chamber offers. New Members Mike and Lauren Bearden with Crossfit and Ambassador Maribel Lorenzo A New Member reception is held at the Chamber semi-annually to welcome those who have joined within that timeframe, to introduce them to the opportunities the Chamber has to offer, and to do a little networking. Our Ambassadors are assigned a new member to follow up with in an effort to ensure that all our members are aware of the benefits to joining the Chamber. If you recommend a business to join the Chamber, and they do, you will receive a free business card sized ad in our next newsletter. New Members Ruben Cardenas and Grady Hinchman with Planet Fitness, Ambassadors Karen Crumley and Alice Bullard Thank you to all who participate in growing our Chamber and help in making it the organization dedicated to “Building Businesses for a Better Community.” New Members Vicki St. Sauveur and Danica Fields from Florida Court Ordered Classes 26 Congratulations to all who participated in this high energy, fun, team-building day! Be sure to watch for this annual event and mark your calendars in 2016...it is SURE to be back! Thank you to all our volunteers and the committee for their efforts and dedication. 27
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