a publication of the clearwater regional

MAY/JUNE 2010
Presented By:
A PUBLICATION OF THE CLEARWATER REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Clearwater Arts Foundation would
like to extend a special invitation to you to join us for the First “Artistic Tastings” Premiere Event! This
exciting event is sponsored by Bright House Networks and will take place on Friday, June 18th from 7:00 to
10:00 PM at the incredibly beautiful and totally new Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa!
This fabulous event is only $125 per
person and tickets can be ordered online
at www.clearwaterflorida.org or by calling
your Chamber at 727-461-0011. Dress
for the evening will be resort attire.
Imagine what you will experience at
this premiere event, fine art, fine wine
and incredible food tastings provide by
premier restaurants in our community.
But wait, there’s more, we have planned
both a live and silent auction. 10 local
artists will have their work displayed
for the silent auction. During the live
auction you can bid on re-energizing spa
packages, Ray’s tickets, destination trips,
home make-overs, Chef’s dinner for 12,
to just name a few. We are saving some
of the items for the surprise factor!
Did we mention music?? Music will be
performed by Mark Barrios, a Billboard
TOP TEN recording artist. This evening
promises to be one that you will be
talking about for months and waiting for
the second annual “Artistic Tastings”.
Don’t delay, as space is limited, and order your tickets to the Event of the Year. We look forward to
welcoming you and making your “Artistic” dreams come true.
Our event sponsors:
Bright House Networks, Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, CCM Graphic Solutions,
WSJT 98.7 Smooth Jazz, St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater Gas System, Baldwin Connelly,
Raymond James, Regions Bank, The Clearwater Threshers, Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel &
Burns,LLP, Signs By Tomorrow Clearwater, Creative Design Team, JK Flowers & Gift Baskets,
Decker Ross Interiors, Inc., Tampa Bay Magazine, Tampa Bay Fine Wine Guide.
Our participating Artists are: Denis Gaston, Susan Rollins Gehring, Aydelette Kelsey, Liz Minor,
Melissa Miller Nece, Steve Schramek, Ernie Simmons, Clayton Swartz, The Memphis Girls, Scott J.
Menual.
The Premier Voice of Business
401 Cleveland Street
Clearwater, FL 33755
Phone: 727.461.0011
Fax: 727.449.2889
The Voice of Business is published by the
Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce as
a primary communications vehicle between the
Chamber and its members and other community
leaders.
All copyright privileges are reserved by the
Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, and
any reproduction – in whole or in part – without
the expressed written permission of the Chamber
is prohibited. Articles, story ideas and comments
are welcomed. However, the Chamber does not
assume responsibility for the return of unsolicited
material, including: manuscripts, photographs,
negatives and/or transparencies.
The purpose of this publication is to inform
members, employees of member businesses
and others on how to more effectively use
the benefits of the Chamber membership. Its
mission includes making readers more cognizant
of what the Chamber and it’s individual members
contribute to the community. Information about
specific Chamber programs is offered so that the
readers can become more aware of the variety of
opportunities the Chamber offers.
A Message to our Members
Your Membership Department would like to let you in on a little
secret. We are working harder than ever to bring great value to your
membership; and how we are doing that is by expanding ways to
use your membership. For example coming in the month of May
is a new Bridal Folder! If you sell to the Bridal industry and have
brochures or coupons they will be included in the folder to be sent
or handed out to those future brides. Two other folders coming
soon are a Business Folder, with (for example), printers, sign
companies, copier companies, commercial real estate brochures,
the list is endless and full of possibilities. Or how about a Rainy
Day folder with movie coupons, skating, bowling, aquariums, etc
to look over and visit when our sunshine is hiding? In June you
will see a new networking group forming in Countryside. Alison
and I want to hear from you, our members, our phones are on
and our door is always open. Let us know how we can help.
Karen Christensen
Director of Membership Relations
PRESIDENT/CEO:
Bob Clifford
V.P. COMMUNITY RELATIONS:
Sherri Callahan
V.P. of PUBLIC AFFAIRS:
Kathleen Peters
V.P. of BUSINESS & ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
Cathy Germer
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS
Karen Christensen
MEMBERSHIP CONSULTANT
Alison O’Grady
MEMBERSHIP CONCIERGE:
Mimi Farley
Feather Sound Country Club welcomed the Clearwater Regional
Chamber of Commerce, BNI and the Referral Institute, the
St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Bay
Business Journal for a “Power Networking Event” on April
27th. 400 lucky attendees converged on the Feather Sound
Country Club for an evening of networking magic. Tom
Fleming, Executive Director of BNI and the Referral Institute
gave us an incredible presentation on attracting our dream
referral. Members of the various groups exchanged business
cards, made promising connections while enjoying incredible
appetizers. We are grateful to our host, Andy Crowe, the
General Manager of Feather Sound Country Club for allowing
us to enjoy their beautiful Club House and his generosity for
not only providing appetizers but also valet parking!. His staff of
highly accomplished Managers made the night magical and one
that is still being talked about. We know the success of this event
is still being discussed as we continue to get calls about the next
one! Stay tuned, as the next one is already in the works! Look
to your email blasts from your Clearwater Chamber Membership
Department for late July/early August. Get your rest, as the next
one will be a showstopper!
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MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
J. Rex Farrior III in front of his passion, Mary Lee’s House,
a child protection and advocacy center he helped build in
honor of his mother. | maryleeshouse.org
Philanthropist, restaurateur and family patriarch,
Richard Gonzmart, holds a private label Spanish wine
that honors his father. | columbiarestaurant.com
THE “ART” OF ASSET PROTECTION
Whether you are an ardent wine enthusiast, art collector or
philanthropist, your endeavors are more than leisurely
pursuits. They reflect who you are, what you cherish, and
frequently drive your vocation. An unforeseen disaster
could result in devastating financial loss and impact your
ability to perpetuate your legacy for future generations.
Protecting your passions is a critical and complex matter
that requires a proactive and nuanced approach from your
insurance broker. Our clients understand that threats to their
investments often come from obscure and unanticipated
sources, many of which are not covered in traditional
insurance policies. Christopher Still’s art portfolio faces a
plethora of exposures - from water damage and transit to
appreciating market value. The wine collection treasured by
Richard Gonzmart is susceptible to damage from improper
temperature control or someone drinking it accidentally. As
an attorney, Rex Farrior recognizes that his tremendous
philanthropic efforts regrettably are accompanied by a host
of liability exposures.
At Baldwin Connelly, we understand that no amount of
monetary compensation can replace your Lafite Rothschild
1982 or Jasper Johns oil, or provide recompense for
Local Artist Christopher M. Still poses with a recent work,
In Repose. Oil on linen/panel, now in private collection.
| christopherstill.com
charitable intentions gone awry. The real art of protecting
your passions is in preventing a loss before it occurs. Our
proactive counsel offers more than the implementation
of your insurance policy. We provide advice on loss
mitigation techniques, security evaluations, assesments of
lifestyle exposures, contract reviews and value analyses.
The combination of careful planning and prudent risk
management can provide the financial compensation you
need to continue your passions should the unfortunate
occur. Finding an insurance consultant with the particular
expertise necessary to understand your potential exposures
is vital to customizing a risk management program specific
to your individual needs and risk tolerance. Whatever your
passion, Baldwin Connelly can help protect the things you
cherish most.
• Protecting Your Passions for generations to come
Private collections, galleries, artists, museums, foundations,
non-profits, family office, cultural institutions
TAMPA
4010 Boy Scout Rd., Ste. 200 | Tampa, FL 33607
CLEARWATER
600 Cleveland Street, Ste. 600 | Clearwater, FL 33755
ATLANTA
3300 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 300 | Atlanta, GA 30339
813.984.3200 \\ toll free 866.279.0698
baldwinconnelly.com
3
MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
a.
Votka Gastro Lounge is not just another club - it is
a home for everyone, who is devoted to the noble
cause of drinking excellent vodka, eating tasty food
and spending time together with friends.
At Votka Gastro Lounge our goal is to make you
feel warm and welcome and to offer a wide variety
of vodka’s from around the world. You’ll find the
largest selection of vodka in town, from blackberry
to potato, served the way you like it martinis or
shots, cocktails, or on the rocks. All served with a
smile and that Famous Russian Toast: Nazdorovie!!!
We are open Tuesday thru Saturday from 4pm till
2am with Happy Hour specials every day. Located
between Sunset and enterprise on US Hwy 19.
Come on in and see what the buzz is about.
Sincerely,
The Votka Gastro Lounge Staff
4
MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Signs
By
Tomorrow
always there when the
Chamber needs them!
Kathy
Thornton
from
Signs By Tomorrow has
made a huge contribution
to the Chamber year after
year and we would like to formally recognize
her continued support. From banners to badges
Kathy’s group has been a support system for us.
As many of you see at each event the Chamber
displays many banners with logos; so these
strategic partnerships with our sign companies
are very important so we can continually support
our members with exposure. Thanks Kathy for
another job well done for our Bloomberg Event!
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Wins Top
Local Public Relations Award
April 22, 2010 - Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)
won five awards at the 2010 Image Awards, an annual
competition sponsored by the Tampa Bay Chapter of
the Florida Public Relations Assoc. (FPRA). CMA
earned the competition’s biggest honor - the “GRAND
ALL IMAGE AWARD.”
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MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
6
MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
Government Affairs
Not unlike this year’s legislative session, tough issues were discussed at the Clearwater
Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative breakfast held at Ruth Eckerd
Hall. Fresh from the 2010 session, which ended April 30, Pinellas House and Senate
members took turns briefing area business stakeholders on bills that moved through
the legislature including abortion, transportation, Medicaid and education reform.
With nearly 200 in attendance, Ed Armstrong moderated the session asking the tough
questions looking for answers that reflected how the new laws relate to the business
community. Participants from the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation included:
Representative Ed Hooper, Representative Jim Frishe, Representative Bill Heller,
Representative Janet Long and Senator Fasano.
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MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
Welcome to our New & Renewing Members
New Members March 2010
All Lines Insurance Group/
Professional Flood Rebate of Florida
Cash America
Chicken Kitchen
Consumer Energy Solutions, Inc.
Creative Design Team
CSDVRS, LLC
Days Inn St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport
Don Clouse
Express Card Shop
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Feather Sound Country Club
Ideal Cost
IQ Print Media
J Ferguson Financial, Inc.
McDonald’s
Nexogy
Oddo, Commissioner Stephanie
Pace Tech Inc.
PDR CPA’s
Pinellas Financial, LLC
Prestige Leader Development
Votka Gastro Lounge
New Members April 2010
Bouchard Insurance, Inc.
Carlson-Wildwood Florist
Clearwater Film Festival
Clearwater Sports & Wellness, P.A.
Clearwater Vacation Rental Home
Away
Great Web Strategies, Inc.
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
Ker’s Wing House
LinkShape, Inc.
Lit Law Group, PA
Menaul Art
Pinellas County Housing Finance Authority
Velez Counsulting
Renewals March 2010
628 East Cleveland Street
Alfa Enterprises USA Inc.
Bank of Florida
Bilmar Beach Resort
Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater Sail & Power Squadron
Cocoa Masonry of Pinellas County,
Inc.
Dolphin Beach Resort & Conference
Center
East Shore Resort
Encore Bank
First Priority Motorcoach
FKQ Advertising, Inc.
Genie of Clearwater, Inc.
Green Things Lawn Care
Hampton Inn & Suites
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
Hooters of Clearwater, Inc.
Howard Johnson Beach Resort
Hubbard’s Marina Co.
Ironman
Janice Case
JMC Communities
Liberte’ Management Group, OPI, Inc.
Mitel
Nature’s Food Patch
Outback Bowl Assoc., Inc.
Page Terrace Motel
Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery
Poblano’s Mexican Grill & Bar
Quality Inn Clearwater Central
Residence Inn by Marriott
Resort Rentals Vacation
Accommodations
Riggins, Atkinson, Combs & Assoc.,
Inc.
Safety Harbor Montessori Academy
Servpro of Clearwater
Shoreline Island Resort
Southern Self Storage
Southwest Florida Water Management
Stuart S. Golding Co.
SunTrust Bank of Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
U Stor N Lock
Vermost & Associates
WestShore Plaza
YMCA of the Suncoast - Clearwater
Branch
Renewals Feb 2010
AAMCO Transmission
Abilities Foundation
Achieva Credit Union
BB&T
Bollenback & Forret, P.A., C.P.A.’s
Budget Self Storage
Business Mail Services
Columbia Restaurant
Courtyard by Marriott
Crown Acura
Don CeSar Beach Resort, A Loews
Hotel
E & E Stakeout Grill
Golfer’s Guide
Great Bay Distributors, Inc.
Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
John Doran, Attorney at Law
Klein & Heuchan, Inc.
Lokey Infiniti/Mercedes/SmartCar
Monin, Inc.
Moore Stephens Lovelace, P.A.
Onicon, Inc.
Pier 60 Concessions
Plaza Beach Hotel - Beachfront Resort
St. Petersburg Marriott Pinellas Park
TradeWinds Island Resort
Verizon Florida
WalMart
YMCA of the Suncoast
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MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
DAY”
VOLUNTEER EXPO
News from our Not For Profits
“MAKE A DIFFERENCE
On Saturday, April 24th twenty seven
Clearwater Regional Chamber of
Commerce Not-For-Profit member
organizations were represented at the
“Make a Difference Day” Volunteer Expo
at Westfield Countryside Mall.
This event was sponsored by CRCC in
partnership with Eckerd Youth Alternatives
and Westfield Countryside Mall and was
held in conjunction with National Volunteer
Week established by former President
Nixon to inspire, recognize and encourage
people to seek out imaginative ways to
make a difference in their community.
Today the entire month of April is
recognized as National Volunteer Month.
Raffles held during the event encouraged
the public to interact with the
organizations. Thank you to the following
businesses that provided generous
donations for our raffle: Big Cat Rescue,
Busch Gardens, Celebration Station,
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Creative
Design Team, Costco and Wing House.
Their support helped to make this event a
success.
From Karen Bonsignori Eckerd Youth
Alternatives “The Make A Difference Day”
Volunteer Expo is a good example of one
of the many ways the CRCC is providing
excellent support and visibility for their
Not-For-Profit member organizations.
Our participation in that one day event
garnered a significant amount of
awareness for Eckerd and generated 12
new individuals interested in volunteering
to help the youth we serve. This is a
tremendous ROI for Eckerd”.
From Rachel Thurber Religious
Community Services “We made new
connections in the community and even
gained a few new volunteers”!
The CRCC was also fortunate to recruited
two office volunteers who are presently
helping us four days a week.
Please contact Cathy Germer cgermer@
clearwaterflorida.org if you have
suggestions for future activities/events/
topics that would benefit CRCC Not-ForProfit organizations.
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MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
Tourism
On April 20, 2010 an offshore oil drilling platform,
Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico
near Louisiana. The rig, owned by Transocean
Ltd, was under contract to BP. A month later, the
submerged rig continues to discharge oil into the Gulf.
The United States Coast Guard and the Minerals
Management Service are the lead response agencies
on the oil spill.
BP is now going to try a procedure known as a
“top kill,” which involves pumping heavy mud into
the damaged equipment on top of the well, then
permanently sealing it with cement. The procedure
has been used before to halt gushing oil above
ground, but like other methods BP is exploring it has
never been used 5,000 feet below the sea. BP has
established a toll free number for those interested in
volunteering, 866-448-5816.
The Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) has been designated the lead
state agency for responding to potential impacts
of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill along Florida’s
shoreline. Their website, www.dep.state.fl.us/
deepwaterhorizon will serve as the primary
location for updates and information on response
actions and impacts to the State of Florida.
Additionally, the State has an emergency information
line available, 800-342-3557.
Keep Pinellas Beautiful is working with the US Coast
Guard, and the Pinellas County emergency response
team to pre register volunteers to do beach clean ups
in the event of oil from the spill reaching our coast
line. The request is to clean the beaches within 72
hours of oil reaching our shores. Volunteers need
to pre register to help remove any trash and debris
from the beaches before oil comes ashore. If you are
interested please go to www.keeppinellasbeautiful.org
Globally, people are watching the movement of the
oil slick, which is centered off the Louisiana Coast
and growing daily. The oil spill is of great concern for
Pinellas County’s tourism industry.
President Barack Obama has warned of a “massive
and potentially unprecedented environmental
disaster” as the badly damaged oil well is spewing oil
toward delicate wetlands and wildlife. The President
vowed that his administration, while doing all it could
to mitigate the disaster, would require well owner BP
America to bear all costs.
Governor Charlie Crist’s executive order now includes
Tampa Bay area counties in his state of emergency
declaration due to the oil spill. Florida continues to
make preparations to safeguard the state’s shoreline.
To volunteer, visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org.
Although boom placement is ongoing it is not
a fail safe solution. Booms become ineffective
in high seas, strong winds or currents over one
knot. The booming strategy focuses on identified
environmentally sensitive areas. At the top of that
list are estuaries and inlets not the beach areas.
Governor Crist confirmed that Florida will receive a
$25-million block grant from BP for initial state and
local preparation and response costs.
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater has been receiving
sporadic reports of accommodation cancellations by
visitors worried about how the oil spill may impact
our beaches. In order to get a comprehensive
assessment of the potential impact of the spill on local
tourism, all accommodations in Pinellas County are
requested to provide any oil-spill related cancellations
at
www.pinellascvb.com/oil_spill//
At this time, our coastline remains completely
unaffected by the oil spill. Clearwater and its
island beaches remain 100% open for business.
(Information gathered from the following print media
St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay
Business Journal and Florida Trend and websites
of the State of Florida, Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Visit Florida and Visit
SPC.)
Scientists at the University of South Florida St.
Petersburg who are tracking the spill have confirmed
that the oil has been captured by the Gulf Loop
Current, which could carry the oil as far south as
the Florida Keys and back up the east coast into the
Atlantic Ocean. Winds and weather help determine
whether the oil is pushed onto the state’s beaches
or out into the Atlantic. The Loop Current would
likely spare Florida’s West Coast, including Tampa
Bay. Heavy crude has already impacted Louisiana
wetlands.
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MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
OTHER NEWS & EVENTS PAGE
Other Tourism News:
Known internationally for our award winning
beaches, Clearwater received another accolade
this month. TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2010
identified the Top 10 Beach & Sun Destinations in
the United States and designated Clearwater as #
5. “Home to some of the best beaches in America,
Clearwater is a great family beach destination.”
On May 12th the Republican National Committee
selected the Tampa Bay area as host for their
2012 convention. The Republican National
Convention will use an estimated 15,000 hotel
rooms for five nights during the week of Aug. 27,
2012. Additionally, as part of the 40,000 visitors,
more than 15,000 media personal from around the
world will converge in Tampa Bay. The impact of
the 2008 convention in Minneapolis was estimated
at nearly $170 million in new spending, along with
approximately 2,800 new jobs that produced $100
million in wages. “This will be the largest nonsporting event that Tampa Bay has ever hosted and
we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the 2012
RNC to our vibrant destination,” said Paul Catoe,
President & CEO of Tampa Bay & Company. JUNE:
4th: Ambassador Meeting
8th: Voice Of Business Luncheon
16th: Trustee Luncheon
16th: Yappy Hour
17th: Lunch & Leads
18th: Artistic Tastings Clearwater’s Fine Art, Wine & Food Event
23th: Breakfast & Leads
JULY:
1st: Ambassador Meeting
13th: Voice of Business Luncheon
21st: Trustee Luncheon
22nd: Lunch & Leads
28th: Breakfast & Leads
AUGUST
5th: Hob Knob with the Politicians
5th: Ambassador Meeting
10th: Voice of Business Luncheon
18th: Trustee Luncheon
19th: Lunch & Leads
19th: Coast Guard Birthday Bash
25th: Breakfast & Leads
Looking Ahead...
A Taste of Clearwater, September 2010 at Ruth
Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Florida
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MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce • The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
MAY/JUNE 2010 • The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce •
The Premier VOICE OF BUSINESS
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