The official business community newsletter of Tavares | February

The official business community newsletter of Tavares
|
February 2015
Networking Lunch
Tuesday February 10
The Country Club of Mount
Dora
1900 Country Club Blvd.
Mount Dora
12-1 PM — Please RSVP
Business After Hours
Thursday February 19
Mark's Floors, LLC
3985 Hwy 19A
Mount Dora
5:30-7 PM — Please RSVP
Chamber Monthly
Business Luncheon
Wednesday February 25
Tavares Chamber
of Commerce
Tavares Civic Center
100 E. Caroline Street
11:30-1 PM — Please RSVP
Business After Hours
Thursday February 26
TAVARES – Friday, March 13 launches Tavares springtime events in Wooton Park. Starting
with the 13th Annual Rotary Club of Lake County Golden Triangle Central Florida Dragon Boat Festival. The waterfront park is the venue of events for several weeks.
The Central Florida Dragon Boat Festival will “awaken the dragon” Friday evening, March 13,
signifying the start of the festival with the Rotary International (RI) President from Taiwan and the City
of Tavares Mayor. With the RI President, Gary C.K. Huang and Tavares Sister City in Xindian, Taiwan
the festival’s Asian theme will come alive. Complete with Chinese performers, fireworks and vendors;
this event always has a huge turnout.
The Classic Raceboat Association (CRA) is a Florida based organization that was formed to
facilitate the exhibition of classic race boats of all types from the early 1900’s to the 1980’s that include
Hydros, Flatbottoms, Raveaus, and Donzis. This year’s Classic Raceboat Regatta will be held March
20 through the 22 and attracts large boat counts with well over 75 classic race boats at the last several
events.
Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival returns to the shores of Wooton Park the weekend of March
27 - 29. This is the largest show of its kind, boasting over 250 boats on display.
April 18 will feature Planes, Trains & BBQ in and around Wooton Park.
Continue on page 6
Business Team Building at the 13th Annual Central Florida Dragon Boat
Festival
TAVARES - Businesses use the Central Florida
New Life Church
Dragon Boat Festival March 13 & 14 in Tavares, Florida to
1210 N New Hampshire Ave.
build team management and leadership skills.
Tavares
Leadership building and teamwork are the foci of 22
5:30-7:30 PM — Please RSVP member teams on Lake Dora in the Rotary Club of Lake
County Golden Triangle’s 2015 Central Florida Dragon Boat
Festival. Teams from all over the southeast command 30-foot
African-American
long boats decorated with dragonheads to the beat of a drummer.
Heritage Festival
February 6 & 7
For more information contact
Tavares Community Services at
352.742.6338.
Continue on page 6
Tavares Chamber 3rd Annual Golf Tournament is set for March 6, 2014
Join the Golf Tournament Chair Vinnie Vittoria of Cousin Vinnie’s Family
Sports Restaurant on March 6 as they swing into their 3rd Annual Golf Tournament at Chamber member Harbor Hills Country Club, 6538 Lake Griffin
Rd, Lady Lake FL 32159
Teams of four can compete for only $225. Individual play will be only $60.
Your entry fee includes 18 holes of golf with a golf cart, range balls and an
afternoon buffet and team prizes.
Hole Sponsors can join the fun for $50. Bring your tent, table and fun activities to greet the golfers. "Come join us, you will
have a blast", says Vinnie.
Continue on page 6
Are you using all your Chamber benefits?
As a business owner or manager you are constantly evaluating your
return on investment (ROI) to ensure you are allocating your limited financial
resources in the areas that you believe will yield the highest returns of that
investment. An essential element to consider when performing that measurement of success is to question whether or not you are utilizing all the benefits
of the investment.
Your investment of membership with the Tavares Chamber of Commerce entitles you and your business to many benefits for which you may not
be aware. This article is intended to enlighten you on benefits of Chamber
membership to assist you in maximizing your ROI with the Chamber.
One of the first questions you might ask yourself "is Chamber membership still relevant despite advancements in technology and online networking". The incontrovertible answer is, "YES"! Chamber members have available
to them numerous promotional opportunities, exclusive advertising and networking options, and additional exposure for their businesses.
Membership benefits your business by bringing credibility to it. Your
business has an increased positive perception among consumers and other business owners as a member of the Chamber. Results in a research study by The Shapiro Group, Inc. indicate consumers are 63% more likely to conduct business
with you when they know you're a Chamber member. Display your Chamber membership decal prominently where consumers are certain to see it when entering your business.
Membership benefits your business by increasing your visibility in the community. Walk-in's to the new location
of the Chamber has increased dramatically; thereby increasing chamber staff's opportunity to promote your business.
Participation in community Chamber events, like the Fourth of July Children's Activities events also increase your visibility within the community.
Your business is promoted on the Chamber's website for all the world to find. Consumers can find your business
by performing a category search or by name, using key words. Once they locate you on our web site, your potential customer can watch a short YouTube video of your products or services.
Some of your consumers may prefer the more conventional listing in our Membership Directory, which has your
business listed alphabetically and categorically. Whichever way your customers prefer, they will find you through your
membership with the Chamber. Occasionally, we receive phone calls asking for information about non-member businesses. We attempt to persuade the caller to utilize Chamber members; we do not promote non-chamber members.
Your Chamber membership also entitles you to use of the Chamber conference room which has everything you
will need to deliver a professional presentation to your staff or prospective clients. Please call or email the Chamber
ahead of time to reserve the conference room.
Your Chamber membership also provides you with benefits of incredibly affordable marketing opportunities that
are only for our members. Please refer to the insert in this month's newsletter for a listing of all your marketing opportunities with the Chamber.
As you evaluate your ROI on your business investments, Chamber membership truly does provide a considerable ROI.
Central Florida Lake County FOCUS—with Ralph Smith
WLBE AM790
Tavares Chamber of Commerce does not necessarily endorse or
Page 2 Tavares Business Journal
Economic Development & Tourism
Department adds to its Level of Service
If you Offer Discount Coupons. . .
They Will Come
TAVARES
–
Lake County Economic
Development & Tourism
Director, Robert Chandler, recently earned the
designation of Certified
Economic Developer
(CEcD), a national recognition for the mastery
of principal skills in economic
development,
professional attainment
and a commitment to
personal and professional growth.
Chandler is the Robert Chandler earned the
second member of his national designation of Certified
department to hold the Economic Developer (CEcD).
prestigious designation,
joining Economic Development & Tourism Manager
Adam Sumner, making Lake County one of only six
counties in Florida to have multiple employees certified.
“Once again we are raising the level of quality
staff serving the citizens of Lake County,” said Lake
County Commissioner Welton Cadwell, who also
serves as chairman of the Lake County Tourist Development Council. “This certification is difficult to obtain,
and we have two members of our Economic Development Department with this accreditation.”
While less than 20 percent of all first time applicants achieve this accomplishment, both Chandler
and Sumner passed the exam during their first attempts. To date, only 35 percent of all applicants ever
pass the exam.
A native of Lake County, Chandler joined the
Lake County Board of County Commissioners staff in
2011. He and his team directly support local business
leaders while helping showcase Lake County as a
prime tourism and business destination.
For information on starting, relocating or expanding a business in Lake County, call Lake
County’s Economic Development & Tourism Department
at
352-742-3918
or
visit
www.BusinessInLakeFL.com .
On-Line Coupon Program is a member benefit
that you may be unaware of. Your membership with the
Tavares Chamber of Commerce includes participation in
the program. This is another way that your Chamber is promoting your business, but you must provide some information. Chamber staff directs potential customers to its website daily. If you’re not taking advantage of this membership
benefit you are missing potential new customers.
In these tough economic times, people are doing more
coupon clipping. We want to support our community by
offering this service and support the member businesses
that are taking advantage of this free member benefit.
When potential customers browse the
www.TavaresChamber.com web site, they will see Discount Coupon on the menu right below Member Business
Director. This will take them to a listing of all the members
offering coupons.
For each member
listing it denotes
“CLICK
HERE
FOR COUPON”,
once they find the
coupon they wish
to use, they can
print it and present
it to you at time of
service.
To participate in this program, please email us with
a 25 word or less description of your coupon and an expiration date and we will place it on the website as soon as we
receive it. On-line coupons can only be changed once per
quarter. This is a free service provided to all Tavares
Chamber of Commerce members.
2015 Tavares Chamber of Commerce Board
Executive Committee:
Janet Noack
United Southern Bank
President
Cheryl Rumbly Cornerstone Hospice
Vice President
Deborah Cahill Home Instead Senior Care Secretary
Kelly Pisciotta Habitat for Humanity
Treasurer
Orin Owen
Owen Associates
Past President
Directors
Debbie Behlmann
Southern Palms RV Resort
Linda J. Bennett
Ameriprise Financial Services
Lou Buigas
Hoity Toity Merchantile
Jacquelyn Coval
Individual Member
T.J. Fish
Lake~Sumter MPO
Beth Ann Gause
Gause and Hargrove
Rick Golab
Florida Hospital Waterman
Dee Johns
Directories Ink
Mary Johnson
Grand Rental Station
Dr. Joe Morreale
The Chiropractic Center
Travis Senning
ALS Landing
Davis Talmage
Merrill Insurance Florida
Ted Wicks
Wicks Engineering Services
Tavares Business Journal Page 3
Business After Hours on January 29, 2015 at Bella
Toscana Spa, 1699 Mayo Drive, Tavares .
Contact them for your Spa Treatment today at
(352) 742-7727
Tavares Chamber of Commerce 2015 Board of
Directors at January 28, 2015 Business Luncheon.
(l to r) Lou Buigas - Hoity Toity Mercantile, Ted Wicks Wicks Engineering Services, Vice President Cheryl
Rumbley - Cornerstone Hospice, Past President Orin
Owen, Linda J. Bennett - Ameriprise Financial
Services, Debbie Behlmann - Southern Palms RV
Resort, President Janet Noack - United Southern Bank,
Travis Senning - Als Landing, Deborah Cahill - Home
Instead Senior Care, T.J. Fish - Lake Sumter
Metropolitan Planning Organization
and Beth Ann Gause - Gause & Hargrove, PLLC.
Page 4
Tavares Business Journal
Congratulations to Riverest Waterfront Resort, 112
Park Dr. in Tavares as the recipient of the 2015
First Quarter Business Beautification Award.
Florida Hospital Waterman Center for Women & Children: Open House & Multi Chamber Business After
Hours on January 15. (l to r) Rhonda Townsend Townsend Insurance, Physician Liasion Lissette
Fernstrom - Florida Hospital Waterman, Tavares
Chamber VP Cheryl Rumbley - Cornerstone Hospice,
Rep Webster’s Aide Cindy Brown, Eric English, Tavares Chamber Admin Amanda Kelly, Ericka Green Lake Co. Econ Dev and Tourism, Tiffany Gray —
Twin Medical Consultants, David Ottati - Florida Hospital Waterman President and CEO, Senator Alan
Hays, Kathy
Parrish - The ARC Sunrise of Central Florida, Steve
January 13, 2015 Tavares Chamber Networking Lunch at Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant, 10700 US
Hwy 441 in Leesburg. "Best in Best" Wings, free Wi-Fi, sports on the big screen, cold beer, 30 wing flavors,
pizzas, shrimp, subs, salads, deep fried candy bars and much more!
Are you on the Map?
January Business Luncheon Sponsors (l to r) Nick
Shah — Bizcard Xpress (352) 508-5049, Garla
Compston — Mark’s Floors (352) 394-0303, Kelly
Leech — Silverline Graphics (352) 227-1728, Tiffany
Gray —Twin Medical Consultants (352) 353-0096 and
Josh Duclos — Lyoness Consultant (352) 552-1266
Visitors to the Tavares
Chamber request maps more
often than any other medium
of information. Doesn’t it make
sense to put your company in
front of those that are specifically asking for this information?
Ads that are embedded in the street index are
seen over and over again. As
an Advertiser you build goodwill for your brand since you
are associated with the community and the chamber that
provided the free map.
Tavares Chamber
member Heron Publishing will
be producing our Tavares Area
map. To take advantage of this
opportunity contact Ginger Novak, Sales Consultant for details. You can reach her via
mobile phone 561-929-5727 or
[email protected].
Tavares Business Journal Page 5
Spring Water Festivals ..........continued from page 1
Golf Tournament ......................... continued from page 1
The sanctioned BBQ competition brings the best
to Tavares and the coveted People’s Choice award allows
attendees the opportunity to sample the delectable creations. Air shows will captivate the audience, as they look
skyward to watch the acrobatic daredevils perform seemingly impossible maneuvers.
Certain to be a crowd
favorite at the event is our movie
star train steam engine, the Orange Blossom Cannonball.
It is fitting that one of
the springtime events in America’s Seaplane city will be a seaplane fly-in.
Tavares seaplane basin is the only one of its kind
in the state of Florida. There are nearly 15,000 seaplanes
in the U.S., and Tavares recorded over 7,000 takeoffs and
landings in the first year of operations. This event promises to wow the spectators and participants alike. Mark
your calendars for Saturday, May 2 for this exciting event.
The Tavares Chamber of Commerce will be
teaming up with the Rotary Club of Lake County Golden
Triangle to raise funds at these events and need volunteers to help. Please contact the Tavares Chamber of
Commerce (352) 343-2531 to volunteer.
Special events at this Golf Tournament will include a
Putting Contest, Pro Help on par 3 hole, Picture Time on a par
5 hole, Pick a Flag hole, complimentary adult beverages and a
50/50 drawing.
Contact: Vinnie Vittoria (352) 446-1343 or the Tavares
Chamber (352) 343-2531 to sign up. Or check the Tavares
Chamber website www.tavareschamber.com. Don't miss the
fun this year at Harbor Hills Country Club.
We are arranging for transportation, so stay tuned to
the Chamber as this event grows.
For more information on this or any other Tavares
Chamber of Commerce happening, visit TavaresChamber.com
or call 352 343-2531.
Dragon Boat Festival ............ continued from page 1
Dragon Boat teams consist of 20 paddlers, a
drummer, and a steersperson for 22 teammates in the
boat. Teams gather the night of March 13, 2015 for the
pre-race Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony and a performance by the Orlando Taiko Drummers followed by
spectacular fireworks over Lake Dora.
The challenging competition begins at 9:00 a.m.
on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Wooton Park in Tavares.
The schedule for the day is filled with all types of entertainment including, the Dragon/Lion Dance, Chinese acrobats, the Taiko Drummers, and other live entertainment.
Lunchtime will feature the annual Lucy Ho egg roll eating
contest, the closing ceremonies occur at 5:15 p.m. Families will find a lot of action, and sun filled sights throughout
the park and lake.
Detailed information, accommodation availability,
and
team
registration
packets
are
at
www.CFDragonBoat.org.
Proceeds from Rotary Club events support charities in the area and around the world.
For more information, contact Colleen McGinley
at [email protected] 352-343-2531 or
http://www.cfdrgaonboat.org.
Page 6 Tavares Business Journal
5K Raises Money for Christian Mission
Project
Florida Hospital Waterman Hosts 5K7 to help support
mission activities in Haiti
TAVARES —Florida Hospital Waterman’s Mission
Team will host its 7th annual 5K on Sunday, February 22,
2015 at Wooton Park in Tavares.
Proceeds from the 5K will benefit the Florida Hospital Waterman mission project in Haiti.
Scheduled for the last week of April, the mission
team will be adding a kitchen to an existing orphanage and
will provide medical care in and around the underprivileged
communities of Gonaives and Jubilee, Haiti. The Mission
Team 5k is one of the largest fundraisers assisting the volunteers with their expenses.
On-site registration and packet pickup will begin at
6:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2015. Pre-registered
entry fees for adults 18 and older are $30 and $25 for youth
17 and under. The race officially start at 7:30 a.m., and will
be followed by a children’s 100- yard dash fun run and
awards ceremony. To register visit, FHWaterman.com. If
you have questions or need more information please call,
(352) 253-3239.
If you are interested in financially supporting the
Mission Team, please contact Florida Hospital Waterman
Foundation at (352) 253-3270.
NEW MEMBERS
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Access Awards &
Engraving
Tom Marcinkus
352-385-2927
Lakeview Comprehensive
Dentistry
Tim Pruett
352-589-5660
Nvision Production
Tony Alonso
(321) 251-8081
AFLAC
Linda King
352- 250-1141
Lyoness Consultant
Josh & Ginette Duclos
352-552-1266
R Carts
Rebecca and Rick Carlson
(352) 516-3919
Coldwell Banker
Camelot Realty
Ray Levy
352-636-6579
Peach Key
Cierra Chappell
352-360-5658
Roxanne LoganERA Grizzard Real Estate
Roxanne Logan
(352) 636-1127
DG Promotions
Mike Welter
352-589-1312
StemTech
Gigi Duclos
(352) 408-7999
Personalized Services
Kathy & Ed Sowden
352-343-3632
Florida Lifestyle Property
Management llc
Karen Riscinto, PA
(352) 735-8771
TAVARES CHAMBER
AMBASSADORS
Chair, Cheryl Rumbley
Cornerstone Hospice
Betty Ainslie
Rodan & Fields Dermatologists
Independent Consultant
Debbie Behlmann
Southern Palms RV Resort
Alan Holden
Midway Baptist Church
Lisa Johnson
EZ Nutrition
Linda King
AFLAC
Judy Stewart
Law Offices of Judy Stewart
E-Z Nutrition 101
Lisa Johnson
352-516-9855
Fisherman's Cove Resort
Rusty Hinkle
352-343-1233
H & R Block
Pamela Davenport
352-343-8080
Insight Credit Union
Cyndi Jones
407-426-6000
Lake Dora Sushi
Janet Gamache
352-343-6313
Lake Health Care Center
Randy Glisson
352-357-8615
Susan Glenn Caddell DDS
Danny Caddell
352-343-2821
Tavares, Eustis &
Gulf Railroad
Neil Bagaus
352-742-7200
The Arc Sunrise of
Central Florida
Kathy Parrish
352-787-3079
The Cove at Tavares
Village
Jan Russell
352-742-7111
Town of Astatula
Kitty Cooper
352-742-1100
Townsend Insurance
Group
Rhonda Townsend
352-308-8617
White Aluminum
William Dorman
352-787-6783
Tavares Business Journal Page 7
Tavares Chamber of Commerce
300 East Main Street
Tavares, FL 32778
January 22 Business After Hours at the Country Club of Mount Dora, 1900 Country Club Blvd.
Restaurant Open to the Public.