Chamber Connection

Chamber Connection
April 2009
www.largochamber.org
Chamber
Chamber
Trustee Circle
Circle
Trustee
Chairman
Derri Davisson,
Realtor
State-of-the-Art
Facility Emerges
in Largo
Platinum
Largo Medical Center
Colonial Bank
Progress Energy
Bright House
Networks
Gold
McGill Plumbing
The Palms of Largo
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Silver
Knology
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
Midori Salon & Spa
Art Attack
Heron House Indian Rocks
Hampton Inn & Suites
Spencer International Advisors, Inc.
Schiller International University
Moss Feaster Funeral Homes
Largo Medical Center continues to grow “bigger and better” as
the latest facility on campus nears completion. Largo Medical
Center and the Diagnostic Clinic will occupy the building at
1301 2nd Ave. SW, offering the most up-to-date technology and
services. Congratulations to Largo Medical Center’s President
and CEO Ricky Satcher and staff!
Coffee An‛Networking - April 2 at 8:00 am at Beef O‛Brady‛s
Chamber Business Luncheon (Topic: State of the City) April 7 at
The Palms of Largo, Cypress Building
Chamber Workshop (please see page 5) - April 8 at 8:00 am
Chamber Ballpark Bash - April 9 at Bright House Networks Field
Chamber Connection
April 2009
Page 2
Chamber
Connection
The Official Newsletter of the
Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber
of Commerce
Phone: 727-584-2321
www.largochamber.org
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Derri Davisson, Chairman
Realtor
Gene Evans, Chairman-Elect
USAmeriBank
Ricky Satcher
Immediate Past Chairman
Largo Medical Center
Steve Markiewicz, Treasurer
Knology
Laurie Bunce, Vice Chairman
Centratel Services
George Glover, Vice Chairman
Bay Star Hotel Group
Robin Katchuk, Vice Chairman
The Palms of Largo
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Denine Barham, Old Harbor Bank
Bonnie Bollenback, Smith & Nephew
Peri Craven, Moss Feaster Funeral Homes
Elaine Ebaugh, Health South
Jim England, England Bros. Construction
Dan Flynn, Dan Flynn State Farm
Luis Ordaz, Progress Energy
Sue Osborne, TVC Communications
David Puckett
Doug Rohloff, Art Attack
STAFF
Tom Morrissette, President
Charlie Cronk, Business Assistance Specialist
Teri Flynn, Finance Manager
Cindy Paquin, Communications & Events Dir.
Happy Spring! I hope everyone has enjoyed the past many
weeks of Chamber of Commerce weather, heavy traffic and yes,
crowded beaches!
With Spring comes fresh opportunities to exercise your Chamber membership and experience the difference being an active
member can make in your business and career. These opportunities - together with usual calendar events - provide YOU, the
member, with a vast array of ways to network, build relationships, develop skills and everything else necessary to not only
survive these time, but THRIVE in these times..
• Opportunities like the Tallahassee Mission, where you can meet one-on-one with your
elected representatives, hear updates from State government leaders, tour the Capitol and
network with other attendees.
• Opportunities like the Chamber Ballpark Bash on Opening Day at the Threshers, where
you can enjoy a night at the ballpark with all you can eat in the Hot Corner Café, visit the
non-profit showcase, and share the experience with staff or clients.
• Opportunities like the annual State of the City Luncheon at Cypress Palms where you’ll
hear from City leaders about how Largo is doing since our update last year.
Even more than opportunities, your membership affords you tools to THRIVE.
Continued on page 3 ...
President’s Report
“The rising tide lifts all ships!” As a member-driven organization, our continued success depends upon the financial and
volunteer support that you - our members - provide. Further
involvement through commitee participation helps steer policy
and develop programs and services that address the changing
needs of our business community.
To expand our reach in the region, we need your assistance to
insure the success of our annual Chamber Membership Camp
Campaign which kicks off on April 22. This year’s theme “A Treasure of Benefits”
will coincide with the introduction of a new marketing initiative that promotes the
Chamber through member testimonials.
Robin Katchuk of the Palms of Largo and Executive Committee Membership Division representative will chair the campaign. Debra Jones of Regions Bank and chairman
of our Ambassadors Committee is vice chairman. The campaign runs through May 14
and will again feature a two-day phone-a-thon - May 5-6 - in the Chamber Board Room.
If you would like to volunteer for a phone-a-thon session and receive valuable sales
tips on how to close the deal while competing for some great prizes, call me or Events
Director Cindy Paquin at 584-2321 or e-mail [email protected]. If you can’t
commit the time, but would like to promote your business with a prize donation for our
volunteer recruiters, it would be greatly appreciated. All volunteers and prize donations
will be recognized in the June issue of Chamber Connections and on our website,
www.largochamber.org.
Please help your Chamber by volunteering or through a donation for this important
campaign. And remember that any new business/organization you recruit is a 10%
discount on your next membership renewal.
Thank you and best wishes for a prosperous month!
Tom Morrissette
Page 3
Chamber Connection
April 2009
Welcom e New Members
Network People
(Computer Consultants)
670 Clearwater/Largo Road Suite E
Largo, FL 33770
Kelly Freeman 446-4564
Plumbing By Preston, Inc.
1050 Starkey Rd. # 903
Largo, FL 33771
James Preston 743-539
Scottrade
10500 Ulmerton Road, Suite 848
Largo, FL 33771
Monica Mora 581-2300
The Human Resources Factor, LLC
P.O. Box 84
Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
Katie Kato 517-8473
Renewing Members
The Palms of Largo - Gold Trustee - Member for 16 years!
Heron House - Silver Trustee
Alfano’s Restaurant - Member for 14 years!
APSCO Appliance Centers - Member for 36 years!
Barrington Terrace - Member for 16 years!
Bay Area Commuter Services - Member for 14 years!
Bonham Dental Arts - Member for 24 years!
Cool Crystals
Enhanced Performance Thera/Sport Massage - Member for 11 years!
H & R Block - Member for 9 years!
Largo Middle School - 10th Anniversary!
Minuteman Press of Largo
MRO Aerospace - Member for 7 years!
PSI Xtreme Sports
Sheraton Sand Key Resort - Member for 27 years!
Somerset Apartments - Member for 8 years!
Summerside Inn Member for 26 years!
Top Notch Pest Control
Total Telephone Effectivness
Val-Pak - 5th Anniversary!
Wal-Mart - Member for 11 years!
Zhone Technologies
Chairman’s Report, Continued ...
• Tools like the Trustee Circle Marketing Advantage
program, where you choose the marketing activities that best
suit your business; bundle them at a level you can afford;
and make one payment for your Chamber annual marketing
program.
• Tools like the Member Discount program, where you
receive 10% off your next annual dues for EACH new
member you sponsor. Ten members gets you one free year
of Chamber membership! Take the opportunity of the membership drive to recruit all your vendors, suppliers and
business associates - so you can get your dues paid and
maybe a CRUISE!
• Tools like the Florida Backyard Economics program,
where you can showcase your business for tens of thousands
of consumers seeking deals in their backyard each day.
These tools and opportunities combined with the power
of calls to action on Check Card, Hometown Democracy and
other issues affecting business in Largo Mid-Pinellas are all
reasons why your Chamber membership is now more important than ever before.
See you all at the ballpark, and remember to always do
business with a Chamber member!
The Palms of Largo Hosts
12 @ 12
March 12 @ 12 guests at the Palms of Largo are Madonna Jones
of Cornerstone Bank, Richard Clemow of Business & Family
Insurors, Inc., Beth Forbes of Keiser Career College, Derri
Davisson - Realtor, Bonnie Trembulak of the Largo Leader, John
Passafume of Indigo Joe’s, Carol Polakovich of Minuteman
Press of Largo, Carl Van Emburgh of CPS Promotional Products, Pauli Roberts of Fleet Street Remarketing and Jillian Pilate
of Salon West Spa.