MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce

700 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958
(772) 589-5969
www.SebastianChamber.com
July 2012 Issue
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Larry Loschiavo — Health First Health Plans
Larry has been a commercial sales executive with
Health First Health Plans (HFHP) for four years.
HFHP is a top-ranking* health insurance company based in Brevard County that offers healthcare
coverage to employers and Medicare members.
HFHP is licensed to offer Medicare Advantage
plans to residents of Brevard County and parts of
Indian River County. Their Prescription Drug
Plans (PDP) and Medicare Supplement Plan are
available throughout Florida. For more information about Health First Health Plans, call (321)
434-5665.
Larry is a Florida native who has been a member
of the Sebastian Chamber since May 2011. He
graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Larry and his high school sweetheart
Mary have been married for 29 years. They have
two children, Larry J. Loschiavo IV, who works
at Harris, and Lara Loschiavo, a junior at UCF.
Larry often visits his father-in-law in Sebastian,
and has come to love the serenity and beauty of
the area.
An active community volunteer, Larry has
coached youth basketball and soccer, worked
with Habitat for Humanity, participated in Make a
Difference Day (12 years), and currently serves as
a Palm Bay Chamber board member (2011-2014).
He is now looking for volunteer opportunities in
Sebastian.
HFHP is a member of Health First, Inc., an integrated network of hospitals and healthcare providers. Health First Home Care has an office in
Sebastian to serve patients in Indian River County. Their number is (772) 589-1930.
* The National Committee for Quality Assurance
(NCQA) ranked Health First Health Plans #2 in
Florida and #22 nationally in NCQA’s Medicare
Health Insurance Plan Rankings, 2011-2012. In
addition, Health First Health Plans received 4.5
out of 5 stars as an Overall Plan Rating for 2012
from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on www.medicare.gov. Plan performance
summary star ratings are assessed each year and
may change from one year to the next.
If you would like to “make the front page” of our newsletter,
make sure you schedule time this month at one of our networking activities, and maybe your name will be draw for the monthly
spotlight! Check out our calendar inside!
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JUNE CHAMBER EVENTS
Chamber Luncheon at Marsh Landing Restaurant
Richard & Cheri Martin of WNC Interactive
Legislative Update with Congressman, Bill Posey
Business Social at The Tiki Bar & Grill
Ad Space Available
for just $250 a year!
Call Britney for
more information!
589-5969
2012 Election Schedule
Primary Election: August 14, 2012
General Election: November 6, 2012
Request A Speaker
Request a speaker from the Elections Office to make a presentation about
upcoming elections, voter registration or the future outlook of voting.
4375 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32967  226-3440  www.voteindianriver.com
Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce
Calendar of Events
July 2012
July 4
All Day
Sebastian’s Fourth of July Freedom Festival in Riverview Park
Hometown Parade, Festivities in the Park and Fireworks!
July 6
Chamber closed for the Fourth of July weekend
July 9
2pm
19th Annual Lifestyle & Media Auction Committee Meeting
Chamber Main St. Office
July 10
Noon
Chamber Lunch at Captain Hiram’s Tiffany Room
Guest Speaker: Indian River County Commissioner Wesley Davis
Lunch is $15 with Reservations, $20 at the door
July 11
8:00 a.m.
Full Board Meeting
Chamber Main St. Office
July 12
2pm/4pm
The Anatomy of a Post, Summer Seminar Series presented by
WCN Interactive: Richard and Cheri Martin
Free seminar to Chamber Members, $25 for non members
Reservations Please
July 18
8:00 a.m.
Chamber Business Development Committee
Chamber Main St. Office
July 19
5:30 pm
Business and Pleasure
Capt. Butcher’s Seafood Grille & Bar
This could be your
business card ad for $200
a year! Call 589-5969
today!
Rene’ G. VaDeVoorde, Esq.
Cynthia VaDeVoorde Hall, Esq.
Mari Parsons, Esq. (Of Counsel)
Email: [email protected]
Info to Know: By Britney Faulk
Where are your customers coming from? How do they hear about your business? How effective is your
marketing? Are you seeing a return on your investments?
It might seem like common sense to ask your customers or clients how they heard about you, but all
too often the question goes unasked by many small business owners.
Asking that simple question, “How did you hear about us?” is one of the easiest ways to begin tracking
your ROI. If you know where your customers and clients are coming from and how they are hearing
about you, the easier it is to determine what marketing efforts best promote your business.
Chamber Member, Christy Lenz of Captain Christy’s “Casual Cruisin” poses the question to all of her
customers. Christy says, “Business owners should absolutely make a habit of asking customers this
key question. It’s businesses 101. As a small business owner in this economy, it is vital to know how
and where I spend my marketing dollars. How will you measure the effectiveness of your marketing if
you don’t ask how people are hearing about you?”
Anytime the Chamber refers a business to a local or visitor we always say, “Be sure to tell them that
the Chamber sent you!” We hope that our little “reminder” to our visitors and callers helps get those
conversations started about how your customers and clients heard about your business! We are always
working hard for our Members!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Veterans Council of IRC
Martin Zickert
1800 27th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
772-569-9533
www.indianriverveterans.org
[email protected]
Non-Profit Organizations/Veterans Support Group
Preferred Private Care
800 Virginia Ave, Ste 55
Fort Pierce, FL 34982
772-579-6185
Toll Free: 1-866-338-8020
Fax: 772-293-9850
www.preferredprivatecare.com
Home Health Services
InsideOut Screening
Shawn / Jennifer Cattee
772-643-7604
Fax: 772-664-6235
[email protected]
Screen Repair
This could be your
business card ad for $200
a year! Call 589-5969
today!
MEMBER NEWS
Sebastian River High School is planning the inaugural
“Homecoming Parade” on October 4, 2012. This has
been a long time vision of Michael Stutz, Athletic Director for the high school. He will be contacting local businesses to help “Show that Shark Pride”. The parade
route, as approved by the City, will start at Main St. and
US One, in front of the Chamber, and travel down to
Riverview Park. Mr. Stutzke is hoping to put the true
meaning of Homecoming into this event, and will be
seeking Sebastian River High School alumni to help out.
He can be contacted at the high school.
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division
of Workers’ Compensation offers free seminars and
webinars for employers regarding Florida’s Workers’
Compensation Laws and Workplace Safety. Webinar
dates and times can be found on their website at
www.myfloridacfo.com/WC. The Division of Workers’
Compensation is an authorized provider for CEUs for
those entities: Construction Industry Licensing Board,
Electrical Contractor Licensing Board and DBPR, Board
of Accountancy.
Marine Industry of the Treasure Coast is calling all
boaters and water enthusiasts! It’s time for the 5th Annual
Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup. This year’s cleanup
will take place on Saturday, July 21, 2012. “We are making it easier to register for the Cleanup,” says April Price,
who coordinates the cleanup effort. “Our goal is to continue to increase our participation, more people equals more
trash that we can collect. In our first 4 years of the event
we have engaged more than 3,900 volunteers and more
than 1,050 boats collected more than 38 tons of trash from
the waters of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties,” says Price. “This is an “All Hands On Deck” effort,” says Price. “So young and old are needed to surpass
last year’s effort. This is also a terrific opportunity to pick
up some of those precious community service hours for
students and scouts.” For more information please contact
April Price, 772-285-1646. Online registration is available
on our web site www.tcwaterwaycleanup.com or become
a fan on Facebook. Just enter Treasure Coast Waterway
Cleanup in your Facebook search engine.
Chamber Board of Directors Candidates
Kim Ellis – Kim Ellis Insurance Agency: Kim is the owner and principle agent for the Kim Ellis Insurance
Services and has been in the insurance for over 20 years. Originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area, Kim has had
an impressive business background owning a bakery and catering business, and an automotive repair and towing
shop. She received her certificate in business management at IRSC and became a licensed agent. She opened
her Sebastian office in March, 2009, and she had managed satellite offices of the agency for seven years prior to
purchasing the agency. She is active in local business community and civic and church organizations. She is the
proud mother of four and grandmother of two. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and kayaking.
Sandi Gehrke – TD Bank: Sandi has been in banking in Indian River County for over 30 years, the last 12 in
Sebastian. Sandi is very active in the business community and has served on various boards and committees,
including the Chamber. She has been a member of the Chamber for twelve years and is currently serving in her
third year as a board member. She is committed to being involved with helping the Chamber continue on a positive path as our economic conditions stabilize and improve and looks forward to providing her time, talent and
passion for the place we all live, work and play to help us become even better.
Chuck Mechling – Collier Club: Chuck formed OnSite Management Group in 1989 with his partner, Steve
Melchiori, and has been involved with the development of multiple communities in Indian River County, including Collier Club and Pointe West. He has been a very active member of the SRA Chamber, serving on the
board as an appointed director since 2004. He received the 2008 Chamber Member of the Year and 2009 Outstanding Director of the year. He currently sits on the SRA Chamber’s Business Development Committee, the
LDR Review Committee and was co-chair for the last two years of the SRA Chamber’s Golf Committee. He has
served with the County Chamber as well and has received multiple awards including 2007 Chairman’s Award.
Chuck also serves on the MPO Committee and the City of Vero Beach Utilities Commission. Chuck and his
wife Karen enjoy traveling and cultural activities when they can find time to enjoy them!
Ali Qizilbash – CEMCO Construction: Ali is Vice President and part owner of CEMCO Construction Company which was founded in Sebastian in 1987. He is also a licensed professional structural engineer. He has been
an active member of the Chamber since 2005 and he currently serves on the Chamber’s Business Development
Committee. Ali is a member of the Board for the Exchange Club of Sebastian and he serves on the Community
Board of Seacoast national Bank for Indian River County. He is also active in BNI and has served as chapter
president for BNI in 2010. He and his wife Zahida are raising three young children and are enjoying all that Sebastian has to offer for their active family.
Robin Raiff – RE/MAX Crown Realty: Robin is a passionate realtor, and is ABR CDPE and GRI certified
and prides herself in staying up to date on the latest classes and initiative to better assist her customers. She is a
Director on the Board of Realtors since 2011, earned both local and state level Realtor Honor Society for several
years and is currently the Indian River County Realtor of the Year. She is the proud mother of four children and
a grandmother to four. She assists in providing care for her mother and brother with special needs. She has been
President of the Band Boosters for the last two years and will be Vice President next year. She is also very active
in her church and participates in Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, volunteers at Concerts in the Park and
serves numerous other charities.
Cynthia VanDeVoorde Hall – Law Offices of Rene VanDeVoorde: Cynthia is an attorney who joined her
family’s practice in 2009. A native of Sebastian and a graduate of Vero Beach High School she practices in the
areas of intellectual property counseling and prosecution, small business matters, estate planning, contracts and
trust and probate. She is a past president of GFWC Sebastian River Junior Woman’s Club, active with St. Sebastian Church and Indian River County Bar Association. She was Chair of the 2011 American Cancer Society
North Indian River County Relay for Life, serves as chair of the IRC Environmental Control Board and recently
completed 2011 Leadership Indian River County. She is looking forward to taking a more active role with the
Chamber and in promoting the businesses of the Sebastian River area.
Tourism Tidbits
by Nicole Capp Holbrook
We are excited to announce that we have
been awarded by VISIT FLORIDA, the
state’s official source for travel planning, an
Advertising Matching Grant for the 20122013 Fiscal Year.
The purpose of these grants is to help nonprofit entities and local governments stretch
their tourism marketing dollars in an effort to
expand cultural, heritage, rural and nature
tourism activities in Florida.
We are pleased that VISIT FLORIDA and
Enterprise Florida selected us from among a
large number of grant applicants, during their
most competitive grant cycle to date. The
VISIT FLORIDA Grant matches the funds we
received from our 2012-2013 TDC grant request which will allow us to double our marketing dollars and better position and market
the Sebastian River Area as a desirable destination.
Our advertising campaign in 2011-2012 primarily focused on promoting fishing in the
Sebastian River Area and Sebastian’s Working Waterfront. We had a very successful
print and online campaign with Guy Harvey
Magazine. Fred Garth, the Editor-In-Chief of
Guy Harvey Magazine, visited the Sebastian
River Area in February to discover for himself what makes our area so unique. In the
GHM Spring issue, Fred wrote a four page
editorial on his experience bass fishing in the
Stick Marsh with Capt Mike Tipton. We look
forward to reading Fred’s Sebastian article in
the Summer issue which will be out next
month!
In 2012-2013, we will focus our print and
online advertising on “Recreation” in the Sebastian River Area which includes Surfing,
Birding,
Skydiving,
Hiking,
Boating,
Kayaking, Fishing, Wildlife Viewing, Treasure Hunting, Area Festivals and more! We
look forward to the new opportunities that the
VISIT FLORIDA grant will allow us to pursue
next fiscal year!!
Tourism Business Spotlight
Pennwood Motor Lodge
A visible site on US 1 in Sebastian is the 60 year old
Pennwood Motor Lodge, the oldest full service motel in
the area. You can’t miss it. It has a huge American flag
out front. Devastated by the hurricanes of 2004, the
Pennwood has been totally renovated. According to comanagers Virginia and Chuck Smith, it is more modern
and hospitable than it has ever been. The reason perhaps, is the management itself, since the Smiths took
over operation about a year ago. Natives of Dayton,
Ohio the Smiths started coming to Sebastian more than
15 years ago as “snowbirds.” They stayed at Pennwood
Lodge for the winters and liked it so much that they arranged for permanent occupancy in a house on the property. Both retired after long-term jobs in Ohio, Virginia
signing on as housekeeper in 2001, and Chuck as allaround handyman. After a while, she was promoted to
desk clerk, and a year ago, to manager.
The Pennwood property is imposing. The motel sits on a
5-acre landscape lot surrounded by palm trees and flowering bushes. In the center of the property is a pristine 50
-foot swimming pool with lounge chairs. The room accommodations, all on one floor, form a sort of semicircle
around the property and the lush foliage. The Pennwood
consists of 25 rooms, a large three-bedroom house and a
dorm-style “clubhouse” than can sleep six. There are 14
efficiency rooms equipped for long or short stays. A full
kitchen and full size refrigerator is in ever efficiency, as
well as pots, pans and utensils, and a small kitchen table
and chairs. Amenities include telephones, cable TV and
HBO. The regular rooms are similarly equipped, except
that refrigerators and microwaves are smaller. Other
amenities at Pennwood include a covered picnic pavilion
with BBQ grills, a basketball hoop, shuffleboard and a
coin-operated laundry.
A large field at the end of the property can accommodate
RVs, trucks, cars with boat trailers, etc. Many of the
clientele are fishermen who come to the area with their
families. Pets are welcome, of all sizes. Smith said Pennwood is the host for thoroughbred agility animals during
shows in the area.
Rates begin at $66.30 (plus tax) a night for a regular
room with queen size bed, and go to $140 a night for the
three-bedroom house that can sleep at least eight. Visa
and MasterCard are accepted. Prices vary with longer
stays.
The Pennwood is located on 9295 N US Hwy 1, across
the road from Hale Groves. For information, call 772589-3855, or toll-free at 800-742-9240.
Membership Matters
We are very pleased to announce that Debbie
Lloyd Lee will be joining the Chamber staff in
July as the new Membership Director. Debbie
brings many years of experience in marketing
and sales to the table. She knows how to build
relationships, engage with strangers (she’s never
met one!) and has a strong dedication to the
business community and the Chamber. She also
has a lot of energy and enthusiasm which will
match well with our Chamber members and
staff. We look forward to goods things from
Debbie!
We sent out the Save the Date, and the small
poster and application are in this newsletter, and
we wanted to talk about why a business should
consider participating in our Grill Out Night,
scheduled for August 3, a Friday night.
What business would not like to have a couple
of hundred people come in their doors in a two
hour period of time in the middle of the dog
days of August? Grill Out Night is intended to
bring the community to your place of business,
and to help promote your goods and services to
the locals in the area. It’s a great opportunity to
invite your customers to a “grill-out”, while be
introduced to new clients and customers. It’s
cost effective, the registration is only $30 for
Chamber members, that fee helps off set the advertising costs, and the only other costs are grilling supplies, beverages and your time. You
want to be on the map! It’s a half page ad in the
Press Journal on Friday morning, listing all participating businesses, with copies available at
the Chamber and businesses that are participating, and its in high demand! If you are a home
based business you can partner up with store
front businesses, split the grilling supplies, and
get some exposure to the general public. Considering the potential return on investment of
small costs and time, why wouldn’t you want to
be part of the 6th Annual Grill Out Night, unless
you don’t know what a papaya is!
Find the registration form is this edition!
2012 Board of Directors
Officers
Debbi Vickers, Scripps Treasure Coast
Newspapers – Chair
Theresa Tolle, Bay Street Pharmacy & Home Health
Care – Vice Chair
Bob Daberkow, Southern Fulfillment
Services– Treasurer
Margie Duffell, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage—
Immediate Past President
Elected Directors
Sandi Gehrke, TD Bank
Patti Jamar, Park Place
Betty Lollio, Seacoast National Bank
Michelle Napier, Dill & Evans, LLC
Maggie Sammons, Custom Air Systems
Appointed Directors
Capt. Christy Lenz, “Casual Crusin”
Chuck Mechling, Collier Club
Chris O’Rourke, CPA
Ted Pankiewicz, Park Place
Shawn Reeves, Merriweather Designs
Ex Officio
Wesley Davis, Indian River County
Commissioner
Susan Adams, Mayor, City of Fellsmere
Don Wright, Vice Mayor,
City of Sebastian
Jason Nunemaker, City Manager,
City of Fellsmere
Chamber Staff
Beth L. Mitchell – President/CEO
Nicole Capp Holbrook – Tourism Coordinator
Britney Faulk – Information Specialist
Mandy Karst - Accounting
July 2012
Beth L. Mitchell, President & CEO
We always know when summer has arrived, its about the same time that we hold our final Concert in the
Park, working around late afternoon downpours and steamy humid weather. We finished up last week, and
want to thank all of the businesses who contributed gift certificates and raffle prizes to help make the Series successful. Many more thanks go to Waste Management, FPL Oculina Bank and Indian River Medical Center for helping to underwrite the costs of this extremely popular Friday night past time in Sebastian!
Summer means planning the 6th Annual Grill Out Night, scheduled for August 3, another Friday night in
the dog days of summer. Registration forms are in this newsletter for businesses those would like to participate. Papaya is on the menu this year, for eating and decorating, and Wanda Simmons of Paradise Ice
Cream is looking for papaya ice cream! Also on the summer agenda are three workshops with WCN interactive on Social Media Networking, posting and Constant Contact. While free to chamber members, reservations are helpful to secure a seat at the table. Media Auction committee members get started in July for
the planning of our favorite event in September. If you have any interest in helping with this Auction/Party
let us know and we will put you on our email list!
Two new items at the Sebastian Inlet, first if you haven’t bookmarked it, go to
www.SebastianInletcam.com, there’s a new web cam installed at the north fishing inlet, with panoramic
views of both the north and south beaches. You can easily zoom in and see who’s fishing, surfing or just
beaching it! The Inlet District also recently discussed a study to determine the economic value of the Inlet.
Just think what could happen if the Inlet shoaled over and closed up! There was a reason in 1948 that they
decided to dynamite a new opening of the inlet, and then permanently keep it open. We are going to find
its true value by quantifying property values, business revenue, jobs, and other activities that are dependent
on the health of the Indian River Lagoon and the Sebastian Inlet. More to come on this…
Two other summer markers, the preparation for hurricane season, and of course the Sebastian Lion’s Club
Fourth of July Freedom Festival. Each year the Lion’s Club goes to extraordinary lengths to provide our
community with a real home-town parade with festivities in the park and the ultimate fireworks display. It
is truly one of the great events of the year in Sebastian, with patriotic pride and American made spirit.
Multi generational families, residents, visitors, volunteer groups, civic organizations, politicians and businesses are all well represented in this holiday extravaganza. Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson would
enjoy the day!
We have reviewed our plan, checked out our supplies and battened down the hatches. Businesses and residents should never let their guard down, even when the el Nino effect is predicated to keep hurricanes at
bay. In 1992 the forecasters predicated a very slow hurricane season, and it was slow, except for one hurricane, Andrew.
Come join us this month at lunch with newly re-elected Indian River County Commissioner Wesley Davis,
and our business and pleasure at Captain Butcher’s Seafood Bar and Grill! And don’t forget to caste your
ballot for our Board of Directors Elections, unlike the national arena, our elections will conclude on September 1.
Have a prosperous month! B.
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Please Call to Schedule a
Blood Drive at Your Place
of Employment or Event
Today!
Blood Mobiles are
Available 7 Days a Week.
The Chamber Currents
Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce
700 Main Street
Sebastian, Florida 32958
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