February - Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce
Transcription
Wakulla Chamber and You: Partners For Success PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY February 2016 Wakulla County Chamber OUR PREMIER MEMBERS Preserving the Past…….Planning for the Future www.wakullacountychamber.com President’s Message Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Chamber President for the coming year. I look forward to the opportunity ahead and know that 2016 will be a very rewarding year. I’m fortunate to follow in the footsteps of the many great leaders before me who have made strides to enhance our business community. Over the course of the next 12 months I look to build on some of our past goals as well as continue to create value for our members. I would like to take a few moments to shed some light on the work our volunteers do as ambassadors of the chamber. Over the past several years a common question we have had to address is how do we attract and retain members. The Chamber does this through a myriad of ways, most notably by providing educational, training, and networking opportunities. However, the scope of the Chambers work is much greater than that. The Chamber is comprised of many individual committees that work diligently addressing issues that pertain to the local business environment. For instance, our commerce and government committee has been involved in several issues recently that could have a significant impact on our local business. Earlier this year they gave input on the new sign ordinance that was vital in its construction and helped to make it less burdensome to business owners. The past 12 months have been an exciting time for our local EDC. They have worked on establishing a vision plan, a mission statement, and have been holding strategic sessions to help ensure a healthy business climate. They are striving to attract businesses that are sensitive to our natural resources and environment. They are working on putting process that will make it easier to business in our community, thus making it a place that is more attractive to business looking to move. As the economic climate continues to improve I think it’s imperative for the Chamber to continue to find ways to collaborate with and support local businesses. The Chamber is fortunate to have a great partners who offer may free services to our members. I would encourage all members to take advantage of these. For example, a host of educational opportunities are offered throughout the course of the year through our Ed2go classes as well as various topics throughout the year. continued If there is a particular topic or conversation that you would like to discuss please feel free to reach out to us. We’ve hosted classes on a wide variety of issues ranging from customer service to how to use QuickBooks. There are several exciting events that we are looking forward to in the coming year. The 2nd annual Wakulla County Job Fair hosted by CareerSource Capital Region should be a great benefit to both employees and employers. The Wakulla County Environmental Institution is set to open February 15 th. I’m personally excited to see them grow in our community and think they can be a key driver in stimulating our local economy. As usual, our annual low county boil will be held the first weekend in April. Proceeds from this event go to help provide a scholarship to a local high school student as well as get earmarked for improvements to the historical courthouse. Just as with your business, the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce strives to make each year better than our last. We have a busy year planned for 2016. We’ve elected a great slate of officer and directors. I would like to thank our outgoing president Alan Wise for his hard work, leadership, and dedication. I have big shoes to fill but look forward to the opportunity and challenge. Thank you again for the trust you have instilled in me to be your 2016 Chamber of Commerce President. Yours in Service, Dustin Grubbs UPCOMING EVENTS: After Hours Networking - Join us for after—hours networking at MyEyeDr, from 68pm, Thursday, February 18 Invitations to be emailed Networking Luncheon - noon, Wednesday, February 24, details to come EDC Meetings - EDC meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month. If you are interested attending please contact our office @ 926.1848. Reservations required. Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening - Please join us at a ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Ceremony for Wakulla Environmental Institute 3:45pmn Monday, February 15 at 170 Preservation Way, Crawfordville. 2 Member Spotlight Cuban Mojo’s Café Name of owner: Diego Vidal Tell us about your business (include unique facts and history) Cuban Mojo’s Café serves authentic Cuban Cuisine including Authentic Cuban Bread What services, products do you offer? We offer authentic Cuban Sandwiches, Cuban pastries, Espresso’s, Café Con Leche, Empanadas and many more Cuban specialties What sets your business apart from the competition? Our bread and pastries are shipped to us from Miami and baked fresh by us. Our sandwiches and entrees are all authentic, made from scratch using fresh ingredients with minimal preservatives. What should the community/customer expect when they visit your business? Absolutely delicious food and great, friendly service! How long have you been a Chamber member? Since the end of 2014 Why did you join the Chamber? To become a member of the community What Chamber services have you taken advantage of and/or will take advantage of in the near future? Meetings and promotions What’s your reason Wakulla residents should Shop Local? We need to grow our community and offer job opportunities to those that live in our community If anyone is interested in your products/services, how do they contact you? They can call or visit our location Tuesday-Saturday 10:30 AM- 5:30, 850-567-0707, 66 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Road in Crawfordville Address 66 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Road, Crawfordville, FL 32327 Phone Number 850-567-0707 3 Networking Luncheon @ TCC Wakulla Center, Catered by Kast Net We were off to a great start with our first monthly networking luncheon of the new year, hosted by TCC/Wakulla Environmental Institute. We hope that part of the amazing record of 88 attending came for the great company and Mary’s bubbly personality but, everyone knows that Ms. Thu at Kast Net brings on the goods, and dessert!! Featured this month was a Greek themed menu of salad, chicken, green beans, macaroni casserole, rolls, and a wonderful cream cheese filled pastry. Bob Ballard, Executive Director of WEI greeted the crowd, and let us know that the new building is just about ready to move in, and will be hosting a ribbon cutting/Grand Opening February 15 @ 3:45pm, 170 Preservation Way (3.1 miles past Centennial Bank). Join at this event for a taste of oysters, grown by WEI students. The February luncheon is scheduled to be hosted at this new facility also. Mary introduced our incoming president, Dustin Grubbs before our attendants introduced their guests. Dr. Rachel Sutz Pienta had invited the American Cancer Society Wakulla Community Manager, Kelsea Clark. Kelsea is in charge of the Relay for Life from noon until Midnight, April 30th. First time at these luncheons were Paula Johnson with Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, and one of our new board members, Josh Brown – Waypoint Realty. Sheriff Creel introduced Major Jackie Martin, Jail Administrator. Lisa Wetherton with Thrivent Financial introduced Deborah McClellan, a mortgage originator at Hancock Bank. Stephanie Schwartz with Red Hills Radio announced that she is looking for information and news from civic groups, churches, schools etc. to be announced on the station Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, sponsored by Prime Meridian Bank. If you have anything you would like included please contact Stephanie at 850.386.8004 or email [email protected]. Also new to the crowd were Pauline Hoffman, and the new center manager, both at Wakulla Medical in Panacea. Mary introduced Commercial Loan Officer at Centennial Bank, Kelley Cannon. Our spotlight was on Wakulla Realty. Owner/broker Sonya Hall shared that Wakulla Realty was bought in 1999, and was formed by Susie Tooke in 1986. Susie remains at the company as a broker. Wakulla Realty sells real estate but is also a property management company. Sonya also introduced her staff Karen Williams, Kathy O’Neal and Victoria Osborne. Sonya or any of her staff can be reached at 850. 926.5084. The March spotlight will be on American Cancer Society. 4 Sara Daw won the cash drawing ($1 from each attendant). Charlean Lanier asked to share information on any known homeless people in Wakulla to get as close to an accurate count as possible so a grant to help them can be obtained. Bill Snowden with the Wakulla News invited everyone to the 18 th Annual Valentine’s Day celebration and parade, and the Cupid Run/walk. Entry forms and links to the race can be found on the chamber website. Mary also made everyone aware of our 6 th annual low country boil held April 2 at 3Y Ranch. Save the date and plan to join us for a fun evening of live music, dance, and of course awesome food with local seafood. Each January, Cook Insurance and one of Mary’s premier companies, Olympus, gives a special treat, a bottle of wine from a Florida winery “Chautauqua” in Defuniak Springs. This year’s label was themed “May the Force be with you”; Cook and Olympus are here to cover all your insurance needs. Through Olympus, Cook is able to offer the distinct capability of writing homeowners and builders risk coverage with wind in coastal areas. As always many thanks to individual and businesses for their contribution to our drawing: Centennial Bank, Petra Shuff, Root 319 Salon, John Shuff, Wakulla Realty, Jim Wetherton Marketing, American Cancer Society, Thrivent Financial, Wakulla Insurance, Lionel and Marianne Dazevedo, Keith Key Heating & Air, Eden Springs Rehab and Nursing Facility, Waypoint Realty, Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Shepard Accounting, and The Wakulla News. SAVE THE DATE 5 News from our Member We are Covenant Care. For more than 30 years, Covenant Hospice and Covenant Alzheimer's Services have been trusted community resources. We are now Covenant Care. Covenant Care is here for you. We are more than hospice. Our shift to Covenant Care marks an important transition from a regional hospice provider to an integrated healthcare delivery system. We will offer a range of complementary care options including hospice, palliative, home care, Alzheimer's services and programs for children and families. Now you can make one simple call to Covenant and benefit from many solutions and services outside of hospice care alone. We will help more people. Our new platform allows Covenant Care to assist a greater number of patients sooner and to fill gaps in healthcare and community resources - whatever those might be. We will assess the needs of each region and respond with offerings as unique as the individual communities in which we operate. Watch this brief video to learn more. Jeff Mislevy, President and CEO, photographed with our new "Promise in Motion" fleet cars featuring our new Covenant Care logo and brand. 6 Tallahassee Lenders Consortium Presents: 7 2015 Business Installation of officers & Directors Excellence Winners Retail Bay Leaf Market ● Professional Service VCA Wakulla Animal Hospital ● Service Business Capital City Bank ● Hospitality & Tourism Flying Papi ● Non - Profit Big Bend Hospice, Inc. ● Green Business ESG Operations, Inc. ● Government & Schools Wakulla Environmental Institute ● President’s Choice John W. Shuff ● Volunteer Kathie Ann Brown ● On Thursday Jan 28 the Wakulla County Chamber installed their new officers and directors at the Lodge at Wakulla springs. The board is comprised of a cross section of members who own businesses, members who are employed by local business, individual members and liaisons of our government. This board will spend their next year making sure the entire membership of the chamber is represented with the sustainability and business economic development as its focus. Outgoing President Alan Wise did a recap of 2015 and his year if service. He reminded us of how important it is to be active in this and any organization and that only by pulling together can a chamber survive and serve the members. He talked about how the markers for recognizing the economy is improving are becoming more and more apparent and how we should take advantage of this in pushing forward with our economic development plans. Incoming president Dustin Grubbs reiterated the message of being engaged in the overall mission of the chamber. He encouraged the new and returning board members to recognize that they are ambassadors for the Chamber, their business and their community. If you are interested in the chamber Contact us at 850.926.1848 Wakulla Area Business Rockulla Music Emporium 8
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