CHAMBER CONNECTIONS

A monthly newsletter brought to you by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce

JUNE 2016

Marion Smith Retires

(Read more…)

New Member

Reception

(Read more...)

Chamber Networking!

(Read more)

Leadership Plant City

Graduates

Class of 2016

(Read more)

Top stories in this newsletter

Marion Smith retires after 15 years at the helm

May 27th was a bittersweet day at the Greater Plant City Chamber of

Commerce as longtime President, Marion Smith, retired. After fifteen years,

Marion decided it was time to start her new adventures in travel, reading, and

perhaps a few new interests. Mayor Rick Lott and his lovely wife, Di, hosted a

Bon Voyage Retirement Reception at their home on Marion’s last day as the full

time President. With a Caribbean setting as the theme, it was flip-flops, Caribbean

food, and steel drum music as members, friends, and the community celebrated

Marion’s …..

Check out more on the party….

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Semi-Annual New Member Reception draws big crowd

Twice per year, the Chamber holds this informative meeting for all new

members to introduce them to the workings of the Plant City Chamber of

Commerce, what networking opportunities are available to them, how to

navigate the member-only portion of the website, and committee opportunities.

Membership Director, Tammy Mitchell, invites the Ambassador’s to join in as

the networking begins! This year, with the new website came many changes.

Read more...

Chamber Member Networking Opportunities help grow businesses

Each month the Chamber offers two networking events; the Contact Breakfast

on the second Wednesday of the month, and the Business After Hours held on

the third Thursday of each month.

Contact Breakfast was sponsored by Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial

Gardens. The speaker was the Honorable Chief Judge Ron Ficarrotta, who

informed the Chamber members of the happenings on the Thirteenth Circuit

Court. Read more…

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Congratulations Leadership Plant City Class of 2016

The Leadership Plant City program was revised this year, making it a more

informative, engaging experience for the students.

Beginning in September 2015 with an action-packed, team building weekend

retreat to the May 17th graduation held at Wishing Well Barn, this has been a

year of growth, networking, and new friendships for the participants.

Congratulations to the following people...Read more…

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THE GREATER PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

INFO@PLANTCITY.ORG

106 NORTH EVERS STREET, PLANT CITY, FL 33563

(813) 754-3707

CLICK TO UNSUBSCRIBE

In This Issue…(Click links)

Anniversaries Ambassadors June Calendar New Members Marion’s Farewell Reverse Raffle-Page 7 Leadership Graduation Contact Breakfast Sponsored by Hopewell Funeral & Memorial Garden Business After Hours

Thank you to our Board of Directors for their leadership

and commitment to the Chamber.

Directors

Matt Buzza

Platinum Bank

Paul Hackney

Sunshine Bank

Charles Harris,

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

Clark Smith,

Suncoast Credit Union

Larry Jimenez, Jr.

Star Distribution Systems

Karen Kerr

South Florida Baptist Hospital

Jim Scott

Jarrett-Scott Ford

Keith Smith

Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton,

Davis, & Smith, P.A.

Nate Kilton

Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth Man-

agement, LLC & Sedita Kilton &

Company, CPA, P.L.

Darcy Stottlemyer

All A Bloom Florist

Carole Wright

Myers & Wright, P.A.

James Moody III,

Attorney at Law

Michael Watkins,

V & R Insurance

Executive Committee

Chairman of the Board

Brian West Publix Super Market

Chairman-Elect

Yvonne Fry Fryed Egg Productions

Immediate Past Chairman

Michael Cameron Cameron Financial Management

Treasurer

Edwena Haney Hopewell Funeral Home &

Memorial Gardens

Vice Chairman- Membership Division

Verna McKelvin Wells Memorial & Event Center

Vice Chairman- Community Programs Division

Jason Jones Advantage Restoration, Inc

Vice Chairman-Economic Impact Division

Phil Waldron Waldron Consulting Services

Vice Chairman- Community & Governmental

Affairs Division

Martyn Clay, Ed.D. Hillsborough Community College

The PCEDC is diligently promoting Plant City as a viable

location for companies contemplating expansion. So...WHAT

ARE THE TOP 6 REASONS TO LOCATE A BUSINESS

IN PLANT CITY? Find out here...

Contact Jake Austin, PCEDC President/CEO, at jaustin@plantcityedc.com,

or call 813-756-7140 for more information. The Plant City EDC office is lo-

cated in downtown Plant City at 110 West Reynolds Street, Suite 202, Plant

City, FL 33563. **Article courtesy of the PCEDC**

http://www.plantcitydayspa.com/

Contact Us for the benefits of be-coming a Trustee

Marion Smith, President

Samantha Bryant, Event Coordinator

Joyce Nestor, Office Administrator

Evelyn Clay, Communications Director

Tammy Mitchell, Membership Director

Peggy Wilson, Tourist Information Spe-

cialist

Call (813) 754-3707 for more information

CITY PROPERTIES COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED ELECTRICAL

DISTRIBUTORS dba RAYBRO

ELECTRIC SUPPLIES

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES

HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME &

MEMORIAL GARDENS

IDEAS & INNOVATIONS, INC.

(JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY)

JARRETT-SCOTT FORD

Dear Members,

I hope all of you are getting ready for your summer va-

cation! Now is the time to take that mini-vacation and

get refreshed for the last half of the year. Everyone

needs some time off, so take advantage of the opportuni-

ty to relax a bit if you can. We will try to fit all of our

committee meetings in the month of June since we know

many people are not in town in July.

As we speak, we are getting ready for our annual Bowl-

ing Tournament at Family Bowl TODAY! This is a good time for businesses to

build a bit of comradery among their employees. There is nothing like working to-

gether as a team to win the coveted bowling pin trophy and to bring those bragging

rights back to your company. Your Chamber does a lot of good things in the com-

munity, but every once in a while everyone just needs to have some fun! Bowling

with your co-workers is not something you normally do in the course of a day.

Even if you are not playing with a team today, please encourage your staff and

friends to come out and have some fun. Tammy Nobiletti, owner of Family Bowl,

and her daughter Alissa, have been perfect hosts each year. Many thanks, you two

ladies!

Clark Smith and his committee are gearing up for our New Teacher Coffee which

will be Friday, August 5th. This event has been going on for 30+ years and I am

proud to say that it is still the one that all schools try to model when they are putting

on something for their teachers. At our Contact Breakfast next week (June 8th), Jeff

Eakins, our Hillsborough County School Superintendent, will be our speaker. We

are asking members to please bring some school supplies so we can contribute these

items to the teachers at the coffee. Anything that you can do will be appreciated.

Last request of the day…….please send in your nomination forms for the Leader-

ship 2017 and ALSO the Business of the Year! Your input goes a long way and we appreciate your help. Have a great month - Marion

MOSAIC-PLANT CITY

FACILITY

SEDITA KILTON & COMPANY

SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST

HOSPITAL

SUNSHINE BANK

T. CLAYTON JENKINS

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

WELLS MEMORIAL &

EVENT CENTER

Our Members are the Heart

beat of the Chamber...Check

out our long time members

HERE...

2016 TRUSTEES Thank you for your commitment to the

Chamber of Commerce

If you are a new business, remodeled your

location, or moved, your membership en-

titles you to a Ribbon Cutting . Tammy

Mitchell, Membership Director, will pro-

mote your business through Facebook as

well as print advertising. See our May

Ribbon Cuttings here...

Robert Snowden Park Ribbon Cutting, May 5, 2016

“It is difficult, but not impossible, to conduct

strictly honest business.” Gandi

Check out the info on how to join

the fun. The 6th Annual Bowling

Tournament is sure to be a

BLAST….. Stop by Family Bowl

and cheer on your team from 2PM

‘til 6PM

BUSINESS

AFTER

HOURS

Business AFTER HOURS is a great way to get the word out about

your business, do a little networking, and create new relationships.

People need to KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST YOU before they will begin

doing business with you. BAH is a great way to kick start your

relationships with fellow Chamber members.

Wells Memorial & Event Center is celebrating 120 YEARS! Join

us as we congratulate them on this milestone. More info...

Who will be your choice for Small, Mid-Size, and Large Business of

the Year? Nominations are now being accepted from members.

It’s as easy as 1-2-3...fill out the nominating form here...

2015 Business of the Year WINNERS

Brew Hub was the setting for the annual Re-

verse Raffle! What a huge hit this event was

with tickets selling out quickly. Only 100 tick-

ets are available and once they are gone...they

are gone!

Caribbean music, de cor, and flip-flops were on

tap for this event. Great food was provided by

Nick’s Pizza as well as Carrabas Restaurant.

Thank you to our sponsors Haught Funeral Home, Hopewell Funeral Home &

Memorial Garden, Jarrett-Scott Ford, and Star Distribution.

The last three players standing were, Marty Clay, Mac Smith, and Cameron Pop-

pell who decided to not chance going home empty handed, and split the grand

prize of $1500! Everyone went home a winner!

Who is looking forward to next year’s already? Be sure to get your tickets early!

http://www.suncoast-chc.org/