www.wakullacountychamber.com

23 High Dr.

P.O. Box 598

Crawfordville, FL 32326

Tel: 850-926-1848

Fax: 850-926-2050

Wakul la Chamber and You: Partners For Success

Wakulla County

Chamber of Commerce

Officers

President

Amy Geiger

President Elect

Tammie Barfield

Vice President

Kevin Vaughn

Interim Treasurer

Jerry Evans

Secretary

Mary Wallace

Past President

John W. Shuff

President’s Message

Support of the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce is important

to businesses, professionals, and all citizens because it pays real

dividends in the form of creating more businesses and better living

conditions to make Wakulla County a more desirable community to

live in. If you haven’t renewed your membership, contact Petra at the Chamber office

today to make the necessary arrangements. We need you now more than ever. To

our new members, we appreciate the investment you have made to protect the future

of Wakulla businesses.

Chamber Activities

This year has already started with a bang so I will briefly mention a few of the initia-

tives we have been involved in that many of you will be hearing more about in our

next newsletter.

On February 9, the Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners hosted a public

workshop on Economic Development in Wakulla County. The goal of the workshop

was to bring different organizations working to promote economic development in our

community together and have each organization give a presentation on what their or-

ganization does to promote economic growth in Wakulla. I would like to thank Kevin

Vaughn, our EDC Chair, and John Shuff, Past President, for assisting with our presen-

tation. We all came away with a better understanding of the resources available and

look forward to working with our local officials in the future.

Our Economic Development Council, a subsidiary of the Chamber, has been working

with our Commerce and Government Committee on Wakulla 2020. Look for more de-

tails next month.

On March 29th, Bike Florida will be visiting Wakulla County, and will be staying over-

night at The Wildwood Resort. Please come out and join us in welcoming hundreds of

bicyclists to our community.

March2012

President’s Message

2

Upcoming Events

Listed below are just a few of the events hosted by the Chamber. We invite you to join

us at these and other events!

2nd Annual Low Country Boil

The Wakulla Chamber of Commerce Special Events Fund-

raising Committee is gearing up for our 2nd Annual Low

Country Boil. We are pleased to announce our premier

sponsors for the event - Capital City Bank, The Wakulla

News and Waste Pro.

This evening of fun and great food will take place at 3Y

Ranch in Crawfordville on Saturday, March 10th, from 6 to

10 p.m. The event will feature a Low Country Boil dinner

and live music by JB’s Zydeco Zoo, whose fun, danceable

music appeals to all ages and all tastes.

Continuing with our pledge to support education, part of

the proceeds from the event is again earmarked to sup-

port Wakulla County students through scholarships. In

addition, a portion of the proceeds will enable us to continue restoration and furnish-

ing of the historic Wakulla County Courthouse; the only wooden courthouse still in

use. Last year’s event sold out with an overwhelming response and we anticipate

this year’s event to exceed your expectations.

For tickets contact the Chamber office at 850.926.1848.

Business Excellence Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Wakulla County Chamber Business Ex-

cellence Awards. This program is designed to recognize a Chamber Business of the Year,

a Chamber Start-up Business of the Year, a Chamber Non-Profit Organization of the Year,

a Chamber Environmental Stewardship Business of the Year, and new this year, a Cham-

ber Member of the Year. A banquet honoring the winners will be held on Thursday, May

17, 2012, at the Wakulla County Senior Center. Please take this opportunity to submit

your nominations and recognize a fellow Chamber member today!

continued

3

Networking Luncheon at Wakulla Springs Lodge

Our monthly networking luncheon, well attended by 42 members, was held at Wakulla

Springs Lodge Wednesday, February 22nd. The lodge graciously waved the entrance fee to

the park. Again this time, we saw a lot of members or new associates that we had not yet

had the opportunity to meet; thank you for joining us. For the several brand new mem-

bers in attendance, it was an opportunity to introduce themselves, and give the audience

a quick glimpse of what they do and what their business is about.

Lisa Russell, shop owner of the recently opened Lisa’s

Timeless Treasures in Sopchoppy, invited everyone to visit

Sopchopy; drop in anytime to look around. Jo Ann Palm-

er, new director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful, was ex-

cited about rejoining the Chamber, and reminded everyone

of the hazardous waste day coming up March 24th, giving

you an opportunity to drop off old batteries and other items

that should not go into a landfill. More information is posted on the Chamber website. She

also invited everyone to come on out to the 19th Hole at Wildwood Golf Course Monday

February 27th for the first social, kicking off the Great American Clean up.

continued

All nominations must be received by Friday, March 16. If you have any questions, please

call either Petra Shuff 850.926.1848 or Jo Ann Palmer 850.926.4095. Networking Lunch-

eons: The Chamber’s monthly networking luncheons for business professionals give indi-

viduals the opportunity to discuss and share ideas while learning about other local busi-

nesses. It is a relationship-building experience held each month at one of our local eater-

ies that benefits you and your company through added contacts and resources. If you

haven’t joined us yet, you are missing out on a great event that is being attended by over

40 other professionals. Be sure to RSVP for our March luncheon. Hamaknockers will be

catering at the Wakulla Extension facility, 84 Cedar Ave.

In closing, thank you for your continued support of the Chamber and the many profession-

als who give their time to our business community. I look forward to seeing you all at the

Low Country Boil on March 10.

Yours in Service,

Amy Geiger, President

4

Catherine Cameron, recently retired, opened her own business in the County, LKR Com-

munications and Translations. Besides translating from or to Spanish, she also holds Tele-

phone Excellence seminars. Michael Weltman, recently re - joined under a new busi-

ness, First Bank, and has over 10 years of experience in FHA reverse mortgages, and

leads the Senior Products Division. Elva Peppers with Florida Environmental Land Ser-

vices shared that her company works on environmental studies, and permitting for sea-

walls and docks in Wakulla.

Upcoming events shared: TCC Workforce Development is offering a Spanish class, taught

by Kathy Hallowell, a former Spanish teacher. This is a 3 hour class once a week for six

weeks. For more information call 922-6290. David Rossetti called for sponsors for a

benefit horse show held by Cauzican Care and Allen’s Equestrian Services, dedicated to

the rescue of animals in need. The benefit will take place May 26th at 3Y Ranch. For ad-

vertising, sponsorship or horseshow information call Allen’s Equestrian Services – Gay Al-

len at 850.567.3228. Elena Myher recently joined

Southern Flooring in Crawfordville, and invited eve-

ryone to come visit their new showroom for all your

flooring needs. Elena is excited to have the oppor-

tunity to be more active in the Chamber, and is a

wonderful addition to our “young” crowd of mem-

bers. Jo Ann Palmer introduced her guest, our

new Planning & Community Development Director,

Luis Serna. John Shuff announced his candidacy

for County Commis-

sion, and invited an-

yone to contact him to share their issues, and ask his views

on them. Susan Payne Turner was the proud winner of

our $42 cash drawing. We want to thank our attending

members for their donated prizes to our raffle, which in-

cluded home - made jams and pepper jelly, $50 travel

cards, flashlights, annual planners, gift baskets, scratch off

lotto tickets, T-shirts, complimentary pest control service

and free termite inspection, and more.

Plan to join us next

month, Wednesday,

March 28th. The

Wakulla Extension graciously offered to host our

luncheon at their facility 84 Cedar Avenue in Craw-

fordville. Jim Lowe with Hamaknockers will be ca-

tering. Watch for the invitation and if you are not a

Chamber member, membership has many ad-

vantages, and we invite you to join us. Contact

Petra Shuff at (850)926-1848 for information.

5

Plan to join us next month, , at the UFIS Extension Office. Hamaknockers will be serving

lunch. RSVP’s are strongly encouraged. For any questions, please contact Petra

926.1848, or Mary 926.6613.

International Gold Gymnastics

International Gold Gymnastics’ ribbon cutting ceremony was on February 13th. Owners

Olga and Alexander Babakhin, former Russian Olympic coaches, are happy to be a part of

the Wakulla County community. The original gym

was in the old Crawfordville Elementary School

gymnasium; it took seven years to create this state

of the art facility now located at 54 Feli Way be-

tween Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Boulevard

and Shadeville Highway. There will be an open

house and everyone is invited to come and see our

world class training center on March 3rd from 10 am

to 1 pm. All coaches are safety certified and

trained and under expert supervision, children will

build strength, flexibility, coordination, confidence,

discipline, and self-esteem. IGG also offers parent-tot classes, girls and boys gymnas-

tics, tumbling, cheerleading, before and after school care programs, weekend birthday

parties, as well as summer and spring break camps. This year at the Florida State Com-

petition, individually our level 3 Team Girls placed 3rd on beam, 2nd on floor and 1st all-

around; level 4 Team Girls placed 2nd and 3rd on floor, 3rd on bars and 3rd all-around; level

5 placed 3rd on floor and 6th all-around. This is quite an accomplishment for a small town

gym. We are all very proud of all our girls.

We would like to thank everyone in the Chamber of Commerce, Centennial Bank, Mike

Pafford Construction, Tallahassee Welding, Air-Con of Wakulla, Prime Meridian Bank, and

all of our gymnasts and parents who helped make this dream come true. Come and see

how much fun the kids can have and view our wonderful addition to the Crawfordville

community.

Ribbon Cuttings

Critter Control

Got Critters? Get Control!

We are excited to bring Critter Control to Wakulla County!

Critter Control is ranked #1 in wildlife control and #18 in

pest control in the nation! We are the experts in animal,

pest, and termite control. Our Certified Wildlife Specialists

and IPM trained technicians focus on ecologically sound

pest control and humane animal control solutions for

homeowners, property managers, businesses and govern-

ment. We get rid of animal or insect problems and then

continued

6

SHS Management holds ribbon cutting

SHS Management held a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 21, 2012 joining the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the induction of Bridlewood Apart-ments. Bridlewood Apartments is the latest addition to SHS Management, LLC.

Bridlewood Apartments transcends as a welcoming,

relaxing rental community. Life can be stressful and

hectic but you have pleasant things to come home to

at Bridlewood Apartments which is Wakulla County's

finest apartment community. This community is ex-

tremely focused on residential satisfaction and quali-

ty services. You can be assured that your home will

be cost-effective, comfortable and conveniently lo-

cated. Bridlewood Apartments offers 1, 2 & 3 bed-

room apartment homes with amenities that include

pool, fitness center, clubhouse, and Civil Servant discounts. The fabulous community

amenities, various floor plan designs, as well as excellent customer service makes this

SHS property the perfect choice.

SHS Management, LLC. is a step ahead of the housing industry providing an innovative

and versatile approach to the market. SHS Management, LLC brings years of experience

and expertise in real estate management. SHS Management, LLC provides either directly

or through its industry partners a comprehensive array of services to both the Leon and

Wakulla county area. Through the guidance of its experienced operations staff, SHS man-

ages a diverse portfolio which includes Student Housing, Residential, Multi-family and

Commercial Real Estate. We are excited to be serving Crawfordville and Wakulla County.

Live the lifestyle you deserve at Bridlewood Apartments which is located at 7 Home

Stretch Lane (off 61) Crawfordville, FL 32327. Office: (850) 926-1134 Fax: (850) 926-

1534.

prevent them from recurring by using exclusion techniques. At Critter Control, we care about the

animals too! We work closely with local rescue organizations and humane societies to help us save

wildlife whenever possible. We also offer a wide range of other services such as our home friendly

Wash Safe roof, siding, and deck cleaning as well as full attic restoration featuring T.A.P. pest

proof insulation. We also offer WDO inspections for real estate agents. The owners of the local

franchise, Brandon and Dustin Lynch, are always available to answer any questions or help solve

your problems. Brandon is a Certified Operator in General Household Pest and Termite Control

with the state of Florida. Dustin is a Certified Wildlife Specialist. They both live in Wakulla County

and enjoy helping people protect their homes and family. Call us today for a free inspection!

Critter Control. Protecting People, Property, and Wildlife!

Call us today at 1-800-CRITTER (800-274-8837) or locally at (850) 745-4111.

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Small Business Advice Make Your Business Unique by Dr. Jerry Osteryoung

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the

bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win

when the match is even."~ Muhammad Ali

With so many businesses out there providing products and services similar to yours, it

is critical to find that element that differentiates your company. In order to be successful, you must be

able to stand out in the crowd. It is not always an easy thing to do, but it is immensely important, and

each business owner should think about what makes their offering unique.

I recently attended a family function at The Peabody Hotel in Orlando. The hotel is a great property, and

the famous Peabody ducks really make it special and unique.

In 1930, upon returning from a hunting trip, the general manager of The Peabody in Memphis had a tad

too much to drink and decided to put some live ducks in the fountain of the hotel as a practical joke. It

turned out, however, that the guests of the hotel loved the ducks, and they have been there ever since.

The five ducks now make their daily appearance at 11 a.m., arriving on a special elevator to be escorted

down a red carpet by the official Duck Master to a John Phillips Sousa march. At 5 p.m., the processional

is reversed as the ducks turn in for the night. A crowd of people is always there to observe this daily ritu-

al.

Clearly, the processional of the ducks is unique in and of itself, but The Peabody has truly made the duck

theme part of their identity. The theme appears everywhere, from the hotel's logo to a large mural of

three ducks painted on the roof of the hotel. Additionally, the gift shop is brimming with duck parapherna-

lia, everything from duck doorknockers to duck jewelry.

The ducks are one way The Peabody sets itself apart from countless other hotel franchises. What originally

began as a practical joke has now become one of the most memorable elements of the guest experience.

Ben and Jerry's ice cream is another example of a very unique business. In 1977, Ben Cohen and Jerry

Greenfield completed a correspondence course on making ice cream from Penn State and started their

first store in Vermont in 1978. To celebrate their first anniversary, they had a free cone day, an event that

still occurs to this day. They are, of course, known for their quirky flavors - Chubby Hubby and Late Night

Snack, for example. Additionally, they take 7.5 percent of the company's before-tax profits to support

community-oriented projects.

Ritz-Carlton provides another example of uniqueness in a business. The guest experience at a Ritz-Carlton

is, by far, one of the best and most unique experiences around. They are known for their superb customer

care.

Take some time to consider what makes your business different and think about how you can call atten-

tion to that aspect. To get you started, following are just a few examples of how you can highlight your

business' uniqueness:

1. Locally owned for X years.

2. A three-generation family business that has been serving our customers for over 30 years.

3. Providing leading-edge technology to our customers since 2000.

4. The only store located in [an area] that can help you with [your product or service].

5. Have been in the same location for X number of years.

6. The only independent store that provides [a product or service] in [an area].

Now go out and make sure you know what makes your business unique and remember to emphasize that

uniqueness in all your customer interactions.

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Tickets available through March 1st

Please join us for our 2nd Annual Low Country Boil

Call the Chamber office 926-1848 or visit our website

Welcome New Chamber Members!

Keep Wakulla County Beautiful - specializing in Environmental Education, Community Beautification projects, and Litter Control

(850) 745.7111 PO Box 700, Crawfordville, FL 32326 Welcome Jo Ann Palmer!

Capital City Maintenance - Specializing in Lawn Maintenance, Landscaping, Steam

Pressure Washing

(850) 509.0019

97 Benton Road, Crawfordville, FL 32327 Welcome Edward Stauffer!

Lisa’s Timeless Treasures - A sweet shop in downtown Sopchoppy featuring antiques, vintage items and collectibles. Come and enjoy the past today!

(850) 559-6567 44 Rose St, Sopchoppy, FL 32358 Welcome Lisa Russell!