September 2014

Non-Profit Business Council

artnerConnectionsPartner Connections Magazine connects partners to the CEP,

to each other and to our community.

Photos by Studio 45

4 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 • P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s 5

Publication team

Publishers: Klodiana Palushi, Tina Atha

Content Coordinator: Brittany Batsel Designer: Greg Miller

Contributing Photographer: Heather Sphon

aDVeRtiSinG

BVM has numerous business and neighborhood-specific publications that micro-target all areas of

Marion County.

For more information contact publishers:

Klodiana PalushiPhone: 352-470-7302

Email: kpalushi@bestversionmedia.com

Tina AthaPhone: 352-817-1866

Email: tatha@bestversionmedia.com

FeeDbacK/iDeaS/SubmiSSionS

Have feedback, ideas, or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you!

Deadlines for submissions are the 15th of each month. Go to www.bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas, and photos to:

jarod@ocalacep.com.

Magazines usually arrive in mailboxes the first week of the month. Dates may vary depending

on the post office.

miSSion Statement

CEP Partner Connections’ mission is to connect partners to the CEP, to each other and to the

community. To support CEP Partner Connections or to learn more, please contact Publishers.

Volume 1 • Number 8

Dear Partners,The CEP and all of its partners have a common goal-making

Ocala the home of success. We believe in supporting fellow businesses and improving our community through many endeavors. So it is very fitting that in this September issue of Partner Connections, we start off the publication with a mes-sage from President and CEO of the CEP, Kevin Sheilley. In this message, titled exCEPtional Connections, we are happy to share the local projects that are in the works. These projects include the recent renovation and happenings with the IHMC, the renovation of the former Sprint building to create approxi-mately 15 new lofts and information about up-and-coming technology focused entrepreneurs.

We also are proud to honor the generosity of Ocala by spreading the story of CEP’s Non-Profit Business Council, which was created to be five years ago. Working to con-nect charities and strengthen them, this Council also hosts a program called Youth Philanthropy in Action, or (YPIA.) This program gives youth the chance to pick or create a worthy cause, and then according to peer vote, choose a cause that will receive a $500 donation. Along the way, participants will learn not only about philanthropy, but also about the distinc-tion between government, business and non-profits.

As many know, we have an assortment of incredible business startups in our Power Plant Business Incubator. One of which,

will be an exCEPtional Mornings featured speaker, 19 year old Josh Noel, who founded SonDuck. Also a student at CF, Noel is Digital Media major in addition to running his own marketing business. Noel will be speaking September 17 at 7:30 a.m. at the MCAD Auditorum.

Another great event coming up is the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Ocala event. We welcome you to join in a noncompetitive 5K walk, Saturday, October 25th at The College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Rd. Registration opens at 7:30 and the walk will begin at 9:00.

In addition to our recent and future local ribbon cuttings, we also offer you an Event Calendar packed with activities that we know you will enjoy. Even though the month may be buzzing with activity, we also hope that on September 11th, you take a moment to remember a historical day 13 years ago, and honor any family or friends who may still feel a loss from that day.

As always, thank you for reading Partner Connections! God Bless.

Tina Atha Klodiana Palushi

Business Division Publishers Best Version Media

exCEPtional ConnectionsPublishers’ Update

Our mission at the CEP is to be the catalyst for a prosper-

ous community. Most often, we talk about our efforts at

recruiting new primary employers (Business Attraction), help-

ing existing companies to grow and expand (Business Reten-

tion), and assisting entrepreneurs start and grow new business-

es (Business Creation). Our efforts at Business Services aim to

provide the tools necessary to allow any business or business

person to grow their business through Networking, Talent De-

velopment, and Business Education. Business Advocacy is our

effort to partner primarily with local governments to create an

environment that allows businesses to thrive.

However, part of all of these efforts is our desire to see our

community where opportunities happen. The ultimate definition

of economic development is to create wealth and opportunity for

people, businesses, and governments. When our community is a

place where someone can come, find opportunities and find suc-

cess then we will attract new businesses, expand existing ones,

grow new companies, develop skills, and have a community that

encourages all of this. There have been several recent projects

which are helping our community be an opportunity place.

IHMCThe Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition may

well be one of Ocala’s best kept secrets. Its unusual name and

unique mission leave a number of people wondering what goes

on in the former Ocala Library just off the downtown square.

However, IHMC is the epitome of an opportunity place.

IHMC is a not-for-profit research institute with scientists

and engineers investigating topics related to understanding

cognition in both humans and machines. Headquartered in

Pensacola, the Ocala research center opened in 2007. The

facility is currently undergoing a renovation with the basement

being converted to offices to house more researchers. This

facility houses some of the most distinguished natural language

researchers in the world and it is here, in downtown Ocala!

In addition to ground breaking research, the facility hosts a

number of lectures bringing more renowned and recognized

speakers to our community. Additionally, IHMC hosts programs

and initiatives to engage young people in STEM related areas such

as robotics. Let me repeat the most important part—this facility

and researchers bringing opportunity is in downtown Ocala.

Sprint BuildingNearly adjacent to IHMC’s facility is the former Sprint build-

ing. The Ocala City Council recently approved plans for local

developer Sandy McBride to renovate the building, formerly

an office building, into approximately 15 lofts. The project will

result in a nearly $3.7 million investment in the community.

Our community already offers a wide variety of housing.

From gated communities to historic homes, zero lot develop-

ments to sprawling country estates can be found here. The lone

exception is downtown lofts. What upper story living exists is

quickly filled whenever a unit becomes available. The addition

of 15 or more units will not absorb all of the demand but it will

be significant addition. You will truly have the opportunity to

have any type of housing here, in our community.

EntrepreneurshipWhen you combine IHMC, the loft project, and the growing

technology base with now established companies like Seven Gun

Game and Ocoos, joining new and growing businesses like R+L

Carriers, Ansafone, and a nearly full Power Plant Business Incu-

bator, one can discover that virtually any opportunity (including

research, technology, and urban living)

can found here.

Growing these opportunities and

more is what will continue to keep our

community Moving Forward! ■

Best,

Kevin Sheilley, President & CEO of the CEP

Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the

views of Best Version Media (BVM). BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted by

residents, homeowners associations, organizations and advertisers. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the

submitting party. Best Version Media © 2014. All rights reserved.

exCEPtional Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Non-Profit Business Council . . . . . . . . . . 6Small Business Investment Program. . . . . 10The Buy Local Business Expo . . . . . . . . 13Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Making Strides Against Breast Cancer . . . 18exCEPtional Mornings Speaker & Bio . . .20Ribbon Cuttings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

ICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2On Top of the World Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3HDG Hotels & Developing Management. . . . . . . . . . . 5Verteks Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Career Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Camelot Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Showcase Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Hawthorne Village Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Studio 45 Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Therapeutic Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Family Care Specialists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

BJ Trophies, Awards & Gifts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Walts Brake & More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Advanced Imaging Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Ocala Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Mail Marketing Pros. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Remax Premier Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Street Bistro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20CEP Business Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Angie Lewis State Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23The Bridge At Ocala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Inside This Issue Advertising Index

Klodiana Palushi Tina Atha

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 • P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s 7

Non-Profit Business Council

Feature Story

By Brittany Batsel, CEP Content Coordinator Photos by Studio 45 Photography

Philanthropy is a word of ancient

Greek origins, which literally means

love of humanity. Today the word is most

closely associated with charity, which one

could argue is the highest form of love. It

seems like today there is a charity for

everything. Every need both

noble and ignoble

is represented.

Fortunately,

most charities

are of good intent. However, that still does

not make it any easier for a worthy case

to be seen or heard through the cacoph-

ony of causes. Everyone wants to give,

at least in some way, and everyone feels

different about the direction their time or

money should take. This scattered nature

of benevolence leaves most charities bick-

ering and competing amongst themselves

for a finite amount of resources within the

community.

Thankfully, Ocala is not only a generous

community, but a clever one as well. Five

years ago the Non-Profit Business Council

was formed, out of a realization that

when everyone helps everyone, everyone

benefits. Specifically, when all the

various charities come together

to share knowledge, ideas, and

resources, all the charities

come out stronger. And when the

charities are stronger, the people

who are suffering in a moment of

weakness, the people who need

assistance, are the ones who

ultimately benefit.

Like most great things in

life, the Non-Profit Business

Council has humble origins.

In 2009, Jenny Harmon and

Cathleen Blagay met with

the intent of learning about

each other’s organizations.

They shared ideas and soon

decided that they should

form a committee that would share ideas

and establish the distinction that non-

profits are businesses that suffer from a

dearth of time and money just as in the

for-profit world. The coalition that was

formed quickly pulled in such pillars of

the community as Lisa Lombardo, Allison

Campbell, Beth McCall, Meghan Shay,

Barbara Fitos, and Frank Hennessey.

One thing that occurs with this wide

swath of various charities is overlap. As

Lisa Lombardo said, “We wanted to not

duplicate our services; making sure we

were being efficient as non-profits—we

have limited resources—so the more ef-

ficient we can be with our time and what

money the organizations have, that’s

crucial to the success of the organiza-

tion.” Lisa then went on to explain that

non-profits were vital to the community,

because they directly boost quality of

life, which in turn lifts economic devel-

opment, as people and businesses are at-

tracted to healthy, vibrant communities.

That is why the CEP is the spearhead

for this lofty council, under Jaye Baillie’s

oversight, because the CEP’s purpose for

existence is raising the standard of living

in Ocala and Marion County.

One of the wonderful things the

Non-Profit Business Council does is

an initiative called Youth Philanthropy

in Action, or YPIA for short. This is

where eighth-grade stu-

dents are introduced,

over the course of six

weeks, to philanthropy.

At first, most students are

unaware of not only the

meaning of the word phi-

lanthropy, but also other

things like the distinction

between business, govern-

ment, and non-profits.

During the six weeks, stu-

dents are paired off by mutual

interest, and then asked to

imagine they had $500 to give

to a good cause. They are challenged to

find a worthy cause, either existing or one

they create themselves, and then argue

the case for why their cause is the most

Continued on Page 9

6 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Lisa Lombardo.

Jennifer Martinez

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 • P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s 9

worthy. At the end of the course, a vote is

cast by the entire class, and a winner by

peer selection is chosen.

Unbeknownst to the students is that

the $500 is not just mythical Monopoly

money—it is a real sum of money that

goes to the winning team’s cause. Since

2012, over 400 students have been

through YPIA, and 18 different chari-

ties have received $500. Among some of

the beneficiaries are “Wounded Warrior

Project,” “EARS Wildlife Sanctuary,” “Hu-

mane Society,” and at Belleview Middle

School a dormant art program was resur-

rected for all the students to enjoy—and

that program is still going strong.

For a community to be prosperous, the

future must be the first thing taken into

consideration. And as we all know, the

children are the future. So through the

Non-Profit Business Council, the CEP is

playing a role in developing our com-

munity, not just through the finances,

but through the minds of the youth—and

more importantly, through their hearts.

With an eye on the future, the Non-

Profit Business Council believes Ocala

and Marion Country, as a whole, is in a

great place, primarily because as a com-

munity, we are generous. People here

love to help people here. And as Lauren

Deiorio pointed out, “You have to look at

the demographics of the county itself. We

are not a rich county. We’re not Collier

County, like Naples, so a lot of what the

community relies on is the non-profit

community to meet the needs of those

individuals that are living here who may

not have food or clothing, or any of the

basic needs. So I view our non-profit

groups here as very healthy.”

Our non-profit groups are healthy, and

the main reason they are healthy, aside

from the charitably of the citizens of this

county, is the power gained through effi-

ciency with the formation of the Non-Profit

Business Council. Since everyone weighs

the needs of others with a different value

system, no two people will agree on which

charities have the highest priority. This is

what leads to in-fighting in other communi-

ties, as resources are fought over instead

of shared. But here in Ocala, if Mr. X is at

Charity Z, and Charity Z sees that Mr. X is

not a perfect fit for their cause, Charity Z

will recommend that Mr. X go see Ms. Y and

Charity A. All those letters may be confus-

ing, but the numbers are not. The numbers

say that charitable donations are up, and

that is because all the charities are working

together, in a very charitable fashion. ■

NPBC meets 1st Tuesday of the month. For more information on the NPBC, contact Jaye@ocalacep.com or visit Ocalacep.com

Allison CampbellMeghan ShayJennifer Hatchett

Continued from Page 7

10 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4

By Felecia Judge and Jarod Kintz

Here at the CEP, we wear many hats –

one of which is Captain of Industry

with a two-prong focus: creating higher

wage jobs and steering capital investment

into the community. Many believe this is

accomplished through business creation

or business attraction. While this is true,

and the CEP does both quite well, we

look beyond the horizon. Helping a new

business startup or luring a business to

relocate to Ocala may make for great

headlines, but the bigger fish stories come

from existing businesses when they begin

to grow.When a business is growing, it’s

assumed to be smooth sailing on calm

seas. However, oftentimes for a company

to grow it requires relocating to a larger

facility, if one is available or building

new. And this is where those calm seas

can become stormy. Moving means

money, and time, and a lot of research.

When the merger between the previ-

ous Chamber of Commerce and previous

Business

Small Business Investment Program

Continued on Page 12

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Economic Development Corporation was

completed, the new entity – the Ocala/

Marion County Chamber & Economic

Partnership, or CEP – took a proactive

approach to economic development.

Among several areas of focus that were

implemented, one was an aggressive

business retention program, something

that our community had been without.

Marion County’s existing businesses

were growing, or wanting to grow, but

couldn’t or simply just didn’t know how

to overcome financial, logistical, or other

barriers. This became evident when the

Business Retention team began to meet

with these business owners to identify

what opportunities were currently, or

could be, available to them.

During this process, the CEP and the

City of Ocala began to discuss what they

could do collectively to help these busi-

nesses and provide them with viable solu-

tions to some of the obstacles preventing

future growth. They reviewed utility

connection costs, electrical upgrade re-

quirements, installation of communication

equipment, and several other factors that

come into play when someone relocates

or expands in a current location o ver a

six-month period, the City and the CEP

developed an incentive plan that could as-

sist the business owners with expansion

costs which would then, in turn, provide

them with the flexibility to hire additional

employees. In April of this year, the Small

Business Investment Program (SBIP) was

created to foster economic growth within

the city limits and utility services areas.

The goal of the program is to attract new

business and encourage existing busi-

nesses to grow and expand by providing

them with assistance to offset the cost of

growth. Some of the opportunities include

waiving or crediting of fees, aid with

capital improvements, or infrastructure

modifications.

The SBIP is aimed at small and

medium-sized businesses employing 5 to

50 employees and is available to those

organizations who exhibit the need for

financial assistance up to $25,000. The

CEP is the county’s designated econom-

ic development organization and is the

central resource for the business com-

munity. We encourage any organization

considering expansion or relocation to

first contact the CEP to determine what

assistance is available and how we can

help navigate the way. ■

Business Expo

The Buy Local Business ExpoThose of us who call Marion County

home already know it’s one of the

best places in Florida to live. And this

Fall the CEP will showcase why it’s also

the best place for business!

The Buy Local

Business Expo

will take place on

October 9, from

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

at the Ocala Hilton.

Exhibitors will be located throughout

the entire facility, including in a special

designated area, the “Manufacturers Pa-

vilion”. This will offer an opportunity for

exhibitors and guests to see the remark-

able products that are made every day

right in our own back yards. The Expo

will not only serve as a platform for busi-

nesses to promote their products or ser-

vices to consumers, it will also provide

a unique and exclusive opportunity for

B2B connections during the exhibitor-

only networking and social

event which will take place

from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The synergy created at

the Buy Local Business

Expo is part of a larger

CEP initiative aimed at educating the

public about the benefits of buying

locally. Buying products from local retail-

ers, wholesalers, and manufacturers puts

your hard earned money directly back

into your own community and thereby

strengthens the local economy. This, in

turn, adds to the county’s gross domestic

product and stimulates business growth

and more job opportunities. ■

For more information on how to

participate in the Buy Local Business

Expo, please visit the CEP’s website at

www.OcalaCEP.com; go to “Supporting

Businesses” and the Buy Local Expo

will be listed under Signature Events.

You can download the registration form

from there, or you can email William@

OcalaCEP.com to have one sent to you.

But hurry, because space is limited and

booths are selling quickly!

In partnership,

Felecia Judge

“Create jobs, Expand markets, Prosper.”

Continued from Page 10

14 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 • P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s 15

Tuesday Talks: CEP Business Advancement Series8:30 AM, Repeated at 4 pm

September 2E-Procurement and Economic Development IncentivesCity of Ocala

September 16Crime Prevention Strategies for BusinessesMarion County Sheriff’s Office 

Friday Talks in DunnellonFriday, September 2611:30-1pmGruff’s Tap and Grill12084 S Williams Street

 

Non Profit Business Council’s CEO Roundtable: Exclusively For CEO’s of NonProfitsTuesday, September 212-1:30Lunch Provided

Non Profit Business Council: All area Non Profits Invited2 pmCEP Board Room 

“Transfer of Wealth” Workshop for Non ProfitsWednesday, September 248 am-12 pmThe Appleton Museum of Art$35 per person or $100 for 4 

New Toastmaster Club-Information SessionFriday, September 5Brown Bag Lunch11:30-1pmOrganized by Beth Ramsey, Harness The Power Within

CEP’s NetWorks Referral GroupsFour Groups are now accepting new members-Attend one of these Open Houses to Learn More!

NetWorks Open House: Learn About CEP Small Group Networking and Referral Groups Tuesday, September 9

11:30-1 pm

Complimentary Lunch Provided By The Ale House

Calendar Of Events

Dunnellon Area NetWorks Open House: Learn About CEP’s Small Group Networking and Referral Groups

Thursday, September 188 am-9 amRegions Bank-Dunnellon20381 East Pennsylvania Ave

exCEPtional Mornings: CEP’s  Monthly Business Breakfast Featuring Topics of InterestWednesday, September 17Marion County Agricultural Auditorium7:30-9 amCEP’s Business Awards with Featured Speaker Navroz Saju, HDG Hotels$10 for advanced reservations, $15 at the door 

Business After HoursHawthorne Village Retirement Community4100 SE 33rd Avenue

Friday, September 185-7pm

Ribbon Cuttings9.5-LA Studio-21 East Fort King Street: 4:30 pm

9.17-AAA Insurance-3033 SW College Road: 10:30 am

9.25-Little Duckling Sale and Expo-3010 NE 14th St Ocala (Central Christian Church)-10 am

9.25-Next Generation Realty-14031 Del Webb Blvd Summerfield: 4:30 pm

Unless otherwise indicated, all events are at the CEP 310 SE Third Street.For any questions or to make reserva-tions, contact William Parson, Direc-tor of First Impression, 629.8051 or contact William@OcalaCEP.com

For more detailed information or to register online, please go to OcalaCEP.com

July’s Business After Hours at Paddock Mall. See photo’s on page 16

1|8h_Walts Brake & More_0714.indd 1 6/24/14 1:10 PM

16 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4

Business After Hours at Paddock Mall

18 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 • P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s 19

Residents Come Together To Make Strides Against Breast CancerBy Jessica Clayton

The American Cancer Society invites residents of Ocala and

surrounding areas to join the fight against breast cancer

by taking part in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Making

Strides is a noncompetitive 5K walk that brings together cancer

survivors, their family and friends, business partners, and com-

munity members in an effort to end breast cancer. This is the

largest network of breast cancer-fight-

ing events in the United States, with

more than 300 Making Strides events

across the country each year.

The Making Strides Against Breast

Cancer of Ocala event takes place on Saturday, October 25th at

The College of Central Florida, 3001 SW College Rd. Registration

will open at 7:30 and the walk will begin at 9:00.

“Each person who joins a Making Strides team and shows

their support makes a difference in the

fight against breast cancer,” said Jessica

Clayton, Specialist Community Events

for the American Cancer Society. “This

event continues to be instrumental in

providing support services to individuals

battling the disease and, one day, finding

a cure. The American Cancer Society

has discovered landmark treatments

such as Tamoxifen and

Herceptin, and research

funding continues in the

hopes of finding a cure.”

Since 1993, Making Strides Against Breast

` has been the American Cancer Society’s rallying

cry to build awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. In that time,

10 million walkers have collected more than $594 million to fund

breast cancer research and support and educational programs.

While significant progress has been made, more needs to be done

in the fight against the disease. Breast cancer remains the most

common cancer among women in the U.S. other than skin cancer,

and is the second leading cause of cancer death after lung can-Helping You Reach More Customers

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cer. The chance of a woman developing invasive breast cancer at

some time in her life is about 1 in 8. In 2014, approximately 232,670

women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000

will die from the disease in the U.S. ■

To find out more about Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Ocala please visit www.makingstrideswalk.org. For informa-tion about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Some Local Information:

2013 Event Information: Event Raised $152,585 for the American Cancer Society’s MSABC

105 fundraising teams

2,800 participants

$28,500 in sponsorship

The 2014 event goals are:

To raise $160,000 for ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

117 Fundraising teams from the community

3,000 participants

33,000 sponsorship goal – We have already exceeded this. Currently we are at $33,500 in sponsorship dollars to include the following sponsors:

• Ocala Eye – Gold Sponsor

•Marion County Sheriff Office- Gold Sponsor

• Townley Manufacturing- Gold Sponsor

• Lowes Home Improvement- Silver Sponsor

• Ocala Health System- Silver Sponsor

• Deluca Toyota- Silver Sponsor

• Charlie Stone- Silver Sponsor

• Ocala Plastic Surgery- Silver Sponsor

• Radiology Associates of Ocala – Silver Sponsor

• Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute- Silver Sponsor

• Center State Bank – Track Marker Sponsor

• GateWay Bank of Central Florida- Track Marker Sponsor

• Skin Cancer Center of Central Florida- Track Marker Sponsor

Contact info:Jessica Clayton 352-629-4727 | jessica.clayton@cancer.org

20 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 • P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s 21

Manufacturer of the YearThe Manufacturer of the Year recognizes companies that

strive for manufacturing excellence, have a positive economic

impact, remain committed to workforce development and are

outstanding community stewards. Manufacturers have had

more than their fair share of adversity. Yet many are thriv-

ing—creating jobs, increasing sales, moving into international

markets. It’s achievers like these who are worthy of special

recognition. This award serves to bring attention to the area’s

manufacturing community and the economic and social contri-

butions made to Marion County.

Start-Up Award The Start-Up Award recognizes a startup company, in busi-

ness for less than three years which has developed into an

outstanding, thriving business. The company should demon-

strate enthusiastic vision, a clear commitment to doing busi-

ness in Marion County, innovative product(s) and/or service(s),

increased jobs, increased sales, ability to overcome adversity

and positive impact on the community.

Not-For-Profit Business of the YearRecognizes a not-for-profit organization in Marion County that

has a significant impact on the well-being of our community over

the past year. Criteria used to evaluate finalists include impact,

community involvement, innovative business approaches and

unique programs and services provided. The Not-For-Profit Busi-

ness of the Year keeps administrative costs down while investing

in employees, services, programs and ultimately, the future of

Marion County. Nominee must be a 501(c) organization. ■

Featured Speaker: Navroz SajuSeptember 177:30am @CF - Extension Auditorium - Livestock Pavilion | 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala, Fl 34470 RSVP william@ocalacep.com

By Jarod Kintz

Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership

(CEP), together with event

sponsors Hotel Development Group

and Clear Channel Outdoor, is looking

for businesses in the area that have

achieved outstanding success in the

past 12 months to enter the 2014

Awards of Excellence. The winners

will be awarded at the 17 September

exCEPtional mornings breakfast.

The breakfast will feature not only presentation of our award

recipients, but also a presentation by Navroz Saju with HDG.

This family’s story is truly inspirational and a classic American

success story. If you have not heard this presentation before

you will not want to miss this fantastic speech.

Winning businesses will have demonstrated a commitment

to excellence through innovation, sustainability, employment

growth and development, customer service, financial suc-

cess, and community involvement. Review the award criteria

and complete an application for your business. There are six

awards to choose from:

Business of the Year AwardThe Small Business of the Year Award is intended to recognize

and honor businesses that have demonstrated “Best Practices” of

entrepreneurship, such as sound business planning, fiscal responsi-

bility and work process innovation in operating their business. This

award will be issued for small, medium, and large business levels.

Business of the Year Categories:

1. SMALL BUSINESS – employ one to

25 full time equivalent employee(s)

2. MEDIUM BUSINESS – employ 26 to 100 full time equiva-

lent employee(s)

3. LARGE BUSINESS – employ 101+

full time equivalent employee(s)

exCEPtional Mornings

Street Bistro Ad_0814.indd 1 7/29/14 2:49 PM

Ribbon Cuttings

22 P a r t n e r C o n n e c t i o n s • S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4

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Burger King

GeniusTECH

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Mark Raisch Singer/Entertainer

CarePatrol of North Central

Young Living Essential Oils

We have moved to 416 E Ft. King Street 34471

Car buyers buzzing over

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September 2014