La Sétima                     

 Newsletter of the  Ybor City Chamber of Commerce


January 2011
Get Your Space Reserved:
Winter 2011 Ybor Expo: Business Showcase
at Columbia Restaurant
on Tuesday, February 8th

A Note Of Appreciation
To Renewed Members


Maria Pasetti

3217 W Arch Street

Tampa, FL 33607


A.J. Arango, Inc.

Xandra Alberdi

1516 E 8th Avenue

Tampa, FL 33605

 

A.L. Commercial, Inc.

Anthony Lefler

1514 1/2   E. 8th Avenue

Tampa, FL 33605


Bishop & Associates, Inc.

Jim Crews

1111 W.Cass St.

Tampa, FL 33606


Gerardi Construction, Inc.

Phillip Gerardi

1604 N 19th Street

Tampa, FL 33605


La Segunda Central Bakery

Copeland More'

2512 N 15th Street

Tampa, FL 33605

 

Roche Surety, Inc.

Missy Martin

1910 Orient Road

Tampa, FL 33619


Tampa Port Authority

John Thorington

P O Box 2192

Tampa, FL 33601


 

Tampa Steel & Supply, Inc.

Bruce Goldman

1301 N. 26th St.

Tampa, FL 33605

 

Wyndham Tampa Westshore

Brandon Marshall

700 North Westshore Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33609

 

Click on a company name to learn more about your fellow members.

spotlight

Ybor Chamber

Member Spotlight


Florida Business Interiors, known to us in Ybor as FBI, has been a Chamber member since moving to Ybor City in 2007. Kevin Baker, President of the Tampa Bay Division, and his staff are sales people extraordinaire, not only for their exceptional office furniture, but also for Ybor City. "There is life in Ybor...a sense of community...a sense of belonging...a sense of pride. Add to that the dozens of restaurants that we can gather in to entertain our customers and business associates during lunch and dinner, and that combines to make the perfect home for FBI," says Kevin.

 

Florida Business Interiors set up shop in the Stemmery Building of Ybor Square in 2007 and just last month moved to its new home, Centro Español, located in Centro Ybor. FBI is a full service office interiors product and service provider that serves the commercial, government, education, health care and hospitality markets.

 

Kevin Baker

Florida Business Interiors

1600 E. 8thth Ave., Suite C-201

Tampa, FL 33605

813-549-7310

www.4fbi.com 


Member Luncheons

January 11th 2011
Speaker
Dr. Ken Atwater
President
Hillsborough Community College
Sponsored by:
Florida Business Interiors

February 8th 2011
Winter 2011 Ybor Expo: Business Showcase
Arturo Funte Jr. Headshot

 Message From The Chair


      Feliz Año Nuevo a todos (Happy New Year to all):


I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season filled with joyous celebrations, and continues to have a prosperous new year!


At the December Board meeting we did a quick, mid-year review of the Chamber's operations and I am pleased to say we were well on-target for the first half of my term.


December's Membership Luncheon was one of the best attended Holiday Luncheon's in recent years due in large part to our guest speaker, Keith Norden head of the EDC.  A special thanks to both Keith and the HCC Jazz Ensemble.  The Membership Committee did an outstanding job putting the Holiday Party together.  The party was a real success with well over 100 members and guests in attendance. Due to your generosity, 65 toys and $225 in donations were collected for Metropolitan Ministries.  A special thanks to our sponsor UBS Financial Services and our host Centro Asturiano.


I am looking ahead to the most exciting time of the year in Ybor City - Festival Season!  Our Fiesta Day Committee is doing an excellent job planning for this year's 64th Fiesta Day, presented by BB&T Bank, on Saturday, February 26th.  Our Aficionado Committee will start planning for this year's Ybor Aficionado Days within the coming week. Aficionado Days will again be presented by Bright House Networks and is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 9th and 10th.


Our Membership Committee will be kicking-off "open enrollment" for our Tiered-Membership Program. It's convenient and provides a high degree of exposure for participating businesses at a good value, not to mention it will get you engaged with Ybor's business community. Membership will host the Winter Ybor Expo: Business Showcase coming-up Tuesday, February 8th.  This is the best business-to-business event we do!


Finally, I am very enthusiastic about the work the new Marketing Committee is doing for the Chamber and the Historic District.  We are in the process of refreshing our logo and will begin updating our "content manager" soon.  Over the holidays, we ran ads promoting the Historic District in the La Gaceta- Holiday Edition and the Outback Bowl- game day program.  I am very pleased to announce that we had over four times the number of guests we normally have at the Chamber's Visitor Information Center over Outback Bowl week.


Hasta la proxima (until next time),


Arturo Fuente, Jr.
Chamber Happenings

January 11- Ybor Chamber Membership Luncheon, Tues. 11:45AM- 1:15PM-Join the Ybor Chamber and guest speaker Dr. Ken Atwater, President of Hillsborough Community College, at this month's chamber membership luncheon. Learn the ins and outs of becoming a college's new president and what his long term goals are for this well-known Hillsborough institution. Luncheon registrations are out in email inboxes.  To phone in a registration, call Anna Ramos 813.248.3712 x22

January 20- PM Networking Event at The Bricks, Thurs. 5:30-7:30PM- Do you want to meet new contacts in an enjoyable atmosphere featuring drink specials and complimentary hors d'oeuvres?  Come out and trade business cards and walk away with new contacts at one of Ybor's newest hot spots, The Bricks.

February 8- Winter 2011 Ybor Expo: Business Showcase, Tues. 11:30AM- 2PM-The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its Winter Business Expo at the Columbia Restaurant in lieu of its regular luncheon. This is a great way to promote your business to other Ybor businesses and let them know what you do. Reserve your space by contacting Anna Ramos. 813.248.3712 x 22
Announcements & Events Around the District

January 7- 1964: #1 Beatles Tribute Show at The Ritz Ybor, Fri. 6PM-   If you aren't stopping in to catch a great Beatles tribute band then it is definitely time you made plans to catch a great concert act this new year.  Check out one of the many talents passing through Tampa's premier special events venue by calling their box office at 813.247.2555

January 8- "On Broadway" at the Masquerade Ball V, Sat. 6:30PM- Join Stageworks at Centro Asturiano for cocktails, dinner, dancing, silent auctions and a program that includes "Broadway Cabaret" with songwriter/composer David Friedman and Masters of Ceremony Russell Rhodes and Denise White. 813.784.9832


January 15 thru 17- The Festival of Chocolate presented by MOSI- Is Chocolate your thing? Who are we kidding- who doesn't like chocolate?  This event is bound to draw at least a few chocolate connoisseurs.  The event promises demonstrations, competitions, classes and shopping... guess the holidays aren't over just yet. tampa.festivalofchocolate.com

January 21& 23- Battle Fest & the Alcalde Ybor Naval Invasion 2011, Fri. & Sun.- Come out and take part in an Ybor tradition as corrupt politicos open the waters of Tampa Bay to pirate invaders. Friday at 6:30PM join in on the offical invasion Kick-off party aboard the American Victory Ship for $25.  The fun continues Sunday at high Noon as revelers toss cuban bread and get sprayed with water canons, opening our ports for scout crews of Gasparilla to take over the town. The cost is $10. 1.866.468.7630


February 9- Campus President's Community Advisory Council at HCC Ybor, Wed. 5PM- 6:30PM- Join Dr. Shawn Robinson and discuss campus highlights, community comments and partnership opportunities.  RSVP by calling 813.253.7754 by January 20th.

February 21 & 23- HR Certification Classes at the HCC Collaboration Studio, Mon. 8:30AM- 4PM- Let HCC's Center for Continuing Education help you meet your company's HR needs.  Certification classes are limited to 25 participants. Call 813.259.6508 to learn more about this opportunity and to register.