A Special Thanks For Joining To
Horse Power For Kids
Armando Gont
8005 Racetrack Road
Tampa, FL 33635
Elliott Wheeler Architect
Elliott Wheeler
3419 South Drexel Avenue
Tampa, FL 33629
A Note Of Appreciation
To Renewed Members
Cookie Rodante Spoto
Tampa, FL 33614
Allen Temple A.M.E. Church
Michael K. Bouie
2101 North Lowe Street
Tampa, FL 33605
CODA Sound
Maritza Astorquiza
4819 North Hale Avenue
Tampa, FL 33614
Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT
Tom Brice
5010 West Kennedy Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Tampa, FL 33609
Game Time
Jessica Cronk
1600 East 8th Avenue, A-147
Tampa, FL 33605
Grimaldi Insurance, Inc.
AJ Grimaldi, II
238 East Davis Boulevard, Suite 309
Tampa, FL 33606
Joffrey's Coffee & Tea Company
Jessica Valdes
1600 East 8th Avenue, E-100
Tampa, FL 33605
Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research, Inc
Jason K. Woody
1410 North 21st Street
Tampa, FL 33605
McDonalds/J & I Management Co., Inc.
Juan Vazquez
2101 East 13th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
Sabella Tours
Tom & Vilma Sabella
Tampa, FL 33614
The Salvador Dali Museum
Yvonne Marrullier
One Dali Boulevard
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Tre Amici @ The Bunker
Jessica Stehlik
1907 North 19th Street
Tampa, FL 33605
Wallace & Son Printing Co.
Darrell Wallace
1618 East 2nd Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
Click on a company name to learn more about your fellow members.
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Ybor Chamber Member Spotlight
If you are in need of an executive search firm, you do not have to look further than Ybor City. Gerard Alexander Consulting Group, one of the top executive search firms in the country, has been located in Ybor City since 2001. Housed in Historic Ybor Square until their recent move to Centro Ybor, Gerard Alexander specializes in executive search and recruitment, outplacement, staff consulting and employee profiling.
Not only a top-quality executive search firm, Gerard Alexander is also a great place to work. Nominated as one of the "Best Places to Work" in Tampa for four consecutive years and winning in 2007 & 2008, Gerard Alexander is described by its employees as "one of the most unique and rewarding environments in which one could work."
Charles "Chuck" Windish, Sr. VP and Managing Director, can be seen working at his desk in Centro Ybor. Walk by and wave. He'll wave back.
Charles Windish
Gerard Alexander Consulting Group
1600 E. 8th Avenue, Suite A-106
Tampa, FL 33605
813-248-3377
www.gerardalexander.com
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Board of Directors
Executive Committees
Chair of the Board
Arturo Fuente, Jr.
Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company
Chair Elect
Andrea White
Bright House Networks
Vice-chair Events
David Alvarez
BB&T
Vice-chair Membership
Bryan Clancy
Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/ Ybor City
Vice-chair Marketing
Marc Hamburg
Florida Real Estate Associates, LLC
Secretary
Andrea Gonzmart
Columbia Restaurant Group
Treasurer
JoAnn Cornelius
Tampa Digital Studios
Immediate Past Chair
Angela Rodante
Swope, Rodante P.A.
Directors
Michelle Cardamone
Hilton Garden Inn Ybor City
Richard Chad
Highland Properties of Tampa Bay, Inc.
Kristopher E. Fernandez
Kristopher Fernandez, Attorney at Law
Sandra Fernandez-Lopez
Awnclean Diversified Services
Gassen Gutierrez
Innovaro
David Harvey
M&J Wilkow (Centro Ybor)
Gino Iavarone
Carmine's Restaurant
Dave Kemper
WilsonMiller Stantec
Wes Miller
My Garden
Damon Shiver
The Don Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn
Ken Soule
Verizon
Sarah Tildsley
ChappellRoberts
John Trujillo
GTE Federal Credit Union
Jaclyn Witmer
United Way of Tampa Bay
Elliott Wheeler
Chancey Design Partnership
Appointed Directors
Chantal Hevia
Ybor City Museum Society
Vince Pardo
Ybor City Development Corporation
Dr. Shawn Robinson
HCC - Ybor City Campus
Directors Emeritus
Dick Greco, Former Tampa Mayor
Rafael Martinez-Ybor
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 Chair's Message
Hola: We could not have asked for better weather for Fiesta Day! I was proud of Ybor City as I walked up and down La Setima with our President. The majority of vendors in the Sabor de Ybor were our own restaurants. Tom and I checked out the BB&T race car and learned that it had been in the Daytona 500 just the week before. We all miss the days of the "free soup" for the touristas. However, this 64 year-old event has taken a decidedly modern and business oriented twist. Carmine's had their original deviled crabs and Spanish bean soup for sale. I ran into many old friends as we weighed into the crowd at 7th and Angela Oliva. The Maxima Stage was exceptional and featured three top Latin Bands from the Bay Area. I caught Danny Lozada along with his wife Haifa and their band performing some fantastic salsa. And yes, as the recently elected Alcalde de Ybor Tom Keating promised, there was "dancing in the streets." We took a few moments to drop-by our Sponsor Hospitality Center at La Terrazza, where Luigi, Andrea and Maria demonstrated what true Ybor hospitality is like everyday. We stopped at the Columbia Restaurant's booth, where they were serving their top-of-the-line seafood paella; there was a nice line, so we moved on down the road. I later heard that they had over 600 customers. At 16th street, we browsed the work of students from UT, USF, HCC and IAD&T and young professionals from the Ybor Art Association in our Arte de Ybor Gallery. Back on La Setima, I stopped to talk to a young craftswoman that makes beautiful purses out of Cigar boxes - she had a rare 8-5-8 Fuente "sun-grown." On the way down to 15th Street, we stopped to talk to Steve Bird proprietor of the New World Brewery. While Steve's venue is on 8th Avenue in the 1300 Block, he decided to promote his business and support the community by having a booth on 7th Avenue. We sampled his barbecue pork sliders. Tom said, "You think this is good; try his chicken - you don't even need sauce." I want to thank our committee and staff for all the hard work, dedication and commitment in making this year's event a huge success. Muchas gracias to our sponsors, participating members, and volunteers. Your support is what has kept this traditional celebration alive for 64 years! Hasta la proxima (until next time), Arturo Fuente, Jr.
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Fiesta Day 2011
Photos Courtesy of James Adair
  

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Chamber Happenings
March 8- Ybor Chamber Membership Luncheon, Tues. 11:45AM- 1:15PM- The Ybor Chamber has extended invitations to the Mayoral candidates to make presentations at the March chamber membership luncheon. The March luncheon is sponsored by the Ybor City Museum Society. Look for the luncheon registration in your email.
March 17- PM Networking Event at Club Skye, Thurs. 5:30-7:30PM- Mark your calendars now for networking on St. Patrick's Day! Sandwiches, cheeses, veggies and desserts will be served. Come out for Green beer and drink specials. You just might catch a leprechaun or at least have some good luck rub off on you!
April 9 & 10- The 5th Annual Ybor Aficionado Days, Sat. & Sun.- Mark your calendars now for the 5th Annual Ybor Aficionado Days. This celebration of the first manufactured cigar in Ybor City will feature a Tapas Trail of Ybor's finest restaurants with an After Party/ Smoker at the Italian Club on Saturday night, and a traditional Spanish brunch on Sunday at the world famous Columbia Restaurant. 813.241.8838
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Events & Announcements Around the District
March 3-18- Independent Women: An Artist, Faculty and Student Event- The Ybor School of Visual and Performing Arts Gallery presents work by HCC's directed independent study photography students and art faculty member Suzanne Camp Crosby. The opening reception is Thursday, March 3rd from 5:30PM to 8PM. Call for gallery hours. 813.253.7674
March 5- The Venetian Carnival in Tampa, Sat. 7:30PM- The Italian Club will host a masquerade dinner dance that is being called a step into a lucid dream. For more details call 813.766.8441 or go to www.morpheoproduction.com.
March 5- Ybor City Mardi Gras Ball Xtreme, Sat. 7PM- The Don Vicente Historic Inn will host the Ybor Art Project for an evening of entertainment, food and drink. Get your tickets by visiting www.yborartproject.com
March 5- Florida Brewers Guild 2011 Beerfest, Sat. 12:30- 11:30PM- Come out and sample over 100 of Florida's best craft beers at this year's Beerfest! Attendees have access to unlimited beer tasting with their Florida Brewers Guild glass. Get your tickets early; 2008, 2009, and 2010 were complete sell-outs! www.floridabrewersguild.org
March 11- Rough Riders Annual St. Patrick's Trolley Hop, Fri. 6- 12PM- The event is open to all Krewes, the public and their guests. Check in from 6 to 7 PM. For tickets call 813-727-9616
March 12- Rough Riders' St. Patrick's Parade , Sat. 8- 9:30PM- If you haven't had your fill of beads and revelry then maybe the Rough Riders' annual celebration of St. Patty will tip your scale in festive Irish spirit. Come down for the wearin' o' the green. 813.248.1898
March 15- A Farewell Tribute to The Honorable Pam Iorio Mayor of Tampa, Tues. 11:30AM- 1:30PM- Join the Phoenix House at their fourth annual Humanitarian of the Year Award luncheon as Mayor Iorio gets awarded with the Phoenix House Humanitarian of the Year Award. The luncheon will be held at St. Lawrence's Higgins Hall. Please RSVP by Friday, March 4. 813.881.1000 x6606
March 19- Meet the Artist: Tim Parker, Sat. 10AM- 2PM- The Singing Stone will once again feature a live meet and greet this time featuring Tim Parker. Tim's art works ranges in styles from Classical Paintings and Tropical Themes to Contemporary Abstract Art. 813. 247. 2787
March 23 thru 27- The 9th Annual Ybor Festival of the Moving Image- The festival explores the cinematic mindscape of independent filmmakers, with a strong focus on Florida filmmakers and artists. Included in the eclectic mix are live performances, art, music and dance-- including exciting new work by NYC performance artist Pat Oleszko, Francesca Talenti installations, and works by Margaret Ross Tolbert. 813-259-6419
April 2- The 10th Annual 5K Race for Sight:Roar Through Ybor, Sat. 6:30AM- Get registered for a race to benefit the Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research. The race will honor males and females in 11 age divisions with awards as well as an after race celebration, and prize, t-shirt and goodie bag give-a-ways.register online at www.active.com. 813.289.1200
Recruiting Artists For Man On The Moon- Square One is is looking for artists interested in showing at their 4th Spring creative and performing arts showcase. The event is being held Saturday, April 2nd from 7PM to midnight at the Ritz Ybor. Sign up before it's to late! Email artist@squareoneflorida.com for more information.
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