Ybor Aficionado Days will be here on April 9th & 10th! Pre-order your tickets by Clicking Here!
Do you like to cook? Enter your recipe into the Tapas Cooking Challenge by using this Entry Form. |
A Note Of Appreciation
To Renewed Members
Joan Jennewein
Tampa, FL 33629
Bright House Networks
Andrea White
4145 S. Falkenberg Rd., Suite 1
Riverview, FL 33578
Centro Ybor
Carl Dalcerro
1600 E. 8th Ave., Suite A-132
Tampa, FL 33605
Creative Loafing
James Howard
1911 N. 13th Street, Suite W200
Tampa, FL 33605
ELEMENT Engineering Group, LLC
Derek M. Gil
1814 N. 15th Street
Tampa, FL 33605
Florida Aquarium
Scott Rose
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
H&R Block Premium
Sherry Corson
1416-2 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33606
La Tropicana Cafe'
Ray Cuttle
1822 E 7th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
Ron Dennison Insurance Agency, Inc.
Ron Dennison
8019 North Himes Avenue #405
Tampa, FL 33614
Streetcar Charlie's
Larry Bernstein
1811 N. 15th St.
Tampa, FL 33605
Tampa Bay History Center, Inc.
C.J. Roberts
801 Old Water Street
Tampa, FL 33602
The Corporate Training Center @ HCC
Brian Hollands
39 Columbus Dr.
Tampa, FL 33606
Ybor City Round Table
Angelo Spicola
PO Box 75774
Tampa, FL 33605
Click on a company name to learn more about your fellow members.
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Ybor Chamber Member Spotlight
Did you know that our very own Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) is the best in the country? Well it is. HART received the 2010 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award by the American Public Transportation System. Considered the gold medal in the transit industry, this award recognized HART as the best in North America among mid-size transit agencies.
Not only is HART the best in the country, but its CEO, David Armijo, is featured in the March/April 2011 edition of Hispanic Executive, which features success stories among Hispanic business men and women.
HART operates a multi-modal public transportation system for more than 1 million residents in Hillsborough County, and includes the popular TECO Line Streetcar System, which runs from Ybor City, through Channelside, to downtown Tampa at Whiting Street, and back again.
HART moved its headquarters to the Streetcar Barn in Ybor City in 2008 and has been a member of the Ybor City Chamber for more than a decade.
David Armijo
HART
1201 E. 7th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
813.223.6831
www.goHART.org
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Board of Directors
Executive Board
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 Bank
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
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
Elliott Wheeler Architect
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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Ybor at Tipping Point?
I was talking to the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of our newest high-tech start-up at last night's St. Pat's PM Event. I was rattling-on about all the great things happening in Ybor City and he said - maybe we're nearing a tipping point.
Hum? (Cut-away to Tom stroking his beard thoughtfully and reflecting) Let's see what's happened recently?
ˇ The Chamber landed its first "Presenting Sponsor" for a major street event with BB&T Bank (thank you David).
ˇ Our Fiesta Day Committee put together our first "juried art show" Arte de Ybor (thanks to our champion Ken).
ˇ Our 64th Fiesta Day brought in 15,000 guests - half from out of the county (hope our TDC Commissioners are reading this).
ˇ Hosted a first class Mayor's Forum at our March Membership Luncheon (thanks to both candidates for participating).
ˇ Had a fantastic opportunity to pitch the District at a broker's reception hosted by Centro Ybor.
ˇ Met with Bob owner of Reality Edit, the 3rd Digital Production Company to make Ybor home (check - "Media Cluster" growing nicely).
ˇ The St. Patrick's Day Parade was great fun (not only did I get to ride in it as Alcalde, but I also got to watch it from the De La Grana, Boardman, Bessone balcony (Frank makes an awesome seafood paella).
ˇ A world-wide organization invested 13 million dollars in one of our most treasured Historic Buildings (congrats on the opening of the Tampa Church, Ana).
ˇ Membership signed our first top-tier member for the 2011-2012 program year - GTE Federal Credit Union (thank you John).
ˇ Our newest high-tech start-up just finished their debt financing and is well on their way to achieving their equity financing goals (way to go, Tim & Company).
ˇ Top Tampa PR Firm, Tucker/Hall, chose the Chamber's Ybor Aficionado Days as the perfect match for their client GM (thank you Emily).
Whether you have read the book The Tipping Point or not, I was indeed at a tipping point - I tipped my glass for another sip of "green beer." (Cut back to a two-shot, two guys intensely engaged in conversation at a cocktail party - fade to black). - Tom Keating
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Mayoral Candidates Spoke
at March 8th Luncheon


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Chamber Happenings
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 featuring the Tapas Cooking Challenge at the world famous Columbia Restaurant. 813.241.8838
April 12- Ybor Chamber Membership Luncheon, Tues. 11:45AM- 1:15PM- Join the Ybor Chamber and guest speaker Wit Ostrenko, President of the Museum of Science and Industry (MoSI), at the April chamber membership luncheon. See what is in store for the museum over the course of this year and what their visitors are saying about them. The April luncheon is sponsored by 5th/3rd Bank. The luncheon registration notice will be in your email by the end of the month.
May 16- The Ybor City Chamber's Annual Golf Tournament, Mon. 11:00AM- For the golfers in our ranks, get this on your calendar! The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce's Annual Golf Tournament is scheduled for the Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club. Sign up to be a sponsor of this prestigious event or register as a player. By sponsoring this event you will be introducing your company to many local professionals as well as supporting the Ybor Chamber of Commerce and its Scholarship Fund. For more information, call Anna Ramos at 813.248.3712 x22 or email her at aramos@ybor.org.
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Events & Announcements
Around the District
March 18- GameTime and Maxima 92.5 hosts Rakim & Ken-Y, 7PM-9PM- High Schools from around the bay area will text-off (text 52051 to compete) to see if they can win a chance to meet performing artists Rakim & Ken-Y this evening. The first 100 will meet the performers and the first 200 students from the winning high school will receive 30 minute game cards and dinner from GameTime. 813.241.9675
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. Be sure to swing by the first Saturday of each month for Arts on 19th. 813.247.2787
March 20- The Ybor Chamber Players in Recital, Sun. 3PM- As part of the Visual and Performing Arts Series, Hillsborough Community College Ybor City Campus is pleased to present the Ybor Chamber Players in recital in the Mainstage Theatre this Sunday. The Ybor Chamber Players is an ensemble made up primarily of music faculty from the Hillsborough Community College School of Visual and Performing Arts in Ybor City. 813.253.7695
March 23- Ms. Lauryn Hill at the Ritz Ybor, Wed. 9PM- The Ritz Ybor and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts present national recording artist Ms. Lauryn Hill. The Fugees alum does not tour often, so get your tickets as fast as you can, her fan base still holds strong! Tickets can be purchased at the Straz Center Ticket Office, online at www.starzcenter.org or by calling 813.229.7827.
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
March 25- The Women of Ybor: 125 Years of Influence, Fri. 5PM-10PM- The Ybor City Museum Society will launch their newest exhibit in good fashion with a two part event. They will feature a concert at Centro Asturiano first followed by a presentation, entertainment, and early viewing of the exhibit at the Ybor City Museum State park Garden. 813.247.1434
March 30- Ybor Community Meeting and Survey, Wed. 5:30PM- 7PM- The Ybor City Development Corporation will hold their annual meeting to set priorities for capital improvement projects for the next year. Community input is welcome. The meeting will be held at the Italian Club in the second floor theatre at 1731 East 7th Avenue. 813.274.7935
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
April 2- Man on the Moon: a SQUARE ONE Event, Sat. 7PM- The Spring edition of the bay area's multi-dimensional art exhibit will have attendees questioning what is history and what is fiction. Each of their events plays on a theme and even encourages audiences to participate by incorporating the theme in their wardrobe. 813.394.0559
April 2- Grand Opening Reception of the Metro Wellness Center of Ybor, Sat. 7PM- 9:30PM- The event will feature building tours, entertainment, Champaign, refreshments, and a silent auction. Opening remarks and featured speakers are scheduled at 8 PM. The public is cordially invited to attend. The agency provides prevention services for at risk populations. Services include free HIV testing throughout the community, substance abuse and mental health treatment, medical case management for those infected with or affected by Florida's HIV and AIDS and extensive education and counseling programs. 813. 727.321.3854
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