La Sétima                     

 Newsletter of the  Ybor City Chamber of Commerce

Mid-March 2011

aficionado logo 5
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.

spotlight

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 

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

Tom Keating Head Shot

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

Mayoral Candidates Spoke  

at March 8th Luncheon 

  mayoral candidates@ 3-8-11 luncheon    

Mayoral candidates @ 3-8-11 luncheon

        Mayoral Candidates @ 3-8-11 luncheon

 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.

  

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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