Bay County Chamber of CommerceMarch 20, 2012
eBIZ newsletter
Greetings!


The weather is warming up and our area's number one industry - Tourism - has officially began. We welcome the visitors and wish all of our members much success during this season. Here at the Chamber we are gearing up for events celebrating Tourism Appreciation Month and the 2012 election season.

 

Municipal Super Tuesday Elections are April 17th, come hear local candidates and their "stump speech" at First Friday on April 6th and then get out and vote. Visit www.bayvotes.org for your voting precinct. 

 

Also, the Chamber will be updating www.panamacity.org with governmental affairs issues that affect your business update. Be on the look out for those! 

 

Read below and on our website for event details listed above and other happenings with the Chamber and our members.

 

Sincerely,
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff

 

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS

  

Bay Young Professionals Luncheon
"Secrets of the Executive", the first of a four part series

 

Featuring Brian Baumgardner,
CEO of Gulf Coast Medical Center

 

Each BYP luncheon will feature top executives in the area. Learn more about their successes, failures and lessons learned on the path to success.

 

Date:  Wednesday, March 28th

Time:  Lunch & Networking: 11:30 a.m. / Program: Noon
Place: Gulf Coast Medical Center
No cost for BYP Members / $15 - Future BYP Members
Must RSVP by March 26th to Elizabeth@baychamberfl.com or 215.3761.
Hosted & Sponsored by:

 

 

Ribbon Cutting & Business After Hours
Join us for a ribbon cutting and our monthly evening social, for an opportunity to network with other members and make new contacts. Don't forget your business cards!
Date:  Thursday, March 29
Time:  5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Place: Provision Living at PCB (6012 Magnolia Beach Rd.)
Sponsored by:

 

 

First Friday
Please join us for our monthly morning meeting and an opportunity to network with fellow Bay County Chamber members. Be sure to bring your business cards.
Date: Friday, April 6th
Time: Networking - 7:30 a.m. / Program - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Place: FSU-Panama City - Holley Center
Program: Meet the Candidates Stump Speech
Sponsored by:
  

Special music guest: Todd Herendeen

 

A special thank you to Panama City Florist and Gifts for the beautiful First Friday flowers!

  

 

"Good Communication is Good Business"

Hosted by: The Bay County Chamber - Small Business Institute
Date: Wednesday, April 11th
Time: Breakfast & Networking: 7:30 a.m. / Program: 8:00 a.m.
Place: Holiday Inn Select (2001 MLK BLVD.) 
Cost: Members: $13 / Future-Members: $15

 

 

 

Presented by:
Jack Kerigan, Owner
Kerigan Marketing Associates

 

 

 

Not all business communication trends are positive. Technology is advancing quickly in the first dozen years of the 21st century. With the increased use of mobile devices and our need for speed, electronic communications have become the norm. However, these written communications may be judged differently than you think and often affect your value. Learn how effective communications via email, texts, website posts and written letters can make a big difference on the image of business and the value (or lack thereof) the prospect assigns to you.

 

RSVP by April 9th to Elizabeth@baychamberfl.com or 215.3761. Cancellations after April 9th will be invoiced.
 
 
"How to Use Customer Service to Turn Transactions into Relationships"
There are two kinds of buyers out there; transaction buyers and relationship buyers.

Transaction buyers look at your company as just another vendor. They'll buy from you based on price or convenience. When a lower price or more convenient process comes along, they're history.

Relationship buyers view your business as an organization they can trust. They buy from you because you consistently overdeliver on service. Relationship buyers purchase more frequently and in larger amounts than transaction buyers.
 
Date: Friday, April 27th
Time: Registration - 8:00 a.m. / Program - 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Place: Chamber Boardroom (235 W. 5th St.)
Cost: $100 for members/$125 for future members (lunch included)
Receive $10 off total registration if signed up by April 23rd
Presented by: David Balmer, Dale Carnegie Training

Click here for registration form or for more info, contact 

 

Visit www.panamacity.org and click on calendar for more upcoming events.

Grand Openings
 
 
 
Coastal Small Engine
& Boat Repair
4132 E. 15th St.
March 1st
  
 
 
 
 
Auto Brokers of America
512 W. 23rd St.
March 2nd  
 
 
 
 
 
Liquor Mart
415 N. Tyndall Pkwy
March 16th
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inside Out Nutrition
360 S. Tyndall Pkwy,
Ste. 404B
March 17th
APPLE OF OUR EYE AWARD
 
 
 
Westher Hall at
Trinity Lutheran Church
Renovation
1001 W. 11th St.
 
 
 
Murphy USA
 New Construction
2107 State Hwy. 77
 
 
 
 
If you know of a newly constructed or renovated business that makes Bay County more visually appealing, please contact Don@baychamberfl.com.
MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

MAC Logo
This committee of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1946 and is rich in the history of providing good public relations between our military bases and the business community. 

 

The mission of MAC is to develop understanding, support and goodwill between our men and women in uniform and the local business and civic leaders. The committee stages various events and receptions to welcome visiting military officials and guests to the Bay County area.
 
If you are interested in joining MAC and supporting our local Military Installations, contact Tamara@baychamberfl.com or 850.215.3791.
CONNECT
 
CHAMBER 
Click here to view upcoming Chamber events. 
COMMUNITY
Bothered by pelvic pain?  Have questions about infertility?  On Wednesday, March 21, Dr. Justo Maqueira, Jr., Ob/Gyn, will discuss the benefits of da Vinci robotic surgery in treating endometriosis.  To learn more click here.

Click here to view more upcoming community events.
 

 

Capt.AndersonsFeb28ad

LEADERSHIP BAY
FALLEN
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MEMORIAL
The 2011-2012 Leadership Bay Class are honoring local law enforcement with a Fallen Law Enforcement Memorial and are currently looking for supporters to help fund the project. 

Click here for more info and how you can help!
NEW MEMBERS
Allie's Place
Ashley Furniture Home Store
B & C Technologies
EDA of Bay County
G. Foley's
Ink Trax Inc.
Inside Out Nutrition
Lee's Consignment Boutique
Steve's BBQ
Thank you to Clear Channel for sponsoring our new members radio spots!
MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

2 YEARS

-Bay County Awards
  & Engraving 
-Boy Scouts of America 
-FlexSteel Pipeline Technologies    
-Lowes Home Center
-William B. Price, P.A.

 3 YEARS
-Graham & Company 
-Kenny Strange Electric Inc.
-Zel Technologies, LLC 
 
 5 YEARS
-CPH Engineers, Inc.
-Roussos Air Conditioning  
 
6 YEARS
-Air Gas Co.
-David H. Melvin, Inc.
-Gulf Talent Services 

7 YEARS
-Daystar Cleaning Inc.
-First Baptist Church of Lynn Haven
-McDonald's David Costa Enterprises

8 YEARS 
-Neves Media Productions
-Paul Harris Insurance Agency
-Ron Wolff 

9 YEARS 
-State Farm / Jim Dickerson 
 
10 YEARS
-Sunglass World of NW FL. Inc.

11 YEARS
-Military Media, Inc. 
 
12 YEARS
-Fowhand's Furniture
-Panama City Music Association
-Southern Orthopedic
  Specialists, P.A.

13 YEARS
- GLD Food Distributors, Inc.
- Preble Rish, Inc.
 
14 YEARS
-Tim Allen Photography 

15 YEARS
-Florida Linen
-Harrison Dental Associates 
 
18 YEARS
-Leitz Office Products

19 YEARS
-Best Western Suites

25 YEARS 
-Entera, Inc. 

27 YEARS
-WMBB-TV
 
29 YEARS
-Inacomp Data and Voice Systems Inc.  

BUSINESS REFERRAL NETWORK MEETINGS
Four different Business Referral Network (BRN) groups meet bi-monthly for regularly scheduled lunch meetings to network and share business leads/referrals with other group members. 

Only one member of each group may belong to a particular business/trade, i.e. only one person in banking, to allow for no direct competition.

Group A
Po Folks (15th St. location)
12:00 p.m.
March 20th, April 3rd

Group B
Sonny's BBQ
12:00 p.m.
March 22nd

Group C
Ferrucci's Ristorante
12:00 p.m.
March 28th 

Group D
Loco's
12:00 p.m.
March 21st

If you are interested in joining a BRN group, contact Don@baychamberfl.com.