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Upcoming Events
See Chamber Happenings
For More Details
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A Special Welcome To New Members
Sentry Self Storage
Danielle Budzinski
4901 E. Adamo Drive
Tampa, FL 33605
Thank You To Renewing Members
C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
Kevin Stencil
1600 E. 8th Avenue, Suite A-121
Tampa, FL 33605
Elmer's Sports Café
Randy Levin
2003 East 7th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
My Garden
Wesley Miller
7310 Park Drive
Tampa, FL 33610
Sunshine State Garage
Sam Castellano
407 N. 22nd Street
Tampa, FL 33605
Tampa Bay Times
Grace Posada
1000 N Ashley Drive
Suite 700
Tampa, FL 33602
Tampa Tribune
Melissa Poage
202 S. Parker Street
3rd Floor
Tampa, FL 33606
Tribeca Color Salon
Brandon Wagner
1600 E. 8th Ave., Suite A 137
Tampa, FL 33605
Click on a highlighted company name to learn more about your fellow members.
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Tampa Bay & Company President Kelly Miller
Highlighted Tourism At
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Member SpotlightTampa is fortunate to have live theater and one of the best and oldest professional theaters is Stageworks. Founding and Producing Artistic Director, Anna Brennen, produced her first show in a worn-out Ybor City storefront. Now 28 years and 15 different venues later, Stageworks finally has a permanent home in the Grand Central at Kennedy in the Channel District, where they celebrated their one-year anniversary in August. Stageworks is known for producing plays that test the boundaries of intolerance and celebrate the human spirit. Their new season opens in October with the controversial: The Colored Museum. As described by Board President, Andrea Graham, "Think Tyler Perry meets Spike Lee." The rest of the season includes a Holiday Cabaret in December, MOMologues 2 in January, Circle Mirror Transformation in March, John Steinbeck's classic, Of Mice and Men in May and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents in July. Tom and I have enjoyed several of their productions over the years. One of my favorites was Noel Coward's "Private Lives." Clever and sophisticated, "Private Lives" was the tale of a divorced couple who discover they have adjoining rooms while honeymooning with their new spouses. You can imagine the rest. If you haven't visited Stageworks at their new facility, it's time. Supporting our members is what we do here at the Ybor Chamber. - Michele Keating Andrea Graham Stageworks 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33602 813-251-8984 www.stageworkstheatre.org |
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President's Message
Hola -
Last week was one of my busiest weeks since coming on the job. It started off Monday at HCC Ybor with a visit from the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development to inspect our first class Training Center. I was so proud to know that our community college is so well respected at the national level. At the roundtable, we even came-up with a "concept" that Secretary Erskine promised to take back to his boss - "Train Forward."
The next day Kelly Miller, the new President & CEO of Tampa Bay and Company, presented at our monthly Membership Luncheon. Kelly and his Marketing V.P. Doug McClain let us know just how important Ybor City is to the "Tampa brand." It's great to get the respect we deserve!
Wednesday was our monthly Board of Directors meeting. We had a great turn-out and our Chair whipped through the agenda with grace and aplomb. Our team is a seasoned, well-balanced group of Directors and Officers that any Chamber would be blessed to have - personable, professional and productive. Our divisional Vice Presidents and their Committees are creating positive results in Events, Marketing and Membership.
Thursday morning, we held our Guavaween 2012 "press conference," a dozen news outlets sent representatives to our Visitor Information Center and several more called-in for comments. The important thing is that we got the word out that "Guavaween is alive and well" and the details were accurately reported. At noon, we got our Guavaween Committee together to go over venues and talent with our production company Brokenmold Entertainment. And, at the end of the day our Marketing Committee convened to review progress on our Heritage Tourism Project being funded by the County Commission.
Friday it was all about getting ready for our 47th Annual Ybor City Gala. I was the "tote & fetch" guy. Go buy more wine and take to it to the VIC, etc. Saturday we had the best Gala, in my seven and half years in the Historic District. We had almost 200 guests at the Columbia to honor the Eugene C. Iavarone Family, owners and operators of Carmine's Restaurant. From the red carpet to the ice sculpture of the Chamber's logo, it was a night to remember: beautiful decor, great music, wonderful food and a kind of unique camaraderie that is "living history."
Sunday "M" and I rapped the week as VIP guests at the Ritz Ybor's Cocktails and Couture. Ybor City's homage to "fashion week." BTW - VIP means you get to sit down. Busy is good!
Caio, Tom Keating
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Chamber HappeningsSeptember 20- Ybor after Work, Thurs. 5:00PM- 7:00PM- Come out tomorrow night to network at Ybor's newest concept, Carne Chophouse. A great selection of hors d'oeuvres will be served up alongside $2 Finlandia martini specials, and while you are joining, us learn more about The Dark Side of Sunshine, the new book by Ybor-file, Paul Guzzo. The member organization that comes with the most employees (up to 24) will each go home with a bottle of wine. 813.248.3712 x25 October 6- Ybor OktoberFest Pub Crawl, Sat. 4:00PM- 8PM- This is the perfect plan for an evening out with your friends. If exploring Ybor and sampling Oktoberfest and premium beers sounds good to you, sign up today to participate in the chamber's third annual pub crawl. Sample beers at more than a dozen of Ybor's patio bars and pubs, win prizes from the OktoberFest Prize Patrol, and have a memorable time doing it with friends! Visit www.ybor.org to get your tickets! 813.241.8838 October 27- Guavaween 2012: The Many Shades Of Ybor, Sat. 6:00PM- 8:00PM- This year Guavaween will feature a few new changes like no more gated admission, fences or drinking in the street, instead it will take the form of a multi-venue music festival, similar to that of Tropical Heatwave with a Halloween twist, and costume contest. Expect an eclectic mix of artists covering a full range of genres- stay up on the latest Guavaween happenings by visiting www.ybor.org!
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Events and Announcements by Tom Favata
Click on the highlighted event name for more information.
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Upcoming Conventions
September 15th thru 22nd
HQ Hotel:
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
Estimated Attendance:
2,500
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