Last Chance to Nominate a Business for the 33rd Annual SBOY AwardsDeadline to submit a nomination is tomorrow, March 8
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Who represents the best of the best in Tampa's small business community? Nominate your favorite company today for the Chamber's annual Small Business of the Year Awards, which recognizes outstanding companies for their achievements in financial success, community involvement and ethical business practices. The awards will be handed out on Friday, September 20 at the Small Business of the Year banquet, the Chamber's largest signature event. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, March 8. Click here to download the nomination forms and get complete details on eligibility, categories and evaluation criteria. Questions about nominations and sponsorship opportunities should be directed to Staci Fraser at 813.276.9453.
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Your opportunity to join Tampa Bay's Quest To Be "Cool"
Local media group encourages collaboration towards improving Tampa's imageAll call for thought leaders, influencers, innovators, techies, designers, arts aficionados, academics, creatives and traditional business types! Help shape the narrative by getting engaged with 83 Degrees Media's "Not Your Average Speakers'' in a conversation designed to advance the community dialogue about what makes cities cool. Come and talk solutions, provoke thought, spur community engagement and make connections. Join us March 27 at The Vault in downtown Tampa. read more >>
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Process your Electronic Certificates of Origin through eCertify
Chamber provides new technology that saves time and reduces errors
 The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is the first Chamber in the State of Florida to offer Electronic Certificates of Origin through eCertify. eCertify technology provides Exporters and Freight Forwarders an efficient and streamlined process to obtain Certificates of Origin. "The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is consistently exploring ways to reduce barriers to economic success for both our members and the business community as a whole. Chambers of commerce are authorized to issue, sign and stamp Certificates of Origin based on our worldwide network and standing in the business community," said Bob Rohrlack, president and CEO. read more >>
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Get Connected
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 | 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Boizao Brazilian Steakhouse, 4606 Boy Scout Blvd.
Get Connected is a formal networking program designed to give members the opportunity to create business relationships with other members. Free for FITs One and Two, $15 for members, $30 for non-members. Sponsored by Boizao Brazilian Steakhouse. Click here to register!
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New Member Coffee Connection
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin Street
New Member Coffee Connection focuses on Chamber members within their first year of membership and is held every other month. It is designed to help engage new members and build relationships. This program is facilitated by an Ambassador, who is a volunteer and will serve as your mentor! Click here to register!
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Pearls of Wisdom - "Women Helping Women"
Thursday, March 21, 2013 | 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Mise en Place, Inc., 442 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Come hear from a select group of local area organizations that are improving the lives of women in the Tampa Bay area. Join us to learn what they do, how they do it, and how you can get involved! Non-profits to be highlighted include: The Centre, Alpha House of Tampa, Dress for Success Tampa Bay
Metropolitan Ministries - UpliftU, and the Women's Resource Center of Tampa. $15 for Chamber members and $25 for potential members. Download the event flyer or register here!
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Competitive Edge Series:
"What it Takes to be an Award-Winning Company"
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin Street
Join the Chamber for our monthly Competitive Edge Series featuring a panel discussion with executives from
the Chamber's 2012 Small Business of the Year award-winning companies. They will highlight what makes their
company successful and share their personal thoughts on many areas, such as management philosophy, key business values and the major risks of starting your own business. Free for FIT Two, $35 for Chamber members and $50 for potential members. Download the event flyer or register here!
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Face the Chamber with Mayor Bob Buckhorn
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Hilton Downtown Tampa, 211 N. Tampa Street
Join us for the Mayor's annual address to the Chamber membership including a new segment we're calling "Face the Chamber." We'll put the mayor on the proverbial hot seat as we ask him the tough questions on behalf of the business community. Come hear his response and learn what we as a Chamber can do to help move Tampa forward. $45 for Chamber members and $55 for potential members. Download the event flyer or register here!
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Business After Hours
Thursday, March 28, 2013 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Nova Southeastern University, 3632 Queen Palm Drive
Join us for complimentary hors d'oeuvres and network with your fellow Chamber members. Free for members, $15 for non-members! Hosted by Nova Southeastern University. Click here to register!
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Member Orientation
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin Street
Member Orientation is the first step to getting the MOST out of your Chamber membership! We will cover topics such as events and registration, marketing and communications, member benefits and leadership programs. There will be an opportunity to network so bring your business cards! There is no charge for this event! Download the event flyer or register here!
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Member News
Primrose School of South Tampa, opening August 2013, is accredited by SACS/AdvancED and provides The Right Foundation to Build Active Minds, Healthy Bodies, and Happy Hearts® in a safe, nurturing environment where children are happy, engaged, and prepared for academic success. Primrose provides a Balanced Learning® curriculum, delivered by professional teachers with low student/teacher ratios for Infants-Kindergarten and after-school programs. For more information click here.
After 30 years of practicing solely divorce and family law, Founder Stann Givens announced today two new partners to the firm and a new name --- Givens Givens Sparks. Givens Givens Sparks handles cases throughout Florida. The downtown Tampa office is conveniently located close to Brandon, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg.
Ten Star Promotions owners Jack & Donna Killoren are highlighted in this recent article from Tampa Bay's Small Business Development Center about the pros & cons of owning a business with someone you love!
The Founder Institute, the world's largest startup accelerator with over 750 graduate companies, announced today that its new chapter in Tampa is being sponsored by the law firm of Hill Ward Henderson. The firm will host the Spring Semester at its downtown offices and will teach the courses on legal issues.
The University of South Florida (USF) Football program in conjunction with the Enhancing U personal development program is assisting their student-athletes to actively seek summer internships, jobs and shadowing opportunities in various industries. The Enhancing U program offers resources to facilitate the development of each USF football player on and off the field. We will help each student-athlete under our supervision improve his work habits, develop his leadership capabilities, and cultivate his social skills. Please forward job descriptions and qualifications here.
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Member EventsJoin the American Lung Association's signature fundraising event, the Fight for Air Climb Tampa. Step up to the challenge of climbing the 41 floors at the Bank of America Plaza in downtown Tampa on Saturday March 23 to raise money for our mission. This event is expected to sell out so register as soon as possible by visiting here. This is one vertical challenge you do not want to miss!
The University of Central Florida's GrowFL program provides learning opportunities year-round for second-stage CEOs. These opportunities are part of the overall GrowFL program which receives programmatic support from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Click here for a list of upcoming opportunities in March 2013. Join The Omnia Group on March 14th for a Lunch & Learn entitled "Maximizing Personalities for Sales Success." Not everyone is cut out for sales, but they are on your sales team anyway. This class defines the non-traditional sales personalities and offers management, coaching and motivational techniques to maximize their sales success. Click here to register. The Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union will be hosting its 18th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Westchase Golf Club on Friday, April 5, 2013. The organization is committed to raising funds that benefit local charities such as the Children's Miracle Network, the Hillsborough Community College Scholarship Fund, and Family Assistance in Member Emergencies (FAME). For more information, click here. Moffitt Cancer Center is proud to present "Prelude to a Cure", an ensemble of medicine and music to raise funds for lung cancer on April 19 at the Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts Join them for an evening with The Florida Orchestra, featuring The Master Chorale, performing Mozart's "Requiem." Xian Zhang, music director of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, makes her conducting debut in Mozart's sublime and inspiring "Requiem," "Ave Verum Corpus" and "Symphony No. 35, Haffner." Click here for more information.
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Member Accolades
David L. Bresler, of Banker Lopez Gassler P.A., is one of eighteen Pinellas County lawyers who earned legal board certification in civil trial in 1983 and have remained certified for 30 years. Mr. Bresler is an AV rated member of the firm's St. Petersburg General Trial practice group and a member of the firm's Board of Directors. Mr. Bresler has experience in construction litigation including construction defects, professional liability, and soils engineering. Banker Lopez Gassler P.A. would also like to congratulate William Gower III for being named Best Advocate in the Trial Lawyers Section's Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition on January 18th at the Trial Lawyers Summit in Orlando.
Stevens and Stevens Business Records Management (SSBRM) continues to grow with the acquisition of A-1 Document Security, Inc. of St. Petersburg. SSBRM is a full-service records storage and information management company, providing services throughout the Southeastern U.S., including, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Keith W. Bricklemyer, a founding shareholder with Bricklemyer Smolker, P.A., has been selected as a "2013 Top Rated Lawyer" in Land Use and Zoning by The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, based on his AV® PreeminentTM peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell®, the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. This selection in 2013 marks his 20th anniversary of receiving this top professional rating. Hill Ward Henderson Shareholder R. Craig Mayfield was presented with Defense Research Institute (DRI) Leadership Award by DRI's outgoing President, Henry Sneath. Mr. Mayfield received this honor and recognition for his outstanding leadership and unselfish efforts to support and improve the standards of the defense bar and the administration of civil justice. This award was given in recognition of his work as Chair of DRI's Young Lawyers Committee. Dominic A. DiMaio, President and CEO of Synovus Bank of Florida, a division of Synovus Bank, recently announced the team members chosen for its prestigious 2012 Leaders' Circle. Andrew W. Cappiello, Tampa Vice President and Branch Manager was amongst the team members selected. Synovus Bank of Florida's Leaders' Circle program annually honors team members for overall contribution and sales excellence. Winners were announced at a January 30th breakfast meeting. Interactive marketing agency, Bayshore Solutions, is named a 2013 Blue Ribbon Small Business Award® winner by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This is the fifth year Bayshore Solutions has been recognized for its dedication to the principles of free enterprise and its contributions to restoring jobs and prosperity. Bayshore Solutions is also the recent winner of three 2013 international AVA awards for Cleveland Botanical Garden, Tampa Port Authority and World's Leading Cruise Lines. The Tampa Bay Innovation Center was recently awarded a grant from the State of Florida to bring a world renowned entrepreneurial program to the Tampa Bay area. The grant will reimburse the program fee for qualifying entrepreneurs with military experience upon completion of the program (there are a limited number available). The program, StartUp Studio 1.0, uses hands on tools to define the real value of a technology idea, who is in need of the solution and the path to success. For more information click here. Troy University has been recognized for its support of Guard and Reserve employees by the Department of Defense. Site Director Carol Walters was presented the Secretary of Defense's State of Florida Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award in a brief ceremony at the University's Tampa site.
Carlton Fields is pleased to announce that Tampa Shareholder, Thomas J. Roehn, has maintained his Florida Bar legal board certification in Civil Trial for 30 years. Roehn first earned this board certification in 1983. Roehn is one of 27 Tampa-area lawyers, and one of 221 Florida Bar members receiving recognition from the bar. Also, Tampa Shareholder George J. Meyer was named a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL) at a ceremony held in Coral Gables, Florida on February 23, 2013. Meyer is also a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Membership to both organizations is by invitation only upon nomination and election.
Convergence Consulting Group, Tampa Bay's premier business intelligence consultancy, was recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work" in Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Business Journal this morning released its list of finalists for the prestigious award that recognizes local companies with the best work moral, engagement and retention.
Scott A. Underwood, of Fowler White Boggs P.A., has been named statewide Practice Group Leader of Fowler White Boggs' Business and Appellate Litigation Practice Group. Underwood practices in bankruptcy, distressed business situations, and business workouts, with a focus on Chapter 11 bankruptcies and related litigation.
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New Hires & Promotions
Carlton Fields is pleased to announce the election of 12 new shareholders at the firm's 2013 annual Shareholder Meeting held in Miami, Fla., February 7, 2013. Eleven associates and one of counsel, in various offices throughout the firm, and practices, were elevated. Four Tampa associates were elected to shareholder: Lori Baggett, Dana R. Blunt, Fentrice D. Driskell, and Amanda Arnold Sansone. Carlton Fields is also pleased to announce that Donald R. Kirk joined the firm in its Tampa office as a shareholder.
Convergence Consulting Group, the award-winning business intelligence consulting firm focused on helping clients move through the paradigm shift from rear-view analysis to predictive modeling and predictive analysis, announced this week the addition of Anthony Ciancio to its consulting team.
Kristi Neher Davisson has been named partner at Anthony and Partners. For the past fifteen years, Kristi has concentrated primarily on trial practice, representing national and local clients in the areas of creditors' rights, product liability, medical malpractice, and nursing home defense. Kristi is also certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit and County Court Mediator and she is a Certified Arbitrator. Also, John M. Stratton has joined in the firm's downtown Tampa office. Mr. Stratton will be an Associate Attorney for the firm which now includes over 20 professionals.
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