Recap: Competitive Edge with 2013 SBOY Winners
Monday's Competitive Edge Series featured our 2013 Small Business of the Year winners. The panel, which included representatives from MB2x, B-AG Contract, Pegasus Transtech, The Woman's Group and The EyeDoctors, discussed a number of different topics that ranged from how they decide their hires, to how they manage work-life balance. The majority of the panelists agreed that hiring people with the right attitude made their companies special. "You can teach skills but unless you have someone that will blend into your team, then it will never work."
The panelists also gave a great tip for anyone applying for the Small Business of the Year awards this year: Involve your staff, it helps increase employee morale! Each also mentioned that being involved with the Chamber and other groups/organizations makes succeeding much more attainable. Thank you to each of our panelists for joining us and sharing insight on the success of their companies.
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Startup Scholars Feature: Ambrosia Global
Ambrosia Global, LLC is a social enterprise dedicated to utilizing business as a vehicle to instill social equity around the world through products and services that empower mind, body, and spirit. Our team includes five passionate co-founders committed to maximizing the potential of individuals, communities, organizations, and governments around the world through purpose-driven technologies that solve social challenges. Inspired by our team's participation in the 2013 Hult Prize, our first social challenge to tackle is food insecurity of which we are addressing through the development of a modular aquaponics pod system that offers add-on components for customization based on individual client needs such as indoor/outdoor system placement and energy availability. We envision that Ambrosia Global becomes the leading multinational social innovation company of the twenty-first century and impacts one billion people over the next forty years. |
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Catch Chamber Chair Robin DeLaVergne on Daytime this Friday!
Be sure to tune in to Daytime (Channel 8, WFLA-NBC) this Friday around noon to see our Chair, Robin DeLaVergne in a short segment talking about Small Business of the Year Awards and our Startup Scholars program! |
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Operation Partnership
Join us as we seek to strengthen the ties between Tampa's military and civilian communities by engaging local business professionals and active military members. This half-day program begins with breakfast at the Chamber. Military participants will then shadow civilian participants at their workplace to learn the ins and outs of their civilian counterpart's day-to-day business activities. Operation Partnership will take place on March 6 from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Click here to register. For more information about registration, please contact Anne Timmel at 813.276.9440. Presented by USAA. |
Leadership Tampa's Media Day
by Linda Porter, Skanska USA Building Inc. Ok, three months in and the Best Class EVER entered Media Day with great anticipation! We were given instructions for the day by our Day Chairs about Tweeting and told to use this technology throughout our media day experience. WHAT?! I tried ... #LTMediaDay a couple of times but forgot about it most of the time. Read more>> |
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Chamber Welcomes New Members
Please give a warm welcome to the following companies who have recently become Chamber members in December 2013 and January 2014:
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Member Orientation
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 | 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. Register here today. Special thanks to our 2014 Member Orientation sponsor, Office Depot!
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Get Connected
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 | 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Hillsborough County Bar Association
Chester H. Ferguson Law Center, 1610 N. Tampa Street
Get Connected is a formal networking program designed to give members the opportunity to create business relationships with other members. Think of it as "speed networking." Each person is seated at a table with fellow participants and given two minutes to introduce their product, organization, or service to the small group. Get Connected is a free event for FIT's One and Two, $15 for members, $30 for non-members. Hosted by the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Click here to register.
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Return on Relationships
Thursday, February 13, 2014 | 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin Street
Creating great sales people and growing business revenue goes beyond selling techniques and encompasses a focus on behaviors and attitudes. During this interactive session, expert Clint Babcock will use his sales experience as well as the Sandler Sales program of training to teach you how to get the most out of the networking opportunities at Chamber events. Free for FIT One, $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Click here to register!
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Competitive Edge Series: Social Media- The New Normal
Tuesday, February 18, 2014 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin Street 
Social Media is NOT a trend, it is a NECESSITY. New Platforms pop up every day and existing platforms constantly change. Staying on top of what's best for your business is challenging. Ask yourself this question: Is the voice of your business heard on social media channels? Join us for our monthly Competitive Edge Series featuring Leslie Laney, Director of Marketing & Social Media at A Media Marketing. Free for FIT Two, $35 for Chamber members and $50 for non-members. FIT One members receive FREE attendance for one at two events per year. Click here to register.
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Pearls of Wisdom - Stepping Up: Leadership Through Service
Tuesday, February 18, 2014 | 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Mise en Place, 442 W. Kennedy Boulevard
Our first Pearls of Wisdom of 2014 will focus on how women in our community can attain and maximize a position on an Advisory Board, both in the corporate and nonprofit worlds. Our guest panel will discuss how to have a voice in our community through service on a board. Our moderator will be Beth Doyle and our panel will include: Jessica Kendall, Dawn Siler-Nixon, and Patricia Douglas. $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Click here to register!
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Business After Hours
Thursday, February 27, 2014 | 5:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wells Fargo Center, 100 S. Ashley Drive
Join us for complimentary hors d'oeurves and a cocktail while networking with your fellow Chamber members. Free for members, $15 for non-members. Hosted by Feldman Equities/ Tower Realty. Click here to register.
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2014 Military Appreciation Banquet
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 | 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin Street
Please join us in honoring our local military personnel for outstanding professional service and contributions to the Tampa Bay community at our Military Appreciation Banquet, featuring a keynote address from Vice Admiral Mark I. Fox Deputy Commander, United States Central Command. $85 for individuals, $900 for corporate tables of 10. Click here to register!
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