Chamber Announces 2014 Small Business of the Year Semifinalists
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the semifinalists for the 2014 Small Business of the Year Awards, presented by Bay Cities Bank & Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors, to be held on Friday, September 19th at the Straz Center for Performing Arts. These awards highlight the impact of small business on the community and celebrate the achievements of the best of the best in Tampa Bay.
Small Business Awards will be presented in three categories based on the number of employees, with a fourth category specifically for startup companies. Companies are evaluated on operational management, community involvement and ethical business practices. An award will also be presented to the Outstanding Small Business Leader of the Year. Congratulations to the 2014 Small Business of the Year Semi-Finalists, Startup Semi-Finalists and Leader Finalists:
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Buckenheimer and Bulnes DMD's, PA
Hanover Floors Inc.
Lutz Learning Center, Inc.
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21-50 Employees:
Awnclean USA, Inc.
First Class Moving Systems, Inc.
Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.
Overhead Door Company of Tampa Bay
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* Chamber Members
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51-250 Employees:
American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida
Jagged Peak, Inc.
Xcelience
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Presented by:
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The winners will be announced at the event on September 19. For more details on the Small Business of the Year Awards, please click here. |
Recap: Emergence - Celebrating a Decade of Young Professionals
Last night, approximately 200 past and present Emerge members gathered aboard the Yacht Starship to celebrate Emerge Tampa Bay's 10 year anniversary. Ten years ago, the Chamber launched the area's premier young professionals group, Emerge Tampa Bay in an effort to recruit and retain talent in the greater Tampa Bay area. We are proud of the many accomplishments of Emerge members and the growth and success of the program over the last ten years and look forward to the next ten. Mayor Bob Buckhorn spoke to the group about the role young professionals have in making Tampa the next great "American city" and how he is excited for where Tampa will be ten years from now. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, TBT, who is also celebrating their 10 year anniversary. |
Register Now: 2014 Political Hob Nob
The 2014 Hob Nob will take place on Wednesday, July 16 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. This premier election season event is your opportunity to mingle with candidates vying to represent the heart of Florida's most significant voting block just weeks before the 2014 primary! Come vote for your favorite candidate in the Hob Nob Straw Poll. Winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Click here to register!
If you are a candidate interested in participating, please contact Michael Maurino, Government Relations Coordinator at mmaurino@tampachamber.com or 813.964.6305. |
Hillsborough County Assists Small Businesses with Preparation
Is Your Business Ready for a Disaster? May 25th - 31st is National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
Did you know that an estimated 40% of small businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen? You've invested a lot of time and resources into making your business a success, Prepare-Have a Plan; it will greatly increase your chances for survival.
During National Hurricane Preparedness Week and throughout the entire hurricane season, Hillsborough County Economic Development Department is educating business owners about the disaster preparedness tools and resources that are available to them. This includes the County's Business Emergency Response Team (BERT) bags, which include an important checklist of documents and items that businesses can "grab and go" in case of emergency. Read more >>
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Open Position at the Chamber
We are hiring! The Chamber is currently accepting resumes for the following position:
Please click on the above position to download the detailed job description and required qualifications. To apply, please email your resume, design portfolio, two writing samples and three references to resumes@tampachamber.com. Applicants will not be considered if all of the requested items are not received. No phone calls please. Due to the anticipated response, we may not be able to respond to every candidate.
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Chamber Welcomes New Members!
Please give a warm welcome to the following companies who have recently become Chamber members in May 2014:
Mario Camacho Foods - Food Distributing & Manufacturing
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USF College of Business Survey
About two weeks ago, you should have received an invitation to participate in a survey of office workers that is being conducted by the USF College of Business. In this survey, USF researchers are interested in better understanding the dynamics of office work environments.
The results of this survey will help to improve office building design and environmental conditions. Your responses will not be shared with your employer, and will be completely confidential. If you have not responded, please consider doing so now.
Please click the link below to take the survey:
If the survey link doesn't open, copy and paste the link into your browser address bar. If you encounter any problems, please contact either Dr. Greg Smersh at gsmersh@usf.edu or Dr. David Rivenbark at drivenbark@davidrivenbark.com. Thank you in advance for your help with this important study.
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Business After Hours- Tonight!
Thursday, May 29, 2014 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
ConnectWise IT, 4925 Independence Parkway, Suite 400
Join us for complimentary hors de'oeurves and a cocktail while networking with your fellow Chamber members. Free for members, $15 for non-members. Hosted by ConnectWise IT. Click here to register. Please note: This is located in the Fountain Square II Building off George Rd. NOT the building off Independence Rd. that says "ConnectWise IT" on the side. |
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Pearls of Wisdom: Start Me Up - Women in Entrepreneurship
June 3, 2014 | 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza *VENUE CHANGE*
Enjoy hors d'oeurves and cocktails while learning from and networking with influential women. Our second Pearls of Wisdom event of 2014 will focus on how women in our community can attain success as an entrepreneur, whether through their own startup company or through the successful development of a product. Our guest panel will discuss their experiences breaking into the corporate world and offer advice to those who are hoping to do the same. $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Click here for more information and to register! |
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Member Orientation
June 4, 2014 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin Street
Member Orientation is your guide to getting the most out of your Chamber membership! We will begin with an overview of the Chamber, followed by a member testimonial. Then, we will cover topics such as events and registration, marketing and communications and your member benefits. There will also be a chance 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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Return on Relationships
June 5, 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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Get Connected
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 | 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Canterbury Tower, 3501 Bayshore Blvd.
Get Connected is a facilitated 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 FITs One and Two, $15 for members, $30 for non-members. Click here to register. Hosted by Canterbury Tower.
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Competitive Edge Series: Creating a Culture to Attract Top Talent
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 North Franklin St.
Why do so many companies in the Tampa Bay area continue to win awards, grow, prosper and keep top talent, while others struggle to achieve growth? They understand how to build a powerful culture and keep their employees engaged. Bring your leadership team to learn how to make strategic changes that will increase productivity, improve employee engagement, and make your organization a leader in the Tampa Bay Area. After a year of research on small business trends, Rick Gallegos of Dale Carnegie Training will share what you can do today to achieve breakthroughs. $35 for members, $50 for non-members. FIT One members receive two free registrations per year per company. Free for FIT Two's. Click here to register. Sponsored by Verizon.
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