Congresswoman Castor Invites Former Chamber Chair Jose Valiente as State of the Union Guest
 Business leader and past chair of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Jose Valiente, attended President Obama's sixth State of the Union address as a special guest of Congresswoman Kathy Castor on Tuesday, January 20. Valiente, who was born in a small town outside Havana, Cuba and came to the United States at age 12, supported the embargo until 2003. "I realized that if the intent of the embargo was to bring change to Cuba, it has failed, because nothing has changed," he told the Tampa Bay Times in 2011. As Chamber Chair, Valiente worked with U.S. Rep. Castor to open Tampa International Airport as an entry/exit point for charter flights to Cuba, highlighting the economic boost and jobs this would create for Tampa. He also spearheaded a groundbreaking cultural exchange between the Florida Orchestra and the Cuban National Orchestra in 2011. Citing the need for engagement as a way to help the people of Cuba, Valiente supported U.S. Rep. Castor when she was the first member of Congress from Florida to call for modernization of the longstanding ban on traveling to Cuba and lifting of the embargo.
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 Prestigious Parke Wright, III Recognition Awarded to
Renée Vaughn
Leadership Tampa Alumni announced today at its annual meeting that Renée Vaughn has been recognized as the 2014 Parke Wright, III Award winner. Vaughn, president of Williams Consulting Group, has been in the Tampa Bay area for more than 30 years. She has extensive experience in community and government affairs and strategic public relations. Vaughn's achievements and community involvement have made a lasting impact on Tampa. Read more...
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Open Position at the Tampa Chamber: Events Manager
We are hiring! The Chamber is currently accepting resumes for the following position:
Please click on the above link to download the detailed job description and required qualifications. To apply for the Events Manager position, please submit the following to resumes@tampachamber.com:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Two business writing samples
- Three (3) references
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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Now Accepting Nominations for the 2015 Woman of Influence Award
The Chamber is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of
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2014 WOI award winner Chief Jane Castor, City of Tampa Police Department
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Influence Award. Do you know an exceptional woman who exemplifies outstanding professional values, demonstrates the ability to go above and beyond the normal expectations of a leader, and serves as an inspiration to the community? Click here to download the official nomination form. The deadline to complete the nomination form is March 2. Questions about the award or nomination process? Please email atimmel@tampachamber.com.
The award, established by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Women of Influence Committee, will be presented at the annual Women of Influence Luncheon on April 2, 2015 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion. The luncheon will feature keynote speakers Emily Nunez Cavness and Betsy Nunez, co-founders of Sword & Plough, a fashion company that works with veterans to make fashionable and durable bags from recycled military fabrics. Sponsorships and corporate tables for the luncheon are currently available for sale by contacting sfraser@tampachamber.com. Individual tickets will go on sale in early February.
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Startup Scholars Feature: Hannah's Shoebox
 When Colette Glover-Hannah couldn't find cute kids' shoes to fit her 6-year-old daughter, the idea of Hannah's Shoebox was born. "After years of frustration in finding age-appropriate shoes for my daughter whose shoe size has matched her age since age six, and hearing the same despair from other parents, I decided to create something to eliminate this challenge," Glover-Hannah said. Hannah's Shoebox is the only retailer to exclusively offer age-appropriate shoes to preteen and 'tween girls who wear larger women's sizes. The online store offers a variety of styles including boots, flats, dressy/casual sandals and those hard to find special occasion shoes with heels below two inches. Read more...
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Interested in Joining the Golf Tournament Committee?
 Are you interested in joining a Chamber committee? The Annual Golf Tournament is on May 4 and the planning committee is about to kick off its efforts. Joining the committee is a great way to meet other Chamber members in a more relaxed and informal setting. We need your help recruiting sponsors, collecting items for the raffle and signing up teams to compete. If you are interested in participating on the committee or learning more, please contact Anne Timmel at atimmel@tampachamber.com. Click here to check out the video from last year's tournament, produced by Farmore Marketing.
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Thank you notes written by students served by Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools.
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Leaders in Action
LTA Members Donate to Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools
In 2014 one of the organizations chosen by Leadership Tampa Alumni as a beneficiary of their philanthropic acts was the "Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools" program sponsored by the Hillsborough County Education Foundation. Designed to help more than 60,000 students in Title I schools in the Tampa Bay area, the Teaching Tools program was able to deliver over $2 million in school supplies in part due to the generosity of LTA members.
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Member Highlights: January 18 - 24, 2015
Click here to view more details on this week's member highlights including:
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Want to include your organization's news in Member Highlights? Send a brief description of your news or event to news@tampachamber.com. |
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Save the Date: Cover the Bay - January 28, 2015
2015 Bay Area Mayors Conference
 On January 28, Bay Area mayors, business leaders and representatives of the health care industry will gather together for "Cover the Bay: 2015 Bay Area Mayors Conference" at St. Petersburg's Mahaffey Theater. They will discuss a collaborative approach to extending health care coverage to more uninsured Bay Area residents. Hosted by City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, City of Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos and A Healthy Florida Works, the event will provide an in-depth look at what coverage means for the Bay Area's people, businesses and economy. Leaders will also discuss Florida's opportunity to support a state-specific plan that can dramatically cut the costs of uncompensated care, take full advantage of the federal funds set aside for coverage, enable businesses to create more jobs, and improve the health of more than 136,000 low-income, working Bay Area residents.
Join local mayors and fellow business and community leaders to take part in the conversation about how the Bay Area can move the extension of health care coverage forward. There is no cost to attend. Reserve your seat online at www.CovertheBayEvent.com.
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Chamber members must login when registering to take advantage of discounted member pricing for Chamber events.
Forgot your login? Click here to have your credentials sent to you.
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Country Market Brief: Canada
Friday, January 23, 2015 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite #201
Canada is an important trading market and one of Florida's key trading partners. Canada is also a top destination for pharmaceutical, mining, marine and environmental products. Join us for an overview of the Canadian business market and to learn more about the many international resources available to your company. Click here to view the event agenda.
Companies who register by Wednesday, January 21 will receive a free 10 minute one-on-one matchmaking session. Click here to register. The cost is $5 and includes a light breakfast.
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!
Competitive Edge Series: What it Takes to be an Award-Winning Company
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite #201
Join the Chamber for our monthly Competitive Edge Series featuring a panel discussion with executives from the Chamber's 2014 Small Business of the Year award-winning companies. They will highlight what makes their companies successful and share their personal thoughts on the following:
- Management philosophy
 - Major risks of starting your own business
- Key business values
- Challenges and adversities
- How they recruit staff
- Other tips and recommendations for success
Click here to register or for more information. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Verizon. FREE for FITs One, Two and Three; $35 for all other members; $50 for non-members.
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SOLD OUT! Legislative Kickoff Reception
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite #201
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is hosting a pre-session Legislative Kickoff Reception featuring the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation and the release of the Chamber's 2015 Legislative Agenda.
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!
Women's Series Lunch: Women in STEM Industries
Thursday, January 29, 2015 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Maestro's at the Straz, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place
Join us for a fun, interactive Q&A panel on how women are taking charge in the STEM Industries - science, technology, engineering and math. We'll welcome three local women who have excelled in  their fields to answer your questions about their journeys down a non-traditional career path. Our panelists will discuss their inspirations, obstacles and achievements as they defied gender roles and took on the challenges of rising to the top in a male-dominated industry. This event is presented by UF | MBA. Admission is $50 for Chamber members, $60 for non-members. Corporate tables of eight are also available. Click here to register today!
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 Business After Hours Thursday, January 29, 2015 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The Home Association, Inc., 1203 E. 22nd Avenue
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce invites you to Business After Hours hosted by The Home Association, Inc. Join us for complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail while networking with your fellow Chamber members. FREE for members, $15 for non-members. Click here to register. |
Member Orientation
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite #201
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 and your member benefits. There will also be a chance to network so bring your business cards! Light refreshments are provided. This event is FREE! Click here to register. Special thanks to our 2015 Member Orientation sponsor, Office Depot.
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Get Connected
Tuesday, February 10, 2015 | 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Troy University, 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite #110
Get Connected is a facilitated networking program designed to give members the opportunity to make 25+ new business connections in less than an hour! 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. FREE for FITs One & Two; $15 for all other Chamber members; $30 for non-members. Click here to register. Hosted by Troy University. |
Return on Relationships
Thursday, February 12, 2015 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite #201 
During this interactive session featuring Clint Babcock of Sandler Training, you will learn how to get the most out of the networking opportunities at Chamber events, including:
- What to say when asked, "What do you do?"
- How to be comfortable introducing yourself to someone you don't know
- How to build relationships with the Chamber membership
- Goal setting for any event
- How to professionally end a conversation
- How to transition the conversation to the next step (i.e. a phone call or meeting)
Click here to register! Chamber Members $15, Non-Members $20. FREE for FIT One members. |
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Education Connection: How to Develop a Quality Internship 
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., #201
Join us and members of Tampa Bay's academic community for the next event in our Education Connection Series on developing quality internships.
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