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2014 Annual Report
The 2014 Annual Report is now available. Click here to read how 2014 was another successful and prosperous year for the Chamber. The annual report, which highlights membership engagement statistics, recaps our signature events, details our business advocacy efforts and more, plus keeps our members informed of the accomplishments the Greater Tampa Chamber has seen over the past year.
2014 - 2016 Strategic Plan Updates
The Chamber has been working diligently on the goals we set in our three-year strategic plan. Click here to view our 2015 first quarter progress report. And don't forget to check out our strategic plan webpage to learn more about our goals for the next three years and the progress we are making on behalf of our business members.
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Advocacy Corner
Legislative Session Ends Early; Special Session Needed For State Budget
It appears that the Legislative Session that was set to end on Friday came to an end on Tuesday when the Florida House adjourned sine die. The Senate ended their session today. This is the first time since records have been kept that the Florida House and Senate ended on different days. The Legislature will have to return to Tallahassee for a Special Session to send a budget to Governor Rick Scott prior to the start of Florida's fiscal year on July 1. Read more...
Go Hillsborough Transportation Workshops Continue
There are 1.3 million people in Hillsborough County, and more are on the way. How should we plan for this growth, and what type of transportation do we need to make sure we are not stuck in gridlock?
The Go Hillsborough transportation workshops are your opportunity to tell local officials how you think we should solve our transportation problems. With more than $3 billion worth of transportation needs in Hillsborough, local officials need your input to determine what steps our community should take towards building a transportation system that supports economic development, and improves our quality of life. For a list of upcoming meetings, visit GoHillsborough.org.
Legislative Wrap-up, May 20
Tampa Electric presents the 2015 Legislative Wrap-Up on Wednesday, May 20, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Maestro's at the Straz Center. Join our invited Hillsborough legislative delegation members as they discuss the 2015 Legislative Session and Chamber initiatives. For more information or to register, click here.
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Tampa Bay Rays Luncheon Set for May 11! Limited Seats Available
 Join us for lunch at the Hilton Tampa Downtown and find out what the Tampa Bay Rays have in store for Chamber members this year at a special luncheon. The new Rays manager, Kevin Cash, along with Team President Brian Auld, President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman, several Tampa Bay Rays players and executives will be in attendance for this annual event. Don't miss out on our first sports luncheon of the year! Presented by the Tampa Bay Times. Click here to read more about the luncheon and to register! Individual admission and corporate tables are available. |
Ambassador of the Quarter; Meet Jeff Chernoff
 Jeff Chernoff is a native of Tampa Bay who works in the family business. As an insurance advisor at Insurance and Trust, Jeff focuses on providing package policies for individuals and families, life insurance, disability income and long-term care. Jeff and his family take pride in him being a third generation insurance advisor serving businesses, families and individuals.
Prior to his work in the insurance industry, Jeff worked in higher education at the University of North Dakota, Ferris State University, and Virginia Tech. He holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Florida and a master's degree from the University of North Dakota.
Jeff is actively involved in several community organizations including the Centre Club, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Tampa Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Hillels of the Florida Suncoast, and Instruments of Change.
Jeff, his wife Cara and their dog Bailee reside in Tampa, FL.
The Ambassador Spotlight is a quarterly award given to an Ambassador who best exemplifies a spirit of volunteerism and dedication to the Chamber's Ambassador Committee's focus of serving as member relations support and assists with efforts to retain members through consistent personal interaction and involvement. For more information about the Ambassador Committee contact Tracy Wilson at 813-276-9464 or twilson@tampachamber.com.
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Get Your Copy of our 2015-2016 Membership Directory & Location Guide!
 The Chamber is proud to announce the release of our 2014-2015 Membership Directory and Location Guide! This edition serves as an all-inclusive resource for individuals looking to navigate the area and those seeking to discover more information about Tampa Bay's local economy, communities, leisure attractions, education and healthcare opportunities, as well as modes of transportation.
The Membership Directory listing highlights the more than 1,300 Chamber member businesses and the wide variety of services they provide to the Greater Tampa Bay market. View the guide here.
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2016 Leadership Tampa Applications Now Available
 Since 1970, Leadership Tampa has been introducing class members to major facets of the greater Tampa community through an intensive nine-month course. The Leadership Tampa program challenges members to see the Tampa community as they never have before while preparing candidates for the next step in their leadership journey. The selection process is rigorous and competitive for the 50-60 seats available in each class. Click here to download the application.
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Chamber Welcomes New Members
Please give a warm welcome to the following companies who have recently become Chamber members:
Agile Legal - Legal Services
Apricot Lane Boutique - Retail Stores
Aspirations Winery - Retail Stores
Avison Young - Real Estate - Commercial
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay - Non-profit Organizations
Brazil-Florida Business Council, Inc. - Associations
Design Styles Architecture, Inc. - Architects
DeSisto, LLC - Consultants
Elevate Branding, Inc. - Marketing
F&L Towers, LLC - Telecommunications
Henning Law Firm, PA - Attorneys
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections - Government Agencies
Jackson Lewis P.C. - Attorneys, Legal Services
Light Application Team Consulting - Consultants
McKay Advertising and Activation - Advertising Agencies
Michini Wealth Management - Financial Services
Modular Document Solutions - Copiers/Fax Sales/Service/Supplies
O'Brien Hatfield, PA - Attorneys
Prepared Insurance - Insurance
Relax and Order - Technology & Tech Consultants
The Rhoads Group - Advertising - Digital
Sevendees, LLC - Real Estate Brokers
Sharp 10 Group - Consultants
Special Olympics Florida, Hillsborough - Non-profit Organizations
Studio+ - Architects
Sunshine Bank - Banks
Superior Group - Employment Agencies/Consultants
T-Mobile - Wireless Services Provider
Tampa Innovation Alliance - Economic Development
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Members Mark Milestones with Chamber Ambassadors
Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission board and staff members celebrated the grand opening of their new offices at 4148 N. Armenia Avenue, Suite A in Tampa
with a ribbon cutting earlier this month.
Fourth generation owner, Copeland More, addresses the crowd at
La Segunda Central Bakery's 100 year anniversary celebration.
Members wishing to host a ribbon cutting announcing a new opening or expansion of your business should contact Tracy Wilson at 276-9464 or twilson@tampachamber.com.
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Member Highlights: April 26 - May 2, 2015
Click here to view more details on this week's member highlights including:
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Port Tampa Bay a Part of Booming Cruise Business in Florida, Adds to Local Economy |
New International Seafarers' Center Opens at Port Tampa Bay with Dedication Ceremony
- Arbor Terrace Senior Housing Property in Tampa Sold, DTZ Tampa's Allen McMurtry Represents Seller
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Trenam Kemker AttorneyBoard Certified by the American Board of Certification in Business Bankruptcy Law
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- Tampa Police Department Honors ChappellRoberts with 2015 Business of the Year Award
- Tampa Law Firm Bush Ross, P.A. Shareholder Certified as Appellate Mediator another Shareholder Elected President of HAWL
- Sequoia Financial Group Recognized on Barron's 2015 Top Advisor List
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Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson Appointed to Board of Major Freight Coalition
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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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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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Emerge Tampa Bay Nonprofit Volunteer Fair - Nonprofit Table Registration
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive
The Emerge Nonprofit Volunteer Fair mirrors a career fair with the goal of connecting nonprofits  with individuals searching for volunteer opportunities. For the past two years, the Emerge Nonprofit Volunteer Fair has increased awareness for community service and local nonprofits. The event provides the perfect platform for nonprofits to reach young professionals and other community members who want to make a difference in Tampa Bay.
The 2015 Nonprofit Volunteer Fair will be held at the Give Day  Tampa Bay headquarters on Tuesday, May 5 from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Join us on your lunch break at Channelside Bay Plaza next week. Click here to register. Thank you to our sponsor, Channelside Bay Plaza.
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Tampa Bay Host Committee Welcomes Panama American Chamber Of Commerce
Thursday, May 7, 2015 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 
Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza
Sponsored by:
Tampa Museum of Art, Mise En Place and Sono Café
Special Speakers:
Consul General Kenia Elizabeth Garcia, Panama
Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Tampa
Commissioner Sandra Murman, Hillsborough County
Entertainment by:
Dalys Miner Panamanian Dancers
RSVP to: Deborah Wilkinson, dwilkinson@tampachamber.com by May 5, 2015
The Tampa Bay Host Committee:
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa International Airport, City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Tampa Bay Trade & Protocol Council, Tampa Bay Export Alliance, Voltair, Beck Group, Mise En Place, Museum of Art, Sono Café, City of St. Petersburg, Port Tampa Bay, Visit Tampa Bay, CAMLS, USF Health, USF Connect, University of Tampa, St. Leos, Copa Airlines. Tampa Bay Rays
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2015 Tampa Bay Rays Luncheon - LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE
Monday, May 11, 2015 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Hilton Tampa Downtown, 211 North Tampa Street
Join us for the 2015 Tampa Bay Rays Luncheon featuring new Rays Manager Kevin Cash, along with Team President Brian Auld, President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman, and several Tampa Bay Rays players and executives. Questions for the players will be collected from the audience during the luncheon. Names will be drawn at the end of the event for the opportunity to participate in a limited autograph session. Valet parking is available at the Hilton. Hourly self parking is available at the Fort Brooke Parking Garage. There is a 72-hour cancellation policy on all reservations. This event is $40 for Emerge Tampa Bay members; $50 for Chamber members; and $60 for non-members. Corporate tables of 10 are also available. Click here to register. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Tampa Bay Times.
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Get Connected 
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 | 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite #201
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. Sponsored by Platinum Information Services and hosted at the Chamber offices. Must arrive no later than 4:45 p.m. to participate. Walk-ins will only be accepted if there is space available.
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Emerge Tampa Bay's The Buzz 
Thursday, May 14, 2015 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Ducky's, 1719 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Join Emerge Tampa Bay for "The Buzz," a monthly networking event for young professionals at a Tampa location. This month's event will be hosted by Ducky's. Drinks and light appetizers will be provided. This event is FREE for Emerge Tampa Bay members and $10 for potential members. Click here to register.
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Coffee Connection 
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 | 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite 201
Coffee Connection is held every other month. This event focuses on Chamber members within their first year of membership. It is designed to help engage new members and build relationships. The program is facilitated by Ambassadors who are volunteers and will serve as your contact! This FREE event is recommended for first-year members, but is open to all Chamber members. Click here to register. Thank you to our sponsor, New York Life.
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2015 Legislative Wrap-Up
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 | 11:45 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Maestro's Restaurant at the Straz Center, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us for our 2015 Legislative Wrap-  Up at Maestro's Restaurant at the Straz Center. Our state senators and representatives from Hillsborough County will discuss the outcome of the Legislative Session and the Chamber Legislative Agenda. Invited Participants Include:
- State Senators: Jeff Brandes, Bill Galvano, Arthenia Joyner, Tom Lee, John Legg
- State Representatives: Janet Cruz, James Grant, Shawn Harrison, Ed Narain, Jake Raburn, Dan Raulerson, Darryl Rouson, Ross Spano, Dana Young
Parking is available at the Poe Garage for $6. It is connected to the Straz Center by a covered pedestrian bridge. FREE for FITs 3, 4 and Partner; $50 all other members; $55 non-members. Corporate tables of 8 are also available. Click here to register. Thank you to our sponsor, TECO.
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Competitive Edge Series: Increasing Your Online Presence - SEO, Social Visibility & Video Platforms
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. Franklin St., Suite #201
First impressions are made online. Join the Chamber for our monthly Competitive Edge Series featuring a panel discussion with digital marketing professionals and business development consultants about getting noticed on the Web. They will explain how to develop a site with high impact and increase traffic by using the following:
- SEO algorithms
- Strategic content development
- Video marketing
- UGC video
- Hashtag campaigns
- Social media
Click here for more information and to register today! 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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Business After Hours 
Thursday, May 28, 2015 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Commercial Design Services, Inc., 5805 Barry Road
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce invites you to Business After Hours hosted by Commercial Design Services, 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.
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