Bay County Chamber of CommerceJanuary 13, 2015
eBIZ newsletter


 

Burrr! How about that weather last week. My goodness. We vow to never complain about the heat again.

 

We do hope your first week of the year was as great and lively as ours. This year is going to be an incredible year. We started with an amazing joint First Friday With the Beach. If you weren't in attendance, you missed the opportunity to network with over 400 fellow business members. Thank you to the Panama City Beach Chamber and we look forward to continuing our partnership to make Bay County an even greater place to live work and play!

 

Last week, the official passing of the Military Affairs Committee gavel from Bill Fenimore to Larry Carroll took place. Yet another amazing turn out at our friends The Shrimp Boat. Bill, thank you for your wonderful leadership in 2014.

 

Our largest event of the year is just around the corner. On January 23rd at Edgewater Beach Resort and Conference Center, we will host the 102nd Annual Dinner of this organization. Chairman of the Board, for 2014, Larry Carroll will officially pass the gavel to our new Chairman, Andrew Levy. You'll also want to be present as we announce the Member of the Year and the coveted Lauren Merriam Memorial Award recipients. We look forward to seeing you there. (click here to purchase tickets)

 

Save the date! On February 18th, sponsored by Lamar Advertising, we will host "Shut Up and Sell", a lively seminar sure to re-energize you and your team for a profitable 2015! Registration information will be available shortly.


 

Additional Topics Include:

  • February First Friday
  • 2015 Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony
  • January Business After Hours 
  • Ireland Trip 
  • Military Affairs Committee
  • Business Referral Network Group Meeting Dates

Much Success,


The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff


   

February First Friday

Sponsored by:


  Friday, February 6th
FSU Panama City Holley Academic Center
(4750 Collegiate Dr.)
Networking and Coffee 7:15 a.m. Program 8 a.m.



  You are invited to attend the 2015 Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony

Friday, January 23rd

Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort

(550 R. Jackson Blvd.)

To purchase your ticket or table, 

click here.

 

Thank you to our sponsors: 


 

Platinum

    

Media


 

 Gold
 

HealthSouth, Coldwell Banker Carroll Realty, 

RockTenn, NAI Talcor, Barron & Redding, P.A., 

Gulf Coast State College, The News Herald, GAC Contractors Inc.,

and FSU Panama City

 

Silent auction items are still being taken. The proceeds from the auction benefit Junior Leadership Bay.

 

For more information on sponsorships or donating silent auction items click here or please contact Elizabeth at 215.3761. 


  

Join us for networking, entertainment, door prizes and more!

Thursday, January 29th
Dave and Buster's
Pier Park 
5:30-7 p.m.

Sponsored by: 
   
 
Take a Trip to Ireland
 
  

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with Collette Vacations to offer our members a 10-day trip to Ireland starting March 10, 2015.  During your vacation, you will experience Mass at the Marian Shrine of Knock, enjoy a guided tour of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, and spend two nights in the charming waterside village of Kinsale and much, much more.  The cost of the trip includes airfare out of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, all accommodations and 12 meals. For more information or to RSVP, contact Elizabeth at 215.3761. 

Ambassador Spotlight
 
   

Ken Sandel, with Southern CAT, is our Ambassador Spotlight for the month of January. He was born and raised in South Carolina, spent 4 years in the US Air force and attended several colleges including Emmanuel, Tampa University, and Valencia College in Orlando. Thirty-nine years of his life were spent in the multi-line insurance business in Florida and Georgia doing sales, management, and ownership of business. Ken and his wife Patti have 5 children, and 12 grandchildren living in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. They are both active in Northstar Church at the beach, and spent 3 years in the mission field serving children. SouthernCat, Inc., are contractors specializing in Emergency Response covering the South-East U.S., and he has 4 years of experience as Sales and Development in the emergency response field. His hobbies include bicycling, kayaking, camping and enjoys hiking. Ken's ultimate desire is to visit and fund an entire mission project, with frequent visits to the foreign country. Thank you, Ken, for all you do for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce and our community.
 
Interested in becoming an Ambassador? Contact Vice President of Membership, Tamara Barnes, at 215.3791.

 

About MAC... 

The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1946, and is rich in the history of providing good public relations between our military bases and the business community. 

 

The mission of MAC is to develop understanding, support and goodwill between our men and women in uniform and the local business and civic leaders. The committee stages various events and receptions to welcome visiting military officials and guests to the Bay County area.

 

If you are interested in joining MAC and supporting our local Military Installations, contact Theresa@baychamberfl.com or 850.215.3759.
CONNECT
 
CHAMBER 
Click here to view upcoming Chamber events. 
COMMUNITY
Click here to view more upcoming community events.
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE CHAMBER WEBSITE
for a great way to get in front of your target market! Email Brittany@baychamberfl.com
for rates and more information.
  
Did you know as a Chamber member you can post your job openings for free online? Also, if you have an upcoming event, you can also post that for free. Take advantage of the great items our website has to offer!
 
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
    
  
 
Welcome
New Members

 

Good Cents Travel Agency

PCB Entertainment

Allstate Brown Insurance Agency

Thank you to iHeartMedia for our new member radio spots!

 Thank You Renewing Members  

Member Anniversaries  
6 Year
- Eastern Shipbuilding Group

7 Years 

- Raymond James Financial
- Summit Bank
 

9 Years 

- Gulf Crest Condominiums
- Oceaneering Umbilical Solutions

 

 11 Years

- The Write Place
 

13 Years

- Kerrigan and Merritt, LLC
- Panama City Toyota 
 

17 Years 

- Florida Therapy Services

- Guettler & Guettler Inc.

 

27 Years 

- Giles Appraisal Group Inc. 

- The Natural Light, Inc.
 

30 Years

- Harrison Sale McCloy Attorneys at Law
- Signal Hill Golf Course

37 Years 

- Diver's Den

 

39 Years

- Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center

64 Years 

- Buffalo Rock Company/Pepsi Cola 


Member to Member Discounts
The Member to Member Discount is a special discount, pricing structure, service, or product that is extended only to other members of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

Your discount will be featured on the Chamber website www.panamacity.org, next to your business listing. If your business would like to participate, please visit this link and complete the form. Call the Chamber Office at 850-785-5206 with any questions.
Need Social Capital?
Business Referral Network (BRN) provides an opportunity for groups of business professionals to come together to network, share business leads and referrals with other group members.
 
BRN is available to any member in good standing with the Bay County Chamber of Commerce at no extra charge.
 
They must attend the scheduled bi-monthly meetings and one referral or lead is requested at each meeting. Members are encouraged to bring one guest (guest may be non-member).
 
A member may only join one Business Referral Network group. The Business Referral Group also makes sure no single business will be in direct competition with another member of the group. (For example, only one person in banking can be in each group.) 
 
Interested in joining? Contact Tamara at 215.3791 or Tamara@baychamberfl.com for availability.
Business Referral Network Groups Meeting Dates

Group A
G. Foley's
11:30 a.m.
January 20th
 
Group B
El Jalisco
11:30 a.m.
January 22nd
 
Group C
Ferrucci's Ristorante
11:30 a.m.
January 14th
 
Group D
Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
11:30 a.m.
January 21st

If you are interested in joining a BRN group, contact  Tamara@baychamberfl.com
Include Your Business in our Relocation Packet Program

Each year the Bay County Chamber of Commerce provides relocation guides to individuals and businesses looking for information on relocating to our area. In addition to the relocation guide, we have created a way for our members to market to these individuals who may soon need their products and services.  

 

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Brittany at brittany@baychamberfl.com or call 215-3755. 

Support Bay County and 
Your Fellow Members!
Place copies of the "Bay Biz" and "Guide to Discovering Bay County" in your business lobby/office to support and promote our area to your clients and customers.

Call 785-5206 to get your supply of these FREE publications that lets visitors, newcomers and potential businesses know Bay County is a great place to live, work and play.