Bay County Chamber of Commerce

September 6, 2016

Our September First Friday has been rescheduled for this Thursday, September 8th. Please make plans to join us!

Kudos to Mark Bowen, Chief of Emergency Services and his team for their leadership during the threat of Hermine. This community is truly blessed that we once again dodged another storm. Although it was certainly sad that the Gulf Coast Jam was cancelled, we commend the decision that was made to put safety first. If you've never been involved in events it's hard to understand the logistics involved to prepare. There are thousands of moving parts that can't be undone and redone at the drop of a hat. We know Gulf Coast Jam 2017 will be one to remember!

Additional Topics Include:

September First Friday
Industry Appreciation Celebration
First Responders Appreciation Luncheon
BYP Events
ColorVibe 5k
Classic Christmas Markets Trip
Ribbon Cuttings
Military Affairs Committee
Bay Business Connection (BBC) Group Meeting Dates

Much Success,

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff

Join us for our September First Friday as we kick off Industry Appreciation Celebration Month! Local industries will have their goods or products on display.

Thursday, September 8th

FSU Panama City
(4750 Collegiate Drive)
Networking 7:15 a.m.
Program 8 a.m.

Sponsored by:

Save the Date for These Upcoming BYP Events!

Industry Tours - Jensen USA & Trane
Tuesday, September 27th

2:45 p.m - 5:15 p.m.

99 Aberdeen Loop
Would you like an inside look at two of Bay County's great industries? The Bay County Chamber of Commerce is holding Industry Tours to help celebrate industry in our area. Pre-registration is required for this event. Contact Bethany at 850.215.3779 to register.

Painting With A Twist
Monday, November 14th

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $35 for members and future members

2503 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

Join us for a fun evening of painting and social networking at Painting With a Twist. Contact Bethany at 850.215.3779 to register.

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce announces it will be partnering with The Color Vibe Race Series to bring the Color Vibe 5k Race to Panama City, FL, on Saturday, November 19th. The race will take place at the SweetBay development. A Color Vibe Race Series 5k is a fun 3.1 mile run infused with color. Runners start the race with a clean white shirt to pass through four color stations along the course to end up with a bright and vibrant tie-dye shirt at the finish. The point is not to race, but to literally become a canvas of color, be active, and share a life experience with friends and family. The colored powder thrown at the color stations is simply colored cornstarch that is 100% safe and biodegradable. A portion of the funds raised at the event will go to the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit which provides programs such as Leadership Bay, Junior Leadership Bay, Bay Young Professionals, Education Committee and more.

For more information, contact Elizabeth at 850.215.3761.

Ribbon Cuttings

Shore Thing Cigars
37 Hub Lane

Watersound

Ambassador Spotlight

Ross Clemons was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1986 as an infantry officer after graduating from the United States Military Academy. Over the course of 25 years in the Army he commanded units in the infantry and Special Forces where he completed two combat tours. He subsequently served as a defense attach� on several tours of duty in Africa and concluded his service with tours of duty at the Pentagon and at US Africa Command where he attained the rank of Colonel. He currently is the President and Owner of Clemons & Pierce, Retirement Plans Group.

Fluent in French, he completed War College at the College Interarme de Defense in Paris and completed a Master's degree in History at the University of Florida.

In 2011 he retired with his wife, Mindy, and two children to Panama City, FL. They serve as Associate Staff with the Navigators discipleship ministry and are actively involved in teaching several Bible studies at local military bases and at their church. He serves on the Ambassadors Committee at the Chamber of Commerce. He is currently on the board of Anchorage Children's Home and serves as a mentor for students competing for scholarships through the Bay Education Foundation.

MAC Chairman, Mike Sears, and MAC Member, Ed Phelan, presenting a plasma cut steel emblem to the 43^rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base. This emblem is a replica of the squadron patch worn on their flight suits.

MAC Members Save the Date!

A joint welcome reception for Lt. Gen. Williams (1AF) and Col. Hernandez (325FW) will be held at The Shrimp Boat on September 29^th. Invitations to follow.

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 Brandi DeRuiter at Brandi@baychamberfl.com or 850.215.3759.

CONNECT

www.PanamaCity.org

CHAMBER CALENDAR

Click here to view upcoming Chamber events.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Click here to view more upcoming community events.

WWW.PANAMACITY.ORG

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE CHAMBER WEBSITE

for a great way to get in front of your target market! Email Mike Baskerville for more information.

Did you know as a Chamber member you can post your job openings and available internships for free online? Also, if you have an upcoming community event, you can also post that for free. Take advantage of the great items our website has to offer! Call 850.785.5206 for more information or click here.

Welcome

New Members

Zaxby's

Neves Media Solutions Group

Schlotzsky's Deli

Emerald Coast Florida PMI Chapter

Bealls Outlet

Medicare Choice Solutions

Association of Florida Realtors

Aspire Financial Partners

Callaway Auto Service & Repair

Game Vault PC

Thank you to iHeartMedia for our new member radio spots!

Thank You Renewing Members

1 Year

- Albritton Law Office

- RS King Refinishing, LLC

- Sunniland Roofing Supply

2 Years

- First American Title Insurance Co.

3 Years

- Builders First Source

- Williams Communications, Inc.

4 Years

- Geico Insurance

- Homeless and Hunger Coalition of NWFL

- Honda of Bay County

5 Years

- Ameris Bank

- Carpe Diem Community Solutions, Inc.

- Gulf Coast Addiction Medicine, LLC

- Lifeguard Ambulance Service

- The Grand Theatre

6 Years

- BASIC of NWFL, Inc.

8 Years

- Bay County Republican Party

- Catering by Bob

9 Years

- Davita PC Dialysis/Coastal Kidney Center

- Two Men And A Truck

10 Years

- Valle Vistas

11 Years

- Courtyard by Marriott

- Kelley, Kronenberg, Gilmartin & Wander

- Michels & Michels Marketing Group

12 Years

- Dale Carnegie Training

- Lynn Haven United Methodist Church

- Paul Harris Insurance, Inc.

13 Years

- Enviromed of Bay County Inc.

- Panama City Rescue Mission

- State Farm/Jim Dickerson

19 Years

- Bay, Franklin, Gulf Healthy Start Coalition Inc.

- Tillman Investments, LLC

20 Years

- Gregory Grantham, DMD, PA

- Warren Averett

25 Years

- Small Business Development Center

26 Years

- Broward Hall Insurance Agency

30 Years

- Bay County Board of Commissioners

31 Years

- City of Panama City

36 Years

- Bay County Association of Realtors

Thank you to Powell Broadcasting for our renewing member appreciation radio spots!

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.

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 850.785.5206 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.

Bay Business Connection

Meeting Dates

Fishale Taphouse and Grill

11:30 a.m.

September 20th

Ferrucci's Ristorante

11:30 a.m.

September 8th

Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)

11:30 a.m.

September 7th

Need Social Capital? Bay Business Connection (BBC) provides an opportunity for groups of business professionals to come together to network, share business leads and referrals with other group members.

BBC 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 BBC group. BBC 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 for availability.