October 2015 - the new Chamberocity

Special items of interest:
 Contact Breakfast highlights on page 7
 Who is the Ambassador of
the month...see page 8
 Check out the Business of
the Year Nominees on
page 11
Chamber Connections ~ October 2015
 Where is BAH this month?
See page 17
 Don’t forget to sign up to
participate in the Christmas Tree contest. See
page 25
New….for 2015!
Check it out on
Page 22!
Inside this issue:
President’s Message
2
Calendar
3
New Members
4
Anniversaries
5
Ribbon Cuttings
12
Business After Hours 14-15
Business Spotlight
18
Thank You Corner
21
New Member
Reception
24
Mark your calendar for
The 13th Anniversary of
BikeFest
On
October 3rd…
The prestigious Business of the
Year Awards are designed to
recognize those businesses and
leaders who have created jobs,
contributed to the community,
and have grown the region economically.
Congratulations to our nominees as they are all
worthy of recognition for their impact on the Plant
City community. For a listing of nominees, please
see page 11. You are in good company with our
past nominees and winners!
Please join us the evening of November 5th as you
will have an opportunity to vote for your favorite businesses during the event. We
are changing the evening up a little and going high-tech! This is sure to be an
exciting evening.
President’s Message
CHAMBER STAFF
President
Marion Smith
Vice President
Amy Nizamoff
Office Administrator
Joyce Nestor
Communications Director
Evelyn Clay
Membership Director
Tammy Mitchell
Tourist Information
Specialist
Peggy Wilson
Dear Chamber Members,
It is hard to say these words….the last quarter of
2015 is upon us! The time just seems to fly by
faster and faster each year. Your Chamber organization is no exception. I want to thank our many
volunteers and Board members, for it is your time
and efforts that make your Chamber and the Plant
City community what it is. Look below just to see
the activity!
First, we are going to kick the month off with the
13th Anniversary Plant City Bike Fest! We have
an exciting evening planned with Bryan Marino’s
motorcycle stunt show and a great band, Almost
There, scheduled to play. Please see the flyer included in this newsletter. We hope you will bring
the family out and enjoy the evening. The following week, we will have our monthly membership
Contact Breakfast and the featured speaker will
be Adrian Jones, General Manager of Legoland Florida. You will receive all the updates on this closeby attraction. The Hay Exchange is hosting Business after Hours on October 15th. The Strawberry Classic Car Show will be the third Saturday of the month and the Planes, Trains, Automobiles committee will begin meeting as the 6th
Annual event will be February 27th, 2016! If you
would like to participate with this group, just give
me a call and we will add you to the email invite list.
Remember, joining a committee certainly builds
relationships with other Chamber members. The
Arts Festival committee (we are working on the
Executive Board
Chairman of the Board
Michael Cameron
Cameron Financial Management
Chairman-Elect
Brian West
Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Immediate Past Chairman
Nate Kilton
Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth Management, LLC.
The Greater Plant City
Chamber of Commerce
shall work for its members
and be the leading force in
promoting the commercial,
industrial, agricultural, and
civic interests of Greater
Plant City and East
Hillsborough County.
Treasurer
Michael Watkins
V & R Insurance
Vice Chairman
Membership Division
Edwena Haney
Hopewell Funeral Home &
Memorial Gardens
Vice Chairman
Community Program Division
Verna McKelvin
Wells Memorial & Event Center
Vice Chairman
Economic Development Division
Phil Waldron
Waldron Consulting Services
Vice Chairman
Community & Governmental Affairs Division
Yvonne Fry
Lines of Communication
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official name) is off the ground and plans for that event,
April 23rd, are exciting. Our Business Expo and Holiday Showcase committee is revamping this event
which is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1st. Chamber staff and the Business of the Year Committee are
putting the finishing touches on our upcoming Banquet
on November 5th and please remember that the USF
Small Business Development Center staff are here
monthly to consult with our business owners! Let’s not
forget the Pig Jam committee that is extremely busy
getting ready for the 13th Annual BBQ competition
Nov. 20th and 21st! Do you want to join any of these
committees? Just call!
To keep going in October, the Plant City Leadership
2016 class will have their second session. The opening
Retreat, held last month, was a huge success. We have
ribbon cuttings planned and the Ambassador,
Community Programs Division, and Contact
Breakfast committees will have their monthly meeting.
The Chamber Board will have their Board Retreat
mid-month to plan for 2016.
Look at all the bold committee listings that we have—
again, this is just for October. Next month, we will be
adding the Christmas Tree Contest and Strawberry
Festival committees. We know that not everyone has
the time to volunteer for activities, so to you, we thank
you for being a member and supporting your community
and fellow business owners and employees, by just being
a member. Hope you have a wonderful month!!
Marion
Board of Directors
Matt Buzza
Platinum Bank
Martyn Clay, Ed.D.
Hillsborough Community College
Paul Hackney
Sunshine Bank
Charles Harris
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
Bradley Herremans
Suncoast Community Health Centers Pediatrics
Larry Jimenez, Jr.
Star Distribution Systems.
Jason Jones
Advantage Restoration, Inc.
Karen Kerr
South Florida Baptist Hospital
Kenneth Parker,
Florida Strawberry Growers Association
Jim Scott
Jarrett-Scott Ford
Keith Smith
Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton, Davis, &
Smith, P.A.
Darcy Stottlemyer
All A Bloom Florist
Carole Wright,
Myers & Wright, P.A.
Page 3
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2015 Chamber Trustees
Thank you for your
commitment to the
Chamber of Commerce
CITY PROPERTIES COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED ELECTRICAL
DISTRIBUTORS dba RAYBRO
ELECTRIC SUPPLIES
FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES
HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME &
MEMORIAL GARDENS
IDEAS & INNOVATIONS, INC.
(JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY)
JARRETT-SCOTT FORD
MOSAIC-PLANT CITY FACILITY
SEDITA KILTON & COMPANY
SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST
HOSPITAL
Chamber Connections ~ October 2015
Brew Hub
3900 South Frontage Road
Lakeland, FL 33815-3205
Office: (863) 698-7611
Nicole Nikdel, Business Manager
www.brewhub.com
Beers-Brewery, Tasting, & Distribution
East Hillsborough Ducks Unlimited
1407 Alhambra Drive
Apollo Beach, FL 33572-2921
Office: (813) 422-8113
Ron Sanders, Area Chairman
Ron.sanders52@outlook.com
www.facebook.com/East Hillsborough Ducks Unlimited
Clubs & Organizations
H & R Block
Physical Address:
2216 James L. Redman Parkway
Plant City, FL 33566-7107
Mailing Address:
997 East Memorial Boulevard, Suite 101
Lakeland, FL 33801-1913
Office: (813) 754-7521
Sheila Bates, District General Manager
sbates@hrblock.com
www.hrblock.com
Tax Services
Plant City Café
1701 South Alexander Street
Suite 108
Plant City, FL 33566-0965
Office: (813) 754-5600
John Cervi, Owner
Restaurant
SUNSHINE BANK
T. CLAYTON JENKINS
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
WELLS MEMORIAL &
EVENT CENTER
Strawberry Town Café
Physical Address:
3161 Paul Buchman Highway
Plant City, FL 33563-2298
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4559
Plant City, FL 33563-0026
Office: (813) 759-0851
Stacy Grimes-Zemlo,
General Manager
grimeshardware@gmail.com
Restaurant
Since 1964
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15-19 Years
Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union
Turkey Creek First Baptist Church
10-14 Years
ABC Pizza House, Inc.
Absolute Auto Repair
Boggs Engineering, LLC
Dental Associates at Walden Woods, Inc.
Favorite Farms
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, Inc.
Springhead Elementary School
Waldron Consulting Services
5-9 Years
Bailey Elementary School
D. H. Griffin Wrecking Co., Inc.
Hillsborough County Fair
Healthpoint/Baycare Medical Group
Plant City Handyman, Inc.
Showalter Construction, LLC
Strawberry Crest High School
Top Signs & More
OVER 50 YEARS!
Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton,
Davis & Smith, P.A. (51 years)
OVER 40 YEARS!
Hillsborough Community CollegePlant City (41 years)
Kiwanis Club of Plant City (44 years)
OVER 30 YEARS!
Eyecare of Plant City (31 years)
David S. Ferry III, D.D.S., P.A. (38 years)
First United Methodist Church (32 years)
Plant City Awning & Aluminum (31 years)
OVER 20 YEARS!
Byrd & Barnhill, P.L. (20 years)
Crawford-Hill Interiors, Inc. (24 years)
1-4 Years
Automotive Development Group, Inc.
Eye Express
H & R Block
Helen Hoveida D.M.D., Dental Associates
at Walden Woods, Inc.
Mayfair Games
Paddy Wagon Irish Pub
Plant City Community Chorale
Melissa Polo for Circuit Court Judge,
Group 24
The Fancy Flea Vintage Home &
Garden Market
Tint Plus
Woodmen of the World
Zaxby’s BLB Restaurants, LLC
Felton’s Meat & Produce (24 years)
Hy-Tech Petroleum Maintenance,
Inc. (25 years)
MacDonald Training Center, Inc. (28 years)
Marshall Middle School (23 years)
W.K. McClendon Oil Co., Inc. (28 years)
Plant City Entertainment (27 years)
Rita Staffing (20 years)
J.S. Robinson Elementary School (25 years)
Don Stine Construction, Inc. (27 years)
*Screen Enclosures * Carports
*Siding & Soffits * Vinyl Windows
Check out our upcoming
BIKEFEST ...see Page 13!
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Thank you to Mosaic-Plant City Facility and
Richard Ghent for sponsoring the September
Contact Breakfast featuring guest speaker Maj.
Kyle Richardson, Commander of the 3-116th
Field Artillery Battalion located here in Plant
City. This month’s breakfast honored our
military, local first responders from the
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department,
Plant City Police Department, ,and the Plant City Fire and Rescue Department. We are so grateful for all you do for our community and
country. Stay safe!!
The Good Eggs for September were Eleanor Poppell and her grandson, Cameron Poppell, for their support of
the Chamber and the Plant City Community.
This month’s unclaimed cashpot drawing was for $300. Those names drawn were Marian Rowe (Myers
Cleaners), Henry Jimenez (Sysco International Food Group, Inc.), Michael Lopez (Westcoast Enterprises),
Amber Beachler (Plantation at Walden Lake), and Robert Trinkle (Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton, Davis
& Smith, P.A.) Be sure to attend this month as the drawing will be $350! Please be sure to update your
membership form as this is the information we use for our cashpot drawing.
Poppell family (l-r) Jon, Leslie, Susie, Eleanor,
Mark, and Cameron (front and center)
First responders from PCPD, PC Fire & Rescue,
National Guard, and HCSO.
(l-r) Julie Bradley, Donnie Strickland, Maj. Kyle
Richardson, and Harold Falls
Captain Susan Pruet, PCPD wins a
Creative Flower Design by Glenn
Debbie Simpson, Farm Credit of Central
Florida wins a treat from
LeAnn’s Old Fashioned Cookies
Mark Filosi, Family
7 Care Pharmacy
shows off his All A Bloom
floral arrangement
Corporal Kevin Bodie, HCSO goes home a
winner of a nice gift from Mosaic
Melissa Haskins, Edward Jones Investments,
takes home a door prize courtesy of Mosaic
September’s Good Egg, Eleanor Poppell, with
Chairman of the Board, Michael Cameron
Ambassador for September
SUE BURT
Ambassador Team for September
TEAM #1
Your Ambassadors met on September 24th for a
wonderful luncheon sponsored by Plantation at Walden Lake and Hillsborough Title. Thank you to
Mackensi Beers and Kayla Drawdy-Sherrard for
providing lunch!
Each meeting is organized by a team who selects a
theme. This month Team #1 led the luncheon
which not only provided wonderful food but also
valuable and timely information. The theme revolved around preparedness as hurricane season is
upon us along with the every day risks we face regarding accidents on the road or in our workplace
or homes. Two pieces of advice gleaned from the
event were 1) Always have an ICE number in your
cell phone. ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency”
for the time you may be unresponsive. The first responders will know who to call on your behalf, and
2) First responders such as the Fire department or
sheriff’s office have stickers you should place on a
child’s car seat which will contain all emergency contact information, allergies of the child, and important
information to share in case the parent or guardian
driving the vehicle is unresponsive.
Also as part of the program, the Ambassadors were
introduced to the Hillsborough Education Foundation’s Mentoring Program and the “Take Stock in
Children” program. Linda Lawson and Rachel Sutton discussed how students in our community are in
need of role models, advocates, and friends to make
an impact on the future generation through mentoring. Studies have shown that mentored students
have a more positive outlook, better grades, greater
acceptance, and fewer depressive symptoms. To
find out more about this opportunity, contact Rachel
at (813) 463-4283.
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September 2015 Ambassador Team of the Month (l-r) Angela Sessa, Pat Pogue, Christine Wynne,
Chuck Sullivan, Kayla Drawdy-Sherrard, Sue Burt, &
Mackensi Beers. Not pictured are Avery Wheelock,
Charles Harris, and Jennifer Chamberlain
Our Newest Ambassadors
join us from the Plant City YMCA!
(l-r) JD Simmons and JJ Myers.
WELCOME & THANK YOU
(l-r) Rachel Sutton and Linda Lawson with
Hillsborough Education Foundation and Take
Stock in Children, present their programs to the
Ambassador’s.
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Business of the Year Awards Banquet
Save the Date
Thursday, November 5th
6:00 PM ‘til 9:00 PM
John R. Trinkle Center
2015 AWARD NOMINEES
Small Business (1-4 employees)
Anytime Fitness
Mastercraft Memorials
Product Consultants Unlimited
V & R Insurance
Mid Size Business (5-20 employees)
Broke & Poor Surplus, Inc. of Plant City
Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens
T. Clayton Jenkins Construction Company, Inc.
Strong Tower Insurance, Inc.
Large Business (21+ employees)
Griffin Utilities, Inc.
Highland Packaging Solutions, Inc.
Star Distribution Systems
Stone Ledge Manor
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Pa
ge
Chamber Connections ~ October 2015
Brian Copic, Sales Director
Crown Information Management
707 Avenue K, SW
Winter Haven, FL
September 9, 2015
John Cervi, Owner
Plant City Café
1701 South Alexander Street, Suite 108
Plant City, FL
September 11, 2015
Terry Beasley, Owner
Curves
1822 James L. Redman Parkway
Plant City, FL
September 14, 2015
Megan, Burkett,
Professional Employer Consultant
TriNet
3505 East Frontage Road, Suite 145
Tampa, FL
September 15, 2015
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Thank you to The Bing House and Improvement League of Plant City for a
fantastic networking event! You all always outdo yourselves and this time was
no different. Great food, wonderful fellowship, and all at the historic site of
The Bing House.
The Plant City Bing Rooming House Museum exists to promote the proud heritage centered around being one of only two National African-American Landmarks in
Hillsborough County (Glover School & Bing House) established to serve specifically as a
facility for the preservation of African American History. It is essential to preserve the
building and local community's experience during the segregation era, and to provide enriching exhibitions and educational opportunities to keep Black History alive.
Board Members
The event was sponsored by the Improvement League of Plant City, a 501c3 public charitable organization committed
to identifying gaps in services in the east Hillsborough County area, assisting with finding funding, and securing the
means to address identified community needs. The areas of Lincoln Park in the southeastern quadrant and Madison
Park in the southwestern quadrant located in the City of Plant City, Florida have been targeted for the implementation
of programs and services by the volunteers and members of this grassroots organization.
Stop by an see this historic site at 205 South Allen Street or call (813) 704-5800 for hours of operation.
Again, thank you for your commitment to the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and your support of our great
community! (See photos on Page 15)
UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTINGS
OCTOBER 6TH
Krystal
11:00 AM
(2709 James L. Redman Parkway)
OCTOBER 6TH
Smokin’ Aces BBQ & Steakhouse
4:00 PM - Grand Opening
(2509 North Park Road)
Don’t forget to bring your
business cards to the Contact Breakfast on October 14th
for a chance to win the next
Business Spotlight Section of the
Chamber Connections Newsletter!
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William Thomas, Jr. welcomes the crowd
Maribel Lorenzo, Karen Griggsby, and Al Berry
Lee Williams and Liesta Sykes
(l-r) Henry Johnson, JJ Myers, and Roderick
Henderson, Jr.
Be sure to mark your calendar for the
October BAH sponsored by The Hay Exchange (See Page 17)
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Business Spotlight
Michael Minor, Mortgage Loan Officer-Sunshine Bank
How was your business founded?
Sunshine Bank first opened its doors in 1954 as 1st Federal Savings and Loan Association,
headquartered in Plant City, Florida. After years of steady growth, the bank rebranded
and changed its name to Sunshine State Federal Savings and Loan Association. In 2014,
the current name of Sunshine Bank was adopted. After converting from the mutual form
of organization to the stock form, Sunshine Bancorp, Inc. was formed in 2014 as the holding company for Sunshine Bank. Bank headquarters remains in Plant City.
The same foundational principles that started the bank remain today - providing uncompromising service to our customers and offering innovative products and services that
truly add value to our customer’s financial needs. As one of the oldest banks in Florida history, we are proud
of our heritage and success, and continue to focus on a bright future as we look to build a strong, relationship-based community banking franchise.
Tell us something about yourself and your business we don’t know.
I am a loan officer with our mortgage team. We are able to offer most any mortgage product available. I
have been a banker for 30 years and have experience in most every area. This serves me well as I can help
clients find solutions to their banking related needs.
What tips of your trade would you like to share?
Always let honesty, integrity, and credibility be your guide. Take care of the client first. Always be passionate about helping clients achieve their goals and dreams.
What benefits have you seen due to your Chamber membership?
Being a member of the Chamber allows me to give back to our community in a variety of ways. Being a
member is not as much about what you get out of it as it is about what you put into it that gets the best results and returns.
Contact Michael at Sunshine Bank by calling (813) 659-8653 or email him at m.minor@mysunshinebank.com
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We extend our sincerest appreciation to these friends of the Chamber
for their generosity and donations:
September “Honor our First Responders” Contact Breakfast Sponsor
MOSAIC-PLANT CITY FACILITY
September Business After Hours
IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE OF PLANT CITY AND THE BING HOUSE
Door Prizes courtesy of
MOSAIC
ALL A BLOOM FLORIST
CREATIVE FLORAL DESIGNS BY GLENN
LEANN’S OLD FASHIONED COOKIES
Our Made Fresh Daily Menu Includes:
- Full Breakfast
- French Fries
- Desserts
- Soups
- Hamburgers
- Milkshakes
- Salads
- Deli Sandwiches
- Chicken Tenders
- Philly Cheese Steak
- Strawberry
Shortcake
DINE
IN
3161 Paul Buchman Hwy.
Plant City, FL 33563
813-704-5907
Located 1 mile north of I-4
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CARRY
OUT
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New Member Reception
draws a crowd interested
in…
learning all the Chamber has to offer such as networking opportunities, activities, and seminars to assist in
building their businesses.
On a semi-annual basis, Marion Smith (Executive Director) and Tammy Mitchell (Membership Director) hold
an orientation for members who joined the Chamber during the previous 6 months. The purpose is to engage and enlighten them so they will see the value of their membership. We have seen a correlation between involvement by members on committees, monthly Contact Breakfast, Business After Hours, and Ribbon Cuttings to a noticeable growth in their businesses. The key is to become involved and network wherever possible.
In addition to Chamber events promoting business, we have partnered with the Small Business Development
Center of Hillsborough County who provide one-on-one consultations the 2nd Thursday of each month
from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the Chamber Library. To schedule a session with Dottie Minnick, call (813)2049267. SBDC also provides seminars on a quarterly basis ranging anywhere from “How to write a Business
Plan” to “Tax Awareness and Your Business”. To see the latest schedule, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/
DocumentCenter/View/15724 or contact Dottie. And, please remember, your Chamber is always here to
assist you in growing your business. Give us a call and see how we may be a resource for you.
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