Harvest Night - Bonita Springs Florida Chamber

November 2009
Business EDGE
SHARPEN YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Harvest Night
November 12, 2009
Robb & Stucky
See page 5 for details
Business news from the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive
Bonita Springs, Fl 34135
(239) 992-2943
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman of the Board—Brian Farrar
BCF Management Group
First Vice Chairman—Sabra Smith
Veritas Employer Services
Second Vice Chairman—James Dati
Bond, Schoeneck & King. P.A.
Treasurer— Joe Murgalo
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa
Immediate Past Chairman—Owen Feeney, D.M.D.
Bonita Estero Dental Group
BUSINESS EDGE
The Business Edge is published on the first Monday of each month.
NOVEMBER 2009
2
VICE CHAIRMEN:
Jon Davis, CPA, CFP, Partner
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
Wendi Fowler
The Client Server
Mike Kennedy
MKA Marketing
Jose R. Lopez
Chapman & Associates, Inc.
Vince Modarelli
Naples News Media Group
Sheila Seacat
Individual Member
2008-2009 DIRECTORS
Jeanne Burmiester
Bank of Florida
Henry C. Cohen
Cohen & Grigsby, P.C.
Scott W. Duval
Brennan, Manna, & Diamond, P.L.
Len Eckert
iconDo, Inc.
Phyllis Ershowsky
PKE Creative & PR Solutions
George Ghanem
Taylor Rental/Creative Events
Kim M. Hastings
Kim M Hastings, P.A.
Diane Ivey
Coconut Point
Tom Maiale
Key Bank
Jon McLeod
Mobile Exposure
Dr. Ed O’Neill
Bonita Chiropractic Center
William B. Shikany
Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home
G. Donald Thomson
Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Christine A. Ross—President & CEO
Stephanie Kissinger—Executive Vice President
Gabrielle O’Boyle—Special Events Director
Julie Liles-Digby—Membership Manager
Ryan Uhler—Marketing Manager
Tiffany Esposito—Communications Manager
Geraldine Pessolano—Executive Administrative Assistant
Cissy Prentiss—Administrative Assistant
Rosemary Stevens—Business Assistant
Thank You to Our 2009-2010
Invest for Success Partners
Chamber Advisors
Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop & Madson, P.A.
Bonita Estero Dental Group
Brennan, Manna & Diamond, PL
Key Private Bank
Rosier Insurance
Leadership Stewards
Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. – The Saunders Group
Chamber New Member Partners
Bank of Florida
Table of Contents
Invest for Success
Page 3
Food Service Seminar
Page 4
Harvest Night
Page 5
Page 6
Calendar of Events
Networking Photos
Page 7
New Investors
Page 8
Holiday Party
Page 9
Ribbon Cuttings
Page 10
Renewing Investors
Page 11
Economic Development and Government Affairs Report
Page 11
FREE Fraud Seminar
Page 12
Business Identity Theft
Page 13
Blue Chip Nominees
Page 13
Amendment 4 Summary
Page 14
3
AMENDMENT 4:
An Anti-Jobs Attack on Florida’s Economy
Dear
Chamber
Members,
One year
from today,
Florida voters will be
to
Christine A. Ross asked
d
e
c
i
d
e
President & CEO
whether
Amendment 4 belongs in Florida’s constitution.
Over the
course of the next 12 months,
Florida’s business community
will lead the effort to explain to
our fellow Floridians why
Amendment 4 will make our
current economic downturn a
permanent situation. The leadership of the Bonita Springs Area
Chamber of Commerce will be
on the front lines of the debate
over the future for this community, our region and our state.
Please take time to read the one
page Amendment 4 Executive
Summary in this month’s Business Edge. When it’s time, we
hope you’ll volunteer to help us
defeat this potentially devastating bill.
NOVEMBER 2009
President’s Note
Sincerely,
Christine Ross
President & CEO
Invest for Success in 2009-2010
Looking for a great way to get more exposure for your business? Our Invest for Success packages are
the perfect opportunity to get your business name into the community. This program allows members to
capitalize on their Chamber investment and get their business name in front of the membership and the
community year-round.
We have re-vamped the packages for greater exposure in the
2009-2010 year and they now include a base membership.
With several options to choose from, the Invest for Success
sponsorship opportunities offer something beneficial to all businesses.
To Invest for Success in 2009-2010 please contact
Stephanie Kissinger at (239) 992-2943 or at
Stephanie@BonitaSpringsChamber.com.
Chamber Champions
$10,000 (Value $22,455)
Chamber Advocates
$5,000 (Value $9,880)
Chamber Advisors
$3,500 (Value $8,130)
Leadership Stewards
$3,500 (Value $8,700)
New Member Partners
$2,400 (Value $4,760)
BUSINESS EDGE
The sponsorship opportunities in each package are designed to
keep your company name in front of our membership throughout
the entire year. We know that consistent recognition is a vital
marketing technique and hope you will take advantage of this
unique opportunity. By participating in a sponsorship package,
staff attendance and company exposure at many of the events is
included. Don’t miss out on this full year of opportunities!
Help support the Chamber and get your company’s name in
front of the area’s business and community leaders all year long!
Invest for Success
Packages
BUSINESS EDGE
NOVEMBER 2009
4
5
November 12, 2009
5:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m.
NOVEMBER 2009
Business After Hours
Harvest Night
Join us the Business After Hours of the season, Harvest Night! You will enjoy networking, 50/50 raffles and delicious hor o'dourves with over 300 local professionals. Don't forget your canned food
donation benefitting the Bonita Assistance Office.
Member Advanced: $10.00
Price after November 10th (based upon availability): $15.00
Future Member: $40.00
***Reservations are limited to the first 300 guests
Recommended items to bring:
Diapers
Baby care items
Cereal
Pasta & sauces
Macaroni and cheese
Mashed potatoes
Tuna
Spam
Instant drinks
Cans of vegetables (corn, beans,
black beans, etc.)
Instant make soups
3181 North Bay Village Court
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(main showroom)
BUSINESS EDGE
Food will be provided by:
NOVEMBER 2009
6
Best Bets
NOVEMBER 12TH
FREE FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
When: 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Where: Chamber Boardroom
Topic: ―Ingredients for a Successful Restaurant How to Make a Kitchen Profitable‖
Cost: FREE
Learn how to make your kitchen profitable from
some of the areas premier consultants. Topics to
be discussed include: marketing, management, finance, service, quality (QSC) and
strategic alliances.
Mark Your Calendar
NOVEMBER 9TH
Business After Hours—Harvest Night
When: 5:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m.
Where: Robb & Stucky
3181 North Bay Village Court
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
NOVEMBER 17TH
New Member Welcome & Orientation
When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Chamber Boardroom
Cost: $10.00
NOVEMBER 18TH
Back 2 Basics Brown Bag Lunch
When: 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Where: Chamber Boardroom
Speaker: Ray Higdon of Forever Wealth
Management
Topic: ―
Targeted Internet Marketing for Your
Local Business‖‖
DECEMBER 10TH
Holiday Party
When: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Club at Grandezza
11471 Grande Oak Boulevard
Estero, FL 33928
Cost: $35.00
***The deadline to register and receive a pre-printed name tag is two days before events by midnight. Thereafter, reservations prices increase
and are based upon availability. All members must register in order for us to provide an accurate count to host.
BUSINESS EDGE
Chamber Committee Meetings
NOVEMBER 2ND
5:00 p.m. - Young Professionals Steering Committee
NOVEMBER 3RD
12:00 p.m. – Government Affairs Committee
NOVEMBER 5TH
8:30 a.m. - President’s Club Committee
NOVEMBER 6TH
8:30 a.m. - Market Pulse Committee
NOVEMBER 6TH
3:00 p.m. - Holiday Party Task Force
NOVEMBER 10TH
8:30 a.m.—TechXPO Committee
NOVEMBER 12TH
8:00 a.m. – Executive Committee
NOVEMBER 13TH
9:00 a.m. – Economic Development Committee
NOVEMBER 16TH
4:00 p.m. - Committee Chair Training
NOVEMBER 16TH
4:00 p.m. - Foundation Board
NOVEMBER 18TH
4:00 p.m. - Ambassador Committee
NOVEMBER 19TH
8:00 a.m. – Board of Directors
NOVEMBER 19TH
4:00 p.m. – Leadership Bonita Alumni Committee
Business After Hours
Spanish Wells Golf and Country Club
Dawn Lutz, Mike Wobrock and Karen Tarpin
Business After Hours
NOVEMBER 2009
Networking Event Photos
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Business Before Business
Cozmo the School
Amanda Shipley, Pam Williams and Michelle
Borders
Business Before Business
Cozmo the School
Niel Snyder, Lee Campbell and Mitch Fruecht
Business After Hours
Business Before Business
Spanish Wells Golf and Country Club
Beth Coon, Betsy Vincent, Pam Fultz and Bob DiPesa
Cozmo the School
Klaus Haasemann, Joe Hohmann and Bradley
Collins
BUSINESS EDGE
Spanish Wells Golf and Country Club
Louis Goudy, Chris Burgner and Michelle Hancock
NOVEMBER 2009
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New Investors from September 30, 2009
through October 27, 2009
A.G. Family Insurance Inc.
Bonita Springs
(239) 322-5310
Alligator Rocks
Bonita Springs
(239) 221-8888
BMW of Fort Myers
Fort Myers
(239) 433-8378
Bonita Springs Professional
Firefighters Local 3444
Bonita Springs
(239) 495-6868
Brenda Booth BS Licensed
Massage Therapist
(239) 287-8834
Camp Bow Wow
Lehigh Acres
(239) 352-2275
Carefree Boat Club
Cape Coral
(888) 505-2582
BUSINESS EDGE
Certified Automotive Repair
Inc.
Fort Myers
(239) 482-4048
Chameleon E-Solutions
Woods Hole
(310) 930-7669
Cindy Kruesi - John R. Wood
Realtors
Bonita Springs
(239) 495-4113
Cybersunshine Inc.
Fort Myers
(239) 437-2628
Data Research and Handling
Inc.
Marco Island
239) 398-3897
Fantastic Floors of Southwest
Florida LLC
Cape Coral
(877) 913-5667
Fortune Business Solutions
Tampa
(813) 707-8652
Habitat for Humanity
North Fort Myers
(239) 652-0434
Michael's Catering & Deli Inc.
Fort Myers
(239) 827-3251
Miche Bags
Bonita Springs
(239) 947-7875
Narrative Image Photography
(239) 249-9887
Quail West Realty
Naples
(239) 592-1010
Sandy Ensman - Platinum
Realty
Fort Myers
(239) 590-0234
Service Master Commercial
Cleaning Services
Fort Myers
(239) 939-3103
Stephen J. Trudnak
(239) 633-0193
Hyatt Coconut Plantation Resort
Bonita Springs
(239) 947-7300
T&M Portable Restrooms, Inc.
Labelle
(239) 229-6714
Impressions
Naples
(216) 316-7144
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Fort Myers
(239) 939-8900
Mannatech Inc.
Bonita Springs
(239) 992-8375
Zounds Hearing Aids
Bonita Springs
(239) 947-0800
Trees and Wreaths Available for Holiday Party
Have
your Holiday
Party with us!
Join us for our
Annual Holida y
P a rt y,
―
Holiday Wonderland,‖ will
be on Thursday, December
10th from 5:30
p.m. – 8:00
p.m. at The
Club at Grandezza.
Trees or wreaths can
be sponsored for $50.00 each
and decorated for the Holiday
Party. Over the years trees and
wreaths of all designs have
graced the event. Past creations
have included a dog-shaped topiary with gourmet dog treats, a
recipe tree with a certificate for
decant desserts, an in-kind donation to a local charity, dinners
and more.
Attendees will be able
to bid on their favorite trees and
wreaths through silent auction
or raffle. Trees and wreaths will
also be judged and the categories will include traditional, all
that glitters, cartoon/Disney
theme, tropical, pet theme and
business themed.
The cost to attend the
party is $35.00 per person with
advance reservations, $45.00 at
the door based on availability.
Reservations can be made on
the Chamber’s website at
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.
com or by contacting the
Chamber at (239) 992-2943.
Reservations are limited
to the first 300 guests.
nita Springs area by the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office, Inc.
Toy donations geared to
younger as well old as older
children will be appreciated.
Sponsorship opportunities are
available starting at $250.00.
The Club at Grandezza
is located at 11471 Grande Oak
Boulevard in Estero. For more
information or to purchase a
tree or wreath, please contact
Gabrielle O’Boyle at (239)
9 9 2 - 2 9 4 3
o r
Gabbi@BonitaSpringsChamb
er.com.
NOVEMBER 2009
Don’t Forget to Bring a Toy!
9
We ask that all
attendees bring an unwrapped NEW toy to the
party for the Toys for
Bonita collection. All
toys donated will be distributed to less fortunate
children living in the Bo-
Thank you to our sponsors:
RSM McGladrey
Home Check Systems, Inc.
Bonita Springs Middle School is collecting ―
gently‖ used
books and board
games to distribute to our students and local service organizations.
Check your closets, bookshelves, and drawers and donate these items – items
are being collected at Bonita Springs Middle. Please keep in mind that books
will be distributed to students. Bonita Middle appreciates your help! Collecting
of items will run through January.
BUSINESS EDGE
Help Bonita Springs Middle School Celebrate
American Education & Florida Literacy Week
RIBBON CUTTINGS
NOVEMBER 2009
10
Cruise Naples
1200 Fifth Avenue South
Naples, FL 34102
(239) 263-4949
www.cruisenaplesflorida.com
Extra Space Storage
8420 Murano Del Lago Drive
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 498-5207
www.extraspace.com
Zounds Hearing Aids
BUSINESS EDGE
3409 Pelican Landing Parkway, Suite #1
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 947-0800
www.zoundshearing.com
Box Galaxy
12980 Tamiami Trail, North, #10
Naples, FL 34110
(239) 592-9425
www.boxgalaxyflorida.com
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One through Five Years
DayStar Communications
Jimmy Johns of Estero
Junior Achievement of Southwest
Florida
K & M Accounting
Knotts Plastering & Finish Carpentry
NUVOX
Train With Shane
Trek Bicycle Store
Briers CPA, P.A.
Elektrosign, LLC-Media Ad
Network
Glass Doctor S.W. FL.
Lansdowne Street
Relax The Back
SignCraft of Naples, Inc.
Waterstone Resorts & Vacation
Homes
Gilurick Design
Blue Water Bistro
Estero Medical Center
Garth B. McCaffrey, DDS PA
Panera Bread, LLC
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Tedesco House Watch Services,
LLC
Advanced Insurance Underwriters
Highland Woods Golf and Country Club
Platinum Coast Technology, Inc.
Taylor Carpet One Floor & Home
AdSource
Boy Scouts of America Southwest Florida Council, Inc.
Edison State College
Liberty Youth Ranch, Inc.
Suncoast Schools Federal Credit
Union
Six through Ten Years
Source Interlink Companies
Merrill Gardens at Naples
Senior Insurance Solutions
Wells Fargo Insurance Services
Small Business Development
Center-FGCU
Allure Accounting, LLC
Bonita Springs Lions Club
Flamingo Motel of Bonita, Inc.
Marjorie M. Rubacky
Eleven through Fifteen Years
Pulte Homes/DiVosta Homes/Del
Webb
Roetzel & Andress, LPA
The Golf Guys
Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
Bonita Springs Self Storage
CurtCo Publishing
Emeritus at Bonita Springs
Grant, Fridkin, Pearson, Athan &
Crown P.A.
Classic Title Services, Inc.
Seminole Casino
Imperial Bonita Estates, Inc.
Wine Concepts, Inc
NOVEMBER 2009
Renewing Investors from
September 30, 2009 through November 02, 2009
Sixteen through Twenty Years
Best Electric And Air
Twenty through Twenty-Five
Years
Gulfshore Insurance, Inc.
This is a monthly installment of our activities government
and economic development related. Keep an eye out for
more information of the Chamber’s activities on our website
and in the weekly e-briefs.
BUSINESS EDGE
The Economic Development and Government
Affairs Report is available on our website at
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com.
BUSINESS EDGE
NOVEMBER 2009
12
13
The Florida Chamber needs
your input on an important issue.
There are increasing
concerns regarding business
identity theft – taking the name
of, or a very similar name of an
existing, reputable business and
profiting from that name and
reputation.
Representative Ari Porth
(D- Coral Springs) has asked the
Florida Chamber to gather comments from the business community on legislation he will
consider filing in the 2010 legislative session to address the issue. The intent of the legislation is to criminalize the taking
of an existing business name
and profiting from it.
To see a current example
of business identity theft and
how it has affected one South
Florida business owner, click
here.
NOVEMBER 2009
The Florida Chamber Needs Your Input
on Business Identity Theft
To read the full proposal, click
here.
If you have questions, please
contact Gabe Sheheane at
(850) 521-1251 or
info@flchamber.com.
Blue Chip Award Recognizes Southwest
Florida Small Business Owners
This year’s distinguished finalists are:
David Herman and Todd
Strackbein of Herman ▪
Strackbein Construction,
Inc
Steve Eagan of In Bloom
Flowers
Owner J. Robert (Bob)
Long and President Matt
Chambers of JRL Ventures
Inc./Marine Concepts
John Trotter, Vice President, of Mermaid Manufacturing of SW FL, Inc
Diane Caputo of Old
Monty’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
Todd Huston, an amputee, mountain climber and
world record-holding disabled
athlete, will appear as this
year’s keynote speaker for the
award’s program.
For more information
about the luncheon or the finalist click here.
BUSINESS EDGE
Five small-business owners
who have succeeded in the face
of adversity will be honored at a
luncheon Thursday, November
5th. One nominee will win the
15th annual Southwest Florida
Blue Chip Community Business
Award.
The program, coordinated and sponsored by Oswald
Trippe and Company, recognizes successful small businesses and shares their stories
so that other entrepreneurs may
benefit from their experiences.
The awards luncheon,
set for 11:30 a.m., will take
place at Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., Fort
Myers.
―
We were thrilled to
have a record number of 18
nominations this year,‖ says
OTC’s Scott Gregory, CIC,
CRM, and Blue Chip organizer.
―
The judges had a difficult task
selecting the five finalists.‖
BUSINESS EDGE
NOVEMBER 2009
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