October_2015 - Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce

Wakulla Chamber and You: Partners For Success
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
October 2015
Wakulla County Chamber
OUR
PREMIER MEMBERS
Preserving the Past…….Planning for the Future
www.wakullacountychamber.com
President’s Message
Greetings Wakulla!
I hope that you recall my message from late spring when I
challenged you to write down your goals and ideas of how to
achieve them. The next few weeks would be a great time to review this document if
you haven’t already done so. Be honest with yourself when reviewing your
accomplishments and your failures. Try to identify exactly what contributed to your
accomplishments and failures, and adjust your plan for next year accordingly. If
your business is seasonal, now is a good time to write down goals and plans for the
winter season so that you can review your success next spring.
As a brief update on the progress of the EDC strategic planning, we have written
and accepted a new mission statement and vision plan. At the last meeting, all of
the attendees were split into 3 groups, then went through all of the responses from
the public surveys that were performed over the summer. Specifically, we were
asked to identify the top 5 advantages and disadvantages of Wakulla County as it
related to Economic Development. I was proud to see that each group’s abridged
responses were almost exactly the same! Some of the top advantages (no
particular order) include: strong / educated workforce, great environmental
opportunities / outdoor recreation, great educational system (K-12 and TCC/WEI),
and proximity to Capital and coast. We are uniquely situated for growth as the
economy returns, and the current process of the EDC will guide the growth in the
direction that is best for the County.
I would like to personally thank all of the people who take time out of their busy
schedule and work so hard to ensure this process is successful. I would also like to
thank the lunch sponsors for these meetings. It certainly makes the meeting more
enjoyable, and is a great advertising opportunity for your business.
We have a few more opportunities for workshops before we hit the holiday season,
please contact our office with suggestions of workshop topics.
As always, please let us know how we can help!
Respectfully,
Member Spotlight
Name of business: Frances Casey Lowe, P.A. and Guilday, Schwartz, Simpson,
West, Hatch & Lowe, P.A.
Name of owner: Frances Casey Lowe
Tell us about your business (include unique facts and history): We are a merged
Title Company and Law Office that has been actively supporting Wakulla County for 10
years.
What services, products do you offer? Legal services relating to Commercial and
Residential Real Estate, Probate, Estate Planning, Family Practice, Business Planning and
Structure
What sets your business apart from the competition? We offer services in the heart
of Wakulla County so clients do not have to travel to Tallahassee for legal and real estate
needs. We take pride in being able to have such a hands-on and intimate approach to
matters that can often be overwhelming and uncomfortable.
What should the community/customer expect when they visit your business?
Our business strives to make our clients know they are not alone. Whether it be in
relation to buying/selling a house, planning out their estate, administering the estate of a
loved one, starting a business or any other legally trying issue someone may have in their
life. We walk through the legal process with our clients step-by-step. We are available at
any time to assist them, reassure them, and go above and beyond until they are satisfied.
How long have you been a Chamber member? Ten years.
Why did you join the Chamber? To actively participate in community affairs and
connect with other local businesses to build strong and everlasting relationships.
What Chamber services have you taken advantage of and/or will take advantage
of in the near future? We continuously use the Chamber for the up to date valuable
contact information of local businesses and community leaders.
What’s your reason Wakulla residents should Shop Local?
Our goal is to
continuously promote local business relationships, as this helps our community grow and
prosper while still maintaining its hospitable southern charm.
If anyone is interested in your products/services, how do they contact you? We
are available by phone Monday thru Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. If you call after
hours, someone will follow-up your voicemail the next business day. Our office is available
for appointments at this time as well, which can be made over the phone or in person.
Additional Comments i.e. Community involvement: Past Director of Wakulla County
Chamber of Commerce and Wakulla County Academic Boosters, as well as past Treasurer
of Rotary Club of Wakulla County. Our office supports/sponsors many of the Wakulla High
School sports teams as well as most of the local events and fundraisers.
Address: 68 A Feli Way, Crawfordville, FL 32327
Phone Number:
(850) 926-8245
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Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening
The chamber held a ribbon cutting and participated in the Grand Opening of our newest Realty
office,
Waypoint
Properties,
Thursday,
September
24.
We
had
an
overwhelming crowd of roughly 100 family members, friends and chamber
members in attendance to wish Josh Brown and Elaine Gary luck in their new
endeavor.
Waypoint Properties is a full service real estate company located at 3004
Crawfordville Highway in the front of the Wakulla Title building. In addition
to listing and real estate, Waypoint Properties and its agents handle property
management and tenant relations as well.
Josh Brown is the broker for
Waypoint Properties. Josh’s family roots run deep as he was born and raised
at Alligator Point, graduated from Wakulla High and FSU.
Josh enjoys all the beauty Wakulla
County has to offer including fishing, both in the Gulf and rivers, hunting and golfing. Elaine Gary
is the Managing Broker.
Elaine and her husband
moved
to
Wakulla
County in 1992 due to
their
love
of
boating,
fishing, and scalloping.
Together Josh and Elaine
have
combined
real
estate
experience
excess
of
assisting
buying
homes,
25
in
years
customers
and
land
selling
and
investment properties.
Let Waypoint Properties
help you “find your way home…”
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WAKULLA NEWS
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Networking Luncheon at Outzs Too
When you stop in at Ouzts Too Oyster Bar and Grill in Newport, either by chance or
design, you will definitely experience a laid back atmosphere and Ms. Dorothy’s true
Southern hospitality. Several times today we heard “Ms. Dorothy doesn’t mess around
when it comes to food” as attendants of our networking luncheon walked away from the
buffet, plates loaded with fresh grouper, fried shrimp, shrimp and rice, hush puppies,
slaw, baked beans, smoked mullet dip, smoked mullet, oysters on the half shell, ribs, and
peach cobbler. This luncheon was so well attended that we were seated in the outside
area, and the weather was beautiful. Ouzts Too owner Dorothy White is a popular stop for
several poker run fund raisers each year, along with other fundraisers held for community
organizations.
Coming to the luncheons is a great way to get to know other business owners, or their
employees, as new faces and new members get
introduced to our ever growing crowd. Tim Lawton,
General Manager of Zaxby’s in Crawfordville was one
of those first timers. Zaxby’s is another of many
businesses in our county proud to give back to the
community they do business in. Zaxby’s supports
many local organizations like Relay for Life and
sponsors a youth baseball team just to name a
couple. Amanda Wright, formerly of Wakulla Realty
shared her new position with Ameris Bank, and also
introduced Karen Williams, new to Wakulla Realty. Commissioner Ralph Thomas had the
pleasure of introducing Diane Bardy, new TDC director. Diane has lots of marketing
experience and will be a valuable asset promoting our county. One of our board members,
Dr. Rachel Sutz Pienta introduced one of her co-workers at American Cancer Society,
Community Manager, Special Events Brittany Somerville, who is responsible for events
such as the Cattle Baron’s Ball and Making Stride Against Breast Cancer. Rachel also
invited William Hatfield – new Executive Editor in Chief of the Tallahassee Democrat, and
also the Democrat’s regional news and events reporter, Ryan Dailey. If you are interested
in getting your news published in the Tallahassee Democrat, give us a call. Chris Oglesby,
manufacturing Director of the growing local company Residential Elevators introduced his
plant manager Frank Panzirano, and shipping and logistics manager Matt Turner.
Also present was Britt and Stacy Kent who recently joined the chamber with his company
Kent’s Property Preservation, LLC.
Another section of our luncheon is sharing of local events:
Zoe Mansfield and Gail Gillman again shared the Stone Crab Festival in St Marks, October
24th, and invited everyone to dress up as a pirate and participate in the parade, and also
encouraged ticket sales for the John Deere chance raffle.
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Pictures courtesy of The Wakulla News
Kevin Vaughn, Wakulla Insurance is doing a book drive for children age K – 12th Grade,
and asked for donations, or donations of gently used books. They can be dropped off at
the local office, 2190 Crawfordville Hwy.
Charlean Lanier with Operation Santa advertised chance drawing tickets for some very
nice packages to raise funds for Operation Santa, and also to encourage adopting a family
for Christmas. Camp Gordon Johnston was represented by Tony Minichiello and Michael
Horvath and invited attendants to the 9th Annual National Museum Day September 26 th,
and also to Wakulla Springs Park November 11 th, to view their display for Veteran’s Day.
Our new members were introduced as Waypoint Realty, Panacea Waterfronts Florida
Partnership, Inc, Barn’s Sprits and joining on this day, Wakulla Springs Lodge.
The $73 cash raffle was won by Ryan
Dailey. We also had a record number of
give- away items and want to thank the
following for their contribution to this
popular
raffle:
Olympus
The
Insurance
Wakulla
News,
Company,
RGVI
Insurance, Super Lube, Gulf Winds Federal
Credit Union, Capital City Bank, Kent’s
Property
Preservation,
Tallahassee
Democrat, American Cancer Society, City
of St. Marks, Camp Gordon Johnston
WWII Museum, Jo Ann Palmer, Charlean
Lanier, Cook Insurance, and Petra Shuff.
The spotlight for this month was on The UPS Store # 6044.
The UPS Store # 6044 is a locally owned and operated, and cares about their customers.
They have the knowledge and expertise to handle all of your mailbox, packing, shipping,
and professional printing needs and are passionate about what they do! The store also
offers notary service. One of the major Services Harry Bosman, owner, talked about was
the USPS Every Door Direct Mail Retail service offered. Every Door Direct Mail service
from the US Postal Service lets you reach every address in a neighborhood without
needing names or street addresses. You save the cost of renting mailing lists and printing
specific addresses. Every Door Direct Mail is great for sending coupons, announcing sales,
and much more. Your local printer can help you get started and will help you design your
mail piece to your specifications. Your routes will be selected to maximize your
opportunity; choose by zip code or up to a 5 –mile radius. Your mail pieces will be printed
at a low cost at the highest quality, and bundled as required by the Post Office. Your
mailing manifest and bundle cover slips for your entire mailing will be completed as
required. Your mailing pieces will be delivered or shipped to the appropriate Post Office(s)
that will deliver your mailing. For more information, or to get started on your Every Door
Direct Mailing, contact The UPS Store # 6044 today (850) 576-3333
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2014
Welcome New Chamber Members
Business
Excellence Winners
Start - Up Business
Flying Papi
●
Business
Welcome Niraj Patel - Barn Enterprise Inc., DBA Barn’s Spirits
– specializing in fine wines and other alcoholic beverages
1306 Coastal Hwy, Panacea, FL 32346
850.713.0181
Crawfordville Auto & Tire
●
Welcome Josh Brown - Waypoint Properties – specializing in real
estate
Non - Profit
Wakulla County Senior
Center
●
Environmental
Stewardship
Hydra Engineering and
Construction, LLC
●
PO Box 56/3004 Crawfordville Hwy, Crawfordville, FL 32326 850.926.9100
Welcome Gregory Cohen and Sarah Kelly - Wakulla Springs
Lodge – specializing in hospitality and events
The Lodge at Wakulla Springs, 550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla
Springs, FL 32327 (850) 421-2000
Welcome Mark Mitchell - Panacea Waterfronts Florida Partnership,
Inc. – specializing in revitalization of the historical culture of Panacea –
PO Box 212, Panacea, FL, 32346 panaceawaterfronts@yahoo.com
Member
Janice Eakin
●
Director
Mary Wallace
●
Wakulla Area Business
Purrs and Waggs Healthy
Pets
Save the Date: Ribbon Cuttings:
Panhandle Pizza - Under new ownership , 10 am, Monday, October 5, 2015 ,
2698 - Crawfordville Hwy
Harbor Point Realty & Vacation Rentals, 11:30 am, Tuesday, October 6,
2015
3038 - B Crawfordville Hwy., Crawfordville
(Intersection of Hwy 319 & MLK Junior Memorial Rd)
Business Excellence Awards Banquet:
6 pm, Thursday, November 19, 2015 at Wakulla Senior Center, 33 Michael
Drive, Crawfordville
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