Nov-Dec_151_Newslett.. - Tavares Chamber of Commerce

The official business community newsletter of Tavares
Business Luncheon
Wednesday, November 25
Tavares Civic Center
100 East Caroline Street
11:30am to 1:00pm
Caterer: Cowboy Jim’s Cookies
& Candies
Black Wednesday …start
your Christmas shopping!
Please RSVP
Chamber Closed
Nov 26 & 27
Thanksgiving Holiday
Christmas Parade and
Light Up Tavares
December 5
8:00 am Tavares 5K Santa
Shuffle Charity Run
5:00 pm Christmas Parade on
Ruby & Main Street
followed by festivities
in Wooton Park
For more information call
352.742.6319
Networking Lunch
Tuesday, December 8
1884 Restaurant and Bar
12 E. Magnolia Ave, Eustis
Noon to 1:00pm
Please RSVP
Chamber Closed
December 24 & 25
Christmas Holiday
Merry Christmas to All!
|
November/December 2015
10th Annual Taste of Tavares - A Huge Success
TAVARES – Thursday November 12 was an
astounding success, by any measure! With a record
number of participants, Chinese Auction items too numerous to mention and an extraordinary number of attendees, the 10th annual Taste of Tavares, held at a new
venue - Tavares Pavilion on
the Lake making downtown
Tavares a tasty place to be.
Maître d' Presenting Sponsor
Premier Alarm System Solutions (PASS) presented the awards to the winners.
Restaurants included 1884 Restaurant and Bar,
ALS Sand Bar, Hwy 441 Diner, Lake Receptions, Mary's
Kountry Kitchen, Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill, Pisces Rising, Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill,
The Country Club of Mount Dora, Tiki West Raw Bar & Grill and The Cuban Place. Maggie's Attic
and Hemingway's Wine and Cigar Bar provided wine tasting to attendees to compliment the delectable appetizers, entrees and desserts.
This year’s taste included business vendors from Trustee member Plaza Cadillac displaying one of their luxury cars to Premier Trustee member United Southern Bank providing
s’mores to all the guests. Other businesses included Community Health Centers, Cruise Planners - Blue Harbor Getaways, Daily Commercial, Freedom Boat Club, JB's Cinematic Creations
& Photography, Liberty Christian Preparatory School, Mark's Floors, Mortgage Financial Group,
Photo
Booth
by
eSportsPhoto,
Rodan
&
Fields
Skin
Care
Independant Consultant, Integrative Physical Medicine, The Chiropractic Center, and Seacoast
Continued on page 6
National Bank.
Why attend a Business After Hours?
Recall how excited (and nervous) you were when you first opened your business, joined
the Tavares Chamber of Commerce and hosted your first Business After Hours (BAHs)? You
wondered “will anyone attend?”, “have I prepared properly?”, “will I make a positive and lasting
impression?” along with a dozen other concerns.
BAHs can be one of your greatest means of networking, if properly prepared for; not only
for the host, but the attendees also. This article will address why you should attend and how to
get the most out of attending BAHs.
Continued on page 6
LakeXpress launches new bus Route 50 connecting South Lake to Orange County
CLERMONT — Lake County’s Transit Division is announcing the grand opening of LakeXpress’
new bus Route 50 connecting South Lake to Orange County.
A ribbon cutting ceremony, in partnership with reThink, a program of the Florida Department of
Transportation, is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at South Lake Hospital, located at 1900 Don
Wickham Dr. in Clermont. The ceremony will include special guest speakers and a brief, complementary
ride along a portion of the new route.
Route 50 officially begins Tuesday, Dec. 1, providing service between Mascotte and the Winter
Garden Regional Shopping Center in Orange County. In Lake County, the bus will make fixed stops primarily along State Road
50 including Mascotte City Hall, South Lake Hospital and the South Lake Campus of Lake-Sumter State College. It will then
head east to Winter Garden, where passengers may transfer to LYNX Link 105 to Orlando.
Free rides along Route 50 will be offered through the month of December.
“We are thrilled to announce this route, which is so important for our South Lake County com muters traveling to
work,” said Dottie Keedy, director of the Lake County Community Services Department, which oversees the county’s
public transit. “We anticipate Route 50 will be widely used by both residents traveling to and from work, as well as students and shoppers.”
Route 50 is the standalone service of LakeXpress, in addition to Routes 1-4, which run generally in north end of
the county along U.S. Highway 441 and downtown areas.
Route 50 will operate Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. - 8 p.m., except for federal holidays. Fares for LakeXpress are $1
for all trips. Half-fares are available for riders 60 years or older and individuals with disabilities. Free rides are available for students and children under five years of age, who are accompanied by a fare-paying chaperone.
For more information about Route 50, or LakeXpress in general, call 352-326-8637 or visit www.ridelakexpress.com.
Business Opportunity Centers
Lake County’s Business Opportunity Centers
(BOC) offer full-service business support to all businesses
in Lake County, regardless of size, industry or business
cycle. Whether you are an entrepreneur with the next big
idea or a successful business owner looking to take your
company to the next level, the Lake County BOC has a
program or service designed to help you achieve your
economic goals.
Lake County Economic Development has partnered with Lake-Sumter State College and the Small
Business Development Center to bring this unique
"Entrepreneurial Ecosystem" to Lake County. Training
and seminars, one-on-one consulting and a comprehensive incubator program are offered at each of three (3)
Centers conveniently located throughout the County.
Northeast Lake County Business Opportunity Center
Century Plaza
17521 U.S. Highway 441, Suite 6
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Phone: 352-602-4575
Site Manager: Stan Austin
South Lake County Business Opportunity Center
20763 US Highway 27
Groveland, FL 34736
Phone: 352-429-2581
Site Manager: Cesar Gomez
Northwest Lake County (Leesburg) Business
Opportunity Center
600 Market Street
Leesburg, FL 34749
Phone: 352-315-1846
Site Manager: Nancy Muenzmay
To register for a free class go to:
businessinlakefl.com/BusinessSupport/
BusinessOpportunityCenters/TrainingClassSchedule
Tavares Chamber of Commerce does not necessarily endorse or support advertising materials distributed through the newsletter.
Page 2 Tavares Business Journal
"The Spirit of Giving" Christmas
Celebration - Wooton Park
Join the City of Tavares at "The Spirit of Giving" Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 5, 2015.
Start your morning at 8:00 a.m. with the
Tavares 5K Santa Shuffle Charity Run presented
by Greater
Events for Angel Tree.
The Christmas Parade
will be held at 5:00 p.m.
on Ruby Street and Main
Street followed by festivities in Wooton Park including ice skating,
snow, ice sculptures by
Ice Pro, LC Swing Band,
Tavares High School
Band & Chorus, Living Angels by Unity Productions,
s'mores pit, Christmas photo booth, food trucks, Movie
in the Park featuring "Santa Buddies" - and you cant
miss Santa arriving by Seaplane!
For more information call 352.742.6319.
Coffee & Conversations to feature guest
Pat Burke, former NBA player and owner
of HOOPS
CLERMONT — The public is invited to Coffee
& Conversations, a monthly outreach meeting hosted
by Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks and School
Board Member Marc Dodd, to be held on Friday, Dec. 4
from 8-10 a.m. at Cheeser’s Palace, 707 W. Montrose
St., Clermont.
December’s featured guest is Pat Burke, former NBA player and owner of HOOPS Basketball
Training Facility in Tavares. Burke’s HOOPS Life Youth
Training Program is offered in both Tavares and Clermont, with the goal of introducing children to an enriching curriculum both on and off the court.
Vote For Your Chamber Board of Directors
Recently members were sent the link to vote for
the 2016 Tavares Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. If you voted electronically through this link, thank you
for taking the time. If you have NOT YET voted you can do
so using the insert in this newsletter. If you wish to vote
online and missed the link, please contact Amanda Kelly to
send you the link.
Only one Chamber member from each member
business can vote, so if you use the insert in this newsletter, please sign and print your name and member business
so your vote can be counted. Once completed please return the form to the Tavares Chamber at
Amanda@TavaresChamber.com or by fax 352. 343. 7565.
Please vote now as the elections will close Monday, December 14, 2015. Thanks.
2015 Tavares Chamber of Commerce Board
Executive Committee:
Janet Noack
United Southern Bank
President
Cheryl Rumbley
Cornerstone Hospice
Vice President
Kelly Pisciotta
Habitat for Humanity
Treasurer
Orin Owen
Owen Associates
Past President
Directors
Linda J. Bennett
Ameriprise Financial Services
Lou Buigas
Hoity Toity Mercantile
T.J. Fish
Lake~Sumter MPO
Beth Ann Gause
Gause and Hargrove
Rick Golab
Florida Hospital Waterman
Dee Johns
Directories Ink
Mary Johnson
Grand Rental Station
Dr. Joe Morreale
The Chiropractic Center
Phil Shearer
PSI Composites
Travis Senning
ALS Landing
Davis Talmage
Merrill Insurance Florida
Ted Wicks
Wicks Engineering Services
Ann Yager
Sun Publications/Triangle Newsleader
Tavares Business Journal Page 3
2015 Taste of Tavares
1884 Resaurant and Bar is
the Judge’s and People’s
Choice for Best Dessert
Tiki West Raw Bar & Grill is the
People’s Choice for Best Appetizer
Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill is the
People’s Choice for Best Entrée
Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill is the
People’s Choice for Best Entrée
Page 4
Tavares Business Journal
Tavares Business Journal Page 5
Taste of Tavares ........................................................................................................................ continued from page 1
1884 Restaurant and Bar wowed the crowd and judges with their
amazing cheesecake dessert and was awarded the Judge’s Choice
and People’s Choice for Best Dessert. The Judge’s Choice for Best
Entrée was Lake Receptions with their pork loin with fig sauce and
cheddar mashed potatoes. ALS Sandbar won the judge’s Best Appetizer for their mini fish tacos.
The People’s Choice for Best Appetizer was Tiki West Raw Bar &
Grill with their seafood swamp cabbage dip and People’s Choice
Entrée went to Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill with their delicious fall
-off-the-bone ribs. The Chamber Choice award was presented to
Mary’s Kountry Kitchen for her delectable desserts.
Cliff & Grace Jazz Favorites glided us through the evening with their fantastic melodies while Bonnie Whicher captured
the excitement of the patrons and Mike from PASS, our presenting sponsor called out the winners of the Chinese Auction.
Thanks to our food judges Ze' Carter - www.CafeCarpeDiemTavares.com, Mary Ryder - weekly food columnist from
Leesburg Daily Commercial and Michelle Clark - Aker’s Media Group who supported the event with their culinary palettes.
If you wish to participate in the Taste of Tavares next year, contact the Tavares Chamber of Commerce for details.
Welcome New Members
Bold, Beautiful and Beyond Weddings, LLC
Carol Sutton
352-391-8288
iDoc-Repair.com
Wesley Owen
352-800-4974
Cruise Planners - Blue Harbor Getaway's
Valerie & Jeff Ackler
407-964-1234
Mary's Kountry Kitchen
Mary Cutlip
352-343-6823
Terminix Commercial
Jack Wilburn
321-512-9083
Business After Hours ...................................................................................................................... continued from page 1
The most obvious reason for you to attend as many Chamber BAHs is
to show your support for other members of the Chamber. A relatively
new term being used throughout the business world is net weaving –
paying it forward. It's more about building strong, mutually beneficial
relationships while realizing that we all have something to offer each
other. Attending BAHs does just this and shows your support for the
business hosting the event.
Net weaving is when like-minded people share expertise,
encouragement, exchange contacts and valuable information when
crossing paths through shared passions, authentic encounters and
multiple technologies. Net weaving is the effortless use of unique
skill sets, knowledge and quality personal interactions to build relationships that result in positive results for everyone involved. BAHs offer are a perfect venue to net weave.
A second and possibly more motivating reason to attend BAHs is to build your business through networking.
This is especially true if a business hosting is not in your field of business. The goal of attending networking events is to
expand your circle of contacts and that equates to increased customers, leading to increased business.
When attending a BAH, be prepared. Brings lots of business cards and be ready to give your “two minute elevator” speech on who you are and what you have to offer. When you make that new contact, discover what you can do for
the other person; networking is about creating relationships, not making the sale. Wear your nametag on your right side.
This is to provide an easy sight-line to your name when shaking hands. Set a goal of meeting at least one (or more) new
person.
Some “icebreaking” questions to ask include, what do you do? Take a concerted interest in them. How long have
you worked in that field? Allow them to talk about themselves. What is it that you enjoy the most about what you do?
Permit them the opportunity to be proud of their accomplishments. What type of companies or individuals do you typically work with? See if you might share customers. What other Chamber events have you been to recently? This allows
them to share their involvement with the Chamber.
Business After Hours do not only benefit the host; attending as many as you can will help you increase your network and thereby increase your business. Tavares Chamber BAHs are scheduled on the 3 rd Thursday of the month,
from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Please RSVP with the Chamber, so hosts know how many guests to prepare for. Even if you cannot stay the entire time, stop by on your way home from work. You never know, your next big sale may just be waiting for
you.
Page 6 Tavares Business Journal
Membership Renewals
Adventure Sports Management
Joe Peters
352-989-6141
ERA Tom Grizzard. Inc.
Jean Martin
352-343-5500
Mid Florida Lakes
Jade Schrier
352-589-8300
Billy & Yvonne Spikes,
Property Managers
Billy and Yvonne Spikes
352-383-2917
Front Porch Realties, Inc.
Bobbi Kielt
352-250-1071
Mid-Florida Community Services
George Popovich
352-326-3540
Harbor Hills Country Club
Tom Leimberger
352-753-7000
Mortgage Financial Group
John V. Ardito
352-742-7900
HoneyBaked Ham
Donnie & Aubrey Covey
352-483-1776
Osprey Lodge, LLC
Ruth Cantillon
352-253-5100
Key West Resort on Lake Dora
Alex Cooke
352-508-5344
Smallwood Sign Company
Pat Smallwood
352-343-3951
Cornerstone Hospice
Cheryl Rumbley
352-348-7024
Lake Sumter MPO
T.J. Fish
352-315-0170
Striking Effects Promotions
Vicki Paul
352-589-2255
Daily Commercial
Melissa Bates
352-365-8200
Lakeview Comprehensive Dentistry
Tim Pruett
352-589-5660
Tavares High School
Janice Boyd
352-343-3007
Edward Jones - R. Sargent
Rebecca Sargent
352-357-2282
Merrill Insurance Florida
Davis Talmage
352-383-4147
Williams, Smith, & Summers, P.A.
Robert Williams
352-343-6655
Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic
Surgery Associates
Amy Jensen
352-742-0079
Classic Raceboat Association
Regatta
Bill John
352-729-6060
Trustee Members
Signature Trustee:
TAVARES CHAMBER
AMBASSADORS
Chair, Cheryl Rumbley
Cornerstone Hospice
Betty Ainslie
Rodan & Fields Dermatologists
Independent Consultant
Premier Trustee:
Belton Bail Bonds/Belton Insurance Agency
United Southern Bank
Southeastern Surveying & Mapping Corp.
Trustee:
Law Offices of Brent C. Miller, P.A.
Plaza Cadillac
Shananne Cain
Shananne Cain Florist
Rachel Graves
Quality Indoor Environ. Solutions
Alan Holden
Midway Baptist Church
Linda King
AFLAC
Jack Wilburn
Terminix
Tavares Business Journal Page 7
Tavares Chamber of Commerce
300 East Main Street
Tavares, FL 32778
Regency Park Assisted Living and Memory Care, 15000 U.S. Hwy 441, Eustis
Ribbon Cutting and Business After Hours on November 17, 2015.