POLICY UPDATE
Meet the City of Gainesville Mayoral and District 4 Candidates
Candidate Forum
Tuesday, March 5, 6 - 8pm
Scorpio Construction
3911 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville
We look forward to seeing all of our members at our Candidate Forum next Tuesday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8pm at Scorpio Construction (3911 W. Newberry Road, Gainesville, 32607). Until then, to help you get to know them better, we asked each candidate for the Mayoral and District 4 races to complete our Candidate Questionnaire. Click on the links to view the responses (published just as we received them). Election Day is Tuesday, March 19, and early voting starts Saturday, March 9. We hope you will engage on the issues that are important to you.
Click the links below to learn more about each candidate!
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UPCOMING EVENT
Business After Hours at Gatornationals!
Wednesday, March 13, 5-7pm
Gainesville Raceway
11211 N. County Rd. 225, Gainesville
It's time to kick off Gatornationals! Join us for the annual Chamber Business After Hours at the Gainesville Raceway on Wednesday, March 13 from 5 to 7pm as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Gatornationals. This event is always one of our best-attended networking events, so don't miss out!
Join us for food, refreshments and the opportunity to win some great door prizes including tickets to attend Gatornationals.
Free admission for all Chamber members and their employees.
Automotive Sponsor Davis Chevrolet will be showcasing some of their cool vehicles and their will be multiple drawings to win prizes including tickets to attend Gatornationals.
Bring a friend, bring a co-worker, bring yourself, but most importantly, bring your Gatornationals spirit!
For more information and to register to attend,
Click Here
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UPCOMING EVENT
Ribbon Cutting Celebration THURSDAY:
Pure Aesthetics & Gaines Plastic Surgery
Thursday, February 28, 4:30 - 6pm
Pure Aesthetics
217 NW 76th Drive, Gainesville
Join us Thursday, February 28 to celebrate and welcome the brand new location for Pure Aesthetics & Gaines Plastic Surgery with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Pure Aesthetics is an all inclusive medical Spa that started off as a one woman show and in 4 years has blossomed into a brand new, state of the art office with 7 employees, an Allergan top 500 account and the most experienced CoolSculpting providers in the greater Gainesville Area.
As a boutique practice, Gaines Plastic Surgery is committed to strong doctor-patient relationships and exceptional personalized care. With more than 15 years of service in the community, Gaines Plastic Surgery always ensures each patient's safety and comfort during every step of treatment.
The event will include speeches, Hors d'oeuvres and Refreshments.
The official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will commence at 5:00pm.
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
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UPCOMING EVENT
Lunch & Learn : Strength in Culture
Wednesday, March 6, Noon - 1pm
Saint Leo University
4650 NW 39th Place, Suite B, Gainesville
Presented by
: Julieanne McGuinness
Team Dynamo / Keller Williams
Too often as business owners, we expect for our employees to just do what we would do, or think as we would think. That’s just not realistic - and it’s definitely not reality. We are called as Leaders in our organizations to not only perform at a high level, but communicate at one as well. This lunch and learn will teach you the questions for you ask to understand in order to identify the tone of your current organization, and what steps to take to create a positive and lasting culture that produces results and reflect positivity.
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UPCOMING EVENT
CEO InSights featuring Chad Paris of Parisleaf
Wednesday, March 20, 8 - 9:30am
Hippodrome Theater, Gainesville
25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville
CEO InSights is an event series featuring topic presentations by local presidents, CEOs and other community leaders in an intimate, studio-type setting. The goal is to share personal and timely insights on critical topics including leadership, innovation, culture and more.
Join us Wednesday, March 20th, as our guest speaker will be Chad Paris, Principal and CEO of Parisleaf.
Registration is required. A light breakfast will be served.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Alachua County and CareerSource North Central Florida hosting Recruitment Event
Wednesday, February 27, 10am - 2pm
CSNCFL Gainesville Career Center
10 NW 6th Street, Gainesville
Alachua County and CareerSource North Central Florida (CareerSource NCFL) are hosting a recruitment event on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the CareerSource NCFL Gainesville Career Center (10 N.W. 6th Street, Gainesville).
Applicants claiming veterans' preference must sign in between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
(veterans who sign-in after 10 a.m. will be considered with general applicants). Veterans should have their DD214 and any other documentation to verify preference. All applicants should bring a valid government ID. The ID will be utilized if a conditional offer is made.
More than twenty positions are available and include:
- Laborer I & Laborer II (Multiple)
- SR Engineering Technician
- Equipment Operators (Multiple)
- Two Paid Engineering Interns
Applicants may be conditionally hired at the event. Applications completed online prior to the event will be reviewed first. Applicants that are conditionally qualified during the interview process, but not conditionally hired, will be placed on a list of hirable applicants that will be referenced when more positions become available. This list will stay active for 90 days. The starting pay for these positions begins at $13.50 per hour.
For more information, contact Alachua County Human Resources Manager Karrie Maloney at 352-337-6176 or
kmaloney@alachuacounty.us
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UPCOMING EVENT
City College Spring Career Fair
Tuesday, March 12, 11:30am - 1:30pm
City College
7001 NW 4th Blvd, Gainesville
Join City College for their Spring Career Fair! This event will be free and open to the public. If you're interested in attending, bring a résumé and wear formal attire.
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UPCOMING EVENT
SIMEDHealth Job Fair
Saturday, March 2, 9am - Noon
SIMEDHealth Building - Atrium
4343 W Newberry Road, Gainesville
SIMEDHealth is hiring full time, part time and PRN for positions in Gainesville, Ocala, Chiefland and Lady Lake/The Villages.
To pre-register for the job fair and guarantee your interview time, call (352) 224-2200 or email jobs@simedhealth.com.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Save the Date: Santa Fe Career Fair
Wednesday, April 10, 9am - Noon
SF Gymnasium, Bldg. V
3000 NW 83rd Street, Gainesville
Registration is free but space is limited so reserve a table now—table and two chairs will be provided.
Please indicate any accommodations required prior to event—power is available but limited.
If your company is interested in sponsoring a light snack for employer participants, please let
James Schindler
know. Sponsors will receive prime placement of display and special considerations on marketing materials for this event.
Contact Career Placement office to register and with any questions about this event.
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REMINDER
Hot Jobs through CareerSource NCFL
Each week, CareerSource North Central Florida staff members identify current
Hot Jobs that employers are eager to fill.
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To apply for jobs listed:
- log on towww.employflorida.com
- Click on “Job Search” under “Quick Menu” on the left side of the page
- Select “Job Number Search” from the menu across the top of the page
- Enter the job number from the list above in the “job number” box
- Click on “search”
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UPCOMING EVENT
Meet Mr. Kazumi Fujimoto, Japanese Enterprise Florida Deputy Director
Tuesday, February 26, 2 – 3:30pm
The Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce
300 E University Ave, Suite 100, Gainesville
The Chamber's International Council is hosting the Mr. Kazumi Fujimoto, Japanese Deputy Director of Enterprise Florida. Join us for as we learn about current trade relations and how to build business relationships in Japan.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Made in GNV: Chamber's Advanced Manufacturing Council 1st Quarter General Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 12, 5:30pm
The Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce
300 E University Ave, Suite 100, Gainesville
Join the Chamber's Advanced Manufacturing Council for their first general council meeting of the 2019! They are excited to introduce to you the Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of Florida, Amanda Bowen and the President & CEO of the Greater Gainesville Chamber Mr. Eric Godet, Sr. In addition, hear from the 2019 Chair, Gary Ascani of Ology as well as the 2018 Chair, Ryan Loftus of Exactech.
Learn trends in manufacturing, where 2019 will take the council, how and why it is important for all manufacturers to become members of this growing and impactful council and much more!
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UPCOMING EVENT
Join us March 4 for our Distinguished Speaker Luncheon featuring Congressman Ted Yoho
Monday, March 4, 11:30 - 1:15pm
Greater Gainesville Chamber
300 E University Ave, Suite 100, Gainesville
We are delighted to welcome to the Chamber Congressman Ted Yoho as our Distinguished Speaker on Monday, March 4
th
, from 11:30 am to 1:15 pm. Congressman Yoho will provide a legislative update and a Q&A will follow his remarks. This member-exclusive event includes a buffet lunch. These popular luncheons fill up quickly,
register
today!
This event is sponsored by UF Health Doug Williams Executive Health Program.
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POLICY UPDATE
Upcoming City Elections: Important Dates & Information
The March City of Gainesville elections are rapidly approaching. To help you prepare to cast your ballots, we’ve included key related information below.
Get to know the candidates
- For more information on candidates and their view on key issues, see our lead story featuring their responses to the Chamber’s Candidate Questionnaire.
- Attend our upcoming Candidate Forum on Tuesday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Scorpio construction, located at 3911 W. Newberry Rd.
- Sample ballots can be found here.
Know your voting options
- Absentee ballots can be requested up to six days prior to election day, or March 13. Call the Supervisor of Elections’ office at 352-374-5252 or request a mail-in ballot online.
- Early Voting begins on Saturday, March 9 and lasts until Saturday, March 16. For hours and locations, click here.
- Election day is Tuesday, March 19. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On election day, you must vote at your assigned precinct. For more information on precinct locations, click here. For information on the types of identification accepted at the polls, click here.
If you have additional questions, contact the Supervisor of Elections’ office at 352-374-5252.
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UPCOMING EVENT
NHRA YES Program
Friday, March 15
Gainesville Raceway
11211 N. County Rd. 225, Gainesville
The NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) YES (Youth & Education Services) Program can show your students a new perspective on S.T.E.M. by taking what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real world experiences. Enjoy a thought provoking presentation from business, racing, and educational professionals, interactive vendors, and a FREE NHRA drag racing race ticket to all YES participants.
This is a FREE program that focuses on the importance of goals and continued education; additionally it allows students to learn about and explore various career opportunities. The NHRA Youth & Education Services Department was founded in 1989 and is the only full-time education program in motorsports that provides quality programs and activities for schools and youth organizations nationwide.
Visit these links for more information:
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UPCOMING EVENT
Oak View Middle students win top state award for video promoting literacy
A team of students from Oak View Middle School has won state recognition for a video they created to promote literacy.
The video took first place among middle schools in the state’s annual Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! video contest, which is sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Education Foundation and the Florida Lottery.
The students who created the video are all members of the school’s student government (SGA). When language arts teacher and student government sponsor Lauren Marlowe approached them with the idea of creating a video to encourage students to read, she says they jumped at the chance, despite a very tight deadline.
“They loved the idea of sharing their love of literature with other people,” said Marlowe. “They said that even if they didn’t make it on time they could still put it out there and maybe people would be inspired to read.”
Besides the SGA students talking about the importance of reading, the video includes clips of other Oak View students reading to children at nearby Newberry Elementary School. Just a day or so after the student government decided to create a video, Marlowe heard from a Newberry Elementary teacher saying the school was in need of volunteers to read in classrooms. She gathered some student volunteers and said they enjoyed the experience.
“They loved it, and a lot of them found abilities they didn’t necessarily know they had, like dramatic reading or connecting with younger kids,” she said.
Marlowe says she and the students now want to make the reading trip to Newberry Elementary an annual event. In the meantime, the school and students are celebrating their state win, which includes a prize of $1200 to buy books for Oak View’s media center.
The students’ award-winning video can be seen on YouTube
here
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UPCOMING EVENT
Perry McGriff's GATORIDE - March 9
Saturday, March 9, 9am
Stephen C. O'Connell Center
250 Gale Lemerand Dr., Gainesville
Join the Gainesville Sports Commission and Lifesouth at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for the inaugural Perry McGriff’s GATORIDE. This one-day bike ride and family-friendly festival’s proceeds benefit LifeSouth and honors Perry C. McGriff Jr., a longtime Gator and mainstay in the Gainesville community.
The ride is open for all levels with a registration fee. The festival is free to the public, with something for everyone! There’s a 5-mile fun-ride for kids and adults; 31, 69, or 90 mile supported rides; Friday evening People for Bikes: DJ/Live music; Raffles and more!
Riders registered receive a GATORIDE finisher medal!
Perry C. McGriff, Jr. served as a member of LifeSouth’s board of directors for nearly 30 years, was Chairman of LifeSouth’s Five Points of Life Foundation, and was one of the founding members of the Gainesville Sports Organizing Committee (Gainesville Sports Commission). Since 1988, Perry has hosted many sporting events in the community, helping bring in millions of dollars of impact into Alachua County. Perry was also an advocate for blood donation; donating more than 67 gallons of blood in his lifetime. Through his love of sports, Perry developed a cross-country ride to share stories of lives that had been saved by the donation of one of the Five Points of Life. Over the course of seven rides and 14,650 miles, Perry shared the road with riders who were alive because someone donated. Perry died February 2, 2017 in his hometown - Gainesville, Fla.
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New Members
Southside Auto Car
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Renewing Members
Biotest Plasma Center
CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services, Inc
Comfort Keepers
CSI Academy of Florida
Fun State Pools Service
I-75 Business Park & Self Storage, Inc.
McDonald's Office
Nossa, Gabriel DDS
OPIE Software
Southern Scholarship Foundation
TD Bank
Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers-Shands
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UPCOMING EVENT
Register for summer camps at the Florida Museum
Registration period: March 1 - March 15
The Florida Museum of Natural History invites students to dive into the sciences and investigate natural history through activities and hands-on exploration during summer camps. Registration opens March 1 for Museum members and March 15 for non-members. Visit
www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/summer-camps
to register or call 352-273-2061 for more information.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Florida Technologies Event Unveiling at the Cade
Saturday, March 2, Noon - 1:30pm
Cade Museum
811 South Main Street, Gainesville
The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is pleased to invite you to the unveiling of an exhibit celebrating Florida's incredible story of innovation and invention, showcasing inventors from the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame (FIHF), National Academy of Inventors (NAI) ,and University of South Florida (USF), and featuring inventor Dr. Paul Sanberg, USF Senior Vice President and founder of both FIHF and NAI.
The unveiling will take place on Saturday, March 2nd from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm. See you there!
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UPCOMING EVENT
Maple Street Tioga to Host its 1st Sunday Missional Brunch with The United Way this Sunday
Sunday, March 3, 11am - 3pm
A Maple Street Biscuit Company Tioga
140 SW 128th St, Building 5 Suite D, Newberry
The mission of Maple Street Biscuit Company is to help people, serve others and be a part of the community. This year, they have begun a new series of cause-related brunches in order to build awareness and to inspire others to give to some uniquely dynamic, local causes who are making significant impact in our community. For their next brunch, they will be partnering with United Way of North Central Florida who’s mission is to positively impact the education, health and financial stability of people living in our region. Please plan to come out Sunday, March 3rd between 11:00 am - 3:00 pm to support this event and learn more about how you can support their mission. A portion of the proceeds generated from this event will go toward financially supporting the mission of United Way of North Central Florida. They look forward to seeing you there.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Introduction for Angel Investing For Women Interested in Building a Portfolio: Driving Returns and Minimizing Risk
Wednesday, March 13, 4 - 7pm
UF Innovate | The Hub
747 SW 2nd Ave. Room 140
The Collaboratory for Women Innovators, GrayRobinson, P.A., and Florida Funders are partnering to convene women across the greater Gainesville area interested in learning more about venture capital, supporting entrepreneurs, and strategies drive portfolio returns. Access to capital is the number one challenge for Florida’s high-growth companies. Learn more about how to access extraordinary returns while helping the next generation of Florida entrepreneurs. Investments can start as low as $5,000. The event will include company pitch, educational components, as well as networking reception and refreshments!
NOTE: This event is intended for those interested in learning more about becoming an angel investor (not for those seeking funding)
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UPCOMING EVENT
Retail Smarter Conference Showcases How to Thrive in Retail’s Changing Landscape
Thursday - Friday, March 27 - 28
The J. Wayne Reitz Union, University of Florida
You’ve likely seen reports of the demise of retail. While stores closing locations orreporting slow sales may have you convinced these statements are true, retail experts from across the nation are gathering at the University of Florida Retail Smarter Conference to address that, in fact, retail isn’t dying. It’s just changing.
The two-day event, March 27-28, 2019, will be hosted at the University of Florida by the Warrington College of Business David F. Miller Retail Center. Retail Smarter will converge thought-provoking speakers from many industries to address the changes in retail while discussing trends, best practices, technology, supply chain, e- commerce, sustainability and human resources.
“We’ve been hosting Retail Smarter for 29 years,” said Betsy Goodman, Executive Director of the Miller Retail Center. “Attendees will be immersed in the world of retail and learn about topics of strategic importance to senior retail executives at leading firms.”
Retail Smarter will feature many notable speakers including Shark Tank alumna and co-founder of The Superfan Company Kim Kaupe, National Retail Federation Foundation President Ellen Davis and Top 10 World Ranked Pro-BMX Athlete Josh Perry among other leaders from companies like Walgreens, Office Depot and Bealls.
To learn more about how you can thrive in retail’s changing landscape, register for Retail Smarter on the event
website
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