UPCOMING EVENT
TOMORROW NIGHT: 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 TOMORROW NIGHT, 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
Join us for Business Before Hours at Oak Hall School
Tuesday, March 12, 8:30 - 10am
Oak Hall School
8009 SW 14th Ave, Gainesville
Join us for Business Before Hours Tuesday, March 12 from 8:30 to 10am at Oak Hall School.
Admission is free with your Chamber membership, registration is required.
Business Before Hours is a structured yet relaxed environment for making effective connections within the Chamber business community.
You may find a strong referral source, a new vendor, the perfect client or simply get a foot in the door for connecting at larger events. Come build lasting business and personal relationships at Business Before Hours. We hope to see you there!
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UPCOMING EVENT
Sweetwater Organic Coffee Co. Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, March 19, 4 - 6pm
Sweetwater Organic Coffee Co.
1331 S Main Street, Gainesville
Join us to celebrate and welcome the brand new Coffee Training Lab at Sweetwater Organic Coffee with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Sweetwater Organic Coffee is Gainesville’s 100% fair trade, organic coffee company, supplying independent coffee shops, grocers & home consumers with the most freshly roasted coffee available. The company also resells allied products such as artisan teas, syrups & environmentaly friendly compostable to-go ware. After 10+ years in business, Sweetwater is now expanding its services to provide industry-certified training for baristas and coffee industry professionals with classes available in March & throughout the year.
The event will include speeches, Hors d'oeuvres and Refreshments, giveaways, and tours.
The official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will commence at 4:30pm
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UPCOMING EVENT
Baseline Systems Ribbon Cutting
Thursday, March 14, 5 - 7pm
Baseline Systems
15560 NW US Hwy 441 Suite 150, Alachua
Join us this Thursday, March 14 to celebrate and welcome the brand new location for Baseline Systems with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Since 2014, Baseline Systems has been a leading provider of IT support and consulting, focusing on small and medium sized businesses in the Gainesville area. They have helped hundreds of businesses increase productivity and profitability by making IT a streamlined part of operations.
The event will include speeches, Hors d'oeuvres and Refreshments, and giveaways.
The official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will commence at 5:30pm
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
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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
Amazing Give Wrap Party
Thursday, March 21, 5 - 7pm
Fairfield Inn & Suites
3877 SW 37th Blvd, Gainesville
Join the Community Foundation and the Greater Gainesville Chamber as we count down to the end of the fourth annual Amazing Give. This event is open to the community. Food trucks and a cash bar will be available on site. There will be prize giveaways and a chance for you to win a grant for your favorite nonprofit.
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ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY
Showcase your talents by speaking at our first Annual Conference!
Business Expo and Conference
Friday, July 26
This year we will be adding workshops, panel discussions, and education to our Business Expo. We are now accepting applications for speakers, panelists and even white papers.
The conference will focus on four tracks:
- Startups & Entrepreneurs
- Running the business
- Marketing & Promo
- Leadership & Professional Development
The event will take place on July 26th. Applications are due Friday, April 5. For more information please visit: [insert link] or contact
Tiffany@gainesvillechamber.com.
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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
Save the Date: Stay in the Swamp Career Fair
Friday, April 12, 10am - 1pm
Hough Hall, UF
Are you looking for an undergraduate or graduate University of Florida student who is interested in staying in the Swamp? Local organizations are invited to come and recruit UF students across all majors at the Stay in the Swamp career fair. This annual event connects local employers and students in an effort to keep talent in the region. Students not only want to learn about your company's open positions, but also why your company and employees thrive in Greater Gainesville.
Companies are invited to market its openings and culture at optional information sessions the evening before the career fair. For more information, contact
Craig Petrus
or
Stephanie Fajre
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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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EVENT RECAP
Distinguished Speaker Luncheon featuring the Honorable Ted Yoho
The Congressman and his staff led a lively discussion on legislative priorities
The Chamber hosted Congressman Ted Yoho as our March Distinguished Speaker on Monday, March 4. The Congressman was called to a meeting on Air Force 2 to discuss national security, but was able to participate in our luncheon virtually, with a custom video and FaceTime. The Congressman provided a packed house of Chamber members an overview of his legislative priorities for this session, and discussed some of the roadblocks faced by House members. Of particular interest to our district are the Gainesville-Waldo bike path, the new Eco-Industrial Park and the Newberry agri-tech park and improvements to SR 301 and I-75. A Q&A followed his remarks, with members looking for updates on I-75 capacity, Internet security and the effect of regulations on job creation.
The Gainesville Area Chamber’s Distinguished Speaker Luncheons bring prominent leaders to engage with Chamber members in a small, informal setting. These distinguished leaders–which have included policymakers and leaders at the local, state and national level—provide Chamber members perspectives on a wide range of topics of interest to our community.
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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.
- 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 began 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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EDUCATION UPDATE
Local students qualify for state SkillsUSA Competition
Ten local high school students have earned spots in the upcoming SkillsUSA Florida State Competition following top performances at the recent regional competitions.
Students from the Professional Academies Magnet @ Loften High School, Eastside High School and Gainesville High School competed against 140 students from middle and high schools from 21 Florida counties in the SkillsUSA Region 2 event held in Ocala. They brought home five first place, three third place and two fourth place awards, which means they’ll be heading for the state competition in Pensacola in early April.
This is the first year that Eastside and Gainesville High sent students to the competition, at which students from PAM@Loften have often achieved success.
The students who have qualified for the statewide SkillsUSA competition include:
- Wesley Hill, Eastside High School: First place, Culinary Arts
- Kieran Poole, PAM@Loften High School: First place, Firefighting
- Raymond Shiver, PAM@Loften High School: First place, Customer Service
- Lorenzo Johnson, PAM@Loften High School: First place, Job Interview
- Gabriella Whisler, Gainesville High School: First place, Photography
- Derrick Williams, PAM@Loften High School: Third place, Customer Service
- Earl Faraon, PAM@Loften High School: Third place, Prepared Speech
- Kenny Weston, PAM@Loften High School: Third place, Firefighting
- Jacob Upshaw, PAM@Loften High School; Fourth place, Extemporaneous Speaking
- Zachary Cooke, PAM@Loften High School; Fourth place, Job Interview
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that one of the benefits you
receive as a Chamber member is the ability to submit a Press Release that will be visible on our website as well as in the Members Only Information Center? To submit a Press Release, log into the Member Information Center and click on the News Tab to Add a Press Release. For assistance logging into the Member Information Center, contact Mary Fox, your Member Engagement Manager
mary@gainesvillechamber.com
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UPCOMING EVENT
Accelerate the Good in Your Startup
TODAY, March 12, 11:30am - 1pm
UF Innovate - The Hub
747 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Conference Room 140
Join BBVA Compass and UF Innovate for this lunch and learn to learn more about BBVA Momentum - the global accelerator for social enterprises (cause-driven businesses).
Launched in 2011, BBVA Momentum is a blended training program for social enterprises that provides online and in-person training, expert mentorship, peer networking, global visibility, and cash prizes totaling $175,000.
In addition to learning about the program, you will also hear from Aidan Augustin, co-founder and president of Gainesville startup Feathr.
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MEMBER NEWS
RTI Surgical acquires Paradigm Spine
RTI Surgical, a large employer in the greater Gainesville area,
announced Friday
it has completed its acquisition of Paradigm Spine, a leader in motion preservation and non-fusion spinal implant technology. With the acquisition, RTI adds Paradigm Spine’s primary product, the coflex
®
Interlaminar Stabilization
®
device, to its growing and increasingly differentiated spine portfolio.
Coflex is a differentiated, minimally invasive motion preserving stabilization implant that is FDA PMA-approved for the treatment of moderate to severe lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). LSS is the number one diagnosed spine condition and the number one reason for spine surgery amongst the elderly in the United States today. RTI aims to grow coflex as the treatment of choice and standard of care for appropriate LSS patients.
For further reading, click
here
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New Members
Avanath Realty- Savannah Apartment Homes
Bouchard Custom Painting
Futch's Marine Depot
Nationwide Insurance Co.
The Charcoal Grill
Titan MRI
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Renewing Members
Beauty Lounge & Co
Florida Capital Bank, NA
Gatorland Toyota
LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating
Malcom Randall VA Medical Center
OLOGY Bioservices
SharpSpringSweetwater Branch Inn
The Continuum
Worth Advertising Group
Zeno Office Solutions
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UPCOMING EVENT
Gainesville ranks among Livability's 100 Best Places to Live
The 2019 rankings were guided by
an exclusive study
conducted by
Livability.com
in partnership with Ipsos. More than 1,000 millennials across the country were surveyed to determine what matters most to them when making relocation decisions. The top responses — affordability and job opportunities — were factored into this year’s ranking criteria, including, for the first time ever, a cap on housing costs. No city on
Livability’s 2019 Top 100 Best Places to Live
has a median home value exceeding $250,000.
“The cities on this year’s list represent the best of the best when it comes to affordability and opportunity,” says Livability.com Editor-in-Chief Winona Dimeo-Ediger.
“These 100 cities are not just fantastic places to live in terms of their amenities, education, health care and infrastructure, they are places where young people can build amazing careers and communities.”
To read more, click
here.
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MEMBER CONTRIBUTION
GNV's inaugural DFW cake wins coveted "Cake of the Week"
GNV’s inaugural American Airlines DFW cake won the coveted “Cake of the Week” award from Anna (Airline Network News and Analysis) Aero! Their gorgeous, scrumptious three-layer masterpiece - created by Maria Rizzo at Sugar, Refined bakery in beautiful downtown Newberry - beat out some big-league airports - Budapest (Hungary), Riga (Latvia), Kuala Lumpur, La Crosse (Wisconsin), Kannur, (India), Derry (Scotland), Muscat (Oman), Kharkiv (Ukraine)!
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