YOUR PARTICIPATION REQUESTED
How Can the Chamber Serve You better?
Take 5 minutes to let us know today!
The Chamber is preparing to serve you in 2020 and needs your input. Specifically, we are crafting our public policy agenda, exploring new ways to tell the Chamber's story and blazing new trails to connect you, our members, with the workforce you need in order to grow your business.
We know you are busy. But we sincerely hope you are willing to take 5 or so minutes today to help provide the feedback we need to serve you and help your business grow in 2020.
Survey responses must be received by Wednesday, September 18th at 5 p.m.
You may provide your name, but are not required to do. All survey results will be kept anonymous.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Ribbon Cutting Celebration Tonight: San Felasco Tech City
Today, September 17, 4 - 7pm
San Felasco Tech City
13025 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua
Join us in celebrating a new and innovative addition to our Greater Gainesville region, San Felasco Tech City by Emory Group Companies. This development features a "Live-Work-Play" concept where seasoned companies like Fracture, that have grown and need more space, can expand. It will also serve as a place where trailblazing startups can accelerate growth. This is an exciting addition for our community and our business community and we look forward to celebrating! San Felasco Tech City will be hosting an open house with food, drinks and a presentation about the project. Following the event, pitches will be made from a dozen awesome startups!
Join us for their open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. The ribbon cutting ceremony will commence at 5:30pm.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Ribbon Cutting Celebration Thursday: Ancient Rhythms Drum Shop
Thursday, September 19, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Ancient Rhythms Drum Shop
509 NW 10th Ave Suite A, Gainesville
Join us as we celebrate the grand reopening of Ancient Rhythms Drum Shop! Ancient Rhythms' mission is simple, to provide advice using over 50 years drumming experience. They believe that music and especially drumming contributes to a healthy life, reduced anxiety and depression with bursts of creativity and spontaneous joy. They look for handmade and hard to get items. They have the largest selection of Drum Circle and other rhythm instruments. They also provide the working drummer with a large in stock supply of heads and sticks in addition to being able to order most any drumming needs at great discounts!
Join us for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, raffle for a Djembe drum, tours, music by Elio Piedra, networking and more as we celebrate the beautiful musical addition to Greater Gainesville... Ancient Rhythms Drum Shop!
The Ribbon cutting ceremony will commence at 5:30pm.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Maximize Your Membership!
Attend Chamber 101
Tuesday, September 24, 8:30am
BBVA
2814 SW 34th Street, Gainesville
New and re-engaged Chamber members are invited for a casual networking breakfast to learn more about the services included in your Chamber Membership. Attendees will interact directly with Chamber Staff, Diplomats and other new Members. Whether you just joined or have been a member for years, this is a beneficial experience for all.
Chamber 101 is held quarterly and is open to any member who may need a refresher on their Chamber member benefits. Longstanding members are encouraged to send new employees through the program so that each company representative can fully utilize the features of their membership.
For more information or to register to attend;
Click Here.
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Chamber 101 is sponsored by:
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
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UPCOMING EVENT
Chamber Business After Hours Hosted by
Audi Gainesville
Thursday, September 26, 5:30pm
Audi Gainesville
1920 N Main St, Gainesville
J
oin us Thursday, September 26 at 5:30PM at Audi Gainesville for Business After Hours.
Expand your business network and unwind after work by connecting with other busy professionals in a relaxed environment. Business After Hours are held at Greater Gainesville Chamber member business locations and feature networking, refreshments, giveaways and the opportunity to discover unique local businesses. Attendees build valuable new contacts and make new friends, so be sure to bring plenty of business cards and come ready to have fun!
The Chamber’s staff and its enthusiastic Diplomats are available to make introductions to business decision-makers.
Admission is Free for Greater Gainesville Chamber Members
Admission for Non-Members is $20.00
We hope to see you there!
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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 to www.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
Please Join Us for our Alachua County Delegation Luncheon
Monday, September 23, 2019, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall
3000 NW 83rd St, Gainesville
We are delighted to host a luncheon at Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall for our Alachua County Delegation—Sen. Keith Perry, Rep. Chuck Clemons, Rep. Clovis Watson and Rep. Chuck Brannon—on Monday, September 23.
The luncheon will start at 11:30 and end at 12:30, and will be an excellent opportunity to engage with them on issues of importance to you as we charge ahead to 2020. After this buffet lunch, our elected officials will proceed to the Legislative Delegation Meeting in the SFC Auditorium from 1:00 pm to 5 pm. The delegates will hear from the public on local bills.
There is no charge for this member-only event, but registration is required to attend. We look forward to seeing you on the 23.
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This Alachua County Delegation Luncheon is sponsored by AT&T
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EVENT RECAP
Distinguished Speaker Luncheon featuring
UF Health Shands CEO Ed Jimenez
Collaboration and Community are at the Heart of UF Health
The Chamber hosted UF Health Shands CEO Ed Jimenez as our September Distinguished Speaker on Monday the 16th.
Ed discussed UF Health’s growth and positioning with our standing-room only audience.
In his informative and entertaining presentation, Ed stressed that one of his primary goals is to ensure “all UF Health employees feel like owners/operators” and reminded everyone that the 1.6 million people from our region, our state and our nation who visited UF Health last fiscal year are all ambassadors for our community. Their opinions matter in his job, because although UF Health ranks number one in several specialties, and very highly in many more, potential employees are not only recruited into a job, they are recruited into our community.
UF Health has grown tremendously over the last several years, adding one million square feet of hospital beds, and while Ed does not anticipate this level of new construction continuing, he does anticipate continuing renovations and brisk hiring. From a community perspective, Ed discussed the business challenges the community faces, including our infrastructure and air travel needs.
A Q&A followed Ed’s remarks, with the audience interested in recruiting, medical tourism, reimbursement rates, collaboration with the business community and the relationship between for-profit and non-profit hospitals.
The Greater Gainesville 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.
Distinguished Speaker Event Sponsor
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POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT
Chamber Public Policy VP
Alyssa Brown Certified as Designated Professional Lobbyist
Vice President of Public Policy Alyssa Brown last week received certification as a Designated Professional Lobbyist (DPL) by the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists. The designation certifies completion of coursework on Ethics, Laws and Rules, and general business as required by the FAPL Board. Currently chaired by former Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, FAPL was established in 2002 as a broad-based organization committed to establishing and maintaining high standards for professional advocates. Its principles are centered on honesty, integrity, and respect for the political process. FAPL members must adhere to explicit standards of conduct in dealing with public officials, clients, and other members of the lobby corps.
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LOCAL NEWS
Nine Greater Gainesville Leaders named in Florida 500
Each year, Florida Trend lists Florida's 500 most influential business leaders in their annual Florida 500. This year, nine Greater Gainesville residents were included for their influence and leadership.
We congratulate the following on their recognition:
For the full list,click
here
.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Bogin, Munns & Munns, P.A. Welcomes Attorney Lauren Richardson and her Team
Bogin, Munns & Munns, P.A. is delighted to welcome attorney Lauren Richardson and her team, Carrie Rowe, and Octavia Hughes, to its Gainesville office. Ms. Richardson focuses her practice in estate planning, probate, guardianships and elder law.
Ms. Richardson is a long time resident of Gainesville and obtained a Juris Doctor degree (with High Honors) from Florida State University (1993) and a Masters of Law in Taxation from the University of Florida (1998). She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Santa Fe College, and is involved in a number of community organizations including the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association board of directors. Over the course of her more than 15 year law practice, Ms. Richardson has developed skills of empathy and precision to meet every client’s needs.
Carrie Rowe and Octavia Hughes are Ms. Richardson’s Legal Assistants, and assist both Ms. Richardson and her Clients.
Adam Towers, the Founding and Managing Partner of Bogin, Munns & Munns’ Gainesville office, states,
"We are very pleased that Ms. Richardson and her team have joined the greater Bogin, Munns & Munns team. Her experience in estate planning, probate, guardianship and elder law will further “deepen the bench” of services we can provide individuals and families throughout Florida."
Ms. Richardson, Ms. Rowe, and Ms. Hughes offices are at 2700 N.W. 43
rd
Street, Suite C, Gainesville, Florida 32606, (352) 332-7688. Please contact them at any time they can be of assistance.
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NEW MEMBERS
Gadget Guys
NCF-SHRM
Rootex Creative
RETURNING MEMBERS
A Model Of Reality, Inc.
Academy for Five Element Acupuncture
Adam's Rib Co. North
Alachua County Medical Society
Ameris Bank
Baja Foods DBA Taco Del Mar
Ben Campen Consultant
Blue Star Creations
Brookside Apartments
Charles Perry Partners, Inc.
Collaborative Wealth
Edward Jones- Luke Avizinis
First Care of Gainesville
Hartfield Insurance Group, Inc.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites I-75 Gainesville
Landmark Properties, Inc.
Leonardo’s Pizza of Millhopper
Oak Hall School
Palms Medical Group
Pomodoro Cafe
Saint Francis Catholic Academy
State Farm - Corbin Emerson
Staybridge Suites
Thornebrook Chocolates
University of Florida, Office of Real Estate
Walter Agency
Water & Air Research, Inc.
Wildflower Luxury Apartment Homes
Zoe's Kitchen
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UPCOMING EVENT
Brio Coffee partners with Whole Foods
The Alligator
You don’t have to be in Gainesville to taste a local company’s cold brew anymore.
Brio Cold Brew Coffee, which is based in Gainesville, now has its products available in Whole Foods in Florida. Their products first started appearing on shelves in Florida Whole Foods Market stores in April. On Sept. 7, brio! officially became available in all 29 stores, which Brio Cold Brew Coffee announced publicly on Facebook and Instagram.
Co-founders Miguel Cardona, 27, and Jose Nieves, 28, said they first met the store manager for Whole Foods in Gainesville at Haile farmers’ market. The collaboration began when the manager sampled and enjoyed the coffee, Cardona said.
Brio Cold Brew Coffee, a local startup that pays above fair-trade prices for their coffee beans in Gainesville, was co founded by childhood friends Cardona and Nieves. Cardona has a degree in architecture and design from UF, while Nieves has a background in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America in New York.
“We are trying to take a step back, take it in and appreciate it for the accomplishment it is,” Cardona said.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Gainesville Start-up Companies Prepare for Their “Perfect Pitch”
Startup Pitch Day
Wednesday, September 25
GTEC
2153 SE Hawthorne Rd # 101, Gainesville
Pitching a business comes with a certain amount of pressure. This pressure magnifies when the eventual “perfect pitch” can potentially bring investor funding.
Pitching in Gainesville
Gainesville has seen various pitch competitions from companies like StartUpGNV, CrowdPitch, and Get Started Gainesville.
Pitch competition events regularly pull a good amount of interest and provide an inspiring experience for the audience. Local sponsors generously provide rewards in services, prizes and cash, ranging somewhere between $10,000 - $20,000.
Some events allow the audience to vote for their favorite company. Occasionally, the audience can even choose the grand prize winner.
NOT a Competition
Startup Pitch Day at Santa Fe College Innovation Product Development Center (IPDC) on September 25
th
will be different, however. This event is not a
competition
. It’s a real pitch with opportunities to get funding from local, regional and national investors.
IPDC companies and the event organizers have been going through intense preparation. Companies qualified to pitch have to present their business to investors following a certain format created by IPDC mentor Karl Zawoy. This format has been carefully researched and thought through to cover all the important elements of a business – from the strategic idea to financials.
Companies have to be fully rehearsed and ready to deliver their pitch within only eight minutes. That’s not an easy task! Some of the investors will be attending the pitch in person, others will be joining the event online through ZOOM.
To help companies be on top of their game, Santa Fe IPDC engaged partners to provide mentoring and coaching support. Jeff Greenspan from SCORE, one of the IPDC partners, is a master at preparing successful pitches. He has been fully invested in helping business owners shape the substance and delivery of their presentations.
Home Run
Even though the event is closed to the public, the significance of it may affect many companies in Gainesville. Santa Fe IPDC provides opportunities for funding to
product
developing companies as one of their services. The Center has put tremendous work into attracting potential investors and generating interest in Gainesville start-ups.
Making a match between a company and an investor is a big, ambitious goal. With fourteen companies in the line-up, hitting at least one home run will be a success. Since finding investors is challenging, Santa Fe IPDC does everything they can to prepare their companies to succeed. A potential match will mean a lot for Gainesville. It will primarily encourage more potential investors to explore opportunities in our city.
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