A 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce
February 8, 2022
February is Black History Month

In keeping with this year’s theme for Black History Month- Health and Wellness – we bring you a pioneer in the fight against cancer: Dr. Jane Cooke Wright.  

Dr. Jane Wright analyzed a wide range of anti-cancer agents, explored the relationship between patient and tissue culture response, and developed new techniques for administering cancer chemotherapy. By 1967, Dr. Wright was the highest ranking African American woman in a United States medical institution. Learn more about Dr. Wright here. 
JOIN US THIS MORNING FOR
Business Before Hours
Tuesday, February 8th, 8:30am - 10am
Virtual Event

This is a virtual edition of Business Before Hours is structured the same way as our past in-person events. Attendees will have opportunities to share in small groups who they are, what they do, and who would make a good customer or referral for them. Come build lasting business and personal relationships at Business Before Hours.

Attendance is limited to 50 pre-registered attendees.

Registration has closed online, but you still have time! Email Steve Cannon to attend!

See you there!
UPCOMING EVENT
2022 Annual Meeting
Wednesday, March 2
Cocktail hour: 6 p.m.
Main event: 7 p.m.
Hilton UF Conference Center
1714 Hull Road, Gainesville

The Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 98th Annual Member Meeting on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at the UF Hilton Conference Center.
 
The Annual Member Meeting will include a cocktail hour, a plated dinner, a presentation from the outgoing and incoming chairman, special awards and recognitions, and special announcements. This will be followed by an after-dinner dessert and coffee reception.

Get your tickets, reserve your corporate tables, or find out more about sponsorship opportunities by visiting our website!

A big thank you to our event sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor - Emerson Gainesville
Award Sponsor - Comfort Temp/CT Mechanical
Supporting Sponsors - GrayRobinson, PA, GRUCom, and Uniti Fiber
RIBBON CUTTING!
Vivid Sky Productions
Wednesday, February 9, 5-7pm
3500 NE Waldo Rd, Suite A
Gainesville, FL, 32609

Join us as we celebrate the new Vivid Sky Production!
Vivid Sky Production (formerly Bunt Backline Event Services) provides state of the art live sound, lighting, video, staging and more for concerts, conferences, church events and live gatherings of all kinds. Vivid Sky also provides permanent installations of audio visual systems in schools, churches and venues. With over 17 years of experience, VSP handles events large and small with excellence.

Join us for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, giveaways, tours, music and more! The ribbon cutting ceremony will commence at 5:45pm
LUNCH WITH A SIDE OF KNOWLEDGE
Lunch & Learn
Creating Optimism:
The Power of Resilience

Wednesday, February 16th, Noon - 1 p.m.
LifeSouth Community Blood Center
2nd Floor Conference Room
1221 NW 13th Street
Gainesville, FL 32601

Everybody needs it, some already have it, and using it makes a world of difference in a post pandemic world. Cultivating optimism and resilience is about acknowledging the past with all its challenges, while creating a mindset open to opportunities and growth. We all know Einstein’s definition of insanity, doing things the same old way and expecting different results. And post pandemic growth revolves around giving employees tools to foster confidence, handle setbacks and provide an environment with strategies to nurture optimism and sharpen risk-taking prowess.  
 
Presented by: Jennifer Webb

Register below or pay at the door; either way, we can't wait to see you back in person!

Please note that in order to maintain safety, masks will be required inside the LifeSouth Blood Center facility.

Thank you to our sponsors: Carr, Riggs, & Ingram
RECAP
Greater Gainesville Young Professionals celebrates Launch
 
The Greater Gainesville Young Professionals officially launched with an event at Celebration Pointe on February 3! Over 150 young professionals showed up, had some great conversations, met new people, enjoyed a Sandvik blue martini or two, and even played Mario Kart thanks to Infinity VR!

Upcoming events include participating in Saturday's Great Invader Raider Rally and How to Navigate Buying Your First Home on Monday, February 22.

For more information on Greater Gainesville Young Professionals, visit the website or reach out to Program Director Julianne Raymond.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
2022 Sponsorships & Advertising Options Available! Announce Your Support for the Gainesville Business Community
 
Sponsorship and partnership opportunities with the Greater Gainesville Chamber are some of the best ways for your business to gain exposure in the Gainesville region. By aligning your business with a 5-star chamber of commerce with sponsorship or advertising, you help immediately grow your company’s prestige, reputation, exposure, and bottom line.
 
From the 12-month sponsorship opportunity offered through our Circle of Champions to an event specific sponsorship, businesses gain exceptional exposure throughout the year with a variety of benefits and price points to fit any budget.
 
For more information contact Steve Cannon, VP Member Development, at SteveC@gainesvillechamber.com or call 352.334-7127.
FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Keep Up with Tallahassee on our Legislative Focus page

Stay tuned with everything happening at the state capitol by following our legislative updates! Once a week, we update our Legislative Focus page to give you information on bills passed or proposed, what your local representatives are working on, as well as hot-button issues and conversations that can affect Florida citizens. To stay informed, visit our Legislative Focus page.
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Wingman Turkey Hunt!
Join 10Can Inc for the 2022 Turkey Season!

We're excited to offer turkey hunting adventures to our members who are military and first responder families, ladies new to the outdoors, and youth all across the Nation. 
 
Please click here to join, then click on the registration button below. We're closing registration for this opportunity next week so our Adventure Coordinator can get to work
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Donnelly + Gross Principal Paul Donnelly Named The American Lawyer's "Litigator of the Week" For First Amendment Victory

Donnelly + Gross firm principal Paul Donnelly, along with his co-counsel David O’Neil of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, have been named “Litigators of the Week” by The American Lawyer for their First Amendment victory against the University of Florida. “Litigators of the Week” are “recognized for their achievements in the nation's most complex high-profile cases” and “are impacting the biggest breakthrough decisions in America's courtrooms.” 
 
Mr. Donnelly secured a preliminary injunction against the University of Florida for six professors after they were barred from offering expert testimony against the state of Florida. The case arose when the University of Florida, which had long encouraged faculty members to serve as expert witnesses for or against the State, abruptly began prohibiting professors from participating as expert witnesses in litigation challenging signature policies of the DeSantis administration.  
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Utility Advisory Board Vacancy 

The Alachua County Commission is seeking applicants to fill a non-voting member vacancy on the City of Gainesville’s Utility Advisory Board (UAB), subject to the approval of the City Commission. Non-voting members have the same rights and privileges as voting members, except non-voting members cannot make motions or vote on motions under consideration. The term is for four years (through March 2, 2026). The application deadline is February 18, 2022.  
  
The UAB meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., the fourth Tuesday of each month for a workshop at 5:30 p.m., quarterly with the City Commission, and as needed for other special meetings. 
  
The UAB advises and makes recommendations to the City of Gainesville Commission regarding all matters of utility governance of the City's electric, gas, telecommunications, water, and wastewater utilities. 
  
Applicants with any of the following types of experience are encouraged to apply: 
  
  • experience as a utility demand customer 
  • experience as a utility service provider 
  • investment banking, financial or certified public accounting experience 
  • experience in energy and water conservation 
  • experience with business, contract or corporate law experience, or contract administration  
  • engineering experience 

The County Commission may recommend the appointment of their non-voting member with any qualifications or experience the County Commission deems relevant or beneficial to service on the utility board.  
  
Interested applicants may apply online (scroll down the page to Utility Advisory Board).  
  
For more information, contact Alachua County Assistant County Manager – Chief of Staff Gina Peebles at 352-538-8265 or gpeebles@alachuacounty.us
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Three Events to Celebrate the Impact of Entrepreneurship in Alachua County
***Each event has its own tickets; please register respectively for the events that you wish to attend ***


Sips & Suds at UF Innovate | Accelerate @ Sid Martin Biotech
Tuesday, February 15 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm
12085 Research Drive, Alachua, FL 32615

Celebration of Entrepreneurship @ San Felasco Tech City
With Keynote Speaker John Spence
Wednesday, February 16 from 5:00pm-7:00pm
13900 Tech City Circle, Alachua, FL 32615

Innovation Hour at UF Innovate | Accelerate @ The Hub
Thursday, February 17 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm
747 SW 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

Register here for these events!
Did you know that as a member you can post your open job listings on our website? Your position shows up for the more than 30,000 unique visitors our site receives monthly!
Reach out to Joe Johnson today!