~ 97^th Year Serving Charlotte County ~

 Punta Gorda ~ Port Charlotte ~ Englewood ~ Charlotte Harbor ~ Murdock

PLATINUM LEVEL: Buffalo Graffix*; Chapman Insurance Group; Charlotte County Ford; Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center; Integrity Employee Leasing; Olsen, Lynch & Associates, CPAs; The Daily Sun and Tommy's Express Car Wash

DIAMOND LEVEL: Ashley, Brown, and Smith, CPAs; The Bevis Group; Burnt Store Title and Escrow; Charlotte State Bank and Trust; Farr Law Firm; Friendly Floors; The Nix Team at Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty; and Panther Hollow Dental Lodge.

EMERALD LEVEL: Centennial Bank; Elite Inspections & Pest Solutions, LLC; Friendly Floors; Nolan Family Insurance; Port Charlotte Florist; Sandhill Healing Center; South Port Square; St. Andrews South Golf Club; State Farm Insurance-Mike Martin; and Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Ross, McKinley and Young Law Firm.

And remember, each time you attend a chamber event, your business card goes into the drawing for a $2,000 Key West Flight donated by Air Trek Charter Jet Service. The drawing to be held at the Annual Meeting on September 30, 2022! The more events you attend, the more chances to WIN...Just look for the big gold bingo drum and add your business card!

Third Wednesday Coffee, August 17 8:00 a.m. at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center. The program will be a New Member Showcase. New members have already been invited to showcase their businesses. Kindly register your attendance in the Member Portal.

Lunch & Learn at the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce on August 23rd.

Topic:  Effective Planning for Business Growth Presented by: Brian Chapman, Chapman Insurance Group. Your registration fee includes Lunch - Either an Italian or Turkey & Cheddar sandwich, chips, cookie and a beverage. Cost is $10.00pp. Pre-registration by August 18th is necessary so that we can properly plan the event. Please RSVP in the member portal. 

Business Card Exchange, on Thursday, August 25 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. is at Integrity Employee Leasing, 128 W. Charlotte Ave., Punta Gorda, FL 33950. Kindly register for this event in the member portal.

Leadership Charlotte Hall of Fame Luncheon on Thursday, September 8th will be at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. Please plan to arrive by 11:30, lunch will be served at noon and the event should conclude at 1:00 p.m. Kindly choose your meal when you register. Cost $35pp.​ Meal choices: *Grilled Chicken Waldorf Salad – mixed greens topped with celery, grapes apple & walnuts or *Beef Stroganoff – Beef medallions and gravy sauce tossed with egg noodles garnished with parsley & garlic bread. Kindly register in the Member Portal.

Save the Date: September 30, 2022 Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon. Invitations will go out soon.

Print Sponsor: Buffalo Graffix

Newspaper Sponsor: The Daily Sun

Bag Sponsor: WhitCo Insurance-Alexia Martin Agency

Refreshment Station Sponsor: The Purple House Salon

paddlemehappySWFL@gmail.com http://www.paddlemehappySWFL.com

Linda.Bradway@premiersir.com http://Premiersothebysrealty.com

beth.sargent@premiersir.com https://bethsargent.premiersothebysrealty.com/

portcharlotte@mathnasium.com http://mathnasium.com/portcharlotte

jeff_jubenville@comcast.com https://business.comcast.com/

Katie@gjcwindows.com http://GJCWindows.com

rlees@cmmroofing.com http://www.cmmroofing.com

vwalker@hodges.edu http://www.hodges.edu

lee@gordabowls.com http://gordabowls.com

admin@vickstmanor.org http://vickstmanor.org

Businesses may join online now on our website or please recommend a business to

Jami Joannes jjoannes@charlottecountychamber.org and she will follow up with them!

Wednesday, August 17^th at 5:45p.m. (event is from 5-6:30pm)

Thursday, August 18 at 5:30p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Dual Ribbon Cutting)

126 E. Olympia Ave. Suite 301 Punta Gorda

They will be serving food & beverages. Kindly RSVP for this Event in the Member Portal

Stellar Vision Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Saturday, August 27^th 10-2pm Ribbon Cutting is at 11:00am

Thursday, September 1 at 12:00 Noon, 21319 Quesada Ave, Port Charlotte, FL Attendees receive Chick Fil A boxed lunch & soft drink. (from US41, turn on Harbor Blvd. go past the Hosp. left on Quesada, lot is on left after Waterside before Winston) Please RSVP directly to Jermaine White 813-525-7695 or jwhite@mainecorp.us

Tuesday, September 20 at 5:30 pm., 18440 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte

Open House from 5-7pm - appetizers, refreshments and tours of the property.

Adult Beverages, Door Prizes Please RSVP for this event directly to 24twentyone@gmail.com or by calling them at 941-249-4059

Members Send YOUR Member News/Events to BOL@charlottecountychamber.org and we'll share it each week. Email submissions of 90 words or fewer, in paragraph form, by noon on Friday for inclusion the following Monday. This is a free members-only benefit! (We do reserve the right to publish and edit any submissions.)

Please join Eric Bretan, candidate for Airport Authority, at Magnolias On The Bay on August 16th at 5:30PM for a campaign event and reception. Eric will speak about his plans for the airport and answer any questions. Address is 2395 N Beach Road, Englewood, FL. Donations are welcome but not required. Please RSVP to BretanForAirport@gmail.com or print the invitation for more information.

Goodwill is celebrating National Thrift Shop Day (NTSD) on August 17^th with their annual gift card giveaway contest. You can possibly win $100 gift card just for shopping on NTSD. VIP Perk members will be entered automatically. Non VIP Perk members can email their receipt (showing date and store location) to info@goodwillswfl.org by August 21^st. Customers can sign up for the VIP Perks program for free at www.GoodwillPerks.com. Customers are encouraged to post and hashtag #NationalThriftShopDay, and follow @goodwillswfl to join the fun!

The Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association invites you to join us in our 9th Annual Bowling & Billiards Presented by Harbor Home Builders event to be held at 6pm on Saturday, August 20th at Bowland in Port Charlotte, Florida. Registration for each bowler includes bowling, shoes, food and non-alcoholic beverages and FUN!! Pool Tournament will start at 8pm. Cash prize for 1st and 2nd place. Registration price is $45 per person for bowling, with teams up to 6 people, and $30 for pool tournament. Sponsorship is still available. For more information or to register, please visit www.cdbia.com or call 941-625-0804.

Charlotte County Society for Human Resource Management: Join Charlotte County SHRM for their webinar on Wednesday, August 24^th, 11:45am – 1:15pm on Inclusion in the Workplace. Speakers from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will discuss the services available to small business owners and the resources and assistance they can provide. With EEOC at your fingertips, employers, this is the time to ask those pressing EEO questions! $10 members, $15 guests. Register here today!

Charlotte Players- Join us for The 10^th Annual Comedy for a Cause on September 9^th. Located at The Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street in Punta Gorda. Show tickets are $30. Dinner tickets are $90. To learn more about each cast member, buy tickets or donate go to www.charlotteplayers.org To purchase tickets, click on Register. There will be an online auction beginning on September 1^st thru the 9^th on YourCharityAuction.com/CharlottePlayers. For more information, call 941-255-1022.

CDBIA Next Gen to host Construction Cornhole: Presented by LTD Contracting

Who will be the champion? Join us September 18th. Registration begins at 12PM, play begins at 1PM. This will be a double elimination tournament. There will be a 50/50 drawing, tickets will be on sale: $5 for 6, $10 for 13, and $20 for A BUNCH. So, don't forget to bring cash. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the CDBIA Next Gen Council. To register, please click here:  https://charlottedesotobia.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/qPY801Rp?mode=Attendee  

Individuals interested in starting a business but need some mentoring are invited to apply to the Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, scheduled for October 3 – November 10, 2022. The six-week comprehensive training course gives graduates a solid plan to guide their start-up. Classes are from 6p.m. to 9p.m. Monday and Thursday evenings at the Charlotte County Goodwill Community Resource Center, 24123 Peachland Blvd., Port Charlotte. To apply, visit www.goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise, or call (239) 995-2106 ext. 2215. The session is $80; Volunteer hours can be substituted for the fee if income requirements are met. Contact Annette Watkins at annettewatkins@goodwillswfl.org. 

Join us at our new location at the Port Charlotte Town Center mall! Reserve your spot now for the Fall Suncoast Living Health & Wellness Expo at Port Charlotte town center on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 10a - 4p. Get your business in front of many SW Florida full-time residents, visitors and returning snowbirds! We will have 2 different live radio broadcasts covering the event, as well as more traffic at the mall starting holiday shopping season! Different booth levels available. Call or email for more information and an application - 941.204.2222 or info@onholdprod.com Brought to you by Lincoln Marketing Group and Port Charlotte Town Center Mall!

Hi I'm Shelby. The shelter has this cool red ball I ABSOLUTELY LOVE! I'm going to need a hooman to take me out and play like every day! My last hooman just didn't have time for me, and that's why I'm here. I walk really well on a leash and I know how to shake, but I haven't been tested with the other dogs yet, so If you already have one we should meet first. Hi there, I'm Lorkin. I'm just the most adorable cat you've ever seen! I was hit by a car, and that's how I came to be at the shelter. I'm sweet as can be and gentle too. I hope my new hoomans like attention and loves, because that's what I know how to do. Please come see me and I'll show you what I mean. Visit http://www.awlshelter.org to see our adoptable critters.

Weight Loss! Restoration Bar has options for you to restore your body! Did you know we have the key ingredient to weight loss & maintenance? Our interventions include: Shots that suppress appetite, increase energy & burn fat; IVs that truly hydrate you- directly into your blood stream-with ingredients to boost your metabolism, replenishing you with vitamins; Laser/RF/SVT to dissolve fat, move lymph & tighten skin; Kybella injections to dissolve fat (jowls, double chin). RSVP 941-347-7707 for a casual info session we are hosting 8/31/22 530-7PM. It’s time to Book your free consult! https://www.vagaro.com/gulfshoremedicalservices . Call if you do not see an appointment time that works with your schedule. 

There are legal consequences when employers conduct background checks not in accordance with rules established under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA allows individuals who feel wronged in the screening process to sue an employer in federal court. The plaintiff may recover court costs, legal fees, and punitive damages for deliberate violations. The law also allows relevant federal agencies and states to sue employers for non-compliance and to obtain civil penalties.    For FCRA-compliant employment and tenancy screening ... contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at NRG Background Checks.   941-488-8500;  800-531-6522;   nrginfo@atlantic.net   

The Paula E. Hess Humanitarian Scholarship Award is given to a client (or family member) who had participated in one of C.A.R.E.’s programs. The Board will award a yearly scholarship to a deserving Charlotte County High School student. Applicants who are specifically seeking post-secondary education in social work, psychology, human services, nursing, law enforcement, or any other study related to assisting survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault are eligible. Students who fit these criteria should fill out the application on https://carefl.org/scholarship

Charlotte Technical College announces their new JOB BOARD - College Central, the interactive tool that links employers with prospective job candidates through college-based Career Centers. A powerful tool for students and alumni to maintain a resume and find jobs. The lowest cost source for employers to post jobs and search resumes. The powerful resume management tool for career centers. You can use this link to the site !

Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage really is a family.  Kenny Gardiner’s family is on every job.  As their customer, you are assured that your move team will have an established team familiarity that makes loading and unloading the truck more efficient.  Furniture is wrapped efficiently in pads, boxes and crates.  Everyone knows what goes in first, last, bottom, top.  Their experience knows how to minimize potential for damage in all stages of the move.  For a low-stress move, call Kenny Gardiner at (941) 423-5311 to discuss your needs. When Quality Counts, call Gardiner & Sons. 

Your vehicle is an important hedge against rising fuel prices.  Complete Auto Repair reminds you of some proven methods to save gas:  combine errands, treat the gas pedal gently, and make sure the filters inside your engine are clean.  This last step can improve your gas mileage and give you a smoother ride.  To let your car pinch pennies for you, call Mary Holstein at (941) 623 – 2926 to schedule an appointment. 

The Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic is offering the public FREE COVID-19 vaccines or boosters. In addition, get a FREE $50 Walmart Gift Card! Call to schedule an appointment: 941-276-4075 or 941-766-9570 Ext 130. This is made possible by Project HOPE and the FL Association of Free & Charitable Clinics. Keep you and your loved ones HEALTHY! More info at https://volunteercare.org/

Small changes can bring big results for your employees! Gulfcoast South AHEC offers FREE tobacco cessation counseling and FREE Nicotine Replacement in the form of patches, gum and/or lozenges at no cost for qualifying participants. As part of Tobacco Free Florida’s in-person/virtual Group Quit sessions, we are here to help. Call 866-534-7909 or visit gsahec.org to register today.

Florida Consumer Off Lease Auto Brokers has good news-Vehicle prices are finally coming down!! We have over 1,000 vehicles available for purchase weekly-all prices down 10%!! 2018-2022 with Factory Warranty, Clean Auto Check report and low mileage. Over 500 Trucks, Crew Cabs, and 4x4's also. Call for info; we are happy to email prices, specs and details; or make an appointment to visit us in the only indoor virtual showroom. NO DEALER FEES! give Justin a call at 941 350-7544 or Peggy 941 284-9617. 

www.shopofflease.com or email: shopofflease@gmail.com 

Members may create both Member-to-Member deals and Hot-Deals using the MIC (Member Portal). There is no additional cost to do so, and we recommend that you check these links each week to see what special deals are going on.

New exciting opportunity to work for the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. We are looking for a seasoned Digital/Social Media Marketing Specialist. This is a full-time position. The right candidate will have successful sales experience, thorough understanding to navigate social media platforms, excellent organization skills and attention to detail, ability to prioritize tasks, and able to develop innovated and creative marketing strategies for all chamber initiatives. If this is the right opportunity for you, please email your cover letter and resume to Bob White at bwhite@charlottecountychamber.org

VIRGINIA B. ANDES VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY CLINIC SEEKS: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Job Classification: Full time, Limited Benefits, Clinical Services

Direct tasks of APRN’s include coordination of all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment, and consultation, and serving as leaders within the clinical setting. JOB QUALIFICATIONS: • Commitment to the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic, Inc. philosophy of care and understanding of the non-profit mission and experience. • Current State of Florida License as a Nurse Practitioner. • New APRN graduates are encouraged to apply. • 1-year experience in a clinical setting preferred. • Ability to practice independently while functioning as a leader within the healthcare team. • Excellent oral and written communication skills required. CONTACT BY EMAIL ONLY, ATTACH RESUME: Suzanne Roberts, M. ED Chief Executive Officer, sroberts@volunteercare.org

Charlotte Technical College announces their new JOB BOARD - College Central, the interactive tool that links employers with prospective job candidates through college-based Career Centers. A powerful tool for students and alumni to maintain a resume and find jobs. The lowest cost source for employers to post jobs and search resumes. The powerful resume management tool for career centers. You can use this link to the site !

Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your business? A great opportunity would be sponsoring one of our Third Wednesday Coffees. Sponsors receive recognition in Business Online, on Facebook and in the Chamber calendar.  Sponsors may place marketing materials on the tables at the event and will have 4-5 minutes to introduce yourself/staff/business. Available slots are limited. Please contact Janet Caffee jcaffee@charlottecountychamber.org or call 941-627-2222 for details. Cost to sponsor is $300.

LOCAL-

Please call 2-1-1 for any resource needs.

Charlotte County Economic Development Office- www.cleared4takeoff.com

Community Organizations Active in a Disaster- https://coadfl.org/

Career Source of Southwest Florida online resources include available jobs- https://careersourcesouthwestflorida.com/immediate-southwest-florida-job-openings/

Charlotte County Department of Health- www.Charlotte.FloridaHealth.gov

City of Punta Gorda- http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/

Charlotte County Administration - https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/dept/admin/Pages/default.aspx

Charlotte County Public Schools- https://www.yourcharlotteschools.net/

NEW My Neighborhood, visit www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov and click My Neighborhood in the top menu. Type an address in the search field and scroll through the page to see property information and county and/or city services and public facilities in the property’s neighborhood.

Florida Chamber of Commerce- www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus

U.S. Department of Labor- https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic

https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20200320.

Small Business Administration- www.sba.gov/disaster

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association- https://frla.org/covid-19/

Florida Retail Federation- http://www.frf.org/index.php/news/covid-19

Florida Dept. of Health- http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/

Visit Florida- www.visitflorida.org

Governor's Office- www.flgov.com

Center for Disease Control- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Bob White, Executive Director bwhite@charlottecountychamber.org

Jami Joannes, Dir. of Business Development jjoannes@charlottecountychamber.org

Ruth Uzonyi, Dir. of Finance ruzonyi@charlottecountychamber.org

Janet Caffee, Information & Customer Service jcaffee@charlottecountychamber.org

Submit your news/event/job for Business Online to BOL@charlottecountychamber.org