Mission Statement:
The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce is organized to advance the prosperity and general welfare of its business members and the community they serve.
~ 97th Year Serving Charlotte County ~

 Punta Gorda ~ Port Charlotte ~ Englewood ~ Charlotte Harbor ~ Murdock
Leadership Charlotte Endowment Fund $2,500 Grant to support Children and Youth in Charlotte County.

501(C3) Nonprofit organizations that serve youth and are members of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce May apply for a grant beginning on July 1, 2022 through August 1, 2022 by submitting a completed application through the Charlotte Community Foundation. For more information and how to apply, please visit www.charlottecf.org
2021-2022 Sustaining Partners
Sustaining Partner businesses provide additional financial support annually to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce which, in turn, provides them with additional valuable membership benefits. These contributions to the chamber allow for the continued increase of promotion, advocacy, involvement, and leadership at the local, state and federal levels. This is done to always be proactive in support of our businesses and the community we serve.
Charter Sustaining Partner (no years missed)
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!
~ Chamber Events ~
The staff of U.S. Senator Rick Scott will host Mobile Office Hours to help with issues related to federal agencies on Tuesday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce (Conference Room), 2702 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. For a list of resources available, please visit www.rickscott.senate.gov - Click here to print the flyer.

Our July 28 Business Card Exchange is Sponsored by the Daily Sun. Members networking from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at their office at 23170 Harborview Road, Port Charlotte. Remember to bring plenty of business cards and if you like a small gift/door prize to promote your business. Please RSVP in the Member Portal.

Charlotte County Chamber Young Professionals are planning a Karaoke Night on Friday, August 5th from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at The Burg'r Bar in Punta Gorda. MUSIC, GIVEAWAYS, FREE APPETIZERS, CASH BAR, GRAND PRIZE. There is no cost to attend, but your pre-registration is required so that we may properly plan for a great event! Register in the Member Portal from this link.

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.
~ Did you see these Chamber items too? ~
Advertise in the 2023 Community Guide and Business Directory. . Your advertisement will be seen by thousands in both the printed and online guides. Members interested in advertising should return the advertising contract, Ad Copy and payment are due by August 12, 2022. The Community Guide is our showpiece for all things Charlotte County, distributed at the Punta Gorda Airport, Charlotte Harbor Event Center, County Libraries, Community Associations and to walk-ins, email and mail requests. AND on CharlotteCountyChamber.org with live links to your webpage. Please call 941-627-2222 with any questions.

Leadership Charlotte Class of 2023 applications are now available. We would encourage any chamber member who is looking to gain a greater and deeper understanding of how Charlotte County operates, to apply. In addition to getting a once-in-a-lifetime education, you will make life-long connections and friendships. Only 25 applicants are selected for each class. As you fill out the application, please provide complete and comprehensive answers to each question.  The deadline for all application submissions is on Friday, August 5, 2022. If you have any questions regarding the Leadership Charlotte Program/Schedule, please reach out to Bob White bwhite@charlottecountychamber.org

Business of the Year Nomination Form-2022 - Nomination forms are due back by August 22, 2022. You may nominate you own business, or nominate another business for this award. Print the form to see the criteria and answer five questions. We encourage you to blow your own horn and self-nominate.  The selection committee will be made up of past recipients, and the awards will be presented at the 97th Annual Meeting Luncheon on September 30, 2022.

Nominations are being accepted for our prestigious Pacesetter award. A Pacesetter is by definition an individual who has achieved a level of excellence within his or her community or industry that provides a new benchmark for all to follow. Complete and return the nomination form no later than noon on August 22nd. The honoree will be announced Friday, September 30th at the 97th Annual Membership Luncheon.

The next issue of the FIR$T THUR$DAY ADVERTI$ER will be sent out on August 4. (Digital flyers are due by August 2nd.) Email your ad to advertiser@charlottecountychamber.org and include the web address we should link it to, or call us 941-627-2222 for more information.

Members, the Charlotte County Chamber Newsletter Business Perspective is a DIGITAL Quarterly publishing January/April/July/October. Members who want to include a Digital page to ride with the newsletter should complete and return the agreement and provide their digital page by the 20th of the month before publication. *Cost $100 for-profit and $50 non-profit each issue *Sustaining Partners receive free digital flyers depending on their partnership level. Send your digital flyer to Newsletter@charlottecountychamber.org or call 941-627-2222 for information.
Showcase your business at the 12th Annual Business Expo

The 12th Annual Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo date is February 2, 2023! Remember to save the date and set aside a little of your marketing budget ($395 for a booth space) for the Hottest Business Day in Paradise, Expo2023!
Print Sponsor: Buffalo Graffix
Newspaper Sponsor: The Daily Sun
Bag Sponsor: WhitCo Insurance-Alexia Martin Agency
Refreshment Station Sponsor: The Purple House Salon
~ Welcome New Members ~
Restoration Bar
122 Nesbit Street, #112, Punta Gorda , FL 33950
(941) 347-7707 Rae Ann Antonucci
Info@restorationbar.com http://www.restorationbar.com

Stellar Vision
42041 Cypress Parkway, Unit 3, Babcock Ranch, FL 33982
(239) 731-0060 Sam Sagona
stellarvisionbabcock@gmail.com http://stellarvisionbabcock.com

John LeClair - Candidate for School Board District 4
Call or email for information
Port Charlotte, FL 33952-5129
(941) 456-9396 John LeClair
leclair01@gmail.com http://leclairforschoolboard.com

MaineLand Development Corp
PO Box 89861, Tampa, FL 33689
(813) 525-7694 Jermaine White
jwhite@mainecorp.us http://www.maineland.org

Gilstad Literacy Foundation, Inc.
312 Sullivan St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 286-6931 Christine Zimmer, Shawn Gilstad
chris@charlottecountyimageinationlibrary.org http://www.charlottecountyimaginationlibrary.org

The UPS Store #7614 (Opening September 2022)
19400 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33948
(941) 563-9070 William Nieland

Cruisin' Tikis Charlotte Harbor
33 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 200-1202 Jacob Wieland
cruisintikischarlotteharbor@gmail.com http://www.cruisintikischarlotteharbor.com

HorsePower for Healing, Inc
Call or email for information
Punta Gorda, FL 33982
(941) 740-9433 Carla Benefield
horsepowerforhealing@gmail.com http://www.horsepowerforhealing.net

Know of a business who would also benefit from being a Chamber member?
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!
~ Join us for a Ribbon Cutting ~


Suncoast Title and Closings New Location Ribbon Cutting NEW DATE
Tuesday, July 26th at 5:30 p.m. 103 West Marion Ave. #101, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

YMCA Punta Gorda Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, August 2nd at 5:30-6:30pm. CANCELLED - No New Date Yet

Two Angels Soaps, Gallery & Gifts -Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting
Thursday, August 11th 5:30 p.m. - 2686 Tamiami Trail, #5A, Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Royal Paw Grooming & Boarding Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting
Wednesday, August 17th at 5:45p.m. (event is from 5-6:30pm)
42091 Cypress Parkway Ste 4 (Publix Plaza) Babcock Ranch

ActivAge HomeCare Rebranding Ribbon Cutting - Dual Chamber
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 27th 10-2pm Ribbon Cutting is at 11:00am
42041 Cypress Pkwy Suite 3 Babcock Ranch
Food, Refreshments, Raffle, Free Gift with Purchase, Frame Show

MaineLand Development Ground Breaking & Ribbon Cutting
Thursday, September 1 at 12:00 Noon, 21319 Quesada Ave, Port Charlotte, FL

24 Twenty One 10 Year Anniversary Celebration & Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, September 6 at 5:30 p.m. CANCELLED - No New Date Yet

Harpers 1980 LLC Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m.
1158 Market Circle, Unit 5, Port Charlotte

Brookdale Port Charlotte - Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, September 20 at 5:30 pm., 18440 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte
Open House from 5-7pm - appetizers, refreshments and tours of the property.

 Phoenix on Site Repair - Ribbon Cutting
Wednesday, September 21 ( Immediately following our Third Wednesday Coffee)
about 9:00 a.m. )
Everyone is invited to attend Chamber ribbon cutting events. Come out and support your fellow members.
Public Service Announcement: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will be going to three-digits starting on July 16th, 2022. Callers can access the line by calling 988. When you dial 988, counselors will be at the other end that will also have access to information about local resources. The phone line will operate 24/7, free-of-charge, and calls are confidential. 
#OurFutureisNow! #OneCommunity

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.)

~ Member Events ~
Let's Meet for Lunch! On Wednesday, July 27th at 11 a.m. FREE Seminar about Tinnitus, Hearing Loss and Fall Risks! Presented by Hearing Centers of SWFL,
Theresa Stevens, HAS-BC-HIS. Theresa is Nationally Board Certified, a member of the International Hearing Society, Florida Society of Hearing Healthcare Professionals and licensed Hearing Aid Specialist since 2005. She will share her knowledge &expertise and answer all your questions regarding hearing health/tinnitus (ringing ears). Join Us at: Parkside Assisted Living & Memory Care, 2595 Harbor Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Call to reserve your spot 941-255-0038 (Hearing Centers of SWFL)

Valerie’s House Save the Date for our Celebrating Charlotte Fundraising Event! Join us on Saturday, July 30th (1-5pm) at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center. All proceeds will be benefitting Valerie’s House-Charlotte County. Contact Christine Carey for vendor & sponsorship opportunities (239-841-0382 or christine@valerieshouse.org). A big thank you to our Presenting Sponsor Burnt Store Title of SWFL.

Join us as we recognize officers and staff for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office 2nd Quarter Awards. You are invited to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office 2022 – 2nd Quarter Awards on Friday, August 5 at 11:30 at Visani Italian Steakhouse. Cost is $25pp (cash/check payable to CCSO). Lunch will be a House Salad Italiano, Chicken Parmegiana & Chocolate Mousse. Please RSVP to Jennifer Wireman before July 29 at 941-676-5211 or jwireman@ccsofl.net.  Proceeds will benefit the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches.

On Saturday, August 6 BOWLING FOR A GOOD CAUSE! The C.A.R.E. Auxiliary Society is hosting Bowling Night to benefit C.A.R.E. Victim Services Center of Charlotte County Florida. Must register in teams of a 4 players up to 6. Please email team name and each player’s name to careauxiliary@gmail.com Teams are encouraged to dress up! Registration is $25/person which includes shoe rental. Team costumes are highly encouraged. Sponsorship of an Alley is available for $100. Sponsors can decorate their table, have giveaways or snacks. The Snack Bar will be open for purchases.  

"Put A Cork in It!" Wine Tasting Event along with the Gilded Grape Winery & Wine Bar of Port Charlotte. Over 10 different wines to sample. $25.00 per person~ includes hors-d'oeuvres. $5.00 of each ticket sale will be donated to the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Tickets are limited- Please come out and support this great fundraising event Hosted by Parkside Assisted Living & Memory Care 2595 Harbor Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33952 on Thursday, August 11th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Contact Laura Speer @ 941-766-7444

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.
~ Member News ~
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/

Enjoy the scents of Paradise-Are you ready to Sail away to a tropical getaway and be Castaway to the Caribbean, enjoying the coconut and rum, and while you are at it take a dive to the deep sea and hovering over the ocean reef. Try our new Tropical Getaway Organic Soaps 4.3oz scents *Castaway Deep-Sea *Island Spice Smooth Sailing *Tropical Teakwood *Monkey Fart and more! Two Angels Soaps, Gallery & Gifts in Sanctuary Plaza at 2686 Tamiami Trail, Unit 5A, Port Charlotte, FL. We would love to see you. (941)883-2861

Christmas in July Special- Cutco Business Gifts is running our biggest promotion of the year on Cutco until July 27th! Up to 30% off Cutco from knife sets, to gifts, flatware, and more! Reach out to us at ray@360businessgrowth.com with your ideas and we will send you our specials.

This November, remember who benefits from this referendum! Not only do the students benefit from it but also every member of the Charlotte County community! To learn more, check out our website: www.voteyes4success.org/

The Purple House Salon by Shawn Gilstad is offering July promotions: Buy any retail at full price and get the second one half off July 1- July 31. Summer special- Get a Pure Keratin Treatment and take home shampoo and conditioner complimentary from The Purple House Salon. We also do eyelash extensions. Call now to make your appointment or for more information 941.205.8603 

It takes 28 days to create a new habit…make today day 1. 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. Let’s get back to happy and healthy together. 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.

Hot weather and storms can turn a “simple” local move into a dangerous and damaging experience.  Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage teams work in rain or shine, even during hurricanes.  While “things” can be replaced, recovering from a back injury is much less certain.  Call Kenny Gardiner at (941) 423-5311 to schedule a truck and crew.  Your health is priceless. 
 
Here’s another 2 ways your vehicle can help you save money:  Before you leave home, empty your trunk of any unneeded weight.  Simple yet effective!  Also, quick braking causes your engine to use more energy than necessary.  Try to let the natural deceleration of your engine work along with your brakes.  This step will keep your brake pads working effectively, saving money over time on replacements.  If you need to replace your brakes due to squeaks, squeals, or performance, call Mary at (941) 623-2926 to schedule an appointment at Complete Auto Repair. 

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 by shopofflease@gmail.com

Medicaid planning is done in two ways: in a crisis situation or, proactive planning. In either case, if you get that call that a family member needs to go into a nursing home and you have no idea how you are going to pay the $10,000+ fees a month, the Dellutri Law Group can help. Contact Mark Martella, Esq., at 941-206-3700 or mmartella@dellutrilawgroup.com to request your Free Special Report on “Will Medicaid Pay for Your Nursing Home?” or if you have any other Estate Planning questions.

Naturally, we believe employers should never hire a job applicant without completing a background check. Employers may be held liable for "negligent hiring", "negligent retention", and "failure to warn" should an employee turn violent on the job or engage in any criminal behavior that harms another. And, always be sure to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which regulates not only credit checks but, also, criminal and driving records checks.    For FCRA-compliant employment and tenancy screening ... contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at NRG Background Checks.   941-488-8500;  800-531-6522;   nrginfo@atlantic.net   

Remember members, you 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.
~ Tip of the Week ~
 “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”  Michael Jordan
We encourage members to shop with other members to keep our community and local economy strong. If you do business with one or more of our renewing members please congratulate them for their Chamber Anniversary. These are members who renewed between May 16, 2022 and June 15, 2022... Take a look!
~ Job Spot ~
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

CPA Financial Advisor Inc is in need of the right person to anchor the front desk and maintain an efficient and well organized office. Duties are varied but traditional for an office of this type. Duties include: Answering the phones and relaying messages to the appropriate member of the company - Managing client appointments - Maintaining appropriate level of office supplies - Process completed tax returns for client pickup - Scan client tax and other documents - Monitor/track client tax and other projects - Maintain records of items mailed - Collection of payment for fees when clients receive finished product or service - Maintain and update accounts receivable. Knowledge of Excel, Word, and Outlook is important. Knowledge of QuickBooks is a plus. Paid time off and paid holiday are competitive with other employers. Eugene P Heitman II CPA CFP®, CPA Financial Advisor, Inc., 2120 Kings Hwy Suite 220, Port Charlotte FL 33980 941-743-6495 voice 941-625-9578 fax.

Peace River Wildlife Center is seeking a Development Director who will be responsible for driving the success of our vital revenue programs. This includes planning and organizing fundraising activities to implement our Capital Campaign and Fundraising Plan, managing the development budget and identifying and applying for financial grants to achieve our overall goals. We require that you have at least five years of experience in nonprofit development and live in our area. If you are interested and qualify, please email your resume to Executive Director, Callie Stahl at prwc.ed@yahoo.com.

Lightspeed is hiring. Lightspeed Voice is now recruiting a Regional Account Manager (RAM) to drive sales activity. The RAM is responsible for prospecting, cold calling, and cultivating new customers, partners, and account relationships. In this important and exciting position, the RAM is expected to support the sales efforts of Lightspeed Voice’s products and workflow solutions. For a copy of the full job description, detailed list of benefits and income expectations, please send an email to Ed Hill at ehill@lightspeedvoice.com

FULL TIME MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR - Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association (PGICA) The Membership Coordinator is responsible for growing PGICA membership through marketing campaigns and community outreach by developing and implementing membership recruitment and retention strategies, and working as a liaison between the association and its members. High-profile role requiring outstanding customer service, sales, communication and organizational skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office; positive and outgoing personality; high degree of judgement, initiative and confidentiality; and commitment to the mission and values of the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association. $35,000 plus vacation and holidays. Send resumes to teriashley@pgica.org for consideration. 
Showcase your business through sponsorship!
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.
~ Resources ~
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 Public Schools- https://www.yourcharlotteschools.net/

STATE AND FEDERAL-
Florida Chamber of Commerce- www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus
U.S. Department of Labor- https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic
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
Visit Florida- www.visitflorida.org
Governor's Office- www.flgov.com
~ Just for Fun ~
One day a man drove his secretary home after she fell quite ill at work. Although this was an innocent gesture, he decided not to mention it to his wife, who tended to get jealous easily.
Later, that night the man and his wife were driving to a restaurant.
Suddenly he looked down and spotted a high-heel shoe half hidden under the passenger seat. Not wanting to be conspicuous, he waited until his wife was looking out her window before he scooped up the shoe and tossed it out of the car. With a sigh of relief, he pulled into the restaurant parking lot. That's when he noticed his wife squirming around in her seat.
"Honey," she asked, "have you seen my other shoe?"
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.)
Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
2702 Tamiami Trail
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
941-627-2222

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

Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce charlottecountychamber.org