Ribbon Cutting at Foundation Counseling Group

   The Chamber, Ambassadors, and guests celebrated the grand opening of Foundation Counseling Group with a ribbon cutting last week.

    President of Foundation Counseling Group, Jesse Batey, welcomed the program by thanking the many supporters of their new venture and Vice President, Lou Santiago Jr., joined to help cut the ceremonial ribbon, pictured.

   To learn more about their services, visit foundationcounselinggroup.org

Welcome, Inspired Living at Ivy Ridge!

  Chantal Van Watermuelen, of Inspired Living at Ivy Ridge, was presented with her official Chamber plaque by Chamber Ambassador, Carolyn Jones, of Cruise Planners.

    Inspired Living at Ivy Ridge is a community designed to care for the needs of Moms and Dads living in the surrounding St Petersburg and Clearwater areas with memory-related issues. Through their Inspired Journeys Memory Care program, each resident is individually evaluated, and a personalized care and wellness plan is designed to best meet their physical, mental, and emotional needs.

    To learn more, visit them online at InspiredLiving.care

Our sincere thanks to the following businesses who joined the Chamber during the past seven weeks. To see theirs and YOUR Chamber Directory listing, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz

Staples #229

OFFICE-EQUIPMENT - SALES/SERVICE/SUPPLIES

Ken Hayes

13013 Seminole Blvd., Largo, FL 33778

727-559-0000

gm0229@staples.com

www.staples.com

Lithium Battery Power

LITHIUM BATTERIES

Michaela Gonzalez

1001 N Hercules Ave, Clearwater, FL 33765

727-223-9831

michaela@LithiumBatterypower.com

www.LithiumBatteryPower.com

Blue Brick Title and Escrow

TITLE AGENCY

Sherrie Towle

611 Druid Road E. #404, Clearwater, FL 33756

727-441-8880

Sherrie@BlueBrickTitle.com

www.BlueBrickTitle.com

Foundation Counseling Group

COUNSELING/LIFE COACHING

Jesse Batey

13220 Belcher Road S. Suite 4, Largo, FL 33773

727-210-5570

info@foundationcounselinggroup.org

foundationcounselinggroup.org

Blue Sky Roofing

ROOFING

Ramon Guitard

801 West Bay Drive Suite 100, Largo, FL 33770

727-382-3277

ramon@blueskyroofing.com

blueskyroofing.com

Evara Health

HEALTH CARE

Melissa Anderson

14100 58th Street N, Clearwater, FL 33760

727-824-8181

EvaraHealthFoundation@HCNetwork.org

www.EvaraHealth.org

Saluting Chamber Loyalty!

Our sincere thanks to the following businesses who renewed during the past five weeks. Their continued loyalty is inspiring! To learn more about them, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz

Cloud Law Firm, PA, Gold Trustee &7-Year Member

Enclave on East, 5-Year Member

GilDewey's, LLC, 8-Year Member

Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, 10-Year Member

Infinium Medical, Inc., 17-Year Legacy Member

Knapheide Truck Equipment Center, First Renewal

Mangsen Law PLLC, 6-Year Member

Mod Wash, First Renewal

National Aviation Academy. Gold Trustee & 11-Year Member

Phillies Florida LLC/Clearwater Threshers, 27-Year Legacy Member

Serenity Funeral Home and Serenity Memorial Gardens, 54-Year Legacy Member

Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 42-Year Legacy Member

SPCA Tampa Bay, 21-Year Legacy Member

Spectrum Reach, 6-Year Member

The Haus Coffee Shop, Inc., 10-Year Member

Valley Bank, Silver Trustee & 9-Year Member

(Legacy Member = 15 years or more)

Welcome, Addicted to the Bean!

   Victoria Hull, barista at Addicted to the Bean, was presented their official Chamber plaque by Chamber Ambassador, Glen Schultz of Signature Voices.

    Addicted to the Bean prides themselves on providing organic, fair-trade tea and the best coffee by working locally to source the freshest, highest-quality offerings. Whether you’re stopping in for coffee, lunch, or an afternoon snack, their little coffee shop has you covered!

    Learn more about their offerings at BayWayBean.com.

Ambassador of the Month

   For her volunteerism to the Chamber, Stacy Gillis of Advanced Video Systems, was recognized by our Ambassadors Team as Ambassador of the Month for the fifth time in a row at the group’s meeting last week. 

    If you would like to volunteer with us as a member of the Ambassadors Team, reach out to Emmy at membership@centralchamber.biz. The group meets monthly on the first Wednesday at 8:15 AM.

Early Bird Rate now open...

Is nuclear power fizzling out in Florida? Not so fast... why it still has plenty of juice

Touted in the 60s and 70s, but rejected in the 80s and 90s after two large disasters and a move toward natural gas, nuclear power is seeing continued usage and renewed support and research.

International visitors drive Florida's tourism growth

Domestic visitors decreased from 97.7 million in the first three quarters of 2022 to 96.4 million in the same time frame in 2023. However, the number of overseas and Canadian visitors grew by 19.3% and 60.3%, respectively.

Poll: Majority of Floridians know someone suffering from affordable housing crisis

As property values continue to climb higher, a stunning 58% of Floridians polled say they know of an extended family member or friend who has faced housing insecurity or who have struggled to find affordable housing.

A look at the strawberry's impact on Florida's agricultural industry

The Sunshine State is the second-largest strawberry producer in the U.S., driving a $300 million industry.

Why did the US seize this 747 Boeing plane in Florida this week?

The U.S. government on Monday took possession of a Boeing cargo plane in the Miami area that had been sold by a sanctioned Iranian airline to a Venezuelan company in violation of federal export control laws.

Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital

Business & Family Insurors

Check Before Hire

Cloud Law Firm PA

Duke Energy

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital

HCA Florida Largo Hospital

Home Instead/Be a Santa

Jackson & Associates CPA

Melody Hunter Homes

National Aviation Academy

Pinellas Technical College

Piper Fire Protection

Platinum Information Services

Regions Bank

State Farm - Team Cocco

The Palms of Largo

Valley National Bank

Village Inn

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

Wealth Builders