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.
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~ 98th Year Serving Charlotte County ~
Punta Gorda ~ Port Charlotte ~ Englewood ~ Charlotte Harbor ~ Murdock
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BUSINESS ONLINE
~ Monday, February 19, 2024 ~
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2023-2024 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.
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Charter Sustaining Partner (no years missed)
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Third Wednesday Coffee, Wednesday, February 21 from 7:45 a.m. until 9:00 a.m.
Members join us for coffee and light breakfast fare at the
Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center
75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda
Our Program: New Member Showcase
We'll also celebrate a Ribbon Cutting for New Member BubbleUp Exterior Cleaning LLC during the event! Please RSVP for planning purposes..
Business Card Exchange, Thursday, February 22 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Recreational Warehouse
1441 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte (inside the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall)
Remember to bring your business cards and if you like a small gift to promote your business. They plan to have a Scavenger Hunt at the event. Kindly RSVP for planning purposes.
Fun After Five, February 28, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Join us at Buffalo Wings and Rings, 1020 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte for an informal social gathering. This is a pay-your-own-way for food & drinks. Everyone is welcome to our Social Club event. Kindly register in the member portal for planning purposes.
Wednesday, March 13 Networking at Noon at DoughBar Restaurant & Pizzeria (on their covered outdoor patio) 520 King St., Punta Gorda. Please arrive by 11:45 a.m so that we may start promptly at Noon. Kindly RSVP in the member portal. Cost is $20pp.
Thursday, March 21st - Social Club Event, Coffee & Chat at the Association of Realtor Building, 3320 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte. Program: Frank Menard "Mastering the Art of Networking." Starts at 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. No cost to attend but RSVP is requested for planning purposes.
Professional Clothing Drive - Donate now February - April. Do you have any professional clothing items you no longer wear? We'll Take them. All clothing will go to stock the interview closet at Charlotte Technical College. Your donations will help students, who don't have appropriate attire, look the part and feel confident going on interviews for internships and employment. Drop off Locations: Charlotte County Chamber, 2702 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte or Charlotte Technical College, 18150 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte.
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Leadership Charlotte Alumni Reunion
Calling all Leadership Charlotte Alumni (and a guest) are Invited to our 1st Annual LC Alumni Reunion Event!
Join us on March 21st from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at TT's Tiki Bar for Fun, Networking and Comradery. Heavy appetizers and Cash Bar will be available.
We are asking our alumni to bring 2 canned goods for donation. There will be bragging rights for the color with the highest stack of cans.
Yell your color from the rooftops by becoming a sponsor. We are looking for 6 $500.00 Sponsors…we will recognize your business, logo, color and year graduated.
GO RED - GO GREEN - GO YELLOW - GO BLUE.
Register through the Member Portal or email your RSVP to Ruth Uzonyi ruzonyi@charlottecountychamber.org
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Leadership Charlotte 2024
Register Now for our Color Hop 5K and Bunny Trail Egg Walk on Saturday, March 30th at South County Regional Park.
5K Color Run/Walk starts at 8am - $35 for ages 13 and older or $20 for ages 12 and under. Bunny Trail Egg Walk, ages 10 and under, starts at 9am. Cost if $15.
This race is put on by Leadership Charlotte - Class of 2024. All proceeds will go toward their projects to support C.A.R.E. and the Loveland Center.
Sign Up Today
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~ Marketing Opportunities ~ | |
Members, Post News Releases, Jobs, Hot Deals,
Member-to-Member Deals, all Free!
Do it yourself in the Member Portal.
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The next issue of the FIR$T THUR$DAY ADVERTI$ER will be sent out on March 7th. (Digital flyers are due by March 5th) 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. *Cost $100 for-profit and $50 non-profit each issue *Sustaining Partners receive free digital flyers depending on their partnership level. . Learn More
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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, or click here to learn more.
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Did you know you may set up automatic payments! Never forget another membership payment! Save on stamps, checks and time. To do so, login to the Member Portal. In the shortcut menu, choose Company Information, at the bottom of the list choose Billing, choose Payment Profiles and enter your credit card. Then from that same Billing area choose Autopay & Billing to select your payment profile. That's it! | |
14th Annual Business Expo | |
Expo2025 will be on February 13, 2025
Remember to add the Expo to your marketing plan/budget. More information will follow.
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Thank You Expo2025 Sponsors! | |
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Print Sponsor: Buffalo Graffix
Newspaper Sponsor: The Daily Sun
Radio Sponsor: iHeart Media, Inc.
Platinum Title Sponsor:
Silver Sponsor:
Silver Sponsor:
Bronze Sponsor: MD Pressure Cleaning and Softwash
Main Stage Sponsor: CarmichaelTravel.Com
Breakfast Sponsor:
Speed Networking Sponsor:
After Hours Party Sponsor: Elite Inspections & Pest Solutions
Bag Sponsor: WhitCo Insurance, Alexia Martin Agency
Refreshment Station Sponsor: The Purple House Salon by Shawn Gilstad
Kick off Party Sponsor: Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center
Lanyard Sponsor: Chapman Insurance Group
Event Map Sponsor:
Passport Sponsor:
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Loud Life Productions Av LLC
1518 Harmony Drive, Port Charlotte , FL 33952
Joshua Lewis
(863) 414-5357
Loudlifeav@outlook.com
http://www.loudlifepro.com
KOVI Investments LLC
21202 Olean Blvd., Unit B-4, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
Eduard Kovalchuk
(941) 883-2885
edwardk1@rogers.com
http://www.kovinvest.com
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~ Join us for a Ribbon Cutting ~ | |
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Wednesday, February 21, 2024 about 8:30 a.m.
Ribbon Cutting
BubbleUp Exterior Cleaning
Will take place at the Third Wednesday Coffee in February
in the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 - 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (RC=5:30)
Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting
Byrd Haus Market
13425 Muriel Ave., Port Charlotte
Raffle (must be present to win), Snacks, beer, wine & soft drinks.
Please RSVP for planning purposes.
Thursday, February 29 from 4:00 p.m. util 8:00 p.m. (RC-5:30)
Ground Breaking and Ribbon Cutting
Kittle Property Group /Swiftwater at West Port Luxury Apartments
There will be music, gift give-a-ways and beverages.
16325 Franklin Ave,. Port Charlotte
Kindly RSVP in the member portal for planning purposes.
Friday, March 15, 2024 at 8:15 a.m. Tri Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Crews Bank & Trust
1100 Tamiami Trail, Por Charlotte
Kindly RSVP for planning purposes.
Tuesday, March 19 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. (RC=5:30) Dual Ribbon Cutting
Metropolitan Solutions
16830 Canopy Garden Dr., Port Charlotte
Finger foods & Refreshments
Please RSVP in the member portal
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Everyone is invited to attend Chamber ribbon cutting events. Come out and support your fellow members in a casual, fun, atmosphere! Networking opportunity. | |
#ConnectingBusinessesTogether | |
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.) | |
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Special Offer - Chamber members are invited to take advantage of a special offer for tickets to the Resnick-Wynn Family Business Conference, scheduled for Thursday, February 29, 2024, on the FGCU campus from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event promises valuable insights and best practices tailored for family businesses. The keynote speaker for the conference is Jonathan M. Tisch, Co-Chairman of Loews Corporation, Executive Chairman of Loews Hotels & Co., and Co-Owner of the NY Football Giants. For additional details, visit https://www.fgcu.edu/familybusinessconference/. Up to 15 tickets are available for $199 per ticket ($100 savings). You must be a family business to attend. To apply, contact I'Riel Williams at iwilliams@fgcu.edu and reference the Chamber Offer.
ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda proudly announces the grand opening of its new behavioral health center on February 29 at 5:30 p.m. Located within the ShorePoint Health hospital building, this new location marks a transformative milestone in delivering mental health care services to our community. The ribbon-cutting ceremony heralds the official opening of the behavioral health center, symbolizing ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda's continued commitment to enhancing mental health care accessibility and quality within the community. All are invited to join in this auspicious occasion and witness the dawn of a new era in behavioral health care in Charlotte County.
Beginning Feb. 26 please join us for a FREE 6-week evidence-based course designed to help family caregivers manage the challenges of caring for someone living with dementia. Held at the Charlotte County Library, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte. Classes at from 1pm to 3pm on Mondays. Call 239-437-3007 or go to www.dubincenter.com for more information. This grant made possible through the Miriam P. Raines Charitable Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
Saturday is coming up and so is our 14th Annual Customer Appreciation Party. Ron, Misty and the crew at Complete Auto Repair are looking forward to seeing everyone, this Saturday February 24th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM for Food, DJ Music, Prizes, and The Car Show. "Let's Party, Eat and Look at Cool Cars."
Charlotte Players- Calendar Girls Feb 8-25. When Annie's husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow Women's Institute members to pose nude with them for an "alternative" calendar. For tickets and more information go to www.charlotteplayers.org or call 941-255-1022.
Italian Dinner Night – Salad, Pasta with Meatballs, Bread and Cookies - is happening on February 22, 2024, from 4:00 to 6:00PM at The GFWC Women’s Club of Port Charlotte at 20271 Tappan Zee Drive in Port Charlotte. Advance Tickets only, $12.00 per dinner, dine in or carry out. Call Mary 941-627-4613 to sign up. Proceeds benefit local Charlotte County Charities.
The Charlotte County Tourist Development Council is accepting applications for the 2024 Event Development Program (EDP). The EDP provides reimbursable funding to assist in the development of new events, occurring in low or shoulder seasons which promote Charlotte County as a tourist destination. The application is available online here. Applications are due no later than February 22 by emailing Ms. Brynja Phipps at Brynja.Phipps@PureFlorida.com
Kick Up Your Heels For Healthy Start on February 29, 2024 at Twisted Fork Restaurant. The Fun Starts at 5:30PM until 9:00PM. We’ll have a Buffet, Dancing, Raffles, 50/50 and more! Cost $50.00/person for tickets go to https://givebutter.com/kicking2024 proceeds to benefit Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition because every baby deserves a Healthy Start. Click here for the flyer or call Vicki Vertich-Hutcheson 941-764-9700
At the United Way of Charlotte County's 9th Annual Beaujolais on March 1, 2024 we will honor Kevin Russell with special recognition and award for his service to our community. Let’s make it a special time for Kevin on March 1. We look forward to seeing you at Starry Nights. This exclusive gathering promises an evening of exquisite wines, delectable cuisine, and memorable moments shared among his esteemed colleagues and friends. For more information or for tickets, click here.
Drug Free Charlotte County's Rally Round 4 Prevention will be March 2, 2024, 3-8:30pm at the PicklePlex®. Any experience level can play this round-robin, poker hand style play. $35 for single or $50 for team (w/meal). Register at: https://bit.ly/PlayRally2024. At 3pm - The Battle of the Guns and Hoses" as CCSO, PGPD, CC Fire/EMS and PG Fire/EMS hit the courts for a pre-event tourny. All events are free to watch (no meal included). SPONSORSHIPS available: https://bit.ly/RallyRound2024 941-559-1946 for questions.
Looking to have some fun while giving back to your favorite local charity? Join us on Sunday, March 3rd as C.A.R.E. Auxiliary hosts their annual Dart Tournament at the Ice House Pub. Located at 408 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda. Registration is $25.00 per player, tournament begins at 3:00pm. Sign-ups can be made by emailing careauxiliary@gmail.com or in person day of event. Prizes will be awarded to the top teams. All proceeds benefit the Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies. Eat, Sleep, and play darts with C.A.R.E. Auxiliary!
Gator Wilderness Camp School will be hosting a 5k / 10k / 15k trail run through our beautiful 250 acre property which includes the boys campsites and our 12 acre lake. The run is Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 8 AM at Gator Wilderness Camp. We will also be hosting a kids fun dash for ages 2-12 at 9:00am. There is also a hot breakfast, fresh fruit, and delicious baked goods provided by Gator Wilderness Camp School and Detwiler's Farm Market to all registered participants. Contact Melissa Bergey 941-639-7722 or Register Online at:
http://runsignup.com/Race/FL/PuntaGorda/GatorWildernessCampTrailRun
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BubbleUp Exterior Cleaning, a Veteran Owned Pressure washing/ House washing company with over 8 years of experience is offering services in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port and Venice areas. Please support us at our “Ribbon Cutting” before the New Business Showcase at the Chamber's 3rd Wednesday Coffee on this Wednesday February 21, 2024! We would appreciate it! We wash the house, roof, driveway, walkways, pool cages, lanai's, fences, walls, gutter cleanouts. and many other things. BubbleUp is licensed and insured. Visit: BubbleUpcleans.pro to see astonishing “Before” and “After” pictures. Call or text: Mac at 941-587-0654.
Small changes can bring big results for your employees! Starting January 1, 2024, Gulfcoast South AHEC will begin offering $25 gift cards* to Group Quit participants who attend in-person or virtual sessions. FREE tobacco cessation counseling and FREE Nicotine Replacement in the form of patches, gum and/or lozenges are also available 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. *while supplies last
Attention new business owners! The Small Business Development Center helps new businesses start the right way, and ‘birth’ their dreams into reality. There is value in doing things right the first time, without paying unnecessary fees. Both Patti Guerzo and Sue Craig are here to provide the counsel to create a headache-free launch. For access to no-cost business consulting, simply click this code. https://floridasbdc.org/request-for-consulting/
Need screen repairs on your screen enclosure? Whether it's just one panel or an entire screen enclosure, we're the company to do it! Every panel is guaranteed. We can also paint your enclosure, add pet doors, replace door hardware, and more. Licensed & Insured. Call (941) 539-6868 or visit www.cvscreeningllc.com for more information.
Southern Technical College is an accredited private institution offering career education. We’re listening to employers, and we’re dedicated to preparing the workforce for today’s demanding job openings. Students enjoy hands-on small class sizes, day/evening, financial aid, and placement assistance. Diploma programs offered in medical assisting, veterinary assisting, electrical technology, and an Associate’s degree in Surgical Technology. Transform someone’s life and shape future generations. Referrals welcomed. New terms begin every month. The next term starts 3-4-2024. Call 941-391-8888 or email Eddie Ortiz at eortiz@stc.edu. Learn more at www.southerntech.edu.
Need help moving in or out of state? Look no further than Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage! We're your one-stop shop for local and out-of-state moves, whether you're relocating your business, home, apartment, condo, or an emergency move. We take care of everything: Our professional team will expertly pack, unpack, and place all your belongings, ensuring even your largest and most awkward items like oversized instruments arrive safely. Plus, we offer convenient short-term storage solutions for in-between moves.
Give Kenny a call at 941-423-5311 for a smooth and stress-free moving experience!
Railroad Tie sale at Murdock Stones Etc.!! Was $50, now $40 for all chamber members through the month of February. They make great borders for driveways, and landscaping. Check them out at 7621 Sawyer Circle (off Gasparilla Rd. …look for the World’s Largest Mailbox) or 590 Prineville St. in Port Charlotte (across from Home Star Storage). . www.murdockstonesetc.com. 941-629-6651.
Have you been putting off preparing a Last Will and Testament until next year? Well, your next year is here! It is so important to have the right documents in place BEFORE a medical emergency happens. Give Mark Martella, Esq., of the Martella Law Firm, PLLC a call at 941-867-6865 (or e-mail him at mark@martellalaw.com) to schedule a complimentary, confidential, one hour consultation to discuss your options to be prepared for when “life happens.”
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~ New Kids on the Block ~ | |
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Crews Bank & Trust has appointed Holli Livingston as its new Retail Banking Officer, VP at their Punta Gorda branch, succeeding Alyson Burch. She brings over 15 years of banking experience to the role. Livingston, who is married with three children and two dogs, enjoys boating, fishing, and traveling with her family in her spare time.
She will manage the Punta Gorda branch, which is located at 2331 Tamiami Trail. She can be reached at 941-639-2511 or hlivingston@crews.bank
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“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning” - Benjamin Franklin | |
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Jerry was sitting down for breakfast one morning when he was astonished to see in the paper an announcement of his own death.
He called his friend at once, "Jim, have you seen the announcement of my death in the paper?"
Jim replied, "Yes, and exactly where are you calling from?"
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Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
2702 Tamiami Trail
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
941-627-2222
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