Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
(Est. 1925)
~ 95
th
Year of Serving All Charlotte County
~
Offices in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda
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BUSINESS ONLINE
~~~ Monday, June 15, 2020 ~~~
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- Chamber Updates
- Sustaining Partners
- Welcome New Members
- Chamber Member News
- Job Spot
- Resources
- Just For Fun
- Contact information
- Social Distancing and Safety Protocol Statement
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Have you heard? The place to be at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday is the
Third Wednesday Coffee*
at the
Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center
. The Coffee is sponsored this month by
Gator Wilderness Camp School
and the guest speaker will be Joe Pepe, Ed. D., MSA, Administrator of the
Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County
. All appropriate safety modifications and protocols will be in place, and prizes will be awarded for creative face masks. We will be looking for the Most Flashy, Best Business Branded, Most Unique, and Most Beautiful. One of those will also receive the coveted Best of Show award. We are excited to see everyone!
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All chamber members are invited to sponsor and welcome one of the 90 new Charlotte County teachers. The annual New Teacher’s Breakfast on July 30 has officially been dubbed the
New Teachers Breakfast Parade!*
The new teachers will drive thru the Event Center parking lot to pick up their special boxed breakfasts and goody bags. They will be celebrated by their sponsoring businesses with greetings, signs, balloons and banners. If your business would like to sponsor one of the 90 new teachers for $35, and participate in the New Teachers Breakfast Parade, please contact the chamber as soon as possible. (Oh, and this will be excellent promotion and exposure for your business as well.)
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Business is rebounding and the pace is forecast to increase rapidly for our community. The flyer for the
2021 Community Guide and Business Directory
was included in your June
Business Perspective
newsletter to make sure your business in the forefront. You can also find the flyer
HERE
!
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After a four-month delay, the Leadership Charlotte Class of 2020 is scheduled to resume its nine-month program on July 8. Of the 31 Leadership Charlotte classes, this one was presented with the ultimate leadership challenge.
Leadership Charlotte is the annual program of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce which offers a maximum of 25 local professionals the opportunity to take an in-depth look at Charlotte County. This is by application only, and the selection process can be tough. Once selected, the class begins its monthly day-long sessions. The remainder of the LC2020 sessions* are currently scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 – Arts and Humanities Evening
Thursday, July 16, 2020 – Local Economy Day
Thursday, August 20, 2020 – Media/Communication Day
Thursday, September 3, 2020 – Justice Day
Thursday, September 10, 2020 – Tourism Day
Friday, September 18, 2020 – Graduation- Kings Gate Golf Club
If you are interested in applying for the Leadership Charlotte Class of 2021, please contact Teri Ashley at 941-639-2222 or tashley@charlottecountychmaber.org.
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The dedicated Sustaining Partner businesses provide additional support to the annual chamber budget which, in turn, provides them with additional membership benefits. This allows us to continue with increased promotion, advocacy, involvement and leadership at the local, state and federal levels as we support our businesses and the community we serve.
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(For your business to become a Sustaining Partner and enjoy special benefits, please contact Teri Ashley at 941-639-2222 or
tashley@charlottecountychamber.org
for information.)
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Welcome New Chamber Members
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Day’s Complete Pool Care
2403 Linton Lane Port Charlotte, FL 32952
Phone: 941-235-0375
Amber Day
Haven Street Consulting
13435 S. McCall Road, Unit 16 #347 Port Charlotte, FL 33981
Phone: 844-716-0012
Katy Schaan
Shea Louis – Century 21 Sunbelt Realty
5035 Administration Street Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Phone: 941-875-1036
Shea Louis
shealouis.com
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WKDW 95.7 FM – Community Broadband Radio Assn., Inc.
12737 Tamiami Trail
North Port, FL 34287
Phone: 941-564-8739
Marie LaBrosse
kdwradio.com
Southwest Landscaping, LLC
18416 Barbara Avenue
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
Phone: 941-268-2113
James Grimmer
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Is your construction project giving you nightmares? If so, you don’t have to deal with the aggravation alone. As an experienced attorney, Lance Ball, Esq. can guide you through the complexities of construction law and assist with a resolution. For aggressive advocacy at reasonable rates, contact the
Ball Law Firm
at (941) 740-2255 or
BallLawCenter.com
today. For your safety, we continue to offer telephone consultations during the pandemic.
Buffalo Graffix
is open and operating Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. We are here for all your design, printing, imprinted apparel, promo products, signs, wraps and direct mail needs. Check out our current specials on
www.buffalograffix.com
to save on the things you need to keep yourselves up and running! Call 941.625.2833 or email us at info@buffalograffix today to learn more! We hope you are all staying safe and healthy!
Shirley Osuba, a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) with 25 years of experience in trust and finance, has joined the Trust and Investment Management Services division of
Charlotte State Bank & Trust
. She began her career as a probate paralegal for a prominent Sarasota law firm, then served as a trust officer for a pair of major financial institutions. Shirley graduated from the Canon Trust School I, II, and III, Graduate Trust School, and earned her CTFA (Certified Trust and Financial Advisor) designation from the American Bankers Association.
Families that have been reunified with their children through the child welfare system need mentors at this difficult time. If you or someone you know have a few minutes a day to mentor a family by providing support and linkage to resources from the comfort of home, please fill out an application at
www.childnetswfl.org
. Training can be completed via email and support provided via phone, email, social media or electronic means. Working together through this crisis, families and the
Children’s Network
team appreciate our volunteer mentors. Lend-a-hand, mentor a family today!
The
City of Punta Gorda
has been nominated for the 2020 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards – Best Small Town Food Scene!
Voting is open to the public here
, through Monday, June 29, at noon. We urge you all to cast a vote daily and spread the word to help our beloved town win. Punta Gorda was the only Florida nominated town among 19 other nominees across the country.
Don’t confuse your car’s operating system with an incomplete repair. Did you know vehicles equipped with an engine control module may require a computer relearn procedure after service? Vehicle computers memorize and store vehicle operation patterns for optimum drivability and performance. At
Complete Auto Repair
, we frequently perform computer relearns, which are often the result of DIY repairs. The result is often a warning light that doesn’t make sense. Before you invest in a costly fact-finding project, let Ron Morgan’s team check your car’s computer. Call 941-623 – 2926.
Cooling Dynamics
offers new monthly service! We’re proud to be one of the few HVAC companies now offering monthly service to visit and change your air filters for you. No more climbing ladders to change your filters and no more forgetting to do it. Instead of spending $15+ a month on air filters … we will change your filters and service your A/C for $29! Start breathing the difference with cleaner/safer air, saving on your electric bill and prolonging the life of your A/C system. Click
here
for more information or call 941-416-5541.
Curry Moving & Storage, Inc.
remains open for business, but is closed to public access at this time. You may reach us by phone; 941-625-4191 or by email;
currymoving@gmail.com
. We have mini-warehouses for rent with the best price in town. In light of the challenge we are all facing, Curry Moving & Storage is taking several hygienic precautions to keep our customers and employees safe. We are currently offering all first responders one month free mini-warehouse space or lot space. Remember, He is the light in the darkness!
Dancing Moon Travel
Hot Deal: Chamber Members -- book any cruise vacation of 7 nights or more in the month of June and receive a bonus $50 onboard credit. Offer combinable with all cruise line promotions. Pat Hand, MCC, CGETS, Author of
Bring 'Em Onboard - How to Win Friends, Influence People and Travel the World for Free,
Owner - Dancing Moon Travel,
www.DancingMoonTravel.com
,
http://pat.dancingmoontravel.com/
, 404-735-5774, Save 30% or more on your next group event. Ask me how!
We are with
David Allen Capital
and we provide capital for business owners. We currently have 12 lenders that are putting together funding packages for small business owners that are still doing business in our community. Our process is very fast and simple. Even though we are receiving a lot of applications right now, we are able to get an approval in two days and funds into the business owner's account in one week. We are working with local business owners, but we would like others to be aware of the opportunity to receive funding for their businesses.
Eye Centers of Florida
, including the Port Charlotte office at 1940 Tamiami Trail #103 (in front of Lowe’s), is offering 30% off all additional pairs of eye wear with the purchase of one complete pair. Walk-ins and outside prescriptions welcome! Call 888.EYE.APPT (888-393-2778) for an appointment. See all optical specials here:
https://www.ecof.com/resources/coupons/
.
Six
Farr Law Firm
attorneys were selected for the 2020
Florida Super Lawyers
magazine. Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas. Selected by independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations were- Florida Super Lawyers: Guy S. Emerich, Estate Planning & Probate; Jack O. Hackett II, Real Estate; and David A. Holmes, Business Litigation. Florida Rising Stars: Forrest J. Bass, Estate Planning & Probate; George T. Williamson, Class Action/Mass Torts; and Brett H. Sifrit, Estate Planning & Probate.
At
Friendly Floors
, we want you to love your floors for a long time. That’s why our team listens carefully to your needs, and recommends the best options. Call us to learn more about the new “Waterproof Hardwood” floor. Yes, there is such a thing as waterproof hardwood now, and waterproof laminate too. We’ve watched videos of tractors driving over metal hardware, and these floors are unharmed, so they should be strong enough for your family! Come see all our waterproof hardwood options at our showroom at 3785 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte.
Summer temperatures can be underestimated if you are packing and moving yourself. This is especially true for our elders. As temperatures soar, exhaustion and dehydration happen quickly.
Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage
offers packing and loading services locally, even if you have another truck to drive. Moving is stressful enough! Let us do the heavy lifting and packing. Call Kenny Gardiner at 941-423-5311.
Granny Nannies Senior Care Agency
is open, and we moved to our new location. We are an essential business. We are busier than ever giving the best care to our clients, and taking care of our caregivers. Professional in-home senior care services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Granny Nannies is dedicated to ensuring you receive the home health care you or your loved one require and deserve.
What is the health of your online review portfolio? Does it include comments on Nextdoor, Facebook, Google, Angie’s List, and Yelp? Having positive mentions on these sites is a practical and cost-free way to increase your online exposure. All it takes is a plan, some interaction with past customers, and good follow up. Patti Guerzo, of
Guerzo Business Consulting
, has been improving online review portfolios for 15 years. Call Patti at 312-420 - 0884 to learn how you can improve your online profile.
If you have re-opened your business but now face the prospect of pressure from your creditors, call Mark Martella, Esq. of
Icard Merrill
, to help you deal with them while you rebuild your business income. Having gone through four economic downturns as an attorney and small business owner, Mark can assist you in your restructuring and advise you how to avoid the fatal mistakes made by past clients in similar circumstances. For a complimentary, confidential consultation, please call 941-206-3700 or e-mail Mark at
mmartella@icardmerrill.com
.
Did you know that your children have credit scores? If someone has stolen their identity, their credit score could be trashed before their high school graduation. You can prevent untold heartache by freezing the credit of your children’s social security number (yours too!). If you want to know more about this free, credit freezing option, call Sue Craig at
Independent Financial Coachin
g, 941-916-5324.
Kiwanis Shoes for Kids Project
begins on June 21
st
and runs through July 26
th
. This project
provides new, properly fitted sneakers for children in the Charlotte County Public School System (CCPS). You can make a monetary donation thorough our Kiwanis web-page (
www.pcsunrise.kiwanis.org
) or donate a new pair of sneakers at one of our collection sites (
www.shoesforkidsproject.org
). Your gift means one youth will not have to wear duct tape, not have to curl their toes, not have to wear plastic bags over their socks. Helping just one changes their lives…Bless you!
Did you know that
Murdock Stones Etc.
sells industrial grade weedmat (groundcover) and weedmat pins? The weedmat comes in 12 different sizes. For the month of June, all chamber members can get $5 off any one roll of weedmat.
590 Prineville St
. in Port Charlotte (by the Sun Flea Market).
7621 Sawyer Circle
(off Gasparilla Rd. …look for the World’s Largest Mailbox).
www.murdockstonesetc.com
. 941-629-6651.
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," or "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 Act (FCRA) - which regulates not only credit checks but, also, criminal and driving records checks. For further info, contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at
NRG Background Checks
. Call: 941-488-8500; Toll-Free: 800-531-6522; Fax: 941-488-8505; Email:
nrginfo@atlantic.net
Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
has re-opened to the public. The Gardens resumed the summer schedule, opening Wednesday – Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm, with health and personal safety as a significant focus. The staff follows CDC guidelines for regularly sanitizing all “touch areas” as well as wearing masks, using protective shields at registers, and using gloves as appropriate. Visitors are requested to maintain proper social distancing of at least 6 feet from other visitors. Groups are limited to 10 persons. Please check the website for updates at
www.peacerivergardens.org
Radiology Regional
is again performing screening mammograms. Women due to have their screening mammogram, or missed it, we encourage to call to schedule appointments at Radiology Regional on Murdock Circle in Port Charlotte. Screening mammograms remain the most reliable way to detect breast cancer at early stages. Radiology Regional has the most qualified team of women's imagers in Southwest Florida. Our radiologists are board-certified and subspecialty trained in breast imaging with experience you can rely on. You can trust Radiology Regional's 50 years of excellence in diagnostic imaging and exceptional patient care.
The Grill at 1951,
winner of "A Taste of Punta Gorda" is open lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. We are currently offering a 20% discount on entire check all day and 30% off entire check 3:30-5 and after 8:15 p.m. We have music 7 nights a week and the complete calendar of events can be found as well as our menus at (
www.TheGrillAt1951.com
) and social media sites. You can call our main number at 914-255-0994 to make a reservation or place an order. Your table is waiting.
Toby Lynn helps families buy, build, and refinance their home. Conventional, FHA/VA, primary residence, second homes, investment properties, or construction loans. Toby Lynn works to get the financing your best buddy needs. Pre-qualification is free! Specializing in happy, smooth, and on-time closings! Call today! Toby Lynn, Branch Manager,
The Mortgage Firm
, 941-356-6579 –
www.ThePerfectMortgageSolution.com
Health Insurance options are available to those who lose coverage but there are short time frames that must be met. Call
Tim Murno
at 941-769-1163 to compare alternatives to COBRA. Evenings and Saturdays available by appointment.
Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™
offer sales and installation of auto and marine accessories, mobile electronics, audio video equipment, security systems, window tinting, vehicle wraps, paint protection films, detailing services, nano ceramic coatings, maintenance and repair services, and more. Tint World® is also the leading provider of residential, commercial and marine computerized window tinting and security film services. The all-new Tint World® Port Charlotte store is located at 2000 Tamiami Trail #217-218, Port Charlotte, FL 33948-2182. For more information, call (941) 229-6055.
Job Spot
Home Instead Senior Care
is currently hiring full-time/part-time home health aides and CNA’s to join our CAREGiving team. Home Instead CAREGivers deliver one-on-one care to seniors in their home by providing companionship and assisting them with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing. We provide paid training and 24/7 support as well as offer full medical benefits. If you have a heart for seniors and are looking for a career where you truly make a difference, please call Regina at (941) 505-0450 or visit us online at
homeinstead.com/CharlotteCountyFL
Career Source of Southwest Florida
online resources include available jobs
Charlotte County Realty
is looking for 1-2 licensed buyers' agents that have a passion for showing properties and client satisfaction! We have a surplus of business that translates into better than average financial compensation for you. Both newer licensees and veteran agents are being considered. Please forward your resume to:
kathy@charlottecountyrealty.com
Your
"Help Wanted"
information could be here! Please submit 90 words or less to tashley@charlottecountychamber.org.
Resources
LOCAL-
Please
call 2-1-1
for any resource needs.
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan-
ForidaDisasterLoan.org
STATE AND FEDERAL-
Florida Chamber of Commerce-
www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus
Small Business Administration-
www.sba.gov/disaste
r
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association-
https://frla.org/covid-19/
Florida Reemployment Assistance-
http://www.floridajobs.org
Florida Department of Health Data and Surveillance Dashboard-
https://fdoh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/8d0de33f260d444c852a615dc7837c86
Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic-
www.irs.gov
Just for Fun
A young man approached the renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and asked, "Herr Mozart, I have the ambition to write symphonies and perhaps you can advise me how to get started."
Mozart said, "The best advice I can give you is to wait until you are older and more experienced, and try your hand at less ambitious pieces to begin with."
The young man looked astonished. "But, Herr Mozart, you yourself wrote symphonies when you were considerably younger than I."
"Ah," said Mozart, "but I did so without asking advice."
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Do you have news or information about YOUR business? Send it to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce and we'll share it with the entire membership. Email your submission to Teri Ashley at tashley@charlottecountychamber.org. Please send 90 words or fewer, in paragraph form, by noon on Friday.
Business Online
is emailed weekly on Mondays, or Tuesday following a holiday. This is a free membership benefit! ( We do reserve the right to publish and edit any submissions.)
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Teri Ashley, Executive Director
Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
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2702 Tamiami Trail
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
941-627-2222
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311 W Retta Esplanade
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
941-639-2222
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*Social Distancing and Health Safety Protocol Statement:
The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce requests that you kindly not attend events with a fever, any COVID-19 Symptoms, if anyone in your household has shown symptoms of COVID-19, or if you are included in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined high-risk category for COVID-19. Additionally, while we know that most are accustomed to handshakes, fist-bumps, and hugs, we ask that you refrain during this time and follow all recommended health safety protocols. Social distancing is required by anyone attending chamber events and it is recommended that face masks be worn to lessen the possible transmission of COVID-19 to others. By attending Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce events, all attendees acknowledge and assume the risk that COVID-19 is contagious and exposure may occur.
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