~ 96th Year Serving Charlotte County ~
Punta Gorda ~ Port Charlotte ~ Englewood ~ Charlotte Harbor ~ Murdock
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- Sustaining Partners
- Welcome New Members
- Chamber Events and Updates
- Chamber Member News
- Job Spot
- Resources
- Just For Fun
- Contact information
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Social Distancing and Safety Protocol Statement
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2020-2021 Sustaining Partners |
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*Supreme Charter Sustaining Partner (no years missed) *Charter Sustaining Partner
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Bath Fitter of SWFL
14261 Jetport Loop W., #8
Fort Myers, FL 33913
239-284-0056
Jennifer Fusco
http://www.bathfitter.com
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Hampton Inn & Suites, North Port
5664 Tuscola Boulevard
North Port, FL 34287
941-426-4770
Michelle Seamon, Dan Harrison
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tpanphx
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Chamber Events and Updates |
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Dr. Joe Pepe to speak at Third Wednesday Coffee
Don't miss the 7:15 a.m. Third Wednesday Coffee at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center. Guest speaker Dr. Joe Pepe, Administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County, will provide an update on Covid-19, testing, and vaccinations. The monthly meeting will be graciously sponsored by Hessler Floor Covering, and we will also hear a few words from nonprofit member, Valerie's House. (Face masks are required and all social distancing guidelines will be followed.)
Quarterly New Member Orientation also Wednesday morning
The 30-minute Chamber-101 session will follow the Third Wednesday Coffee at 8:30 a.m. to provide a brief, in-person overview of our programs and services. Included will be an introduction to the use of the website portal. All members are welcome to attend as a refresher as well. (Face masks are required and all social distancing guidelines will be followed.)
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Expo Sponsors:
(So far!)
Platinum Title Sponsor- Chapman Insurance Group
Platinum Title Sponsor- Total Air Solutions
Gold Presenting Sponsor- Burnt Store Title and Escrow
Bronze Participating Sponsor- Charlotte Health Solutions
Bronze Participating Sponsor- Life Care Center of Punta Gorda
Bronze Participating Sponsor- The Mortgage Firm
Bronze Participating Sponsor- The Mosaic Company
Business After Party Sponsor- Elite Inspections and Pest Solutions
Print Sponsor- Buffalo Graffix
Newspaper Sponsor- Sun Coast Media Group
Radio Sponsor- iHeart Media
Lanyard Sponsor- Chapman Insurance Group
Event Bag Sponsor- Whitco Insurance- Alexia Martin Agency
There are four sponsorship levels which include the exhibitor booth space(s), lots of promotional perks, print and digital advertising, party tickets, and more than ever before. Click the EXPO EXPO EXPO button below for the ~HOT~ details!
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Expo Exhibitors:
(So far!)
AADisaster Restoration; Achieva Credit Union; Acu Heal Medical Acupuncture; Bayfront Health Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda; BrightStar Care of Venice and Port Charlotte; Buffalo Graffix; Burnt Store Title and Escrow; Centennial Bank; Certain Service; Chapman Insurance Group; Charlotte County Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller; Charlotte County Community Services; Charlotte County Economic Development Office; Charlotte County Property Appraiser Paul Polk; Charlotte County Water Rainsoft; Charlotte-Desoto Building Industry Association; Charlotte Health Solutions; Chelsea Place Senior Care; Charlotte State Bank and Trust; Charlotte Technical College; Coastal Dermatology; Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty; Edward Jones-Jim Sproul; Elite Inspections and Pest Solutions; Fabulous Finds Re-Sale Shop; Farr Law Firm; Fawcett Memorial Hospital; Foot and Ankle Centers of Charlotte County; FSBDC at FGCU; Gator Wilderness Camp School; Icard Merrill Attorneys and Counselors; iHeart Media; Integrity Insurance Agency; Labor Solutions; LaQuinta Inn and Suites/Microtel Inn and Suites Port Charlotte; Life Care Center of Punta Gorda; LMET@Sea, LLC; Murdock Stones Etc.; The SCORE Association; Port Charlotte Rehab and Nursing; Pregnancy Solutions; Radiology Regional Center; Rescue Air Cooling and Heating; S&N Motorsports; ServPro of Port Charlotte/Venice; Shutters 9-1-1, LLC; Sun Coast Media Group; Tampa Bay Rays; TaxSavers; The Mortgage Firm; The Mosaic Company; Tidewell Hospice; Total Air Solutions; Tony/Rhonda Gustitus Team-Keller Williams Peace River Partners; Village Place Senior Living; Vintage Motor Car Club of America SWFL Region; and Whitco Insurance- Alexia Martin Agency.
Make sure YOUR local business is part of this ~HOT~ August event. Click the EXPO EXPO EXPO button below for details!
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Chamber Member News
Alzheimer's Association- The end of Alzheimer's starts with you! Now recruiting volunteers. We are building our 2021 Charlotte Walk Committee. This dedicated group of volunteers drives the event's development and growth - advancing the fight against Alzheimer's from the ground up. There are lots of ways to use your interests and skills no matter how much time you have to give! Learn more at our Volunteer Kickoff on January 28th, 4:00 - 4:30. RSVP today at https://bit.ly/3nAsGhS. Questions? Contact Kathy Heldman, your walk staff partner, at kaheldman@alz.org.
Using a Marine GPS is being taught hands-on by the America’s Boating Club® Peace River Sail and Power Squadron Saturday, 06 February staring at 1PM and finished by 5PM in Bayfront Center, 750 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. We give you a little background on how it works; then we hand you a handheld GARMIN GPS unit which we walk thru the operation, menus, and create/enter waypoints to create a route. Price is $35, additional family member sharing materials $20. To register or for more information: 941-637-0766 or Education@PeaceRiverSailandPowerSquadron.org
All of us at Blu gROTTO Italian Ristorante welcome you to come and join us for dinner Tuesday thru Saturday from 4:00pm -9:00pm. We offer some of the best Italian food in the area and promise you a wonderful dining experience. The food really is amazing and the waitstaff is very polite and attentive. We do recommend reservations and offer great ambience for a nice date night, anniversary or for that special occasion. Home - Blu gROTTO Italian Ristorante (blugrottoportcharlotte.com)
Are you doing everything you can to market yourself? Buffalo Graffix is here for all your printing and design needs! Need some help with your marketing plan for the year? There’s no better time than right now to figure out the best way to promote your business. We’ve got tons of specials going on right now to save you money and get things done! Contact us today at 941-625-2833 or info@buffalograffix.com to see what we can do for you!
Calling all supervisors and HR staff! Need a good laugh? Join Charlotte County Society for Human Resource Management for a virtual hour with leadership speaker/comedian David Horning who combines hilarious anecdotes, scientific studies and simple daily practices to help you utilize humor as a vital leadership skill and cultural cornerstone to your work.
Join CHEC for the 2nd annual Trek for CHEC race event on Saturday, January 23rd, 2021! There will be a 1-mile fun walk, 5K run, 5K walk, & 10K run. Participate in-person or virtually. More information about the event can be found under the “Trek for CHEC” tab at www.checflorida.org. You can also catch free guided walks at Alligator Creek Preserve on Tuesdays or Thursdays, or other special walks. All walks begin at 9:00 AM. Pre-registration and face masks are required. Visit www.checflorida.org or call 941-575-5435 for more information.
Mark your calendars! On Saturday, February 27th, from 11 – 2, Complete Auto Repair will hold their 11thAnnual Customer Appreciation Party. This outside event celebrates our customers, and features a “cruise in” by Tailgators of Central Florida and the Peace River Car Club, who showcase their custom cars and motorcycles. We will be giving away raffle items all day, and if a Chamber business wants to donate a raffle item, we will promote your business at the event. Call Ron or Misty Morgan at (941) 623 – 2926 for more information.
Curb Your Appetite is a new food truck in the area specializing in gourmet sandwiches, new menu every week! Follow us on Facebook for weekly menu and schedule: www.facebook.com/curbyourappetitefl
Farr Law Firm is pleased to announce the promotion of Kelsey J. Veitengruber as a shareholder. This elected position was effective January 1, 2021. Veitengruber joined the firm in 2017 and focuses her legal practice in general civil litigation in both state and federal courts. Veitengruber is on the board of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce and the Visual Arts Center Endowment Trust. She is also a member of the Campaign Cabinet for the United Way of Charlotte County and the Steering Committee for Leadership Charlotte.
Retail space for lease: We are seeking a savvy business entrepreneur to join our family of successful, independently owned shops and boutiques at Fishermen's Village! Space size: 1,584 sq. ft. in prime location. Please forward interested inquiries to GM, Patti Allen via email: mall@fishville.com
If you live near a snowbird, let them know that Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage is available to unload their moving van, unpack the boxes, and set up their household. Our trained staff will arrange heavy furniture and assemble items that were taken apart for moving. Your neighbor will quickly feel at home, and be ready to enjoy living here in paradise! When quality counts, call Gardiner & Sons at 941-423-5311.
Did you know, 92% of consumers read online reviews? 44% say a review must be written within one month to be relevant. 68% say positive reviews make them trust a local business more. Are your reviews helping or hurting you? If you are not sure, contact Patti Guerzo, of Guerzo Business Consulting, LLC, at patti@guerzo.com, 312-420-0884. Now is a great time to get your review sites up to date.
Is quitting tobacco your New Year’s resolution? Quit Today with Gulfcoast South AHEC for free smoking cessation classes. As part of the Tobacco Free Florida’s in-person and virtual Group Quit sessions, we are here to help! Qualifying participants will be eligible to receive free nicotine replacement patches, gum and/or lozenges. Call 866-534-7909 or send us a message to register today.
Have you taken the steps to protect you and your family if something unexpected happens to you or your spouse? To get answers to all your estate planning questions and learn how to protect your family, contact Mark Martella, Esq. of Icard Merrill at 941-206-3700 or mmartella@icardmerrill.com to schedule a complimentary one hour, no obligation consultation, and learn how to be prepared for the unexpected.
Mortgage brokers, do you have applicants who have been declined due to high debt ratios? You may want to refer them to Sue Craig, owner of Independent Financial Coaching. Sue knows lending limits and can coach aspiring homeowners to take steps that will get their credit profiles within range. IFC appreciates referrals from all sources, and makes sure our graduates are sent only to the source who sent them to us. Call us at 941-916-5324 to learn how you can activate this part of your pipeline.
(#3 of 4) Reasons to “CONNECT” with Lightspeed Voice. Lightspeed Voice is a next-generation telephone service provider, offering cutting-edge communications, converged into a high quality, easy to … MORE
Murdock Stones Etc. just received their annual lawn ornament shipment. There's quite a wide variety to choose from including animals, soldiers and birdbaths. 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.
Resume and application fraud are very common at all hiring levels and it's quite easy for job applicants to obtain worthless degrees from diploma mills and to fake job histories and other required qualifications. Verifying education, prior employment, licensing when applicable, and other required employment credentials is critical in the hiring process for most employers. For economical and FCRA-compliant employment and tenancy screening services, 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
Punta Gorda Rotary Club has been serving our community since 1925, offering business networking, fellowship, and service to our citizens. If you would like to be part of doing good for Punta Gorda and the world, please join us for one of our Thursday noon meetings at the Isles Yacht Club. For more information contact Darcy Hanley at 303-927-9437 or email darcyrhanley@gmail.com.
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
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Career Source of Southwest Florida online resources include available jobs
Your "Help Wanted" information could be here! Please submit 90 words or less to tashley@charlottecountychamber.org.
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Resources
LOCAL-
Please call 2-1-1 for any resource needs.
STATE AND FEDERAL-
Florida Chamber of Commerce- www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus
Small Business Administration- www.sba.gov/disaster
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association- https://frla.org/covid-19/
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Just for Fun
Healthy Diet Substitutes!
Pasta - Zucchini
Chips - Carrots
Milk - Coconut Milk
Butter - Skip
Cheese - Nope
Tacos - This is stupid. I'm not doing it.
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Do you have news or information about YOUR chamber 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 only benefit! ( We do reserve the right to publish and edit any submissions.)
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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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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