Volume 177 | May 2024

 
Weekly eConnection
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President's Edition

From the President's Desk

  I hope you enjoyed what was an especially nice winter/spring season.  Now comes hazy, hot, humid, spaghetti models and politics ad nauseam! To help you get through it, your Chamber has some fun and enlightening programs/events in the planning.

    That said, we just got off a very active April with our Ballpark Bash, ChamberSMART! Women’s Leadership luncheon, happy hour reception and several ribbon-cuttings, business tours and meetings. It was great to catch up with so many of you.

    It’s been a goal to enhance our ChamberSMART! programming this year, and we’re making strides. Just last week was our session “Tomorrow’s Workplace: Technology Trends” that gave us information on changing employment patterns and a glimpse of what’s to come.

    In February, we had a panel of Chamber member experts offer “Tips for Business Success.” And coming up on June 6, we’re taking a look at “Mental Health & Workplace Wellbeing.”  It will also feature a panel of Chamber member experts on this very timely and sensitive topic. You can register for this and find a complete list of all that’s happening at www.CentralChamber.biz.

   Don’t forget to leave a business card at every event, program and meeting. It’s your entry into our ongoing “Chamber Champions” contest sponsored by GarrisonPro. The next drawing is June 11.

    Wishing you a happy and prosperous month!

    Tom Morrissette

Tomorrow's Workplace: Technology Trends

   Last week's ChamberSMART! luncheon presented by the Women's Leadership Committee was packed with information on workplace technology trends. We must embrace change, but the future looks bright!

     Our thanks to the presenters who did an outstanding job, Marcus McGehee of The AI Consulting Lab, Monica Eaton, founder and CEO of Chargebacks911, and Susan Sinz, City of Largo Human Resources Director. Also a big thanks to the event sponsors Centratel Telephones, Dan Flynn State Farm, Natson Hotel Group, and Fifth Third Bank.

Ambassador of the Month: Stacy Gillis

   It is no surprise that Stacy Gillis oAdvanced Video Systems was once again recognized as the Ambassador of the Month by the Ambassador Team. Thanks to her unwavering support of the Chamber, Stacy has now been Ambassador of the Month for the eighth month in a row! Impressive!

    Interested in joining this competitive group? Reach out to Emmy at membership@centralchamber.biz. The group meets monthly on the first Wednesday at 8:15 AM.

Join us on May 16th at Inspired Living at Ivy Ridge for an After Hours Reception with drinks and light food! Register online here.

1st Starliner mission with humans set for historic Space Coast launch tonight

The stage is set for some space history to be made tonight as two veteran NASA astronauts aim to launch in a spacecraft that has never flown with humans before.

Florida sees surge in college-educated Americans

Florida has become increasingly popular with college graduates, with metros in the state seeing some of the highest net gains of college-educated Americans.

No more mockingbird? Florida official wants new state bird

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairperson Rodney Barreto wants the agency to renew efforts to designate a state bird that is unique to Florida.

Feds say they can handle permits amid fight

Federal environmental officials have pushed back against arguments by Florida that a legal fight over wetlands-related permitting has put more than 1,000 permit applications into "regulatory limbo."

How to search and claim nearly $2 billion of your money and property held by Florida

About four million Floridians, or 1 in 5 of Florida’s 20 million people, have property waiting to be claimed. The average return per Floridian is $875.

Thank you to our Trustees and Newsletter Sponsors

Acropol Family Restaurant

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 County Housing Authority

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

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