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A Monthly Publication of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce www.plantcity.org
Inside this issue
President’s Message ...... …….2
New Members ................ .......3
Anniversaries .................. .......4
Business After Hours….….......7
Contact Breakfast……………….10
Calendar………..……………...……11
Thank You Corner .......... ......13
Business Spotlight………..…....15
Ribbon Cuttings……….……......16
Ambassador Spotlight…….…..17
Ambassadors……….…………....20
Special points of interest
Christmas Tree Contest be-gins on November 28th. En-try form is on Page 5
New Buy Local initiative has begun. Find out more on Pages 8 and 9
Who’s hosting the November Business After Hours? Find out on Page 19
Get your Christmas Parade application on Page 24
“Businesses Building A Better Community”
2
Matt Buzza, Platinum Bank
Yvonne Fry, Lines of Communication
Charles Harris, Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Bradley Herremans, Suncoast Community Health
Centers Pediatrics
Vickie Houllis, Sunshine State Federal Savings
Larry Jimenez Jr., Star Distribution Systems
Jason Jones, Advantage Contracting, LLC
Clay Keel, Keel & Cur ley Winery
Darcy Stottlemyer, All A Bloom Flor ist
Michael Watkins, V & R Insurance
President’s Message
Board of Directors
Dear Chamber Members, What a busy time of the year! As this newsletter is coming out, we are gearing up for our Second Romp in the Swamp obstacle course run on Satur-day, November 1st. We have 500+ runners signed up to participate which is great. We want to thank Ali Hasbini, along with Bob Appleyard, with Sunrise Homes for allowing us to use his property at Lakeside Station. The course is absolutely beauti-ful. Thank you also to Larry Jimenez, with Star Distribution, for letting us use his parking area. Thank you also goes out to the Plant City Bike Fest Committee who are also working on the 1st, to bring us our monthly show from 5:00pm- 9:00pm. Busy day!!
Our Business of the Year Banquet is also this week, Thursday, November 6th. If you have not gotten your reservations in, please do so TODAY! We are blessed to have so many good businesses in our community who employ our citizens, provide great services, and give back to those in need. All the nominees are deserving of their category award.
The Buy Local initiative has started out strong. Volunteers are still trying to hit individual stores,
but if you have not received a window cling yet, please stop by the Chamber and pick one up. All businesses have been receptive of the concept and that is refreshing. Again, we would like to thank All A Bloom Florist, Jarrett-Scott Ford, Poppell Insur-ance, Keel & Curley Winery, Hopewell Funeral Home, Fresh Picked Talent, and Platinum Bank for underwriting the project.
Please plan on attending the monthly Strawberry Classic Car Show on November 15th, then the 12th Annual Plant City Pig Jam is coming November 21st -22nd. Please mark your calendar and plan on attending. We could always use volunteers, so please let us know if you would be available to help with a shift. Since we are going to two days, we certainly need you! On Friday, our very own Clemons Road Band will perform a concert begin-ning at 7:30pm and on Saturday, we will have four bands playing on each side of the park (two on each side). Everything is being expanded, so come out with your friends or family and spend the day enjoy-ing some great BBQ!
Hope to see you soon- Marion
Executive Board
Chairman of the Board
Nate Kilton
Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth Management, LLC
Chairman-Elect
Michael Cameron
Cameron Financial
Management
Immediate Past Chairman
Jim Scott
Jarrett-Scott Ford
Treasurer
Brian West
Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Vice Chairman, Economic Development Council
Phil Waldron
Waldron Consulting
Services
Vice Chairman, Community & Governmental
Affairs Division
Keith Smith
Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton,
Davis, & Smith, P.A.
Vice Chairman, Community Programs Division
Edwena Haney
Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens
Vice Chairman, Membership Division
Janet Kelly
Rita Staffing
CHAMBER STAFF
Marion Smith
President
Amy Nizamoff
Vice President
Jane Gonzalez
Tourist Information Coordinator
Joyce Nestor
Administrative Assistant
Tammy Mitchell
Membership Director
Evelyn Clay
Communications Director
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Absolute Auto Repair
13095 US Highway 92
Dover, FL 33527-4107
Office: (813) 659-1302
Www.absoluteautorepair.com
Cathy Kudlinski, Owner
Automotive
Dipa Shah, Candidate for
Hillsborough County School Board,
District 6
P.O. Box 2694
Valrico, FL 33595-2694
Office: (813) 651-2020
Www.votedipa.com
Political Candidate
Picker Place
709 North Park Road
Plant City, FL 33563-3977
Office: (813) 699-3501
Gavin Anderson, Owner
Www.pickerplace.com
Antiques
General RV Center
13396 East US Highway 92
Dover, FL 33527-4122
Office: (813) 305-2500
Trish Yancey/Jason Cohen
Public Relations
www.generalrv.com
RV Center
Marimark Mortgage, LLC
5327 Primrose Lake Circle
Tampa, FL 33647-3521
Office: (813) 714-4123
Bo Hartley, Mortgage Loan Originator
www.marimarkmortgage.com
Mortgage Broker
Sir Henry's Haunted Trail
2837 South Frontage Road
Plant City, FL 33566-7500
Office: (863) 944-0748
Zach Glaros, Owner
www.sirhenryshauntedtrail.com
Events/Seasonal
Steel & Grace
Plant City, FL 33566
Office: (813) 763-4660
Mary Heysek, President
https://www.facebook.com/steelandgrace
Gourmet Foods
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce shall work for its members and be the leading force in promoting the commercial, industrial, agricultural, and civic interests of Greater Plant City and East Hillsborough County.
2014 Chamber Trustees Thank you for your
commitment to the
Chamber of Commerce!
CITY PROPERTIES
COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED ELECTRI-
CAL DISTRIBUTORS
dba RAYBRO ELECTRIC
SUPPLIES
FLORIDA STRAWBERRY
FESTIVAL
FRED’S SOUTHERN
KITCHEN
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS &
SUITES
HOPEWELL FUNERAL
HOME & MEMORIAL
GARDENS
IDEAS & INNOVATIONS,INC.
(JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY)
JARRETT-SCOTT FORD
MOSAIC-PLANT CITY
FACILITY
SEDITA KILTON &
COMPANY
SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST
HOSPITAL
SUNSHINE STATE BANK
WELLS MEMORIAL &
EVENT CENTER
Thank you for choosing to join the Greater
Plant City Chamber of Commerce. Our
goal is to help you succeed by promoting
your businesses. Likewise, there are won-
derful networking opportunities through
the various Chamber events we offer. We
wish you great success!
*Screen Enclosures * Carports
*Siding & Soffits * Vinyl Windows
4
21-29 YEARS
CenterState Bank
Dean Warehouses Leasing
Hope Lutheran Church
Jackson Elementary School
Linder Industrial Machinery Co.
Plant City Entertainment, Inc.
Rentlok Self Storage, Inc.
Snyder Investments & Financial
Services
Walden Lake Elementary School
Janis Wood Designs, Inc.
15-20 YEARS
Arts Council of Plant City
Brooklyn Bridge Deli
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
First Baptist Church of Plant City
Friends of the Bruton
Memorial Library
Magnolia Hill
Southeast Environmental Solutions,
Inc.
10-14 YEARS
Freddie Mullis Plumbing, Inc.
Minuteman Press
Plant City Church of God
Transcend Development Corp
5-9 YEARS
D.H.Griffin Wrecking Co., Inc.
Happy Kids Inflatables, LLC
ITEX Trade Exchange, Inc.
NTO Management, Inc.
Sam Patterson Truck Brokers,
Inc.
Strawberry Hut Sandwich
Shoppe
1-4 YEARS
Allstate Insurance Company
Esposito Pizza
Focus 4 Beauty Career Center
Mayfair Games
Rollyson/Fearnow Insurance
Woodbridge Apartment Homes
We are so grateful for our loyal members!
Thank you for renewing your membership with the Chamber of Commerce.
Members’ Honor Roll
Over 40 Years
Bella, Hermida, Hurn & Stertzer
Over 30 Years
American Legion-Norman McLeod Post #26
Bright House Networks
Chemical Dynamics, Inc.
Creative Flower Designs by
Glenn
Donco Realty, Inc.
First United Methodist Church
Hopewell Funeral Home &
Memorial Gardens
Plant City Rotary Club
V & R Insurance
Congratulations!
Since 1964
Businesses Building
A
Better Community
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Thank you to the Hay Exchange for hosting the
October Business After Hours. What a great
turnout with some terrific networking happening!
Over 70 members enjoyed gator, sausages, and
turkey prepared on the Big Green Egg cookers
while watching roping demonstrations.
The Hay Exchange has a full assortment of Big
Green Egg accessories sure to please all Grill-
masters. To find out more about their business,
check out www.hayexchange.com or stop in at
4950 US Highway 92 West.
.
Be sure to mark your calendar for the
November 19th BAH sponsored by Cameron
Financial and Myers & Wright, P.A.
(left to right) The Hay Exchange employ-ees... John Howard (Entertainer,) The Hay Exchange Team Members: Dillon Glisson, Linda Skillern, Leon Addison, Carolyn Adams, Courtney Bergwell (kneeling.) Michael Glis-son, Greg Beisler (in back,) Frank Naverez, Frank Fioenza, Robin Dawson (on horse,) Tegan Zealy, Kim Drawdy, and rope demon-strator,Donnie Hix. (see photo below)
(left to right) Jennifer Chamber-
lain, Gail Lyons, and Charlie
Wells enjoying some of the
awesome refreshments provid-
ed by The Hay Exchange.
Seated are Libby Libhart and
Sarah Nachin, (standing)
Michael Glisson, Ben Rawnsley,
and Mackensi Beers.
Kimberly Hamilton, Karen
Griggsby, and David Tomlin
enjoy a little networking
while watching the roping
demonstration.
A group of members are ob-
serving the roping demonstra-
tion. Michael Cameron’s son,
Nick, mastered roping the tar-
get! Way to go Nick!
8
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Hillsborough Community College sponsored the October Contact Breakfast where Dr. Ken Atwater, President
of HCC spoke about the exciting programs the college has to offer the community. Not only do they have ex-
cellent Veterinarian Technician’s and Nursing programs, but their Workforce Development training program
is providing local businesses with the ability to train or retrain employees for specific jobs. It has been espe-
cially important during the time of higher than normal unemployment numbers, to provide re-tooling for the
population seeking a new career path.
The cashpot drawing was $250 and initially won by Carl Hinson who donated those funds to the scholarship
fund of HCC. Dr. Atwater then announced a new scholarship for the Chamber’s annual scholarship program.
The Good Egg for October was Kim McElveen with Maryland Fried Chicken, who was recognized for all of her
community involvement and ongoing support of the Chamber.
Thank you to Hillsborough Community College for sponsoring breakfast and providing a wonderfully in-
formative program.
(Left to right) Former HCC President, Felix Haynes,
President, Dr. Martyn Clay, Trustee, MarDee
Buchman, HCC President, Dr. Ken Atwater, and
HCC Foundation Director, Farrukh Quraishi
Kathleen Hall with
Sedita, Kilton, &
Co., CPA wins a
grab bag from HCC
Dr. Ken Atwater
brings the mem-
bers up-to-date on
the exciting news
from HCC.
Chairman, Nate Kilton, presents
Kim McElveen with the Good
Egg Award.
Dr. Ken Atwater (left) with Carl
Hinson following awarding HCC
with a $250 scholarship.
Candace Downing with The
Health Center of Plant City
wins the Business Spotlight
for the November newsletter!
Trena Russ with Hawthorne
Health & Rehabilitation
shows off her door prize
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We extend our sincerest appreciation to these friends of the Chamber
for their generosity and donations: October Contact Breakfast Sponsor
Hillsborough Community College
October Business After Hours
The Hay Exchange
Door Prizes
Congratulations!
Send your Good News items to Evelyn at
[email protected]. We love to share
Good News!
Support your local community
and…..
Shop locally!
Hillsborough Community College & All A Bloom Florist
Check out the info about the Buy Local
Project on Page 9. Thank you to the
companies who are sponsoring this initiative
to keep local dollars, local!
14
15
Business Spotlight— Candace Downing, Nurse Liaison with
The Health Center of Plant City Located on Wilder Road, across the street from Mike Sansone Park, The Health Center of Plant City accepted their first
patient on September 25, 1985. The center opened as a 120 bed long term care facility. Ten years later, in June of 1995
The Health Center added 60 short term rehab beds, with 30 private suites, to serve the changing health care needs of our
community. As we approach our 30th anniversary, our team has proudly served well over 6000 unique residents, almost
all of whom are from Plant City.
One thing that most people are surprised to learn is that the vast majority (in fact over 80 percent!) of our patients will
discharge home or to an assisted living facility following a short term stay for rehabilitation. The average length of stay
is just under 20 days.
People are also surprised when they learn that we employ over 260 people, again almost all local residents, many having
worked with our residents for over 20 years. As a matter of fact, our very first employee just retired this year. We are
really proud of and grateful to be part of a close knit, small town community. We like to think of it as Plant City caring
for Plant City.
While we have this opportunity we also want to thank all of our friends and volunteers that have helped make The
Health Center of Plant City a Five Star rated facility. When local growers donate fresh strawberries for residents and
staff, when every church in town visits and provides spiritual support, when friends and families chip in to help with
activities and outings, you get a very special and unique hometown feeling that really sets us apart. Thank you!
Being part of the Chamber has helped us stay connected with the community we serve. We rely on many other Chamber
members for goods and services to meet our client’s needs every day. The Chamber has also directly referred families
looking for rehab services for mom or dad.
To find out more about Candy Downing or how she may serve you, call her at
(813) 752-3611 or email her at [email protected]
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Michael Milam,
Chief Operations Officer
City Pizza
115 East Reynolds Street
Plant City, FL 33563-3351
October 14, 2014
Amanda DeGrazia,
Multi-Media Account Executive
Ledger Media Group
300 West Lime Street
Lakeland, FL 33815-4649
October 7, 2014
Jackie Bowman, Community
Services Director
Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center
3020 Lakeland Highlands Road
Lakeland, FL 33803-4338
October 2, 2014
Melissa Polo, Candidate
Circuit Court Judge, Group 34
3802 West Bay to Bay Boulevard,
Ste. 12
Tampa, FL 33629-6817
October 16, 2014
Dipa Shah, Candidate
Hillsborough County School Board,
District 6
P.O. Box 2694
Valrico, FL 33595-2694
October 22, 2014
Shirley Goodwine, Founder/Director
Well Pavilion Ministries
P.O. Box 3721
Plant City, FL 33563-0013
October 25, 2014
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November 6th
Automotive Development
Group
(4701 Reece Road)
November 11th
Northwestern Mutual
(4729 US Hwy 98S,
Lakeland, FL)
November 18th
Learn Tampa Bay
(504 East Baker Street, Suite 1)
All Ribbon Cuttings will be held
at 11:00 AM
UPCOMING
Amanda Donnelly, Owner
ALD Veterinary Consulting, LLC
(321) 446-3088
Plant City, FL 33565
October 28, 2014
GREATER PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH SPOTLIGHT - David Tomlin, Business Development Team with WorldPay
What is unique and/or interesting about your business? WorldPay is one of only a handful platforms on the globe that owns, secures and maintains its platform. Our platform processes over 7.4 million transactions per day adding to over 5.3 billion in rev-enue. WorldPay is primarily known for its newly secured platform infrastructure that launched October 2013. A few recognized companies that process with WorldPay are Google, EBay and the IRS. The common denominator between these companies is securi-ty. WorldPay provides the highest level of security to cardholders. WorldPay is also the
original pioneer of Ecommerce, which is processing merchant transaction via the web. How long have you been a chamber Ambassador? One year What do you enjoy most from serving as an Ambassador and why? I am extremely honored and proud to serve as a Plant City Ambassador promoting the values of being a Plant City Chamber of Commerce member. It’s a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of goodwill to contribute to an amazing city with an amaz-ing group of peers. Who is the most influential person in your life and why? Obviously my family have been the most in-fluential people in my life. There isn’t enough space for the names of the people that have shared their lives, experiences, passions, wisdom. They have unknowingly helped create the man I am today. What are your interests and hobbies? My hobby might seem a bit quirky to most. I have a passion for a table game that originated in Germany in the late 1800s. It’s called FOOSBALL. I play at the highest level of competition on the planet with the most talented players in the sport. Our goal is to one day implement the game in the Olympics. What is your favorite quote? “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get”
For more information or to get to know David, call him at (813) 917-2456 or email him at [email protected]
Thank you for your commitment to the Plant City Chamber of Commerce!
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Please join us for the November Business After Hours
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Your Ambassadors met on October 23rd for a Hal-
loween inspired luncheon sponsored by Frank
Cummings of Walden Lake Car Wash, and Linda
Dunn with Community Care Center. The Ambassa-
dors do a fantastic job attending all Chamber
events, greeting attendees, and assisting wherever
needed. Thank you to this dedicated group of
members!
If you would like to join them, call Tammy at
(813) 754-3707 to find out how!
Ambassadors of the Month
Ambassador Team of the Month
Team #3
Maribel Lorenzo and Donna Cade (not pictured)
with CenterState Bank
Team #3 Ambassadors (from left to right) Verna
McKelvin, Candace Downing, Pat Pogue, Alice
Bullard, Charlie Wells, and Jason Jones.
The Ambassadors work very hard representing the
Chamber and earn points for each event or activity
they do. Once a month the points are calculated
resulting in the winning Team and Individual.
Thank you all for choosing to serve the Chamber
and the community in this way. We greatly appreci-
ate your efforts! Keep up the good work!
Don’t forget to bring your business cards to
the Contact Breakfast
on November 12th to
win the next Business
Spotlight Section of the
newsletter!
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