january 2013 forum for business

F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 1 BUY LAKELAND. It MAKEs GOOD cENts! LAKELANDchAMBEr.cOM

L A K E L A N D A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

F O R B US INESS

it’s your business

new chamber partnership works for you

January 2012 | Vol. xxii, no. 1January 2013 | Vol. xxii, no. 1

2 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S

C H A M B E R S TA F FK a t h l E E N l . M U N S O N

President [email protected]

B a R B a R a B E N N E t t Executive Assistant

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S a R a h B R E E d Administrative Assistant, Member Relations | Public Affairs

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K a R a B U t c h Administrative Assistant,

Membership Development | Communications [email protected]

S a l ly c h a p M a N Vice President, Finance & Administration

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c a R O ly N J a c K S O N Senior Vice President, Member Relations

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J a c q U E l I N E l . J O h N S O N Senior Vice President, Convention & Visitors Bureau

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K a t I E M c B R I d E Membership Consultant

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N I K K I O a K l E y Membership Account Executive

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t E R R y O t t I N g E R Vice President, Membership Development

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R I c h R O y Vice President, Public Affairs

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p a t t y S M I t h Administrative Assistant, Convention & Visitors Bureau

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l . J O a N N W a l l E R Membership Consultant

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a M y W I g g I N S Vice President, Communications

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35 laKE MORtON dRIvE pO BOx 3607

laKElaNd, Fl 33802-3607 (863) 688-8551

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© 2013 lakeland area chamber of commerce. all rights reserved. the lakeland area chamber of commerce reserves

the right to refuse certain advertising and is not liable for advertisers claims and/or errors. the opinions expressed

herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the position of the chamber.

l a K E l a N d a R E a c h a M B E R O F c O M M E R c E F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S M O N t h ly

M a R K E . W I l S O N | c h a I R M a N O F t h E B O a R d KiMLey-horn and assoCiates, inC.

K a t h l E E N l . M U N S O N | p U B l I S h E R LaKeLand area ChaMber of CoMMerCe

a M y S . W I g g I N S | E d I t O R LaKeLand area ChaMber of CoMMerCe

N I c E B R a N d I N g a g E N c y | c R E a t I v E d I R E c t I O N , p R O d U c t I O N & p h O t O g R a p h y www.brandniCeLy.CoM

F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 3

There is no shortage of books available touting the latest and greatest exercise crazes and diet trends. Many of these books are very well thought out, fact driven, easy to understand, and motivational enough to inspire healthy changes in our lives.

For me, the book that speaks most clearly about the best way to live a healthier life is Real Food, by Nina Planck.

As the title suggests, this book confronts poor health from the dietary perspective. The author talks about growing up on a farm, moving to the city to attend college, and then moving back to a rural area to raise her family. She explains how her health declined while she was in college, even though she was eating a vegetarian diet and exercising regularly.

R e c o m m e n d e d R e a d i n g : A B o o k R e v i e w f r o m A C h a m b e r P e e r

DENNy KRAHEDK Fit SolutionS

The light bulb went off when she moved back to an area where she could grow a garden to help her meet her nutritional needs more naturally, and suddenly she started to feel better.

As a personal trainer, my clients expect for me to be able to help them lose weight and feel better physically. And while regular exercise is an important part of that, I am reminded every time I read through Real Food that the most important aspect of being physically healthy is the food that

we put into our bodies.In our fast paced

lifestyles, too many of the things we eat fail to qualify as real food. TV dinners, fast food meals, and other forms of overly processed food have lost so much of their nutritional values that they should hardly even be classified as food, let alone the staples of our diets that they have become.

Real food doesn’t come in a can or a box. Real food doesn’t have a fun cartoon mascot trying to sell the product. Real food comes from the ground

and from nature. Real food has one or two ingredients, and they are ingredients that you can actually pronounce.

In Real Food, Nina Planck speaks honestly about the one thing that most affects our health, which is the food that we eat. The way that she explains her personal experiences, as well as much of the science behind the production of the food we eat, provides the motivation and reason that I need to make sure I eat as much real food as possible.

] C O N N E C TDKFitSolutions.com

C h a i r m a n ’s C i r c l e M e e t s w i t h At t o r n e y G e n e r a l pa m B o n d i a n d F l o r i d a P o ly t e c h n i c U n i v e r s i t y C h a i r R o b e r t G i d e l

the State’s position on the National Affordable Healthcare Act.

Members also heard from Robert Gidel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Florida Polytechnic University. Mr. Gidel updated the group on the Poly Board’s recent acceptance of funds and assets transferred from the USF Foundation to construct the new campus, located at the corner of Polk Parkway and I-4. Issues such as accreditation, student enrollment and opening date were discussed, and Mr. Gidel assured the group that the new university will work with the community to ensure that all academic and development goals are met.

The Chairman’s Circle held its Fall Business Luncheon in November, chaired by Alice Hunt (Hunt Construction of Central Florida, Inc.). During the luncheon meeting, members heard from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Robert Gidel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Florida’s new university, Florida Polytechnic.

Ms. Bondi discussed some of the key issues her office is currently addressing, including her efforts to reform Florida’s Medicaid fraud problems and recent foreclosure settlement that will provide $3.6 billion in mortgage relief to nearly 50,000 people in Florida. She addressed questions from members regarding

Florida Polytechnic University Board Chair Robert Gidel updates members on the new University’s progress.

rALph ALLEN ALLEN & cOMpANY Of fLOrIDA

IrA ANDErsON crOwE hOrwAth LLp

tIMOthY f. cAMpBELL cLArK, cAMpBELL & LANcAstEr, p.A.

MIKE cArtEr cLIftONLArsONALLEN

GArY cAssArD BrIGht hOUsE NEtwOrKs

DAN DOrrELL crOss, fErNANDEz & rILEY, LLp

DALE DrEYEr cENtErstAtE BANK

KEN ELY pLAtINUM BANK

Art ErIcKsON fLOrIDA LIfEstYLE cOMMUNItIEs

GOw fIELDs cItY Of LAKELAND

scOtt frANKLIN LANIEr UpshAw, INc.

MIKE fUrr fUrr & wEGMAN ArchItEcts, p.A.

KAMAL hAIDEr, M.D. cLArK & DAUGhtrEY MEDIcAL GrOUp, p.A.

fOrD hEAcOcK hEAcOcK INsUrANcE GrOUp

Dr. EILEEN hOLDEN pOLK stAtE cOLLEGE

KATHLEEN MUNSONlakeland aRea ChamBeR OF COmmeRCePreSiDent

] C O N N E C TLakelandChamber.com

Florida attorney General Pam Bondi addresses Chairman’s circle members.

cLAYtON hOLLIs pUBLIx sUpEr MArKEts, INc.

LEONArD MAss DrUMMOND cOMpANY, INc.

MIKE McGEE McGEE AUtO sErvIcE AND tIrEs

MArK MILLEr GrAYrOBINsON, p.A.

sAM MOrrONE pEppErIDGE fArM, INc.

JENNIfEr pOttEr wELLs fArGO BANK

BEN prEssENtIN BB&t

BOB pUtErBAUGh pEtErsON & MYErs, p.A.

GEOrGE rOGErs GEIcO

Art rOwBOthAM wONN/wpcv/wLKf/wwrz rADIO

JOE p. rUthvEN thE rUthvENs

Dr. LOU sAcO wAtsON cLINIc LLp

chAs p. sMIth cps INvEstMENt ADvIsOrs

Dr. ELAINE thOMpsON LAKELAND rEGIONAL MEDIcAL cENtEr

rALph wEEKs QUALItY pEtrOLEUM cOrpOrAtION

In other busIness, Ms. hunt announced that fIve new MeMbers wIll be Inducted

Into the chaIrMan’s cIrcle In 2013.

Dr. ED GOODEMOtE ........radiology and Imaging specialists, Inc.

KEvIN GrIffIth .............Morgan stanley

hArOLD McLEOD ............suntrust Bank

pAUL NOrIs ...................Bank of central florida

LEE wALL .......................wall foss financial , LLc

the followIng busIness le aders are MeMbers of the chaIrMan ’s cIrcle:

the chairman’s circle was founded in 2003 to provide a business forum for senior level executives to meet and build relationships with one another, and participate in strategic marketing and membership events to enhance their business and the overall Lakeland business community.


PolkWorksJanForum.indd 1 12/10/2012 6:15:37 PM

STEvE CAREy SeriouS exerciSe

A M O N T H LY

HOWTO

] C O N N E C TSeriousExercise.com

wow! it is 2013 and a new year is in front of us. the number one new year’s resolution is to get into better shape. the resolution is easy. putting it into action is another story.

we can title this, “get off your butt and out of your rut!”, because putting your resolution into action is the first step. the hardest part is putting yourself in motion.

now that you are determined to get out of your rut, the next question is “which exercise program is best for me?” the answer is any program that you will consistently do, as long as it is safe.

as the owner of serious exercise it would be easy for me to say just come and see us. we can get you in shape. we have great trainers that put together awesome programs for our clients. we also have a fantastic nutrition program that teaches you how to eat…not diet.

that being said, i know that there are many good exercise programs out there and you can have success with these programs. there are many good gyms in Lakeland as well. there are specialty gyms and clubs such as runner clubs, boxing, dancing and yoga studios. if you prefer staying at home, there are numerous in-home dVds or video game exercise programs. there are many choices and you may choose more than one form of exercise for your fitness.

the answer to which exercise program is best for you is again: any safe program that you will do. what interests you? what do you like doing the best? what will get you “off your butt and keep you out of your rut?” only you can decide what is right for you!

CrownShredding Ad 2.5x10.5.pdf 2/6/09 2:31:01

Have a prosperous 2013

Resolve to get active

Find a safe exercise program


Don’t forget a healthy diet

Keep it up!


H e a lt h & W e l l n e s s f o r yo u r B u s i n e s s

SOzON vATiKiOTiSalltRUst InsURanCe

] C O N N E C TAlltrustInsurance.com

The Supreme Court has ruled and the Presidential election is over. Health Care Reform is here to stay. Simply put, we can no longer take a head in the sand approach. The time is now to discuss the impact Health Care Reform will have on our specific companies, both financially and procedurally.

We are asking more and more from our HR departments. It is essential that we offer the resources and training necessary to take on such ardent tasks. We shouldn’t ask our HR managers to go at it alone.

Health Care Reform compliance and many others. Additionally, the overall pricing of payroll has become much more competitive. The end result? Companies are now getting much more bang for their buck.

These are the backbone of our companies. Increased regulation has caused the concept of compliance to become an ever shifting, fluid concept. As a result, we must ensure our policies are updated to mirror regulatory changes. It’s simply unhealthy for our businesses to use the same handbook we’ve been using for years, or worse, no handbook at all.

successful companies are vigilant in analyzing and improving corporate processes. More often than not, our audits uncover multiple areas where companies can improve; improvements that can have a significant positive impact on the overall profitability and health of a company. For example:

Payroll solutions have become exponentially more robust and advanced than their predecessor systems. It is routine practice for payroll companies to offer substantive resources such as HR assistance, benefit administration,

As one of the leading employee benefit firms in Florida, we routinely consult our clients on the importance of employee wellness programs. Simply put, there is no better cost containment mechanism from a benefits perspective than a well run program aimed at improving the overall physical and mental health of an employee population.

But should we stop there? What about the health and wellness of our businesses? All too often, companies fail to assess and update their business processes. This is an increasingly complex and competitive corporate world, and truly

We, as employers, often get so caught up in our day to day operations and responsibilities that we tend to overlook some simple, but vital analyses. It’s understandable, really. It’s human nature to overlook, and in some cases, completely ignore certain issues when we are afraid of what we will discover or when we don’t even know where to begin. This is not a healthy approach, however. We spare no time or expense in maintaining our health, our homes, our vehicles and other facets of our lives. Shouldn’t we give the health and wellness of our companies the same attention?

hR cONSUltINg/tRaININg

hEalth caRE REFORM

payROll SOlUtIONS

EMplOyEE haNdBOOKS

You are the owner or decision maker of a small to medium sized business in Polk County. You pride yourself in offering affordable health care to your employees. But, you are beginning to feel uneasy and unsure what the Affordable Care Act will mean for your business. You’ve read the reports on escalating chronic disease. You realize things are not going to be getting any better in the

near future and that more and more of your employees are dealing with the symptoms of chronic disease. Something has to give.

Health care costs have now reached a tipping point. The political arena has polarized the situation by either recommending that Medicare be privatized or abolished or, raising taxes and letting the deficit increase exponentially.

Managing HealtH Care

is tHere a way out of beCoMing a statistiC in tHe rising epideMiC of businesses tHat eitHer Have to eliMinate HealtH Care benefits - or Close tHeir doors?

a faMiliar Case study

F E AT U R E B y W h I t N E y c a B R E R a , R. N. | direCtor of LifestyLe MediCinegoLds gyM | south LaKeLand


for more information on slashing your rising health care costs while providing immeasurable benefit to your employees, contact whitney Cabrera, director of lifestyle Medicine at gold’s gym, south lakeland at [email protected] or (863) 838-7645.

Health education and mentoring is the cornerstone to drive healthier habits in employees. Preventive treatment regimen screenings for the basics – heart disease, colorectal cancer, etc. – are incomplete if not accompanied by an educational component and prescriptions for exercise and nutrition and the lifestyle behaviors associated with disease.

The United States is on the verge of a health catastrophe that will lead to economic ruin. Half of all Americans suffer from one or more chronic disease conditions, and that number is expected to rise over the next decade. According to a Milken Institute study, diabetes cases are projected to increase 53% by 2023. Heart disease cases will increase 41%; lung cancer 34%; and colon cancer 32%. The data collected during the past 10 years states that 70 to 90 percent of these diseases are preventable and caused by poor lifestyle choices.

Here is where Radical comes in. The word “radical” comes from the Latin word, meaning “root”. When we address the ROOT causes of our lack of health and well-being, we find our bodies have a remarkable capacity to prevent, arrest and even heal themselves at a rate much more quickly than we ever thought possible. The ROOT of the chronic diseases that are afflicting over 50 percent of our citizens come from the combined lifestyle effects of:

Did you know that Coronary Artery Disease and Type 2 Diabetes can be largely eliminated simply by making comprehensive lifestyle changes?

The EPIC study that followed 23,000 people showed that just by walking 30 minutes a day, not smoking, and eating a reasonably healthy diet (maintaining a healthy weight) prevented 93 percent of diabetes, 81 percent of heart attacks, 50 percent of strokes and 36 percent of all cancers.

The “takeaway” is this: Heart disease and Diabetes account for more deaths in the U.S. than everything else COMBINED! They are completely preventable by making lifestyle changes. No Drugs. No Surgery. Right now.

And, companies can reduce the outlay of health care dollars by simply re-focusing “health care medicine” into “lifestyle medicine.”

More and more, employers are implementing evidence-based programs designed to empower employees with accurate health information coupled with personal responsibility. These programs address health care concerns at the root – and reduce the cost to businesses and economy in the long run.

addressing CHroniC disease

Gold’s Gym of South Lakeland has embarked on an initiative of “Making Lakeland the Healthiest City in Florida” by expanding their role in the community to be the “Center for Lifestyle Medicine”. They are proud to be able to offer this cutting edge program of Disease Prevention and Reversal to Polk County.

To accomplish these goals, Gold’s Gym has a dedicated Director of Lifestyle Medicine, Whitney Cabrera, BSN RN. Whitney is available for assisting companies as they create a healthy workplace environment as a hedge against the growing costs and effects of employee healthcare.

The ROI of implementing this initiative is incredible. With more than 20 years of data to support this programming, Gold’s can

proudly state that the ROI is 7.6:1. The extent of the debilitating conditions that are arrested and prevented through lifestyle medicine are immeasurable and are calculated on national averages.

The radical nature of preventing and reversing chronic disease through lifestyle management simply makes great sense both economically and from a humanitarian perspective.

Unlike drugs and surgery, the side-effects to this “radical” attack to the root of health care issues are only good!

lifestyle MediCine defined

Health risk appraisals with biometric measurements performed before and after programming and then again at 6 months.

support and active participation of upper management.

a workplace environment that supports employee efforts to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

ongoing programming and a “village” of local individuals that will continue to provide emotional and physical support of the newly adopted lifestyle.

employee comprehensive lifestyle counseling via multiple modalities such as video, cooking demos and tastings, group discussion, an exercise component, shopping tours, nutrition workshops, menu planning, family education, supportive food choices on campus and dietary meal assistance for home use.

The key componenTs of an effecTive wellness program for employees are:


s m a l l b u s i n e s s o f t h e m o n t hand aeronautical engineering. He holds certificates in physics, chemistry, management and medical law. He is listed in the platinum edition of the American Registry of Who’s Who as a pioneer in the fields of diagnostic eye care and contact lenses. Dr. Hubbell is a recognized speaker, lecturer, and published author within his field.

A graduate of Winter Haven High School, he has been honored many times for his community service work providing eye care to the poor and indigent. He was inducted into the Polk County Schools

provided. The clinic uses social media to keep patients informed about appointments and order status. Dr. Hubbell strives to be a participating provider with most insurance companies, and his staff assists patients with understanding their insurance coverage, and submitting proper claims for services and products.

In addition to his doctorate in optometry, Dr. Hubbell holds several bachelors degrees from Auburn University and the University of Alabama. These degrees include physiological optics

contact lens wearers who have challenging prescriptions. Many of his peers in Lakeland refer their patients to Hubbell for contact lens consultations.

The optical shop is staffed with licensed opticians and offers a large variety of name brand frames, as well as economy frame and lens packages. A new, high-tech program superimposes frame styles onto patient photos, a favorite feature of the frame selection process. Because there is an on-site optical laboratory, same day service can often be

Dr. Gerard H. Hubbell is a board certified, licensed doctor of optometry. He opened his clinic, optical shop, and lab in 1977, at 924 South Florida Avenue. For 35 years, the clinic has been serving Lakeland, with personalized extensive eye care beyond routine eye exams and testing for glaucoma. Dr. Hubbell and his associate, Dr. Branning Hollis, manage patients who have had LASIK and cataract surgery, along with patients with diabetes and plaquenil side effects. Dr. Hubbell is known for his experience in fitting

Hall of Fame in 2005. The Hubbells have established a foundation to assist teachers with costs associated with obtaining advanced degrees. President Bill Clinton presented the 1997 Vision USA Award to him in the Oval Office. Local charities benefitting from his talents and philanthropy over the years include Lions Club, Lighthouse Ministries, Catholic Charities, and VISTE.

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce congratulates Hubbell Eye Clinic, the December winner of the Small Business of the Month Award.

B y t E R R I a . g O l E N O , CheathaM, goLeno, & ferguson, p.a.

HUBBELL EyE CLiNiCDR. GERARD H. HUBBELL O.D. P.A. (863) 688-6197924 S Florida AveLakeland, FL 33803

] C O N N E C Twww.HubbellEyeClinic.com


fOr MOrE INfOrMAtION ON sOME Of thE rEQUIrEMENts fOr thE sMALL BUsINEss AwArD AND tO vIEw prEvIOUs rEcIpIENts, pLEAsE vIsIt LAKELAND chAMBEr.cOM/BUsINEssrEsOUrcE.

SMAll BuSinESS

oF thE Month

CoMMittEE MEMBER

tERRi A. GolEno

(ChEAthAM, GolEno,

& FERGuSon, P.A.)

PRESEntS thE

DECEMBER SMAll

BuSinESS oF thE

Month AwARD to DR.

GERARD h. huBBEll.


MATTERSTH

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Wa N t t O K N O W W h y B E I N g a M E M B E R O F t h E l a K E l a N d a R E a c h a M B E R I S S O B E c O M I N g ? R E a d O N . . .

c a l E N d a R E v E N t h I g h l I g h t S R I B B O N c U t t I N g SN E W M E M B E R S

O F

LAKELAND

JOIN US FOR THE2012 CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETINGTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013THE LAKELAND CENTER EXHIBIT HALLRECEPTION: 5:30 PM • DINNER: 6:30 PMEntertainment provided by

THE STAFF & STUDENTS OFFLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGETickets: $60/person • $650/corporate table of 10

Purchase tickets by January 24, 2013 at

http://AnnualMeeting.LakelandChamber.comor call Barbara Bennett at (863) 688-8551, Ext. 233

Sponsored by

GrayRobinson, P.A.AT&T • GEICO • MIDFLORIDA Credit Union • Publix Super Markets, Inc.

Drawing from Our Successes. Building on Our Future.

FlORIda SOUthERN cOllEgE: a laKElaNd tREaSURE

Please join us as we pay tribute to and celebrate Florida Southern College – a driver of growth and a producer of highly-talented alumni prepared to meet the business, medical, educational, and social needs of our community.

Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is the oldest private college in the state. In 1921, Lakeland Chamber and City leaders launched a successful campaign to relocate the College to the shore of Lake Hollingsworth.

In 1938, President Ludd Spivey invited architectural great, Frank Lloyd Wright, to the campus to create the first uniquely American college campus. Wright was 67 years of age upon his first visit to Lakeland. As he toured the orange grove area he envisioned the buildings rising “out of the ground, into the light and into the sun.” His master plan called for 18 buildings using the following basic materials: steel for strength; sand because it was native to Florida; and glass to bring God’s outdoors into man’s indoors. The first building to arise was Annie Pfeiffer Chapel in 1941.

Today, Florida Southern is home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Wright’s buildings and named as the #1 “Most Beautiful Campus” in America by The Princeton Review. The entire campus has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975.

YOU wON’t wANt tO MIss thIs spEcIAL prOGrAM AND AN ExcItING EvENING wIth thE chAMBEr!

sAvE thE DAtE


WEdNESday, JaNUaRy 9gOvERNMENt aFFaIRS 8:00 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room

WEdNESday, JaNUaRy 9BUSINESS vOIcE OF gREatER laKElaNd 9:00 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room

MONday, JaNUaRy 14SBa cOMMIttEE MEEtINg 11:45 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room

MONday, JaNUaRy 14EMERgE laKElaNd StEERINg cOMMIttEE 3:45 p.m.Chamber Briefing Room

WEdNESday, JaNUaRy 16ExEcUtIvE cOMMIttEE MEEtINg 4:00 p.m. Chamber Briefing Room

14MON

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 3 d at e s

10thUr

17thUr

15tUEs

09wED

FEBRUaRy 72012 aNNUal MEEtINgthe lakeland Center

FEBRUaRy 1967th aNNUal tIgER BBqJoker Marchant Stadium

07thUr

24thUr

23wEDthURSday, JaNUaRy 10

EcONOMIc FOREcaSt BREaKFaSt 7:00 a.m.the lakeland Center

tUESday, JaNUaRy 15hatS OFF tO chaMBER MEMBERS 8:00 a.m.Florida technical College4715 S Florida Ave, Ste 4

thURSday, JaNUaRy 17BUSINESS aFtER hOURS 5:30 p.m.waller Construction, inc.1065 S Florida Ave, Ste 2

tUESday, JaNUaRy 29thE BUSINESS OF EdUcatION aFtER hOURS 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.lEGolAnD Floridaone lEGolAnD way, winter haven

19tUEs

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monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday sat sun

29 30

21

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gOvERNMENt aFFaIRS 8:00 a.M.

BUSINESS vOIcE OF gREatER laKElaNd 9:00 a.M.

SBa cOMMIttEE MEEtINg 11:45 a.M.

EMERgE laKElaNd StEERINg cOMMIttEE 3:45 p.M.

BOaRd OF dIREctORS MEEtINg | NOON

aNNUal MEEtINg RESERvatION dEadlINE

ExEcUtIvE cOMMIttEE MEEtINg | 4:00 p.M.

chaMBER clOSEd

chaMBER clOSEd

EcONOMIc FOREcaSt BREaKFaSt | 7 a.M.

thE BUSINESS OF EdUcatION aFtER hOURS 4:30 p.M.

WEdNESday, JaNUaRy 23BOaRd OF dIREctORS MEEtINg Noonlakeland Yacht & Country Club929 lake hollingsworth Drive

thURSday, JaNUaRy 24ScORE BUSINESS ROUNd taBlE 7:30 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room

29tUEs

16wED

chaMBER clOSEd: tUESday, JaNUaRy 1 FOR NEW yEaR’S day hOlIday MONday, JaNUaRy 21 FOR MaRtIN lUthER KINg, JR. hOlIday

hatS OFF tO chaMBER MEMBERS | 8:00 a.M.

BUSINESS aFtER hOURS 5:30 p.M.

ScORE BUSINESS ROUNdtaBlE | 7:30 a.M.


E v e n t H i G H L i G H T SBusiness After HoursHosted by Cannon Buick – Cadillac - Mitsubishi

01 | Vice President of Membership Development, Terry Ottinger presented the Plaque of Appreciation to host Danny Cannon, Cannon Buick – Cadillac - Mitsubishi.

02 | Tara Reeves, Catering Coordinator for Red Elephant, accepts the Plaque of Appreciation from Terry Ottinger. The food was wonderful!

03 | Chamber members stop to pose for a picture in-between networking and checking out the amazing cars in the showroom!

Schmooze a’PaloozaHosted by La Porta Rossa

04 | Jared Weggeland of Southern Homes of Polk County, Inc. shares his 30 second commercial with all the members that attended!

05 | Members enjoy great food from La Porta Rossa. Schmooze a’Palooza is the perfect way to meet up to 20 contacts over lunch!

01

03

02

06 07

04 05

Walk-In VIsItORs ..................................... 218RelOCatIOn ResPOnse maIlInGs ............ 6RelOCatIOn ResPOnse (Walk In) .......... 24aCCOmmOdatIOns .................................... 2WInteR aCCOmmOdatIOns ...................... 1VIsItOR InFORmatIOn maIlInGs ............ 23VIsItOR CenteR e-maIl InqUIRIes .......... 75

During the month of November, our Visitor Information Center assisted hundreds of individuals, answering questions pertaining to Chamber

member businesses and the Lakeland community.

thE LAKELAND chAMBEr prINts BUsINEss ANNOUNcEMENts EAch MONth As spAcE pErMIts. pLEAsE E-MAIL ANNOUNcEMENts tO [email protected]

Central Florida SCOREMaria Martinez and Mark Scolnick have completed the required training and have been recognized by SCORE.org as a SCORE Certified Mentor. Central Florida SCORE offers no cost and confidential business mentoring and can be reached at (863) 619-5783 or [email protected].

Radiology and imaging SpecialistsPleased to announce an addition to their medical staff. Kevin J. Sawyer, M.D. has joined the physician group as a board-certified radiologist. Dr. Sawyer received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of medicine in Washington, DC and completed his Residency in Radiology at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. He completed his Surgical Internship from Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ and received his Fellowship in Abdominal Imaging from University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lakeland & Mulberry, inc.

The James J. Musso Club was honored with a Florida Area Council state-wide award for Program Impact Excellence in Sports, Fitness, and Recreation for their T.G.I.F. program. The T.G.I.F. program teaches life skills such as patience, cooperation, and how to follow directions with a challenge to complete a series of 10 physical and educational tasks.

Also, Cole Gard & Todd Kontny served as co-chairs for the 38th Annual Musso Golf Tournament, raising much-needed funds for four clubs serving more 1,500 club members.

yMCA of West Central Florida, inc.Pleased to announce that the following individuals have joined the Board of Directors: David K. Boles, President, Office Furniture Deport; Gilbert Rincon, CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Polk County; Matt Green, Controller, Land South Group; and Elaine Thompson, CEO, Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Sessums Law Group Proud to announce Michele Calloway has joined the firm as a highly experienced personal injury

paralegal. Calloway earned her Associates Degree from Polk Community College, Winter Haven, FL in Liberal Arts and Office Technology. She formerly worked at Lilly O’Toole & Brown PA and has over 15 years experience as a personal injury paralegal and legal assistant.

Dreamward Travel inc.Maria Thomas, CTC, DS, ACC, MCC, recently returned from a travel agent familiarization tour of 10 top-rated resorts in Jamaica sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board. This event was by invitation only and high-lighted the areas of Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios. The trip included presentations by the JHTA ( Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association) and attending the JAPEX (The Jamaica Product Exchange – a premier trade event, and the single most important business generator for Jamaica’s tourism product). Maria is currently completing the studies to be qualified as a Jamaican Travel Specialist.

Lakeland Regional Medical CenterPresident and CEO Elaine Thompson, PhD, was recently named to the Becker’s Hospital Review “120 Women Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know.” According to Becker’s Hospital Review, those included in this national list demonstrate outstanding leadership within the hospital and healthcare industry and were chosen based on exceptional oversight of hospital or health system operations, financial turnarounds and quality improvement initiatives.

Baylis & Company PA CPA’sDirector of Communications and Marketing Kathy Wallen was recently installed as President of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland. Kathy is the 3rd woman in the club’s history to hold this office.

nice branding agencyProud to announce that CE Design Co. is now Nice Branding Agency. This woman-owned business has grown and matured over five years and wants to steer its focus toward developing brand identities. Whether it be love at first sight or a rekindled flame, Nice Branding sets out to make companies fall in love with their brands. Although identity services will become more of a focus, Nice Branding Agency will still provide the full spectrum of creative services such as advertising, marketing, social media and Web site design. The girls of CE Design Co. have always been Nice, but now they’ve made it official. Visit BrandNicely.com to learn more.


20+

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M E M B E R R E N E W A L S

1 9 7 8 | 3 3 y E a R S b & b auto body worKs, inC.

1 9 4 5 | 6 7 y E a R S LaKeLand aniMaL nutrition, inC.

1 9 6 9 | 4 3 y E a R S LaKeLand Center for oraL surgery & iMpLantoLogy

1 9 7 3 | 3 9 y E a R S sLigh CLiniC of ChiropraCtiC, inC.

1 9 7 4 | 3 8 y E a R S MCgee auto serViCe and tires

1 9 7 5 | 3 7 y E a R S MarCobay ConstruCtion, inC.

QuaLity petroLeuM Corp.

southeastern uniVersity

1 9 8 4 | 2 8 y E a R S gaLLoway’s fLooring warehouse, inC.

texas CattLe CoMpany

1 9 7 6 | 3 6 y E a R S Musser & riChards, L.L.C.

1 9 8 2 | 3 0 y E a R S eye speCiaLists of Mid-fLorida

1 9 8 4 | 2 8 y E a R S high shine CLeaning serViCes, inC.

w.a. Magarino, Md, pa

1 9 8 8 | 2 4 y E a R S eye express

1 9 8 9 | 2 3 y E a R S w. CLinton waLLaCe, p.a.

1 9 9 2 | 2 0 y E a R S eLKins eLeCtriC, inC.

serViCeMaster CoMMerCiaL serViCes

poLK County board of County CoMMissioners

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teLCeL CoMMuniCations

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S C R A M B L E R E S U LT S

NET WiNNERS

GROSS WiNNERS

NET WiNNERS

GROSS WiNNERS

td BaNKJaMes LoCasCioandy burgesssaM houghton

Marty KnappMatt MaLoney

MiChaeL peepLes

gOlF EtcJ.J. MiLLer

riLey bauMannbrett bLondeLL

brett hitChCoCKLuKe MiLLer

LanCe nieKroa huge thanK you to ira anderson of

Crowe horwath, LLp for being this year’s sCraMbLe ChairMan!

Congratulations to the following 1st Place Winners

at the 22nd Annual Lakeland Chamber Scramble sponsored

by Bright House held at Lone Palm Golf Club on

November 16, 2012!


INtEgRIty FIRSt cORpORatION OF pENNSylvaNIa Call tO sChedUle an aPPOIntment (863) 816-4592 WWW.InteGRItyFIRstIns.BIz dOnald IVOl JR.InSurAnce

KaUFFMaN tIRE 5056 Us hIGhWay 98 s lakeland, Fl 33812 (863) 937-0700 WWW.kaUFFmantIRe.COm keVIn GUzman AutomobILe/truck – repAIr

laFayE’S REStaURaNt & catERINg 1302 n FlORIda aVe lakeland, Fl 33805 (863) 683-3111 sheIla WatsOnreStAurAntS

NEW lIFE OUtREach MINIStRy, INc. 1031 W 5th st lakeland, Fl 33802 (863) 510-5696 WWW.neWlIFelakeland.ORG laRRy mItChell HumAn ServIceS

NIcK & MOES 4410 kathleen Rd lakeland, Fl 33810 (863) 858-0928 WWW.nICkandmOes.COm nICk sallem convenIence StoreS

pERSpEctIvE pRISM ENtERpRISES Call tO sChedUle an aPPOIntment (321) 689-3082 WWW.PaUlesInGeR.COm PaUl sInGeR perSonAL DeveLopment & Improvement

pOlK FOOdIE/hOME & gaRdEN MagazINE 115 allamanda dRlakeland, Fl 33803(863) 802-5043 lIz CRaVen pubLIcAtIonS

pROcaRE clEaNINg SERvIcES OF cENtRal FlORIda Call tO sChedUle an aPPOIntment (863) 510-5281 WWW.PROCaReCleanInGFl.COmlIndsey semkO cLeAnerS – JAnItorIAL ServIceS

SpRINt 851 tRaFalGaR Ct maItland, Fl 32751 (407) 230-8692 WWW.sPRInt.COm thOmas kIRkland communIcAtIonS

taMpa Bay SpORtS & ENtERtaINMENt401 ChannelsIde dRtamPa, Fl 33602(813) 301-6883WWW.tamPaBaytImesFORUm.COmGaRy naPeRtentertAInment

N E W M E M B E R Sall aMERIcaN FURNItURE & MattRESS FactORy 845 n FlORIda aVe lakeland, Fl 33801 (863) 683-5054 WWW.allameRICanFURnItURelakeland.COm BOnnIe eVans FurnIture retAILerS

aSSUREd & aSSOcIatES 128 PalmettO aVe nW WInteR haVen, Fl 33881 (863) 450-3138 WWW.assURedandassOCIates.COm dOsIChell RadFORd HeALtH cAre – Home HeALtH cAre

BEFly BIKE tOURS Call tO sChedUle an aPPOIntment (863) 899-1818 WWW.BeFlyBIketOURs.COm Beth GeOhaGen bIcycLeS

catERINg By thE FaMIly 2322 W CyPRess st tamPa, Fl 33609 (813) 875-2000 WWW.CateRInGBytheFamIly.COm steVen GOnzalez cAtererS

cavalIER dIStRIBUtINg FlORIda4930 e lakeland COmmeRCe PkWy, UnIt 4 lakeland, Fl 33805 (863) 701-4580 WWW.CaVBeeR.COm/FlORIda kelly taylOR beer

dIScOUNt tIRE cO. 6975 hIGhWay 98 n lakeland, Fl 33809(863) 797-1236 WWW.tIRes.COm JUstIn neWBytIre DeALerS

ExEcUtIvE clEaNINg SERvIcES, llc Call tO sChedUle an aPPOIntment(800) 664-6393 WWW.exeCUtIVe-Clean.COm Jesse GUaRIn cLeAnerS – JAnItorIAL ServIceS

FlORIda hOSpItal zEphyRhIllS 7050 Gall BOUleVaRd zePhyRhIlls, Fl 33541 (813) 788-0411 WWW.FhzePh.ORG BRett URaVICh HeALtH cAre – HoSpItALS

gROW FINaNcIal FEdERal cREdIt UNION 9927 delaney lake dR tamPa, Fl 33619 (813) 837-2451 WWW.GROWFInanCIal.ORG JOhn FlORes creDIt unIonS

hEadlEy INSURaNcE agENcy3544 s FlORIda aVelakeland, Fl 33803(863) 701-7411WWW.headleyInsURanCe.netsCOtt headleyInSurAnce

tERRacON cONSUltaNtS, INc. 2335 COmmeRCe POInt dR, ste 180 lakeland, Fl 33801 (863) 606-0423 WWW.teRRaCOn.COm mat ChInaUlt, P.e.engIneerS

vIvINt 12682 teleCOm dR tamPa, Fl 33602 (863) 216-5232 WWW.VIVInt.COm aaROn Bates SecurIty ServIceS/SyStemS

WOMaN tO WOMaN MagazINE Call tO sChedUle an aPPOIntment (863) 644-4664 WWW.WOmantOWOmanmaGazIne.COm aIleen FIGUeROa pubLIcAtIonS


KAREN HOUTz COmmUnIty Bank OF FlORIdaCOmmeRCIal RelatIOnshIP OFFICeR

Each month, the Chamber enlists the help of 20 volunteers to mentor new and current members with involvement in Chamber events and programs.

This month, the Chamber staff would like to recognize Ms. Karen Houtz, Commercial Relationship Officer at Community Bank of Florida for her outstanding attention to Chamber members and attendance at events! Karen is a wonderful asset to the Chamber and to the Lakeland community!


lEaNINg W yOUth OUtREachCall to SChedule an appointment

(863) 255-8663 www.leaningwYouthoutreaCh.Com

thOR ElEctRIcal cONSUltINg, llcLakeland, FL 33810

5505 ChileS ln | (863) 899-5671

MattRESS FIRMLakeland, FL 33809

3954 uS highwaY 98 n | (863) 815-4938 www.mattreSSfirm.Com

aBUElO’S MExIcaN FOOd EMBaSSyLakeland, FL 33813

3700 lakeSide Village BlVd | (863) 686-7500www.aBueloS.Com

laKElaNd haBItat FOR hUMaNItyLakeland, FL 33815

1317 george JenkinS BlVd | (863) 682-3812www.lakelandhaBitat.org

JUNIOR lEagUE OF gREatER laKElaNdLakeland, FL 33801

90 lake morton dr | (863) 682-2112 www.Jlgl.Com

R i B B O N C U T T i N G S

Special thanks to Mayor Gow Fields, Commissioner Don Selvage, Commissioner Justin Troller, Commissioner Phillip Walker, Commissioner Howard Wiggs, Commissioner Edie Yates, and all the Board Members and Chamber Champions

who truly make these ceremonies special events. pREMIER hOME MORtgagE

Lakeland, FL 33801223 S florida aVe | (863) 709-1300



H e a lt h C a r e A f t e r t h e E l e c t i o n

] C O N N E C TLakelandChamber.com

Congress to make some changes to the law as a larger package to reduce the deficit. Among those options are scaling back the subsidies that help low-income Americans buy health insurance coverage. The amount of the subsidies, and possibly the Medicaid expansion as well, could be reduced.

Your Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce will keep you informed on important details as the debate on health care continues to evolve.

people won’t face any penalties.

In addition, if you own a small business, the health law offers a tax credit to help cover the cost. Employers with 25 or fewer full-time workers who earn an average yearly salary of $50,000 or less today can get tax credits of up to 35 percent of the cost of premiums. The credit increases to 50 percent in 2014.

As we move forward on implementation of the health care law, some observers think there could be pressure in

on small business owners and how the law affects them. No employer is required to provide insurance. But starting in 2014, businesses with 50 or more employees that don’t provide health care coverage and have at least one full-time worker who receives subsidized coverage in the health insurance exchange will have to pay a fee of $2,000 per full-time employee. The firm’s first 30 workers would be excluded from the fee.

However, firms with 50 or fewer

Now that President Barack Obama has won a second term, the Affordable Care Act is back on the fast track.

Some analysts argue there could be modifications to reduce federal spending as part of a broader deficit deal; for now, this is just speculation. What is clear is the law will have sweeping ramifications for consumers, state officials, employers and health care providers, including hospitals and doctors.

One of the biggest questions focuses

212 EAST HIGHLAND DRIVE | LAKELAND, FL

863.683.0708 | WALLFOSS.COM

MONEYMATTERSBYNATE.COMCheck Out

YOUR 401K. WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST AND WHY IT ISN’T A PIGGY BANK.

like me on

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Mobile Banking available

Downtown Lakeland 101 South Florida Avenue

863-682-7100

Bartow 515 North Broadway Avenue

863-534-3585

South Lakeland 5015 South Florida Avenue

863-701-2685Member FDIC

Bank of Central Florida

“My bank is interested in helping us be successful.”

…Dean Boring | President/CEO, Boring Business Systems

Boring Business Systems is the area’s top seller of Canon,

Konica Minolta and HP equipment with sales predicted

to increase by 12% next year. Dean Boring is proud that

his customers can rely on his team of professionals for

personal service and fast, reliable solutions.

“Our company is like Bank of Central Florida. We can react

faster, are more responsive, and more competitive in our

industry,” says Boring. www.bankofcentralflorida.com

Boring Business Systems competes against multimillion dollar regional companies by offering customers more

selection, service and technology.

With the presidential election behind us, President Obama now returns to the White House to attempt to avoid the fiscal cliff. The fiscal cliff is the product of the Budget Control Act of 2011, which was part of a deal between the White House and Congress to agree to increase the debt ceiling.

The original intent of the Budget Control Act was to create a series of tax hikes and spending cuts that both parties would see as so detrimental to our economy that they would be forced to work together on a resolution for our growing deficit. The combination of tax

p o l k p r o g r e s s u p d at e

] C O N N E C TFLSouthern.edu/ PolkProgress

DR. JAMES FARRELL, CFAFloriDa Southern college

increases, reduction of tax breaks and spending cuts are expected to cut our deficit nearly in half. However, the speed and bluntness with which this will occur is expected to push us into a recession for the

first half of 2013. While our economy has been in recovery mode as of late, with GDP climbing at a 2.7% rate in the 3rd quarter, the provisions of the budget act have been estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to pull


3.5% of GDP out of the economy and increase unemployment by approximately 1%.

For most local residents, the immediate impact will be in the first January paycheck. With the employee-paid Social Security tax set to reset to 6.2% (the 2% reduction that was part of 2011 and 2012 stimulus spending has not been renewed) and the reversion to the pre-2001 tax brackets (the 10% bracket folds into the 15% bracket, the 25%, 28% and 33% brackets all increase by 3% and the 35% bracket increases by 4.6%), most employees should expect to see their paychecks reduced by 2 – 5% before any other changes (insurance cost, annual increase etc.). The cut in pay is likely to hit saving and discretionary spending behavior as households adjust to lower income.

The secondary effect will be the government spending cuts. The Office of Management and Budget estimates that there will be a 9.4% cut to discretionary

defense spending, an 8.2% cut to non-defense discretionary spending and a 7.6% cut to non-defense mandatory spending, totaling $65 billion in all. Exactly how these cuts would be made, however, is unknown at this point.

Overall, the negative impact to the Polk County economy will be reflective of the economy overall, if not slightly worse as we have tended to underperform during recent downturns. Dr. Carl Brown’s Polk Progress Index has shown growth in recent quarters, however, should the Budget Control Act take place, we should expect to see a slight downturn in the first quarter of 2013 and perhaps a larger one in the second quarter. There is a silver lining of the fiscal cliff, if Washington fails to act, is that our deficit will fall to under 4% of GDP, which is a long-term goal of both parties, we will just get there on a much rougher road than we had hoped.

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POLK PROGRESS INDEX

From left to right: Denise Robson, Dan Dorrell, Managing Partner of the Lakeland Office, and Amy Bruce. As a true testament of remaining local, the professionals in the Lakeland office have served the community their entire careers.

MEET OUR TEAMTHE LARGEST LOCAL CPA FIRM IN POLK COUNTY

At Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP (C/F/R), our main focus is providing quality, hands-on service to our clients. We accomplish this by providing prompt, expert advice with a high degree of professionalism and personal attention.

Our team feels there are three elements of service that are essential to our clients’ success and satisfaction – quality, timeliness and affordability. We take pride in the fact that we can fulfill all three elements. When you choose C/F/R, you can rest assured that you will never have to sacrifice quality, time or money.

Lakeland OfficeP: (863) 937-9520

Orlando OfficeP: (407) 841-6930

Tampa OfficeP: (813) 321-6869

Winter Haven OfficeP: (863) 299-5638

For more information about our services, please visit www.cfrcpa.com.


T e c h C o r n e r : R e i n v e n t i n g S m a l l B u s i n e s s O n l i n e

The age of “Brick and Mortar” is being replaced by the new “Click and Mortar” model as the number of people using the Internet to make purchases rapidly rises. From 2009 to 2010 there was a 14.8% increase in consumer spending online and from 2010 to 2011, another 16.1%

increase. As more and more people are using the Internet to find products and services, it is important for Lakeland Chamber Members to use the tools to fully participate in the Internet economy. Enter the Reinventing Small Business Initiative.

Your Chamber is

RyAN MCCABE

] C O N N E C TOcoos.com

To LeaRn MoRe aBouT How youR sMaLL Business Can join THe ReinvenTion PRoCess, ConTaCT KaRa BuTCH aT (863) 688-8551, exT. 242 oR visiT oCoos.LaKeLandCHaMBeR.CoM.

REINVENTINGSMALL BUSINESSinnovative technology driving small business successBROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LAKELAND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OCOOS.COM

Advance Your Career with Webster University

Graduate Programs for Adults

Looking for more from your career? Get a personal introduction to opportunities from a nonprofit, regionally accredited university. At Webster, we offer small classes one night a week taught by professionals in their field. Call or click to apply today.

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EC-2269 Chamber_A.indd 1 7/17/12 2:58 PM

proud to introduce the Reinventing Small Business Initiative in partnership with Ocoos.com, a spin out from the University of Florida. This Central Florida technology company has recently released a Web platform that accelerates the way small businesses operate online.

Ocoos is reimagining the way small businesses can efficiently build and operate a full business infrastructure through the use of state-of-art Internet technology. With the Ocoos platform, a small business can drive all the business functions (marketing, sales, operations, finance,

etc.) in a world class manner with minimal investment. In addition, they have created a unique social and content driven marketplace for customers to interact with and buy from small businesses.

The simple profile builder on Ocoos allows business owners to concentrate less on infrastructure and more on providing services. With Ocoos, a company has complete control over

its Web site, and Ocoos provides all the back-end tools to run the business from one dashboard. This includes online booking, e-commerce, customer relationship management, and financials. A large enterprise may well spend millions of dollars to build similar capability, but through the Reinventing Small Business Initiative the Ocoos platform can provide this power to small businesses at a very affordable price.

Commona TASTE of local business one cup at a time

the

Common Grounds

member feature gives

your business the opportunity to

showcase “a day in the life” of your

employees and customers. each month,

one of the door prizes at the Business

after hours event will be a Common

Grounds lakeland Chamber coffee mug

& the opportunity to submit a 350

word article about your local

business.

for 38 years, united refrigeration and air conditioning, Inc. has been servicing Polk county and the surrounding areas. united refrigeration and air conditioning, Inc. provides a full range of products that include replacement of hvac equipment for residential, commercial, institutional and industrial, including ice machine, reach-in and walk-in coolers/freezers and refrigeration preventative maintenance, service and sales.

In 1997 united refrigeration and air conditioning, Inc. added the ductZ franchise (formerly ductbusters) to promote the benefits of breathing clean, fresh, healthy air. nobody is more committed to quality than ductZ when it comes to hvac duct cleaning for both residential and commercial applications, dryer vent cleaning, fresh and exhaust air cleaning. ductZ also provides services for air and biological growth testing.

united refrigeration and air conditioning, Inc. also offers indoor air quality solutions like air purification systems, air filtration systems, attic insulation, uv lights, Photo catalytic oxidation units, residential and commercial window film, and power factor correctors. These products will enhance the life of your equipment, your quality of life, and your total home comfort.

as owners of united refrigeration and air conditioning, Inc. gary and Jeri henderson are committed to 100% total customer satisfaction. The united refrigeration and air conditioning, Inc. family consists of loyal, long-term employees that make each customer’s experience memorable.

we invite you to experience for yourself the exceptional services provided by united refrigeration and air conditioning, Inc. for your home or office indoor comfort needs. by calling us now and mentioning this feature article you will receive 15% off any of the products or services we offer as our personal new Years gift to you.

call now to schedule appointment: (863) 299-8573. always remember “call united They’ll come!”


B y M a R t y c O h E N united refrigeration and air Conditioning, inC. CaLLunitedtheyLLCoMe.CoM


From October 31 to November 10, the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce took a group of travelers to live “La Dolce Vita” – The Good Life – in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Together they tasted authentic Italian cuisine and witnessed breathtaking artifacts of the Italian Renaissance.

Usually reluctant to travel with a tour group, Sam Crosby of Miller, Crosby & Miller, P.A. said he jumped at the chance to travel with the Chamber. “The trip was great, the food fantastic … and we learned a great deal from our highly informative tour guides,” he said. “We also very much enjoyed the company of our fellow travelers.”

Now, the Lakeland Chamber is ready to take you on another adventure to Spain’s Costa del Sol. For seven nights, travelers will stay in the costal city of Torremolinos along the Mediterranean. The trip includes tours of Ronda and its plunging gorge, the Rock of Gibraltar, and Granada, along with optional tours of Seville, Malaga, and Morocco. Prices start at $2,749 ($2,849 for non-Lakeland Chamber members). For those who just can’t get enough of Spain, travelers ca stick around for the 2-day Madrid extension. Don’t miss out on the chance to explore a land that has been touched by countless civilizations. Its rich heritage and beautiful scenery make visiting Spain a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

T r av e l e r s E x p e r i e n c e d L a D o l c e v i ta W i t h t h e C h a m b e r

Michele Purcell, don and sandie dePianta at a wine tasting.

Cyndy Tarr, Carolyn Kibler, amanda nobles sampling chocolate, nuts, cheese, wine, liquers, sausages,…

Tammy Bryan, Gary and Cyndy Tarr and Trish Pfeiffer enjoying time spent at The Forum in Rome.

jenn james, sandy serletic, and debbie Houghton in Tuscan cooking class.

pAcK YOUr sUItcAsEs AND GEt rEADY tO sAY “hOLA A EspAñA!” vIsIt spAIN.LAKELANDchAMBEr.cOM fOr DEtAILs.

jenn james, Laurie Melton, amanda nobles learning how to make homemade pasta.

start exploringFree for your Smart Device »

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Whether you’re a frequent visitor, a local or a newcomer

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life & other fun things that can be found in Central Florida.

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Thursday • January 17th 5:30-8:30• Festive Music - Beverages• Great Food and Door Prizes

CRASH Come our Chamber Business

After Hours party atThe Waller Design Center

and get a sneak peek ofhow Waller remodeled the

“Worst Kitchen in America”Featured on DIY Network’s Kitchen Crashers

airing nationally January 28th at 10pm.

WALLER CENTRE1065 South Florida Avenue(Next to Dixieland Post Office)

Additional parking available at Dixieland Village

$10 Chamber Member, $30 Non-Chamber MemberYour RSVP is appreciated!

Visit LakelandChamber.com to register.Sponsors:

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(863) 682-34502440 Hwy. 98 North 1 Mile So. of I-4 Across from Lakeland Chryslerwww.officefurnituredepot.com

QU

ALITY PRODUCT

QUALITY SERVICE

LOW PRICE

GUARANTEE

No matter what the size of your project you owe it to your bottom line to have us quote it.If you haven’t received a quote from Office Furniture Depot,

you will be paying too much – GUARANTEED!As an independent furniture dealer, we ensure you receive the highest quality

and the best value of office furniture available in the market place.Our professional team represents over 80 years of experience in our 75,000 sq. ft. showroom!

Don’t overspend on office furniture this year!THERE’S A REASON WE CLOSE 96%

OF THE PROJECTS WE QUOTE!

Locally owned & operated.

OFDJan13ChamberAdNew:FloorMatAdNov-LKLD 11/21/12 8:52 AM Page 1

january 2013 forum for business

Documents

e r c e f o r u

c e b r

e r r y o t t

b e r o f c o

e d i r e c t

g e n c y c r e

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s o n c h