october 2012 forum for business
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October 2012 Forum for BusinessTRANSCRIPT
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
OCTOBER 2012 | VOl. xxI, NO. 10
the impact of redistrictingon florida voters
how you can learn from the pollsters
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
S a R a h B R E E d Administrative Assistant, Member Relations | Public Affairs
K a R a B U t c h Administrative Assistant,
Membership Development | Communications [email protected]
S a l l y c h a p M a N Vice President, Finance & Administration
c a R O l y N J a c K S O N Senior Vice President, Member Relations
J a c q U E l I N E l . J O h N S O N Senior Vice President, Convention & Visitors Bureau
K a t I E M c B R I d E Membership Consultant
N I K K I O a K l E y Membership Account Executive
t E R R y O t t I N g E R Vice President, Membership Development
R I c h R O y Vice President, Public Affairs
p a t t y S M I t h Administrative Assistant, Convention & Visitors Bureau
l . J O a N N W a l l E R Membership Consultant
a M y W I g g I N S Vice President, Communications
35 laKE MORtON dRIvE pO BOx 3607
laKElaNd, Fl 33802-3607 (863) 688-8551
laKElaNdchaMBER.cOM
© 2012 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 l y
W a l K E R W I l K E R S O N | c h a I R M a N O F t h E B O a R dCLiftonLarsonaLLen LLp
K a t h l E E N l . M U N S O N | p U B l I S h E RLaKeLand area ChaMber of CoMMerCe
a M y S . W I g g I N S | E d I t O RLaKeLand area ChaMber of CoMMerCe
c E d E S I g N c O . | 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 ywww.CedesignCo.CoM
“Lakeland EconomicDevelopment Update”
Presented by Claudia Tritton,Lakeland Economic Development Council
October 117:30 a.m.
1317 George Jenkins Blvd
Hear first hand from the LakelandEconomic Development Council
what’s growing, moving, andchanging in Lakeland’s
business community.
Lakeland
Bus NESS bre kfast&
F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 3
8:05
Roll out of bed; get caught up on day’s
schedule & news from campaigns around
the State
Drop future politician off at school
11:00
12:00
Catch up on emails, calendar and world
events
Plug in dead phone and iPad and pass out
Hit Snooze button
9:00 Second candidate conference call
8:50 Put out first
unexpected fire
8:30First candidate conference call
10:00 Knock out morning
conference call objectives
6:00
Late client calls while preparing
for practice
5:30Switch gears and
focus on legislative clients
1:00
Coach a group of rambunctious 11 & 12-year old baseball
players
8:30Post-practice dinner
with friends
8:10Quick breakfast & first (of many)
iced tea of the day at the incomparable Fat Jack’s Deli
3:00Prepare newsletter and Board Meeting
materials for statewide Association
Pick up future hopeful MLB player from school
5:00
F L o R i D A S t R A t e g i C g R o u P , L L C
a d ay i n t h e
Fsg-llc.net
Lunch meeting with another candidate
12:00
4 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
and by following an investment strategy that’s suitable for your individual risk tolerance and time horizon, you can make gradual, but still meaningful, progress toward those goals — no matter what’s happening in Washington.
REvIEW yOUR StRatEgy
REgUlaRly. With the possible approach of changes in tax policies and in government programs that can affect your retirement security, you’ll want to review your investment strategy regularly to make sure it’s still on track toward helping you meet your objectives. as part of this review, you may want to seek out more “tax-smart” investment opportunities, while always looking for ways to supply the asset growth you’ll need to enjoy the retirement lifestyle you’ve envisioned.
aside from voting for the candidates who best represent your interests, you may not have much influence over what goes on in Washington. But by “electing” the right moves to help meet your goals, you can have plenty of control over your investment strategy.
gREg wEST Edward JonEs InvEstmEnts
While the election season heats up, you will hear more and more promises, claims and counter-claims from the candidates. as a citizen, you may or may not enjoy this “political theater,” but as an investor, you might be concerned over all the talk about taxes, Social Security, Medicare and other financial topics. Will you need to adjust your savings and investment strategies? if so, how?
Before you think about adjusting your investment strategy in anticipation of any actions coming from Washington, keep a couple of facts in mind. First, few campaign promises become reality. and second, due to our system of government, radical shifts in direction are difficult to implement — which is why so few of them occur.
Still, we may see some smaller-scale — yet not insignificant — changes
in the near future. in light of this possibility, what investment decisions should you make? here are a few suggestions:
• Consider owning investments that are taxed in different ways. no one can predict what will happen with income tax rates or the tax rates that are applied to capital gains and dividends. Consequently, it may be a good idea to seek “tax diversification” by owning investments that are
taxed in different ways. For example, when you sell appreciated stocks, you pay capital gains taxes, whereas interest payments from bonds will be taxed at your individual tax rate. and it’s always a good idea to take advantage of tax-advantaged vehicles, such as an iRa and your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.
StIcK WIth qUalIty.
it’s a good idea, when owning stocks, to invest in quality companies with diversified businesses. These companies are usually less dependent on a particular government program, and they typically have a global reach, so they may be better able to handle any changes implemented in Washington.
Stay FOcUSEd ON yOUR
lONg-tERM gOalS. Politicians come and go, and our political parties seem to take turns holding the reins of power. yet your long-term goals — such as college for your children, a comfortable retirement and the ability to leave a legacy to your family — don’t really change. By realizing that you are largely responsible for achieving your goals,
A M O N T H LY
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F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 5
E x p e r i e n c e E M E R g E
i cannot say enough good things about the Peer to Peer (P2P) program hosted by eMeRGe! When i first started my job at Qgiv
i was commuting from Orlando and knew nothing about Lakeland other than it was the city between tampa and Orlando.
The moment i started my job, and i mean that literally, my boss encouraged me to get involved with eMeRGe. after chatting about it a couple of times i joined the Marketing Committee and almost immediately enrolled in the P2P program. i was hesitant mostly because i am not great at meeting people or networking. however, my involvement was super
rewarding! instead of avoiding social contact in a place where i knew no-one, i was meeting people and it no longer felt like everyone in Lakeland was connected and i was the one person on the outside looking in. (Maybe a bit dramatic, but i needed to get my point across!)
P2P started with an Orientation where we got paired up with a mentor (shout-out to Fred Koehler) who encouraged us along the way and introduced us to people and helped us to become better connected. We also
attended four events over the next several months focused on personal and professional development designed around a specific segment of the Lakeland community.
For you employers out there reading this, please recognize the value that emerge and its programs oFFer to the young proFessionals you work with. encourage them to get involved like my boss did, push them out oF their comFort zones –
sO...whAt DID I GEt OUt Of P2P AND whY Is It
IMPOrtANt tO shArE It wIth YOU?
JENNiFER MANSFiELD QgIv
www.cliftonlarsonallen.com
A new kind of firm
CliftonLarsonAllen offers something different: exceptional capabilities, deep industry experience, and singular client service — all for organizations like yours.
©2012 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Lakeland, florida: 863-687-7000 winter Haven, florida: 863-294-4131
ASSURANCE TAx ACCoUNTiNg
Well, i met people i’m still connected with, i fell in love with Lakeland, and most importantly i felt like part of a community!
] C O N N E C TEMERGELakeland.com
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EC-2269 Chamber_A.indd 1 7/17/12 2:58 PM
] C O N N E C TBrandMadden.com
MARKETiNgM I N U T Ew o r t h m i l l i o n s
MiCHELLE LEDFORDMaddEN BRaNd agENCy
a
every four years words and phrases like focus groups, opinion polls, likely voters, and margin of error become a part of the american vernacular. Political consultants know their candidate can often win a race by targeting specific voting blocks, districts or precincts.
So how does the practice of market research connect to your small business or organization? Great question. Forward thinking organizations understand that this type of market intelligence is critical to making decisions about price points, product launches, service offerings, hours of operations and so much more. as business owners and operators, we often rely on personal preference, gut instincts, and unfounded perceptions. instead, put your finger on the pulse of your constituents by seeking their opinions, behaviors, and preferences.
Gathering data about your target customer is not as hard as you think…
CAn HeLP you
qualitative research can help
identify issues regarding customer
opinions, values and beliefs. this research includes smaller sets like
focus groups and individual
interviews. these findings are meant to provide you with
direction, not predictions.
quantitative research can shed light on statistically
significant differences.
Methods such as surveying result in a large amount of data from a large sample size. the analysis of this data can be used to make
predictions.
Don’t ignore the data or results just because you
may not like the answers. Remember, this research
provides you with an incredible opportunity to address
customer service issues, consider new opportunities,
and learn more about your brand. use the information
to formulate a plan of action that will help you grow
your business.
analyze your
Findings.
sUrvEYs. Online survey services are available such as SurveyMonkey.com. Keep it simple by asking direct questions with yes/no, ranking, rating scale or multiple choice answers. Remember, a larger sample will provide more reliable results. it is also a good idea to incentivize the participants.
fOcUs GrOUPs. Choose a neutral location and have a moderator lead a group of eight to ten participants through a scripted series of questions. Be sure to pre-screen your participants so they meet the target audience criteria such as gender, household income or age. information gathered through these groups is subjective and will yield insights into customer attitudes and buying behaviors.
IN-DEPth INtErvIEws. One-on-one interviews are helpful when expert opinions are needed about complex or sensitive topics. Open-ended questions used during these interviews lead to very beneficial discovery.
sOcIAL MEDIA POLLING. Facebook polls are a great way to engage your fans with loyalty-building questions. Ask questions that yield constructive feedback about your company and that they can share with their friends. Results from these polls offer real-time data to add to your arsenal.
SElECT ANd ExECuTE ThE ChOSEN METhOd OF rESEArCh.
FOR ExaMplE, thIS RESEaRch caN hElp yOU:
dETErMiNE ThE TypE OF iNFOrMATiON ANd iNSiGhTS yOu wOuld liKE TO ACquirE.
Discover opportunities in the marketplace
Measure your brand awarenesscONSIdER
thE dIFFERENt typES OF MaRKEt
RESEaRch.
CrownShredding Ad 2.5x10.5.pdf 2/6/09 2:31:01
correctly target your marketing campaigns
Uncover product or service issues
F E AT U R E B y R y a N d . t y S O N , ViCe president of poLitiCaL operationsassoCiated industries of fLorida, inC.
Florida’s political landscape today is more complex and dynamic than many observers and experts could have anticipated. With the primary elections following a new round of redistricting behind us, it is now clear that elections in the Sunshine State are not what they used to be.
Let’s first take a look back to the 2010 census and its impact on current law. every 10 years the u.S. Constitution mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the united States. These population totals determine each state’s apportionment of Congressional representation. This 2010 Census data is the foundation for this year’s reapportionment and redistricting in Florida – and every other state. “Reapportionment” refers to the task of dividing the state’s population by the number of congressional seats apportioned to the state. it was during reapportionment that Florida gained 2 new Congressional seats, bringing its delegation up to 27 members in the united States house of Representatives. “Redistricting” is the process of dividing the population of the state by the number of seats in each chamber of the state’s legislature. Both are constitutional requirements, and both require this process to commence every 10 years after the Census.
While the census was conducted in 2010, it wasn’t until the spring of 2011 that Florida received its data from the Census Bureau to begin the actual process of dissecting the changes in population. Throughout the summer of 2011, members of the Florida house and Senate traveled to 26 cities across the state and heard public testimony to receive their input on this important process. They started actually drawing Congressional, house and Senate plans based on the public testimony including more than 200 complete and partial plans submitted by constituents. By all accounts, the level of public input during this redistricting cycle was unprecedented. The legislature convened for its annual session in January and February and was able to complete most of its work within that time frame. By april 30, 2012, all legal hurdles for Florida’s Congressional, house and Senate maps had been cleared and Florida’s elections could take place with its new districts for the next 10 years.
8 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
With the recent primaries in the rear view, the initial analysis of the impact of Fair districts is becoming clearer. First, the two new Congressional seats Florida received during Reapportionment were not drawn where Florida’s population growth occurred. Florida’s growth over the last 10 years occurred mainly along the i-4 Corridor and in Southwest Florida, while the new districts actually were created in rural North Florida (Cd-3, OpEN) and the heartland of South Central Florida (Cd -18, rooney). it seems once partisan gerrymandering was made illegal under Fair districts and the urban centers in the state were drawn correctly, the new Congressional seats naturally ended up in two areas of the state which had arguably been under-represented in the Congress. Newly drawn Congressional district 3 provides the best example.
during three of the legislature’s public hearings, constituents in north Florida expressed their concern with their representation in Congress. These residents believed their issues of importance were drowned out by the larger communities such as Ocala and Jacksonville. in the final congressional map, a new congressional seat was drawn keeping north Florida intact in one seat. in their on-going litigation with the Congressional plan, Fair districts complained that this seat was specifically drawn to benefit 23-year incumbent Congressman Cliff Stearns. Even though the congressman didn’t actually live in the new district, supporters of Fair districts felt that back room dealing assured him a seat in which he would be safe to win re-election. election night proved the contrary when political newcomer and veterinarian ted yoho bested Congressman Stearns in a 4-way republican primary. The final analysis of this race proves two points: the legislature responded to the constituents in the hearings and drew a seat which met their community’s needs; and electorally speaking, the rural counties in north Florida voted as a block and overcame the support the incumbent enjoyed in Marion and Clay counties.
Looking at the state legislative maps, it would also seem that the intent of the new constitutional amendments has been met in that 46 incumbents in the house and Senate (42 in the house map and 4 in the Senate map) lived in a district with another incumbent. Furthermore, it appears the requirement to not diminish a racial or language minorities’ ability to elect a candidate of choice has been achieved. aesthetically speaking, the new maps were declared in compliance with the compactness and boundary requirements. Even with the court validating the legislative maps based on the Fair district criteria, it still seems supporters of the new amendments do not believe the new districts are “fair” based solely on the likelihood that Republicans will once again dominate the legislature.
it appears the backers of Fair districts assumed taking ill intent out of the map drawing process would somehow result in a democrat-led legislature. This belief takes candidate selection and historical voter behavior out of the equation and seems to have been
ultimately proven false. however, what is important to note is that the new redistricting requirements did not require certain political outcomes. in other words, supporters of Fair districts felt the true measure of whether the amendments were followed would be if more democrats were elected. while the Court soundly rejected this notion, a deeper analysis at the numbers shows why this isn’t practical as well. it is very difficult to draw a majority-democratic map simply because of historical voter preferences in the Panhandle, north Florida, northeast Florida, i-4 Corridor, Bay Area, Space Coast, and Southeast Florida regions, regardless of party affiliation.
With the redistricting process ended, it is clear that there were substantial changes that caused a political ripple effect throughout the state. Many incumbents had to move in order to have a seat for which to run. Others simply no longer had a seat and were forced into retirement. Still others (in two instances) ended up running against another incumbent. But with Florida’s redistricting process concluded for another decade, it’s clear that the Fair district’s amendments seemed to have ultimately had a positive effect on the final work product of the legislature.
F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 9
Ryan D. Tyson is Vice President of Political Operations at Associated Industries of Florida, the state’s National Association of Manufacturers affiliate. His résumé includes soft and hard dollar fundraising and organization, polling, focus groups and subsequent messaging, as well as electioneering. Ryan received his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida. He currently resides in Tallahassee with his wife and two children.
Redistricting only occurs during a presidential election every 20 years.
For the first time since the inception of the Voting Rights act (1965) there was a democratic administration running the United States department of Justice, which holds final “pre-clearance” over the implementation of any redistricting plans.
Technological advances provided the public with unprecedented access to the redistricting process by using web-based software and through social media.
Most importantly, the legislature had to deal with the successful passage during the 2010 general Election of the Fair districts amendments (amendments 5 & 6).
The Fair districts amendments resulted in three new constitutional guidelines that would govern the legislature’s redistricting process from now on. While the plain reading of the amendments made it clear what the new criteria says, it wasn’t clear what the new criteria meant until the Florida Supreme Court announced its judgment in the spring of this year.
The intent behind a redistricting plan cannot favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.
The intent or result of a redistricting plan cannot diminish the ability of racial or language minorities to elect a candidate of choice.
The districts shall utilize existing political and geographic boundaries where feasible, and districts shall be compact.
s m a l l b u s i n e s s o f t h e m o n t hat Carpenters, whp trainingtowers, and the list goes on!
Peachee strongly believes in giving back to the community and has been active in supporting the following groups/organizations: all Saints’ episcopal Church, Bartow high School Softball, Boys & Girls Club of lakeland, lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, lake Gibson high School Girls Basketball and Football, Kathleen Lions Club, Special Olympics and various charity golf tournaments. also,
metal buildings, concrete work and commercial/industrial maintenance.
Some of its customers include: all Saints’ episcopal Church, City of Lakeland, JBt Food tech, Key Safety Systems, MidFlOridA Credit union, polk County BOCC, peace river Citrus, pepperidge Farm, incorporated, polk County School Board, Publix Super Markets, inc., Saint leo university, tampa international airport, t.G. Lee dairy, Treatt uSA, Estates
Peachee prides itself on an unwavering dedication to quality products and services, always putting the clients’ needs at the forefront. Peachee provides innovative ideas and superior management practices to facilitate the successful completion of every project. Peachee specializes in commercial, industrial and healthcare projects including new construction, construction management, design build, expansions/additions/renovations,
Peachee Construction was established in 1997 (Compton-peachee Construction, inc. dba peachee Construction) and primarily operates in Central/west Coast Florida. The firm became a family business in 2008, with current principles duane Peachee—President, Jennifer (Peachee) Miller—Secretary, and Chelsea Peachee—treasurer. The company’s ongoing success can be attributed to its current loyal and dedicated staff of 18 employees.
duane Peachee is an active member of the Kathleen lions Club and the all Saints’ Episcopal Church Building Committee.
Building On… Building Strong is a motto that has sustained Peachee Construction during hard economic times. They can be counted on to fulfill their promises with the highest level of integrity. Word of mouth referrals and repeat business from customers attest to the fact that they effectively manage and surpass expectations.
SMAll BUSINESS OF THE MONTH COMMITTEE MEMBER SHARI PROVAN (DOUglASS SCREEN PRINTERS INC.) PRESENTS THE SEPTEMBER SMAll BUSINESS OF THE
MONTH AwARD TO DUANE PEACHEE OF PEACHEE CONSTRUCTION. PICTURED FROM lEFT TO RIgHT: BACk ROw—JENNIFER (PEACHEE) MIllER, FAyE SMITH, AND
CHElSEA PEACHEE. FRONT ROw—DAVID STICkNEy, JOEy HOwARD, DUANE PEACHEE, SHARI PROVAN, AND ClIFF TRUMAN.
B y S h a R I p R O v a N , dougLass sCreen printers inC.
PEACHEE CONSTRUCTiON MR. DUANE PEACHEE (863) 687-27306205 New Tampa HighwayLakeland, FL 33815
] C O N N E C TPeacheeConstruction.com
10 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 11
MATTERSth
e
W a 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
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1610 A.M. REGISTRATION & BOXED LUNCH
11 A.M. SHOTGUN START4:30 P.M. AWARDS RECEPTION
AT LONE PALM GOLF CLUB
Special Contests & Prizes
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:SUPPORTING SPONSOR: $2500AWARDS RECEPTION SPONSOR: $2500GOLF CART SPONSOR: $2000DRIVING RANGE SPONSOR: $500CLOSEST TO THE PIN SPONSOR: $500BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR: $500PUTTING GREEN SPONSOR: $500LONGEST DRIVE SPONSOR: $500HOLE SPONSORS: $100 (each)LUNCH SPONSOR: In-Kind
» MEN’S and WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
» IF YOU DON’THAVE A SIX-SOME,WE’LL GET ONE TOGETHERFOR YOU!
ENTRY FEES$150 PER PERSONIncludes greens fee, cart, lunch, beveragesand Awards Reception
$175 PER PERSONIncludes greens fee, cart, lunch, beveragesand Awards ReceptionINCLUDING ENTRY INTO ALL CONTESTS
BONUS PACKAGE$1100 PER TEAMINCLUDES 6 PLAYERS, ENTRY INTO ALLCONTESTS AND HOLE SIGN!$50 Savings
SIX PERSONSCRAMBLE
For more informationvisit LakelandChamber.com
or call (863) 688-8551, Ext. 223 or 224
Graphic Design | Craig Advertising, Inc.
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BRIght hOUSE NEtWORKS pRESENtS thE 22Nd aNNUal chaMBER ScRaMBlE
with the return of the magnificent Florida fall weather comes the 22nd Annual lakeland Chamber scramble presented by Bright house networks! held this year on Friday, november 16 at lone Palm Golf Club, this first-class event offers Chamber members time to re-connect, network, and entertain clients. spend a beautiful Friday on a world-class golf course and enjoy being outdoors during a time of year Floridians truly appreciate! one of lakeland’s premier golf events, the scramble serves as an important fundraiser allowing the Chamber to fulfill its mission to sustain a strong business climate in our community.
the unique six-person format is a perfect fit for serious golfers and those just looking for an afternoon of golfing fun! several levels of sponsorship and playing opportunities allow for participation from small businesses to large companies.
With a limited number of spaces available, visit Scramble.lakelandchamber.com to register today!
12 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
MONday, OctOBER 1EMERgE laKElaNd StEERINg cOMMIttEE 3:45 p.m.Chamber Briefing Room
WEdNESday, OctOBER 10gOvERNMENt aFFaIRS 8:00 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room
WEdNESday, OctOBER 10BUSINESSvOIcE OF gREatER laKElaNd 9:00 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room
MONday, OctOBER 15SBa cOMMIttEE MEEtINg11:45 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room
MONday, OctOBER 15talENt dEvElOpMENt & EdUcatION cOMMIttEE MEEtINg 3 p.m.Chamber Briefing Room
WEdNESday, OctOBER 17ExEcUtIvE cOMMIttEE MEEtINg 4:00 p.m.Chamber Briefing Room
WEdNESday, OctOBER 24BOaRd OF dIREctORS MEEtINg Noonlakeland yacht & Country Club 929 lake Hollingsworth Drive
thURSday, OctOBER 25ScORE ROUNdtaBlE 7:30 a.m.Chamber Briefing Room
tUESday, OctOBER 30laKElaNd aREa chaMBER FOUNdatION BOaRd OF dIREctORS MEEtINg4:00 pmChamber Briefing Room
24wED
o c t o b e r 2 01 2 d at e s
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monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday sat sun
30 31
01MON
11thUr
09thUr18
thUr
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10wED
25thUr
NOvEMBER 16 22Nd aNNUal chaMBER ScRaMBlE lone Palm golf Club
OctOBER 4pOlItIcS IN thE paRK
NOvEMBER xx
SBa cOMMIttEE MEEtINg 11:45 a.M.
talENt dEvElOpMENt & EdUcatION cOMMItEE MEEtINg | 3:00 p.M.
BOaRd OF dIREctORS MEEtINg | NOON
ScORE ROUNdtaBlE7:30 a.M.
16frI
04MON
30tUEs
thURSday, OctOBER 4pOlItIcS IN thE paRK5 p.m. (VIP Reception) 6 p.m. Main Event Historic Munn Park The Political Event of the year! thURSday, OctOBER 11BUSINESS & BREaKFaSt 7:30 a.m. lakeland Habitat for Humanity 1317 george Jenkins Blvd
thURSday, OctOBER 18BUSINESS aFtER hOURS 5:30 p.m. Mcgee Auto Service and Tires 3939 US Highway 98 S
1 2 3 4 5
17wED
pOlItIcS IN thE paRKvIp REcEptION - 5 p.M.MaIN EvENt - 6 p.M.
BUSINESS & BREaKFaSt7:30 a.M.
ExEcUtIvE cOMMIttEE MEEtINg 4:00 p.M.
gOvERNMENt aFFaIRS 8:00 a.M.
BUSINESSvOIcE OF gREatER laKElaNd 9:00 a.M.
laKElaNd aREa chaMBER FOUNdatION BOaRd OF dIREctORS MEEtINg 4:00 p.M.
BUSINESS aFtER hOURS 5:30 p.M.
EMERgE laKElaNd StEERINg cOMMIttEE 3:45 p.M.
F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 13
E v e n t H i g H L i g H T S01
03
04
06
02 BUSINESS aFtER hOURShosted by southland suites of lakeland
01 | Chair Elect Mark wilson (Kimley-horn & associates, inc.) presents the plaque of Appreciation to Jackie Fruge and donna Shoenenberger of Southland Suites of Lakeland.
02 | The crowd enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and the tours provided by Southland Suites of Lakeland of their new Clare Bridge memory care facility.
BUSINESS & BREaKFaSthosted by valencia hills health & rehabilitation center
03 | Adil Khan of Clark & daughtrey Medical Group, P.a. presents an informative and interactive workshop on health care reform.
04 | Members were very attentive at the august Business and Breakfast hosted by Valencia hills health & rehabilitation Center.
NEW MEMBER REcEptIONhosted by magnify credit union
05 | New member Tanya Tillis of Classy & Sassy Salon gives her 30-second commercial about her business.
06 | The crowd of new members networked and socialized at Magnify Credit union.
05
WWW.OAKBRIDGE.COM
MON TO FRI 9-5; SAT 10-5; SUN 12-5 || 1301 GRASSLANDS BLVD. SUITE 100 || 863.647.1100 800.677.1301 || PAT JONES 863.581.4699 || KARA STAHLEY (PROPERTY MANAGEMENT) 863.661.4317
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F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 15
Polk County Tourism & Sports MarketingKris Keprios, tourism Sales and Marketing Manager, has been selected as part of the inaugural group of young pro-fessionals from across the country for the Southeast tour-ism Society’s first class of “Forty for the Future: travel’s Leading talent.” The Southeast tourism Society (StS), an atlanta-based professional association in the tourism industry, organized the program which will be an annual recognition.
The Manor at CarpentersThe American health Care Association and National Center for Assisted living (AhCA/NCAl) are pleased to
announce the selection of The Manor at Carpenters as a 2012 recipient of the Silver – achievement in Quality for its outstanding performance in the health care profes-sion. The competitive award highlights select facilities across the nation that serve as models of excellence in providing high-quality long term care.
Polk State CollegeThe newly constructed polk State Chain of lakes Colle-giate high School building has met the requirements for Leed Gold certification. Leed, Leadership in energy and environmental design, is a rating system developed by the uSGBC. To earn lEEd certification, a structure must adhere to strict standards for everything from energy sav-ings to water efficiency. Gold is the second-highest level of certification.
Also, polk State College’s rob Clancey is now putting his expertise in workforce development to use on a na-tional level, serving as president of the National Council for Continuing Education and Training. The Columbus, Ohio-based NCCET is the nation’s premier association for continuing education professionals. its membership in-cludes more than 300 institutions from across the united States, and it works to promote best practices in continu-ing and contract training.
CPS investment Advisors Was recently named one of Florida’s best small companies to work for by Florida trend Magazine. The fourth annual statewide Best Companies list appears in the August is-
sue of The Florida trend magazine and on Floridatrend.com. One hundred companies were recognized in small, medium, and large company categories. CpS investment advisors ranked 22nd out of hundreds of companies that applied for the small company category having 15-49 em-ployees.
Florida Southern Collegedr. Malcolm Manners, professor of citrus and horticul-tural science at FSC, has been named the recipient of the highest honor of an international society dedicated to the cultivation of roses. dr. Manners will be the honoree at the Great rosarians of the world (GrOw) lecture Series in February at the huntington Botanical Gardens in San Ma-rino, CA. The annual award honors significant contribu-tors to the world of roses. The ceremony and the lecture will be repeated in new york in June.
La Porta RossaThe prestigious restaurant reservation web site Opent-able.com recently named LPR one of its 10 “neighborhood Gems” for the tampa Bay area; the only Lakeland restau-rant to earn that distinction, which reflects the per dollar value of the culinary experience.
thE LAKELAND chAMBEr PrINts BUsINEss ANNOUNcEMENts EAch MONth As sPAcE PErMIts. PLEAsE E-MAIL ANNOUNcEMENts tO [email protected]
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M E M B E R R E N E w A L S
1 9 4 6 | 6 6 y E a R Sgentry Morrison funeraL hoMes
1 9 6 8 | 4 4 y E a R ShiggenbothaM auCtioneers int’L Ltd., inC.
1 9 6 9 | 4 3 y E a R SMCdonaLd ConstruCtion Corporation
1 9 7 1 | 4 1 y E a R SMeisner paint & body, inC.
1 9 7 2 | 4 0 y E a R S wiLLiaMs & wiLLiaMs, inC.
1 9 7 5 | 3 7 y E a R SfLorida baptist ChiLdren’s hoMes, inC.
griffin pooLs, inC.
1 9 7 7 | 3 5 y E a R SnationaL MeMoriaLs
saddLe CreeK LogistiCs serViCes
1 9 7 8 | 3 4 y E a R SstanLey properties
yerton Leasing & auto saLes, inC.
1 9 8 0 | 3 2 y E a R SsCMh arChiteCts
1 9 8 2 | 3 0 y E a R SCrown printing, inC.
perpetuaL teChnoLogy soLutions
1 9 8 4 | 2 8 y E a R SCiViLsurV design group, inC.
1 9 8 5 | 2 7 y E a R SKnight industriaL equipMent inC.
1 9 8 6 | 2 6 y E a R SCheathaM, goLeno & ferguson, p.a.
poLK MuseuM of art
1 9 8 9 | 2 3 y E a R SJaCK haLL Jr.’s ConstruCtion and aLuMinuM
1 9 9 0 | 2 2 y E a R SMorris CoMMerCiaL enterprises, inC.
poLK theatre inC.
1 9 9 1 | 2 1 y E a R Sgreen ConstruCtion serViCes, inC.
the MosaiC CoMpany
riteway food broKers, inC.
rooMs to go
edgewood aniMaL CLiniCLaKeLand habitat for huManity
hoMe iMproVeMentLinCoLn aVenue aCadeMy
partner MarKeting groupr.V. worLd of LaKeLand
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fLorida tiMe & business soLutionsgoLf, etC.
Joe goLdsMith ConstruCtion, inC.Kingston partners
oLiVe garden itaLian restaurantreed & Mawhinney, p.L.
third wing business strategies, LLCtrue Md
5
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trinity presbyterian ChurCh
15
yEaRS
16 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S16 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
MaddEN BRaNd agENcy 6810 NEW TaMpa HWy, STE 200 lakElaNd, Fl 33815 (863) 248-0822 BRaNdMaddEN.COM MICHEllE lEdFORdAdverTisiNg
MOBIlE NExt caR WaSh aNd dEtaIlINg, llc 912 E MaIN ST lakElaNd, Fl 33801 (863) 934-9274 MICHaEl gREENAuTomobiLe – WAsHiNg & PoLisHiNg
NatURal aIR ENERgy SavINg SyStEMS 3340 HaVENdalE BlVd WINTER HaVEN, Fl 33881 (863) 679-2665 NaTURalaIRENERgy.COM WIll CaRSONAir CoNdiTioNiNg/HeATiNg
paBlO BEach INSURaNcE gROUp 5120 S FlORIda aVE lakElaNd, Fl 33813 (863) 937-9360 paBlOBEaCHINSURaNCE.COM aMaNda STREETSiNsurANCe
pREMIER hOME MORtgagE 223 S FlORIda aVE lakElaNd, Fl 33801 (863) 709-1300 CHad BakERmorTgAges & LeNdiNg
ROByN lyNNE 3674 HaRdEN BlVd lakElaNd, Fl 33803 (863) 682-1414 dEBE BRIdgESreTAiL
SOUthERN aRchERy OUtFIttERS, llc 2332 E EdgEWOOd dR lakElaNd, Fl 33803 (863) 450-2914 SOUTHERNaRCHERyOUTFITTERS.COM JaMES HENdERSONsPorTiNg goods
SpRINglEaF FINaNcIal SERvIcES 125 E VaN FlEET dR BaRTOW, Fl 33860 (863) 858-9440 SpRINglEaFFINaNCIal.COMJOSEpH dESIlVESTROFiNANCiAL serviCes
StERIpacK 4255 S pIpkIN Rd lakElaNd, Fl 33811 (863) 648-2333 STERIpaCkgROUp.COM BOB dElMaSTROmANuFACTuriNg & ProCessiNg
taIlWhEElS Etc. FlIght SchOOl 3131 FlIgHTlINE dR lakElaNd, Fl 33881 (863) 401-3592 TaIlWHEElSETC.COM JOHN aMUNdSENAviATioN – FLigHT sCHooL
thOR ElEctRIcal cONSUltINg, llc 5505 CHIlES lN lakElaNd, Fl 33810 (863) 899-5671 ROxaNNE TOWNEReLeCTriC CoNTrACTors
N E w M E M B E R Sadp - aUtOMatIc data pROcESSINg 4900 W lEMON ST TaMpa, Fl 33609 (863) 860-9035 adp.COM laURa TOMlINSONPAyroLL ProCessiNg
advaNcEd ScREEN pRINtINg aNd EMBROIdERy 3635 VENTURa dR W lakElaNd, Fl 33811 (863) 648-1268 daN gIRaTasPorTs APPAreL & embroideriNg
aRK aNIMal hOSpItal 4648 E COUNTy ROad 540-a lakElaNd, Fl 33813 (863) 937-9021 aRklakElaNd.COM TIM FRaNkSveTeriNAriANs
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BUIldINg cONSUltaNtS OF cENtRal FlORIda Call TO SCHEdUlE aN appOINTMENT (863) 226-5154 JERRy dElaNEyHome iNsPeCTioN serviCe
cE pOWER SOlUtIONS OF FlORIda, llc 4255 N FRONTagE Rd lakElaNd, Fl 33810 (863) 439-2992 CEpOWER.NET RHONda HaRRISeLeCTriC equiPmeNT/suPPLies
cURRy cONtROlS 4245 S pIpkIN Rd lakElaNd, Fl 33811 (863) 646-5781 CURRyCONTROlS.COM daNNy CURRyCoNTroLs – CoNTroL sysTems
IcE cREaM FactORy 4295 S FlORIda aVE lakElaNd, Fl 33813 (863) 937-8089 ICECREaMFaCTORylakElaNd.COM THOMaS gRgURICHiCe CreAm sHoPPe
laKElaNd NEW caR altERNatIvE 425 S lakE paRkER aVE lakElaNd, Fl 33801 (863) 937-9299 NEWCaRalTERNaTIVE.COM STEVE SCHMIdTAuTomobiLe – deALers – used
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MELiSSA ROBERTSg&k SERVICESTERRITORy SalES REp
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. Melissa Roberts, territory Sales Representative at G&K Services for her outstanding attention to Chamber members and attendance at events! Melissa is a wonderful asset to the Chamber and to the Lakeland community!
during the month of august, our Visitor information Center assisted hundreds of
individuals, answering questions pertaining to Chamber member businesses and the
Lakeland community.
Walk-IN VISITORS ..................................... 314RElOCaTION RESpONSE MaIlINgS ............ 2RElOCaTION RESpONSE (Walk IN) .......... 13aCCOMMOdaTIONS .................................... 0WINTER aCCOMMOdaTIONS ...................... 1VISITOR INFORMaTION MaIlINgS ............ 14VISITOR CENTER E-MaIl INqUIRIES .......... 72
tOUrIsM INqUIrIEs
F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 17 F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 17
R i B B O N C U T T i N g S
Special thanks to Commissioner Keith Merritt, Commissioner don Selvage,
Commissioner phillip walker, Commissioner Edie yates, and all the Board Members and
Chamber Champions who truly make these ceremonies special events.
FlORIda BlUEwinter haven, Fl 33880
385 CyPReSS gARDenS BLvD | (863) 291-0145FLoRiDABLue.CoM
BEhavIORal hEalth MaNagEMENt SOlUtIONSlakeland, Fl 33803
1525 S FLoRiDA Ave, Ste 2 | (863) 683-3800BHMSFLA.CoM
yOga pOINtE, INc.lakeland, Fl 33803
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BUSINESS SOSlakeland, Fl 33813
4798 S FLoRiDA Ave, Ste 225 (863) 698-5017
BURgER 21 lakeland, Fl 33803
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18 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
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212 EAST HIGHLAND DRIVE | LAKELAND, FL | 863.683.0708 | WALLFOSS.COM
NATHAN DUNHAM,
CFP®
e believe that women deserve an attentive and compassionate healthcare experience that caters to serving their individual needs. Watson Clinic’s obstetrics and gynecology department offers the skillfulness of a board-certified team of specialists, convenient locations in North and South Lakeland, a gynecologic oncologist who is one of Florida’s leading robotic
surgeons, and a wide palette of female-driven services, from routine evaluations to the latest ultrasound technologies, in vitro fertilization, treatments for urinary incontinence, breast exams, comprehensive pregnancy care, and much more. Call 863-680-7243 to schedule an appointment with one of our OB-GYN specialists.
www.WatsonClinic.com • 863-680-7243 • Follow us on
Women’s Care That Delivers.
F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 19
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.
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
in polk County, we continue to add jobs with total employment averaging 247,600 across June and July, however the unemployment rate climbed slightly to 10.3%. This mirrors the overall economy, with low job growth and an uptick in the unemployment rate.
a recent article from CNN Money highlighted that the jobs we have gained, however, have been primarily low-wage rather than mid-wage, which accounted for the majority of the job losses during the recession. it appears as though the market wages are adjusting as the re-entering workers compete for jobs. despite the fluctuations in the unemployment rate, this is a positive sign that the market is adapting to the economic conditions. Mid-wage jobs should replace the low-wage
20 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
260,000
250,000
240,000
230,000
220,000
210,000
200,000
jobs as the economy continues to improve and we drop to our long-run unemployment levels. With increasing fuel costs, fluctuations in exchange rates and low wages, domestic production costs of many products are beginning to close the gap with foreign production costs. This trend should lead to the return of manufacturing jobs domestically, although they will likely be at slightly lower real wages than prior to the recession.
The return of discouraged workers to the labor force and jobs to the market is the first step to getting back to stability and a sign we are headed in the right direction. While the recovery is moving slowly, we are showing steady signs of improvement.
as we come to the end oF the summer and prepare For the Final push beFore the election, the economic Focus
remains on jobs and growth. nationally we continue to see low, steady job growth with the unemployment rate
at 8.3% as oF the end oF july. while this represents a slight increase over the summer low oF 8.1%, we have seen
year over year improvements in 305 oF the 372 metropolitan statistical areas (msas). we should expect to see
very slight movements in both directions going Forward. even as we add new jobs, we should expect to see many
previously discouraged workers returning to the work Force.
Insertion Date:Client:
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Size:Production:Work Date:
Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Revision 4
Creative Proofer 1:
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F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S | 21
Created for the purpose of supporting a pro-business environment, BusinessVoice of greater lakeland, inc. is a political action group (CCe) that helps to identify and support candidates that support the business community. a CCe or Committee of Continuous existence is defined in Florida statutes section 106.04 as “a group, organization, association, or other entity that is involved in making contributions to candidates, political committees, or political parties.” you can find a list of registered political action Committees (PaCs) on the Florida division of elections Web site at election.dos.Fl.us.
BusinessVoice, inc. is funded through membership dues and donations by members. BusinessVoice, inc. members are a diverse group from the Lakeland business community. They believe in the need for active participation in the political process to assure the voice of the Lakeland business community is heard at the polls. BusinessVoice, inc. membership is comprised of Chamber members and any employee of member
RiCH ROyvICE prEsIdEnt publIC aFFaIrs
i n f l u e n c i n g E l e c t i o n s t h r o u g h B u s i n e s s V o i c e o f g r e at e r L a k e l a n d , i n c .
] C O N N E C TBusinessVoiceInc.com
businesses concerned about promoting a positive pro-business economic environment in Lakeland.
The members of BusinessVoice, inc. collectively promote and strive for improvement of local and state government; encourage individuals to be educated about government; and assist individuals in organizing for more effective political action. in addition to supporting candidates financially, BusinessVoice, inc. helps to mobilize the business community to action in other ways, including get-out-the-vote, grassroots, and earned media activities.
The stakes are too high for the business community to take a passive role in campaigns and elections. Job providers cannot afford to elect anti-business candidates to office. elections in Florida are expensive and pro-business candidates need an ally to defend themselves against attacks by groups whose policies run counter to a healthy pro-growth economy. BusinessVoice, inc. is committed to improving government by electing leaders to office that understand the need to improve the economy and free the entrepreneurial spirit.
BusinessVoice, inc. provides members and the community with information. BusinessVoice, inc. works with other chamber pAC’s to help educate voters about the positions that candidates take on issues affecting our economy. BusinessVoice, inc. members are kept up-to-date on opportunities to support pro-business candidates in their area, as well as educational programs from elected officials in the community. in addition, BusinessVoice, inc. members are provided with candidate interview
opportunities, candidate questionnaires, and other information to help them and their employees cast educated votes in elections.
Heacock Insurance Group is an Independent
Agent which means we shop the market for
the broadest coverage at the best rates.
If you like to comparison shop, but don’t
have the time, contact our Personal
Insurance Advisors. We’ll shop for you.
PROPERTY • LIABILITY
WORKERS COMP • PAYROLL
FINANCIAL SERVICES
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
100 E Main St. • Lakeland, FL 33801 • P. (863) 683-2228 • TF. (800) 677-5172
WWW.HEACOCK.COM
WE SHOP FOR YOU
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PolitiCal EdUcatION
any chamber member can apply now to help in supporting pro-business candidates and develop an understanding of the political process. For more information on becoming a businessvoice, inc. member, visit the web site at businessvoiceinc.com, contact rich roy or sarah breed at (863) 688-8551 or at [email protected].
BE A pArT OF Businessvoice, Inc.
imProVing gOvERNMENt
a TASTE of local business one cup at a time
For 73 years, douglass screen Printers has produced bold, brilliant and clear printed graphic products for everything clients want to say. today, dsP operates three facilities of screen and/or digital printing throughout lakeland. main prod-uct lines are weather-durable decals, posters, banners, signs, tags, wraps and name-plates, but the company web site offers 35 pages of product details and photos!
For five decades, douglass has committed to corporate social responsibility that is focused on the common good of its people and the lakeland community, and now has broadened that commitment to the common good of our planet. This fall, douglass expects to receive certification from the sustainable green Partnership (sgP) as Florida’s second green screen printer.
Holding multiple certifications as a woman-owned business, douglass is high-ly supportive of global women’s issues and in particular the economic empower-ment of women. Ceo lisa Kaiser Hickey has participated, mentored, sponsored, and engaged at every level of government to advocate for gender equity and policy support for women’s entrepreneurship. Her leadership career includes numerous local, state, national and international boards. she continues to be a dedicated supporter of the arts and servant leader for First united methodist Church as she enters the presidency of The international alliance for Women.
as ms. Kaiser Hickey retires this november after 35 years of corporate leader-ship, she has mentored her daughter lane Kathryn Hickey-Wiggins as succes-sor. ms. Hickey-Wiggins recently graduated from savannah College of art and design with a BFa in art History and is already pursuing an mBa.
ms. Hickey-Wiggins will continue the corporate contributions to lakeland. she is a member of the Kiwanis Club of lakeland, emerge lakeland, Polk County Junior achievement advisory Board, Polk County Kid’s tag art steering Committee, and will participate in this year’s emerge serves class (which ms. Kaiser Hickey will help teach).
on october 9, dsP will host a ribbon cutting, open house, and new member reception for the Chamber. stop by to experience their impressive corporate of-fices and vivid showcase of products.
say what you like. douglass will sign it.
B y l a N E K . h I c K E y - W I g g I N S dougLass sCreen printers | dsp-Cando.CoM
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.
Common
22 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
Contact Bryan Mau
863.688.1725
Have You Heard From Your 401(k) Provider Lately?
When you want a loan, you go to your bank…
When you need insurance, you go to your insurance carrier…
When you want someone to run payroll, you go to a payroll company…
Why?Because they are the experts at what they do best.
So why would you trust any of these companies to take care of your 401(k)?
When was the last time you reviewed your 401(k) Plan?
1509 South Florida AvenueLakeland, FL 33803(863) 688-1725www.cpsinvestmentadvisors.com
COMMUNITYSOUTHERN BANKA NEW DIRECTION IN BANKINGWWW.COMMUNITYSOUTHERNBANK.COM
OUR Bankers KNOW THEIR BUSINESS!Meet Community Southern Bank’s business bankers known for their expertise incommercial lending. They have over 100 combined years of experience in Polk
County commercial lending. If you have a need for a commercial loan give them a call today (863) 686-5105. Community Southern Bank…
a new direction in commercial lending.
24 | F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S
get connected.
presented by
Business After Hours
3939 US Highway 98 S
October 185:30 -7:30 p.m.
$10 Members | $30 GUests ~ Your RSVP Is Appreciated. Visit LakelandChamber.com to register.
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