First Thing Monday Morning - April 13, 2020
A Letter From Our Board Chair, Artie Renee Pobjecky:
Good morning,

I pray that you and your families are healthy and safe during this pandemic. I also pray that your businesses are surviving amidst the chaos of the horrible COVID-19 virus. Our city grew from a swamp of cypress trees over a century ago, and we will continue to thrive once this crisis is behind us.

As the current Chair of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, I am truly blessed to live in such a benevolent community. We have rallied around our restaurants, small businesses, and our residents in need. Your Chamber team has personally reached out to every chamber member and fielded thousands of phone calls and emails from our concerned residents and businesses.  

During this time, we have the opportunity to build our businesses for future growth and prosperity. The following are some resources to share:

Central Florida Score  is a nonprofit association that provides Free Mentoring, Workshop & Events, and Tools and Resources dedicated to the growth of businesses. Browse their website, or speak with an expert to improve your website, hone your Social Media skills or implement an Email Marketing Plan.


  • Protect your Zoom meetings from uninvited guests with this excellent Zoom resource and don’t forget to install the latest security update. Click here.

  • Do you have some downtime? Now is your chance to take a Harvard or Princeton course for free. Click here.

  • If you need a time-out from all the chaos and gloom, enjoy this collection of cute baby animals. Click here.


  • If you are struggling to exercise due to confinement, then check out our fitness instructors (click here), many of whom are leading online classes, I personally found Jenny Ford's series, March Across America, to be simple but effective exercises designed for small spaces. Click here.

I thank all of you for your personal and financial sacrifices during these difficult times. I look forward to seeing you soon at an upcoming Networking Showcase or Ribbon Cutting.

Stay Safe and Blessed,

Artie Renee Pobjecky
Chair, Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
This Week at the Chamber
It's Happenin' In the Haven: Episode 13 -  
In Episode 13 - Tiptoe Through the Tulips Part 2 - Mr. Lemuel "Lem" Geathers, Winter Haven's first black Commissioner and Mayor, speaks about his life in civil service to our community and the evolvement of Winter Haven. This man (and his network of relationships he has built over a lifetime) is responsible for so much of what we know of the Winter Haven of today. Take the time to listen!

Listen now on   Spotify ,  Apple ,  Google Podcasts  and more.   Learn more about the podcast here !
Webinars
Michael Kennedy walks us through ways to utilize your 401K and IRA’s to assist you during the COVID-19 crisis, utilizing the fee waivers to your best advantage, mortgage relief, student loan relief and how charitable contributions can use new tax benefits.
Share the Good News
Bernie Little Distributors Budweiser delivered 100 cases of energy drinks, water and coffee to Lakeland Regional Health to show gratitude to all of the doctors, nurses and medical staff at the hospital!
IT staff from Polk State College and the City of Winter Haven collaborated to install equipment in the Downtown Parking Garage and at the Winter Haven Public Library to extend public Wi-Fi access to the first floor of the Parking Garage (Ave. A NW entrance), and the Winter Haven Library parking lots in downtown Winter Haven.

The names of the W-Fi networks are “Parking Garage Wi-Fi” and “Library Parking Lot Wi-Fi.”

The wireless networks can be accessed by all students, and the public. Please share this with those with limited Wi-Fi!
The team at Winter Haven Hospital flooded the sidewalks with motivational messages on their campus to share appreciation and encouragement to each other for all they are doing.
Market Your Business
Market Place
Thank You To Our
Community Investor Level Members