Volume 45 l November 2021
 
Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112
President's Edition
From the President's Desk...
*****A new Chamber program year is upon us!
 
*****And it’s with much pleasure that we welcome Nate Cocco of State Farm/Team Cocco (photo left) as our new Chairman of the Board. Nate and his business have been active with the Chamber since 2010. He’s been a participant on the Chamber Leads Teams and in all membership development and support activities most notably our Membership Outreach Mentors Board, now the Ambassadors.
 
*****I also want to welcome our new Executive Committee which will be working closely with Nate. Its members include Jake Prokop of Pinellas Technical College as chairman-elect; Rob England of England Brothers Construction as immediate past chairman;
Mia Cloud of Cloud Law Firm as treasurer; Ellen Petracco of Wealth Builders and Value Properties, vice chairman/Membership Division; David Puckett of GTE Financial, vice chairman/Government & Community Outreach Division; and Pam Van Sant of National Aviation Academy, vice chairman/Economic Development Division.
 
*****Directors for the 2021-2022 term met with the Executive Committee for the first -time last week (photo below). They include Rico Ashley, Duke Energy; Carly Beaulieu, Big T Printing; Richard Boisvert, Oyova; Laurie Bunce, Centratel; Karen Gonzalez, Business & Family Insurors; Melody Hunter, Charles Rutenberg Realty; Tricia Kane, Piper Fire Protection; Gamal Megherfi, First Citizens Bank; Joe Pilliod, GarrisonPro; Mary Taylor, McManus & McManus, P.A.; and Joanie Vergo, Kemco Systems
 
*****My sincere thanks to them for accepting such important leadership roles!
 
*****Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous month, and hope to see you soon,
*****Tom Morrissette
A Full House: The Chamber Board of Directors held a spirited meeting last week. There was discussion on many topics including Chamber coordinated business training programs and return of the Chamber Cup Golf Tournament (May 13!). Expect more about these and many other exciting programs in the weeks and month to come. It’s great to belong!
NEXT WEEK - B2B Happy Hour Networking Event
Register here: Happy Hour | Register as a sponsor here: B2B Sponsor
Please bring gift donations for our Holiday Luncheon Gift Baskets Auction!
Annual Holiday Luncheon Gift Baskets Auction - It's for the kids!
Gift cards, wine, tickets and gift baskets are now being accepted through December 3!
Thank you to Kemco, National Aviation, GarrisonPro, First Citizen Bank, Melody Hunter Realty, GTE Financial, The Haus Coffee Shop and Sue Osborne for the gift donations! Proceeds from the Gift Baskets Auction benefit the Chamber's Education Fund.
Email membership@centralchamber.biz if you're planning to donate so you can be added to our donations list.
To register as a Holiday Sponsor or purchase your tickets click HERE

Visit our Education Fund webpage for more information.
PTC Student of the Month
The Chamber’s Education Fund first 2021 scholarship is presented to Yesenia Sherrod! Yesenia is a student at the Pinellas Technical College and was selected as Student of the Month. She is a dual enrolled student for GED and Medical Administrative Specialist. She says that the student of the month interview process helped her prepare for job interviews in the upcoming months. The Chamber looks forward to meeting her at our B2B Happy Hour next week. Congratulations, Yesenia!
Gov. Ron DeSantis directed lawmakers to return to Tallahassee on Nov. 15 for a special session to push back against White House attempts to require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
There are thousands of open trucker positions but no drivers to fill them. Florida's trucking industry is barreling toward crisis.
Continuing to move forward with a major gambling deal with the state, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached agreements with five pari-mutuel facilities to help market sports betting.
Amid fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and worker shortages, Florida lawmakers next week will consider proposals to inject nearly $100 million into nursing homes and boost pay of state correctional officers.
A Florida-based oil company has applied for a state permit to drill an exploratory oil well north of Immokalee in Collier county, a project that water managers and the local water and sewer district said may threaten drinking water supplies in the region.
Thank you to our Trustees and Newsletter Sponsors
Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital
Business & Family Insurors
Cloud Law Firm PA
Duke Energy
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital
Home Instead/Be a Santa
Jackson & Associates CPA
Melody Hunter, Charles Rutenberg Realty
National Aviation Academy
Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay
Paradise Air
Piper Fire Protection
Platinum Information Services
Regions Bank
The Palms of Largo
Valley National Bank
Village Inn
Wealth Builders
The Weekly E-Connection is made possible by the following generous sponsors:
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