Mission Statement:
The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce is organized to advance the prosperity and general welfare of its business members and the community they serve.
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~ 96th Year Serving Charlotte County ~
Punta Gorda ~ Port Charlotte ~ Englewood ~ Charlotte Harbor ~ Murdock
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BUSINESS ONLINE
~ Tuesday, August 16, 2021 ~
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2020-2021 Sustaining Partners
Sustaining Partner businesses provide additional financial support annually to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce which, in turn, provides them with additional valuable membership benefits. These contributions to the chamber allow for the continued increase of promotion, advocacy, involvement, and leadership at the local, state and federal levels. This is done to always be proactive in support of our businesses and the community we serve.
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*Supreme Charter Sustaining Partner (no years missed) *Charter Sustaining Partner
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Become a Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Sustaining Partner Today and see your name on this list! Sustaining Partner businesses provide additional financial support to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce which, in turn, provides them with additional valuable membership benefits. The program runs from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. Additional business exposure includes website listings, verbal recognition at all of our events, space on the traveling banner at all our events, newsletter inserts, ad space in our new Fir$t Thur$day Adverti$er and much more. We need your commitment by August 13th in order to include you on the Sustaining Partner page in the new 2022 Community Guide. Please complete the fillable 2021-2022 Sustaining Partner form to make your choice of three levels of sponsorship or call chamber staff at 941-627-2222 or email [email protected] for additional details. These benefits are exclusively available to members in good standing.
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~ Chamber Events and Updates ~
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The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce 2022 Community Guide and Business Directory is Your Place to Be!. This is the "one-book-look" for visitors and residents throughout our community. The guide, which includes live links to advertisers is posted on our website, as well as published in a large 8 1/2 x 11 glossy color print version. Reserve your ad today to increase your visibility and promote your business. Download the fillable 2022 Community Guide Contract
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Applications for the JLC Class of 2021-2022
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Junior Leadership Charlotte is a Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce program designed for high school Juniors. Students who wish to be considered for JLC should complete the application, available in schools at the start of their junior term (early August). ***Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we did not have a Junior Leadership Charlotte program for 2020-2021. Therefore, we are allowing up to 12 Seniors to participate in the Class of 2021-2022, along with the 28 Juniors, with a total capacity of up to 40 participants. The selection process is based on your answers to the questions on the application. Remember to be thoughtful and answer each question completely. Your answers need to be typed. Kindly refer to the application for further instructions. Deadline for submitting your application to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce is 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 30, 2021.
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Wed. August 18, 7:15 a.m. Third Wednesday Coffee at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center. Non-Profit Speaker: Steve Gardiner, Englewood Beach Waterfest . Guest Speaker: Dave Gammon, Executive Director Economic Development Office Members Networking and if you like stay for the Ribbon Cutting right after the coffee.
Business Card Exchange, Thurs., August 26, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Kia of Port Charlotte, 202 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. Members Networking and If you like, please bring a small gift to promote your business.
Wed. September 8 Networking at Noon will be at The Pier in Fishermen's Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. Members Networking
2021 Pacesetter Award Nomination Form A Pacesetter is by definition an individual who has achieved a level of excellence within his or her community or industry that provides a new benchmark for all to follow. The Pacesetter Award Selection Committee, made up of past recipients and the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is responsible for the deliberation of the nominations and selection of the recipient. The honoree will be announced Friday, October 1st at the 96th Annual Membership Luncheon. Nominations and a biography of the nominee must be submitted no later than noon on August 23rd.
2021 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM FILLABLE. For a business nominating itself, or for an individual nominating another business please complete and return the nomination form. Criteria for Business of the Year 2021 Award - the business must be a member in good standing of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce with appropriate County licenses and must show one or more of the following: 1) Your business accomplishments and strengths in this economic climate; 2) Your business growth in workforce and/or company sales/revenue/profit; 3) Your business activities that illustrate a commitment to the community. Application deadline is August 23, 2021.
We have decided to go quarterly with the printed newsletter the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Business Perspective. The next issue will be delivered in October so we'll need your inserts on September 20. Provide 1,500 inserts, complete the contract and return it with your check $150 for profit/$100 nonprofit. . Here is the link to the flier with all the details.
The next issue of the FIR$T THUR$DAY ADVERTI$ER will be sent out on September 2nd. Members interested in taking advantage of this new digital monthly format will save the
cost of printing a flier. We prefer a PNG file (at least 600-650 pixels wide, resolution 72PPI if possible and file size no larger than 4MG) for the "digital flyer" ad in the FIR$T THUR$DAY ADVERTI$ER, due no later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the First Thursday of the month. Sustaining Partners receive free ads as part of their partnership, or cost per issue is $145.00, and $95.00 for a non-profit. This is an exclusive opportunity for members of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. (The chamber reserves the right to deny, publish and edit any submissions.) Email your ad to [email protected] and include the web address we should link it to, or
call us 941-627-2222 for more information.
We are working on the new 2022 Community Guide and Business Directory...which means that members should review their online listing for content and changes as the basic information there is what we will publish. Logon and update any old, or outdated information, or call the office 941-627-2222 and we can help with it. Make sure to review your information by August 18th visit charlottecountychamber.org and view your listing in the Business Directory.
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PMI Stingray Homes, LLC
Immediately following the August 18th 3rd Wednesday Coffee
at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center
75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda (about 8:30 a.m.)
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Adrienne Andreae -RE/MAX Harbor Realty
1133 Bal Harbor Blvd., Suite 1129, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Adrienne Andreae
(941) 833-4217
discoverpuntagorda.com
The Punta Gorgeous Store
PO Box 51094, Punta Gorda, FL 33951-094
Denise Henry
(941) 786-0774
http://www.thepuntagorgeousstore.com
Bug Off Pest
5945 Parada St., Punta Gorda, FL 33982
Carl York
(941) 676-2005
http://www.bugoffpest.net
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Know of a business who would also benefit from being a Chamber member?
Businesses may join online now on our website or please recommend a business to
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Thank YOU Expo2021 Sponsors:
(More and more and more!)
Platinum Title Sponsor- Chapman Insurance Group
Platinum Title Sponsor- Kia of Port Charlotte
Platinum Title Sponsor- Total Air Solutions
Gold Presenting Sponsor- Burnt Store Title and Escrow
Gold Presenting Sponsor- Quigley Eye Specialists
Gold Presenting Sponsor- Southwest Florida Insurance Associates
Silver Associate Sponsor- Comfort Inn & Suites
Silver Associate Sponsor- Michael Saunders and Company
Bronze Participating Sponsor- American Imaging of SW Florida
Bronze Participating Sponsor- Anderson Enclosures, LLC
Bronze Participating Sponsor- Charlotte Health Solutions
Bronze Participating Sponsor- Life Care Center of Punta Gorda
Bronze Participating Sponsor- The Mortgage Firm
Bronze Participating Sponsor- The Mosaic Company
Business After Party Sponsor- Elite Inspections and Pest Solutions
Print Sponsor- Buffalo Graffix
Newspaper Sponsor- Sun Coast Media Group
Radio Sponsor- iHeart Media
Main Stage Sponsor- Dellutri Law Group
Lanyard Sponsor- Chapman Insurance Group
Event Bag Sponsor- Whitco Insurance- Alexia Martin Agency
Passport Sponsor: Elite Inspections and Pest Solutions
Map Sponsor: Florida International Air Show
Breakfast Sponsor: Integrity Employee Leasing
There are four sponsorship levels which include the exhibitor booth space(s), lots of promotional perks, print and digital advertising, party tickets, and more than ever before. Click the EXPO EXPO EXPO button below for the ~HOT~ details!
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Already signed up? Keep these Marketing opportunities in mind - Provide your promotional item in 500 Goodie Bags. Donate a gift for the Grand Prize Drawing. Be part of the Speed Direct Networking to connect one-on-one with other exhibitors.
Additional Sponsorship Opportunities still available (Expo Exhibitors Only)
* Refreshment Station * SPEED Direct Networking *
Make sure YOUR local business is part of this ~HOT~ August event. Click the EXPO EXPO EXPO button below for details! Please feel free to contact the chamber office with any questions - 941-627-2222.
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Send YOUR Member News/Events to [email protected] and we'll share it each week. Email submissions of 90 words or fewer, in paragraph form, by noon on Friday for inclusion the following Monday. This is a free members-only benefit! (We do reserve the right to publish and edit any submissions.)
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We are looking for a way to recycle styrofoam. We've been told the only place we can take it is the landfill because we are a business. We are wondering what other businesses are doing with theirs. We are also looking to donate flat styrofoam pieces for art or whatever people would like to do with it. Please contact us at aactionappliance@yahoo.com if you have any ideas for us. We really hate to see this stuff end up in landfills when it could be used for other things.
Did you know that Murdock Stones Etc. sell Railroad Ties? Check them out at 7621 Sawyer Circle (off Gasparilla Rd. …look for the World’s Largest Mailbox) or 590 Prineville St. in Port Charlotte (by the Sun Flea Market). . www.murdockstonesetc.com. 941-629-6651.
Do you want happier and healthier employees? Learn how Gulfcoast South AHEC can offer FREE tobacco cessation counseling and FREE Nicotine Replacement in the form of patches, gum and/or lozenges at no cost for qualifying participants. As part of Tobacco Free Florida’s in-person/virtual Group Quit sessions, we are here to help. Call 866-534-7909 or visit gsahec.org to register today.
When choosing the perfect mortgage plan, prioritizing needs and wants can lead in different directions. With 30 years in the business, Toby Lynn is a pro at helping your family, co-workers, or best buddy see advantages and disadvantages in options available. Specializing in Happy, Smooth, and On-Time Closings! CALL TODAY! Toby Lynn, Branch Manager, The Mortgage Firm, 941-356-6579 – www.ThePerfectMortgageSolution.com
A credit history may NOT be used in Florida to deny employment ... UNLESS ... there's a bonafide job-related purpose and the applicant signs an approved release. Bonafide purposes include managerial or supervisory positions; access to personal information not common in retail transactions; use of an expense account or company credit card; access to confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets; involving fiduciary responsibility to the employer; involving public safety; or required by state or federal law. For FCRA-compliant background screening, contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at NRG Background Checks. 941-488-8500; 800-531-6522; [email protected]
How is it that some shops charge $19.99 for an oil change and others charge more? It’s a case of getting what you pay for. An oil change at Complete Auto Repair comes with a visual inspection of your whole car and the use of high-quality oil that is recommended by the manufacturer. A customer who had been using cheap services just spent many times over to have a new oil pan installed. Low quality oil creates sludge that isn’t removed by the 20-minute service. For a proper oil change your vehicle will appreciate, call Mary at 941-623-2926 to schedule an appointment.
You may have heard that it’s been difficult to get movers. Sometimes the truck arrives without any contractors hired to unload it. If this has happened to someone you know, have them call Kenny Gardiner at Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage. Kenny’s experienced staff will get them out of that jam. For long distance moves, Kenny moves his unloaders WITH the truck, choosing the extra expense to guarantee a smooth move for his customers. When quality counts, call Gardiner & Sons Moving at 941-423-5311.
Florida Weekly- Local experts with Global reach. Drive and convert leads on your website today! Florida Weekly Digital understands the importance of a strong digital presence for local business owners. Leveraging top-rated digital software, high quality data, expertise of industry professionals, and ROI reporting; advertisers partnered with Florida Weekly Digital are set up for success. Call today for a complimentary needs analysis to best achieve your goals. 941-621-3422
BUSINESS FOR SALE. Unique concrete crack repair business located in Charlotte County. High profit margins, no competition, huge niche market that’s growing fast. Will train on using our proprietary system to fix cracks on pool decks, driveways, any concrete surface with follow-up option to paint. Have Nat'l dealer program in-place with huge [potential. Owner retiring. Asking $97k. Reply P.O. Box 511662, Punta Gorda, FL 33951.
SunCoast Blood Centers is facing a critical blood supply shortage and you, your friends, family, and neighbors are at severe risk! Your blood donation with SunCoast Blood Centers will help ensure we have the blood products needed to save local lives. Just 45 minutes of your time will make a world of difference. Schedule your donation at one of the six locations or bloodmobiles at https://donor.suncoastblood.org/donor/schedules/zip.
Help us by Encouraging others on social media or by email or Host a Blood Drive. Contact Chris Durkin 941-954-1600 EXT133 or email [email protected]
The Dellutri Law Group- COVID-19 has served as a reminder that we never know what life may bring us and why we need to be prepared for when the unexpected happens. If you have been thinking about an estate plan and would like to sit down for a complimentary consultation, please contact Mark Martella, Esq. He will explain the BIG SIX documents everyone needs, five of which you may need to use while you are alive. Please call 941-206-3700 to schedule a confidential, complimentary consultation.
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“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them” - Madam C.J. Walker, first female self-made millionaire
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We encourage members to shop with other members to keep our community and local economy strong. If you do business with one or more of our renewing members please congratulate them for their Chamber Anniversary. Take a look!
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~ Member-to-Member Testimonials ~
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Thanks to a member suggestion, we are enthusiastically sharing testimonials from our members about their positive business experiences with other members of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. Submit a paragraph of 90 words or less describing your experience. Include your name and business name, and email your Member-to-Member Testimonial to Janet at [email protected] before noon on Friday to be included the following week. We are proud of our members and this is an excellent way to let them shine even more!
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Tell us about your good experience with a fellow member and we'll share it here and post is on our website.
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~ New Kids on the Block ~
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The Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University announce that Patti Guerzo and Mark Odell have joined the FL SBDC at FGCU. Mark Odell will be part of our Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program and Patti Guerzo is joining the team as a business consultant. Both consultants will be available at the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, located at 2702 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL. Schedule your no-cost consulting by visiting www.fsbdcswfl.org. “We are so happy to be back in the Charlotte office with the addition of Patti and Mark joining the SBDC. Having an in-person presence back in Charlotte County will be a great benefit to Southwest Florida and I know Patti and Mark both will be great assets.” said Lois Knox, Regional Director of the Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University.
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Complete Auto Repair is growing again! We are hiring a full-time Lube Technician. This is the “foot in the door” position toward a stable and well-paying career at our shop. Here’s a link to the job for you to send to your friends! https://tinyurl.com/865ct6jz For your vehicle’s repairs and maintenance, call Mary at 941-623-2926 to schedule an appointment. We want to EARN your business.
Charlotte County Employer Hiring for Assembler's - Manufacturing Pool Heat Pumps $15.15-$20.00 per hour. Company offers Full Benefits. Apply in person at CareerSource Southwest Florida, 3745 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, 33952 Job Order #11454027 or contact [email protected] - employer conducts background and drug screening.
Customer Service and Sales Representative for ABS Fairings in Port Charlotte, Fl. Looking for a pro-active team member to answer customer questions and process orders through email, answer phones, and assist with clerical work. Full time position Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5:00. Please email your resume or questions to [email protected] or contact Robin at 941-249-1253.
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Career Source of Southwest Florida online resources include available jobs
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Showcase your business through sponsorship!
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Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your business? A great opportunity would be sponsoring one of our Third Wednesday Coffees. Sponsors receive recognition in Business Online, on Facebook and in the Chamber calendar. Sponsors may place marketing materials on the tables at the event and will have 4-5 minutes to introduce yourself/staff/business. Available slots are limited. Please contact Janet Caffee [email protected] or call 941-627-2222 for details. Cost to sponsor is $300.
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LOCAL-
Please call 2-1-1 for any resource needs.
STATE AND FEDERAL-
Florida Chamber of Commerce- www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus
Small Business Administration- www.sba.gov/disaster
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association- https://frla.org/covid-19/
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There are lots of ways to ruin a date. Here are a few things NOT to say on a date...
I really don't like this restaurant that much, but I wanted to use this 2-for-1 coupon before it expired.
I refuse to get cable. That's how they keep tabs on you.
I used to come here all the time with my ex.
Could you excuse me? My cat gets lonely if he doesn't hear my voice on the answering machine every hour.
I really feel that I've grown in the past few years. Used to be I wouldn't have given someone like you a second look.
It's been tough, but I've come to accept that most people I date just won't be as smart as I am.
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Send YOUR Member News/Events to [email protected] and we'll share it each week. Email submissions of 90 words or fewer, in paragraph form, by noon on Friday for inclusion the following Monday. This is a free members-only benefit! (We do reserve the right to publish and edit any submissions.)
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Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
2702 Tamiami Trail
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
941-627-2222
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