Volume 82 l July 2022

Weekly eConnection 801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770 Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112

Membership Edition

Networking with Results!

Jeff Petracco of Wealth Builders, a longtime Chamber Trustee, discusses his business at last week’s Leads Team breakfast at the Village Inn, Walsingham Road. The Leads Team Program provides group camaraderie and the potential of new business referrals. Dozens of leads and closed business deals are reported each month. Here’s a link to learn more: https://www.centralchamber.biz/chamber-in-action/business-leads-groups

Our sincere thanks to the following businesses who joined the Chamber during the past three weeks. To learn more about them, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz

PMI Clearwater VACATION RENTAL Caio Pavanelli 801 West Bay Drive, Suite 318, Largo, FL 33770 727-601-0961 info@PMIClearwater.com www.PMIClearwater.com   Any Lab Test Now - Largo LABORATORY SERVICES Ana Garcia 13847 Walsingham Road, Suite J, Largo, FL 33774 727-754-4004 Agarcia@AnyLabTestNow.com LargoFL@AnyLabTestNow.com   i2 Solutions ELECTRICAL SERVICES - LOW VOLTAGE & FIBER OPTICS Tom Jacobs 8780 126th Avenue N, Unit D, Largo, FL 33773 239-218-9653 TJacobs@i2solutionsllc.com   Disc Centers of Largo SPINAL DECOMPRESSION Dr. Marc Rogers 405 Seminole Boulevard, Largo, FL 33770 727-481-2446 DrMJRDC@aol.com DrMarcRogers.com Coffe Amor COFFEE HOUSE David Tilten 325 W Bay Dr., Suite 4B, Largo, FL 33770 419-979-9611 coffeamor@gmail.com coffeamor.com

Saluting Chamber Loyalty! Our sincere thanks to the following businesses who renewed during the past three weeks. Their continued loyalty is inspiring! To learn more about them, please visit www.CentralChamber.biz

Belleair Village Motel – 54-Year Legacy Member Big T Printing – 2-Year Member Central Park Performing Arts Center – 9-Year Member Elison of Pinecrest – 24-Year Member Hampton Inn Pinellas Park/St. Petersburg – First Renewal Home Instead Senior Care/Be A Santa to a Senior – 9-Year Member/Gold-Tier Trustee Louis Haskel CPA, PA – 13-Year Member Melitta USA, Inc. – 17-Year Legacy Member MicroType Engineering – 3-Year Member Mutual Mortgage – 11-Year Member Oyova – 2-Year Member The Palms of Largo – 29-Year Member/Silver-Tier Trustee Panera Bread - Belleair Bluffs – 8-Year Member Panera Bread - Pinellas Park – 22-Year Legacy Member   (Legacy Member = 15 years or more)

Additional Copies Available 2022-2023 Go-To Guides     Your Chamber’s 2022-23 Business & Community Go-To-Guide is being distributed around the region. We’re excited to have this publication to promote all our valued members who continue to support our efforts.     A special thanks to all our advertisers!     If you would like additional copies, stop by the Chamber offices at 801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602, Largo daily between 9 and 2.     They’ll also be available at upcoming Chamber events.

ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your Inspire Nominations! Deadline July 27 Download the nomination form here. Email all forms, resumes, letters of support, etc. to membership@centralchamber.biz Or mail the forms to the Chamber office: 801 W Bay Center, Ste 602, Largo, FL 33770

Purchase your Inspire Award Ceremony & Reception tickets here.

B2B Happy Hour at Serenity Funeral Home Be our marketing sponsor for only $100! Includes logo placement on all promotions and time at the mic. Register here

Join us for some informal networking! When: NEXT THURSDAY, July 28 at 5:30 PM Where: Serenity Funeral Home & Serenity Gardens Memorial Park 13401 Indian Rocks Rd., Largo, 33774 Register here.

New Member Plaque Presentation

Tom Jacobs of i2 Solutions was presented with his member plaque by Chamber President Tom Morrissette. Welcome i2 Solutions to our Chamber! Check them out in our Business Directory here for low voltage and fiber optic electrical services.

A Valued Community Service

Dr. Lisa Negrini, executive director of Learning Empowered, discusses the organization’s outreach and new St. Petersburg headquarters during a community breakfast it held last week at Just Add Power in Seminole. Chamber President Tom Morrissette was among the guests. Learning Empowered provides supportive, educational programming to foster life-long learning and growth for families in the community. It has been a member of the Chamber for 5-years and host location Just Add Power has been with us since 2009.

Home prices rise again in Orlando despite jump in inventory Home prices in metro Orlando rose to a new record in June, signaling the market is still hot for sellers, though sales are declining and inventory made a significant jump for the second month in a row. The war on ‘wokeness’ is coming for companies Florida's new "Stop WOKE Act," which took effect July 1, could be a huge step back for DEI professionals and the swath of companies that pushed for more intentional diversity and inclusion efforts in 2020. Owners of derelict vessels across Florida could soon have a free option for disposal A program through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is aimed at quickly removing privately owned boats that have been abandoned or wrecked. Orlando hotels deal with short-staffing as issue seen industry-wide Fewer housekeepers and culinary staff mean some hotel operations look different and guests could notice changes from years past. Florida households hit hard with record inflation rates, expert says The latest inflation report shows the Consumer Price Index rose 9.1% in June from last year.

Thank you to our Trustees and Newsletter Sponsors

Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital Business & Family Insurors Check Before Hire 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 Piper Fire Protection Platinum Information Services Regions Bank Spectrum Reach 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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