Best of the best...

Chamber Business Showcase '22

****Some 30 plus businesses and organizations took part in the recent Showcase at the Central Park Performing Arts Center. Awards were presented to exhibitors in three categories. This year’s winners…

****Most Creative: State Farm Team Cocco for their take of the Despicable Me cast featuring Gru and his Minions.

****Best in Show: Jackie Skelton of JR Word Travel for her interactive international destinations montage.

****Most Interactive: Penny Jackson of Mary Kay who promoted the radiance of her products to Showcase guests.

****Thanks to all our vendors and attendees for making it a fun afternoon/evening and thank you to Stacy Gillis of Advanced Video Systems for the photos!

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

Fifth Third Bank

BANKS & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Morelia Dothe

2501 West Bay Drive, Largo, FL 33770

727-218-3185

Morelia.Dothe@53.com

www.53.com

Hancock Whitney Bank

BANKS & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Trudi Greig

8200 Bryan Dairy Road, Suite 180, Largo, FL 33770

727-748-2457

Trudi.Greig@HancockWhitney.com

www.HancockWhitney.com

Linda A. Stortz, CPA, P.A.

ACCOUNTING/TAX SERVICES

Linda Stortz

801 West Bay Drive, Suite 418, Largo, FL 33770

727-391-7373

Linda@LStortzCPA.com

www.lstortzcpa.com

PDM Creative

MARKETING & BRANDING

Patricia Marquez

2622 Flournoy Circle S, Clearwater, FL 33764

661-496-6670

Patricia@PDMCreative.com

www.PDMCreative.com

Zambuki, LLC

DIGITAL MARKETING

Alex Zalamov

801 West Bay Drive, Suite 329, Largo, FL 33770

727-330-2080

Alex@Zambuki.com

www.Zambuki.com

Saluting Chamber Loyalty!

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

BayStar Hotel Group – 18-Year Legacy Member

Business & Family Insurors, Inc. – 37-Year Legacy Member

Centratel Business Telephones – 40-Year Legacy Member

City Of Largo – 29-Year Legacy Member

Corey's Ohio Auto Service – 50-Year Legacy Member

Cross Signs – 9-Year Member

Diagnostic Clinic Medical Group – First Renewal

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo – 29-Year Legacy Member

Equitable Advisors, LLC./Dean J. Rosko and Associates – 24-Year Legacy Member

Flagship Bank – First Renewal

GarrisonPro – 2-Year Member

Grade Power Learning Largo – 9-Year Member

Great Bay Distributors, Inc. – 54-Year Legacy Member

Groups Recover Together – First Renewal

HD1PY, Inc. – 3-Year Member

Holiday Inn Clearwater Beach South/Harbourside – 23-Year Legacy Member

Just Add Power Cardware Company, Inc – 13-Year Member

Law Offices of Steven W. Moore – 25-Year Legacy Member

Life of Riley Salon Supply – 9-Year Member

MackWP Marketing – 2-Year Member

McKim & Creed – 2-Year Member

Pinellas County Economic Development – 24-Year Legacy Member

Platinum Information Services, Inc. – 12-Year Member

Slaughter Plumbing Service, Inc. – 40-Year Legacy Member

Source 1 Solutions – 9-Year Member

The Fran Haasch Law Group – 2-Year Member

The Pointe at Clearwater – 16-Year Legacy Member

Tommy's Express Car Wash – 2-Year Member

Ultra Electronics-Forensic Technology – 15-Year Legacy Member

(Legacy Member = 15 years or more)

A New Member Welcome!

****Alex Zalamov, owner of the digital marketing company Zambuki, LLC, receives his membership plaque during a recent visit to the Chamber.

***He didn’t have to travel far! He’s located at 801 West Bay Drive, Largo in Suite 329, three floors below us.

****We wish Alex and his business great success. To learn more about Zambuki’s services, visit www.Zambuki.com.

Coffee An' Networking at Girls Inc of Pinellas

Start your day off with a cup of coffee and some informal networking!

When: THIS THURSDAY, October 27 at 7:45 AM

Where: Girls Inc, 7700 61st St. N., Pinellas Park 33781

FREE for Members: register here.

$25 for Non-Members: register here.

Register as a Sponsor here.

Thank you to our Sponsors (to date)

Register as a Casino Sponsor or Purchase Your Tickets Here.

Ambassadors of the Month

Kay McKenzie of Check Before Hire and Richard Boisvert of Oyova were named Ambassadors of the Month at the recent Ambassadors' meeting.

Kay also received the Ambassador of the Year Award at last week's Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast, alongside Richard who received the Committee Leadership Award. Thank you for everything you do for the Chamber! 

Florida unemployment rate falls to 2.5%, lowest since 2006

Florida’s already-low unemployment rate dipped to 2.5 percent in September, though the numbers don’t take into account economic effects from Hurricane Ian.

Paralyzed Floridians and elderly could lose home caregivers via $15-an-hour pay-raise funding glitch

The pay raise, enacted by the Legislature and governor last spring, was intended to help health care providers compete for workers in an industry with severe labor shortages.

Preview: Future of Florida Forum draws hundreds to annual conversation

More than 700 business leaders from around the state – and hundreds more attending virtually – will gather in Orlando Monday and Tuesday to consider the possibilities of Florida economic trajectory from the equivalent of the 15th largest global economy to reaching the top 10 by 2030.

Hurricane Ian’s invisible toll: At least 41 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning confirmed

In just two weeks, the incidents have accounted for nearly a quarter of Florida’s carbon monoxide cases this year.

Florida judge dismisses first charges brought by DeSantis’ office of election crimes, calling it overreach of power

A Miami judge approved a motion to dismiss Friday in the case against Robert Lee Wood, 56, the first of the 17 people charged with election fraud in a statewide roundup in August by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Election Crimes Unit.