The Week Ahead

As we say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025, we want to thank our members for another amazing year here at the Daytona Regional Chamber! We are excited for the months ahead as we continue to advocate and collaborate for a strong business ecosystem in our region.

The Board of Directors held their final meeting of 2024, December 19, and we had the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the year. Board Chair, Mike Sibley, James Moore & Co, shared some of the highlights of the year. We celebrated and thanked Chair Sibley and the service of all the outgoing Executive Board members. The group also welcomed 2025 Chair, Mike Sznapstajler.

The month of January will be the start of a new member engagement approach that will include a monthly industry focus or theme. We want to spotlight members and share your expertise across our communications platforms each month. In order for this to be successful, we need each of you to find a way to share your expertise with our general membership. Whether it's an article, a member spotlight, a testimonial, or a video spotlight, we are excited to share the amazing things that are happening with our member businesses.

This is just a reminder that the Chamber office will reopen January 2. We look forward to welcoming everyone to 2025. We wish each of you a safe, healthy, and prosperous new year ahead!

Daytona Regional Chamber Happenings

Connecting You with a Click or Two

Things to Know

Eggs & Issues: January 9

Join the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce in welcoming our New School Board Members Donna Brosemer and Krista Goodrich at Eggs & Issues presented by Halifax Health and Lifestyle Realty Group. Learn about their vision for strengthening education and building stronger connections with the business community. You'll have the opportunity to submit questions on issues impacting you, your business, or our community. Reach out to David Robinson at david@daytonachamber.com with any questions.

Business After Hours: January 21

Join us for the first Business After Hours of 2025! We will be hosted by Pictona at Holly Hill for an evening of networking, fun, and an insiders look at the world class Pictona facility. Bring your business cards and prepare for an evening to remember. Reach out to Ken Phelps at ken@daytonachamber.com with any questions.

105th Annual Meeting: Sponsorships Available Now

Sponsorships for the 105^th Annual Meeting presented by Halifax Health are now available for the February 6 event. Don't miss this opportunity to promote your business as a community leader at the can't miss business event of the year. It's a great way to get connected with a celebration of all that is right in our region. We have sponsorships for a variety of budgets. For more information, contact Ken Phelps, Vice President of Resource Development, at ken@daytonachamber.com.

Volusia County Coastal Management Survey: Closes January 12

Daytona Beach Residents & Businesses: Share Your Input on Volusia County Beaches

Through Jan. 12, residents can complete Volusia County’s survey about how they use local beaches and their perceptions of beach quality.

The survey is available online and can be completed in less than 10 minutes. In February, Volusia County will host public meetings to share information on potential beach resiliency improvements, answer questions and gather more community feedback.

For those who need help to complete the survey online, assistance is available at the Volusia County Beach Safety Headquarters at 515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. Let’s work together to ensure a vibrant and resilient coastline for future generations.

Daytona Regional Chamber: Holiday Hours

The office will be closed for the holidays December 24 - January 1. We will welcome everyone back January 2.

Board of Directors

Final Board of Directors Meeting of 2024 Wrapped up an Exciting Year

From the 104th Annual Meeting that was held at the Daytona International Speedway, to the grand opening of the newly renovated Chamber office, to advocacy events, to small business trainings, to after-hours events, to signature events, 2024 was a banner year. Chair Mike Sibley's focus of "members supporting members" directed members to the Online Membership Directory to actively utilize member goods and services became an ongoing theme. The social media hashtag #MSM garnered over 1,000 mentions to highlight how members support other members.

At the final Board of Directors meeting of 2024, members of the Executive Board and Chair Mike Sibley were recognized for their service to the Daytona Regional Chamber. We appreciate their leadership and commitment to both the Chamber, our community, and our region. Thank you for an exciting year!

New in 2025

Monthly Industry Focus to Boost Member Engagement

Beginning in January, we will be highlighting a specific industry each month. Members who are part of that industry are invited to share their expertise in a variety of ways. We are asking members to engage when their industry month comes up.

You can engage by submitting one of the following items:

-Write an article or white paper that will be posted in Member News

-Write a Member Testimonial to run in The Edge newsletter.

-Write a Guest Column to run in The Edge newsletter.

-Post an event on the Community Calendar

Our goal is to boost member engagement and drive additional business to our members.

For more information, or to share your submission, contact Kelly Amy, Director of Member Engagement & Communications, at kelly@daytonachamber.com.

Warmest Welcome to Our Newest Members

Congratulations on Your Membership Investment

David J. Jimenez - Community Supporter

iAm Wright, Inc.

Tips to Maximize Your Membership

This is the third week in our membership ROI series to help all of our time-crunched business owners squeeze all of the value out of their membership investment with the Daytona Regional Chamber. We know that sometimes it's tough, or even impossible, for you to make it to events. This series will help you leverage your membership in ways you might not have thought about before.

Turn Your Expertise into Sales

Establish yourself as a subject matter expert with the help of the Chamber.

Write a Guest Column. Share your industry knowledge with the Chamber's audience. Ask about The Edge newsletter submissions. With a reach of over 1,700 each week, your guest column can get your name and your expertise out to members.

Lead a Virtual Workshop or Webinar. Offer a short, online training session on your area of expertise. It's a win-win – you provide value and gain visibility.

Reach out to Kelly Amy, Director of Member Engagement and Communications, at kelly@daytonachamber.com to find out all the ways that you can engage as a member and maximize your membership.

Community Conversations

A Conversation with Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry

Click HERE to Watch the Video Version

Click HERE to Listen to the Audio Version

Guest Article: Personal Branding in 2025

Make 2025 the Year That You Rework Your Personal Brand

Personal branding is incredibly important these days. If you’re not marketing yourself and your career as part of your brand, you should be. Your personal image is critical to your business because customers and potential customers want to do business with people they know, like, and trust. Expanding your personal brand can help you connect on a deeper level with your audience and give them those three things.

You may assume if you haven’t worked on your personal brand in the past that you don’t have one. But with social media and the internet, people are talking about you and it’s better to be involved in the conversation to help shape it than it going on without you knowing it.

But what do you do if your personal brand is just other people talking and what if it’s something you don’t care for or doesn’t accurately reflect you and your business? Or what if you want to modify your personal brand? Maybe you want to become known in a different area or you want to rebrand from a very serious person to one with a lighter side.

Personal brands are fluid. They can be changed. If you feel like it’s time to change yours, you can follow these tips.