~ 98^th Year Serving Charlotte County ~

 Punta Gorda ~ Port Charlotte ~ Englewood ~ Charlotte Harbor ~ Murdock

2023-2024 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.

PLATINUM+ LEVEL: Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center; ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda; Suncoast One Title & Closings, Inc.

PLATINUM LEVEL: Ashley, Brown & Smith, CPAs, P.A.; Buffalo Graffix; Chapman Insurance Group; Charlotte County Ford; Crews Bank & Trust; GJC Window & Door; Integrity Employee Leasing, Inc.; McCrory Law Firm; The Daily Sun; Waste Management of Charlotte County

DIAMOND LEVEL: Adjuster Groups, LLC; Elite Inspections & Pest Solutions, LLC; Farr Law Firm; Florida Gulf Coast University; Matthew Patterson, Patterson Group Keller Williams PRP; The Nix Team at Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty; The Purple House Salon by Shawn Gilstad; Tommy's Express Car Wash; WhitCo Insurance - Alexia Martin Agency

EMERALD LEVEL: Achieva Credit Union; Big Shot Marketing & Design, LLC; Centennial Bank; Charlotte Players, Inc.; Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside; Friendly Floors; Granny Nannies Home Health Agency; Panther Hollow Dental Lodge; Port Charlotte Florist; Sandhill Healing Center, Inc.; St. Andrews South Golf Club; State Farm Insurance - Mike Martin Agency; Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Ross & Young, P.A.

 Charter Sustaining Partner (no years missed)

WKDW 97.5 FM Radio Show Charlotte County Chamber Speaks - Airs Mondays at 11:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Show host Jami Joannes will have special guest Diane Ramseyer, Executive Director of Drug Free Charlotte County. Show will air April 15th and be rebroadcast April 22, April 29 and May 6th.

CANCELLED EVENT - Celebrate National Karaoke Week at the Gilded Grape Winery on Tuesday April 23rd.

Business Card Exchange, Thursday, April 25 at Parkside Assisted Living & Memory Care from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Members Networking Event - remember to bring your business cards, and if you like a small gift to promote your business. Please register in the member portal for planning purposes.

Professional Clothing Drive - Donate now February - April. Do you have any professional clothing items you no longer wear? We'll Take them. All clothing will go to stock the interview closet at Charlotte Technical College. Your donations will help students, who don't have appropriate attire, look the part and feel confident going on interviews for internships and employment. Drop off Locations: Charlotte County Chamber, 2702 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte or Charlotte Technical College, 18150 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte.

Members, Networking at Noon on May 8th will be at Papa G's at the Charlotte Technical College. Please note TIME CHANGE FOR THIS EVENT ONLY 11:15AM – 12:30PM LUNCH WILL BE SERVED AT 11:30AM. We'll make registration available in the portal as soon as we confirm the Lunch Selections.

Wednesday, May 15th 7:45 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. Third Wednesday Coffee

Sponsor: TBA

Program: New Member Showcase

Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda

New members have been invited to set up a table and there will be time to meet and greet and share information on products and services.

Please RSVP in the member portal.

Wednesday, May 22 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Join us for Coffee & Chat.

Topic: Working with Interns - FGCU's Career Development Department

Recruiting & Hiring FGCU Students for Internships & Jobs)

held at the Realtors of Punta Gorda Port Charlotte North Port DeSoto Inc.

3320 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33980

Kindly RSVP so that we may properly plan.

13th Annual Integrity Golf Classic benefiting Junior Leadership Charlotte a program of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. Date/Time: Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Check In at 7:00am. Place: St. Andrews South Golf Club. Includes: One round of golf with cart, breakfast, buffet lunch, 2 beverage tickets, raffle entry & cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Individual Golfer $75. - Foursome $300. - Sponsorships available. RSVP required - please do so in the Portal.

~ Member Marketing Opportunities ~

Did you know you may set up automatic payments! Never forget another membership payment! Save on stamps, checks and time. To do so, login to the Member Portal. In the shortcut menu, choose Company Information, at the bottom of the list choose Billing, choose Payment Profiles and enter your credit card. Then from that same Billing area choose Autopay & Billing to select your payment profile. That's it!

14th Annual Consumer Marketplace Expo

Thank You Expo2025 Sponsors!

Print Sponsor: Buffalo Graffix

Newspaper Sponsor: The Daily Sun

Radio Sponsor: iHeart Media, Inc.

Platinum Title Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor: Bone Dry Roofing

Silver Sponsor: Florida Tree

Silver Sponsor: Life Care Center of Punta Gorda

Bronze Sponsor: Better Business Bureau

Bronze Sponsor: Elite Hurricane Home Protection

Bronze Sponsor Succentrix Business Advisors

Main Stage Sponsor: CarmichaelTravel.Com

Breakfast Sponsor: Soul Dental

Speed Networking Sponsor:

After Hours Party Sponsor: Elite Inspections & Pest Solutions

Bag Sponsor: WhitCo Insurance, Alexia Martin Agency

Refreshment Station Sponsor: The Purple House Salon by Shawn Gilstad

Kick off Party Sponsor: Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center

Lanyard Sponsor: Chapman Insurance Group

Event Map Sponsor:

Passport Sponsor:

Monster Self Storage Port Charlotte

325 Glancy Lane

Port Charlotte, FL 33952-5129

Carol Paradise, George Leon

(941) 787-3353

portcharlotte01@monsterstorage.com

http://monsterselfstorage.com/location/port-charlotte-fl-33952

DG Advisors

333 S Tamiami Trail, Suite 279

Venice, FL 34285

Jonathan Marshall

(941) 584-3320

jonathan@mydgadvisors.com

http://www.mydgadvisors.com

Zoie Davis - Keller Williams PRP

1675 W. Marion Ave., Suite 112

Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Zoie Davis

(740) 818-8528

zoiedavis@kw.com

http://zoiedavis@kw.com

Framers Point LLC

2395 Tamiami Trail, #207

Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Kara Long

(941) 369-1518

framerspointllc@gmail.com

Ribbon Cutting, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 4-5:30 p.m. (RC=4:45 p.m.)

Bert's Black Widow Harley-Davidson

2224 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33948

This will be a Dual Ribbon Cutting with the North Port Chamber.

Head over to the Water Tower and we'll be "looking up" for the Ribbon Cutting Picture.

Refreshments, Beer/Water/Soda and Appetizers. Gather in the showroom for raffle and ticket to Twisted Fork. Kindly register in the member portal so we may properly plan.

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

(RC=5:00 p.m.) Charlie Foxtrot Brewing

1700 Tamiami Trail #A5, Port Charlotte

This will be a Dual Ribbon Cutting with the North Port Chamber.

Special: Buy 1 Get 1 Pint. Food Truck available outside with food to purchase. Raffle for Pint Platoon Membership (1 pint free each week for a year).

Kindly register in the member portal so we may properly plan.

Ribbon Cutting, Thursday May 9 at 3:30 p.m.

Revive JiuJitsu, 24610 Sandhill Blvd., Punta Gorda (Deep Creek)

Help us celebrate their new location.

Kindly register in the member portal so we may properly plan.

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening Thursday, May 16 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

(RC=5:45 p.m.) Lyons Title & Trust

20020 Veterans Blvd., Suite 11, Port Charlotte

Music, food & refreshments.

Kindly register in the member portal for planning purposes.

Everyone is invited to attend Chamber ribbon cutting events. Come out and support your fellow members in a casual, fun, atmosphere! Networking opportunity.

#ConnectingBusinessesTogether

Members Send YOUR Member News/Events to BOL@charlottecountychamber.org 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.)

If you missed our previous seminars on  “Optimizing Social Security”, we have GREAT news! We have two dates scheduled at Suncoast Technical College,4445 Career Lane, North Port, FL 34289. Dates: April 29th or May 1st, 2024 - Time: 6:30 pm Link to register: https://financialedu.com/STC We’ll see you there! For more information, please call (800) 285-8792 or visit www.precisefsolutions.com

Charlotte County Sheriff's Explorer Post 29 and Do the Right Thing of Charlotte County Inc. invite your to become a sponsor for our 2024 Public Safety Appreciation Night . The event will be held on Saturday, June 15th at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. For questions or more information about sponsorships, please contact Skip Conroy, Sponsorship Chair at 941-575-5252. Tickets to the event can be purchased on Eventbrite from our Facebook page: @PSANcharlottecounty. View the flyer here.

Join us at the Visual Arts Center to celebrate the exceptional talent of the Charlotte County Public High/Middle School students! Their work will be on display in all three galleries & you don't miss the chance to appreciate their beautiful artwork. The exhibit will run from April 18th to April 26th, 2024. The Elementary students will be coming immediately after and be on display from April 26-May 4. Come & support Youth at Art!

Charlotte Players-Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van playing April 17-28. Summerfun Repertory Theatre-where actors spend their downtime around an aging techie's van. This asphalt oasis includes a stressed artistic director, a diva realizing her ingenue expiration date has passed, a man vying to direct musicals with a Tarrentino spin and a choreographer wanting to include a kick line in "The Glass Menagerie." For more information or tickets go to www.charlotteplayers.org or call 941-255-1022.

The Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach VCB is hosting their Annual Tourism Celebration and Breakfast is on May 10. Don't miss out on this fun morning filled with networking and good food in celebration of tourism. We'll be presenting the annual tourism awards and scholarships to the future hospitality leaders in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach.

If you haven’t nominated your top hospitality employees yet, click here. The deadline for nominations is April 12, 2024.

Charlotte Players-64th Season Tickets are going on sale! Click here https://bit.ly/3VqfRuX for the Langdon plays for next year. The rest of the season will be announced soon. Season Tickets go on sale: April 4th for Members, April 11th Series Renewal Non-Members, & April 18th Public. The discounted season tickets can not be purchased online. Please call the Box Office or visit us at 1182 Market Circle in Port Charlotte to purchase. To get a Season Brochure mailed to you send a request to info@charlotteplayers.org. For more information call 941-255-1022.

Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies - In continued observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, join us on Wednesday, April 24th, at 12 pm for a Luncheon featuring global advocate Julie Weil at Isles Yacht Club. RSVP is essential, so secure your seat by calling 941-639-5499. While a $20 donation is appreciated, it is not mandatory. Remember, it is also Denim Day, so sport your finest denim attire. Let's unite in raising awareness! We eagerly anticipate your presence!

Gator Wilderness Camp School will be hosting a 5k / 10k / 15k trail run through our beautiful 250 acre property which includes the boys campsites and our 12 acre lake. The run is Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 8 AM at Gator Wilderness Camp. We will also be hosting a kids fun dash for ages 2-12 at 9:00am. There is also a hot breakfast, fresh fruit, and delicious baked goods provided by Gator Wilderness Camp School and Detwiler's Farm Market to all registered participants.  Contact Melissa Bergey 941-639-7722 or Register Online at: http://runsignup.com/Race/FL/PuntaGorda/GatorWildernessCampTrailRun

The Charlotte County Soccer Federation invites you to The Spring Carnival (Saturday, May 4). It is our end of year event where our recreational teams play their last games of the season, we grill hotdogs, and have bounce houses and laser tag for the players and siblings. It is all hosted at the soccer fields at South County Regional Park in Punta Gorda. Come out and see all that Charlotte County Soccer Federation does for the kids of our community and consider becoming a business partner with us for the next year. Visit https://ccsfsoccer.com/ or call 9418157793 for more information.

Kerry Hunter, Wealth Strategist, will present vital information on estate-planning topics from a trust officer’s point of view in conjunction with local, guest attorneys at seminars during May in Englewood. Hunter is a member of the Trust and Wealth Management Services Division at Crews Bank & Trust. Tuesday, May 21, 2024 - Englewood Chamber of Commerce, 601 S. Indiana Avenue, Englewood, 10 a.m., presented with guest Attorney Lori Wellbaum of Wellbaum Law. Registration is available at any Crews Bank & Trust branch, online at www.crews.bank, via email at trust@crews.bank or by calling Trust Operations Associate Linda Ferrara at 941-624-1943.

Join the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for a Night of Dinner, Dancing, Music, FantaSea Fishing, Silent Auctions, Fun, Prizes and More on May 4, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at TT's Tiki Bar, 33 Tamiami Trai, Punta Gorda. Come ready to FantaSea Fish. Two largest combined fish weights win. Purchase tickets $30 single/$50 couple at any CCSO District Office. For questions or inquiries please contact 941-575-5252. View the Flyer here.

2024 Home & Hurricane Expo will take place at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda on Saturday, May 18th from 10AM until 3PM. Free admission & parking, open to the public. Tons of Vendors & Expert speakers! Learn how to prepare, survive & recover from hurricanes. Attention all businesses, join dozens of other local businesses at the Home and Hurricane Expo. Reserve your space now, contact Sun News Media 941-205-6406 Today. 

Brand New Online Event Today – BUILDING BUSINESS CREDIT 101 – 100% Free Workshop Learn The Best Way To Access Unlimited Cashflow For Overheads, Payroll & Rent. Plus Unlimited Capital For Growth around your EIN not SSN. Have you Ever Used your Personal Credit Card for Business? Did you Know you EIN is its own Entity capable of building 10 x Business Credit than personal? Would you like to remove personal assets from business? Join The Business Credit Guy Drew Smith Multiple Time and Dates available https://www.jgaltwebinar.com/webinar/business-credit-101-15139

Buffalo Graffix has moved to 17960 Toledo Blade Blvd in Port Charlotte! The Sales and Customer Service Team is excited to see you and help you start your next Print or Design project. Whether it’s Promotional Products, Direct Mailers, Imprinted Apparel and Uniforms, or Graphic and Web Design, Signs and Wraps, or Fleet Graphics. We are your one stop shop for it all!

Looking for your employees to be more energized and motivated? Let us help! Gulfcoast South AHEC offers FREE tobacco cessation counseling and FREE Nicotine Replacement in the form of patches, gum and/or lozenges at no cost for qualifying participants. Let’s get back to happy and healthy together. 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.

Here's how Complete Auto Repair takes the stress out of auto repair: Accurate Estimates: Get a transparent breakdown of costs before work begins, avoiding surprises. Real-Time Updates: We'll let you know when your car is finished, so there is no need to call and follow up. Regular Communication: Our team will inform you of any necessary changes or discoveries during the repair process. We offer more than just repairs; we offer peace of mind. Schedule your appointment with Mary today at 941-623-2926!

Moving your business can be more stressful than moving your home for obvious reasons. Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage knows the importance of getting you and your staff back to work as soon as possible. Call us to discuss your business move at (941) 423-5311. You can trust our experience in this area. We have moved many local businesses. Please take a look at our Reviews.

https://www.gardinerandsonsmoving.com/

Welcome to Sharp Home Development, Punta Gorda's premier local builder! Choose between our 3-bed, 2-bath with den or luxurious 4-bed, 2-bath models. Enjoy granite countertops, soft-close cabinets, and stainless-steel appliances as standard features. Benefit from a covered lanai, tray ceilings, and base molding. Appreciate tile flooring in main areas and plush carpeting in bedrooms. Whether you own a lot or need help finding one, we're dedicated to realizing your dream home. Contact us today at 941-764-8243 or Thesharphomes@gmail.com. Let's build your dream home today!"

Welcome to the Caribbean! Whether your definition of paradise involves soaking up the sun on a postcard-perfect beach, hunting for deals in colorful ports, teeing off at a pro-level green, or exploring lush rainforests, the Caribbean's culturally diverse islands deliver an ocean of options.  Escape to the Caribbean with these special offers.  Sandals - Celebrity X Cruises – Carnival  Have questions, call CarmichaelTravel.com 941-259-1711

Charlotte Players Comedy For A Cause- It is that time again! We are looking for 8 to 10 new cast members for our Annual Comedy for a Cause taking place on September 13th! Do you like Improv? Want to learn Improv? If not you, do you know someone that does? This is a great way to get out in the community while supporting a great cause, community theater. For more information email lori.wagner@charlotteplayers.org.

I wanted to let everyone know Achieva is taking part of “Cereal for Summer Campaign”, starting Today through April 30^th. We will begin collecting cereal and packaged breakfast items in our branches throughout the month of April. Through this campaign, we aim to ensure that no child goes hungry during the summer months. By providing nutritious breakfast options, we hope to alleviate some of the financial burdens many families face and contribute to a healthier, happier summer for all. During the summer break, many children who rely on school meals face the risk of going hungry. As a company deeply committed to our community, we believe it's our responsibility to step up and make a positive impact where we can. Ricardo Terrazas 941-467-3027.

If you love technology, we need your help in any one of these areas: teaching,

presenting, troubleshooting, hardware, software and leadership of the organization. For more information contact Charlotte County Computer Group Corp. office at 941-585-0356 or cccgcoffice@gmail.com or stop by at 514 E. Grace St., Punta Gorda between Monday and Friday from 10:00am and 2:00pm.

Free Business Credit Report value $195 Did you know your Business has its own Credit report and its Public Knowledge? Have you Ever wondered what the bank, Your Vendors and Lenders see? Would you like to feel assured you can get Business Lending without Personal guarantees when you need it? Book a Free 20mins call Jgalt.io/dsmith to learn more than 90% of businesses and your competition. As a thank you get you a free copy of your Business Report. Drew Smith - JGalt 941.200.3150

This Mother’s Day (May 12, 2024), celebrate Mom with Delicious Delights and Jazz Music that will bring that extra zest to the special day! Noon to 5:30pm, Reservations recommended, call The Grill at 1951 at 941-255-0994. Visit our website for menu and music schedules: Culinary Excellence and Jazz Vibes | The Grill At 1951

APRIL FINANCING SPECIAL Transform your yard and upgrade your home security this month hassle-free! True Fence LLC is offering 12 months 0% APR Financing if paid in full for the month of APRIL ONLY! Financing through Wells Fargo credit card upon approval. Call 941-237-0795 or visit truefenceflorida.com for your FREE ESTIMATE.

Murdock Stones Etc. would like to introduce our newest product: Brookstone...it has a great variety of colors...through the month of April we will be selling it to chamber members for $350 (normally $375)..check it out at:  590 Prineville St. in Port Charlotte (display only). 7621 Sawyer Circle (off Gasparilla Rd...can pick up here). www.murdockstonesetc.com. 941-629-6651

~ Kudos ~

Complete Auto Repair, owned by Ron Morgan, is a finalist for the Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards given annually by the Small Business Development Center, covering the area from Charlotte to Collier County. Nominated for his exceptional customer service and successful business approach, Ron may bring home the trophy on May 3rd. To learn more about the SBDC’s events, email Patti Guerzo, a local SBDC consultant, at pguerzo@fgcu.edu.

~ Job Spot ~

TEAM Punta Gorda is looking for a volunteer part time bookkeeper. This person is needed 1/2 day every two weeks and 1 longer day each month for Statements. This person would report to the CFO who is a CPA. Ideally this is a retired person, familiar with QuickBooks-pro for non-profits. Please contact team@teampuntagorda.org 941-637-8326. Print the Job Description.

WM is in need of filling positions for CDL-Driver Apprentice (Entry Level – no CDL required ) in Port Charlotte, FL. Please see linked flyer for details on the CDL Apprentice role and share within your networks and however else you see fit. Waste Management offers exceptional, unmatched benefits, and career advancement opportunities. CDL-Driver Apprentice - WM Careers (oraclecloud.com) We have found that veterans are a great fit in our organization – in fact, one in twelve of our employees are former military. We encourage any and all qualified veterans to apply online, https://wm.com/careers WM has been recognized as Best Employer of Veterans, by: U.S. Veterans Magazine “Best of the Best 2023” and Forbes Magazine 2022 “Best Employers for Veterans”

FIELD REPRESENTATIVE- OFFICE of CONGRESSMAN STEUBE

SUMMARY: The Field Representative is responsible for representing and promoting the Office of Congressman Greg Steube at events in the community and serves as a liaison between the Congressman and his constituents, including various community stakeholders such as municipal, county, state, and federal entities, non-profits, and businesses. This position acts as a liaison to federal, district, and local agencies for the member and constituents, and answers casework correspondence and verbal communications with constituents. The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of congressional office functions and operations, the responsibilities of various agencies of the federal government, and ties to Southwest Florida. Essential Job Functions.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do” – Steve Jobs

~ Resources ~

LOCAL-

Please call 2-1-1 for any resource needs.

Charlotte County Economic Development Office- www.cleared4takeoff.com

Community Organizations Active in a Disaster- https://coadfl.org/

Career Source of Southwest Florida online resources include available jobs- https://careersourcesouthwestflorida.com/immediate-southwest-florida-job-openings/

Charlotte County Department of Health- www.Charlotte.FloridaHealth.gov

City of Punta Gorda- http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/

Charlotte County Administration - https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/dept/admin/Pages/default.aspx

Charlotte County Public Schools- https://www.yourcharlotteschools.net/

My Neighborhood, visit www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov and click My Neighborhood in the top menu. See property information and county and/or city services and public facilities in the property’s neighborhood.

United Way of Charlotte County Disaster Relief page at www.unitedwayccfl.org/ian. 

STATE AND FEDERAL-

Florida Chamber of Commerce- www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus

U.S. Department of Labor- https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic

https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20200320.

Small Business Administration- www.sba.gov/disaster

Federal Emergency Management Association - www.FEMA.gov or 1-800-621-3362

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association- https://frla.org/covid-19/

Florida Retail Federation- http://www.frf.org/index.php/news/covid-19

Florida Dept. of Health- http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/

Visit Florida- www.visitflorida.org

Governor's Office- www.flgov.com

Center for Disease Control- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Small Business Development Center - www.fsbdcswfl.org

“Hello, police department? I’ve lost my cat and… "

“I'm sorry lady, but this is not a police job, you can try calling…"

“But you don’t understand, this is a very intelligent cat. He is almost human. He can practically talk.”

“Well, in that case ma'am, you’d better hang up. He may be trying to call you right now.”