Board of Directors to Adopt-a-School

Last week the Board of Directors gathered at GILDA's Club South Florida, a community organization that provides meeting places for people with cancer, their families, and friends.

The Board of Directors meeting covered a range of important topics and updates. The agenda included a discussion of the recent Tri-Regional Mayors' event held on June 25th, a review of the Mid-Year Budget and CEO performance, and approval of May meeting minutes, new members, and financial reports.

The Board has been making strides on the adopt-a-school proposal. The school to be considered is New River Middle School. It would be a collaborative effort with the Broward County School system to mentor students and promote the school system and the great projects they have planned. Deputy Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, Dr. Valerie Wanza as well as other Broward County School representatives were in attendance to further explain the opportunity.

"A lot of people that moved here to the Broward County area as business leaders don't know that they have other options in our public school system," said Chamber Chair Burnadette Norris-Weeks.

Several chair reports were followed, including a bylaws amendment by Burnadette Norris-Weeks, updates on the West Broward Council by Cathy Elmquist, Branding & Marketing by Anthony Santana, and Membership by Ty Richardson.

Chamber President Dan Lindblade provided updates on various matters, including the appointment of a new Port Everglades director, ongoing website migration efforts, membership status, the Broward Scorecard, and the involvement of interns from CareerSource Broward.

Volare Grand Opening

Last week, Volare Italian Cuisine held a grand opening at it's Fort Lauderdale location! Their blend of rich, Italian cuisine traditions with modern culinary innovation, makes it an excellent choice, right in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. To learn more, visit their site: Volarefl.com

Unemployment Rate Steadies as Florida Approaches 10M Jobs

Florida's job market demonstrates robust growth, adding 222,200 jobs in the past year at a 2.3% annual rate. This expansion brings the state closer to the significant milestone of 10 million jobs. While the growth pace has slowed slightly compared to April, the job market remains steady, indicating a strong overall economy. This consistent performance across various sectors suggests Florida continues to be an attractive destination for businesses and workers, positioning the state for continued economic strength in the near future.

Florida Panthers Wild Celebration Despite Rainfall

© Jim Rassol, Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports Jun 30, 2024; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) celebrates during the Stanley Cup victory parade and celebration. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Panthers celebrated their first-ever Stanley Cup championship with a parade and rally on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The event took place on Sunday, June 30, 2024, and marked a significant moment for South Florida sports, as it was the region’s first championship parade since 2013 when the Miami Heat secured back-to-back NBA titles.

Some fans were outside as early as 3:30 AM, camping out with coolers, beach chairs, and tents.

Despite the rain, the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup celebration in Fort Lauderdale Beach received a high turnout.

”Who gives a s*** about the rain?” former Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo asked the crowd.

Fans gathered in team colors and waving banners, braved the wet weather to honor their beloved hockey team.

“I just walked away from our beer pong table, jumped in the Atlantic Ocean, and I came right back to talk to The Palm Beach Post,” a Panthers fan named Tom said before the event started. “It’s probably the most epic party ever on Fort Lauderdale Beach. You’ve got fans going all the way in the back and it’s not even 9 ‘o clock. This is gonna be crazy, man.”

SCOTUS Ruling Creates More Stable Regulatory Environment for Business

In the Loper Bright and Relentless cases, the Supreme Court overturned its 40-year-old administrative law precedent in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, taking a major step toward improving the regulatory environment for businesses.  

‌

This matters because the court made an important course correction that will help create a more predictable and stable regulatory environment for businesses.  

‌

Previously, under Chevron, courts deferred to federal agencies' interpretations of ambiguous statutes, leading to unpredictable regulatory obligations that challenged business operations. Now, courts will exercise independent judgment in determining whether agencies act within their statutory authority.

Suzanne P. Clark, Chamber President and CEO, stated that the previous deference rule allowed administrations to advance political agendas through inconsistent regulations, hindering businesses' ability to plan for the future. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which filed an amicus brief urging the Court to reject expansive Chevron deference, views this decision as a positive step towards more consistent and predictable business regulations.

Port Everglades Now Ranks in Top 20% of Ports Worldwide

Operational performance at Port Everglades notably improved in 2023, placing the Broward County, Florida, seaport in the top 20% of ports worldwide, according to the latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).

At a global level, Port Everglades is No. 65 -- up from the previous year's ranking of No. 89. In 2021, the port was No. 116. Regionally, including the United States and Canada, Port Everglades claims the No. 3 spot, up two spots from the 2022 report, and remains No. 1 in Florida.

Developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, the CPPI report for the 2023 calendar year includes 405 ports, more than 182,000 vessel calls, 238.2 million cargo moves, and about 381 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)...Click Here for Full Story

FTL Startup Flyer

Nominate A Rising Leader

Nominate a Rising Leader to be recognized at the upcoming Summer Soiree. Recipients will be announced before the event and honored in person.

Any of the following industries qualify:

Entrepreneur

Non-Profit

Financial

Technology

Hospitality

Real Estate/Development

Health & Wellness

Click the button below for the nomination form!

Sylvia Pangara Photobooth Grand Opening

We were thrilled to host a ribbon cutting ceremony, earlier this week, for Silvia Pangaro Photography at their new studio at 5130 N Federal Hwy, Unit 8, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308! To learn more about her services, visit: www.silviapangarophoto.com

Silvia Pangaro is a talented Fort Lauderdale-based photographer specializing in portrait, family, and event photography. With a keen eye for capturing genuine moments and emotions, Silvia creates beautiful, timeless images that her clients will cherish for years.

To learn more, visit: Ft Lauderdale Photographer | Silvia Pangaro | (silviapangarophoto.com)

Join us for Small Business Town Hall

Upcoming Events

GWBC - Leaders Impact Social

Annual Hurricane Preparedness Luncheon

Chamber Candidate Forum

Rising Leaders Summer Soiree

Social Impact Breakfast

We are accepting applications for Leadership Fort Lauderdale Class 31!

We are seeking motivated individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact in Fort Lauderdale and are committed to personal and professional growth. Whether you are a young professional looking to advance your career, an entrepreneur seeking to expand your business network, or a community advocate dedicated to driving meaningful change, this program is tailored to help you achieve your goals.

If you or someone you know would benefit from participating in the Leadership Fort Lauderdale program, we encourage you to apply or nominate a candidate today. Applications are now open, and the deadline is August 30th, 2024.

To learn more about the program and apply, please visit our website here. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Dolores Molina, 954-462-8023 or via email dolores@ftlchamber.com

Discounted Tickets for Members

Apex Shooting Center Summer Special

Water Taxi Tickets

Miami Marlins Tickets

As a member of The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce swing into savings for the 2024 Miami Marlins baseball season with discounted tickets all season long! Experience the excitement of Miami Marlins baseball, coming off an unforgettable playoff run in 2023.

Don't miss this chance to be part of the Marlins' journey to victory. Grab your discounted tickets today and get ready for an unforgettable day at the ballpark!

Donald Sussman Donates $1 Million to Support Holy Cross Health Family Center

Philanthropist and financier Donald Sussman, the founder and chief investment officer of Paloma Partners, has made a $1 million donation to Holy Cross Health to modernize the building that will become the new Holy Cross Family Health Center.

“Access to high-quality and equitable healthcare is essential. The services provided at Holy Cross Health contribute significantly to the overall well-being of the community, and I am heartened by the vision of hospital leadership and its exceptional team of medical professionals in expanding access, increasing innovation and improving lives of all they serve,” said Sussman, who has a residence in Fort Lauderdale...Click Here for Full Story

Rick Case Honda Recognized as the Most Awarded Volume Dealer

in American Honda History and the Largest Volume Honda Dealer in America

Dealership received the Honda President’s Elite Award 16 consecutive years

Rick Case Honda was recognized as the most awarded volume Honda dealer in American Honda history and is the largest volume dealer in America for 2024. The celebration was led by Rick Case Automotive Group President and CEO Rita Case and attended by 400 associates and 12 America Honda Motor Company executives who came from around the country. They were welcomed to the celebration by the Cypress Bay High School marching band and dance team.

During the celebration, Rick Case Honda was awarded the President’s Elite Award for the 16th consecutive year which no other volume Honda dealer has ever accomplished. The award is based on the overall dealership performance including volume...Click Here for Full Story.

NEW MEMBERS - May 2024

Dental Team of Bayview

Embassy Church of South Florida

Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort and Spa by Hilton

Fairport Global

Gilead Sanders LLC

Hephelle

Island Restrooms LLC

Katrina Moldova Gallery

Key Transportation Services Inc.

Lais Brito Design

Massages On The Water

Medical Anti-Aging

Primerica

Prospect Lake Clean Water Center

Silvia Pangaro Photography

Tasteful Thoughts

TJB Consulting LLC

Wizard Cleaning

Trustee

Weinstein Legal Team

Trustee Plus

Kelley Kronenberg

RENEWING MEMBERS - May 2024

13th Floor Investments

Bass United Security Systems, Inc.

Bayview Payroll Services

Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County

Broward Partnership

Business for the Arts of Broward

Comcast Business

CONRAD Fort Lauderdale Beach

FiscalChimp

Great Locations, Inc.

ID & Design International

J. Hilburn Custom Men's Clothing

Jungle Queen Riverboat, Inc.

Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc.

Northwestern Mutual - The South Florida Group

OUTSFL Newspaper & Magazine

Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP

Signature Grand

Sorensen Consulting, Inc.

South Florida Commercial & Residential Group

STUDIO ROMAN

The First Tee of Broward

Valley Forge Fabrics

Women in Distress of Broward County

YOT Bar & Kitchen

Trustee

EDSA

AutoNation

Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida

Comcast Communications

Nova Southeastern University - H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship

The Business Advisory

Yogafit

Sawrass Awards

Jazz in the Hall

TECHMARK Innovation Conference 2024

Stay Up to Date on All Chamber Happenings with Your Mobile Device!