6th Annual Sawgrass Awards:

Honoring West Broward's Visionaries

Join us on Thursday, August 8th, 2024, as the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce hosts the sixth annual Sawgrass Awards. This esteemed event honors individuals and businesses making significant contributions to Greater West Broward County and surrounding communities.

We'll recognize local leaders and organizations driving our economy forward through innovation, collaboration, and community support. These honorees are the backbone of West Broward's thriving business ecosystem, creating opportunities and fostering growth.

Don't miss this chance to celebrate excellence and network with the region's top influencers. Mark your calendars for an inspiring evening showcasing the best of West Broward!

Recognizing our UPRISE Awardees

Thank you to everyone who attended the 7th Annual Summer Soirée! We celebrated several members who received the UPRISE Recognition, which stands as a testament to the remarkable accomplishments of individuals who have risen to the forefront of their profession and community through their determination and dedication. These honorees epitomize the essence of success, showcasing a relentless pursuit of excellence within their craft.

This year, the Rising Leaders Council recognized:

Jessica Grenat, Red Chair | PAINT Nail Bar

Jessica Osman, Miami Marlins Foundation

Avesta Shaygannik, Northwestern Mutual

Brian Barcelona, Limestone Property Management

Larissa Castelluber, Rebel Wine Bar

Kevin Harrilal, Transformative Healthcare Solutions

Broward County School District Receives First 'A' Rating Since 2011

Miami-Dade and Broward County schools have received top marks from the Florida Department of Education in 2024:

• Broward County earned an "A" grade for the first time since 2011
• No "D" or "F" schools in Broward - a feat not achieved since 1999
• Miami-Dade secured an "A" grade for the 5th consecutive year

Statewide improvements:

• 6% increase in "A" grade schools
• 64% of schools earned "A" or "B" grades
• Fewer "D" and "F" grades across the board

Congratulations to all students, teachers, staff, and families who made this possible! Here's to continued excellence in education!

Florida Chamber's Math Proficiency Research Project

The Florida Chamber Foundation is hosting focus groups to gather valuable insights from parents, K-12 teachers and administrators, and business leaders about the critical role math proficiency plays in our students’ future career success. Your input will help Florida leaders better understand the perspectives of these key groups on the value of math proficiency. 

We invite you to join one of our virtual “Math Matters: Input Sessions.” These focus groups are designed to capture the unique perspectives of parents, educators and school administrators, and business leaders. Your input will contribute to strategies and recommendations that will be featured in a research report by the Florida Chamber Foundation, to be published in late 2024...Click Here for Full Story

First Session Recap of Candidate Forum

Last week, we heard from candidates for Broward Tax Collector (Abbey Ajayi, Perry Thurston, Dwight Forrest) and Broward County Sheriff (David Howard, Al Pollock, Steve Geller) at the 1st part of our Candidate Forum Series. Thank you to our moderators Burnadette Norris-Weeks and Janna Lhota for keeping the discussions lively and informative.

Thank you to all candidates and attendees for participating in this important civic event! We're hosting the 2nd session today, which will showcase candidates running for the Broward County School Board!

Grand Opening: THE BORN ON PURPOSE PROJECT

On Tuesday, July 23rd, Born on Purpose held it's grand opening at it's location in 4850 N State Road 7, G-111, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319! This amazing organization helps people unlock their potential and lead fulfilling lives through coaching, mentorship, and community building. They're dedicated to guiding individuals towards purpose and passion.

Congratulations on your new chapter! We can't wait to see the transformations you'll inspire in our community. Thank you, Mayor Veronica Edwards and City Commissioner Sharon Thomas for coming out to show your support! To learn more, visit: www.bornonpurposeproject.org

Member of the Month: Rion Heldibridle

Rion Heldibridle joined the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce in 2020 when hired as Operations Manager of ArtServe, a 35-year nonprofit, premier arts and culture incubator. Rion’s professional focus is to assist artists, musicians, poets, and the like, to advance their professional careers. By running programs, exhibitions, education series, and classes, ArtServe provides a creative space for artists, art lovers, and supporters of the creative economy to come together in a space that is welcoming and positive.

“With my new position, I was excited about supporting local artists throughout Broward County with the goal of making ArtServe a household name. I quickly recognized the Chamber as an important step to learn, connect and grow with the business community.” said Rion.

Now, serving a 2nd year as Chair of the Arts Business Council, Rion has implemented partnerships with other Council leaders and hosted Chamber events at ArtServe. Rion says, “I feel my greatest accomplishment...Click Here for Full Story

FTL Wants to Hear From You

Upcoming Events

Chamber Candidate Forum

Broward County School Board Forum will be held today!

Women's Council Mixer

Social Impact Breakfast

Directors & Trustees Luncheon at Hyatt Centric

Downtown Business Council: Chamber Breakfast

Women's Council Fireside Chat

Deerfield Beach Council: Coffee & Connections

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

Shifting Gears: How Four-Day Weeks and Remote Work Are Reshaping Business

The concept of a four-day workweek has long been a subject of fascination and skepticism.

However, companies that have switched to this model report long-term improvements in employee satisfaction, reduced turnover, and increased efficiency.

In UK, a pioneer in the four-day workweek movement, a trial involving 61 companies has shown that the positive effects of a four-day workweek can last beyond the initial experimental period. Over half of the companies have now made the change permanent. Employees report sustained boosts in job satisfaction, work-life balance, and overall well-being, while experiencing less burnout...Click Here for Full Story

FREE Fica Tip Tax Credit Webinar

West Broward Leads Group Mixer

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!

New Members

General

AdmobileTV

BATCH Southern Kitchen Fort Lauderdale

Born On Purpose

BRITTO

DEIF INC.

Envision Real Estate

eXp Realty LLC

Flamingo Gardens, Inc.

Freedom Pros

Gold Elite Group

International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc.

JP Morgan Chase Private Bank

Kensington Nanny & Home Services

MRM Historical Research And Cultural Arts

National Cargo Bureau Inc.

Oasis Perio

on the mark claim adjusting

Peak Fitness Wilton Manors

Tad

TriNet

Donovan

Turnau Legal P.A.

Trustee

Gold Elite Group

International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc.

JP Morgan Chase Private Bank

RENEWING MEMBERS

General

4Kids of South Florida

ABA Centers of Florida

All Saints Episcopal Church

Amtrust Bank / NYCB  A division of Flagstar Bank

Barron Commercial Development

Broward Education Foundation

Camp Boggy Creek

Century Badge & Engraving

DMR - Daily Management, Inc.

Douglas Elliman

FiduciaryTrust

Five Star Claims Adjusting

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA)

Fort Lauderdale Media Associates, Inc.

Gilda's Club South Florida

Hoffman Insurance Solutions LLC

It's Better On The Beach

Kipany Productions, LTD

LSN Partners

National Marine Suppliers

Notarize South Florida

Peak Fitness Wilton Manors

PrimeTime Amusements

Quest Workspaces

Rebuilding Together Broward County

SERVPRO of Fort Lauderdale

Shuham & Shuham, P.A.

Sweet Life Travel Tribe

The Restaurant People

Transformative Healthcare Solutions

Travelhost Media

Volta Direct Primary Care

Waste Connections

WestCare - Village South

Trustee

Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors

CASTLE GROUP

CohnReznick LLP

Gunster

Midgard Management, Inc.

Port Everglades Department of Broward County

Toothaker.org

Chairman’s Circle

Downtown Development Authority

Truist

UHealth - University of Miami Health Systems

Sawrass Awards

Jazz in the Hall

TECHMARK Innovation Conference 2024

Women Empowering Business Conference

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