Tuesday, September 12

Technology Council Meeting

Working Women Win Leads Group

Healthcare Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 13

Downtown Council Meeting

Women's Council Mixer

Thursday, September 14

Greater West Broward Business Leads Group

Friday, September 15

Biz Perks East

Rising Leaders Board Meeting

Beach Council Board Meeting

At the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, we believe that your stories are the heartbeat of our community. Whether it's a business milestone, a community initiative, or an inspiring journey, your experiences matter.

We invite all our valued members to share your success stories with us. Your stories not only inspire others but also highlight the strength and resilience of our Broward County business community.

Have a recent achievement, a unique business journey, or a community project you're proud of? We'd love to hear about it! Your story could be featured in our newsletter, website, or social media, showcasing your contributions and inspiring others.

Please submit your stories and any accompanying photos to jsaunders@ftlchamber.com each week by Friday evening. Let's celebrate your successes and continue to strengthen our community through shared experiences.

Thank you for being an essential part of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to sharing your stories with our community.

On September 11, 2001, the world changed forever. As we mark the 20th anniversary of that fateful day, we remember the stories of resilience that emerged from the darkest hours of our history. These stories remind us of the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

On 9/11, first responders rushed into danger to save lives, demonstrating unmatched bravery. Many made the ultimate sacrifice, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness that inspires us to this day.

Passengers on United Flight 93 showed incredible courage, thwarting terrorists' plans and sacrificing themselves to save others. Their collective action in the face of certain danger remains a symbol of heroism.

At the Pentagon, survivors like Brian Birdwell overcame severe injuries, showcasing the power of determination and the will to heal.

Countless volunteers rushed to Ground Zero, offering their help and compassion. Their selflessness and unity in crisis remind us of the goodness that can emerge from tragedy.

Ground Zero's transformation, with structures like One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, stands as a symbol of resilience and our nation's ability to rebuild.

As we commemorate 9/11, we honor those we lost and the stories of resilience that emerged. These stories remind us that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can shine with unwavering strength, unity, and hope.

Inspired by the era defining VMAs, you’re invited to channel your favorite Y2K celebrity for a night of music and fashion. Enjoy entertainment, music, food, and specialty cocktails at this adult only soirée while supporting Handy’s education program for youth in foster care. www.handyinc.org/events/homecoming-2023

REESE MEIGHAN - MEMBER OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER 20223

Small business owner, Reese Meighan, joined the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce a year and half ago to help her with establishing strong relationships and making professional connections within the community. “The information and energy I experienced at the New Member Orientation in February 2022,” Reese said, “convinced me that it was the right decision for my business. She now participates in the Power Partners Leads Group and involved with several Councils; including Downtown, Marine, Social Impact and Rising Leaders; which recently awarded Reese with the Uprise Award in the Entrepreneurship category at their Summer Soiree event this past July.

A Fort Lauderdale native and studied business at Florida A&M University, Reese has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and was inspired to launch Perfect Look Photos in 2021 after working over a decade with animals in various capacities. Initially it started with offering 360 Photo Booths and has now grown to include Selfie-Stations and Professional Photography services to corporate companies who want to enhance their events, increase brand visibility and generate marketing content.

When asked about her greatest accomplishment so far, Reese said, “Being able to give back to community by capturing the smiles of guests at events has been great; however we are also now working with teens to provide them with internship opportunities to develop high-value skills. We love inspiring teens that have an interest in photography or learning the ins and outs of running a small business.”

In addition to being a self-professed “cheerleader” of the Chamber and attending as many events as possible, Reese is also engaged with Florida Design and Construction Professionals, United Way Next Gen, Handy Homes. Please join us in recognizing Reese for her dedication to the Chamber and our Community! 

Reese Meighan

Perfect Look Photos – Owner, Founder

300 East Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 141, Oakland Park, FL 33334 

T: 954-641-8299 E: info@perfectlookphotos.com W: www.perfectlookphotos.com

Social Media

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/reese-meighan

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerfectLookPhoto 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/perfectlookphotos

Coordinated by the Ambassador Committee, those selected for Member of the Month have gone above and beyond in assisting both the organization and its members. Anyone can submit a nomination; however the recipient must either conduct business with fellow members, refer prospective members or be actively involved on a Council, Committee, Leads Group, Board, Sponsor/Host an event. You can nominate a member here

Upcoming Virtual Business Coaching Event

Board of Directors Application

Interested in becoming a member on the Board of Directors? Click the button below to fill out the form!

Small Business Person of the Year Nomination Form

Social Impact Breakfast - Planned Gifts: A Legacy for Social Good

"Planned Giving refers to all different types of fundraising that you can do in order to fulfill that mission that your nonprofit has. Fundraising is not just about cash. There are so many other components," said attorney Soli Rodriguez, who served as our Social Impact Council Breakfast speaker.

Attorney Rodriguez covered the different possibilities for planned gifts, wills and trusts at the Social Impact Council Breakfast. Jennifer Kovach from Jim Moran Institute, Saranjeet Singh and Jean Dorcelien from New York Life spoke about the happenings and opportunities with their companies as representatives of the sponsors for the event!

Thank you to our hosts, Karen and Tracey Prescod of Bowtie Kids! We'd also like to thank our raffle prize partners, Coppola's Steakhouse, All Natural Wellness Center, and Lirios Massage. Last but certainly not least, we'd like to shoutout our photographer, Reese Meighan, with Perfect Look Photos!

September's New Member Orientation

Today we welcomed in our new class of members here at the Chamber! Thank you to everyone who came to the new member orientation this morning! With over 30 registrants, it was an excellent opportunity for the new members to connect with fellow professionals and ambassadors who were familiar with the member journey.

Victoria Romero of LBU Lighting, Ron Szpatura of Landmark Digital, and other chamber ambassadors gave a few words on maximizing the chamber and it's resources.

LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Image360 Lauderhill recently secured its Experiential Graphic Design Certification while simultaneously adding to their equipment capabilities by investing in a new multi-functional Canon flatbed printer.

With increased bandwidth, the Canon printer can handle intricate details and a diverse range of printing tasks, including printing on substrates such as glass, acrylic, metals and most other flat materials up to 2” thick. The printer also allows Image360 Lauderhill to print ADA-compliant signage, another specialty fabrication offered by the Center.

The certification in experiential design is highly sought-after, and the inclusion of the new high-tech printer will greatly expand the range of signage and graphics solutions that the Center can offer. 

The Image360 Lauderhill location is owned by Brian and Sue Meister, who have operated their business for nearly 20 years. Over that time, they have built a company that is among the largest and most successful within their franchise network. Brian Meister, the company’s President, explains their reasons for seeking out the Experiential Graphic Design (XGD) certification and investing in better technology was as a direct result of his team working closely with many clients on a range of projects that sometimes went beyond the standard sign package requests. 

“An increasing number of our clients were seeking our expertise on highly creative solutions that could enhance and positively impact their buildings, offices, or facilities. Earning this certification provided our team with the necessary training and ability to enhance the services we can provide to our clients,” said Brian. “Being XGD experts and having the right team and technology to successfully deliver on these types of projects really sets us apart.” 

To learn more about Image360 - Lauderhill, visit the company’s website at www.lauderhillfl.image360.com

General

Acoustic Visual Innovations LLC

AKT Fort Lauderdale

Art Prevails Project, Inc.

City Cave Flagler Village

CMG Home Loans

Deliver the Dream

eXp Realty, Success Squad

Five Elements Medical Spa & Wellness Center

FYVE Realty

G&JP Fitness LLC dba 9Round Fort Lauderdale

Grain and Berry

Industrious

Kids In Distress

Landmark Travel

Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey, & Fronrath LLP

Maritime Hotel Fort Lauderdale

Neuwest Technology, Inc.

O'Brien Air Conditioning & Construction Services

Responsive Home Care

Scheffer Mote & Ricks

The Southern Group

Universal Technical Institute

Water Wise Landscape Solutions, LLC

Zebersky Payne Shaw Lewenz

AdvantaClean of Fort Lauderdale

Alison South Marketing Group

Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell, PLCC

Ballyhoo Media

CAN Community Health

Canine Assisted Therapy, Inc.

Colliers International South Florida, LLC

Crush Law P.A.

DRT Behavioral Services - Brain Love

Embraer Executive Aircraft

Federal Highway Self Storage

Firewall Centers

GFR Photography

Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

Hatch

HollandHues LLC

Hooper Construction, Inc.

Image360 - Lauderhill

Judith Stern Consulting, Inc.

Kalis, Kleiman & Wolfe

Kiwanis Club of Fort Lauderdale

LAN Infotech

Las Olas Capital Advisors

LBU LIGHTING

Niroc Consultants, Inc

Oleron, Inc.

One Lifestyle Management - Miami Dade, Broward

Portrayts LLC

Sawyer & Latimer, P.A.

South Florida Institute on Aging - SoFIA

TriMerge Consulting Group, P.A.

Twig, Trade, and Tribunal PLLC

Umbrella Credit Services

VOS CPAs

WestCare - Village South

WSFL-TV

TRUSTEE

Akerman LLP

Broward County Clerk of Court

Early Learning Coalition of Broward County

Gunster

HOTWIRE

Southwest Airlines

Sunshine Health / Centene Mgmt

Leadership Fort Lauderdale is adding a new component to the program! How are you leading yourself? A full day dedicated to leadership training, development, and interaction! For more information, contact Dolores@ftlchamber.com.

Make Your Excellence in Healthcare Awards Nominations Today!

Nominees for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Healthcare Awards are those individuals, programs and entities who provide care, services and innovative programs above and beyond all expectations. These nominees are shining examples of the best and the brightest in our healthcare community. Awards will be presented on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Perspectives on Florida's Healthcare program presented by Broward Health at the Signature Grand. All awardees will be notified by Chamber staff or a member of the Healthcare Council.

The deadline for submitting your nominee is Friday, September 19, 2023. Click here to make your nominations today!

The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, part of the Florida State University, is accepting applications for its Spring 2024 Small Business Executive Program (SBEP) and Nonprofit Executive Program (NPEP) held in South Florida. Offered at no cost to participants, the program is funded by The Jim Moran Foundation and Jan Moran and her late husband, automotive pioneer Jim Moran. The application deadline is Saturday, September 30.

This year, the Jim Moran Institute is celebrating its 10th anniversary of offering these executive programs at no cost to the South Florida community. The South Florida team has guided and graduated 45 classes and more than 700 leaders since its inception in 2013 and they are committed to continue working with the talented entrepreneurs and leaders in their community.

The SBEP is designed for CEOs, entrepreneurs, business owners, and presidents of small businesses, while the NPEP is for executive directors, presidents, and CEOs of nonprofit organizations. Graduates emerge with the skills and training needed to turn challenges into strategic advantages, capitalize on business opportunities, and implement best practice management. Participants represent a variety of industries.

“Learning that I’m not the only one going through some of the struggles as a business owner and the opportunity to meet and network with others was what I found to be most beneficial,” said Max Zaslavsky, owner of Max Zaslavsky DMD and a graduate of the SBEP.

For the full article, click here.

• Broward County Labor Force Numbers:
• Labor Force: 1,071,543
• Employment: 1,040,924
• Unemployment: 30,619
• Percentage Rate: 2.9%

• Projected County Population for Broward by 2027: 2 Million
• The average Florida Hourly Earnings is $24.98
• Fastest Growing Companies - Ranked by Growth Rate:
• Air Pros USA (Hollywood)
• Conquest Cyber (Miramar)
• Cardella Construction Co. (Lauderdale-by-the-sea)
• Stretch Zone (Fort Lauderdale)
• CloudHesive (Fort Lauderdale)

*Stats Provided by GFLA Economic Sourcebook 2023*

The Perspectives on Florida’s Healthcare event is organized by the Chamber’s Healthcare Council, which works to improve our community’s quality of life by catalyzing leadership, growth, innovation, and outcomes. Contact liza@ftlchamber.com for sponsorship information!

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