March 2014 Forum for Business

F O R B U S IN E SS MARCH 2014 | VOL. XXIII, NO. 3

BUY LAKELAND. IT MAKES GOOD CENTS!

FORUM FOR BUSINESS LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

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CH A M BER STAFF K AT H L E E N L . M U N S O N President

KMUNSON@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

BARBARA BENNETT Executive Assistant

BBENNETT@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

SARAH BREED

Administrative Assistant, Member Relations | Public Affairs

SBREED@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

S A L LY C H A P M A N

Vice President, Finance & Administration

LAKELAND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE F O R U M F O R B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY TIMOTHY B. JACKSON | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD NUJAK COMPANIES

K AT H L E E N L . M U N S O N | P U B L I S H E R LAKELAND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SCHAPMAN@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

C A R O LY N J A C K S O N

Senior Vice President, Member Relations

CJACKSON@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

JACQUELINE L. JOHNSON

Senior Vice President, Convention & Visitors Bureau

JACKIEJ@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

AMY S. WIGGINS | EDITOR LAKELAND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

N I C E B R A N D I N G A G E N C Y | C R E AT I V E D I R E C T I O N , P R O D U C T I O N & P H O T O G R A P H Y WWW.BRANDNICELY.COM

K AT I E M C B R I D E Membership Consultant

KMCBRIDE@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

NIKKI OAKLEY

Membership Account Executive

NOAKLEY@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

dining . shopping . nightlife . sports . events . where to stay . what to do

DOWNLOAD FREE APP TODAY! Whether you’re a frequent visitor, a local or a newcomer to Central Florida, this app will lead you to local restaurants, shopping, attractions, night life & other fun things that can be found in Central Florida.

TERRY OTTINGER

Vice President, Membership Development

TOTTINGER@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

RICH ROY

Vice President, Public Affairs

RROY@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

KARA SIMM

Administrative Assistant, Membership Development | Communications

KSIMM@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

PAT T Y S M I T H

Administrative Assistant, Convention & Visitors Bureau

PSMITH@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

AMY WIGGINS

Vice President, Communications

AWIGGINS@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

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35 LAKE MORTON DRIVE PO BOX 3607 LAKELAND, FL 33802-3607 (863) 688-8551 LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM © 2014 Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to refuse certain advertising and is not liable for advertisers claims and/or errors. The opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the position of the Chamber.

exper i e nc e e me r g e : A D eca d e of Im pact

WILLIAM T. LINK, JR. EMERGE CHAIR

CONNECT ] EMERGELakeland.com

Ten years ago, young professionals from across Lakeland gathered to kick off a new initiative brought to life through the joint efforts of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Central Florida. That venture was aimed at bringing together Lakeland’s up and coming professionals and was aptly named EMERGE Lakeland.

I was one of those young professionals who timidly joined the party without much expectation. I had no inkling the importance EMERGE would play in both my professional development and personal life.

“I HAD NO INKLING THE IMPORTANCE EMERGE WOULD PLAY IN BOTH MY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PERSONAL LIFE.” As a young attorney and being new to Lakeland, I was intrigued by (and a little wary of) EMERGE’s mission that encouraged young professionals to build relationships, develop professionally, become politically aware, philanthropically active and contribute to the quality of life in

Lakeland. EMERGE’s mission was exactly what I needed, but I wondered whether the group could actually deliver on its promises.

In the decade that followed, I attended countless events, served on the membership, event and steering committees, chaired the events committee in 2012, and, last year, was honored to be vicechair of EMERGE. This year, it is my pleasure to serve as the chair of EMERGE Lakeland and pray my efforts will impact Lakeland’s young professionals as much as the efforts of my predecessors impacted me.

Ten years removed from EMERGE’s

beginnings, I am proud to say the organization continues to positively impact Lakeland and its young professionals. In 2014, EMERGE has already kicked off its annual membership drive, thrown a Mardi Gras inspired party, educated its membership on how social media impacts professional development, and made huge strides in planning for the rest of the year. We are especially looking forward with great anticipation to the month of May and the return of EMERGE’s annual Follow the Leaders dinner. There is no better venue in Lakeland for providing young professionals

unparalleled access to the candid thoughts and impressions of Lakeland’s movers and shakers. For up-todate information on everything EMERGE is undertaking, please visit our website, EMERGELakeland.com, or visit us on Facebook.

Selfishly, I request employers encourage and incentivize young professionals to actively participate in EMERGE. Selflessly, I encourage young professionals to visit an EMERGE function or two and learn what we have to offer. It will be worth your effort. If you don’t know anyone, still come, and find me. I look forward to meeting you.

FOLLOW US DOWN THE PATH TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS As a comprehensive financial firm, we are allowed an in-depth understanding of our clients’ overall financial positions. By providing accounting, consulting, and wealth management services to both individuals and businesses, we gain an intimate understanding of various financial standpoints, allowing us to advise our clients on the necessary and appropriate steps to achieve financial growth and stability.

212 E HIGHLAND DR SUITE 201 LAKELAND, FL 33813

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A M O N T H LY

TERRY OTTINGER VICE PRESIDENT

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Something that I read last year in the New York Times “You’re the Boss” column has stuck with me. Column author Paul Downs, a cabinetmaker in Pennsylvania, often contributes to the column and was responding to an email seeking input on how best to help entrepreneurs. Downs wrote that he “learned

to separate [unsolicited input] into two categories: advice and actual help.”

Most small business owners, including myself, have probably gotten (and given) more “advice” than “actual help” over the years. Downs is quick to qualify advice as well meant, but also uncommitted. Often advice comes from fellow entrepreneurs or experts

with little understanding of your business, but always with concern for your well-being.

“Actual help” on the other hand, is delivered by someone with a genuine interest in your business and an effort to understand the challenges and wins that you face. As Downs says, “the actual helper provides not only a thoughtful, customized

analysis, but also the resources to put the plan into action.”

As I said in the beginning, this stuck with me. I know that small business owners and entrepreneurs are protective of their ventures – they have often poured every bit of themselves into creating a successful business. And, this commitment can feel not only overwhelming, but lonely. I know. I was there.

For the past eight years, I’ve been working to help small business owners get actual help. We’ve identified three resources that, if you’re willing to let them understand your business, can offer real help to manage and grow your company. And, they’re all free...

CENTRAL FLORIDA SCORE is a part of the national, non-profit organization with more than 11,000 members which began in 1964. A group of working and retired business executives, SCORE volunteers donate time assisting people in the U.S. in starting-up new businesses or providing business counseling for existing businesses. On the fourth Thursday of each month, the Chamber and Central Florida SCORE bring you a Business Roundtable that provides a platform for business topics and interaction from business owners.

THE FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

CONNECT ]

Lakeland & Bartow Offices www.moodylaw.com

LakelandChamber.com 4

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assists existing and emerging businesses in Polk County, through

professional business consulting, training and information The Florida SBDC at USF is part of a statewide partnership of higher education, economic development organizations, chambers and other sponsors dedicated to the economic prosperity of Florida. Whether starting, buying, growing or selling a business, the Florida SBDC at USF has what entrepreneurs need to grow and succeed.

Services include no-cost, confidential business consulting from certified experts in a variety of business topics, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization.

The Florida SBDC at USF holds office hours at the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

POLK COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTER provides professional and confidential consultation to start up business owners as well as existing businesses that want to grow but need help focusing on financing and marketing strategies. In addition to one-on-one consultation, SBAC staff conducts workshops held throughout the county. The SBAC is funded from the County’s Occupational License fees. The SBAC holds office hours at the Chamber on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

Bank of Central Florida

“All the big bank conveniences, but better personal service.”

Edward J. Garcia, MD MicroPath Laboratories

MicroPath Laboratories is an independent diagnostic anatomic pathology laboratory staffed by board certified pathologists.

They have supported physicians in the treatment of their patients in the Central Florida area for the past 45 years.

Jennifer Vaughn, Vice President/ Commercial Lending with Brian J. Yoder, DO, PhD, Edward Garcia, MD, and Ricardo E. Duque, MD with Jennifer Adams, Vice President/ Private Banking Officer.

“The people at Bank of Central Florida are extremely helpful,” says Dr. Ed Garcia. “They specialize in the needs of the medical profession. I have relied on them for all of my personal and professional banking for years.”

Get started with Mobile Banking today Downtown Lakeland 101 South Florida Avenue 863-682-7100 South Lakeland 5015 South Florida Avenue 863-701-2685 Bartow 515 North Broadway Avenue 863-534-3585

Member FDIC

www.bankofcentralflorida.com

Leade r s hip L a k e l a n d A lumni A s s o ci at i o n

CONNECT ] LeadershipLakeland Alum.com

In 1984, the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association (LLAA) was formed.

Its mission was to “maintain a proactive organization responsive to a diverse membership and to work to improve the quality of life in our community.” 30 years later, the Alumni Association continues to grow and remain one of the foremost leadership organizations in the community. The key to its success diversity!

The group’s diverse membership spans over six decades with alumni ranging in ages from 26 to 86. Each alumnus brings his or her special leadership talents and skills from professions ranging from small business entrepreneurs to CEO’s of corporations.

Having an organization of members with diverse ages, professions, and ethnic backgrounds allows LLAA to be a valuable resource for the community.

The Alumni Association members give back to the

community in a variety of ways.

Judging the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, facilitating the ODK High School Leadership Conference, and stuffing backpacks for homeless students in the community are just a few of the outreach opportunities afforded every member. This year, LLAA begins two very different programs. “Inspiring the Leader in Youth” Programs will be offered throughout the community to high school students.

Members will share their professional stories with a focus on their “Journey to Lakeland” and why they choose to remain in this community.

Additionally, the “Worthy Outreach Work” Program, known as WOW, will allow every member to get involved in a variety of community services. LLAA will provide manpower and/or funding to local nonprofit organizations

with worthy projects.

Finally, LLAA is also known for its diversity of events and activities.

Informative programs, social activities, and networking opportunities occur throughout the year.

Join us March 13 as we enjoy an evening at the Polk Theatre watching “Ernie”.

Have lunch with us on March 25 and hear from transportation experts from Tampa to Orlando at the Mass Transit Summit at the Lakeland Center. April 25 is family time as we enjoy an evening with the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Throughout the year, LLAA members and their guests can stay connected and stay informed in many different ways.

Diversity is defined as “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements especially the inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization.” Its diverse membership, events, activities and outreach opportunities make the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association synonymous with diversity, and it is very proud of the role it plays in the Lakeland community.

Thursday March 13 11:30 a.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings US Highway 98 N $25 Members Only Limited Seating

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JIM PARRISH GROWTH ACCELERATION SERVICES DIRECTOR FLORIDA SBDC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

When interviewing growth acceleration service clients about their business, Florida SBDC at USF certified business consultants ask, “What are your most important duties?” Typical responses include: n Setting the strategic vision for the company n Motivating personnel n Establishing tactics to be used in the business n Developing the next level of leadership for the company n Improving the operational and financial

performance of the business.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES INVOLVE WORKING ON THE BUSINESS. Then they ask, “What takes up most of your time?” Rarely do the answers match. Typical answers include: n Doing the sales n Dealing with employee questions and problems n Keeping the accounting records for the company n Handling customer complaints

STACEY PIERCE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER FLORIDA SBDC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

INABILITY TO HIRE, TRAIN AND MOTIVATE STAFF The inability to hire, train and motivate staff leads to high error rates,

which takes up too much of an owner’s time. “You find that instead of

producing sales for your company to make money, you’re spending time

retraining employees and constantly going in and correcting their work and dealing with their mistakes,” Parrish said.

Hiring qualified employees is often a time-consuming process. Owners

often hope to just plug an employee in and watch them hit the ground

running. Many business owners lack any knowledge or training on how

to hire, train, and motivate employees. They frequently take those skills

for granted, assuming it is just a matter of common sense. Therefore, they will ignore the personality traits and learning capacity of the candidates.

In addition, many owners are not good motivators. They believe providing a paycheck should be sufficient motivation for people to not only meet but exceed the owner’s expectations. Yet for many people, receiving a

paycheck would cause them to only meet the minimum expectations of their employer. These people need additional motivation to achieve exceptional performance.

n Buying merchandise for the company, and filling in for absent

employees.

IN ESSENCE, THE OWNERS ARE WORKING IN THEIR BUSINESS.

Parrish said, “Educate yourself by taking classes in human resource management. Even if it’s going out and getting HR for Dummies – it gives you very basic tools and policies, as well as makes you aware of legal issues.”

In addition, he recommends developing a hiring checklist and questionnaire

Why do business owners spend so much of their time on tasks that do little to contribute to the future growth and performance of the company?

“If you spend all your time working in your business, the odds are you are not going to become all that you can be,” Jim Parrish, growth acceleration services director, said. Parrish lists five primary tasks that get in the way of small business owners taking their businesses to the next level, and how to overcome them.

to be used in the hiring process for each job position and including questions designed to determine personality traits and learning capacity.

After finding the right candidate, train and develop them. Provide paths for future advancement within the company. Develop and implement programs designed to incentivize and motivate including rewarding people not only based upon their performance but the overall performance of the company.

INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE

TOO MUCH TIME SPENT ON THE WRONG THINGS

“In the business world, we’re trying to create a vision or a mission of

what we’re trying to accomplish,” Parrish said. “It’s easy to see that in your head as the owner, but the trick is communicating in a fashion that your employees are getting the same vision.”

If employees do not truly understand the vision and mission of an

organization, they may not be communicating things that the owner needs to know. You need feedback from employees to ensure that you’re meeting

the demands of the market, because they are often the person in front of the customer. In addition, employees who feel empowered can have suggestions on what it is you need to do to improve the operations of the business.

Owners may tend to blame the employees for the resulting confusion

and ineffectiveness. Yet, the problem may truly exist because of the owner’s inability to provide clear, concise and precise directions.

Business owners are under constant pressure from the demands for

their time by their customers, suppliers, employees, and other parties.

Frequently, they are asked to solve problems or provide answers.

Sometimes, they overly control things. They may not delegate any authority to make decisions.

“This is a matter of the squeaky wheel,” Parrish said. “You go in and throw

some axle grease on it and you never really figure out why it’s squeaking.

Eventually, it falls off.”

Business owners have a tendency to focus on the immediate crisis. They

may work on the situation that is in their face regardless of its importance while completely ignoring the actions necessary for the future economic

health of the company. At the end of the year, they haven’t gotten any better at their businesses.

Parrish recommends business owners focus on learning how to speak

Parrish recommends that every business owner takes 15 to 20 minutes out of

in a variety of situations. “While you can take classes, my number one

every day to sit down with their key advisers and ask, “What can we do today to

recommendation is join an organization like Toastmasters,” he said. Learn how

make more money than we did yesterday?”

to communicate in a clear, concise, and precise manner. Remember, when there is confusion, it is probably your fault.

“This, to me, is the biggest secret in being a successful entrepreneur,” he said.

“Having a clear sense of vision and taking a regular amount of time daily to think about that vision.”

In addition, owners need to prioritize their duties based upon importance,

AVOIDING THE USE OF PROFESSIONALS

amount of time required to complete, and potential for delegation.

“When a business owners start out, they have a tendency to do

everything themselves, including things they’re not very good at, like

financials,” Parrish said. The most common example is the avoidance of

using outside professionals for certain services such as accounting, website design and maintenance, social media and legal.

So the owner spends an abnormal amount of time doing tasks for which

he/she is ineffective or inefficient instead of performing more important

responsibilities. In truth, professionals that do these are fairly inexpensive and owners can then concentrate on things that drive revenues.

After doing a cost versus benefit analysis, where appropriate, use outside professionals in order to allow you to spend your time on the most important

LACK OF TRUST “It relates back to all other issues in the business,” Parrish said. “Lack of trust basically means the person who lacks trust becomes less productive because they’re spending so much time checking on what other people are doing.”

Some owners spend an inordinate amount of time attempting to oversee and

control their employees. They may have developed that belief from their own life experiences and disappointments. Often this belief was developed due to

the owner not having the ability to adequately communicate and/or motivate people. Yet, those owners will rarely consider themselves to be at fault. They find fault with others.

things necessary for the long-term economic health of the company. Parrish also recommends installing an advisory board. “There’s always a different way

“You’ve got to give trust to get trust at the end of the day,” Parrish said. Get good

of looking at things and you need to know about them, even if you don’t agree

at hiring, training, and developing quality people. The hiring process is a key

with them, and account for them in the design of your business.”

ingredient to this equation that is often overlooked. “I believe you hire based on intellectual capacity, personality traits, how easily motivated they are – put less emphasis on experience,” Parrish added.

Improve your communication skills and learn how to motivate people. Give people a learning opportunity.

Remember that most people learn more from their failures than their successes. So don’t write your employees off because once they failed. The lessons they learned in failure may allow them to exceed your expectations in the future.

“You have to understand what motivates people – people learn in different ways and approach things differently,” he said. “In managing human resources, it’s all about finding out what their hot button is. What is the thing they get excited about? If you do a good job of training people and giving the an opportunity on the front end, knowing that they’re going to need

a significant amount of hand-holding, those are the people who can become your superstars.”

By overcoming these five common mistakes, owners will have the time necessary to work on their businesses, allowing them to focus on the duties critical to the future health and development of the business.

smal l b u s i n e s s o f t h e mon t h

PARRISH & PARRISH CPA’S, P.A. WADE PARRISH

(863) 709-8337 6700 S Florida Ave, Ste 19 & 20 Lakeland, FL 33813

CONNECT ] www.parrishcpas.com

If you are traveling south of Lakeland on Florida Avenue, you may not notice the offices of Parrish & Parrish CPA’s, P.A. But back from the busy road, on the shores of beautiful Lake Clark, is where professional accounting practices meet up with individualized services.

Parrish & Parrish is where Duke Parrish, CPA, Wade Parrish, CPA, and their capable staff work to, as their motto says, “make sure your numbers add up.” With more than 50 years of public

accounting experience in the Lakeland area, Parrish & Parrish provides clients a unique and unmatched service in the accounting market place.

Duke Parrish has been in the accounting field in Lakeland since 1970. His expertise also involves working with state and local attorneys to provide detailed analysis and valuations on land, eminent domain issues, as well as estate and divorce litigation. Wade Parrish has practiced public accounting in Central Florida since

1996, providing high quality, proactive and personalized service to a wide variety of clients ranging from individuals to small and mid-size companies in various industries. The staff and partners of Parrish & Parrish have continuing education on QuickBooks and the staff has earned QuickBook Proadvisor certification in every area that QuickBooks offers.

The firm supports our community with their participation in Kiwanis, Leadership Lakeland

and several professional associations. Through their active volunteerism and financial support of their churches and other nonprofit entities, the partners and staff serve the Lakeland community. In recent years, the Parrish family has had a family member endure the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. From this experience, the firm has responded with fundraising efforts to help those with this dreaded disease through their support of the

BY GARY E. CLEVELAND,

SMALL BUSINESS

OF THE MONTH

COMMITTEE CHAIR GARY CLEVELAND PRESENTS THE

FEBRUARY SMALL

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH AWARD

TO WADE PARRISH. ALSO PICTURED: DUKE PARRISH.

SCAN HERE WITH YOUR SMART PHONE APP FOR A SHORT VIDEO ABOUT PARRISH & PARRISH CPA’S

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Alzheimer’s Association.

By taking time with each client and by providing accounting, bookkeeping, tax planning and preparation and business consulting, employees at Parrish & Parrish have committed themselves to the Lakeland community.

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Parrish & Parrish CPA’s, P.A.as the Small Business of the Month Award winner for February 2014.

CLEVELAND & COMPANY, INC / ALLSTATE

THE

MATTERS OF

WANT TO KNOW WHY BEING A MEMBER OF THE LAKELAND AREA CHAMBER IS SO BECOMING? READ ON...

CALENDAR

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

NEW MEMBERS

POWER OF PERSPECTIVE

THE LAKELAND CHAMBER

Prices

LUNCH AND PROGRAM $30 CORPORATE TABLE OF 10 $350

Date Thursday,

MARCH 27, 2014

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Time

Location

Program Starts Promptly at 11:45 a.m.

701 W Lime St

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM The Lakeland Center

FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKER,

MARILYN CROUTHER

Senior Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Public Sector HP Enterprise Services Hewlett-Packard Company

Register: Perspective.LakelandChamber.com

Marilyn Crouther, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the U.S. Public Sector Region for HP Enterprise Services will be the keynote speaker at the GEICO Power of Perspective luncheon on March 27, 2014.

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce and GEICO are honored to bring Ms. Crouther to our community to speak about her life experiences as an African American woman soaring to the leadership heights of HewlettPackard as well as insights on the ways Hewlett-Packard has sustained its global market with such success.

Growing up in a single-parent home in Jackson, Mississippi, Ms. Crouther faced a number of adversities and obstacles. She is living proof that much success can come from overcoming those adversities and firmly believes that with a good education, hard work and the power of perspective, one can chart his or her own destiny.

Ms. Crouther is one of the newest inductees into the Wash100, the premier group of leaders who drive innovation and growth at the intersection of the public and private sectors. She was named one of the Top 10 CFOs to Watch by Executive Biz and the Group/ Division CFO of the Year by the Northern Virginia Technology Council CFO Awards. Ms. Crouther has also been recognized as a Professional Achievement Award winner by the National Women of Color Technology organization and a finalist in the March of Dimes Heroines in Technology. Ms. Crouther won the Community Service Award from the Northern Virginia Technology Council CFO Awards.

Ms. Crouther holds a bachelor’s degree in professional accountancy from Mississippi State University, is a certified public accountant licensed in Texas and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She completed the Thunderbird Garvin School of International Management Executive Leadership Program. She is active in the community and participates on a number of boards in the Washington, D.C. area.

T H U R S D AY

(863) 688-8551 Ext. 228

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march 2014 dates TUESDAY, MARCH 4 CHAMBER NEXT

4

MON 10

MONDAY, MARCH 10 EMERGE LAKELAND STEERING COMMITTEE

WED 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

4:00 p.m.

THUR 13

THURSDAY, MARCH 13 LEADERSHIP LAKELAND AREA ECONOMY DAY

5:30 p.m.

Grow Financial Federal Credit Union 2645 S Florida Ave

WED 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 SCRAMBLED EGGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA WITH EMERGE

8 a.m.

Webster University – Lakeland Campus 1479 Town Center Dr, Suite 202, Lakeland

THUR 13

THUR 20

THUR 27

WED 19

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

THUR 27

THURSDAY, MARCH 27 SCORE ROUND TABLE

3:45 p.m.

Chamber Briefing Room

Noon Grasslands Golf & Country Club 1600 Grasslands Blvd.

7:30 a.m.

Lakeland Chamber 35 Lake Morton Dr

All Day

THURSDAY, MARCH 13 SCHMOOZE A’PALOOZA,

MON 17

11:30 a.m.

Buffalo Wild Wings 3750 US Highway 98 N

MONDAY, MARCH 17 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS COMMITTEE MEETING 11:45 a.m.

Chamber Briefing Room

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

5:30 p.m.

Office Furniture Depot 2440 US Highway 98 N

THURSDAY, MARCH 27 POWER OF PERSPECTIVE

11:30 a.m.

The Lakeland Center 701 W Lime St, Lakeland

MONDAY

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CHAMBER NEXT | 5:30 P.M.

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EMERGE LAKELAND STEERING COMMITTEE 3:45 P.M.

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SCRAMBLED EGGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA WITH EMERGE | 8 A.M. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING | 4:00 P.M.

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SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS COMMITTEE | 11:45 A.M.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING | NOON

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SCHMOOZE A’PALOOZA 11:30 A.M.

20 28 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS 5:30 P.M.

27 28 SCORE ROUND TABLE 7:30 A.M. POWER OF PERSPECTIVE 11:30 A.M.

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LEADERSHIP LAKELAND AREA ECONOMY DAY ALL DAY

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Ev ent HI G HLI GH T S 01

02

JANUARY BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Hosted by Waller Construction, Inc. and Sihle-Waller Insurance

01 | Chairman Tim Jackson of NuJack

Companies presents the Plaque of Appreciation to Brian Waller of Waller Construction, Inc. and Jimmy Waller of Sihle-Waller Insurance. Thank you for hosting this event!

02 | Numerous door prizes were given

away and more than 200 members came out to support the Waller family!

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03 | Gary Clark of CPS Investments,

Mike Carew of Spherion Staffing, Harold McLeod, III and Cathy Hopkins of SunTrust Bank smiled for the camera!

HEALTH CARE SUMMIT Hosted by OMS Group, Inc.

04 | Jessica Waltman, the Senior Vice

04

05

President of Government Affairs for the National Association of Health Underwriters presented the latest developments in health care legislation.

05 | More than 50 participants were

present to learn how these changes will affect their business in the coming year and what they need to do to prepare.

27TH ANNUAL ECONOMIC FORECAST BREAKFAST

Sponsored by Allen & Company of Florida, Inc.

06 | Brian Wesbury, Vice President 06

07

and Chief Economist at First Trust Advisors L.P.

07 | Dr. Tony Villamil, Founder and

Principal of the Washington Economics Group, Inc.

08 | More than 500 people attended

the 27th Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast at The Lakeland Center. The event was hosted by the Lakeland Chamber and Allen & Company of Florida, Inc.

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CHAIRMAN ’S CIRCLE Lanier Upshaw Is very proud to announce that Kathryn Koch, Vice President, has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation. Candidates for the CLU® designation must complete a minimum of eight courses and 16 hours of supervised examinations. They must also fulfill stringent experience and ethics requirements.

Kathryn is now part of an elite group of more than 102,000 professionals who have earned the CLU® designation since the American College was founded in 1927.

Bank of Central Florida Watson Clinic LLP Pleased to announce the addition of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon Alberto M. Maldonado, MD, to the cardiovascular surgery team. Dr. Maldonado will perform surgical procedures at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, and maintain an outpatient office at Watson Clinic’s Main location, 1600 Lakeland Hills Boulevard in Lakeland. His areas of expertise include coronary artery revascularization, valve replacement and repair, peripheral vascular revascularization and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. He is board-certified in both general surgery and thoracic surgery.

Paul Noris, President and CEO of Bank of Central Florida, announced Marilyn Watson has joined the bank as Vice President/Commercial Lending in the Downtown Office. Ms. Watson was most recently in Commercial Banking for Wells Fargo Bank.

The Salvation Army Welcomes five new Advisory Board Members for 2014. The distinguished group consists of Pastor E.T. Pickett, III of Word Alive Ministries, Bob English of Valiant Products Inc., Dale Dreyer of CenterState Bank, Joel Vogel of CF Industries and Michael Spake of Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Rita Staffing Would like to congratulate several members of their team for achieving industry certifications in 2013. The following were successful in achieving a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) through the HR Certification Institute: Stephanie Lloyd, Christina Baker, Jennifer Rider, and Lori Peeples. In addition, team member Dustin Shay achieved his Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) designation and Certified Staffing Consultant (CSC). Rita Staffing is honored and proud of having a total 19 members of staff with industry related certifications.

Kimley-Horn and Associates Was named to Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. To pick the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Fortune partners with the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America. According to Fortune, Kimley-Horn and Associates stands out because “each office of this design consulting firm has an official VP of Fun, who organizes paper-airplane competitions, ice cream parties, and more.”

THE LAKELAND CHAMBER PRINTS BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS EACH MONTH AS SPACE PERMITS. PLEASE EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MOTM@LAKELANDCHAMBER.COM

season tickets on sale now contact our office, mention this ad and get a free parking pass with season ticket purchase www.marineraiders.com 14

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855-raider1

Special thanks to Mayor Howard Wiggs, Mayor Pro Tem Keith Merritt, Commissioner Justin Troller, Commissioner Phillip Walker, and all the Board Members and Chamber Champions who truly make these ceremonies special events.

LAKELAND TAX COLLECTOR SERVICE CENTER

TRUE BUILDERS, INC.

916 N MASSACHUSETTS AVE | (863) 534-4700

3914 S FLORIDA AVE | (863) 647-1800

Lakeland, FL 33801

Lakeland, FL 33813

POLKTAXES.COM

TRUE-BUILDERS.COM

TLC PETSNIP

DIGITAL BOARDWALK

CINEMARK LAKELAND SQUARE MALL

1701 E GARY RD | (863) 686-7647

116 S TENNESSEE AVE, STE 204 | (863) 456-2225

3800 US HIGHWAY 98 N | (863) 859-3140

Lakeland, FL 33805

Lakeland, FL 33801

Lakeland, FL 33809

TLCPETSNIP.ORG

DIGITALBOARDWALK.COM

CINEMARK.COM

DORIS A SANDERS LEARNING CENTER

FRENCH FRY HEAVEN LAKELAND

LAKELAND ANIMAL NUTRITION, INC.

1201 ENCHANTED DR | (863) 499-2980

3800 US HIGHWAY 98 N | (863) 698-0359

2801 S COMBEE RD | (863) 682-4995

Lakeland, FL 33801

Lakeland, FL 33809

Lakeland, FL 33809

POLK-FL.NET/DSLC

FRENCHFRYHEAVEN.COM/LOCATIONS/FLORIDA/ LAKELAND/LAKELAND-SQUARE-MALL

LANFEEDS.COM

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RECREATIONAL POOLS SPAS & MORE

PARTNERS DEZAYAS FRIEL, LLC 5115 S FLORIDA AVE LAKELAND, FL 33813 (863) 904-4710 DEZAYASFRIEL.COM BRUNO DEZAYAS ATTORNEYS

509 W BRANDON BLVD BRANDON, FL 33511 (813) 324-8824 RECPOOLSSPASANDMORE.COM JEAN MULLEN RETAIL

UNIQUE POOLS SPAS PATIO N MORE 2326 E EDGEWOOD DR LAKELAND, FL 33803 (863) 940-9826 RODNEY KEHOE RETAIL

GUITAR CENTER

3165 US HIGHWAY 98 N LAKELAND, FL 33809 (863) 688-4590 GUITARCENTER.COM JASON FILIPIPINI MUSIC STORES/INSTRUMENTS

BUSINESS BUILDERS AMERICAN SOLAR ENERGY LLC 5109 MEADOWS END LAKELAND, FL 33810 (863) 859-7800 THEREALSOLARMAN.COM JASON OBERMILLER SOLAR ENERGY CONTRACTOR

CORE WEALTH ADVISORS, INC

231 N KENTUCKY AVE, STE 217 LAKELAND, FL 33802 (863) 904-4745 COREWEALTHADVISORSINC.COM NATHAN DUNHAM FINANCIAL PLANNING

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. 306 E MAIN ST, STE 200 LAKELAND, FL 33801 (863) 688-4441 DIVERSIFIEDFINANCIALPARTNERS.COM WILLIAM H. WAKEMAN III FINANCIAL PLANNING

FLORIDA RESTORATION SPECIALIST

CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT (863) 667 1696 FLORIDARESTORATIONSPECIALIST.COM TOM MORGAN CLEANERS - WATER & SMOKE DAMAGE

HELPING HAND NURSING SERVICES, INC. 1948 E EDGEWOOD DR LAKELAND, FL 33813 (863) 616-1888 JAMES GOLD HEALTH CARE - HOME HEALTH CARE

Each month, the Chamber enlists the help of 20 volunteers to mentor new and current members with involvement in Chamber events and programs.

This month, the Chamber staff would like to recognize Kim Hooten, Community Relations Manager at Comfort Keepers for her outstanding attention to Chamber members and attendance at events! Kim is a wonderful asset to the Chamber and to the Lakeland community!

KIM HOOTEN

COMFORT KEEPERS Community Relations Manager

IMA WELLNESS CENTER

4729 US HWY 98 S, STE 102 LAKELAND, FL 33812 (855) 694-6432 IMAWELLNESS.COM KARYNA DUARTE HEALTH CARE - HEALTH & WELLNESS

INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATION ACADEMY CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT (561) 809-9424 NEGOTIATION-ACADEMY.COM MANIE SPOELSTRA, M.D. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

MERIDIEN RESEARCH

3133 LAKELAND HILLS BLVD LAKELAND, FL 33805 (863) 940-2087 NEWSTUDYINFO.COM JESSICA SIMMONS HEALTH CARE - HEALTH & WELLNESS

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During the month of January our Visitor Information Center assisted hundreds of individuals, answering questions pertaining to Chamber member businesses and the Lakeland community.

WALK-IN VISITORS...................................... 583 RELOCATION RESPONSE MAILINGS............. 8 RELOCATION RESPONSE (WALK IN)........... 26 ACCOMMODATIONS...................................... 0 WINTER ACCOMMODATIONS....................... 0 VISITOR INFORMATION MAILINGS............. 18 VISITOR CENTER E-MAIL INQUIRIES......... 105

20

+

YEARS

1972 | 42 YEARS

1990 | 24 YEARS

BB & T

LAKELAND HOUSING AUTHORITY

1979 | 35 YEARS

1994 | 20 YEARS

HEACOCK INSURANCE GROUP

AMERICAN RED CROSS MID-FLORIDA REGION

1947 | 67 YEARS

1981 | 33 YEARS

LANIER UPSHAW, INC.

OVERHEAD DOOR CO. OF POLK COUNTY

1950 | 64 YEARS

1983 | 31 YEARS

PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHERS

HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF LAKELAND, INC.

WONN/WPCV/WLKF/WWRZ RADIO

1984 | 30 YEARS

1951 | 63 YEARS

HILLIARD & DIETRICH ORTHODONTICS

PAYNE AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING, INC.

PEACE RIVER CENTER

1953 | 61 YEARS

15

YEARS LAKELAND ESTATES MHC STERLING PLACE

REGISTER CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING, INC.

1985 | 29 YEARS

BUTTERKRUST BAKERY LAKELAND

BETT BLACKMON, INC.

1963 | 51 YEARS

SIGNS & SPECIALTIES, INC.

HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP

1987 | 27 YEARS

1966 | 48 YEARS

CITRUS CONNECTION

LAKELAND EYE CLINIC

10

YEARS LAKESIDE VILLAGE REGIONS BANK

L E MANS APARTMENT SUITES TROIANO & ROBERTS, P.A.

1967 | 47 YEARS M C KAY ENTERPRISES

1971 | 43 YEARS

BLACKMON ROBERTS GROUP, INC.

1989 | 25 YEARS NEWBERRY’S REFRIGERATION, INC.

WHITLOCK PACKAGING CORPORATION

5

YEARS ELDER LAW FIRM CLEMENTS & WALLACE, P.L.

n a c k e e w a t One nigh

E F I L R U O Y E CHANG

eland

1479

du/lak e r. te s b e w • 9 0 63-687-93 8 2 0 2 e it u S , e Town Center Driv

Webster University educates professionals in the Lakeland area through our accredited master’s degree programs. Classes are taught by academically qualified faculty who are practitioners in their fields. The classes are the right size for learning and the perfect place for networking. Apply today!

For a complete program listing go to webster.edu/lakeland No GRE/GMAT • Classes one night a week Webster University, founded in 1915 with its home campus based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is the only Tier 1, private, nonprofit university with campus locations around the world including metropolitan, military, online and corporate, as well as American-style traditional campuses in North America, Europe and Asia.

EC-2476 Generic.indd 1

Be a part of what’s next.

F O R U M F O R B U S I N8/13/13 ESS

8:33 | AM 17

2 014 Hat’s O f f t o Ch a m ber M em bers 01

02

2014 HAT’S OFF TO CHAMBER MEMBERS

Hosted by Florida Technical College EACH YEAR, 75 VOLUNTEERS ASSIST THE CHAMBER IN DELIVERING NEW MEMBERSHIP MATERIALS TO OUR 1,700 MEMBERS. THIS YEAR, VOLUNTEERS WERE SURPRISED BY EIGHT “SECRET HAT” COMPANIES AND A $25 GIFT!

01 | Chairman of the Board Tim 03

04

Jackson (NuJak Companies) welcomed 75 volunteers present to help kick off the 2014 Hat’s Off to Chamber Members. Thank you Florida Technical College for hosting everyone!

02 | Chef Scot Hill and his team from

Publix Aprons Cooking School cooked up delicious made to order omelets for all the volunteers.

05

06

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING “SECRET HAT” COMPANIES AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE PRESENTED WITH “SECRET HAT” GIFTS!

03 | All American Fire & Safety, Inc.

presented to Jacky Giovanardi of Spherion Staffing.

04 | Citizens Bank and Trust presented

to Gina Bullock of The Pet Nanny.

05 | Ettensohn Agency/AllState 07

08

presented to Stephanie Colon of Community Southern Bank.

06 | Fifth Third Bank presented to

Sheree Saulter of Webster University.

07 | Lakeland Automall-Ford &

Hyundai presented to Kent Longo of Mulling Insurance Agency, Inc.

08 | Medina Law Group, P.A.

presented to Ron Reeves of Choice Communications, LLC.

10

08 09

09 | Spherion Staffing presented to

Nathan Headley of Headley Insurance Agency.

10 | Edward Jones Investements/

Greg West presented to Kim Hooten of Comfort Keepers.

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Q uic k Ti p s f o r S u cce s s ful E n t re pren eurs

DAWN DECAMINADA

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTER

CONNECT ]

Whether you are just starting your business or you have been in business for a few years, juggling the roles of a small business owner can sometimes become overwhelming and in some cases can eventually cause a business to fail. Here are the top three tips to think about before starting your business and if you are already in business start to implement today.

TIP NUMBER ONE

TIP NUMBER TWO

HAVE A PLAN.

KNOW YOUR WEAKNESSES.

Many first-time business owners think that a business plan is only useful if you are going to a bank to ask for money. A business plan is a valuable tool for every business owner. However, not every business owner feels comfortable writing one. You don’t have to be an English major to develop a plan or a strategy. Start with a few goals and objectives for your business and from there your idea will start to grow, and remember the safest place for your business plan in on paper not in your head!

Most small business owners have a tendency to lean more towards marketing their idea rather than managing the books. When your business is your passion, you want to get out and share your excitement with everybody. The excitement of drumming up business can cause you to lose focus on the less exciting tasks like managing cash flow. If you know your weakness, you can work towards your strengths. Recognizing your weaknesses sometimes means handing over the reins.

TIP NUMBER THREE

BUDGET FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. The majority of us are not professional accountants, lawyers or marketing geniuses so why do we feel we should take on all of those roles as small business owners? If you feel comfortable doing your own taxes, go for it! If you don’t know the difference between a 1040 and WD-40 then it’s probably time to talk to a professional.

THESE TIPS WILL HELP GET YOU STARTED OR BACK ON TRACK WITH YOUR BUSINESS AND ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.

CFDC.org/SBAC

The Community Foundations of Greater Lakeland & Greater Winter Haven are joining together...

In 1997, 18 residents who cared about shaping their city’s future established the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland. Four years later, community-minded citizens of another nearby city partnered with the Lakeland group and the Community Foundation of Winter Haven was born.

These foundations have proven to be reputable, efficient places to invest dollars that grow to do tremendous good. In 2014, the decision was made to combine their resources and form one community foundation that is capable of doing even greater work throughout the Polk County region and beyond.

Unified and accountable with a new name and brand identity, this strengthened foundation is better equipped to give help...give hope…give well.

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po l k E c onomi c U p dat e L AKEL AND - WIN TER HAVEN

1,000

DR. JAMES FARRELL, CFA

FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE

CPS Investment Advisors is proud to underwrite the research and preparation of the Polk Progress report

800

600

400 JUN 2007

CONNECT ] FLSouthern.edu/ PolkProgress

DEC 2007

The markets started 2014 with the biggest January losses since 2009, with the DJIA falling 5%, the S&P 500 falling 3%, and the NASDAQ falling 2%, with most of the

damage occurring in the final two weeks of the month. Given the run the markets took at the end of 2013, it was not surprising, however, as many analysts were expecting

CHAMBER

NEXT Learn waht’s NEXT for maximizing your membership

Tuesday, March 4 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Grow Financial Federal Credit Union 2645 S Florida Ave

No Charge for Members Seating is Limited, Please RSVP at LakelandChamber.com 20

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NOV 2008

OCT 2009

SEP 2010

a pull back. Fears over the impact of the Federal Reserve tapering their bond buying programs have subsided for now, as interest rate changes leveled off in January

AUG 2011

JUL 2012

falling from 4.5% back to 4.25%. With home values continuing to rise, albeit at a slowing rate, the increasing demand for new mortgages and the eventual reduction in demand for mortgagebacked securities from the Federal Reserve will likely lead to higher interest rates by the end of the year.

The economic recovery continues as GDP growth for the third quarter of 2013 was revised upward to 4.1% and the fourth quarter’s initial estimate came in at 3.2%, although we limped out of 2013 with only 74,000 new jobs, compared to an average of 182,000 jobs per month for the year. Consumer spending, particularly in the food service and accommodation category was up, with gains of 3.3% and 10.2%, respectively.

These gains are a positive signal that consumers are beginning to spend with confidence again.

JUN 2013 Average weekly wages continue to rise in Polk County, reaching $701.28 for private industry workers in December.

This represents a 7.3% year-over-year gain, outpacing both Florida, which came in at a 1.2% gain, and the nation, which came in at a 1.5% gain. While Polk County was harder hit during the recession, the improvements during 2013 put it near its high in comparison to Florida. It currently sits at 91.3% of Florida’s average weekly wage, while it has been 87% on average. We currently sit at 83.0% of the national average, in comparison to early 2007 levels, which hovered around 90%.

With the improving economy, we should expect to see continued improvements in Polk County in comparison to both Florida and the nation. Rebounding real estate prices will continue to drive activity as well as new construction in the coming year.

p u bli c pol i cy

SOME OF THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO BOTH CHAMBERS INCLUDE: AGRICULTURE/WATER

RICH ROY

PUBLIC AFFAIRS VICE PRESIDENT

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHAMBER’S PRIORITIES ONLINE AT...

CONNECT ] LakelandChamber.com

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce understands that today’s professionals are busy focusing on the day-to-day responsibilities of their business operations, and may find it difficult to be active in public policy debates that will determine the future business climate.

Each year, the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee develops a Legislative Agenda. Memberdriven policies are created after engaging discussion and debate, with input from leading experts and our members.

Local items added to the 2014 agenda include supporting the Spring Training retention of the Detroit Tigers and funding for Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Peace River Crisis Center and Salvation Army.

The Lakeland Chamber works closely with our partners at the Florida Chamber to advocate for businessfriendly legislation that helps to grow small business and the state’s economy.

Supporting alternative water supplies, projects and investments.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Supporting Enterprise Florida, Rural Economic Development, QTI & Tech Industries and International Trade-Ports.

LICENSING/PERMITTING Support cost-savings and improved efficiencies in state government, reducing spending and burdensome regulations on business.

HEALTHCARE INTERNET SALES TAX LOCAL ISSUES Supporting Spring Training Retention of the Detroit Tigers, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Peace River Center and Salvation Army.

EDUCATION Supporting local K-12 initiatives and higher education institutions such as Florida Polytechnic University, Florida Southern College, Southeastern University, Keiser University and Polk State College.

Maria Mahoney, member of the Lakeland Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee and a member of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors, attended a press conference with Gov. Rick Scott announcing plans to reduce and eventually eliminate the sales tax on commercial leases.

People-to-People Tour of CUBA October 12-19, 2014 For Details:

$3,599 from Tampa

Travel.LakelandChamber.com (863) 688-8551 Ext. 228

department of the treasury cuban assets control regulation license no: CT-2013-2299886-1 pending renewal approval

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COMMON

TA S T E

a of local business o n e c u p at a t i m e

The Common

Grounds member

feature gives your business the

opportunity to showcase “a day in the

life” of your employees and customers.

Each month, one of the door prizes at

the Business After Hours event will be a Common Grounds Lakeland Chamber coffee mug & the opportunity to submit a 350 word article about your local business.

JULIE PURDIE

| POP-A-LOCK | POPALOCKPOLK.COM

Every day is different at Pop-A-Lock of Polk County. Maybe that’s what makes our dedicated team of technicians and locksmiths enjoy this job so much. While no two days are ever the same, here’s a snapshot of an average day …

3:06 am — “Car Door Unlocking.” Our day has officially begun, but since our business is open 24 hours a day, I suppose it never really closes.

9:15 am — A dealer, who has purchased seven cars at auction, needs keys made for all of them. My locksmith and I meet him on location for our first job for our new client.

10:45 am — Employee turnover at a business. The owner needs all the locks rekeyed and the safe set to a new combination before the day’s end.

Noon — EMERGE Lakeland luncheon. While the day is hectic, we still need to grow our business.

2:22 pm — 911 dispatch calls about a nine month old trapped in a Ford Taurus at Publix. As a mother, this is my worst nightmare. Everything else is on hold until we get the child out of the car. We never charge for emergency door unlockings like this. It’s just the right thing to do.

4:45 pm — Off to the YMCA to see my daughter’s pirouette. I get my mommy-hugs before their ballet lesson. Even as busy as things get, we still make time for what’s important.

5:30 pm — Somebody was walking their dog and – oops! – the door locked behind them. Time to get my lock-pick set.

8:30 pm — A man has locked himself out of his truck and needs to get home to his family. We quickly dispatch a technician to pop the lock and get him on his way.

Before you get locked out of your home or car, put Pop-A-Lock’s 24/7 dispatch number in your phone, (863) 647-LOCK (5625).

Pop-A-Lock of Polk County is part of the nation’s largest group of locksmiths.

Founded by police officers over 22 years ago, the company provides fast and reliable professional services at a competitive price.

Whether you need lock picking, a vehicle locksmith, a residential locksmith or any other unlocking or security service, you can rely on our team of certified professionals to be reliable, efficient and able to handle any locksmithing job or lockout situation in a timely manner.

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C el eb r ate 4 0 Y e a r s o f S un ‘n Fun Fly-In SANDY BRIDGES

CONNECT ] Sun-n-fun.org

The 40th Annual SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In & Expo is on track for April 1-6, 2014, at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

Be one of the guests as The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy Demonstration Squadron, make their first appearance in the South in 2014. More than 8,000 international visitors from 82 countries will be part of the 200,000 attendees expected.

Static Aircraft, a Veterans Plaza and planes flying overhead as you enter the parking area are all part of the excitement.

Hands on activities for youth and even the KidsZone are a great way to introduce your family to the wonderful possibilities in the world of aviation.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

CELEBRATION OF 100 YEARS OF COMMERCIAL AVIATION Did you know that the first commercial airline flight was actually in Florida? This will be Florida Airman Day and any licensed Floridian Pilot/Mechanic, etc. will be given a discount!

from CFAA will host their counterparts from the U.K., Trinidad and Tobago, Norway, Iceland and more countries at the first International Youth “Dance Around the World” reception.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF AERIAL COMBAT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH AVIATION DAY Celebrate SUN ‘n FUN’s commitment to education with students from around the county. Join Central Florida Aerospace Academy as they welcome colleges and training programs as well as employers to the SUN ‘n FUN campus. The evening’s “Dinner with Legends” fundraiser is your opportunity to dine with the difference-makers from the aerospace world.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 VOLUNTEER DAY

Visit the SUN ‘ n FUN Splash-In at Lake Agnes on the Fantasy of Flight grounds. Captain Judy Rice is launching her “Think Global Flight Around the World” with a send off by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Captain Rice will be video calling with students at the Florida Air Museum during her four month flight. At the end of the day cadets and students

WWII Triple Ace Bud Anderson and a Raptor Pilot will make a “Then and Now” presentation and the day will end with an International Visitors Reception.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

SNF 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND PAUL POBEREZNY DAY Start your morning with a spectacular Balloon Launch. If you are a teacher, register for the Aerospace Educators Workshop for a chance to fly with the GEICO SkyTypers or Aeroshell Team.

Bring the entire family to the Night Airshow with fireworks. Come for the day and get two airshows for the price of one!

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

FLORIDA RESIDENT DAY Discount Tickets for Florida Residents for Florida’s Largest Convention!

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E C I F F O CHAWIR AY

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Shopping with locally owned stores and service providers helps keep Lakeland’s economy strong and growing!

Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 3607 • Lakeland, FL 33802 - 3607

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A SUPER HERO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY!

GIVE

Food from

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille

Drinks for Everyone

Business After Hours

March 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Hosted by:

Locally owned & operated.

www.officefurnituredepot.com $10 Members • $30 Guests

•

2440 Hwy. 98 North

(863) 682-3450

Your RSVP is appreciated! Visit lakelandchamber.com to register.