from the president Honors Our Membership

Catalytic Chamber Work Continues Because Members Invest

By Jacki Dezelski, IOM, President|CEO

It is a rewarding and gratifying honor for the Manatee Chamber to be chosen as the 2022 Florida Chamber of the Year by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP). The award recognizes excellence in member benefits, operations, finances, communications, advocacy, and more. It is a direct reflection of the investment our membership makes (and recommits to every year at "renewal time") in the member-driven mission of our Chamber.

The award was announced in December at FACP's annual conference, attended by more than 100 Chamber industry leaders from across the state. Over the three-day conference, my biggest takeaway was a renewed appreciation for the difference that Chambers are making every day in their communities. This conference was initially postponed due to Hurricane Ian and as we gathered two months post-storm, the catastrophic impact that was wrought in our state was top of mind. The immediate past Chairman (2022) of FACP is John Lai, President of the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. His Chamber's facility was destroyed and his members' business were devastated - and several other Chambers to our south are in similar situations. But in these communities, Chamber staff, board leaders, and members immediately jumped into action with government, non-profit, agency, and business partners to begin recovery efforts. Even in the face of life-changing personal loss, leaders have been working non-stop to direct public, private, and individual recovery efforts to help others. It's what Chambers - and Chamber members - do!

The Manatee Chamber traces its roots to the launch of the Bradenton Board of Trade in 1889. We've grown to a 2,000+ member organization that serves the greater Manatee County region. For more than 130 years, businesses have recognized the value and influence of working together through the Chamber. Our members have built and supported the Chamber so that it has an award-winning program of work, sound management practices, and industry-leading member benefits. Thank you for your investment!