News
Leadership Pensacola 2009 Nominations
The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations to the Leadership Pensacola (LeaP) Class of 2009. The 2009 LeaP class year begins in August and the deadline for nominations is March 15, 2008. Employers and community organizations are welcome to nominate a candidate and self nominations are accepted as well.
LeaP is a ten-month course which begins yearly in August and goes through May of the following year. The course starts with orientation and is followed by monthly day-long sessions designed to increase awareness of the issues facing Northwest Florida.
The program is open to professionals working or living in Northwest Florida at the time of application. Each class is comprised of 50 diverse members from the business, government, education, health, civic and media communities. Each class day is led by experts in a range of professional fields and is designed to facilitate interest and motivation for service to Northwest Florida.
Nomination forms are available at the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce located at 117 West Garden Street and online at Leadership Pensacola. The 2009 class roster will be announced in June.
Chamber staff contact: Summer Burdick, call 850.438.4081.
Holly Benson to Visit Pensacola Chamber in February
Our former State Representative Holly Benson now serves as Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). In that capacity, she oversees the agency responsible for licensing nearly 1,000,000 Floridians. Her Department licenses professionals ranging from architects to yacht brokers, from barbers to real estate agents and they also license businesses including alcoholic beverages and tobacco, hotels and restaurants, pari-mutuel wagering and land sales, condominiums and mobile homes.
During her first year as Secretary, Benson worked to improve customer service for the Department's licensees. She and her team radically improved service in the call center and have worked to streamline the licensure process to ensure that licensees can get their licenses as quickly as possible.
Secretary Benson is meeting with her old friends at the Pensacola Chamber in February to learn how the Department can continue to improve the services they provide. She will be attending the February Chamber Board meeting to be held on February 21. The feedback will be used to drive new enhancements in the way the Department does business.
Secretary Benson can be reached at:
Holly Benson
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850.413.0755 | Fax 850.921.4094
Business Leaders Trip to China
The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Citslinc International in organizing a business leaders trip to China. The tour will depart on October 20 and returns on October 28, 2008. Originating from Los Angeles, this trip is open to all chamber members, families and friends (and non-members) who are interested in visiting China this fall. The trip includes a direct flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Beijing, the capital of China. Also included are visits to Shanghai, Suzhow and Hangzhou. The delegation size traveling to China will be 100.
"This trip to China offers a tremendous cultural opportunity for seeing one of the fastest growing economies in the world. For anyone considering business opportunities, this is a valuable introduction," says Evon Emerson, President and CEO.
The Pensacola delegation will visit attractions such as the Tian An Men Square, The Great Wall and Ming Tombs. There will also be a visit to the Economic Development Zone in Hangzhou. In Shanghai, the delegation will visit the Pudong Economic Development Zone, one of China's chief financial and commercial hubs.
Based on double occupancy, the price of $1,599 includes round trip airfare between Los Angeles and China, 4 or 5 star hotel accommodations, deluxe tour buses, three daily meals, English speaking tour guides and fees for all attractions. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. A non-refundable deposit of $300 per person holds a reservation.
Interested individuals are strongly urged to attend a Pre-Tour Briefing on February 25, 2008, at New World Landing, 600 S. Palafox (French Room). The Pensacola Chamber Staff contact is Natalie Prim.
For more information visit http://www.pensacolachamber.com/CommunityAffairs/ and look for theTrip to China link.
Chamber will Co-Host Ruby Payne at Jerry Maygarden Education Forum
The Institute for Innovative Community Learning (ICL), the Escambia County School District, and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce will co-host Dr. Ruby Payne on April 29, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. as part of the Jerry Maygarden Leaders for Education forum.
These forums focus on K12 education and how communities and businesses can learn about issues and become involved with providing input to improve our K12 learning environments. She will do a presentation on "Understanding Poverty in Our Schools," and will then give us an opportunity to engage in a dialogue with her to discuss our K12 regional needs and concerns.
Her seminal work, A Framework for Understanding Poverty, teaches the hidden rules of economic class and specific strategies for overcoming poverty's obstacles. Her latest work, Bridges Out of Poverty, is written for community leaders and social workers.
There are 125 spaces available for a cost of $25 each that includes lunch. Because of a partnership grant effort between UWF, ICL and the Escambia County School District, we are first inviting the Escambia County School district leaders and the Pensacola area community and business leaders before opening the session to others.
To make a reservation, please complete the attached registration document and mail your payment to the address provided in the information below. To reserve a space, please complete the information by March 7, 2008. We will reserve a space for the first 125 participants who have registered and paid the registration fee for the day. We look forward to this wonderful opportunity.
Chamber staff contact: Natalie Prim or Connie Slaughter, call 850.438.4081.
UWF Presidential Invitation to Attend Listening Session
A Letter from UWF President, Dr. John Cavanaugh
As you know, the University of West Florida will operate the Education Center in the Vince Whibbs Community Maritime Park. To help us plan, we ask for your help in identifying current and future education and training needs that could be met at the Center. Your participation and input are very important to this process. We are conducting a series of "listening sessions" between January and March 2008 to gather ideas from a wide cross-section of our community. I am asking for your participation in one of the listening sessions which will be offered at various times, dates and locations for your convenience.
Based on the results of the listening sessions, we will be creating a follow-up market survey conducted with our partners at Eduventures. It is important for you to participate in the listening sessions so that we can create the most accurate follow-up that will drive our programming decisions. The inputs from both of these activities will shape what UWF designs and delivers at our new downtown location.
Registration for the listening session is available until February 15, 2008 at http://continuinged.uwf.edu/ListeningSession.cfm or by contacting the Office of Continuing Education at 850.474.2914.
Also, we want to thank our partners at the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gulf Coast African-American Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Escarosa, Florida Public Archeology Network, Institute for Innovative Learning Communities and West Florida Historic Preservation Inc. for providing venues for our sessions.
We are counting on your participation in this very important effort. We remain firmly committed to providing educational and training programs that meet demonstrated needs. Thank you for helping UWF to better serve the needs of the Greater Pensacola Community!
Sincerely,
John C. Cavanaugh, PhD.
President
iTen Talent Shows Great Promise
For techies who desire to relocate or return to this area, the iTen Wired Talent Center is just what the doctor ordered. With a growing number of high-tech jobs along the Gulf Coast, the iTen Wired Talent Center will serve as a tool to connect local businesses with prospective employees in this database. This is a unique opportunity for technology-based firms along the Mobile-Pensacola-Fort Walton Beach area to connect with local talent. The iTen Talent website also offers a direct link for job seekers to upload their information.
The talent center is an innovative website with resume-upload capability. This will help in providing technology companies with the strong talent needed to be successful. It reflects state-of-the-art functionality and technology in the highest degree. The portal focuses on creating a talent pool in four target industries: technology, aerospace, life sciences and engineering. The talent center is designed for individuals with those skill sets to provide their information so local companies in these four industry sectors can connect with them if there are job opportunities along the Gulf Coast.
The talent center, iTen Wired, is an extension of the online entrepreneurial portal. It is designed to showcase our area's assets and entrepreneurs. It also provides a virtual means of communication for information sharing and educational opportunities. "One of the biggest issues facing technology companies is the ability to recruit talented employees," said Blaise Adams, Vice-Chair of Economic Development for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. "The Talent Center is a local solution to a global problem."
"iTentalent.com is a way to keep technology savvy people here and bring those that have left the region back to the gulf coast," said Charles Wood, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. "We are already working with universities in the region to market the website to their students and alumni to connect them with potential job opportunities in this area." The Chamber also hopes to tap into the region's military talent.
iTen Wired is an entrepreneurial initiative led by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and its Entrepreneurial Development Council in concert with regional economic development partners inEscambia, Mobile, Baldwin, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. iTen Wired is centered on innovation, technology and entrepreneurs and focuses on bringing people and ideas together along the I-10 corridor. For more information, please visit www.itentalent.com.
Saufley Field Enhanced Use Lease Project
The Saufley Field Enhanced Use Lease Project is set to host an Industry Forum on March 11, 2008. As part of a Navy-wide Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program to make non-excess, underutilized land and facilities available for redevelopment by the private sector, Saufley Field becomes one of the most significant economic opportunities in recent history.
"The Saufley Field EUL Project may be the single biggest economic impact, collectively, to Escambia County and Naval Air Station Pensacola," says Craig Dalton, Vice President of Armed Services at the Pensacola Chamber. "In addition to economic opportunity, this venture provides the Navy with an opportunity to enhance underutilized assets with private sector dollars, as well as the enhancement and promotion of mission performance aboard the NAS Pensacola Complex. Essentially, the Saufley Field EUL program protects and promotes the long-term health and viability of the NAS Pensacola Complex, while also enabling us to leverage valuable real estate for the promotion of high-tech, high-wage jobs. It's truly a win-win for our community."
Saufley Field, administered by NAS Pensacola, contains an area of approximately 866 acres and operates two active runways with over 34,425 square feet of hangar space. The total EUL site is approximately 104.5 acres with 88 facilities totaling 724,000 square feet of improvements. The primary area (Site 1) is approximately 86 acres on the south side of Saufley's outlying field (OLF). The second (Site 2), which is approximately 18.7 acres, is located south of the perimeter of the installation (Site 2) and is currently being used as a golf course. The site also includes two hangers. The Navy intends to retain full control of the airfield at Saufley OLF to support touch-and-go landings for pilot training.
The vision of this opportunity is a commercial office/light industrial use of existing facilities with the potential for redevelopment. However, other uses may also be acceptable. In addition, the site is an access point for National LambdaRail Services. The National LambdaRail (NLR) is a fully operational, national-scale networking infrastructure developed by and for the United State's high-performance research and education communities.
The Industrial Forum will be held on March 11, 2008, at the Mustin Beach Officers' Club aboard NAS Pensacola. For more information contact Craig Dalton, VP Armed Services at 850.438.4081 ext. 226.
Leadership Pensacola Class of 2008 Class Project
Live Green Escambia
Pensacola is a beautiful and glorious city poised for greatness. We have a rich history and scenic treasures surrounding us everywhere we go. But our area, the beautiful Pensacola, a place where people come to vacation, retire and raise families is more polluted than almost any other county in our state. This is frightening. Currently, no county-wide recycling program for our citizens exists. What can we do?
We are quickly saturating our landfills and not creating a solution to this growing problem. Escambia County is the jewel of the Emerald Coast, and the time to clean up our community is now.
Little changes can make a big difference. By using CFL light bulbs in the five most active lights in your home, you can reduce your lighting expense by 90% a month. What a savings! 20% of the average home energy expense is made up of lighting costs.
Dirty air filters are a problem too. A dirty air filter can cause the furnace to run less efficiently and creates a higher electricity bill. Did you know that automobile tires that are low on air cause lower gas mileage? It's true! There are many simple ways to reduce family expenses and live greener!
What about that empty laundry detergent jug in your utility room? And all the aluminum cans in your weekly garbage can? By recycling one aluminum can, you save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours. These are just a few green facts that we are hoping will start a new way of thinking about our environment. Little changes can make a huge impact.
This year's LeaP class is calling the community to action for a greener Pensacola by offering 10,000 "Green Kits" to residents beginning in March. The kits will contain a recycling bin, reusable shopping bag & CFL light bulb. Kits will be distributed at various local events this spring. Dates and times will be announced in the coming weeks.
Visit www.livegreenescambia.com for more information about the LeaP 2008 class project and other green living tips.
The LeaP class project contact at the Chamber is Summer Burdick. She can be reached by phone at 850.438.4081.
Congratulations to Look Who Just Blouin Photography, February's Small Business of the Month!
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Chamber Events
Gopher Breakfast Club
Plan to meet for breakfast at the Pensacola Civic Center on February 12 from 7 - 8:30 a.m. Tickets are $12 for Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce members and $22 for non-members. Please RSVP to Azalea Webb or 850.438.4081 ext 256.
iTen Wired Summit ~ February 19, 2008
The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce along with other iTenWired partners will host the first iTenWired Summit. This will be one of the region's most innovative events of the spring. The event will be held on February 19 at the Brookley Industrial Complex located at 254 Old Bay Front Drive in Mobile.
The summit will feature industry speakers and panelists addressing a range of issues affecting entrepreneurial development such as capital formation, globalization and technology transfer. The focus targets trends and indicators in fostering technology-based and innovation-led economic development efforts.
Coupled with networking and industry exposure, the iTenWired Summit is an opportunity to meet with the lead organizations, industry experts and entrepreneurs across the region. The goal is to start a dialogue about converging issues around building an entrepreneurial friendly climate. Connect with fellow industry leaders, including the region's leading investors, corporate partners and technology-based entrepreneurs. Position your company in front of the region's resources and take advantage of the opportunity to voice your needs and concerns!
Early registration rates are available. Registration is currently $25.00 and includes lunch. After February 8, the registration fee increases to $35.00.
Hospitality Roundtable Luncheon
The next Hospitality Roundtable Luncheon will be held Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at Homewood Suites, 5049 Corporate Woods Drive from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The cost of the luncheon is $12 for HRT members and $20 for non-members. Payment should be made at the door with checks made payable to Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. Sorry, but no invoicing will be permitted.
This month's guest speaker will be Vickie Horton, Executive Director of Gulf Coast Kids House, which is the charity HRT is sponsoring for 2008.
Since we must guarantee reservations, if you RSVP and do not attend, we will bill you for the cost of your lunch. You may RSVP via email at Barbara Williams or by phone at 850.434.1234. Reservations must be received by 3 p.m. on Friday, February 15.
48th Annual PACE Awards ~ February 19 ~ SOLD OUT
The 2008 Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence (PACE) Awards Dinner is SOLD OUT!. The PACE Awards were created by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce in 1959 as the BIP Awards, or Business, Industry & Professional Awards, as a way to honor those outstanding individuals by naming them Emerging Leader of the Year, Business Leader of the Year, Professional Leader of the Year, and Community Leader of the Year.
This year's festivities are being held on beautiful Pensacola Beach at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front.
Presenting Sponsor:
Gold Sponsor:
Covenant Hospice
Silver Sponsors:
Highpointe Hotel Corporation
Pensacola Junior College
Pensacola Junior College Foundation
University of West Florida
Varona Enterprises of Florida, Inc.
Business After Hours
Business After Hours is held the third Thursday of each month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Businesses are able to showcase their establishments to the business community while guests make valuable contacts. Admission is free with one business card. Make this gathering a perfect time to build new business relationships and strengthen established ones. No reservations are required.
This month, Business After Hours is being held at Finnegan's Wake Irish Pub located at 2100 W. Nine Mile Rd in Pensacola.
Chamber Series
On February 26, Elwyn Guernsey of Guernsey and Associates will present an educational seminar titled "Small Business Big Mistakes - Financial Strategies to Help Preserve Your Business." The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m.
The Chamber Series is a program of educational seminars that are offered annually from October through June. They are an effective, low cost way to educate yourself and your employees on a number of topics vital to the survival of your business. All seminars take place at the Chamber. The cost to attend Chamber Series Seminars is $10 for Chamber Members and includes lunch. Please RSVP to Azalea Webb or call 850.438.4081. Space is limited.
2008 Business EXPO ~ March 20
The area's only business-to-business EXPO catering to local business professionals, small business owners, as well as the business community at large is coming up soon. At the EXPO, sponsored by the Chamber, you are sure to reach your target market and increase the visibility of your company or products among area business professionals. Admission is free.
Booth sales and sponsorships are now available for this exciting event to be held at the Pensacola Civic Center. Please contact Nicole Webb or 850.438.4081 for more information.
Chamber Golf Tournament ~ Save the Date
April 10
Tiger Point Country Club
Small Business Week ~ Save the Date: April 21-25
Small Businesses have a significant economic impact in our local and national economy. Each year the Chamber designates one week to celebrate small businesses. During Small Business Week, there will be several events including the Small Business of the Year luncheon on Tuesday, April 22.
Also during Small Business Week, the Chamber will be partnering with Junior Achievement. Small Business owners will have the opportunity to speak to local high school students to inspire the next generation of small business owners. Mark your calendars! This is one event you don't want to miss.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Summer Burdick or 850.438.4081 ext. 258 by March 1.
Member News
Studers Gift $2.25 Million to Support Maritime Museum
The University of West Florida has announced that Quint and Rishy Studer have gifted $2.25 million to support the Vice Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center. The gift to the UWF Foundation will be submitted for a dollar-for-dollar match through the state of Florida's Alec P. Courtelis program for university facilities, translating into $4.5 million in support for the design and construction of the museum. The charitable gift is the largest from living donors in the university's 40-year history.
As part of the Vince Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park, the Vice Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center will be dedicated to the continued education, preservation and research of Florida's cultural and natural maritime resources. The museum will be owned and operated by UWF, having strong connections to the university's academic programs such as underwater archaeology, environmental science, marine biology and maritime history. The museum will include a state-of-the-art interactive theatre, education center and hands-on exhibits on topics such as hurricanes, coastal and marine ecosystems, ships and tugboats, navigation and shipbuilding.
"On behalf of the University of West Florida and our entire community, I want to express thanks to Quint and Rishy Studer for their extraordinarily generous investment in education and in the future of Pensacola," said UWF President John Cavanaugh. "From the thousands of visitors who travel to Pensacola, to our K-12 students who will enhance their understanding of history, culture and science at the museum, to the UWF students who engage in the hands-on learning opportunities the museum will offer, the Studers will impact the lives of so many through their generosity."
For more information, contact Dean Van Galen, vice president for University Advancement for UWF, at 850.474.3306.
LEADS Group - Business Referral Group
Need to Network? Need to Grow Your Business?
Have we got the group for you! We have established LEADS, a business referral group to help our members network and grow their business.
LEADS follows a non-competing format, is limited to one person per industry and/or profession and slots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Participants must be at the Core Level of Chamber membership. For more information please call Summer Burdick at 850.438.4082, ext 258.
City of Pensacola Announces New Charter Review Commission
The City of Pensacola has appointed its first Charter Review Commission since 1931. The Charter Review Commission (CRC) was created to take a comprehensive look at Pensacola's current city charter, a document that defines the structure, powers, functions and essential procedures of Pensacola's government. CRC members will investigate the existing government and charter, study the experience of cities elsewhere under various charter and forms of government, ascertain the best principles and practices of local government in a new charter or amended charter and draft for submittal to the City Council and, ultimately, to the citizens of Pensacola for their a approval, a new and improved charter or amendments.
Charter Review Commission meetings are open to the public and the CRC stresses the importance of public input throughout the charter review process. The next meeting of the CRC will be an educational session held on Feb. 7 at 3:30 p.m. in the Hagler Mason Conference Room, 2nd Floor of the City Hall, 180 Governmental Center. The agenda will include an overview of different forms of government and various charters in effect around the U.S.
The members of the new commission were sworn in by City Clerk Ericka Burnett during the commission's first meeting on January 24.
Commission members include Floyd D. Armstrong, Mark E. Crutcher, Samuel (Sam) A. Horton, Larry K. Hicks, Robert G. (Bob) Holmes, Megan Benson Pratt, PhD, Natalie Prim, Ed Ranelli, EdD, DeeDee Ritchie and Crystal C. Spencer. Alternates are W. Rhette Anderson and James J. (Jim) Reeves. Spencer, an attorney with Lozier, Thames, Frazier, Spencer & Schlieter, P.A., and Hicks, a CPA with O'Sullivan Creel, were elected chairperson and vice-chair respectively.