News
Northwest Florida Venture Forum
Organizers for the NW Florida Venture Forum (AKA: the Pensacola Venture Forum) have announced that the next forum meeting will be held in May 2008.
Interested area entrepreneurs should submit project summaries on or before April 18th to the program committee chaired by Larry Strain, Executive Director of the University of West Florida Small Business Development Center, located at 401 Chase Street, Suite 100, Pensacola, FL, 32501. The forum's new application is available at www.sbdc.uwf.edu and the organizers note that while preference is generally given to existing businesses with significant annual revenue growth potential, outstanding start-up plans are also considered by the committee. The NW Florida Venture Forum provides area entrepreneurs with the opportunity to demonstrate their growth potential to an audience interested in investment opportunities.
FOR ENTREPRENEURS: More information on the application process, email Larry Strain or call 850.473.7830.
FOR INVESTORS: Admission is open to the public with an advance registration and potential investors are encouraged to contact Richard Hawkins for a reservation on the guest list. For general information, email Richard Hawkins or call 850.474.2656. Also go to www.uwf.edu/rhawkins/pvf/vf-app.doc
Live Green Escambia Update
The LeaP Class of 2008 is preparing to distribute over 3,000 free Green Kits to residents of Escambia County. On April 19, the bins will be given out at multiple stations free of charge to any interested Escambia County citizens.
Free Green Kit distribution locations:
Neighborhoods |
Parks |
Location |
Time |
North Hill |
Alabama |
Gonzalez & |
10am - 1pm |
Dunmire Woods |
Dunmire |
Northbrook & |
10am - 1pm |
East Hill -Earth Day- |
Bayview |
20th Avenue |
10am - 3pm |
Pineglades |
Pineglades |
Euclid St. |
10am - 1pm |
Belmont DeVilliers |
Wyer Park |
Belmont & |
10am - 1pm |
The LeaP Class extends a special thank you to our generous project sponsors: Cox Communications, Cox Conserves, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Gulf Power, Cat Country 98.7, Baskerville-Donovan, Morette Construction Company and Lamar Advertising.
There are many simple things that you can do to help make Escambia County Greener. Visit LiveGreenEscambia.com to learn more.
For your free Green Kit, please email the following information:
First Name
Last Name
Address
City
Zip Code
Phone Number
to: LiveGreenEscambia@gmail.com.
China Pre Tour Meeting
Mark your calendars for the next Tour of China meeting. The brief is hosted by the Chamber on Monday, March 24 and will be held in the Chamber Board Room at our head quarters on Garden Street at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will encompass important pre-tour information including required travel papers for our upcoming trip on October 19-28, 2008. You'll have an opportunity to meet us, hear trip details and ask questions.
The trip price of $1,599 includes round trip airfare from Los Angeles International Airport to Beijing on either Air China or China Eastern Air, 4 or 5 star hotel accommodations, deluxe tour buses, English speaking tour guides, three meals a day and fees for all attractions and is based on double occupancy.
For more information, please click on registration or visit the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce website and scroll down to "Tour of China". Contact: Natalie Prim or Connie Slaughter at 850.438.4081.
Dr. Ruby Payne to Speak at Education Forum
The Institute for Innovative Community Learning (ICL), the Escambia County School District and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Dr. Ruby Payne on April 29, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. as part of the Jerry Maygarden Leaders for Education forum.
These forums focus on K12 education and how the 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. It helps us understand the motivation and mindset of individuals from poverty and helps agencies to improve outcomes.
We have 125 spaces available for a cost of $25 that will include your 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, the Pensacola community and business leaders before opening the session to others.
To make a reservation, please complete the attached registration document and mail payment to the address provided on the form. 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.
Pensacola Beach in the Top 10
Pensacola Beach was named in the top 10 beaches by TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel community featuring advice from real travelers. The list is based on TripAdvisor's popularity index and editors' opinions. The online travel network attracts nearly 30 million monthly visitors. Three other Florida beaches were named along with beaches in Hawaii, Georgia, South Carolina and California. Read Pensacola's listing below.
Drink It Up: Pensacola Beach, Pensacola, Florida
A popular family destination with gentle waves and soft sand, Pensacola Beach offers an amazingly relaxed atmosphere. The huge beach's clean, beautiful shoreline invites you to swim, boat, collect shells, or just lay back on a chair with a good book. As one TripAdvisor member commented, "This is a beautiful white sand beach with the absolute clearest water you've ever seen."
Chamber Events
Hospitality Roundtable Luncheon
The next Hospitality Roundtable Luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 18 at 11:30 a.m. at Seville Quarter located at 130 East Government Street.
Our guest speaker will be Danyelle Lantz, Executive Director of The Zoo of Northwest Florida. She will give us an update on the happenings at the Zoo.
The cost of the luncheon is $12 for HRT members, $20 for non-members. Payment should be made at the door. Please make checks payable to Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. Since we must guarantee reservations, if you RSVP and do not attend, we will have to bill you for the cost of your lunch. RSVP by emailing Barbara Williams or calling 850.434.1234 by 3 p.m. Friday, March 14. [RSVP]
2008 Business EXPO ~ March 20
Come to Business Expo on March 20 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Pensacola Civic Center. Business After Hours will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. sponsored by Pensacola Civic Center/SMG.
Thank you to our Business EXPO 2008 sponsors:
Gold - Total Employee Leasing and YellowBook USA
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Silver- AT&T Advertising and Publishing and Highpointe Hotel Corporation
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Media Sponsors- Cat Country 98.7, COX Communications, Independent News
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Business After Hours - SMG/Pensacola Civic Center
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China Pre-Tour Meeting
Mark your calendars for the next Tour of China meeting. The brief is hosted by the Chamber on Monday, March 24 and will occur at the Chamber headquarters on Garden Street at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will encompass important pre-tour information including required travel papers for our upcoming trip on October 19-28, 2008.
Contact: Natalie Prim or Connie Slaughter at 850.438.4081.
Chamber Series ~ March 25
On March 25, the Chamber Series program focuses on "How to Hire a College Student." A panel of area college Career Services administrators gives you the tools you need to hire students for full-time and part-time jobs, develop a Co-Op or Internship program and onboard individuals in this generation." The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. The panel includes Lynn Hansen, Director, University of West Florida Career Services, Wanjiku Jackson, Project Manager - Vocational Services Coordinator, Okaloosa Walton College, Bevley White, Director, University of South Alabama, Career Services and Gil Bixel, III, Pensacola Junior College, Cooperative Education & Placement/Student Job Services.
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. [RSVP]
Chamber Series sponsored by:
Chamber Golf Tournament ~ Save the Date
The Chamber Golf Tournament Presented by Landrum Companies is April 10 at Tiger Point Country Club.
Hole-in-One: Sandy Sansing
Sponsorships are available.
To register contact Nicole Webb. [RSVP]
Small Business Week: April 21-25
Small Businesses are the heart of the American and our local economy! Every year the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates our local small businesses for their entrepreneurial spirit, contributions to our community and positive impact on our overall quality of life through Small Business Week. This year we are celebrating in conjunction with the National Small Business Week and are pleased to bring an exciting week of events to our members.
Monday, April 21 - Small Business of the Year Finalist Reception sponsored by the Economic Development Council. The Small Business of the Year Finalist will be recognized by the Pensacola Chamber's Economic Development Council.
Tuesday, April 22 - Small Business of the Year Luncheon presented by Total Employee Leasing
Wednesday, April 23 - Small Business Symposium. Participants will learn about pressing issues facing small businesses in our region and present economy. The program will be at New World Landing from 7:30 a.m. until noon. The cost is $15 for members and breakfast is included. RSVP to Azalea Webb. [RSVP].
Thursday, April 24 - Small Business Procurement Conference in partnership with UWF Small Business Development Center.
This conference is hosted by Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center for the local business community and features information on how to do business with government agencies. The conference workshops are:
How to Bid on Contracts
How to Benefit with Hubzone & Enterprise Zones
The event will occur at the PJC Downtown Center, 418 W. Garden St. from 8:30 a.m. until noon. The event is free of charge, but pre-registration is requested. To register call SBDC at 473.7826.
Friday, April 25 - Inspiring the Next Generation. A Small Business panel at West Florida High School in partnership with Junior Achievement will feature local Small Business leaders speaking to West Florida High School students about their challenges and successes as small business owners. The event is aimed at motivating aspiring youth interested in entrepreneurship and encouraging them to stay in Pensacola. If you are interested in participating on the panel, please contact Summer Burdick.
New Event: GREETERS - Are you looking for a great new networking event? If so, you don't want to miss out on this opportunity! GREETERS was formed as a result from our members feedback for more chances to network. Attend this event to make valuable contacts and develop professional partnerships with other business leaders. The event is from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. and will occur at Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund located at 900 N. 12th Ave.
For more information about Small Business Week, please contact Summer Burdick.
Member News
Congratulations to Ballinger Publishing, March's Small Business of the Month!
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Military Appreciation Month Kick-off
Country 102.7 WXBM is kicking off Military Appreciation Month with "Country Fest 2008." The event is on Saturday, May 3 at Five Flags Speedway located on Pine Forest Road in Pensacola from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and may also be purchased online, at the WXBM studios in Pace at 6085 Quintette Road and at Five Flags Speedway.
Click here for more information or visit WXBM on the web at www.WXBM.com.