MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
45 YEARS
WBF FM102.9 and AM1130
35 YEARS
SEMCO Construction, Inc.
30 YEARS
Henry Company
Sabal Transport, Inc.
Trans-Phos, Inc.
25 YEARS
Kiwanis Club of Bartow
15 YEARS
Keith D. Miller
5 YEARS
Neon Octopus
Donna Delf
COMMITTEE OF 100
The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, March 13, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. at the Health and Life Center (old Hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. If you are interested in becoming a member of this prestigious group, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at (863) 533-4196. CLICK FOR A LIST OF MEMBERS
FEB.-MAR. CHAMBER EVENTS & MEETINGS
Thursday, Feb. 19
Leadership XVI Ag Day
Thursday, Feb. 19, 5:45 p.m.
Barn Boogie
Leland Young's Barn
Thursday, Feb. 26
Chamber Quarterly Publication Day read more...
GET READY TO BOOGIE AT THE BARN!
Event Date: February 19, 2015, Leland Young's Barn. WANTED! All you urban cowboys and sassy lasses to saddle up for a barn-riaising hootenanny at the annual Barn Boogie Dinner & Dance - a southern-styled honky-tonk, boot scootin' celebration featuring a lip-smackin' Texas Cattle Company steak dinner and a live DJ. Click here to register for this fun event!
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW FOR THE MAGAZINE
 Reserve your space now in the Summer Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 20,000 households for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information. |
FROM THE PRESIDENT:
 Barn Boogie is coming up. If you've ever been to this event, you probably know about all the fun you're about to experience on February 19th.
Considered by many as one of the best down-home venues in Polk County, Leland and Wanda Young's Barn out in Alturas is a treasure; and we've very fortunate the Youngs allow us to gather at the barn each year for our old fashioned hoe-down, presented by SEMCO Construction.
Barn Boogie features a honky-tonk, boot scootin' celebration that includes a lip smackin' Texas Cattle Company steak dinner, and a deejay offering Southern Country music the whole night.
Leadership XIV Class heads up a fun competition - the annual Barn Boogie Cornhole Tournament, where the winners receive bragging rights and a huge trophy. Evolve Professional Landscaping is the sponsor for the tournament.
Other sponsors include:
Stetson Sponsor: McGee Tire
Auction Sponsor: ASHLAND
Entertainment Sponsor: Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Dinner Sponsors: A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure, and Fleet Products
Pardner Sponsors: Bartow Badcock Home Furniture & More Store, Bartow Ford, Bartow Regional Medical Center, City of Bartow, Peace Valley Enterprises, Polk County Democrat, Stingray Chevrolet.
Wrangler Sponsors: Baylis & Company PACPAS, Bernie Little Distributors, CenterState Bank, Community Southern Bank, Spath Jewelers, Spherion Staffing.
Buckaroo Sponsors: All Racked Up BBQ, Mosaic and State Farm-Michell Githens.
Please take a minute to thank our sponsors who help bring you this fun event. Remember, Barn Boogie proceeds benefit the very worthwhile Leadership Bartow program.
Until next time,
Sharon Casey
Community Southern Bank, VP
Chamber President, 2015
BARN BOOGIE TIME!
Time to Boogie at the Barn. Want to register for this event? Click here.
Or, for more information, call Linda at 863-533-7125.
NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
CONSTRUCTION-CONTRACTORS
Precision Wallboard of Polk Co., Inc.
Mr. Michael DeZarn
3060 Winter Lake Rd.
Lakeland, FL 33840
(863) 669-9460
Join Date: 01/29/2015
COMMERCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Lanier Upshaw, Inc.
Mr. Scott Whitener
1115 US Hwy 98 S.
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 838-7096
www.lanierupshaw.com
Join Date: 02/02/2015
PLUMBING
Greenwise Plumbing
Mr. John Cekala
(863) 398-1370
website
Join Date: 02/05/2015
MEMBER MICRONEWS
Main Street Farmers' Market To Be On Wednesdays
Main Street Bartow is looking to re-launch their Farmers Market tentatively scheduled for March 4, 2015, at Fort Blount Park, at the corner of Main Street and Broadway Avenue in downtown Bartow. The market will be held each Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Main Street Bartow is currently seeking vendors offering top quality fresh products ranging from local produce to seasonal flowers, sauces and jellies, artisan crafts, and handcrafted soaps and lotions. The vendor fee for a 12’ x 12’ space is $20.00 per Wednesday paid monthly in advance, or $25 on an occasional basis. For further information or a Farmers Market Vendor Form, contact Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508, or email lsimpson@mainstreetbartowfl.com.
Citizens Bank & Trust recently hired Robert Loftin to be the bank’s Senior Vice President/Senior Commercial Lender.
 Robert Loftin was previously the Community Southern Bank East Polk County President for over three years, responsible for business development, origination of commercial and commercial real estate loans, and supervision of all branch managers and business bankers.
“We are very pleased and are very fortunate to have Robert become part of the Citizens Bank & Trust family,” said Citizens Bank & Trust President Greg Littleton. “Robert is well liked and respected throughout the county and he is going to be a great addition to our bank.” read more...
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: SPATH JEWELERS!
Thursday's Chocolate Charms and Chamber, Executive Director Jeff Clark rolled out a new event: BUSINESS OF THE MONTH. Spath Jewelers became the first business to display the "IT PAYS TO BUY LOCAL" eight foot banner, which also let's shoppers know that Spath's is the Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month.
ABOUT SPATH JEWELERS:
"We have been blessed to have the opportunity to serve our wonderful customers and friends in Florida with our retail locations in Bartow and Valrico, Florida for a combined 38+ years," said owner Tina Spath. Spath Jewelers is an industry leader for repairs and custom design. Spaths has four jewelers on-site that have over 70 years of combined experienceassuring customers the highest degree of quality work. Spath's offers custom design work, insurance appraisals, on-site jewelry repair, expert watch repair, layaway and financing programs. Spath Jewelers also carries the finest selection of loose diamonds and fine jewelry, and features Bulova, Citizen, Pulsar, Private Label, Fossil, Seiko and reconditioned Rolex Watches at the lowest prices around. For more information, click here.
Leadership Bartow Tours Polk County Government Offices
By Jeff Roslow, Leadership XVI Historian 
What was the most memorable part on Leadership Bartow XVI's Polk County Government Day on Jan. 15?
Was it the bus ride – and turn around – on top of the County landfill; or a trip through the evidence room in the basement of the Clerk of the Courts Office?
That visit to the evidence room also included a look inside another locked room where the drugs and money are kept. Once unlocked, the odor from inside hit you like a brisk hempy wind in the face. (Is "hempy" a word?)
SMALL BUSINESS HELP IS ON ITS WAY
Florida SBDC Is Available At
Bartow Chamber On Mar. 12
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida, assists existing and emerging businesses in Polk County, through no-cost confidential business consulting, and low-cost training. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business topics, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization. A consultant will be at the Chamber on March 12, 2015 and available to Chamber Businesses. To schedule an appointment, visit www.bartowchamber.com and follow the links on the home page, or call (863) 678.4182, ext. 227. |
