PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY LAUNCH
 
     About 2 years ago, at our Board of Directors Retreat, we decided as a board to re-vamp our Education Committee into the Professional Development Committee. By doing this, we were able to sharpen our focus to continuing education opportunities for our chamber members.
     I am now proud to announce, through a great partnership with Polk State College Corporate College, we are launching our Professional Development Academy this month.
      This program provides skills for businesses, organizations, and personal growth and improvement through a variety of educational training opportunities. This year’s program consists of seven sessions and is titled, "Seven Paths to Success."
     Sessions include learning opportunities on Contemporary Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Coaching, Mindful Leadership, Personal Resilience, Finding Work-Life Balance, and Time Management.
      Pre-registration is required for all classes. The cost for the classes is included in your Chamber membership investment! If you attend a minimum of (4) classes, you will earn a Professional Development Academy certificate.
      The first session – Contemporary Leadership - will be led by J. Lenora Bresler on March 30^th, at 7:30 a.m. All classes are held at the Polk State College Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center.
Learn more about the entire Professional Development series and register for the first session HERE.

Want to find a retail or service business? Click here.

(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)

MARCH
Tuesday, March 15, all day
DAIRY QUEEN BARTOW FREE CONE DAY

Tuesday, March 15, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 15, 4:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, March 16, 1:30 p.m.
CHAMBER DIPLOMATS BIRTHDAY PARTY
Happy Birthday, Jo!

Thursday, March 17
LEADERSHIP BARTOW PHOSPHATE DAY

Friday, March 18, noon
ENGAGE LUNCH & LEARN:
LET's TALK LEADERSHIP with HOWE Q. WALLACE
Florida Industrial Phosphate Research Institute

Saturday, March 19
ROTARY CLUB'S WILD GAME DINNER
Wanda & Leland Young's Barn

Wednesday, March 23, 1:15 p.m.
COMMUNITY RIBBON-CUTTING FOR NEW SCULPTURES
Fort Blount Park

Thursday, March 24, 7:00 a.m.
MAYOR'S SUNRISE PRAYER BREAKFAST
Bartow Civic Center

Friday, March 25, 11:30
CROSSWALK TO FORT BLOUNT PARK
Service at noon

FOR A LIST OF COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, CLICK HERE AND THEN CHOOSE "EVENTS"!

CHAMPIONS CUP
Champions Cup was created to recognize and honor businesses and organizations that have championed exemplary best practices, and have had a positive influence on the economic well being of the area's business environment. Congratulations to the 2015 Champions Cup Winners! Here they are:

Engineers/Surveyors/Planners
 
Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K)
Ms. Kimberly Warren
101 W. Main St., Suite 240
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 682-4081
www.rkk.com

ALL PRECINCTS WILL VOTE AT THE BARTOW CIVIC CENTER - 2250 S. FLORAL AVENUE.

 Voters will elect one City Commissioner for Seat No. 3 (North District)

IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES

Regular Election - April 5, 2016 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Run-Off Election (if needed) - to be announced.

Registering to Vote

Absentee Ballots

Can’t make it to the polls? To request an absentee ballot, please contact the Polk County Supervisor of Elections at 863-534-5888 or visit polkelections.com.

March 24, 2016
7:00 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Bartow Civic Center
GUEST SPEAKER: PSCO Chief Joe Halman

CLICK HERE AND RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY! When the Mayor’s Sunrise Prayer Breakfast was first conceived, it was agreed it would be a time of early morning prayer to begin the day. Somewhere along the line, the event became a luncheon. This year, for the first time in a long time, the time of prayer is switched back to the traditional early morning event, and event top sponsors are A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, The Polk County Democrat, and PalletOne, and Stingray Chevrolet Bartow.

Pre-registration is required!
Friday, March 18, 2016, 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
featuring Howe Q. Wallace, PalletOne, Inc.

CLICK HERE AND REGISTER TODAY FOR THIS FREE EVENT!
(Not just for ENGAGE members!)

Engage/Bartow Chamber Young Professionals presents an up-close and personal chat with one of the area’s most accomplished community leaders. Howe Wallace is the CEO of PalletOne, America’s largest new pallet manufacturer.  This session will give participants a chance to reflect on new and creative ways to achieve professional leadership goals based on the best practices from one of the area’s most respected business professionals. After a short presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions in a round-table format. Don’t miss this great opportunity for professional growth.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
       Since 2001, Howe Q. Wallace has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of PalletOne, Inc., an industry leader operating 15 pallet facilities in nine states, and Sunbelt Forest Products which has two locations in Florida and one in Alabama. The company employs more than 200 people in Bartow and more than 1,300 across the enterprise. Revenues exceed $300 million. Before PalletOne, Mr. Wallace was Executive Vice President of Human Resources of IFCO Systems, NV. Mr. Wallace began his career in the industry when he joined Ridge Pallets in 1983. 

Wednesday, April 13, 2016, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Boardroom
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
MORNING BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE
Plenty of coffee and fellowship with your fellow member business owners. Bring lots of business cards and give everyone two - one for them and one for a friend. Hope to see you there! NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY.

Left to Right: Destiny Patterson, Duane Parker and Cathy Parker with Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH, 2016:

CATHY E. PARKER, EA, BOOKKEEPING & TAX SERVICE
In the photos, left to right, Destiny Patterson, Duane Parker and Cathy Parker with Chamber Membership Director Barbara Adamson.

At Cathy E. Parker, EA Bookkeeping and Tax Service, helping and educating people about what they need to know regarding taxes is just one of their passions.

TAX SERVICES, ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING, PAYROLL SERVICES - they do it all! Call 863-533-4141 for more information.

FORTRESS FITNESS IS SECOND SATURDAY

     The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce presents “FORTRESS Fitness,” a program to promote family fitness began in September at Fort Blount Park.
      “FORTRESS Fitness is a community-wide outdoor workout program for all fitness levels, all ages, and it’s absolutely free,” said Marie Wilmot, organizer of the new program. Wilmot is a wellness and fitness enthusiast, instructor of Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba and other cardio-fitness programs Please mark your calendars for these second Saturdays:

• April 9^th – John Abad
• May 14^th – Jude Dauphin

For more information, contact: Virginia Condello at the Chamber, (863) 533-7125 or email virginia@bartowchamber.com

     The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, April 8, 2016, at 8:00 a.m.
      Committee of 100 meetings are held at the Health and Life Center (old hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. If you are interested in becoming a member of this prestigious grouip, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at 863-533-4196.
Click here for a complete listing of Committee of 100 members.

ROI ALERT TO ALL MEMBERS!
We've established a new perk to your membership. Now, as a member of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, you may include a promotional item for your business in the HELLO BARTOW! welcome baskets for new residents. PARTICIPATION IS FREE OF CHARGE! If you are interested, contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Director, (863) 533-7125, or reply to this email.

REGISTER FOR THE PRESENTATION for the next Chamber Travel Opportunity on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, 5:30-6:30 p.m.. SPOTLIGHT ON SAN FRANCISCO,  set for September 4-8, 2016 will feature Napa Valley and Monterey. Also, you may learn more about the trip by clicking here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
COMMUNITY RIBBON-CUTTING FOR NEW SCUPTURE
Come to the Community Ribbon-cutting for the two new sculptures at Fort Blount Park on Wednesday, March 23, at 1:15 p.m. Both sculptures are works from Aisling Millar, and are titled, "Interwoven," and "Three Hand Reel."

ENJOY FREE CONE DAY AT BARTOW DAIRY QUEEN!
Where-   Dairy Queen Bartow
              1795 N Broadway Ave., Bartow
When-    March 15 all day
All the donations for this event goes to the Children's Miracle Network.
Does not apply to Drive-Thru. Must come inside for free cone. No purchase or
donation necessary to receive free cone. All donations will be contributed
to Children's Miracle Network.