FROM THE PRESIDENT:
JENNIFER HALL, SEMCO Construction 
LEADERSHIP BARTOW CLASS XVII SET
Continuing the tradition of excellence our Bartow Chamber Leadership Program, we are pleased to announce the class members of our newest Leadership Bartow class, Class XVII:
Michael Boscia, BayCare Bartow Regional Medical Center; Bryan Boyett, Bartow Ford; Markennis Calhoun, Polk County Sheriffs Office; Lindsey Clark, Watson Clinic; Doug Coleman, A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure; Tracy Collins, Polk County Schools; Amanda Craven, Bartow High School; Bryan Dorman, City of Bartow; Rebecca Duvall, Chinault Family Chiropractic; Autumn Fenton, Polk County Board of County Commissioners; Jerry L. Furlong, Norman & Furlong Financial Group, Inc.; Bryan Greear, Mosaic; Joe Hall, City of Bartow; Jim Hatch, First Presbyterian Church; Jenny Heidtman, The Orpheum Theatre; Russell Hernandez, Kelley Buick GMC; Kimberly Little, Cross Wired Electrical Services, LLC; Rich Lopez, Boswell & Dunlap, LLP; Kevin McCollough, Lake Wales Building Trades Center, Inc.; Stacy Molinar, City of Bartow; Callie Neslund, Mosaic; Angela Newell, Core Wealth Advisors, Inc.; Barron Oglesby, Sunbelt Forest Products; Laura Simpson, Main Street Bartow, Inc.; Melissa Stinson, Citizens Bank & Trust; Terry Storie, Polk County Sheriffs Office; Sinead Tucker, Spath Jewelers; Kimberly Warren, Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP; Christopher Yannes, Polk State College.
This amazing group of professionals is about to embark on a two-year program that will develop leadership skills, foster understanding of the major issues facing the Bartow area, improve the communications network among leaders of disparate backgrounds and interests and, most importantly, motivate them to contribute through voluntary participation in civic activities.
This Thursday and Friday, September 7th and 8th, these folks will get together for the first time for an Opening Retreat at Circle B Bar Reserve. Facilitated by Howe Wallace and Bridget Kennedy-Hull of Pallet One, this class will spend these two days learning more about themselves and about each other.
You have a chance to meet these folks on Thursday, at the Bartow Ford Fun Thursday event. Come out and congratulate them on being accepted to this excellent program, and to encourage them as they embark on their journey of developing life-long relationships and growing in their leadership development.
You can download the nomination form for CHAMPIONS CUP and HALL OF FAME AWARDS here.
You can download the nomination form for SPIRIT OF BARTOW AWARDS here.
Nomination forms are due to the Chamber by Thursday, October 6, 2016. Remember, you can self-nominate!
Read more about this prestigious event at the link below:
http://www.bartowchamber.com/index.php/greater-bartow-chamber/bartow-chamber-chamber-events/bartow-chamber-champions-cup
Until next week,
Jennifer Hall
Your Chamber President, 2016
COMMITTEE OF 100 IS SEPT. 9
The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, September 9, 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 group, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at 863-533-4196.
Click here for a complete listing of Committee of 100 members.
CHAMBER PARTNERSHIP OFFERS STUDENT TEAM PROJECT FOR CHAMBER BUSINESSES
NO COST BUSINESS PLANS AVAILABLE
THROUGH SBDC STUDENT TEAMS PROJECT
Working with Student Teams is a mutually advantageous situation for all parties involved. An FSBDC at USF business client provides the team with financial and other organization details, the Florida SBDC at USF provides value-added service to Bartow Chamber member companies, and the companies get a no-cost business plan as a result. Each project is assigned a Florida SBDC at USF regional consultant to oversee the project. The main interest is to ensure that the chamber member will receive an adequate business plan at the end of the semester.
This program lasts one semester, a total of 16 weeks. During the semester, the student team will prepare a strategic analysis or marketing plan for the business client. A written report will be created providing the organization with a professional, fully developed plan for use in guiding and developing the business.
CLICK HERE FOR SBDC WEBPAGE.
ARE YOU QUALIFIED? Read more.
CHAMPIONS CUP
CHAMPIONS CUP
COMING UP: OCTOBER 20, 2016
NOMINATE FOR CHAMPIONS CUP AWARD HERE.
GUEST SPEAKER: Congressman Tom Rooney
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:
SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!
CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP
 Reserve your space now in the Winter Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 40,000 readers for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.
JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!
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BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: TOM EDWARDS
WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME
THE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH?
Contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Services,
863-533-7125 or email
barbara@bartowchamber.com
FUN THURSDAY IS AT BARTOW FORD
GET READY FOR DANCING UNDER THE STARS!
TICKETS ON SALE AT THE CHAMBER NOW! Call Barbara at 533-7125 or email her.
Dancing Under the Stars is set for September 16, 2016 at the Bartow Civic Center. To be featured are a dance and social hour with the sounds of the Big Band Era with The Chris Thomas Band, Dinner and Performance. Be sure to get your sponsorships / tickets early by contacting the Chamber, 533-7125.
About the Chris Thomas Band . . .
The Chris Thomas Band is the most dynamic and versatile band in the entire southeast! Chris Thomas has been described as the best undiscovered talent in the area. He is not only known for his professional vocal talent, but also as an exciting entertainer fashioned in the way of the great performers of years gone by such as Sinatra, Martin, and Davis. Full of soul and power, Chris also performs Motown favorites from artists like Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire and so many more. He performs current hits from artists like Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran and Justin Timberlake. Chris Thomas has the style and swagger of Sinatra, and the performance excitement of James Brown and Bruno Mars. The Chris Thomas Band specializes in the performance of vintage Sinatra, soulful Motown, as well as current popular songs custom arranged for big band by its own band members. The band members are all professionally-trained musicians from colleges and universities around the U.S., as well as the Army and Navy bands.
LUNCH & LEARN WITH CONG. ROSS
 Sign up now for the ENGAGE LUNCH & LEARN FOR SEPTEMBER with Congressman Dennis Ross. Date: September 16, 2016, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute, 1855 W. Main Street, Bartow. LUNCH IS ON US! SIGN UP HERE.
DIVERSITY LUNCHEON TO FEATURE ATTORNEY GARY
Tickets are now on sale at the Chamber, $12. Sponsorships are still available. Call or email the Chamber today: 863-533-7125, virginia@bartowchamber.com .
CHAMBER GOLF SCRAMBLE COMING UP OCT. 14
BARTOW FORD PRESENTS THE
CHAMBER GOLF SCRAMBLE:
Coming up in October is a very fun event, The Annual Chamber Golf Scramble, October 14, 2016, with a shotgun start of 1:00 p.m. Sign up your team today!
SPONSORS TO DATE:
GOLD SPONSORS: A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, Evolve Professional Landscape Management, Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
SILVER SPONSORS: Mosaic, Polk State College Foundation
BRONZE SPONSORS: Bank of Central Florida, BayCare Bartow Regional Medical Center, KC Bouchillon PA, CenterState Bank, City of Bartow, PalletOne Inc., Polk County Sun & Democrat, Polk Power, Spherion Staffing, State Farm Insurance Michell Githens, Stingray Chevrolet, Sunbelt Forest Products
PRIZE SPONSOR: ASHLAND
ON COURSE FOOD SPONSORS: CenterState Bank, Mosaic
CONTRIBUTORS: Beef O' Brady's, Cruise Planners, Spherion Staffing, Tim Jones Barbershop, The Villages at Laurel Meadows
HOLE COURTESY TENT: The Villages at Laurel Meadows
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
35 YEARS
Florida Transport Services, Inc.
20 YEARS
The UPS Store
15 YEARS
Village at Lake Highland
5 YEARS
Bartow Deacons & Stewards Alliance, Inc.
Carla Meeks, Realtor, WebPro Realty
B2B BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE SEPT. 14
Wednesday, September 14, 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.
MEMBER MICRONEWS
 BARTOW HIGH SCHOOL TO HOST ACE MENTOR CHAPTER
ACE Mentor Program is pleased to announce the fourth year for our Polk County Chapter, to be hosted at Bartow High School. ACE stands for Architecture, Construction, and Engineering. The ACE Mentor Program was founded to introduce high school students to career opportunities in the design and construction industry. Through a unique partnership among industry professionals – architects, engineers, construction managers, and other professionals from related organizations – volunteers serve as mentors to high school students in order to introduce them to the A/C/E professions and encourage them to pursue studies and careers in these fields.
Our ACE Mentor chapter currently has need for Mentors to volunteer at least 16 hours of their time, beginning October and running through February, to work with students as they plan, design, and construct a project. Our weekly chapter meetings will be held at Bartow High School. Two field trips to construction sites are also planned. The 16-week program will culminate with a banquet, where the students’ projects will be showcased.
Through the support of our financial sponsors, our ACE Mentor chapter will also award scholarships to students for them to pursue a career in Architecture, Construction, or Engineering. Learn more about ACE Mentor at www.acementor.org.
If you are interested in supporting this ACE Mentor program, by being a Mentor or Sponsor, please contact Brian Brogen, Southeastern Construction ( brianb@southeasternconst.com) or Jennifer Hall, SEMCO Construction ( jhall@semco.cc).
CHAMBER EVENTS
(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday, September 7, noon
AMBASSADORS/DELEGATES LUNCHEON
City Star Restaurant
Thursday, Friday, September 8, 9
LEADERSHIP BARTOW XVII RETREAT
Circle B Bar Reserve
Thursday, September 8
BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY
YOU MUST RSVP TO ATTEND THIS EVENT! 800-303-4016
Honoring our Public Heroes
Wednesday, September 14, 7:30 a.m.
Business to Business BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE
Wednesday, September 14, 4:00 p.m.
PIANO ALLEY RIBBON-CUTTING
421 Eagle Ridge Dr., #506, Lake Wales 33859
Friday, September 16, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
LUNCH AND LEARN WITH DENNIS ROSS
FIPR Conference Room
Friday, September 16, 6:00 p.m.
DANCING UNDER THE STARS
Bartow Civic Center - Tickets at the Chamber.
Saturday, September 17, 8:00 a.m.
TOUR DE TOW Cycling Event
Central Avenue, Downtown
Tuesday, September 20, 3:45 p.m.
BOARD / EXEC MEETING
Wednesday, September 21, 11:45 a.m.
DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Bartow Civic Center
FOR A LIST OF COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, CLICK HERE AND THEN CHOOSE "EVENTS"!
ENGAGE SERVES INAUGURAL CLASS
The Chamber's ENGAGE SERVES began August 23 with an inaugural class of 15. The new Board Training Class is sponsored by A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, Mosaic, Baylis & Company, and United Way of Central Florida.
HELLO BARTOW! MEMBERS PARTICIPATE FOR FREE
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.
LAKELAND PIANO OPENING SECOND LOCATION
SM(ART) BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM
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