February 21, 2017
BARTOW CHAMBER WEEKLY

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: CLINT EDWARDS


ALL SET TO BOOGIE?

     We certainly hope so, because it's almost time for one of the Bartow Chamber's most fun events, Barn Boogie, sponsored by SEMCO Construction. On Thursday, February 23, at 5:30 p.m. at Leland Young's Barn in Alturas, we're going to have a boot-scootin' good time with good music, (I'm the deejay, so I know that's a fact), good food (can't beat Texas Cattle Company steaks) and fun drawings for great prizes. Tickets are available online now, so go to www.bartowchamber.com and get yours. Time is running out!
      There are some cool events coming up for Bartow: Bloomin' Arts Festival, Florida Sheriffs Youth Villa Classic, Taste of Bartow, etc., and while these events aren't necessarily the Chamber's, you can bet we've had a hand in promoting and supporting them! I've found that the Chamber likes to help out with any event that puts Bartow in a good light.That includes the three I mentioned above. Please support Bartow by attending, participating or just telling others about what all we have going on here.
     And speaking of support . . .
BARN BOOGIE SPONSORS:
Presenting Sponsor: SEMCO Construction
GOLD SPONSORS:
A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure
Bartow Ford Company
BEVERAGE SPONSOR:
Evolve Contracting
CORNHOLE SPONSOR:
Mosaic
PRIZE SPONSOR:
ASHLAND
SILVER SPONSORS:
Affordable Appliance
CenterState Bank
Citizens Bank & Trust
Spherion Staffing Services
Thunder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
The Villages At Laurel Meadows
BRONZE SPONSORS:
Bank of Central Florida
Cross Wired Electrical Services
Ruth Elise Anderson's Cruise Planners of Lakeland
Spath Jewelers
Whit's Building Supply
CONTRIBUTORS:
Baylis & Company
The Mahoney Group
Michell Githens State Farm Insurance
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
Watson Clinic, LLP

CHAMPIONS CUP

Congratulations to the 2016 Champions Cup Winners! Here they are:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
Bartow Ford
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS:
Pyramid Fasteners
SERVICE/PROFESSIONAL:
Travel Leaders / International Sun Travel
RETAIL BUSINESS:
The Krazy Kricket
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Bartow Ford
NOT FOR PROFIT/ COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY:
Bartow Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc.
MAIN STREET BUSINESS:
Sweet Magnolias
EMERGING BUSINESS:
The Krazy Kricket

SPIRIT OF BARTOW AWARD:
Jennifer Hall
Karen Guffey

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE:
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam


Click here to see past winners of this prestigious award.
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

PHOTOS HERE!

JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!



Want this cool cup? It can be yours, simply by joining ENGAGE Young Professionals. Here's the link to learn about ENGAGE and to join. Become the Community Leader you were meant to be, sign up today!

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Clint Edwards, President
Emily Spath Clark, Incoming President
   Spath Jewelers

Jennifer Hall, Immediate Past President
    SEMCO Construction

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST

SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!

















WANT YOUR COMPANY
LISTED HERE?
Contact Barbara@bartowchamber.com

CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP

 Reserve your space now in the Spring 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.

SEE US HERE!

FEBRUARY BUSINESS: STAY INN & SUITES



Left to right: Bean Raj, Stay Inn Manager; Jaison Varghese, Stay Inn Advisor; Mike Chauhan, Stay Inn Owner; and Barbara Adamson, Chamber Membership Director.

February Business of the Month
________________________________________
Stay Inn & Suites
1035 North Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-0711 • www.stayinnbartow.com




We are the perfect place to relax! Stay Inn & Suites serves the needs of active families in a comfortable setting, featuring newly refurbished rooms. We are the “preferred” lodging choice for vacationers and business travelers. Enjoy a swim in the beautiful swimming pool, or have a refreshing cocktail in the relaxed atmosphere of our modern lounge. Need meeting or event space? Our conference room can accommodate up to 75 people.
Visit us today at www.stayinnbartow.com.


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

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

50 YEARS
R.W. Summers Railroad Contractor, Inc.

35 YEARS
Billy B. Brown, Jr., DDS
Florida Truck & Trailer Company


30 YEARS
Annett Bus Lines
Phillip E. Abbott, DDS


25 YEARS
Camping World of Bartow
Clark/Nikdel/Powell, Inc.
LaVerne McCall


20 YEARS
Graphite Maintenance, Inc.

15 YEARS
Bartow Dixie Baseball, Inc.

10 YEARS
Tommie Jenkins

5 YEARS
Bohde Grove Service
Labor Solutions, Inc.
Patel, Greene & Associates, PLLC
Jean O'Doski
Senator Denise Grimsley

CHAMBER EVENTS


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

FEBRUARY

Thursday, February 23
LEADERSHIP BARTOW XVII AGRIBUSINESS DAY
Day Chair: Danny Kushmer, Leadership XIV Class

Thursday, February 23, 5:30 p.m.
BARN BOOGIE sponsored by SEMCO
Leland Young's Barn

MARCH
Wednesday, March 1, 1:30 p.m.
DIPLOMAT PARTY
Happy Birthday Jean, Nelle, Jo and Shirley!

Thursday, March 2, 6:00 p.m.
TOWN HALL MEETING
City Hall

Saturday, Sunday, March 4, 5; 10:00 a.m.
Frost Van den Boom PA
BLOOMIN' ARTS FESTIVAL
Downtown Bartow

Wednesday, March 8, 7:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
PSC Clear Springs Campus

Thursday, March 9, 6:00 p.m.
BARTOW'S RIDGE LEAGUE OF CITIES
Bartow Civic Center

Tuesday, Wednesday, March 14, 15
POLK COUNTY DAY, TALLAHASSEE
Leadership Bartow XVII Travels to Tallahassee

Thursday, March 16, 5:00 p.m.
FROST FUN THURSDAY
Location : TBD

Friday, March 17, 5:00-ish
ST. PATRICK's UNPARADE & FRIDAY FEST
Parade begins at Nye Jordan Park, ends at Friday Fest

Saturday, March 18, 8:00 a.m.
BLARNEY TRIATHLON
Bartow Civic Center

Saturday, March 18, 6:00 p.m.
WILD GAME DINNER, ROTARY CLUB
Leland Young's Barn

Tuesday, March 21
CHAMBER BOARD RETREAT

Wednesday, March 29, 7:00 a.m.
MAYOR'S SUNRISE PRAYER BREAKFAST
Bartow Civic Center, Tickets, $12
 

NEW MEMBERS

Associations/Clubs/Organizations
Bartow High School Yellow Jackets Athletic Booster Club Inc.
Ms. Angela Ruiz
P.O. Box 994
Bartow, FL 33831
(863) 326-8177

Warehousing-Mini/Self-Service
Affordable Storage of Bartow
Ms. Lori Raymond
1515 Centennial Blvd.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-5597

Fitness/Gym
Anytime Fitness
Mr. James Mily
145 E. Van Fleet Dr.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-7123

Pest Control
 Massey Services, Inc.
Mr. Wili Davi
3705 US Hwy 98 S., Suite 4
Lakeland, FL 33812
(863) 665-4137
Visit Website here.

Attorneys
Saunders Law Group, P.A.
Mr. Thomas C. Saunders
480 S. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 533-6200
Visit Website here.

Engineers- Surveyors-Planners
Sloan Engineering Group, Inc.
Mr. Alan L. Rayl, PE, PSM
150 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 800-3046

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.

DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR MARCH!

This is a great time of exercise for the whole family! Marie Wilmot, local fitness guru, has designed a program for the Chamber to help the community get fit! Find out what types of exercise suit your needs by coming out to Fort Blount Park on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. You can experience a different kind of exercise in each class. It's a blast!

MEMBER MICRONEWS

TASTE OF BARTOW EVENT
TO BENEFIT SHELTER
SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE!

Join the Youth and Family Alternative organization for a fun-filled night of music, dancing, drawings, and delicious local food and drink - all for a great cause!
Proceeds to benefit the George W. Harris Jr. Runaway and Youth Crisis Shelter
     Your $25 ticket includes unlimited samples of scrumptious fare from our talented local chefs plus beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Come and enjoy the soulful sounds of gifted local musician Justin Grimes while you participate in a table drawing filled with fabulous prizes. Dance the night away in the beautiful barn at the Allen Cattle Ranch. Come as you are - there’s no dress code and all are welcome!
at the ALLEN BARN, 6410 Garfield Rd.
Fort Meade, 33841
on Thursday, March 30, 2017, 5:00-9:00 p.m.
For tickets call: 863-397-7488


CLICK BELOW TO READ ABOUT THE UPCOMING
FLORIDA SHERIFF'S YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC AND MORE!

read more...

BARTOW BLOOMIN' ARTS FESTIVAL

BARTOW ART FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY
FROST VAN DEN BOOM, PA
OFFERS 15K IN AWARDS

      The 46th Annual Bartow Bloomin’ Arts Festival will be hosted by the Bartow Art Guild; Mainstreet Bartow, Inc.; Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce and the City of Bartow on March 4 & 5, 2017.
      After being one of the major sponsors for more than 20 years, the law firm of Frost Van den Boom, P.A, is presenter for the third year in a row.
      Approximately $15,000 will be awarded in prizes and purchase awards, with Best of Show winning $2,250. There are 12 other adult artist prizes ranging from $150 to $1,500 each. Best of Show for Student Senior High Division is $300 with additional awards totaling $600. Middle school awards are $100 for Best of Show and two awards at $50 each.
      In addition to the exhibits and sales by artists and fine craft persons, the show will feature a Quilt Show, Flower Show, Classic Car Show, Bloomin’ Bike Ride on Saturday, and a Children’s Tent with Face Painting and hands-on art activities, as well as live entertainment both Saturday and Sunday.
      The Bartow Bloomin’ Arts Festival is presented by Frost Van den Boom, P.A.  Additional sponsors are Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau; Sun Central Media Group; and the Ledger Media Group.

NEW SERIES: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II

MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
ALL NEW PROGRAM, NEW CLASSES FOR 2017. More than 57 earned a Professional Development Academy certificate in 2016!
FIND OUT MORE OR TO REGISTER.

As a member, you and your employees are eligible to participate in a professional development series: LEADERSHIP IN THE WORKPLACE. Successful professionals continually strive to learn. Expanding skill sets and knowledge enables individuals to transcend their careers. The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, 
in collaboration with Polk State College, announces the launch of the 2017 Greater Bartow Chamber Professional Development Academy (PDA). This program provides skills for business, organization, and personal growth and improvement through a variety of educational and training opportunities. Receive your PDA certificate by attending a minimum of four of the seven classes. Cost for the academy classes are covered in your Chamber membership investment. If you are an employee of a Chamber member business, you are entitled to attend any of the classes at no cost. If you are not employed by a Chamber member business, the classes are $29 per class.

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