Volume 194 | September 2024

 
Weekly eConnection
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President's Desk Edition

From the President’s Desk…

It’s Great to Belong!

    I hope everyone enjoyed the Labor Day holiday. We’ve entered the “BER” months, and it will be no time before we’re wishing “Happy 2025!”

    A bit prematurely, September marks the end of our program year, and we’re now in high gear planning for a new one with a focus on growth. At our 71st Annual Meeting & Awards Breakfast on Sept. 27 we will be reviewing our most recent successes and revealing the future course.  I hope you will join us! More information is below, and you should be receiving an invitation by mail.

    My special thanks to all those who gave of their time and energy this program year, most notably our Chairman, Mia Cloud of Cloud Law Firm. She led our continuing efforts in business development, membership retention and education programming.  We made gains in these areas through her leadership.

    One program that has been well received thanks to your generosity is ChamberCARES!  Each year we select a member non-profit to support with material donations. This year, two were chosen – New Life Solutions and Recovery Epicenter. We’re ready to start accepting donations today. A complete list of what’s being requested is below. This ChamberCARES! round will run through April.

    As you consider ways to get the most from your Chamber investment, look at serving on a Chamber committee.  There’s one for every interest, and you get to meet some terrific people. Just give me a call and we can talk about what would be best for you.

    All the best for a happy and prosperous month,

    Tom Morrissette 

Welcome, SJE Inc!

   The leadership team at SJE Inc were presented with their official Chamber membership plaque at the recent ribbon cutting. They are from left, Natasha Nodsle, Bjorn Haldorsen, Ellie Mulcahy, Ana Bashi, Sal Cvorak, and Tim Fowler.

    SJE offers a complete line of sump, effluent and sewage controls for residential and commercial applications, including control panels, alarms, float switches and accessories for pump control and alarm notification. The industry leader holds 60+ patents, a research and development team with 100+ years of industry experience, and 62 engineers. The 70,000 control panels produced per year, range from $200 panels to multi-million-dollar projects. Learn more about their brands at SJEinc.com.

Join us tomorrow!

RSVP with Emmy

Seeking skilled help?

Manufacturing and Construction Career Expo

Wednesday, Sept. 18th, 11:00am - 2:00pm

SPC Midtown Campus

300 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Connecting career seekers with businesses and organizations in the construction, labor, transportation, trades and manufacturing industries. Here’s the link to take part: Career Expo.

Controversial state parks plan scrapped after public backlash

Gov. Ron DeSantis is withdrawing his administration’s plans to add golf courses, pickleball courts and 350-room hotels to Florida state parks after intense public backlash.

Visit Florida to seek funding boost

After receiving $80 million in this year’s budget, Florida’s tourism-marketing agency plans to ask for an increase in state funding during the 2025 legislative session.

Rise of "sloth fever" cases among Floridians travelling to Cuba prompts CDC response

At least 30 travelers from Cuba have brought cases of a potentially deadly virus known as “sloth fever” to Florida this year, including 10 just in the past week.

Feds fire back in Florida's gun sales lawsuit

The Biden administration this week urged a U.S. district judge to toss out a Florida lawsuit challenging a new federal rule that requires more gun sellers to be licensed and run background checks on buyers.

Tourism adds significant dangers on Florida roads during peak visitation times

It’s no secret Florida is reliant on the billions of dollars spent by tourists visiting the Sunshine State every year. But a new analysis says the peak of tourist season in Florida makes roads more dangerous.

Thank you to our Trustees and Newsletter Sponsors

Acropol Family Restaurant

Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital

Business & Family Insurors

Cloud Law Firm PA

Duke Energy

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital

HCA Florida Largo Hospital

Home Instead/Be a Santa

Jackson & Associates CPA

Melody Hunter Homes

National Aviation Academy

Pinellas County Housing Authority

Piper Fire Protection

Platinum Information Services

Regions Bank

State Farm - Team Cocco

The Palms of Largo

Valley National Bank

Village Inn

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

Wealth Builders

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