The Official Publication of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce APRIL 2018 5-Star Accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Four-Time Winner Florida Chamber of the Year National Chamber of the Year The Chamber Is Your Voice for Business in Tallahassee We Look Forward to Senator Galvano's Leadership as Senate President Is Your Weight Affecting Your Health and Well Being? We Can Help Many people who are seriously overweight have tried different diets, medications and professional weight-loss services for years without long-term success. Weight-loss surgery* helps people lose weight by reducing the size of the stomach or bypassing part of the intestines. If you have a BMI greater than 30 and have tried other weight-loss methods, we invite you to call our bariatric coordinator to learn more about our program. Be sure to ask about the Obalon® Balloon System, a non-surgical treatment option that can be swallowed. Many of the procedures can be done with minimally invasive, laparoscopic approaches. Learn more about: • Obalon® Balloon System • Gastric sleeve surgery • Lap-Band® adjustable gastric banding system • Gastric bypass surgery For more information about our program, call 941.708.8055. Surgical Weight-Loss Options Seminar and a Weight-Loss Support Group are offered each month at Manatee Memorial Hospital. Call 941.708.8055 for more information. 206 Second Street East Physicians are on the medical staff of Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL 34208 but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who manateememorial.com are not employees or agents of Manatee Memorial Hospital. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. Get social with us * Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if bariatric surgery is right for you.. 180035 2 ManateeChamber.com Manatee Chamber of Commerce | April Current 2018 Shinn & Company I S NOW A P A R T O F Carr, Riggs & Ingram Top 20 CPA Firm | CRIcpa.com SARASOTA 50 Central Ave, Ste 910 | BRADENTON 1001 3rd Ave W, Ste 500 | 941.747.0500 Supporting what’s important to you. Look around the community. When there’s a local cause or event To subscribe, call that your family is passionate about, the Bradenton Herald is 1.800.748.6666 probably a part of it. Which is why we’re proud to support small businesses. We’re always here for you & yours. April Current 2018 | Manatee Chamber of Commerce ManateeChamber.com 3 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Darcie Duncan, Duncan Real Estate Immediate Past Chairman ....................................................................Kevin DiLallo, Manatee Memorial Hospital Chairman-Elect .....................................................................................................Bill Poulton, Tropicana Products Treasurer ..................................................................................................Christy Cardillo, Shinn & Company, LLC Vice Chairman, Community Development & Communications ....................Rick Bisio, The Educated Franchisee Vice Chairman, Membership Development & Services ..................... Ernie Withers, Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota Vice Chairman, Public Policy & Small Business ....................Phill Baker, Boyd Insurance & Investment Services President | CEO ......................................................................... Jacki Dezelski, Manatee Chamber of Commerce MAILING ADDRESS Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation ................. Carol Probstfeld, PhD, State College of Florida P.O. Box 321 Bradenton, FL 34206-0321 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jason Bartz, NDC Construction Company Cara Martin, Southwest Florida Water Kevin Baylor, Suncoast Business Technologies Management District (Ex Officio) BRADENTON OFFICE Richard Bedford, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch Inc. Stewart Moon, Jr., Air & Energy AT BANK OF THE OZARKS Jennifer Bencie, MD, Florida Dept. of Health - Manatee Sean Murphy, Beach Bistro 1901 Manatee Avenue West Bruce Body, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. John Nash, Osceola Pines-Timber Shirley Bryant, Mayor, City of Palmetto (Ex Officio) Jeffrey Nickse, Accurate Benefit Solutions, LLC Bradenton, FL 34205 Bruce Patneaude, IMG Academy Phone: 941-748-3411 Carlos Buqueras, Port Manatee (Ex Officio) Brian Carter, Mauldin & Jenkins CPA, LLC Frederick Piccolo, Sarasota Bradenton International Fax: 941-745-1877 Bill Colgate, MD, MCR Health Services, Inc. Airport (Ex Officio) Janelle Esposito, Esposito Law Group, P.A. Jeff Podobnik, Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club LAKEWOOD RANCH OFFICE Diana Greene, PhD, School Board of Manatee Wayne Poston, Mayor, City of Bradenton County (Ex Officio) (Ex Officio) AT THE MCCLURE CENTER Teresa Rawe, MD,TeamHealth 4215 Concept Court Darren Haimer, Bradenton Herald Steve Hall, Alltrust Insurance William Robinson, Blalock Walters, P.A. Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 Sharon Hillstrom, Bradenton Area Economic Chris Sharek, Sharek Solutions, Inc. Phone: 941-748-3411 Development Corporation Vicki Silver, Feld Entertainment, Inc. Fax: 941-745-1877 Karen Holbrook, PhD, University of South Florida Kay-Lynne S. Taylor, New College of Florida (Ex Officio) Sarasota-Manatee (Ex Officio) Brian Thomas, State College of Florida (Ex Officio) Priscilla Whisenant Trace, Commissioner, Manatee [email protected] Ed Hunzeker, Manatee Co. Government (Ex Officio) Charlie Kennedy, School Board of Manatee County County Government (Ex Officio) ManateeChamber.com (Ex Officio) Doug Van Dyke, Leadership Simplified Karen LaPensee, LaPensee Plumbing, Pools & Air Kerry Ward, Bank of the Ozarks MISSION: To build a positive business environment while enhancing MANATEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STAFF the community’s quality of life. Terri Behling, Vice President, Workforce and Community Development [email protected], ext. 172 Kim Dalglish, Vice President, Membership .......................................... [email protected], ext. 121 The Manatee Chamber of Jacki Dezelski, IOM, President | CEO ................................................ [email protected], ext. 131 Commerce’s Current magazine is Tim Estep, Member Engagement Manager ..........................................TimE@ManateeChamber.com, ext. 275 published monthly and distributed Tim Fenimore, Membership Development Representative ................... [email protected], ext. 241 to more than 3,000 business Michael Gallen, Esq., Vice Pres., Public Policy & Small Business [email protected], ext. 124 and community leaders. It is an Carole Guevara, Information Specialist .............................................CaroleG@ManateeChamber.com, ext. 200 advertising medium available only Kimberly Henley, Program & Events Manager [email protected], ext. 139 Carey Miller, Office Administrator ......................................................CareyM@ManateeChamber.com, ext. 113 to Chamber members. Cara Misiewicz, Executive Assistant, Membership Development ........ [email protected], ext. 122 Reba Parrish, Information Specialist .................................................. [email protected], ext. 100 FOR ADVERTISING Dawn Plavak, Better Business Council Manager [email protected], ext. 114 RATES CONTACT: Diane Pluchino, Information Specialist ...................................................... [email protected], ext. 200 Michele Slaughter Lisa Reeder, Executive Assistant, Public Policy & Small Business ...... [email protected], ext. 123 941-748-4842, ext. 116 or Cheryl Richert, Controller of Finance ................................................CherylR@ManateeChamber.com, ext. 115 [email protected] Michele Slaughter, Creative Services Manager...............................MicheleS@ManateeChamber.com, ext. 116 The Current magazine is proudly published by CG&B Publishing, LLC of Bradenton. FREE BUSINESS COUNSELING AT THE CHAMBER SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" By appointment only - call 941-748-3411 Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Bradenton Office Tuesdays, 9:00 - 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Lakewood Ranch Office at the McClure Center Stay up to date with the latest follow us Chamber news and happenings 4 ManateeChamber.com Manatee Chamber of Commerce | April Current 2018 contents FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE 6 Membership Matters: Think Chamber 8 Platinum Spotlight: • Your Chamber by the Numbers Manatee County Government 7 Advocacy 13 Better Business Council (BBC) • Legislative Roundtable Provides 14 Manatee Young Professionals (MYP) Key Insight and Connections 20 Chairman's Circle Members 9 Do You Know a Champion of Healthcare? 22 February Coffee Club • Nominations Deadline This Month 23 March Business After Hours • Corporate Sponsorships Available • Reserve Your Table or Seat Now 24 Welcome New Members 10 Ship-Shape Showcase 25 Chamber Friends - Here to Help • Free Admission for Chamber Members 26 Power Connection Events 27 Bagels & Benefits Member Reception 11 Chamber's New Location 28 Ribbon Cutting Celebrations Chamber Open House at Bank of the Ozarks, April 20 29 Member News 12 Project TEACH 30 Calendar of Events & Meetings • Inspire 4th Grade Students 34th Annual Golf Tournament EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE • Save the Date 16 Member