This past month, we welcomed 30 new Chamber members!

4U Fitness
Alignment Healthcare
Big Apple Buffet
Blackhawk, Inc.
Century 21 Beggins Enterprises- Abdul Azizi
Clear Channel Outdoor
First Home Bank
Florida Capital Bank
Good With Me Inc
Gordon J. Schiff, P.A.
Holton Companies
IMG of Tampa Bay
JAPOSID Cleaning Services, Inc.
Leadership Architecture Worldwide LLC
Life Leadership
Morris Law Firm, P.A.
Namaste Realty, LLC
Oishi Sushi & Japanese Steakhouse
On Time Concierge
Passmore Real Estate Services Inc
Quarles & Brady LLP
Sales Verification Company
Sherpa Wealth Partners
Sketch and Sip
Sunscreen Film Festival
Susan G. Komen Florida Suncoast Affiliate
Tampa Bay Watch
The Island Reporter
Valerie Bogle Photography, Studio B
YACHTFISH

​Series of events, May 2-6, will highlight and empower local small businesses 

In alignment with National Small Business Week, the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce® is planning a week of events (May 2-6) to shine light on some of St. Pete’s many small business success stories; and to offer resources, info, and ideas to help create many more. 

Presented by Ceridian HCM and Regions Bank, some highlights of the Chamber’s Small Business Week include a business expo, support and partnership opportunities with the St. Petersburg Greenhouse, and special Google workshops to put local businesses on the map. 

“We have big-deal small business stories in St. Petersburg – past, present, and future. We can’t wait to spotlight some of those stories during small business week, and do all we can to help create many more,” said Chamber President & CEO, Chris Steinocher. “The week is a prime time to learn about innovation and opportunities within St. Pete’s robust, compelling small business scene.” 

Some opportunities for members to get involved include: submitting your small biz story, member discounts/coupons, and member-led seminars to learn from professionals around town across a range of industries.
 
Some participation and sponsorship opportunities are available. Events include: 

Monday, May 2nd | Think Small Kickoff Webcast 
At Your Desk, 9:00AM – 10:00AM | FREE to Tune-In 
Tune in to a live webcast to kick off the week! Hear small business success stories and find out all that’s in store to celebrate small businesses in St. Pete. 

Tuesday, May 3rd | Business Expo 
The Coliseum, 4:00PM – 7:00PM I FREE to Attend 
In its third year, the Business Expo attracts over 500 business professionals who are committed to improving their businesses and looking for products and services to accelerate their growth!
Chamber Member Exhibitor: $350
Non-member Exhibitor: $450

Wednesday, May 4th 
1 Million Cups
St. Petersburg Greenhouse, 9:00AM - 10:00AM I FREE to Attend 
Enjoy Kahwa Coffee and learn more about early-stage startups as they present their companies to a diverse audience of their peers, mentors, educators, and advisors.

Get Your Business Online Workshop 
Chamber Boardroom, 10:30AM – 11:30AM & 1:00PM – 2:00PM | FREE to Attend 
We’re partnering with Google to help every business in our community increase their web presence – starting with yours! Find out how to help your business succeed online. 

Member Appreciation BBQ 
Chamber Courtyard, 11:30AM – 1:00PM | FREE to Attend 
Take your lunch break with the Chamber! Drop in for a bite to eat, fun giveaways and a chance to connect with your Chamber staff and other members. 

Thursday, May 5th | Growing Business Seminars 
Various Locations, Various Times | FREE to Attend 
Grow smarter with professional and personal development sessions led by Chamber members. 

To learn more about events and sponsorship opportunities, visit stpete.com/SmallBizWeek. 

ALPHA House, the beneficiary organization selected by the 2016 Class of Leadership St. Pete, was featured this week on Fox News. Lexi Plummer, a class member from HSN, as well as Jennifer Stracick, Alpha House's Executive Director, explained the need for support - as Pinellas County’s only residential maternity program, ALPHA House provides housing and supportive services to homeless pregnant women and teens, new mothers with infants, and families experiencing crisis pregnancies. Since 1979, ALPHA House has served more than 3,000 women, teens and infants and almost 90 percent of those who have gone through their program have made a successful transition into permanent housing and independent living. This means that they are making impacts on their residents not only today, but for future generations.
 
The 2016 Leadership St. Pete class has introduced a new way to secure financial assistance for the ALPHA House project. Check out the video of the Fox News segment and donate now: YouCaring.com/ALPHA.

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce® celebrated the success of 2015, recognized community leaders and looked forward into 2016 with over 1,100 members on Thursday, January 28th at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The Chamber celebrated the outgoing 2015 Board of Governors Chair, William Ulbricht, President of St. Anthony’s Hospital and welcomed new 2016 Chair, W. Gregory Holden of Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc.

After a welcome from Mayor Rick Kriseman, the room was full of energy - St. Pete is definitely the place to be. There was a bit of a twist this year, the audience was encouraged to #betheshine and take out their phones to participate in a live voting experience which helped run the program. The shine is definitely on St. Pete Chamber members, with last year’s tradition of all members receiving 2 free tickets continuing.

The program, run similarly to a Chamber Board of Governors meeting, highlighted a few Chamber member Bright Spots in 2015. The audience voted on which Bright Spot they wanted to hear more about.  After a close vote, Allison Guley, Associate Senior Counsel at All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine and Chamber Board Member, expressed the excitement of the groundbreaking for their new research and education tower in the Innovation District, bringing progress and insight into the future for kids everywhere.

Councils, committees and task forces are the backbone of the efforts in moving toward the Chamber’s Strategic Plan goals. The audience was asked which efforts they wanted to learn more about, and the St. Pete Young Professionals and Leadership St. Pete® (LSP) program won with an outstanding number of votes. 

After hearing from Kathleen Larrison, LSP Chair 2015 on the Class of 2015's phenomenal success in 2015 with raising $90,000 for the Class Project, the Suncoast Center, Leah Bickley, the 2016 Class Chair, spoke on behalf of the class on their excitement to make a difference in the community by moving forward with the 2016 Class Project, Alpha House. St. Pete Young Professionals (SPYP) 2015 Chair, Taylor Traviesa and 2016 Chair, Justin Bean spoke on the leadership development opportunities young professionals can experience while being involved in SPYP. 

2015 Board of Governors Chair, William Ulbricht, President of St. Anthony’s Hospital announced the 2016 Board of Governors, including:

Executive Committee 
 
Chair
W. Gregory Holden, Manning & Napier Advisors, LLC

Immediate Past Chair
William Ulbricht, St. Anthony's Health Care

Chair-Elect
Jim Donatelli, Regions Bank

Vice Chair Secretary/Treasurer
Bill Kent, George F. Young, Inc.

Vice Chair Membership Development
Anne Drake McMullen, Doyle Wealth Management  

Vice Chair Economic Development
Michael Vivio, Valpak Direct Marketing Systems

Vice Chair Advocacy
Ryan Griffin, Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP

Vice Chair Organizational Development
Dr. Sophia Wisniewska, USF St. Petersburg 

Vice Chair Marketing / Brand Development
Dan Saginario, HSN 

Legal Counsel (Non-Voting)
Jim Dickson, Esq., Adams and Reese LLP 
 
Board of Governors
 
Ian Barber, Bankers Financial Corporation

Tony Collins, Blake Collins Group

Tim Coop, Hancock Bank

Dean Jacqueline Dixon, USF College of Marine Science

Bill Edwards, The Edwards Group

Tash Elwyn, Private Client Group, Raymond James & Associates

Danielle Findley, Florida Print Solutions Inc.

Dr. Judy Genshaft, USF 

Kathy Gillette, Bayfront Health System

Bill Goede, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Andi Gordon, Tampa Bay Times

Kevin Gordon, St. Petersburg College

Marcus Greene, BB&T Bank 

Allison Guley, All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine

Charley Harris, Trenam Law

Sharon Hayes, Palms of Pasadena Hospital

John Higgins, Tampa Bay Rays

Trevor Hillier, ASI

Nick Kouris, Florida Blue

Chad Loar, PNC Bank

Rita Lowman, C1 Bank

Dia Nichols, Northside Hospital

David Punzak, Carlton Fields

Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy

Dennis Sheaffer, Bright House Networks 

Todd Simmons, Ceridian HCM

Robert Warchola, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP (PAC Chair)

Jill Wilkinson, SunTrust Bank 
 
Ex Officio Members
 
Justin Bean, Reusable Transport Packaging, Inc. (SPYP Chair)

Martha Boden, SPCA Tampa Bay

Paul Carder (Strategic Guidance)

John Collins, St. Petersburg Arts Alliance

James Connolly, Ph.D., St. Petersburg College

Linda Dennis, Hotel Indigo (Tourism Partners Chair)

Watson Haynes, Pinellas County Urban League 

Joni James, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, Inc.


Tom Jewsbury, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport

Juliet Kyes, ActionCOACH (Ambassadors Council Chair)

Ross Preville, Raymond James & Assoc. (Waterfront Masterplan Chair)

Josh Shulman, Wells Fargo Advisors (LSPAA President)

Paul Stellrecht, City of St. Petersburg (LSP Chair) 

Dr. Kanika Tomalin, City of St. Petersburg (Board Liaison, City of St. Petersburg)

Mike Meidel, Pinellas County Economic Development (Board Liaison, Pinellas County Economic Development) 
 

W. Gregory Holden, 2016 Chamber Board of Governors Chair thanked Bill Ulbricht for his leadership as the 2015 Chair and spoke on what's to come in 2016. Holden took time to recognize past Board and SPYP Chairs.       

A previous SPYP Chair, he discussed 2016 plans including the Grow Smarter Strategy for Economic Development, the first annual Benchmarking Trip to "Think Outside the 'Burg", Small Business Week and more.

Holden introduced Kathy Gillette, Market President & CEO of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, who introduced the 2016 Chamber Member of the Year. This year's winner, Ryan Tarrant, holds three separate Chamber memberships with three different businesses (Courtyard by Marriott St. Petersburg, Cinema Squatch and Pinellas County Gator Club) and was the Chair of the “most outrageous” Good 'Burger Awards in September of 2015. Awarding the honor to a deserving member was a great way to end the program, and attendees were invited to enjoy food and drinks in the atrium of the Mahaffey Theater.

Click here to view pictures from the evening.

As we dive into 2016, we’re focused on programming a value-filled year for our members. We’re introducing new events this year, and we want help our members shine, support them as they grow their network and see their business thrive in 2016.

Now Trending, sponsored by Shumaker Loop & Kendrick LLP, will keep our members current on trending topics in St. Pete. These quarterly lunches will offer members the opportunity to learn, network and enjoy a great lunch provided by a member business.

Coffee Chats are an opportunity for Chamber members and elected officials to have an informal conversation at a Chamber business. Topics range from current events or upcoming policy issues that impact the economic growth and community vitality of St. Petersburg.

Small Business Week will highlight St. Pete’s small businesses  and the impact they make in our community. Our mission is to be the preeminent leader of economic growth and community vitality; and to celebrate our small businesses, we’ve planned a week full of fun networking and educational events during the week of May 2nd that will help our community continue to grow smarter. 

Click here to learn about all of the 2016 networking opportunities. If you are interested in hosting, sponsoring or attending and have questions, please contact Natalie Fisher at nfisher@stpete.com. ​

Intrinio, a St. Pete financial technology startup has been nominated for the prestigious Annual Benzinga Fintech Awards!

The BZ Awards is a competition to showcase the companies with the most impressive technology, who are paving the future in financial services and capital markets! 115 companies submitted their technologies to the last awards competition, and this year Intrinio has been nominated.

If Intrinio wins, it will help shine a spotlight on the exciting startup and tech scene here in St. Petersburg. We need your support! Please help us out by clicking the link below to vote. It only takes a few seconds. Help us spread the word and secure a WIN for our local startup!

Let's talk about data analytics - what is it? How does it affect your business?

Data analytics is heavily intertwined in our economy and increasing your understanding of it can help you improve your business.

This Wednesday, a diverse panel will discuss what data analytics is and why it is important to all of us, from entrepreneurs with start-ups to major corporations.

When:
Wednesday, November 18th
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Where:
ValPak Headquarters
1 ValPak Avenue North

FREE for Chamber members
$10 for non-members

Panelists include:

Rachel Carpenter, Intrinio
Rachel Carpenter is Co-Founder and VP of Intrinio, a financial data and valuation firm located in St. Petersburg, FL. She is an advanced front end web developer and a graduate of The Starter League Advanced HTML & CSS web design course

Chris Cate, Valpak
Chris Cate is Chief Information Officer for Cox Target Media which operates Valpak and Savings.com. As CIO, he is responsible for leading all technology operations across both companies, identifying emerging technologies & investment opportunities and driving new emerging revenue streams.

Bill Martin, Tangibly Unique Strategies
Bill Martin is a principal at analytics and strategy consulting firm, Tangibly Unique Strategies that uses big data to improve the consumer experience.

Jonathan Erlichman, Tampa Bay Rays
Jonathan Erlichman is an analyst in the Rays Baseball Research and Development department. His primary focus is on building statistical models to assist with player evaluation and in-game decisions.

Preston Faykus, RankMiner
Preston is the CEO & Founder of RankMiner Predictive Analytics, a company that leverages voice-based emotions and behaviors to predict agent and customer success.  He is also an owner and advisor to Standards Solution, a professional development company committed to improving the quality of education in the K-12 space.

Since its inception in 2008, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to 160 countries—building and strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world. Starting next Monday, November 16th, thousands of events and competitions around the world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors.

St. Pete is full of fantastic entrepreneur success stories, and we'd love to feature yours via our social media and blog efforts! If you are a St. Pete Chamber member who would like to guest blog to share your story, please click here to email Morgan Brochetti, Marketing Coordinator.

Be sure to use the hashtag #GEW2015 on your social media posts! Click here to learn more about Global Entrepreurship Week.

The St. Pete Chamber has hired a new Membership Development Manager to grow and manage the Chamber membership.

Michele Stone has a strong background of sales, marketing and management attained from nine years in leadership positions held in the rapidly growing running industry. Previous positions include Director of Race Partnerships at fusesport, and Director of Sales at RUNNING USA, where she was responsible for a 38% increase in sponsorships and advertising from 2013-2014. 

With an impressive career history, Michele is a perfect fit for the Chamber in the current renaissance St. Petersburg is experiencing. She will manage new member sales, sponsorships and advertising sales. Michele will be evaluating, re-structuring and implementing a total community investment strategy defining value for membership and growth of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.  

On her new position, Michele said, “I’m thrilled to be part of the team at the St. Pete Area Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to building strong relationships as well as getting the opportunity to help businesses become more visible and successful within the community. There are many opportunities to have a voice and create growth through the Chamber’s programs, Advocacy Task Forces and Economic Development initiatives. I’m super excited to live in this vibrant and growing city and look forward to the future!”
​
To learn more about Chamber benefits, growing your business or to meet Michele, please find her contact information below.

Michele Stone, Membership Development Manager
Phone: (727) 388-2913
Email: mstone@stpete.com

We've joined promotional forces with Kobie Marketing to gain added exposure to a fundraising event mixing up talent, food drives and fun to benefit local charities. Jannus Live will host St. Pete’s Got Talent on November 12, 2015.

The St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Bank feeds over 40,000 community members, and the need for donations is constant. Last year, Kobie Marketing raised over 46,000 pounds of food through office participation and #StompOutStarving, a local fundraiser, which helped to keep the Food Bank’s coffers full for over 6 months.

Kobie is calling on the community and local companies to join forces as they try to expand their efforts and include other local charities of the community’s choice to benefit from the event as well. There are several ways to get involved, including hosting food collection bins.

The St. Pete Chamber is currently housing two collection bins and invites members and locals to stop in to donate non-perishable food items.

Drop into the Chamber during regular business hours to donate your items!