Business Directory
An Official Publication of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
2019-20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT .........................................................Tony Smith, Ashley, Brown & Company, CPAs
PRESIDENT-ELECT ...................................................... Kim Maddy, Charlotte State Bank & Trust
TREASURER ................................................ Colleen Wright, Olsen, Lynch & Wright, CPAs, PA
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT ...................................................Kathy Robinson, Centennial Bank
VICE PRESIDENTS:
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ........................................Steve Lineberry, Premier Photographic Events
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ..............................................................Kathy Robinson, Centennial Bank
LEADERSHIP ........................................................Justin Brand, Charlotte Community Foundation
DIRECTORS: Brian Chapman, Jr., Chapman Insurance Group; Hector Flores, Charlotte
County; Dave Gammon,Jason Green, Weiler Engineering
Corporation; Mark Houston, Tampa Bay Rays; Toby Lynn, The Mortgage Firm; Angie
Matthiessen, United Way of Charlotte County; Bob Miller, Boyette & Miller Construction
Carla Nix, Nix & Associates Real Estate; David Oliver, McCrory Law
Firm; James Parish, Charlotte County Airport Authority; Melissa Reichert, City of Punta
Gorda; Ian Vincent, Charlotte County Public Schools; Bob White, Sunseeker Resorts
2019-20 PLAN OF ACTION MEMBER BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Chamber Mission Statement: The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce is
organized to advance the prosperity and general welfare of its business members
and the community they serve.
Goals:
business community.
2. Play a primary role in further
improving the business climate in
Charlotte County.
3. Provide business leadership for
programs that will enhance the
quality of life in our community.
Objectives:
Chamber members that offer
numerous networking opportunities
and value added services.
2. Sustain membership growth and
annual basis.
3. To make the Charlotte County
Chamber of Commerce a model of
excellent customer service and be
responsive to member needs.
MEMBER SERVICES DIVISION
Steve Lineberry, Premier Photographic Events, LLC
Mission: To provide information, services and educational programs to members on
issues that affect business.
Ambassadors
Chairs: Ambassadors
Meet: As needed
Mission: To retain members to perpetuate
the Chamber and enable it to achieve its
mission.
ChamberACTION
Chair: Steve Lineberry
Meets: First Tuesday
Mission: To support Chamber activities
on a regular or on-call basis. Along with
providing valuable education about the
Chamber, joining ChamberACTION can
lay the foundation for more in-depth
involvement, and the heightened visibility
you receive provides more recognition for
your business.
Christmas Tree Lighting
Chair: Carla Nix, Nix & Associates
Real Estate
Meets: As Needed
Mission: To plan the annual Charlotte
County Chamber Hometown Community
Christmas - Tree Lighting and Market in
early December.
Tourism
Chair: Denise Dull
Meets: As Needed
Mission: To promote local tourism
activities in order to raise awareness of
local events and stimulate the economic
vitality of our community.
Christmas Parade Committee
Chairs: Ron Thomas, Thomas
Communications
Ed Hill, Englewood Area Chamber
of Commerce
Meets: Monthly,
August through December
Mission: To plan the annual Charlotte
County Chamber of Commerce Christmas
Parade to be held in early December each
year.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Kathy Robinson, Centennial Bank
Mission
members regarding government issues by proactive involvement in the governmental
process.
Government Affairs Committee
Chair: Kathy Robinson, Centennial Bank
Meets:
LEADERSHIP DIVISION
Justin Brand, Charlotte Community Foundation
Mission
prosperity of the business community and the community at large.
Leadership Charlotte
Chair: Jennifer Beane, Presley Beane
Financial Services
Meets: As needed
Mission: To develop new and existing
community leaders by providing an
experiential education of the heritage,
resources, opportunities and business
environment in Charlotte County.
Junior Leadership Charlotte
Chair: Kelly Carr, Fawcett Memorial
Hospital/H2U
Meets: As needed
Mission: The program enhances
the students’ knowledge about local
opportunities so they might return to the
community following their post-secondary
education to live, work, and play
Leadership Charlotte Alumni
Chairs: Leadership Charlotte Class
Presidents/Designees
Mission: To further develop community
leaders and maintain relationships
established through Leadership Charlotte
to assist the Chamber in implementing its
vision of Charlotte County.
62 | CHARLOTTE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
NETWORKING
You have a great product or service to sell.
Attend our monthly networking events .
You’ll meet other business and professional
contacts, increase your visibility and
market your business to more than 1,000
members!
Business Card Exchange - Don’t even
think about going to one of these without
lots of business cards! This is a great way
to meet and network with other members.
We enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages
provided by the host and then have lots
of fun with gifts. Consider bringing one
yourself. Whether serious or silly, gifts
get your name out there! Held at host’s
address; date determined by host.
Networking at Noon - Enjoy a lovely
meal at a Chamber member restaurant.
Bring plenty of business cards to place
at everyone’s spot at the dining tables.
During this hour-long event, you’ll have
an opportunity to discuss in detail your
products or service with your table-mates
and then introduce yourself to the whole
group. The cost is $15. Held at various
Chamber member restaurants every second
Wednesday.
Third Wednesday Coffee - This is a great
time to mingle. Arrive a little early; grab a
cup of coffee and mix with other members.
Then, at 7:15 a.m., listen to a program with
a focus on issues that impact businesses.
Held at the Charlotte Harbor Event and
Conference Center.
Annual Business Expo - Hundreds of
serious business people from throughout
Charlotte County will spend one day
“heating up the business climate” at the
biggest business event of the year. Just
imagine six hours of continuous business
networking, local businesses presenting
their products and services, new client
introductions, and more! Held February
6, 2020 at the Charlotte Harbor Event and
Conference Center.
MARKETING TOOLS
Business OnLine (BOL) - Blow your own
horn! This on-line newsletter is posted
on our website every Monday morning,
and we email more than 3,000 contacts.
BOL lets everyone know about upcoming
events, new additions to the staff, services
or products available, job postings, awards
new to share, email 90 words or less to
jmathis@charlottecountychamber.org by
Friday and we’ll publicize it for you in
BOL on Monday. FREE!
Business Perspective - This monthly
printed newsletter is for members and
includes Chamber happenings, a listing
of new members, and more. Because we
include Chamber members’ inserts, it’s a
great opportunity for you to advertise. You
provide us with 1,800 copies, and we do the
inserting and mailing. The cost is just $150
Community Guide - This community
profile, provided at no cost to more
than 16,000 inquiring tourists and
visitors, is made possible by the member
advertisers. Contact us for information
about advertisement sizes and cost. The
deadline for advertising commitment is
June of each year.
Membership Mailing Labels - Purchase a
set of 1,600 addresses of Chamber Members
for direct mail or invitations for a one-time
The cost is $160.
Join a Committee! ChamberACTION,
Christmas Parade, Christmas Tree
Lighting, Tourism, Government Affairs,
Leadership Charlotte Steering, Junior
Leadership Charlotte Steering ... For more
information, visit our website, www.
charlottecountychamber.org.
Coffee Connections - Start your day with
coffee and networking, tour one of our
the business community. This networking
event is open to prospective members. Held
House. Date TBA.
OTHER WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS
Membership Plaque and Door Sticker
- Display them proudly! They show that
you’re a member of your local Chamber
and Better Business Department and add
to the credibility of your business.
Provide us
with your brochures and business cards to
be picked up by more than 10,000 visitors
who stop in every year.
Membership Directory - Printed and
Online - We recommend only Chamber
members! We hand out or mail 16,000
directories each year and suggest that
newcomers use these a a “mini yellow
pages.”
Website - Your business listing is
automatically linked to your website. Add
your own events, manage your business
description and contact information, send
press releases on our updated website.
Event Sponsorships - Sponsoring a Third
Wednesday Coffee costs only $300 and
gives you the chance to talk about your
business before the program and put your
literature on the tables.
Hosting a Business Card Exchange in your
place of business lets you show it off! The
only cost to you is for the beverages and
munchies.
THERE’S MORE!
• Participate in Leadership Charlotte and
learn all about Charlotte County.
• Attend seminars and workshops on
timely topics.
• Join a Committee.
• Exhibit at the Annaul Expo.
• Enjoy good food and camaraderie at the
Annual Meeting.
• Become a Sustaining Partner and see
your business name on publications and
a banner displayed at most Chamber
events.
• No cost business counseling by Florida
Gulf Coast University’s Certified
Business Consultant (Florida Gulf Coast
University’s FSBDC).
/charlottecountychamber.org
link