3 minute read

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

from The Bridge Magazine - July 2023

by Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

from The Bridge Magazine - July 2023, page 15

Article from: The Bridge Magazine - July 2023

DEVELOPMENTS CORPORATE CORNER

Chamber Staff

Heather Kasten President/CEO hkasten@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 556-4050

Ed Hill Vice President ehill@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 556-4040

Dan Sidler Vice President of CareerEdge & Economic Development dsidler@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 556-4045

Maggie Burton Executive Assistant mburton@sarasotachamber.com

Recently, we hosted our “Superbowl” of events — the 2023 Small Business Awards. This event is the epitome of what we do at the Chamber — celebrating business, entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, and growth. While we celebrated the winners and finalists of the nine different categories, what’s more, is the fact that we had the most applications for these prestigious awards. More than 100, to be exact.

I had the pleasure of serving on the initial application review panel. Reading the success stories of businesses from large to small, non-profit organizations, minority- and womenowned, those that are just starting out and how they are creating impact in our community and innovating workforce solutions was truly inspiring.

Our membership is incredibly diverse, determined and passionate about what they do in their businesses, yet all have the same goal of making our community a better place to work, live, and play. I’m convinced that our membership played a huge role in making Sarasota the No. 1 “Best Places to Live in Florida” and No. 5 in “Best Places to Live in the U.S.,” as recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

The very best part of my tenure as the Chair of the Board is getting to know and meet all of you, our members. At our events or meetings of our various councils, I am in awe of your dedication to our community and the Chamber. Equally rewarding is working side by side with President & CEO Heather Kasten and the entire Chamber staff. They are dedicated to making your membership with the Chamber a rewarding and long-lasting experience. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to networking with all of you for many years to come.

Emily Walsh, Observer Media Group Chairman of the Board

(941) 556-4051

Kevin Golumbeck CareerEdge Program Manager kgolumbeck@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 556-4038

Zach Henkel Membership Investment Manager zhenkel@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 556-4029

Sonya Islam Communications Coordinator sislam@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4046

Melanie Lavender Opportunities For All Manager mlavender@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4058

Craig McGonigal Director of Membership Engagement cmcgonigal@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4034

Heather Moore Event Manager hmoore@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4035

Hayley Nau Communications Coordinator hnau@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4031

Sara Rachon Director of Programs srachon@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 556-4039

Christine Seaman Accounting Coordinator accounting@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 556-4053

Lisa Wood Event Coordinator lwood@sarasotachamber.com

(941) 955-8187

UNVEILING SARASOTA GRAND EXPO: LIMITLESS BUSINESS CONNECTIONS!

The Sarasota Chamber’s Grand Expo, which took place on Thursday, April 6, exceeded all expectations, leaving attendees connected and empowered to shop locally in the community. The event showcased immersive exhibits that embodied the forefront of innovation. The purpose of the Grand Expo is to foster connections among industry leaders, paving the way for future collaborations and advancements. The goal was achieved, the event left a lasting impact on attendees and highlighted the boundless opportunities for networking at the Sarasota Grand Expo.

RISE, INSPIRE, LEAD: WOMEN AT WORK LUNCHEON

The Women at Work Luncheon was a highly anticipated event celebrating and empowering women in the workplace. The event featured inspiring keynote speaker, Kim Richmond, where she dicussed how to overcome imposter syndrome. Attendees had the opportunity to network and connect with like-minded professionals, fostering valuable connections and collaborations. Overall, the Women at Work Luncheon served as a powerful platform to support women’s advancement in various industries.

Thank you to our