Noteworthy - Jan. 2023

Meet our new Board Members!

Jeff Campbell

Jeff is the owner of Lydansco Business Consulting, Strategic Planning & Funding, LLC. Jeff was a commercial lender in East Hillsborough County for 35 years prior to starting his own company. He has served as Treasurer on a Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors three times in the past. He hopes to offer guidance in networking, sponsorship, education, local and state government involvement, and partnering with local schools for labor.

Jeff feels his experience in working with business owners as a commercial lender and past experience as a Chamber of Commerce board member will be beneficial to his service to GRCC through business development and making wise, long-term decisions to maintain a successful and thriving Chamber of Commerce.

Gabriel is a financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments. He served as an institutional consultant in the Institutional Consulting Services group at Raymond James Financial, where he reviewed and developed Investment Policy Statements (IPS), developed investment recommendations, and worked on Request for Proposals (RFPs) for nonprofits. Gabriel has been in the financial services business since 1997.

Gabriel spent four years at Prudential Securities in New York City, where he served as Associate Vice President. Gabriel has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tampa, and currently serves as a board member and past president of the Rotary of FishHawk/Riverview and a board member of the Senior Connection Center. He is also a member of Better Living for Seniors and involved in local youth organizations. With his vast experience, Gabriel brings much knowledge to our Chamber.

Gabriel Mbulo

Meet our new Board Members!

William "Bill" Short

Bill Short comes to the GRCC Board bringing an eclectic experience in domestic and international business that has given him a broad view of business, community, strategy, and relationships. In past years, Bill has served as Vice President for a large international company, and CEO of a large corporation, and has experience in marketing and promotions. Bill also served as a mentor for domestic and international businesses through the International Trade Council and the SBA SCORE program.

Part of his experience also includes being a lobbyist to both national and state government entities. Bill has a philosophy of giving back to the community, and having been a member and served on Chambers of Commerce throughout the United States for over 40 years as a Board Member, Ambassador, and Treasurer, he is dedicated to the Chamber’s cause.

Chamber Happenings

Chamber hosts November Monthly Investor Meeting Luncheon

The Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) hosted their Monthly Investor Meeting on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at the beautiful Winthrop Barn Theatre in Riverview. A delicious lunch was provided by Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, and the meeting was sponsored by AdventHealth Riverview, with CEO Jason Newmeyer and Leila Durr, PhD, both addressing the crowd.

2022 GRCC Chair of the Board, Michael Broussard, The Flying Locksmiths, started the meeting by recognizing local elected officials in attendance, including the honorable Logan Murphy, 13th Judicial Circuit Judge. Also recognized was Hillsborough County Sheriff District 5 Major Michael Hannaford. There were 36 new businesses welcomed to the Chamber and recognized during the luncheon, and special thanks given to the 84 renewing members who were recognized.

Leila Durr, PhD, of AdventHealth, gave an informative presentation regarding the stresses of the holidays and best ways to manage that stress.

Awards were presented to the Businesses of the Year finalists, and Board Chair Elect, Tammy See of OEL Heating & Cooling, invited

all those present to attend the 2023 Annual Dinner and Awards on February 3, 2023, at The Regent.

Join members and guests of the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce for our Monthly Membership Meeting Luncheon at the Winthrop Barn Theatre. This monthly event is always a GREAT networking opportunity!

Advanced registration and payment requested. Seating limited and non-refundable. This event is expected to sell-out.

Please join the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce in celebrating the 2023 Annual Dinner and Awards at a Valentine Soiree! The Cocktail Hour will begin at 5:00 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:00 p.m.

The 2022 Business of the Year winners will be announced, along with the Shining Star, Volunteer of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. You don't want to miss this! Buy your tickets today!

Congratulations 2022 Business of the Year Finalists!

Impact Program, Inc is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that educates, equips, empowers, and supports students, parents, and teachers in the arena of sexual risk avoidance and healthy relationships. They serve the community in multiple venues, such as public and private middle and high schools, churches, and community organizations.

A local, family-owned and operated, full service Air Conditioning and Heating Contractor. Since opening in 2017, OEL Heating and Cooling continues to grow exponentially each year. Through a foundation of integrity, their mission is to build a mutually beneficial organization providing quality products and services for generations to come. They attribute a portion of their growth to their community involvement with the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce.

Their overall business is premised on financial planning. This is the umbrella for managing assets, providing sources of income, asset investment strategies, life insurance protection and Medicare plan options. Their mission is to provide their clients with honest & accurate strategies for their financial assets and to protect themselves & their families in their retirement years.

Congratulations 2022 Business of the Year Finalists!

Bryan Hindman Electric is a Florida State Certified Electrical Contractor offering residential and commercial electrical services. This includes repairs, upgrades, installation of new wiring and lighting, and remodels. They work directly with homeowners in addition to home owner associations, realtors, property managers, and contractors. At Bryan Hindman Electric provides exceptional electrical service by employing the best of the best.

Four Paws Veterinary Hospital is Riverview’s premier veterinary hospital and animal clinic, offering pet wellness, animal acupuncture, pet dental care, dog and cat surgery, general pet surgery and companion laser therapy. They have a veterinarian and support staff on duty six days a week who are trained and equipped to handle all your pets needs. They provide wellness exams and testing with vaccinations tailored to meet the needs of their patients.

Commercial contractors serving the Greater Riverview area specializing in churches and medical office buildings. They are honored to be able to say that "We build Riverview". For going on 35 years, they have built hundreds of thousands of square feet right in Riverview that house many of the local businesses and churches that the community frequents every day. Their mission is to leave a lasting legacy both physically and spiritually that will extend beyond our lifetimes.

Congratulations 2022 Business of the Year Finalists!

Home Service Contractor - They strive to support local military and law enforcement organizations that support the families of members in our community. Further than this, their community support is on the individual level when they have the opportunity to help the struggling homeowner get the repairs done that are needed, even if they are financially unable to do so.

Providing personal & business banking solutions: savings & checking; loan productsvehicles, mortgages, credit cards & personal loans; investment options-brokerage services, retirement planning; student focused finances; and financial literacy for all. The Member Insurance Center, a subsidiary of Suncoast, offers personal, vehicle, and property insurance.

YMCA Camp Cristina is best known as a summer Camp that serves over 4,000 campers annually, providing them fun and nurturing experience where they can learn and grow in a safe outdoor setting. However, Camp Cristina is so much more. Cristina offers afterschool serves to over 115+ children per week in the afterschool program. Kids in the after school program develop healthy, trusting relationships while building self-reliance.

InvestorSpotlight

Thatcher Properties joined the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce in 2003. Owned by Dr. Brian Thatcher, Thatcher Properties is a commercial real estate service renting out retail and professional office space. The properties include Boardwalk of Riverview and Park Place offices - two complexes located just off 1-75 in Riverview. The location gives tenants and customers easy access to and from Tampa, Riverview, Brandon, Sun City Center, Ruskin, and other areas. If you are looking for office space in an awesome location with a facility that you can be proud of and can look forward to going to work, contact Dr. Bryan Thatcher at 813-677-5055.

The Osprey Observer Community Newspaper publishes local, positive community news in the Southeast Hillsborough County area. Osprey Observer joined the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce in 2003. Having started out as a home-based business with a one-sheet newsletter, Osprey Observer has now grown into a corporation publishing more than 200 pages in five monthly editions with a team of more than 25 people. Their main goal when starting was to make an impact on the local community with an idea to get involved and to make a difference in whatever ways they could.

Next Steps: I've joined the Chamber. Now what?

Everyone utilizes their Chamber membership differently. Here are a few suggestions to help you use your Chamber benefits effectively!

Log into your Member Portal

Completely fill out your company information. This information is what will be seen by consumers searching our Business Directory, so don’t forget your business hours, directions, and full contact information.

If you are an Enhanced or higher Investor, be sure to take advantage of uploading photos! This is YOUR ad - make the most of it!

Include your staff in the membership - add them as reps. The Chamber offers a variety of opportunities that will benefit employees throughout your organization

Select your benefit choices and start using them right away

For Enhanced or higher, if you are unsure, visit TCOB and attend a Monthly Luncheon to see if it is something you want to do regularly.

Attend the next Investor360 Meeting to get an in depth look at all of the opportunities available to you as a Chamber Member

Use the Chamber’s Marketing Tools

Display your business cards in our Chamber display case at the GRCC office. Be sure to keep this supplied so that your cards can be shared with the many visitors at the Chamber office

Download the GRCC Logo to display on your website, and proudly display your plaque and decal at your place of business.

Utilize the "Hot Deal" feature to share coupons or discounts.

Publish a Press Release with any newsworthy news about your business.

Put your events on the Community Calendar on the website, and let the staff know if you have something important to share on social media.

Stay Informed

Like and follow us on Facebook and Linkedin to stay up to date with Chamber and Riverview Community News.

Be sure to read the weekly update emailed to you - Week at a Glance - to stay up to date with Chamber news and events.

Make Connections

Consider joining a committee, volunteer, and attend networking meetings, luncheons, and Ribbon Cuttings to become more plugged in.

Watch for the monthly newsletterNoteworthy - for important information, new member recognition, and more!

Education and Training

In The Know

Three Ways to Become Top of Mind

Do you want people to think about your business before all others? Of course you do. The first step to patronizing your business is remembering it exists. Imagine you have a free evening, and you want to go out to eat. It doesn’t matter how amazing the food is at the new place down the street; if it doesn’t pop into your mind, you won’t be going there. The same is true of your potential customers. They need to think of you to spend money with you. So how do you ensure you’re top of mind and that they will think about your business over the competition? You need to find a way to stand out and be memorable. A good product or service is the first step. Good customer service is also a solid choice. But to truly stand out, you MUST do something slightly different.

Ways to Ensure Your Business Is Top of Mind

Events - Hosting an event at your business is a great way to help people remember you. It also provides an experience, and many individuals admit to enjoying them over physical purchases. When you host an event, encourage people to share the occasion on social media for even greater reach.

There are several types of events that draw crowds:

Sampling your offerings or services. You can host an event that is directly related to what you do. For instance, a restaurant may have an invitation-only, special tasting night to sample its new menu.

Educational event. You could also offer an evening out based around something that you sell. For instance, a yarn store may hold classes on how to knit.

Block party/Ribbon Cutting. Celebrate your customers and potential customers by throwing a party outside your store. A patio furniture store held a parking lot party every weekend with a band and hot dogs. It drew a crowd and people lingered. It was a nice tie in with the product they sold outdoor furniture. It helped people imagine hosting their own parties later with their new furniture.

A Facebook Group - Depending on the nature of your business, and the things your ideal customer/target audience may have in common, a Facebook group can connect your buyers to you and to one another. This idea works well when you can find a connection or mutual interest among your customers. For instance, a bookstore might create a Facebook group for writers or for fans of a specific genre. In a Facebook group you can share information and flash sales, stream events, and invite your audience to talk about their favorite books. The online community will keep your brand center stage while uniting and engaging your audience.

SavingsClubs/Subscriptions - Have you noticed that a lot of companies are charging their customers a monthly fee for some sort of discount or benefit? It began with Amazon Prime, where customers paid an annual fee for free shipping. The program has expanded beyond that now, but you can certainly start with one benefit like that. Panera has created an unlimited coffee subscription where coffee lovers are auto-charged a fee each month and given a free cup of coffee daily. Both programs drive sales(and loyalty). When people pay for something, they want to get their money’s worth. Often, that means buying from one store over another because they're part of a savings club. However, like gift certificates, there may be people who pay every month and don't use your services. That's okay too as the subscription(even if it’s only a few dollars) is a source of revenue you did not have before.

If you want strong sales at your business, you need to ensure that your target market thinks about you. You can do that through email marketing, social media participation, or these three ideas. But whatever you do, make sure you use consistent branding and tone. After all, you want them to remember you, not question who you are.

Cora Simon, Mary Kay

Chamber Calendar

10 2023 Annual Dinner Committee Meeting

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Via Zoom 12 Taking Care of Business

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM, Summerfield Crossings Golf Club 13 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Waypoint Property Inspection, LLC

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Waypoint Property Inspection 17 2023 Annual Dinner Committee Meeting

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Via Zoom 18 SBDC Workshop - Marketing 101 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, HCC at The Regent 19 Taking Care of Business - FIELD TRIP to High 5, Inc.

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM, High 5, Inc. 19 Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening for Lithia Acres

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Lithia Acres 20 Ribbon Cutting for McCullagh and Scott

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Bell Shoals Executive Park 20 2023 Annual Golf Tournament Committee Meeting 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Summerfield Crossings Golf Club 23 Ribbon Cutting for Duck Donuts 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Duck Donuts 24 Monthly Investor Meeting Luncheon

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Winthrop Barn Theatre 26 Taking Care of Business

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM, Summerfield Crossings Golf Club 26 Ribbon Cutting for Vanderprises, LLC 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Vanderprises, LLC 31 2023 Annual Dinner Committee Meeting

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Via Zoom