Grow, Connect and Learn

GROW,

Connect & LEARN

The Delray Chamber offers fun and myriad ways to engage with your favorite city

Top photo: Masterwing Creative Agency

Board of Directors – The Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors is the highest level of service the Chamber offers to business leaders. These volunteers are businesspeople who guide the strategy of the Chamber and spend many hours supporting the Chamber staff and Chamber initiatives. The Chamber Board members are first to step up when sponsors are needed, and often serve on Committees such as Advocacy, Membership, Programming & Marketing.

Ambassadors – This group is made up of the most engaged, friendly and committed members of our Chamber. It is their role to welcome new members and mentor them, connect people at grand openings and networking events and promote Chamber programs and activities to the community. If you have been a member of the Chamber for two years and are interested in deepening your involvement, the Ambassadors would welcome you into their group. For more information, email chamber@delraybeach.com.

Chairman’s Club – The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s premium membership level is the Chairman’s Club. Membership in the Chairman’s Club is comprised of CEOs, community trustees and corporate leaders who participate in exclusive networking and VIP events. Chairman’s Club members meet with political and business leaders impacting Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, the region and the state in a private setting to discuss important ideas and issues affecting our community. Chairman’s Club members have recently enjoyed a private lunch at Lionfish, a behind-the-scenes tour at the Delray Beach Market and a tour and happy hour at the newly refurbished Opal Grand Resort. Members of the Chairman’s Club develop valuable relationships among key business and political leaders and lend expertise on critical issues facing the City. The Chairman’s Club is sponsored by Waste Management. To find out more or join Chairman’s Club, contact: Carolina Rush, Membership Director, carolina@delraybeach.com, 561-278-0424

Delray Beach Chamber Board Installation Lunch

Zoom Meeting Member Spotlight

Young Professionals Association of Delray Beach (YPAD) – The YPAD group is made up of young professionals under the age of 40. YPAD hosts monthly events, typically the last week of the month at 6 p.m. These events range from happy hour socials to guest speakers and entrepreneurial roundtables. The YPAD Group is always among the first to try out new restaurants and venues in Delray Beach. Volunteerism is also important to YPADers, and they hold events such as a Beach Clean Up during the year. YPAD is sponsored by Delray Buick GMC.

Delray Chamber Education Fund – The Delray Chamber Education Fund (DCEF) operates as a Non-Profit 501(c)3 organization and is dedicated to improving education for the children of Delray Beach. The DCEF takes direction from the Chamber’s Education Committee, which organizes fundraising events throughout the year. Delray Reads Day is one of the projects that the DCEF works on in conjunction with the City of Delray Beach. It is part of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading. You can meet the people of the Education Committee and the DCEF at the Champions of Education Breakfast, held in August each year before school starts.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – The SBDC team is committed to helping your business succeed. The SBDC provides professional consulting and training free of charge to help you successfully scale and grow your business. Its Certified Business Consultants will work with you one-on-one to help you with: n International Market Planning n Export Market Planning n Government Contracting n Strategic Planning n Strategic Marketing Planning n Access to Capital n Loan Proposal Development n Cash Flow Management n Leveraging Social Media n Feasibility Studies n Targeted Market Research Consulting sessions are personalized, confidential and at no cost. The SBDC is conveniently located in the Delray Beach Chamber offices. For information, contact:

Jacqueline Ramirez, MBA

Consultant, Market Growth

Florida SBDC at Florida Atlantic University Division of Research

561.334.6428 jramir11@fau.edu sbdc.fau.edu

Non-Profit Council – The Non-Profit Council (NPC) meets the first Tuesday of the month. This meeting provides a platform for non-profit organizations to build strategic partnerships within our community. NPC members, numbering nearly 80, are constantly developing win-win synergies among the group. This year’s theme is “Telling Your Story,” and participants learned about all aspects of communication. For-profit businesses are also encouraged to attend. In 2021, this group launched Do Good Delray, pairing businesses and non-profits to strengthen

relationships and raise funds for the non-profit. A series of 14 events are organized by these pairs and take place throughout October. Zing Title is the Presenting Sponsor of Do Good Delray. The NPC is sponsored by Andy Rose of Rose Marcom.

Leads Groups

Leads Groups are a more specialized form of networking. These unique groups provide additional opportunities for members who are interested in a smaller, more focused, structured and frequent form of networking based on referring business. Each group is an “exclusive seat” organization—meaning you will have no competition within each group, and can provide referrals among your fellow members. n LEADS Networking Groups must be authorized by the Delray Beach Chamber. n Membership in good standing with the Chamber is required to join. n Only one member per business category may participate.

Masterwing Creative Agency

Young Professionals of Delray Delray Chamber Ambassadors

n LEADS Group Dues are $100 per calendar year (January-December) and are required to participate. n LEADS groups meet two times per month via Zoom and in person in 2021.

For information on the Chamber and/or how to get involved in a Leads Group, contact our Membership Director, Carolina, at (561) 278-0424 or carolina@ delraybeach.com.

Events – Did you know the Delray Chamber hosts 2-3 events per week? With that amount of activity, Chamber members are sure to find the right event or activity for them. Contacts and Cocktails is the perennial favorite and is hosted at fun venues around town each month. Are you a morning person? Then Business and Bagels is for you! We rotate between three locations every other month—The Chamber, Hyatt Place and Courtyard by Marriott. If it is information you want, then be sure to attend the First Friday Forum at 8 a.m. via Zoom for all local government updates and information.

Signature Events

Installation Lunch – In January each year, the Delray Beach Chamber Board is officially installed. This event is a who’s-who of the City’s municipal and business leaders. The outgoing Chair passes the gavel to the incoming Chair, and the oath of office is administered by a local luminary. We also recognize milestone anniversaries of our members at this event. Party in Paradise – The Delray Chamber’s annual fundraiser takes place in October. For the past few years, we’ve ditched the tuxedos in favor of resortware and island

attire, celebrating our business leaders in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. In 2021 we will celebrate in style at The Ray Hotel, where the Chamber will announce its Business Leaders awards. In 2020 we expanded the categories of awards to recognize the many groups that served our community in the pandemic. Winners of the Hometown Heroes awards in 2020 were: n Business of the Year – Death or Glory Bar n Business Person of the Year – Amanda Perna, The House of Perna n Non-Profit of the Year – Arts Garage n Crystal Palm Award for Community Service – Emanuel Dupree Jackson, Jr. & Marcus Darrisaw, EJS Project n First Responder of the Year – Captain Javaro Simms of the Delray Beach Police Department n Educator of the Year – Principal Dixon, Village Academy n Medical Professional of the Year – the nurses of Bethesda Hospital and Delray Medical Center n Inspirational Leader of the Year – Former Mayor, Jeff Perlman

Legislative Lunch – On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the Delray Chamber hosts our annual Legislative Lunch. This is an excellent opportunity to hear from and mix with our state legislators on break from their duties in Tallahassee. Local attorney Michael Weiner holds an “Actor’s Studio”-style interview with state representatives, including Mike Caruso, Joe Casello, Omari Hardy and State Senator Lori Berman. The audience also has the opportunity to ask some questions of our state leaders, all over lunch at the Aloft hotel. Media Luncheon – The Media Luncheon is a great opportunity for Delray Chamber Members to gain an understanding of all aspects of media and communications. Representatives of print media, radio, local TV, social media and digital marketing participate in panels and make presentations on new opportunities and best practices. All businesses need to be media experts these days. The Chamber’s Media Luncheon goes a long way to help businesses understand this landscape, and attendees receive advertising specials from all of our Media Partners. Delray Affair – For the past 59 years, the Delray Beach Chamber has presented our City’s signature event, the Delray Affair. The Delray Affair takes place for three days in April and closes down Atlantic Avenue from the Tennis Center to the Intracoastal. It’s the largest arts and crafts festival in the southern United States. Attendees fly in annually for this event, which is also a favorite of the locals. On the first day of the Delray Affair (Friday), you are sure to see your friends and neighbors getting their purchases in early. There is always entertainment at Old School Square, and of course a beer garden, where you can relax after walking the show. It takes so many people to produce this event, including our friends at Festival Management Group, the Chamber Board and Staff, Ambassadors, Volunteers and, of course, our sponsors. Local restaurants donate food for the staff and volunteers and major sponsors provide the funds to hold this showcase. It takes a Village!

Recurring Events

Contacts & Cocktails – There are plenty of ways to take advantage of your Chamber membership by participating in all of our online and digital opportunities. But sometimes, it’s great to get together with like-minded professionals for good old-fashioned networking.

Masterwing Creative Agency

Young Professionals of Delray

On the second Thursday of the month, Delray Chamber members look forward to Contacts & Cocktails. We showcase a dif-

ferent business every month. Recently we’ve been to the Seagate Hotel, Silverball Retro Arcade and The Ray Hotel. The cost is $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $30 for future members. Business & Bagels – Along with our partners, the Hyatt Place and Courtyard by Marriott, the Delray Chamber offers an opportunity to learn and network over coffee and bagels every other month. The group meets in person at our hotel locations or the Chamber. The cost is $10 for members. Future members can join the meetings for $20.

YPAD Happy Hour

Young Professionals – YPAD hosts monthly events, typically the last week of the month at 6 p.m. at various fun locations around Delray Beach. The cost is typically $10 and includes drinks.

Government Affairs First Friday Forum

On the First Friday of the month at 8 a.m., we hold our Government Affairs and Economic Development First Friday Forum. Each month, attendees hear from representatives from the following City government departments and organizations: n City Hall n CRA n DDA n Fire Department n Police Department n Planning & Zoning

Masterwing Creative Agency

Chris Ceasar, Nominee, Inspirational Leader of the Year & Scherlie Dieujuste

John Secreto, chief nursing officer at Delray Medical Center, accepting Healthcare Professional of the Year Award on behalf of the Nursing Team at Delray Medical

Young Professionals of Delray

The group also hears from a guest speaker each month. This year we’ve heard from Mayor Petrolia, State Representative Mike Caruso, and Jorge Pesquera, CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches. The meeting is informal and free flowing. It’s an invaluable opportunity to get information on upcoming city projects, developments and county government initiatives. The meeting is always via Zoom and simulcast on Facebook Live, allowing this valuable information to get to a wide audience.

Focus on Women

The Focus on Women program features networking and educational opportunities for the professional women in our community. Bring your gal pals together for camaraderie and empowerment. Each Focus on Women event has a different format, including panel discussions and our famous Deluxe Pop Up event. The Deluxe Pop Up promises an evening of wine, light bites, spa treatments, shopping and swag bags. The cost varies based on format.

Grand Openings

The Delray Beach Chamber celebrates our members’ grand openings each month. Get the word out about your business by holding a Grand Opening in conjunction with the Chamber. The cost is $100, with the Chamber providing media coverage in Atlantic Ave magazine, social media posts and invitations to our City Commissioners, who normally attend. We will also bring the giant scissors and red ribbon!

Leadership Delray

Leadership Delray is an annual program hosted by the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. This is a yearlong program featuring behindthe-scenes tours of many organizations within our community. Leadership Delray participants have lunch with our former mayors, spend the day outdoors in Palm Beach County’s agricultural region, tour the Police and Fire departments and learn about the inner workings of our town.

Amanda Perna, Winner, Business Person of the Year, The House of Perna

Participants devote one day per month to this curriculum, and graduate with invaluable new connections and a wealth of insider knowledge about Delray Beach and Palm Beach County. Cost is $700 per person.

Delray Morning Live

Delray Morning Live is a Facebook Live show hosted by Amanda Perna and Jamael Stewart. Delray Morning Live can be viewed on the Chamber’s Facebook page at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday or subsequently on our website. Delray Morning Live features guests providing topical information on events, products and services, and local initiatives. Chamber Members are welcome to sponsor a segment to promote their business. The hosts and a three-person film crew from Studio Baral will go live from your location. Contact the Chamber to schedule an appearance. Chamber@delraybeach.com