• Apopka Area Chamber Update - December 2017

     
    Apopka Area Chamber Update - December 2017
     
    Leadership Apopka is an annual program that is designed to educate future leaders from the Apopka area. This in-depth program creates opportunities for participants to engage with our area’s leading public, private and civic leaders and develop impactful friendships with other professionals from the community. Additionally, participants will observe, interact and learn about the various industries and community assets, that are of great importance to the Apopka area and the Central Florida region.
     
     
    FEATURED STORIES
     
    2017 Holiday Party and "Shop With a Cop"
     
    We are thankful to all of you who joined us at the Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 12th! It was a fantastic evening and we are grateful to our generous sponsors including Chili's, Chick-Fil-A, Costco, Panera Bread, Sam's Club, Something Fishy, Winn Dixie, Wal-Mart, and Jet's Pizza. 
     
    We are happy to report the final amount raised by the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce for the  City of Apopka Police Department ’s “Shop with a Cop.” At the Holiday Party we were able to raise $1,900.00. Additionally, one of our Board members Ken Croston and his team at World Class Installations  Inc., were incredibly generous and agreed to match the funds raised by our Chamber. Therefore in total, we raised a combined $3,800.00 which is absolutely amazing! This is equivalent to 38 children in our community and we were humbled by this response!
     
    Then on Thursday, December 14th, the Chamber was able to participate in the “Shop with a Cop” event and Apopka Police Department was able to serve 100 children , which was an increase of 40 new students from 2016. Please join me in saying thank you to Ken and the rest of our membership for their incredible generosity and sponsorship!
     
     
    As a part of UCF's commitment to conducting a comprehensive, transparent and inclusive presidential search, the UCF Presidential Search Committee has created an online survey to elicit your feedback.
     
    Please let us know your thoughts on what challenges UCF needs to address in the future, what qualities the next president should have and why someone should want to be UCF's next president. You can access the survey here:
     
     
    In addition, the survey is posted to the UCF Presidential Search website atwww.ucf.edu/president-search . The website contains search updates and more information about the process.
     
    Please note, while your identity will be anonymous, your comments will be open to the public for review.
     
    In addition, in 2018 UCF will host four opportunities for the campus and Central Florida communities to provide face-to-face input at public forums.
     
    The first public forum is on Wednesday, Jan. 10th at 10:00 a.m., at the Fairwinds Alumni Center. The forum will also serve as the next meeting of the UCF Presidential Search Committee.
     
    The other three forums with members of the search committee are:
     
    • Wednesday, Jan. 10th at 2:00 p.m. Garden Key Room, Student Union
    • Thursday, Jan. 11th at 10:00 a.m. UCF Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando
    • Thursday, Jan. 11th at 4:00 p.m. UCF College of Medicine at Lake Nona
     
    Thank you for participating in this survey and sharing your feedback. Your responses are critical to ensuring UCF's continued success.
     
    Small Business Index Survey
     Tell us which issues affect your business.
     
    Small businesses create two out of every three jobs in Florida, and are the backbone of our state's economy. The Florida Chamber would like to know what issues are impacting each of you.
     
    Let us know by providing your feedback on our short survey . As the Florida Chamber works to secure Florida's future, it's important to measure the health of small businesses. Please click on the button below to take theSmall Business Index Survey .
     
    This survey will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018.
     
    As the voice of business, we also communicate your feedback to the legislature and statewide stakeholders. Your answers will be kept confidential.
     
    Last week, Congress and President Trump agreed on major changes to the American tax code, which was the first time in more than 30 years.
     
    In his statement to the press , U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue stated, “Today, Congress achieved what many said was impossible – overhauling our country’s broken, outdated tax code and updating it with bold reforms for lasting growth.”
     
    The Chamber federation was an integral part of this bill’s success, and we thank you for your tireless advocacy on behalf of job creators across America.
     
    We are pleased to share this   tax reform backgrounder   and   small business one-pager   outlining the implications of this bill; we hope you will share with your friends, family members and co-workers as you see fit.
     
    Welcome new members to the Apopka Area Chamber!
     
     
    Apopka Quick Mart
    Nick lalani
    2685 East Semoran Boulevard
    Apopka, FL 32703
    (678) 908-1703
     
    Aurora InfoTech
    Roy Richardson
    325 South Mcgee Avenue
    Apopka, FL 32704
    (407) 995-6766
     
    Bahama Breeze
    Craig Barhorst
    499 East Altamonte Drive
    Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
     
    Gagnon, Eisele and Rigby, PPLC
    Tevin Jackson
    1881 Lee Road
    Winter Park, FL 32789
    (407) 379-9557
     
    Lan Spa Nails & Tan
    Lan Nguyen
    1136 North Rock Springs Road
    Apopka, FL 32712
    (407) 889-0092
     
    LegalMatch - Apopka
    Nancy Smith
    395 Oyster Blvd Suite #550
    South San Francisco, CA 94080
    (661) 241-0762
     
    Imperial Dry Cleaners
    Hutch Jaggers
    199 Main Street
    Apopka, FL 32703
    (407) 886-1130
     
     
    Upcoming Calendar of Events
     
     
    Chamber
     
    Representative Kamia Brown's
    Business Breakfast 
    Saturday, January 20, 2018
    9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
    Valencia College, West Campus,
    Health Services Building 105
    1800 South Kirkman Road
    Orlando, FL 32811
     
    Ambassador Meeting
    Wednesday, January 17, 2018
    9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m
    Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce
     
    Business After Hours
    Thursday, January 25, 2018
    5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
    24 Hour Fitness - Apopka
    2360 East Semoran Boulevard
    Apopka, FL 32703
    (407) 358-7233
     
    Leadership Apopka Session 1 & 2
    January 24th & 25th
     
    City of Apopka - Mayoral Debate
    Wednesday, January 31, 2018
    6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
    Highland Manor
     
    Orlando Economic Partnership - BBQ on the Boulevard
    Wednesday, February 7, 2018
    5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
    To Buy Tickets, click here.
     
    Community
     
    Apopka City Council Meeting
    Wednesday, January 3, 2018
    1:30 p.m. 
    City Hall Council Chambers
     
    Apopka Food Truck Roundup
    Thursday, January 4, 2018
    5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
    Kit Land Nelson Park
     
    Apopka City Council Meeting
    Wednesday, January 17, 2018
    7:00 p.m.
    City Hall Council Chambers
     
    2018 Orange County Economic Summit
    Friday, January 19, 2017
    8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
    Orange County Convention Center
    For more information, click here.
     
    A Healthy Business Conference
    Thursday, January 25, 2018
    9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Club Lake Plantation
    For more information, click here.
     
     
    Grand Openings
     
    This month was very exciting for Apopka. One of our largest members and trustee,  Florida Hospital Apopka  opened its brand new state-of-the-art facility that will transform and significantly improve the quality of healthcare that is delivered to the Apopka area.
     
    We are very grateful for Florida Hospital's unwavering commitment to improving the quality of lives in our community and we were honored to participate in your Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting.
     
    For more information on the new hospital, please visit  https://www.floridahospital.com/apopka.
     
    If you would like for your business to be included in a future Ribbon Cutting, please contact Michelle Bankson at Michelle@apopkachamber.org.
     
    Congratulations to our 2017 Taste of Apopka Winners!
     
    We were proud to generously donate more than $1,000 in total – from our prize raffles and ticket sales – to the restaurants that won in each of the four “Best Of” award categories at the 2017 Taste of Apopka.
     
    • Best of Sit Down: Charlie Graingers
    • Best of Quick Service: McDonald’s – Smoothie Truck
    • Best of Sweets and Desserts: Topper’s Creamery
    • Best of Catering: Sam’s Club of Apopka