With the sudden onset of COVID-19, the the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber did what many of our member businesses and peer organizations did and moved much of our communications, meetings, events, and general connection with our members to an online platform. Beginning April 1, we launched a weekly “Wednesday Livestream” on our Facebook page to connect our members and Facebook followers with community leaders and experts as we navigated the uncharted territory of Coronavirus. If you missed this series, or would like to review a particular presentation or conversation, you can find all of our COVID-related Wednesday Livestreams archived on our blog.
On July 1, we launched our new “15 Minutes Series,” which will continue in our Wednesday morning timeslot with 15 minute presentations or conversations featuring community leaders and elected officials, practical applications for businesses, topcis to inspire business professionals and entrepreneurs, timely topics for our members and community, and occasional bits of fun. To view our new “15 Minutes Series,” join us live on the Kissimmee/Osceola County Facebook page every Wednesday at 9:30 am. Some topics will be live, and we will welcome questions from viewers in real time.
All programs in the series for the months of September & October will be archived below with later programs to follow in additional posts.
October 28: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics: Keeping Our Children Safe & Healthy
With more children returning to school, flu season approaching, and COVID-19 still not mitigated, we spoke with Dr. Federico Laham of Orlando Health about flu season, keeping our kids safe, and what families and businesses still need to keep in mind about COVID.
October 21: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring Breast Cancer Awareness Month
2020 Chamber Board Chair Adrianna Sekula spent 15 Minutes with Amber Orman, MD from AdventHealth on the benefit of healthy habits, including nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness to reduce the risk of breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence. In October we go pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so there is no better time to delve into this always relevant topic.
October 16 Special Edition: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring a Dive into the Constitutional Amendments on November's Ballot
You may have met the candidates, but are you up-to-date on the six constitutional amendments that will appear on this fall's ballot? We were joined by Dominic Calabro of Florida Tax Watch to talk us through the amendments and what they mean.
October 14: 15 Minutes on Practical Applications for Business Featuring the Chamber Business Academy
Meet our 2020 Chamber Business Academy Chairs from the Small Business Council and learn all about this program now in its 6th year. What has changed due to COVID-19? Plus, get all the details on upcoming topics and speakers.
October 7: 15 Minutes with Our Community Leaders Featuring UCF President Dr. Alexander Cartwright
John spoke with new University of Central Florida President Dr. Alexander N. Cartwright. Dr. Cartwright joined UCF this past March. Learn how he is adapting to his new role amid the pandemic, how he found his way to us here in Central Florida, and what he envisions for UCF's future.
September 30: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, and we wanted you to hear from members of Osceola County's thriving Hispanic community. Three of them joined us for a look at their diverse experiences as members of our Hispanic community and their perspectives on the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
September 23: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring Suicide Awareness Month
September is Suicide Awareness Month and we discussed risk factors regarding suicide, warning signs, and how to help individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts. Join us now to ask questions of our speaker, Claudia Swonger, Director of Behavioral Health Community Outreach at Osceola Regional Medical Center.
September 16: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring an Update on Property Values
We spent 15 Minutes with Osceola County Property Appraiser Katrina S. Scarborough on the impact of COVID-19 on commercial and residential property values, when you will notice it, and other important topics surrounding your property appraisal.
September 9: 15 Minutes on Inspiring Better Business: Longevity with Linda Goodwin Nichols
On September 9, 2020 John spoke with Linda Goodwin-Nichols of Goodwin Realty & Associates about her four-decade career here in Osceola County, the storms she has weathered in the past, maintaining customer loyalty, changing with the times, and how other business owners and operators can learn from her experience.
September 2: 15 Minutes with Our Community Leaders Featuring Rep. Mike LaRosa
John had a chat with Representative Mike LaRosa. Mike discussed his time in the Florida State House of Representatives and what his new appointment to the Public Service Commission means for his future and for business here in Central Florida.
The Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce is delighted to introduce our June-August new members. Our members are the lifeblood of our organization and we continue to strive to connect them to one another and to the community as a whole. Learn more about each new member's business and the services they offer by clicking their name below.
Please also welcome them by sending them an email or giving them a call to introduce yourself. An personal touch between members, especially at this time when we often find ourselves isolated, can help our chamber, and our members, continue to grow and thrive. Contact details are at the links below.
Opportunity Members
Digestive and Liver Center of Florida - Kissimmee
Sonceto Apartment Homes
Heritage Members
CFAC Commercial Real Estate Appraisal
EAG-LED Global Lights
FL Bakery and Restaurant
Huntington Learning Center of St. Cloud/Kissimmee
Infill Consulting Services
Insurance Chick and Advising Team Inc.
ONEIRX, LLC
Nexa Mortgage
Rated Art, LLC
Rodriguez Electrical Contractor Inc.
Western Governors University (WGU)
ZenBusiness
Every year the Poinciana Area Council Board of Directors holds a school supply drive to benefit schools of all levels in the Poinciana area. Last year they collected enough supplies to support four different schools.
PAC receives assistance from the community in collecting supplies each year. Member businesses host collection boxes in their lobbies or hold contests among their employees to collect supplies. Other members bring supply donations to PAC's lunches and after hours B2B Meet & Greet events. By fall they usually have a pretty solid supply.
For the past few years, PAC Board members have also participated District 3 Commissioner Brandon Arrington's Back to School backpack and supply giveaway. PAC has been trusted to distribute excess supplies from that event.
As with so many things, the presence of COVID-19 has made the task of collecting supplies more difficult this year. PAC has not been able to hold any networking events, and many lobbies that might have housed collection boxes are still closed to public traffic. Of course, the schools are still in need of supplies. In fact, PAC has heard from our schools that, because students may no longer share supplies, demand has actually increased. With this in mind, PAC decided they needed to get creative. They are doing their best to collect physical supplies where they can under these altered circumstances. Several PAC member businesses have volunteered to be drop-off locations again this year. Drop off locations for school supplies are in place at the following locations:
Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce
1425 E. Vine St. Kissimmee
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Thursday
Poinciana Medical Center
325 Cypress Parkway, Poinciana
Riviera Spa Massage
395 Village Dr., Solivita
OR
1060 Cypress Parkway, Poinciana
In addition PAC has created a virtual collection for funds to support schools in the Poinciana area and allow the schools to use collected dollars where they see the most need. Please donate if you can at this link, then click "Register Now" and select an amount. With the support of our community, PAC hopes that they will be able to deliver much needed supplies to our area schools again very soon.
