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.
This series continued all through spring and the month of June. Now, as our County and the nation hope to navigate away from Coronavirus, we want to expand our scope of conversation and information to a wider range of topics. 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 July & August will be archived below with later programs to follow in additional posts.
August 26: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring a Utilities Update
Our utilities here in Osceola County are prepared to work with you if you are finding it difficult to cover utilities payments at this time. Hear directly from Kissimmee Utility Authority, Duke Energy, OUC – The Reliable One, and Toho Water Authority about the programs they have in place, during COVID-19 and at all times, to provide business assistance. We also touch on the latest with solar energy and preparations during hurricane season. Find a quick guide to the utility companies’ business assistance options on our blog here.
August 19: 15 Minutes with Our Community Leaders Featuring Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis
Should college football happen? What are the conversations surrounding business liability protections? How will the re-opening of our theme parks impact Florida’s economy? Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis spent 15 minutes with Chamber Board Chair Adrianna Sekula for our 15 Minutes Series on August 19 to explore these topics and more.
August 12: 15 Minutes of Practical Business Applications Featuring a Customer Service Skills Re-Charge
Jennifer McGinnis of Mantis Shrimp Consulting, a professional development and coaching company here in Osceola County, sits down with John to talk about how to recharge your customer service skills. What has changed in the world of customer service in a post-COVID world? What can you or your staff do to keep those customer service skills – in person or from a distance – fresh? Sponsored by Kissimmee Utility Authority.
August 5: 15 Minutes with Our Community Leaders Featuring An Election Update
We spent 15 minutes with former Seminole County Supervisor of Elections and Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel to discuss all things Election 2020. Watch to gain clarification regarding early voting, voting by mail, the August primary, and write-in candidates, then visit our Virtual Straw Poll Site at www.theosceolachamber.com/osceola-elections to learn more about the candidates and cast your straw poll votes. Time stamps below.
July 29: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring an Update on Our Hospitals
Once again we welcomed an update from our local hospital systems. We heard from Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital President Brent Burish, AdventHealth Kissimmee CMO Dr. Dennis deLeon, and Osceola Regional Medical Center CEO Davide Carbone. Ken Peach with the Health Leadership Council was our moderator.
July 22: 15 Minutes on Timely Topics Featuring an Update on the Chamber
Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet was joined by 2020 Board Chair Adrianna Sekula for an update on the Chamber. View their discussion to learn what the Chamber has been up to during the pandemic, what exciting things are coming in our future, and what advice we can offer our members at this time.
July 15: 15 Minutes on Inspiring Better Business, Featuring Time Management with Tim Weisheyer
Our guest speaker, entrepreneur and consultant Tim Weisheyer, chatted with 2020 Chamber Chair Adrianna Sekula about improving time management. Is time management really about “managing time,” or about managing your priorities?
July 8, 2020: 15 Minutes with Practical Applications for Your Business, Featuring Grant Opportunities with Osceola County
David Rodriguez, Economic Development Manager with Osceola County, discussed the County’s new CARES Act Osceola County Emergency Economic Relief Grant Program.
|July 1, 2020: 15 Minutes with our Community Leaders, Featuring Congressman Darren Soto
We were thrilled to kick off the new series on July 1 as Rep. Darren Soto of the U.S. House of Representatives joined us for a conversation with Chamber President John Newstreet and 2020 Board Chair Adrianna Sekula. Hear about the Congressman’s top priorities, what current issues of legislation could impact your business, and how he tackles important issues in our district.
Do you know a young professional that has shined during these trying times?
The Young Professiols of Osceola County want to give you the opportunity to nominate an individual for their Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Award! This Award recognizes individuals under 40 that live or work in Osceola County who go above and beyond in their acts of service, both professionally and for the community.
The Young Professionals launched the Tomorrow's Leaders Today Awards in 2018. That year, eight remarkable under-40s were honored. In 2019, ten honorees were chosen. Over the next few weeks, the Young Professionals will be highlighting previous winners of this award on their Facebook page. Be sure you are following them on Facebook to meet these past winners and to stay up-to-date as this year's awards progress.
In past years, award recipients were honored at a cocktail reception in a room full of their relatives and coworkers. With an in-person event not possible this year, winners will be recognized at an online event on a TBD date.
In May the Chamber was excited to announce that the Downtown Kissimmee Area Council had donated $1000 to Osceola REDI and then encouraged the other area councils to make their own contributions. To get up to date, and learn about Osceola REDI's current goal, read our blog on the first round of area council donations.
We are now excited to share that, throughout the month of June, our area councils continued to make financial commitments to support Osceola REDI as they aim to raise $100,000 for our local food banks.
Celebration Area Council Will Not Be Left Out
Shortly after our first blog ran, the Celebration Area Council held their monthly board meeting and made the committment to donate $500. A generous board member offered to match the funds and the CAC was ultimately able to make a $1000 donation.
The Young Professionals of Osceola County Are All-In
The Young Professionals of Osceola County did not want to be left out of the challenge and also made a $500 commitment. Two of their board members then stepped in with additional contributions, bringing the YPs' total donation to $650.
Osceola Resort Area Council Commits to Out-Donating the DKAC
As part of their initial challenge, the Downtown Kissimmee Area Council specifically called out ORAC in hopes that they would jump on the challenge. They weren't wrong. With the tourism industry and its employees most-adversely affected by COVID-related job loss, ORAC was determined to take part in the Osceola REDI challenge. They were also determined to top DKAC's donation of $1000 after being called out directly by the other council. Their board has decided to fundraise throughout the month of June, and match up to $1000 with their own funds. So far, they have amassed $2100 including the $1000 from the council.
The Four Corners Area Council and Small Business Council Make Contributions
Even amid their own significant financial commitments, the Four Corners Area Council and Small Business Council managed to make contributions of $100 each. The Four Corners Area Council has significant fundraising goals of their own in support of their Four Corners, One Vision project, and the SBC understandably focuses its attentions largely on Small Business aid and education. However, understanding the importance of feeding our community at this difficult time when many are out of work, they chose to support to the extent that they could. Thanks guys!
You or your business or organization can join the challenge as well and donate to Osceola Redi at OsceolaRedi.org or FeedingOsceola.org. Help them reach their goal of $100,000 by the end of the summer!
