In 2023, the Leads Groups within The Osceola Chamber achieved a remarkable milestone, closing $8.5 million in business. This marks only one of the several achievements Leads Groups have made since their founding. As you work hard in growing your small business, Leads Groups provide strategic tools and tactics to take your venture to the next level and set yourself up for long-term success. These groups play a crucial role in facilitating networking, sharing leads and potential customers, and fostering collaborative growth among professionals from various industries.
Leads Groups are designed to be a local business resource and networking opportunity for companies of all sizes. Each group consists of professionals from different industries, ensuring there is no competition within the group. This diverse composition allows members to freely share support and help each other’s businesses grow.
The groups meet weekly to exchange leads and discuss strategies for mutual development. In addition to these weekly meetings, members are encouraged to engage in “1 to 1” meetings, fostering deeper relationships and understanding of each other’s businesses, products, and services.
Each Leads Group is led by two officers who set annual goals for the group. These goals often include closing a certain amount of business or passing a specific number of leads. By setting and striving to achieve these goals, the groups maintain a focus on measurable success and continuous improvement.
Joining a Leads Group offers numerous benefits. The primary advantage is the opportunity to partner with other local businesses to grow your own profession. This partnership not only helps in business growth but also strengthens the bonds within the group. As members help each other succeed, they create a collaborative community that focuses on sharing business resources.
In 2023, The Osceola Chamber’s Leads Groups passed 2,158 leads among their members. These referrals translated into potential clients and business opportunities, enhancing the profitability and reach of each participating business.
Because these leads are shared within the Leads Group, they come with an inherent level of trust and credibility. This means Leads Group members spend less time selling to potential clients and more time closing business. As a result, some members have been able to elevate their part-time passion into a full-time business.
The success of Leads Groups is best illustrated through the experiences of their members. Michelle Bowden, owner of Olivia’s Dog Training, has seen her business double as a result of joining a Leads Group and The Chamber.
But for her, it’s not just about generating leads. She shared, “Joining the Leads Group was confusing at first as I had never been a member of a networking group before. After a couple of visits, it felt like friends, after a few more, it felt like family.”
This sentiment highlights the supportive nature of Leads Groups. Bowden emphasized the sense of camaraderie: “Being a small business owner in the Leads Group makes it feel like you have other people that are looking out for your best interest.” This sense of community has been a game-changer for her, providing not only business growth but also personal support. Bowden’s experience underscores how Leads Groups foster an environment where members are genuinely invested in each other’s success.
Leads Groups offer a powerful business resource for growth through networking, lead sharing, and mutual support. The achievements of The Chamber’s Leads Groups continue to grow each year. For those looking to expand their business and build lasting professional relationships, joining a Leads Group is not only a strategic choice but an invaluable opportunity to be part of a thriving community.
Builders of Lasting Relationships: Through Trust, Commitment and Service Excellence
CELEBRATING A 45-YEAR MILESTONE
For nearly half a century, WELBRO Building Corporation (WELBRO) has continued to be a dominant force in construction with a significant market presence in the education, hospitality, and industrial markets throughout Central Florida.
From their beginnings as WELBRO Constructors in 1979, founders Butch von Weller and Gary Brown (Wel + Bro = WELBRO) shared a vision to provide solid construction practices, professionalism, and consistent, honest relationship building to clients. The successor company, WELBRO Building Corporation, continues this tradition, as one of the largest, privately held and employee-owned construction firms in Central Florida.
WELBRO’s founding philosophy centers around establishing productive client relationships right from the inception of each project. By fostering effective teamwork and emphasizing exceptional performance, WELBRO consistently achieves great success in securing repeat business with satisfied owners while providing growth and development opportunities for employees.
IMPACTING COMMUNITIES
In addition to excellence in construction, WELBRO remains committed to supporting the community through their WELBRO Gives Back program and other charitable initiatives. By encouraging employees to engage in volunteer work and offering paid time off for volunteering, WELBRO enables its staff to contribute their time and skills to local charities and not-for-profit organizations, and create a positive impact in their communities. With significant accomplishments since the program’s inception, the firm anticipates even greater progress as it sets forth into a successful future.
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY
WELBRO actively helps develop and guide small businesses through subconsultant partnerships, as well as Mentor-Protégé collaborations, to provide opportunity while ensuring their core values – Trustworthy, Curious, Passionate, Supportive and Customer Forward – align in every partnership.
SUCCESSFUL FUTURE AHEAD
As WELBRO grows, so does the understanding that investing in technology and a thriving workforce reflects in the quality of service to their clients, and ultimately, to WELBRO’s success. You’re invited to help celebrate WELBRO’s 45 years of success and innovation!
For more information about WELBRO, visit www.welbro.com or contact Debbie Thomas, Director of Community Development, at dthomas@welbro.com.
On Wednesday night The Osceola Chamber hosted the Osceola Hob Nob at the Kissimmee Civic Center. The Chamber offers this popular event in election years, and for decades the Osceola Hob Nob has proved a reliable way for candidates to get in front of the voting public in Osceola County during the election cycle.
All candidates running in races that touch Osceola County at the local, state, or national level were invited to pre-record a brief statement for the event to help event attendees become better acquainted with their platforms and positions. These video statements played in loop throughout the event and can be viewed below.
In addition, all candidates were invited to participate in the event with a physical booth space alongside our sponsors and other member businesses. Candidates with booth spaces also participated in a “Parade of Candidates” emceed by Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet.
Said John Newstreet, “The Osceola Chamber was pleased to host our Hob Nob for the community. As the saying goes, ‘Elections have consequences,’ and businesses of all sizes are feeling great pressure today and for the foreseeable future due. Attendees were able to engage candidates, vote in our straw poll, and build their network. The event showcased candidates across the spectrum on the Osceola ballot and highlighted how ‘Business Works Better Together.’”
Click here to see photos from the event courtesy of RTW Photography.
All ticketed attendees had the opportunity to vote for their favorite candidates with a straw poll facilitated by the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections office. Votes were tabulated at the end of the evening.
Results for the contested races were as follows:
President
*Joseph R. Biden – 42.75%
Robert F. Kennedy. Jr. – 15.61%
Donald J. Trump – 41.64%
United States Senator
Feena Bonoan – 0.41%
Stanley Campbell – 3.25%
John S. Columbus – 2.85%
Ben Everidge – 1.22%
Rod Joseph – 1.22%
Keith Gross – 2.03%
Tuan TQ Nguyen – 4.47%
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell – 28.46%
Brian Rush – 7.32%
*Rick Scott – 48.78%
U.S. House of Representatives, Florida Congressional District 9
Marcus Carter – 2.67%
Jose Castillo – 4.58%
Thomas Chalifoux – 11.07%
John “Q” Quinones – 12.98%
*Darren Soto – 68.70%
Florida Senate, District 25
Jon Arguello – 7.66%
*Kristen Arrington – 53.64%
Alan Grayson – 6.13%
Jose Martinez – 20.31%
Carmen Torres – 12.26%
State Attorney, 9th Judicial Circuit
*Andrew Bain – 48.28%
Seth Hyman – 6.90%
Thomas Feiter – 11.49%
Monique Worrell – 33.33%
Public Defender, 9th Judicial Circuit
Leonor Easter – 11.39%
*Melissa Vickers – 88.61%
Florida House of Representatives, Seat 35
*Erika Booth – 49.42%
Tom Keen – 38.22%
Laura McAdams Gomez – 12.36%
Florida House of Representatives, Seat 45
Carolina Amesty – 47.20%
*Leonard Spencer – 52.8%
Florida House of Representatives, Seat 46
*Jose Alvarez – 48.78%
Vanessa Alvarez – 9.35%
Jaqueline Centeno – 7.32%
Michael Cruz – 19.11%
Christian De la Torre – 6.50%
Robert LeWayne Johnson – 4.07%
Ivan A. Rivera – 4.88%
Florida House of Representatives, Seat 47
Andrew Jeng – 19.01%
Anthony Nieves – 22.73%
Maria Revelles – 11.16%
*Paula Stark – 47.11%
Osceola County Commission, District 1
*Peggy Choudhry – 70.36%
Disvany Martinez – 29.64%
Osceola County Commission, District 3
*Brandon Arrington – 54.84%
FiorD’Aliza Frias – 16.53%
Eric Montgomery – 5.24%
Debbie Rambis – 23.39%
Osceola County Commission, District 5
*Ricky Booth – 71.90%
Dianna Liebnitzky – 28.10%
Osceola County School Board Member, District 2
*Bethzaida Garcia – 66.81%
Diana Graniela – 14.71%
Julius Melendez – 18.49%
Osceola County School Board Member, District 3
Angel Coba – 24.79%
*Anthony Cook – 58.97%
Julia V. Tavarez – 16.24%
Osceola County School Board Member, District 5
Brian Bennett – 9.88%
*Paula Bronson – 48.15%
Scott Ramsey – 28.81%
Dylan J. Reinsel – 13.17%
Osceola County Sheriff
*Wiley Black – 34.47%
Luis “Tony” Fernadez – 4.29%
Russ Gibson – 14.77%
Marcos Lopez – 24.62%
Donnie Martinez – 11.36%
Amaryllis Rivera – 9.85%
Osceola County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Jossue Lorenzo – 15.75%
Jennifer Soto – 27.17%
*Kelvin Soto – 57.09%
Osceola County Tax Collector
Rafael Martinez – 14.45%
*Bruce Vickers – 85.55%
Osceola County Property Appraiser
*Katrina Scarborough – 86.15%
Geny Shunnar – 13.85%
Osceola County Supervisor of Elections
*Mary Jane Arrington – 75.58%
James “Jim” Trautz – 24.42%
City of Kissimmee Commission, Seat 1
Noel Ortiz – 32.56%
Jamie Reyes – 33.02%
*Lisandra Roman – 34.42
City of Kissimmee Commission, Seat 3
Carlos Alvarez III – 30.77%
*Rubin Anderson – 37.56%
Wade A. Choate – 21.72%
Nichole Wagoner de Arguello – 9.95%
City of Kissimmee Commission, Seat 5 (Mayor)
Olga A. Carino – 23.77%
Olga L. Castano – 20.49%
John Cortes – 15.16%
*Jackie Espinosa – 40.57%
St. Cloud City Council, Seat 1 (Mayor)
Tony Busby – 38.60%
*Chris Robertson – 41.23%
Adam Wagner – 20.18%
St. Cloud City Council, Seat 2
Phil Lantry – 35.34%
*Jennifer A. Paul – 45.69%
Mandy Shafer – 18.97%
Circuit Court Judge – Circuit 9, Group 5
Joy Goodyear – 36.53%
*LaShawnda K. Jackson – 63.47%
Circuit Court Judge – Circuit 9, Group 15
Jeffrey Ashton – 24.47%
Chris Mack – 36.71%
*Alicia L. Peyton – 38.82%
Circuit Court Judge – Circuit 9, Group 37
Jason Willis – 28.64%
*Tanya Davis Wilson – 71.36%
Circuit Court Judge – Circuit 9, Group 43
Stephen Brown – 41.96%
*Craig McCarthy – 58.04%
County Court Judge, Group 2
Chris Bailey – 25.62%
*Gabby Sanders-Morency – 74.38%
The Osceola Hob Nob was sponsored by Walt Disney World and Orlando Health, with additional sponsorship from Solidarity Partners, Schoolfield Properties, and RTW Photography. The event partnered with the City of Kissimmee, Access Osceola, and the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Office.
