Thank You for a Great Year!
Chamber members and friends, As we wrap up our fiscal year this week, I want to take a moment to look back and look forward. We’ve had a tremendous year and the future of our chamber is strong. We have a great financial framework to help with any bumps and our influence continues to grow throughout the region and Florida. Let’s start with three key accomplishments that happened in the past 12 months. I could start by looking chronologically, but one of the biggest accomplishments our
Legislative Session Ends - as Does a Key Business Tax
After one of the more interesting - and longest - Legislative Sessions, a state budget has been passed and 265 bills made it to Governor DeSantis' desk. One of the biggest accomplishments of the session was the final elimination of the business rent tax. Your chamber has called for its elimination in its annual legislative agenda. After years of small reductions, this tax will no longer be collected once the tax package is signed into law. When the Seminole County Chamber first teamed with
Welcome Your New Chamber Leaders
On June 12, the Seminole County Chamber held its annual meeting, celebrating our chamber's recognition as one of the top chambers of commerce in America. Being a certified five-star chamber showcases how this chamber is superior in all aspects of a chamber, from finance and facilities to membership growth and government affairs. A key reason our chamber received this accreditation is because of our leadership, our board and council chairs. Without the support and strength of these individuals, we
ChamberWORKS Returns Going Behind the Scenes of a Sanford Icon
Ever wondered what it took to cook Spätzle? Did you question whether the Black Forest Cakes are truly homemade? What about the meaning behind the placement of the sash on the drindl dress? Find out all of this and much more this week as Seminole County Chamber's Rebekah Arthur goes behind the scenes of Hollerbach's German Restaurant. "What the guests see is such a small part of what we do here at the restaurant," says Hollerbach's Christina Hollerbach. "Our hours are 11 a.m. - 9 or 10 p.m. on
Seminole County Chamber Facilitates $10,000 to Local Non-profits
Chamber partners with VyStar Credit Union to build lasting impact from event sponsorships(May 15, 2025) Lake Mary, Fla. – At most chamber luncheons, corporate sponsors fill goody bags with a wide range of promotional products in the hopes that attendees will use their pen, magnet or notebook to remember the brand.However, last year, the Seminole County Chamber worked with VyStar on something very different - a program showing the credit union’s commitment to the community through a $2,500 donation to a
Chamber Staff Attends Statewide Florida Association of Chamber Professionals Conference
One of the key ways the Seminole County Chamber remains one of the top chambers in Florida is by ensuring its team is at the forefront of new trends in our industry. Across the state, chambers are finding new ways to improve their efforts to help businesses grow and help communities excel. A five-star accredited chamber like the Seminole County Chamber must know what can truly help its members accomplish their goals. This week, our chamber team attended the Florida Association of Chamber
Introducing ChamberWORKS: an Inside Look at Seminole County's Iconic Brands
How well do you really know Seminole County's iconic brands? Do you know what it takes to serve you a perfectly brewed Weissbier at Hollerbach's German Restaurant? Can you imagine the work needed to feed a giraffe? How about finding a new home for nearly 30,000 dogs and cats? This month, the Seminole County Chamber teamed with Eye AM Media to launch ChamberWORKS, a new video series where President & CEO Rebekah Arthur spends a day working in some of our community's most recognizable
.jpg)
Meet Westarp AI & BI, our New Member Spotlight!
Westarp AI & BI joined the Seminole County Chamber in March and attended 10 events within its first two months of joining, earning them our new member spotlight. Westarp AI & BI is a data analytics and automation solutions provider. As a Qlik partner, the company provides access to cutting-edge analytics with an entire team to support your needs. When you partner with Westarp AI & BI, you will find out why “Data Powers Tomorrow.” "As a team of problem-solvers, we know the value of listening to
Test Your Quick-Game Skills at Our Annual Meeting
Every year, our chamber gathers to celebrate the accomplishments of the past 12 months and to look forward to another great year, growing our economy and our member businesses. Of course, this year has been tremendous as the Seminole County Chamber was named one of only 10 chambers in Florida to be a five-star accredited chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. That's why this year's annual meeting is themed around five stars, highlighted by the Five-Star Challenge. When you come to Annual
Seminole County Chamber Leaders Discuss Infrastructure Needs With Local Media
For the past few years, the Seminole County Chamber has advocated for improved infrastructure to ease congestion around Orlando Sanford International Airport. Right now, it can take a significant amount of time and frustration to travel the roads leading into the airport as congestion has grown in that area. As more and more houses are being built near that area, and with the expansion of sports facilities in the county, access to our local airport is critical for businesses. After all, time spent in
Congratulations Erin Eble on IOM Scholarship
A key aspect of any leader's growth is to seek out and embrace opportunities to learn how to grow and improve as a leader. Last month, our Events Director Erin Eble was chosen to be a part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute of Organization Management, and was one of a few to receive a scholarship to attend! "We're so proud of how Erin has embraced the chamber industry and wants to be a part of chambers for her career," says Chamber President & CEO Rebekah Arthur, who graduated from the
Seminole County Chamber Earns a Five-Star Accreditation!
Five years ago, the Seminole County Chamber first received an accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It was not an easy accomplishment, but since then, our chamber team, staff and board have worked hard to enhance and grow our chamber. That has paid off! This week, the Seminole County Chamber learned it is now one of just ten chambers in Florida to be officially recognized as a five-star chamber of commerce! Out of the more than 7,000 chambers nationwide, only 147 are five-star
Board Nominations Now Open
If you are looking for a great way to serve your community and truly supercharge your investment in the chamber, consider joining the board. And, if you're currently serving on the board, consider joining the executive committee of the chamber. By being a part of the Seminole County Chamber's board of directors, you will be in the room with many of the top business leaders in our community. You'll be a part of guiding and directing our chamber leadership toward building our chamber significantly
Let Us Help Your Funding Requests
This week, your Seminole County Chamber was well represented in the statewide, Florida Chamber's Tallahassee Fly-in. Several board members and Chamber President Rebekah Arthur heard from all the key leaders - including Governor Ron DeSantis about the issues that should be tackled this year. For instance, the goal is to eliminate the tax businesses pay on rent this session. We were also able to share our 2025 Legislative Agenda with lawmakers throughout the state. As we get closer to the 2025
Record Month of New Members in January
Wow! This year is off to a racing start and it is only going to get better. In January, more than 40 companies decided it was the time to invest in their future and their community with a membership in the Seminole County Chamber. For our existing members, this should be a great opportunity to expand your network, build referral sources and perhaps land a new client or two. You can also help grow our local economy by helping these businesses succeed during their chamber journey. Here are three things
Chamber Board Passes its 2025 Legislative Priorities
In just a couple of weeks, the Florida Legislature will start its annual session working to pass legislation to make Florida an even better place to live and work. During the session, thousands of bills will be filed and considered. Billions of dollars will be allocated to all types of services. In the end, there will be new laws that will affect your business and your life. The Seminole County Chamber is there to help guide you in this session and help share with legislators our priorities
Rebekah Arthur Named to Sports Commission Advisory Board
As one of Central Florida's largest chambers of commerce, the Seminole County Chamber prides itself on being a part of regional efforts for economic development. Last week, our CEO & president, Rebekah Arthur was named to the advisory board of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, the regional organization that works to attract amateur sporting events to Seminole County and the rest of Central Florida. "The Greater Orlando Sports Commission has shown time and time again their impact on our
Three Non-Profits Receive Boost from Chamber Members
Throughout Seminole County and our region, non-profits are working hard to make our community an even better place to live. We have nearly 100 non-profits who are part of the Seminole County Chamber, providing all types of services, from educational opportunities to pet rescues and much more. This week, the Chamber and its members were able to help three of those non-profits. First, the councils delivered nearly 500 cans of food to The Sharing Center and the Salvation Army. It was part of the
Introducing Our Newest Trustee: Mechanical One
While we love all our members, we're very proud of the number of companies who have decided to invest at our highest level. From Walt Disney World to AT&T and from The Orlando Law Group to Seminole State, our trustees play a significant part in supporting our efforts to build the business community in Seminole County and the region. Today, we're proud to announce another local company has made the decision to be a top-level investor in the Seminole County Chamber: Mechanical One. Mechanical
Miss a Good Morning Seminole?
Earlier this week, one of our members broadcast a podcast with Chris Ham, the executive director of Rescue Outreach Mission. The podcast, Check Your 6 from GRP Studios, was all about homelessness in Seminole County and it came about after Tim Proctor attended our Good Morning Seminole in December. As we start the new year, this is a perfect example of how the chamber can really impact its members when they work together. You can listen to the Check Your 6 podcast here. It's also a testament to
Thank You For a Great 2024!
To all our members past and present, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each of you who invested in the Seminole County Chamber this past year. Whether you were a trustee investor or just attended one event, I'm proud the Seminole County Chamber has been part of your journey - and success. Throughout the past year, our chamber has had tremendous success through our efforts to showcase the chamber's leadership in Seminole County and our region. Here are just a few of them. In July, we
Seminole County Chamber Included in National Clean Energy Toolkit
One of the key metrics for any business is to gauge how it performs against its peers across the country. This month, the national organization Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy unveiled its Chamber Clean Energy Toolkit. This platform shows the efforts of more than 100 chambers nationwide discussing various aspects of diversifying and growing the country's energy portfolio. This toolkit features programs from some of the biggest chambers in the country, like the Greater Cleveland
Make A Difference This Week by Supporting A Great Cause
Yesterday, more than 125 of our members and many guests heard about the issue of homelessness in Seminole County. Perhaps the most horrific statistic is that there are currently 318 Seminole County students sleeping in cars or tents. Everyone agrees that one child sleeping in a car is too many. The message was clear from the panel. For Seminole County to address the issue of homelessness, it's going to take everyone helping; government, businesses, churches and individuals all have an equal
Chambers of Commerce Remain Strong with Consumers and Businesses
Last week, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives released one of the most comprehensive looks at how Americans view their local chamber of commerce. The good news is the state of the chambers is as strong as ever as the survey shows "81 percent of U.S. adults agree that their local chamber of commerce is a trusted resource and partner for businesses." In addition, 90 percent of U.S. adults say their local chamber has an impact on growing the economy. Of course, that is about us.
Save the Date and Register for Our 2025 Events - They Will Sell Out!
This year, nearly all of our signature events sold out. Don't miss an event in 2025 by marking your calendar for all of our great events. Every month during the year, there will be an opportunity to network, learn and grow your business. If you're looking to meet community and business leaders, make sure you attend these events. Here are the dates for our signature events for the first half of 2025. This is the first time the State of the County is open for ticket purchase. Don't wait. It will
Are You Protected? Our New Savings Program Keeps You Safe
One of our goals at the Seminole County Chamber is to provide you with value in savings. Over the past year, we've started multiple new programs designed to give you the goods and services you need for your business. From EV chargers to healthcare to fingerprinting to credit card processing, our savings programs can bring your business thousands of dollars in savings. This month, we're launching a new program designed to keep your company safe from hackers and other people who want to steal
.png){kind=logo}
Tickets are Now Available for Expo!
While January 22, 2025 may seem like a long way from today, it will be here quickly. Now is the time for you to make your plan to attend the Seminole Business Expo. We're nearly sold out on our display booths with nearly 100 companies and organizations signing up to be a part of the biggest and best expo in Seminole! Remember, the Seminole Business Expo is always free to attend, so download our web ticket and email the file to all your contacts, encouraging them to join you. Bring your family and your
The Lessons Learned at Professional Women's Luncheon will Help You Succeed!
Every time we leave a Professional Women's Luncheon, we feel just a bit more inspired. We're inspired to help our community. We're inspired to help our friends. We're inspired to help ourselves. Thursday's sold-out event featuring Karen Keene was no different. There were gasps and cheers and a few people were tearing up. But everyone walked away with something that can help them professionally and personally. For instance, Karen talked about her "MAP," the three pillars that set the
The Future of Seminole County's Cities is Bright!
On October 17, the Seminole County Chamber held its annual Mayors' Update, giving a great update from each of our seven cities. A wide range of topics were discussed, from monorails to redevelopment and taxes to boardwalks. Each of our cities has something spectacular coming soon that residents should truly look forward to improving the quality of life. With the recent hurricanes, each city official gave an update on the impact of Milton and, thankfully, no one reported any significant issues. The
Let Us Know How Hurricane Milton Affected Your Business
It certainly appears the winds of Hurricane Milton did not cause as much damage that could have happened. For that, I think we are all grateful. While many of our members are able to operate today, some of them can not because of a lack of power or flooding. Part of the recovery process is a damage assessment of our community. While you may be operating, this assessment ensures resources are available for the businesses and residents who need them Plus, if there is a way the Seminole County
Hurricane Milton Update No. 1
Friends, As our region prepares for another tropical impact, the Seminole County Chamber can be a resource for your business before and after the storm. If you're like me, you're watching every Milton forecast, trying to make the difficult decisions on a wide range of things, understanding forecasts and outlook change. You feel the pressure to not be wrong, to ensure your employees and customers are safe, and to continue operating as long as possible. Right now, the Chamber will be closed
Send Us Your Expert Advice Articles!
With more than 700 companies in our membership, we know there is someone who can help you and your business when you need advice. From marketing to legal to real estate and much more, you can turn to the Seminole County Chamber to find help! We want to showcase that expertise to our audiences. All you have to do is act. First, share your content with the chamber by emailing your advice articles to Alan by clicking here. To qualify for the full program, advice columns from members must be
Thank YOU for Your Generosity at Our First State of Our Schools Event
In July, we held our first-ever State of Our Schools event. This partnership with Seminole County Public Schools and the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools was tremendously successful with a packed room of community leaders. Part of the partnership was for our chamber and its members to give back to the school district. A portion of its proceeds were donated to the Foundation, along with a school supply drive. As you can see, you came through with hundreds of backpacks, markers,
Support Our Community by Becoming an Informed Voter
As ballots arrive in mailboxes over the next few weeks, make sure you understand the impact the penny sales tax has had on our community over the years. Every 10 years, Seminole County voters decide if this funding source for our roads, our schools and our infrastructure is renewed. The Seminole County Chamber's board of directors voted unanimously to support the renewal of the tax. Of course, we want to provide you with as much information as possible for your decision. Last week, a new website
Seminole County Chamber Recognized Nationally for EV Charger Leadership
For the past couple of years, the Seminole County Chamber has been at the forefront of working to try and improve the EV charger network in Florida. After all, Florida has the second-highest number of electric vehicles on the road of any state in the nation. And, as businesses and governments look for ways to offer charging services, the chamber offers free EV chargers to qualified members with our partner Optimus Energy Solutions. That's why when the Florida Division of Consumer Affairs came
Congratulations to our Seminole Business Award Winners
Last week, we celebrated success. We celebrated commitment. We celebrated hard work and determination. At the Seminole Business Awards we celebrated the businesses and organizations who are making a difference in our community every day. They are creating jobs and economic impact and giving back to non-profits who need our help. This year was a different experience as attendees were able to hear from our winners. They talked about their journey, their heartbreaks and what helped grow their
Meet Zamora Chiropractic, Our September New Member Spotlight
Zamora Chiropractic joined the Seminole County Chamber in June and attended nine events within its first two months of joining, earning them our new member spotlight. Zamora Chiropractic believes in a patient-centered approach, where individualized care plans are tailored to meet the unique needs of each patient. The company is committed to educating patients about their health, empowering them to make informed decisions, and promoting overall wellness through preventive care and lifestyle
A Life of Inspiration from Incredible Tragedy - Meet our next PWL Speaker
On March 8, 2020, the front door of Karen Keene's house blew in. She couldn't see who it was but she ran back to the bedroom, locked the door and called 911. As bullets started piercing the bedroom door, she fled to the bathroom, still on the phone. The bullets kept coming. “I wasn’t even listening to the dispatcher. I thought I was going to die.” She lay on the floor, clutching her side, bullet holes and broken glass everywhere. That's how Karen described what would be the most terrifying and
Save On Fingerprinting Services with Our New Affinity Program
The Seminole County Chamber is always looking for ways to save our member businesses significant money on goods and services. Already, thousands of dollars of savings are available on things like office products, healthcare, credit card processing and EV chargers. Now, we are offering a new affinity program to provide savings on fingerprinting services. Plus, we're making it easy for you and your employees to get fingerprinting services. The new program is in partnership with Proficiency
The Finalists Are...
The Seminole Business Awards is just around the corner and don't miss your opportunity to celebrate the success of our local businesses! This year's event is completely revamped as five companies will be honored and featured during our program. You'll hear from their leadership and truly learn more about their vision, their impact and their secret sauce for success. First, a bit of tease on who could be recognized at the event with the list of the final twelve companies! Make sure you send a
Seminole Chamber Urges Members to Support Penny Sales Tax
In just about every metric available, Seminole County leads the state as one of the top places to work, live, learn and play. One of the reasons for this is that 30 years ago, the community decided it was important to raise needed funds for critical infrastructure and educational improvements. Over that time, the penny sales tax has brought in nearly $2 billion in revenue for the county, the school district and all seven cities. Here are just a few projects that have recently been
Introducing the Nemours Children's Health ''Well Beyond'' Award
In just a few weeks, we're going to be celebrating the best in business in Seminole County. We're featuring a brand new format and a new awards system to give you a tremendous opportunity to learn from the leadership of great local businesses. We're also announcing a new award for companies in Seminole County that have gone above and beyond helping our community be a better place. The new Well Beyond award is being presented by Nemours Children's Health, which is dedicated to helping all children
How Does Seminole County Compare?
Did you know that at any given time, you can find out how Seminole County is doing in a wide range of statistics that affect your business and your community? Located on the homepage of our website, you'll find a link to The Florida Scorecard. There you can find information on things like: Economic growthUnemployment levelsHigh school graduation ratesThird-grade reading levels. One of the truly unique features is the ability to compare these statistics with all 67 Florida counties in one
The Hob Nob Winners Are...
Last night, we held another successful Seminole Hob Nob. Since 1982, the Seminole County Chamber has held this event to allow voters and our members the opportunity to meet and interact with candidates running for office at all levels of government in our county. Hundreds of people participated in our event and our straw poll. While not an official result, it is a tremendous gauge of the issues and the contests that will shape our community and stand by our businesses for the next few
Welcome Our Newest Trustee: ?Central Florida Expressway Authority
We are always so grateful for the companies and organizations who invest in the Seminole County Chamber to help grow our economy. Of course, the Central Florida Expressway Authority has invested heavily in our county and our region, helping transform our roadways and infrastructure over the past few decades. Frankly, our thriving Seminole County economy would not be as successful without the transportation network connecting our region. "The Central Florida Expressway Authority's impact on all
Meet Vensure HR, Our May New Member Spotlight
Vensure HR joined the Seminole County Chamber in April and attended five events within its first two months of joining, earning them our new member spotlight. Vensure HR is a service-minded HR and Technology firm specializing in payroll, benefits, and HR helping business owners focus more on strategic initiatives and revenue growth instead of the tactical noise that can get in the way. "I love Seminole County,": says Lorraine Broskie of Vensure HR, "I have lived here for over 25 years and want to
Seminole Chamber Expands Affinity Programs With Craft Financial Group
The Seminole County Chamber is always looking for ways to help our members. One of the best ways is to find unique programs to cut expenses. Our affinity programs provide healthcare, EV chargers, printing, office supplies and more. By utilizing these programs, businesses are saving tens of thousands of dollars, with a percentage of sales returning to the chamber for our programming. Now, members can save up to 50 percent on their credit card processing through a new affinity arrangement with Craft
Welcome Our New Chamber Leadership
Wasn't last night spectacular? Congratulations to all of our medalists and winners. Perhaps the biggest winner of all was the Seminole County Chamber as we welcomed in a great team of leaders to guide our chamber over the next few years. Of course, every new year means we say goodbye to key leaders who have served you and our chamber but are ending their board service this year. Please thank:Stacy Luna – Atlantic Bay Mortgage GroupBryan Beyer – Seminole County Sheriff’s OfficeTony Smith –
It's Time to Be Educated - Tickets on Sale Now for Seminole County State of Our Schools
As you know from being a part of the Seminole County community, the quality of our schools is a tremendous driver for economic development. When companies look to expand, move or open, one of the key things that is reviewed is the quality of the schools. And when people are hired throughout the region, they choose to live in Seminole County because of our schools. For the first time, Seminole County Chamber and Seminole County Public Schools are partnering to bring you the State of Our
Welcome Coach Malzahn to Good Morning Seminole in June
Yesterday morning, we heard a great presentation on the business of sports from the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and the impact it has on our economy. We're keeping with the sports theme with a very special guest, UCF Head Football Coach Gus Malzahn to our June 6 Good Morning Seminole event. If you don't know Coach Malzahn, he has built a successful program along the way, including leading Auburn University to an SEC Championship and a National Title Game appearance in 2014. This fall
The Survey Says...
A few months ago, we asked you to share your opinions about the state of business conditions in Central Florida. Thank you to everyone who responded. The information compiled by Orlando Economic Partnership is impressive. Some of the key takeaways are: Local business confidence surged in the first quarter of 2024, despite declining optimism in the national economy.Strong performance across all metrics is behind the surge, driving future revenue expectations to a survey high.Cost
Pass the Torch at the 2024 Annual Meeting!
As the days start warming up, it's time to turn our attention to the summer - especially the Summer Games in Paris. We're bringing the games to you at our 2024 Annual Meeting, being held June 13 at the Embassy Suites Orlando North. We'll have the great prizes and entertainment you've come to expect at our Annual Meeting events. This year, we'll have a host of games and activities to bring together our chamber in friendly competitions. For instance, you're going to be able to throw axes, play
Don't Miss Professional Women's Luncheon - in May!
Next week, the Seminole County Chamber is hosting another sold-out Professional Women's Luncheon. Over the past decade, this event has become a staple event, with truly powerful and successful women sharing their stories and inspiring thousands in our community. Don't miss your opportunity to hear from one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Central Florida - Shari Costantini. Today, she's helping lead Kismet, a local start-up using nanoparticles to create a new, highly effective cleaning
Meet Craft Financial Group, Our March New Member Spotlight
Craft Financial Group joined the Seminole County Chamber in January and attended 12 events within their first two months of joining, earning them our new member spotlight. Craft Financial Group, an affiliate of High Plains Bank, provides “Crafted” financial services and solutions to small businesses. It offers best-in-class payment processing solutions, consulting services for small businesses to help with growth, debt management and exit/succession planning, and helps small businesses obtain
Join Us For Legislative Update
A week from today, the 2024 Florida Legislative Session is expected to end. Over the past two months, our Seminole County Legislative Delegation has passed a bunch of new laws and our state budget. Those laws will affect you personally and your business in some manner. It's important you know about them early so you can prepare. To help you, we've assembled a panel of some of the top government affairs leaders in Central Florida, those people who represent a wide range of business interests in
Our Region Needs Your Input
One of the things our chamber is trying to help provide you with is insight into key metrics showing the state of our business community. That's why when you visit our home page, the first thing you see is a link to the Florida Scorecard, presented by the Florida Chamber. There, you will see how Seminole County specifically compares to the rest of the state in several factors, such as job growth, unemployment, third-grade reading and more. You can find all that information by clicking
Another Great Seminole Business Expo!
Nearly 1,000 people joined more than 100 businesses at the Seminole Business Expo, proving once again this is Seminole County's biggest and best business expo. Check out the video of all the excitement and energy we saw on January 24 at the Lake Mary Event Center!Click here to see the video.
