2006Community

Trustees

Amber Electric, Inc.a subsidiary of IES

BankFIRST

Castle & Cooke

DeWitt Excavating

First CommercialBank of Florida

Glatting JacksonKercher Anglin Lopez

Rinehart, Inc.

GrayRobinson, P.A.

Health Central

Lowndes DrosdickDoster Kantor & Reed,

P.A.

Manheim’sFlorida Auto

Auction of OrlandoMcCree Incorporated

The MiddlesexCompanies

Miller, South &Milhausen, P.A.

Progress Energy

Signature GMACReal Estate

Sprint

SunTrust Bank

Veranda Partners

Walt Disney WorldCompany

West Oaks Mall

March 2006

Committee Corner Stina D’Uva, President

Community Champions are all around us and in each of our communities. For the pastfour years, the West Orange Chamber of Commerce has asked our communities to look around forlocal heroes and tell us about them. This year, they did, many times over. Nearly 30 people fromMetroWest to Oakland were nominated by their peers to be a winner of the Community Championaward for 2005.

In fact, each of the nominees is a winner because they give without thought of recognitionor accolades. However, the Selection Committee, made up of volunteers, narrowed down the listto one person from each community. The winners were honored at the Community Champions’Gala sponsored by DeWitt Excavating and Progress Energy along with Ace Hardware, TreasureTitle Insurance Services and Ron W. Sikes, PPLC. With nearly 300 attendees looking on, KarenO’Brien of Dr. Phillips, Telethe Wery of Gotha, Betty Wade of Oakland, Joseph Hembrooke ofOcoee, Renee Ennis of MetroWest, Gwendolyn Parrish of Unincorporated Orange County, JesseGreen of Windermere and Betty Heidt Goodwin of Winter Garden were honored. They attendedthe event courtesy of Paul McGarigal – The Real Estate Coach, Re/Max Southwest Properties andDurek Enterprises.

The festivities did not end there. Distinguished Chamber members received special no-tice as well. Linda Pelligrini of Pelligrini Homes was honored with the Athena Award; VerandaPartners earned the Member of the Year award, Dianne Southwell of Plaudits! and Bob Hennen ofKeene’s Pointe were both recognized with the Chairman’s Award and Walter Toole of Ace Hard-ware with the Sam Hovsepian Award. The evening of recognition continued on with RichardIrwin earning the Bert Roper Award, Jack Amon and Jim Thomas walked away with the GeorgeBailey Award, and the West Orange Junior Service League received the Jerry Chicone Award.Last but not least, Pat Gleason was awarded 2005 Ambassador of the Year Award.

It is with heart felt thanks to all who attended, contributed and helped to make our Com-munity Champions’ Gala a success. You are all Champions!

Chairman’s Message

Pam Gould, 2006 Chamber ChairmanHealth Central Foundation

am·bas·sa·dorFunction: noun1 : an official envoy; especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank.

This definition of ambassador from the Merriam-Webster dictionary completely describes theesteemed collection of individuals fulfilling the Ambassadorial posts of the West Orange Chamber.Each and every individual has been selected because they conduct themselves in the highestprofessional manner and represent the chamber exceptionally well each and every time they puton their red jacket. We have all seen their pictures in the papers providing focus and recogniton tothe milestones of our members. Please thank them the next time you see them and remember tocall Vicki at the Chamber to schedule a ribbon cutting, grand opening, or milestone anniversary.The red jackets will appear to help highlight your business.

West OrangeChamber

Ambassadors

Joan Bailey

Kay Behrens

Bob Buchanan

Carol Cross

Dorcas Dillard

Nicole Farquharson

Ron Garrison

Pat Gleason

Ruth Grafton

Jimmie Hargrove

Chesta Hembrooke

Donna Leigaber

Anette Luck

Linda Osterberg

Rev. TomRutherford

Dianne Southwell

Lenny Stark

Lori Tyson

Jerry VanDyke

Debbi Vineyard

Marie Williams

Chamber Members Doing Businesswith Chambers Members

Last month, we focused on Chamber member physicians. This month we arecontinuing our focus on health and ways to improve our bodies.

Cosmetic Procedures – Laser TreatmentBreeze Laser Center, Inc.Inaara Medspa of Orlando

Laser Skin Rejuvenation of Orlando

Day SpaAcqua – A unique day spaThe Lakota Medical Spa

DentistBR Dental

Carlos R. Colon-Bengoa, D.D.S., P.A.Creative Dental

Dr. Javier Martinez, DDS MSLisa M. Peters, DMD, - Family and Cosmetic

MetroWest Family DentistryPranati S. Chockshi DMD, P.A.

Robert H. Foster, D.D.S., M.A.G.D.

Dentist – OrthodontistW. K. Fravel, D.M.D., P.A.

Robert T. Ogden, D.D.S.Robert S. Goldie, DMD, PA

Dentist – Cosmetic and FamilyRay O. Ball, Jr., DDS

Starbase Dental

Fitness CenterContours Express MetroWest

Curves – OcoeeCurves – Summerport

Curves- Winter GardenLadies Workout Express of Central Florida

The Fitness Studio of OrlandoZero Gravity

Health & Nutrition ProductsNature Works

Health and WellnessRELIV International

Health Care Home ServicesThe Ultimate In-Home Care Services Inc.

Health Care RehabilitationEleos

Home Health CareAbsolute Home Healthcare

Care America, HHC

Karate Fitness CenterAll American Karate Academy

Medical Imaging – MRIWestcoast Open MRI

Organizations – Health (Non-Profit)American Cancer Society

Florida’s Blood Centers, Inc.Health Alliance Family Care Center

Heath Central Foundation

PharmaciesAxium Healthcare Pharmacy, Inc.

The Medicine Shoppe

Physicians Oral SurgeonsHector L. Briceno, D. M.D.

Skin Care ProductsKara Vita

Skin Care SalonSkin and Body Solutions

Tanning Salon/Massage TherapyContemporary Tanning & Massage

Health Central FoundationOne of the signature programs the Health Central Foundation supports is the

School Nurse Program. The program places Registered Nurses in 32 schools withinthe Orange County Public School (OCPS) West Learning community. Nurses see onaverage 3.66 children per minute during the school day. Clinic visits are for the scrapes,tummy aches, fevers, splinters; but many are children with chronic problems such asheart conditions, diabetes, asthma and Cystic Fibrosis. These children would not beable to attend school without the nurse’s care or parents would spend their day goingback and forth to provide medicine and on-going care.

The success of Health Central’s School Nurse program, one of the program’s of the Foundation,is the partnership between Health Central, OCPS, Parents, Corporations and Organizations that recognizethe absolute need of having a full time Registered Nurse on the school campuses. OCPS paysapproximately 47% of the $28,000 per school required to pay for this service. Each year Health CentralFoundation, with its partners, operates a community-wide campaign to cover the $15,000 per school thatis required to come from fundraising efforts.

If you or your business is interested in helping to fund your local school, please contact PaulinaWolfe, Annual Fund Manager at 407-296-1837

AMBASSADOR ACCOLADES & ANTICS

The Ambassadors have recently participated in thefollowing events:

Ribbon CuttingsTino’s Cuban Food

1021 S. Dillard Street, Winter Garden

Bay Hill Area Law Group6100 – 3 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando

Labor Finders129 W. McKey Street, Ocoee

Luck Realty13360 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 470, Winter Garden

Fast Signs7154 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando

Anniversary Celebrations CastleStone (15th)

1611 Alden Road, Orlando

Total Woman Healthcare (1st)885 Sedalia Street, Suite 100, Ocoee

NEW MEMBERSNEW MEMBERSNEW MEMBERSNEW MEMBERSNEW MEMBERSARTISTSue Thompson(407) 538-2931

CELLULAR TELEPHONESYakety Yak WirelessMark Nonsant(407) 574-5735www.yaketyyakocoee.com

COMMERCIAL FUNDINGZions Small Business FinanceVince LoPresti(407) 667-3515

CONSTRUCTION - DRYWALLCONTRACTOR - COMMERCIALAllstar Drywall & TexturingTimothy Hembrooke(407) 297-9190

CREDIT UNIONCentral Florida Educators FederalCredit UnionTerry Brinkman(407) 896-9411www.mycfe.com

FINANCIAL ADVISORSJenem Associates, Inc.Jennifer Pola(321) 293-0650

HVAC/REFRIGERATION SERVICECold-Zone RefrigerationSebastian Moore(407) 654-9010

INSURANCEKraft InsuranceAllen Trammell(407) 647-7901www.kraftinsurance.com

Mishler Insurance & FinancialServices, LLCMatt Mishler(407) 895-2707www.allstate.com/075445

JANITORIAL SERVICESTad Services, Inc.Ramona Davanzo(407) 862-1406www.tadsvces.com

JUNK REMOVAL1-800-GOT-JUNKBrian Fultz(407) 248-9444www.1800gotjunk.com

MORTGAGE LOANSResource MortgageWesley Bal(407) 694-9803www.stonewoodmortgage.com

PERSONAL CHEFLet’s Eat!Deborah Westbrook(407) 345-0645

REAL ESTATEBella CollinaSteve McHenry(407) 731-7777

Reeta Casey & AssociatesDebbie Staley(407) 352-7774www.reetacasey.com

Stirling - Sotheby’s Int’l RealtyLaura Angelone(407) 256-3208

RESTAURANTSPenguin’s Paradise Dessert BarArthur Padoan(352) 243-7399

Congratulations Members of the Month!!

December 2005 – Rob Maphis, James A. CummingsGeneral Contractors - for PowerPoint presentationand assisting with Jewels of Our Schools program.

January 2006 – Nick D’Uva, High Line, Inc. – forhelping setup and breakdown at all major Chamberevents.

Best Fest has a New Home at Veranda Park,MetroWest

Don’t be left out of the party. West Orange County’s mostanticipated Food Tasting and Business Expo is returning and at anew location. Best Fest will be held on Thursday, May 11, 5:30-8:30 pm under tents, on the brick paved streets of Veranda Park,rain or shine.

Best Fest will feature the top restaurants and businesses form the West Orange area. Don’t miss the opportunityto have your business and or culinary delights showcased to the community. Over 400 prospective guests andclients are expected to attend. Reserve your booth now and be included in what has proven to be an incredibleadvertising vehicle.

Package includes one (two for Food and Beverage Exhibitor) 8’ x 8’ space with a table, (two tables for food/beverage exhibitors) two chairs and an ID sign. Table includes black linen.

Member Rates:Food and Beverage exhibitor No Cost(Must provide food/beverage samples)Non food/beverage exhibitor $300.00Non-profit Organization $175.00

For more information on what it takes to participate in West Orange County’s Best Fest,Please call the the Chamber or e-mail lwolf@wochamber.com

American Cancer Society – Relay for Life

Once again the Chamber is putting together a teamfor Relay for Life. This year, we are participatingin the Dr. Phillips High Relay on Friday andSaturday, April 7th and 8th. We need teammatesand donations. Call the Chamber to help with thisgreat community effort.

Small Business Loans Available

The Alliance Business Resource Center recentlyannounced the launch of the Walt Disney Micro LoanProgram which will provide micro loans ranging from$15,000 to $50,000 to local small businesses which arecertified by a local or state authority as being majorityowned and operated by a minority or womanentrepreneur(s). For more information contact theAlliance at 407-428-5860 or visit their web site atwww.allianceflorida.com.

RENEWED MEMBERSRENEWED MEMBERSRENEWED MEMBERSRENEWED MEMBERSRENEWED MEMBERS

ADVERTISINGTen United

APARTMENTSCountry Gardens

ASSOCIATEBetty Ervine

BOTTLED WATER SUPPLIERCrystal Springs

BUILDERS/CONTRACTORS/DEVELOPERSM I Homes of Orlando, LLC

CHIROPRACTORSRose Healthcare Center

CITIES & TOWNSCity of Orlando

DENTISTLisa M. Peters, DMD,

Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

Robert H. Foster, D.D.S., M.A.G.D.

ELECTED OFFICIALSOrange County Comptroller

FENCE CONSTRUCTIONIron Gate Fence

FINANCIAL PLANNINGMorgan Stanley

FINANCIAL SERVICESEdward Jones Investments

LANDSCAPEU.S. Lawns of Orlando

LAWN CARERiddick’s Lawn Service

MORTGAGE LOANSProfessional Team, Inc./Realty Executives

NEWSPAPERSOrlando Business Journal

ORGANIZATIONS - NON-PROFITHenry Nehrling Society

Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Inc.

OUTDOOR LIGHTING DISTRIBUTORFlorida Outdoor Lighting Distributors

PEST CONTROLHome Team Pest Defense

PHOTOGRAPHYPortraits by LaVerne

REAL ESTATE - ASSOCIATESRosalie Mocsary - Main Street Realtors

RESTAURANTSSubway - W. Colonial

SCHOOLSCitrus Elementary

Eagle’s Nest Elementary

Ocoee Middle School

Westridge Middle School

Windermere Elementary School

SHOPPING CENTER DEVELOPER -COMMERCIAL

Grand Oaks Village, LLC

TELEPHONE COMPANIESBellSouth

TRAVEL AGENCIES-CRUISESCruise Planners

TROPHIES AND AWARDSTrophies Unlimited

UTILITIES - ELECTRICProgress Energy

WRECKER SERVICESly’s Towing & Recovery

A special thank you to LaVerne Whiteof Portraits by LaVerne, for takingphotos at the 2006 CommunityChampion’s Gala.

Let’s Eat, a new Chamber member,was featured on the cover of theOrlando Sentinel’s Good Living sectionon February 1, 2006. The topic wasFast Foods – Imagine cooking in astore that provides the recipes andingredients, does all the prep work andcleans-up after you’re done!

Lorena Haynes, a Massage TherapyInstructor at Westside TechnicalCenter, has been appointed to theState Massage Therapy Board byGovernor Bush.

Body & Soul, a fitness center locatedat 2584 S. Maguire Road in Ocoee, haschanged its name to Zero Gravity.

Winter Garden Pizza Company onDillard Street has expanded their diningroom to a seating capacity of 96.

The Subway restaurant chain recentlyopened its 25,000th location worldwide.The milestone was reached with theopening of 17 new locations including2468 S. Maguire Road in Ocoee.Congratulations to owners John andGayle Pryor!

Discover Magazine – Keep an eye outfor “DISCOVER, the Chamber’s 2006Community Profile & BusinessDirectory:” They should be sent out toyou by the beginning of April.

Olympia HS PTSA students will beworking with Paint Rally for NewOrleans Public Schools to paint manyof the schools damaged by HurricaneKatrina. The students need donationsto make the March 10th trip possible.Email Takumi Sato at OHS to help.satot@ocps.net

Chip Weddington of First PaymentSystems was named Allied Member ofthe Month by the Central Florida Hotel& Lodging Association.

CHAMBER CHATTER

CAPITOL CONNECTION

Our Governmental Affairs committee has been planningour annual 5 Chamber trip to Tallahassee. This is a greatway to see our capitol and visit with our elected repre-sentatives, one on one. The trip is sponsored by UCF,

Sprint, Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt, Universal Orlando, and WasteManagement. For details on this inexpensive, 2 day trip, on March 28 &29, contact us at 407-656-1304.

Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 257

Winter Garden, FL

2006Supporting

Trustees

Alarie DesignAssociates

AmSouth Bank

Durek Enterprises

Dyer, Riddle, Mills& Precourt, Inc.

Johnson-LauxConstruction, LLC

Park Square Homes

Shutts & Bowen LLP

Step2Techknowledgies

The Robins &Morton Group

The SemblerCompany

Universal Orlando

Waste Management,Inc. of Florida

West Orange Chamber of Commerce12184 W. Colonial DriveWinter Garden, FL 34787Ph: (407) 656-1304 Fax: (407) 656-0224Web site: www.wochamber.com

MARCH

8th, WednesdayHot Topic Session

“Using Quickbooks to Makeyour Business Work for You”

Chamber Office8:00am – 9:00am

Cost: Free

9th, Thursday Business After Hours

Location: Steak and Ale5:30pm – 7:00pm

Cost: Free

24th, FridayNew Member Orientation

Sponsored by Legacy Financial AdvisorsChamber Office

8:00am – 9:00am or12:00pm – 1:00pm

Cost: Free

28th/29th Tues/WedCapitol Connection –Trip to Tallahassee

Sponsored by: Dyer, Riddle,Mills & Precourt & Universal Orlando

Call Chamber for Details

APRIL

12th, WednesdayHot Topic Session

Chamber Office8:00am – 9:00am

Cost: Free

21st, FridayOBJ Growth Report Luncheon

Doubletree Hotel 11:30am – 1:30pm

Cost: TBA

26th, WednesdayAdministrative Professional’s Day

Luncheon & Fashion ShowSponsored by: AmSouth Bank,

Fashions by Dillard’s of West Oaks MallStonewood Tavern & Grill

11:30am-1:30pmCost TBA

27th, Thursday Business After Hours

Location: Keene’s Pointe5:30pm – 7:00pm

Cost: Free

28th, FridayNew Member Orientation

Chamber Office8:00am – 9:00am or12:00pm – 1:00pm

Cost: Free