Member News
Florida Chamber of Commerce member press releases/updates.
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Sep- 2021 -15 September
Successful Team Effort Saves Juvenile Dolphin Stranded in Hurricane Ida Storm Surge
Last week, response teams from the Audubon Aquarium’s Coastal Wildlife Network, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, National Marine Mammal Foundation, NOAA Fisheries, SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld Texas jumped into action to rescue a juvenile dolphin from stranded in retention pond in Slidell, Louisiana. The cetacean was one of many animals stranded in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. With storm surge and increased water levels associated with hurricanes, marine mammals often become…
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Aug- 2021 -27 August
Mayo Clinic in Florida: First hospital in the world to use a new heart pump as bridge to transplant
Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, is the sole facility worldwide that is using a temporary, axillary-placed heart pump as a bridge to transplant. This device, which assists the pumping action of the heart, offers multiple benefits for patients with severe heart failure and their physicians. According to Rohan M. Goswami, M.D., an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, patients with heart failure who are candidates for heart transplant fall into two categories: Those…
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25 August
GuideWell to Acquire Triple-S Management in Combination Designed to Drive Health Care Affordability and Improve Health Outcomes in Florida and Puerto Rico
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – August 24, 2021 – GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (“GuideWell”), a health solutions company and parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. (“Florida Blue”), and Triple-S Management Corporation (“Triple-S Management”) (NYSE: GTS), a leading health care services company in Puerto Rico, today announced they will combine to transform the health care experience for their members in Florida and Puerto Rico. Under the terms of the…
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24 August
Two Orphaned Manatees Receiving Around-the-Clock Care at SeaWorld
SeaWorld Orlando has been rescuing and rehabilitating sick, injured and orphaned endangered manatees since 1976. In July, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 866 manatee deaths throughout the state mainly due to a drastic decline in species’ food supply brought on by a toxic algae bloom. Unfortunately, the stark increase in deaths has also meant an increase in the number of orphaned manatee calves. As one of four federally permitted facilities, SeaWorld Orlando’s…
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Jul- 2021 -27 July
Small Business Council Spotlight – Clearwater Gas System
Have a Conversation with Chuck Warrington, Executive Director of Clearwater Gas System What does your business do? We are a municipally-owned (City of Clearwater) Natural & Propane Local Distribution Company that serves nearly 30,000 customers in 20 cities & the unincorporated areas of Northern & Central Pinellas County, Western & Central Pasco County & Northwestern Hillsborough County. We are a full-service provider, offering “one-stop” commercial & residential installation, appliance sales, and service & repair services…
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21 July
Argo AI and Ford to Launch Self-Driving Vehicles on Lyft Network by End of 2021
DEARBORN, Mich., JULY 21, 2021 – In an industry-first collaboration, Argo AI, Lyft and Ford Motor Company are working together to commercialize autonomous ride hailing at scale. The unique collaboration brings together all of the parts necessary to create a viable autonomous ride hailing service, including the self-driving technology, vehicle fleet and transportation network needed to support a scalable business and deliver an exceptional experience for riders. “This collaboration marks the…
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12 July
Fifth Third Bank’s Julio Ramirez has been promoted to Senior Commercial Banker for South Florida
NAPLES AND FORT LAUDERDALE – Fifth Third Bank, National Association, has announced Julio Ramirez, Commercial Sales Manager for Tampa Bay, has been promoted and will assume the role of Senior Commercial Banker for South Florida. Julio will be relocating to Fort Lauderdale with his family. He will be reporting to Regional President for South Florida, Jim Weiss. “Julio’s dynamic leadership coupled with his commitment to the community will allow us to continue our expansion in…
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8 July
Baskerville-Donovan’s Fred Donovan, Jr. Appointed as Regional Chair of Pensacola/Destin Region of the Florida Chamber of Commerce
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) July 8, 2021 — Fred Donovan, Jr., Executive Vice President of Baskerville-Donovan, Inc. has been appointed Regional Advancement Chair for the Pensacola/Destin region of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The region, made up of Florida Chamber member businesses from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, needs to create 50,392 net new jobs by 2030 to prepare the region for future growth and opportunity. “Fred is a recognized leader and job creator in Northeast…
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8 July
Apprenticeship grant helps SPC support local employers
From health care to technology, St. Petersburg College is working with local employers to fill in-demand careers through its apprenticeship program. Recently, the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) awarded the college a $25,000 grant to support the initiative. SPC’s Apprenticeship Coordinator Jennifer Bodnar believes the funding will help local businesses rebound after the pandemic. “Everyone is struggling since Covid, so to be able to have this funding, which allows employers not to pay out-of-pocket,” Bodnar said.…
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7 July
Busch Gardens Welcomes Baby Giraffe Same Day as Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup Championship Win
On July 7th lightning struck twice as the Tampa Bay Lightning won a back-to-back Stanley Cup championship the same day Busch Gardens welcomed a baby giraffe! In honor of the historic win, the baby giraffe was appropriately named Stanley. The youngster and his mother Angel are doing well and are bonding in a secluded enclosure. The pair will join the giraffe herd on Busch Garden’s Serengeti Plain once Stanley reaches certain growth milestones. To see…
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7 July
Nautique Boat Company’s Greg Meloon Named to Florida Chamber Safety Council Advisory Board
TALLAHASSEE, FL (July 7, 2021)— Nautique Boat Company President Greg Meloon is the newest Florida Chamber Safety Council Advisory Board member. “The Florida Chamber Safety Council Advisory Board guides the vision and strategy behind creating national standards for workplace safety, implementing first-in-the-nation programs to prevent injuries, reduce operational costs, and improve production, performance and corporate culture,” said Florida Chamber Safety Council President Katie Yeutter. “Greg’s leadership, and his track record of safety in manufacturing, adds…
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7 July
Polk State President Falconetti inducted as Chair of Florida College System Council of Presidents
Polk State College President Angela Garcia Falconetti was inducted in June as Chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents for 2021-2022. The Council of Presidents (COP) is comprised of the presidents of Florida’s 28 public colleges who advise and advocate to state and federal legislators, oversee the coordination of statewide functions such as risk management, and maintain close working relationships with universities, school boards, and more, among other responsibilities that benefit the Florida…
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Jun- 2021 -29 June
Small Business Council Spotlight – Dr. Jonathan Reed, Strategy First Consulting Group
What does your business do? We help small to medium-size businesses develop strategy, management processes, and talent like a Fortune 500 company. What’s your biggest concern as a small business owner/operator? I am concerned about the polarized political climate in the U.S. and the volatility it has created for my small business clients. It seems like new rules, regulations, executive orders, and lawsuits are being filed almost daily, now at the state level in addition…
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15 June
Nemours Children’s Health Named Newest Florida Chamber Foundation Statewide Community Development Partner
TALLAHASSEE, FL (June 15, 2021)— The Florida Chamber Foundation today announced Nemours Children’s Health’s expanded efforts as the newest Florida Chamber Foundation Community Development Partner. The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Community Development Partnership (CDP) Council is a group of thought-leaders and strategic partners from across Florida who have extensive reach and significant impact on their communities. These companies believe in putting the long term over the short term and these forward-thinking individuals and companies…
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10 June
Small Business Council Spotlight – Capt. Anderson’s Marina
Capt. Anderson’s Marina Fishing & Cruising A Conversation w/ Operations Manager Pam Anderson What does your business do? Capt. Anderson’s Marina has offered deep sea fishing, private charter boat fishing and Shell Island and Dolphin Cruises since the mid-1950s. Before that, since 1920, Anderson Dock in downtown Panama City was the home to the Anderson fleet. Headboats offer 5 hours, 6 hours and 10-hour deep sea fishing trips from March through October and add an…
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