Chair: Cheryl Bamonte, UPS Store at Blue Angel Pkwy
Councils & Committees
Always Open
We believe in the power of great ideas and that these ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Listen, Act, Learn. Repeat.
We continually adapt through the shifting economic landscape. We use data and community feedback to guide our course.
KEYHOLDERS
The Keyholders are the ambassadors to the Perdido Key Area Chamber. They attend important events in the community such as Ribbon Cuttings, Chamber Luncheons, and Chamber socials. Their primary functions are to facilitate healthy relationships and ensure member needs are fulfilled.
The Keyholders met on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, for breakfast at Perdido Bay Golf Club. The ambassadors looked over the calendar of upcoming events and made plans for the upcoming Networking Lunches planned for 2019. The Keyholders are currently on a mission to recruit more people to become Keyholders and committee members for the Chamber.
The next meeting will be on Friday, February 8, 2019, at the Pensacola Greyhound Track. at 7:30 AM
ADVOCACY
Chair: Kim Parker, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Works in partnership with our leadership, public entities, and local nonprofits to support the community. Advocating for the vitality of local business, preserving the quality of life and educating about our fragile wildlife and ecosystem. All helping to achieve the goal of community economic development.
The Advocacy Committee met on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, in the PKACC conference room. The committee quickly went over the events that the committee is responsible for assisting with over the course of 2019.
On March 26, 2019, this committee will be taking on the task of finding speakers and an appropriate topic for the Early-Risers Breakfast Networking event. The committee discussed multiple locations and decided on the Eden Conference room as the location for the breakfast. The confirmed speaker for the March breakfast is Jim Roberts from ECUA, Rick O’Conner from UWF Extension and Tim Day from Escambia County. The committee is still looking for a sponsor for this breakfast.
In June or July, the committee is looking at doing a community update for the Beulah region. The committee does not have current confirmed speakers or location for this event. This committee has also agreed to assist in the planning of the annual multi-chamber event which takes place in October.
The topic of a lack of legislative representation in the meeting was brought up, so the committee is currently looking for an individual who is interested in attending local legislative meetings to represent the chamber and keep the committee informed on current happenings and issues that could be of concern for our area and our members.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at 8:30 am at the PKACC office.
Committee Chairman: Kim Parker, Florida Blue
The Advocacy Committee meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 8:30 am at the Perdido Chamber: 15500 Perdido Key Dr. Pensacola, FL 32507
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Chair: Bill Short, AM-PRES Corporation
Retain and grow present businesses, encourage and support new business. Through educational workshops and seminars, we work to improve the pool of highly skilled, adequately trained employees.
The Business & Community Development committee met on Thursday, January 17, 2018, at 8:30 am at the PKACC conference room. This new committee is a combination of the previous Business Retention & Workforce Development Committee and the Industry Trends in Economic Development committee. The following items were discussed:
- Jo Ann updated the committee on the latest SCORE happenings. Bill Short suggests that we come up with a plan to have this committee work with SCORE and see how their partnership can benefit our chamber and the community
- Breakfast Networking topics/speakers were discussed. We still need to confirm locations for the May 28th & July 23rd early riser’s events. The July 23rd topic will be on SCORE. We still need $350 sponsor for the March breakfast networking event.
- We need speakers. Topics, and sponsorship ($350) for Early-Risers Breakfast Networking. We are looking at having a SCORE national representative for the speaker at the July 23rd Early Risers. (January is already planned, March is under the advocacy committee, May is under the military committee. We will assist them with those months)
- We are looking to have Lunch & Learns monthly throughout the year and this falls under our committee. Dates were picked for February 19 (Social Media: LinkedIn), April 16th (“Disaster Preparedness & Cyber Security”), August 20th (“What is SCORE?”)
- Dee Marie Fisher is the Business Poker Run sponsor. A name change for the event was suggested so everyone is asked to bring 2 new name ideas to the next Business & Community Development committee meeting.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 8:30 am at the Chamber office.
Committee Chair: Bill Short, AM-PRES Corporation
The Business & Community Development Committee meets on the Third Thursday of each month at 8:30 am at the Perdido Chamber: 15500 Perdido Key Dr. Pensacola, FL 32507.
MILITARY COUNCIL
Chair: Erin Wilmer, Edward Jones Financial Advisor
Being the Cradle of Naval Aviation since 1913, our economy relies heavily on military members and their families within our community. Our committee focuses on inclusion, appreciation and giving back to those who have served.
The Military Committee met on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at 4:30 PM at the Edward Jones office. The committee gathered to have their first meeting to discuss the planning of the second annual military appreciation festival in partnership with MWR (Morale, Welfare, & Recreation) of Naval Air Station Pensacola. The date for the 2019 festival is once again on national armed forces day, May 18, 2019. The chair, Erin Wilmer went over the notes from her meeting with MWR with the committee including some of the following details that can be improved from last year.
- Parking: volunteers will have a designated parking area so that the festival attendees can park closer
- Food: the food sub-committee will work together to get a more accurate amount of food for the event. They will also be looking for an alternate dessert option, such as cookies.
- Signage will be more present and larger through the event
- T-shirts this year will include some top-level sponsors on the back
- There will be two entrances this year with an attendee counter at each.
- Both Chamber and MWR will advertise the event earlier and larger
- Volunteers will have shifts to avoid anyone having to stay all day
- The committee will come up with a more creative way to give away prizes
- The kid-zone will have younger volunteers to help kids through the blow-up courses.
- Sponsorship levels will be re-evaluated and a sponsorship deadline will be announced.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at 4:30 pm at the Edward Jones office.
Committee Chairman: Erin Wilmer, Edward Jones Investments
The Military Committee meets on the last Tuesday of each month at 4:30 pm at Edward Jones: 12385 Sorrento Road, Suite. D2 Pensacola, FL 32507.
MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING COMMITTEE
Chair: Judy Davis, Perdido Key Sports Bar & Perdido Key Souvenirs
Assist the Chamber in growing the number and quality of membership in the chamber. Assisting with the planning of membership programs and membership drives.
The Membership Committee met on Friday, January 18 at 8:30 am and also on Friday, February 1, in the PKACC Conference Room. During this meeting, the committee discussed the following:
- Recruiting New Members- how to get individuals involved; invite guests to chamber events
- Welcoming New Members- invite new potential members to get involved; learn about them and suggest committee participation; send a welcome letter/email to introduce yourself
- Educate & Market Member Benefits- member center training classes are on the second Tuesday of every month at 9 am in the PKACC conference room
- Marketing Strategies for Key Specific Events- go to other committee meetings to learn what they are doing and what they are hoping to accomplish
- Marketing Campaigns- a subcommittee will be formed to research a new marketing plan to focus on the 3 types of chamber members and how to reach them more effectively; a flyer will be sent out to all members to encourage potential business & individual members to join
- Help with Annual Area Guide proofing
The committee came up with a strategy to promote individual membership. The chamber will create a specific web-page where community members can see all of the community development projects the chamber currently funds and supports, and why we need members to continue beautification projects in Perdido.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Friday, February 22, 2019, at 8:30 am at the PKACC office.
Committee Chairman: Judy Davis, Perdido Key Sports Bar & Perdido Key Souvenirs and More
The Membership committee meets on the second Friday of each month at 8:30 am at the Perdido Chamber: 15500 Perdido Key Dr. Pensacola, FL 32507.