The Keyholder committee team serves as an onboarding team, welcoming and assisting new members in getting involved. Keyholder promote & provide assistance at events, ribbon cuttings, and community outreach – creating positive first impressions on behalf of the Perdido Area Chamber and the community we serve!
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 & EVENTS
Chair: Cheryl Bamonte, UPS Store at Blue Angel Pkwy
Co-Chair: Sally Bowen, Sally’s Island Catering
Meeting Time
Second Friday of every month @ 7:30 AM
Primary Goals and Activities:
- Educate Current and new members about member benefits and business opportunities through onboarding mentorship/adopt a member.
- Participate in Member retention in quarterly check-in campaigns.
- Attend and Assist chamber hosted event such as ribbon cuttings and chamber hosted events.
- Promote Chamber event through social media and other networking channels.
- Record activity to be in drawing for monthly rewards and Ambassador of the Year awards
- Provide Committee must provide one at-large non-board member for nominating a committee to meet in October.
The Keyholders met on Friday, November 8, 2019, at 7:30 AM at the Pensacola Greyhound Track.
In attendance – Sally Bowen, Bill Short, September Dye, Brittany Barnett, Crystal Silins,
John Griffin and Cheryl Bamonte – Staff- Dana Pagador
There will be no Keyholder meeting in December. We will resume on January 10, 2020 at the Epicurean at 7:30.
We had a great list of new members and all were assigned to a Keyholder after we discussed which kind of businesses they have.
We went over all the upcoming events. The HER Foundation was discussed and the purpose was explained. This is a great foundation for female service members. The craft show and Flicks on the field and the Shop Hop were discussed in detail. Bill Short also went over the two City Briefs coming up, asking for as much participation as we can get for these. We reminded everyone to make sure they are sharing these and all events on social media!
The dates, times and locations for the Shop Hop finale party and the annual Chamber Christmas party were talked about.
September Dye brought up a program other chambers do with their ambassadors in regards to selling sponsorships for the chamber. They are planning a separate meeting to look into setting this up for our Keyholders as well. Tentative date for that meeting has been set for November 18, 2019.
The Keyholders Committee will not meet in December due to the Holidays.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Friday, January 10, 2019, at 7:30 am at the Island Epicurean Breakfast Club.
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Works in partnership with our local leadership, public entities, and nonprofits to support the community as a whole. Advocating for the vitality of the local business, preserving the quality of life, campaigning for safety, and educating about our fragile wildlife and ecosystem. All helping to achieve the goal of community development.
Chair: Penny Esworthy, Community Member
Co-Chair: TBD
Meeting Time
Last Wednesday of every month @ 9:00 AM
Primary Goals and Activities:
- Assisting and ensuring in the Perdido Key Master Plan Progression.
- Educating all businesses, residents, and visitors about the Perdido Habitat Conversation Plan introduced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife agency.
- Advocating for safety including better crosswalks and the development of the Multi-Use Path.
The Community Affairs Committee did not meet this month due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The Community Affairs committee will not meet in December due to the Holidays.
The next meeting of the full committee will be Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at 9:00 am at the PKACC office.
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Business & Economic Development committee actively supports member businesses by promoting the Chamber’s core mission.
Promote progressive leadership in commerce for a dynamic and prosperous community in the Perdido Area. The Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to endorsing the Perdido Area’s growth of regional businesses and community prosperity through Advocacy, leadership, economic development, education and associations across state lines.
Chair: Bill Short, AM-PRES Corporation
Co-Chair: TBD
Meeting Time
Third Thursday of every month @ 9:00 AM
Primary Goals and Activities:
- Support the core member base of our Chamber.
- Provide educational benefits by hosting workforce training and networking opportunities.
- Develops and coordinates special events directly impacting local economy.
- Committee must provide one at-large Non-board member for Nominating committee to meet in October.
The Business & Economic Development committee met on Thursday, November 21, 2019, at 8:30 am in the PKACC conference room.
The committee discussed the upcoming Perdido Shop Hop Event. Event chair, Dee Marie Fisher went over all sponsorships and last minute event details. The passports have been printed and distributed to designated passport pickup locations. “Shop Hop Stop” Posters have also been distributed to all participating locations. The Grand Finale will be on December 10th from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Perdido Key Oyster Bar. Completed passports, valid receipts and beach mice found along the shop hop can be shown at the event to earn chances to win Holiday gift baskets and the grand prize. The event is free to attend and will include Hors d’Oeuvres and a cash bar. Any donated baskets should be brought to the chamber the week of the Shop Hop so that it can be used in Social Media promotions. Assignments were given for follow up. Committee members were also encouraged to promote the facebook event page and share any event updates using the event hashtags: #PerdidoShopHop #ExplorePerdido #FindtheMouse
There are no upcoming lunch n learns for 2019 due to the holidays. There are open availability for Lunch n learn speakers or sponsors! If you are interested in learning more information, please contact the staff or a committee member!
Early-Risers Breakfast Meetings future programs and dates were discussed. The following items have been added to the Calendar:
- January 21, 2020, Escambia County Planning and Zoning at Eden.
- February 18, 2020 Escambia County Fire and Rescue at Eden.
- February 25, 2020 Scott Luth, Florida West at Eden.
- March 1, 2020 Escambia County Tax Collector, at Eden
- April 21, 2020 Escambia County Permitting and Codes
- May 19, 2020, Red Cross “Disaster Preparedness at Eden. Duke Porritt
The Perdido SCORE chapter, is moving forward. Many upgrades to the SCORE software will start after the first of the year. SCORE is always looking for more mentors, especially in specialized areas. If you or someone you know is interested in being a mentor, please contact Jo Ann at joann.slaydon@scorevolunteer.org.
The committee is still looking for a co-chair.
The Business and Economic Development Committee will not meet in December due to the Holidays.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 16, 2019, at 8:30 am at the Chamber office.
MILITARY APPRECIATION COUNCIL
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 and to make the Perdido Area a desirable community for military families to live, work, and play.
Chair: Erin Wilmer, Edward Jones Financial Advisor
Co-Chair: TBD
Meeting Time
Last Tuesday of every month @ 4:30 PM
Primary Goals and Activities:
- Bridge the Gap between military families and the local business community by providing resources to incoming families and assisting veteran entrepreneurs.
- Educate the community on the importance of the military history of the Perdido Area.
- Support, empower and appreciate the military veterans and their families through events.
The Military Committee rescheduled the original meeting scheduled for November 26, 2019 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Committee met on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 4:30 PM at Edward Jones on Sorrento Road.
The Wreaths Across America event is on Saturday, December 14th, 2019. Volunteers are needed to help lay wreaths across Barrancas National Cemetery. Dayre from the Kiwanis club of Big Lagoon discussed some volunteer information for the committee. Interested volunteers can sign up online on BarrancasWreaths.com. You can find Volunteer Information and Sign up to be a volunteer. Anyone interested in volunteering with the chamber group should designate “Perdido Chamber” in the organization box on the volunteer form.
Rosamond Johnson Day will be on May 2, 2020. On this day, we celebrate the life of Army Private Rosamond Johnson at a ceremony on Johnson Beach for whom the beach is named after. The committee is working on confirming the key note speakers and setting up a planning meeting with employees at the National Park Service.
Military Appreciation month includes events such as Rosamond Johnson Day, The Military Appreciation Festival, and the Red, White and Birdies Spring Classic. The committee discussed revising the military sponsorship levels to include the whole month of May. Erin is going to set-up a meeting with MWR and the chamber to discuss sponsor and event logistics for the 2020 Star, Spangled Salute: Military Appreciation Festival.
The 2020 Chamber Sponsored Military Appreciation Events Include:
- May 2, 2020: Annual Rosamond Johnson Day Celebration
- May 16, 2020: Star, Spangled Salute: Military Appreciation Festival
- May 30, 2020: Red, White & Birdies: Spring Golf Tournament
The Military Committee will not meet in December due to the Holidays.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 28, 2019 at 4:30 PM at the Edward Jones Office on Sorrento Road.
MEMBERSHIP AND MARKETING COMMITTEE
The Membership & Marketing Committee will actively seek and explore methods for promoting member businesses, growing core member base, and evaluate chamber branding strategies including the annual area guide. The committee will assess & evaluate content and frequency to propose or revise marketing plans/tools to build and drive value to chamber events and programs. They will also participate in the recruitment of volunteers and provide introductions to prospective members to join the chamber or sponsor a valued event.
Chair: Judy Davis, Perdido Key Sports Bar & Perdido Key Souvenirs
Meeting Time
Fourth Friday of every month @ 8:30 AM
Primary Goals and Activities:
- Growing the core member base of our Chamber.
- Help provide content, imagery and proof read annual guide.
- Social Sharing: Share other member’s good news with the chamber when seen and share the chambers good news with other members.
- Help evaluate branding and promo items for chamber.
- Educate and share Member benefits by hosting membership drives and campaigns.
- Chamber provides list of dropped members, prospects, and social media leads.
- Committee must provide one at-large Non-board member for Nominating committee to meet in October.
The Membership and Marketing Committee did not meet in November due to the Annual Meeting.
The Membership and Marketing Committee will not meet in December due to the Holidays.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Friday, January 24, 2019, at 8:30 am at the PKACC office.