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The Trustees of the Lake Wales Area
Chamber of Commerce are senior-level executives of
member firms and organizations who meet quarterly to
discuss important community issues, network among
themselves, and address unique business needs.
The program, initiated in 2007, also
provides an opportunity for the Chamber to benefit
from their advice and participation, as the Trustees
themselves determine the direction and the agenda
for each meeting.
Jesse Jackson, superintendent of the
Lake Wales Charter Schools, and Dr. Eileen Holden,
President of Polk Community College, hosted
the first 2008 quarterly breakfast meeting on
Wednesday, February 26th. Sixteen of the
nineteen 2008-09 Trustees were on hand for the
roundtable discussion that focused on education.
Attendees also received a preview of the renovations
underway at the former Lake Wales City Hall as they
toured the historic structure, which will house
PCC's new J.D. Alexander Educational Center
in Lake Wales, on schedule for a January 2009
opening.
New Trustees attending the February
26, 2008, meeting include (L to R): Jesse Jackson,
Lake Wales Charter Schools; Ellis Hunt, Jr., Hunt
Bros., Inc.; Mike Morrow, Riverside National Bank;
Betty Hill, Florida Skydiving Center; and Joe
Miranda, Hampton Inn & Suites of Lake Wales. (Not
shown: Dr. Eileen Holden, Polk Community College).
On November 30, 2007,
new Trustee David Price hosted a breakfast meeting
at Historic Bok Sanctuary. The discussion focused on
the conservation of land surrounding Bok Sanctuary,
plans for property development north and east of
Lake Wales, and the potential for cooperative
planning with property owners prior to annexation
and the provision of municipal services.
A breakfast meeting of
the Trustees on August 24, 2007, was hosted by Lake
Wales Medical Center and focused on healthcare
issues within the Lake Wales area. Each Trustee
discussed healthcare as it relates to their
organization, learned about plans to upgrade Polk
County public healthcare facilities and toured Lake
Wales Medical Center's expanded operating room,
emergency room and new cath lab.
Eleven of the 13 charter Trustees of the Lake Wales
Area Chamber of Commerce gathered together Friday,
June 15 for the organization’s inaugural meeting.
The breakfast meeting at the Chalet Suzanne was
hosted by Trustee Greg Littleton, president of
Citizens Bank & Trust.
A roundtable
discussion about economic development on June 15,
2007, was hosted by Citizens Banks & Trust at Chalet
Suzanne and allowed each
Trustee to share their own organization's growth
plans and their professional perspectives on the
issue.
Harold Gallup,
economic development director for the City of Lake
Wales,
presented
an
update about major growth activity.
Trustees
discussed how growth is impacting them and talked
about the need for continued improvements in
education and the quality of the local work force.
Trustees have been asked to
recruit other business leaders who can contribute to
their quarterly group discussions. Trustees can join
at any time during the year and they pay a $1,000
fee for four quarters of membership. Future
discussion topics may include education, tourism, and agriculture, but will
ultimately be determined by the interests of the
group.
For more information, contact:
Betty Wojcik, Executive Director, at 676-3445,
Chevon Baccus, President,
at 651-1065.
2008-09 Chamber
Trustees
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Tracy Bryant,
CEMEX USA |
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Chevon Baccus,
President, Lake Wales Area
Chamber of Commerce |
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Lawrence
Epps, Epps Mortuary |
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Paul Gerrard,
CenterState Bank |
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Betty Hill,
Florida Skydiving Center |
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Eileen Holden,
Polk Community College |
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Ellis Hunt, Jr., Hunt Bros., Inc. |
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Roger Ingley,
Bunting Tripp & Ingley |
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Jesse Jackson,
Lake Wales Charter Schools |
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Bill Lanoue,
Kohl and Company |
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Greg
Littleton,
Citizens Bank & Trust |
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Jerry Miller,
Progress Energy |
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Joe Miranda,
Hampton
Inn & Suites of Lake Wales |
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Mike Morrow,
Riverside National Bank |
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Tony Otte,
City of Lake Wales |
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David Price,
Historic Bok Santuary |
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Julie Seay,
Coldwell Banker Ridge Properties |
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Steve Sorensen,
Sorensen & Schade |
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Michael
Yungmann,
Lake Wales Medical Center |
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