Wayne Harrison installed as new Chamber President

Published: Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Wayne Harrison of Pipo's Cuban Cafe was installed as the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce president on January 23.

Click here to see pictures uploaded at Flickr of the Annual Meeting.

Wayne Harrison, Pipo’s Cuban Cafe, took office as the 69th president of the Bartow Chamber of Commerce on January 23, 2010 at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting.

"Taste of the Islands" was the theme of the event and the Bartow Civic Center was decorated with umbrellas, colorful fish, and huge bubbles floating almost to the ceiling.

Harrison accepted the presidential gavel from the 2009 president, Ruth Trainor.

"So many things that the Chamber is able to accomplish is the direct result of the City of Bartow and the Chamber working together," Harrison said in his acceptance speech.

He also encouraged Chamber members to support one another. "When you make your purchases at Chamber businesses, you’re supporting people and services in your community," he said.

Harrison thanked the various entities that collaborated with the Chamber on economic development programs: City of Bartow, Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Central Florida Development Council, Polk County Board of County Comissioners and the Polk County School Board.

Two-thousand nine president, City of Bartow’s Ruth Trainor, introduced Harrison after addressing the the crowd of more than 500. Ms. Trainor thanked the Chamber’s membership, Board, volunteers and staff for making her year as president "a great experience."

She also presented Dr. Tim Brooks, Bartow Animal Clinic, Ms. Debbie Burdett, Mosaic; Billy Simpson, United Maritime; and Lea Ann Thomas, Polk County Board of County Commissioners retiring directors plaques for their service to the Board of Directors.

Ms. Trainor then introduced the Chamber’s new Board members for 2010: Sharon Casey, Community Southern Bank; Linda Culpepper, City of Bartow; Damon Lawrence, CF Industries, Inc.; Freda Ridgway, Mosaic; and Jean Wilson, Florida Refuse.

Vice-president of Membership, Sandy Dobbertean, Citizens Bank & Trust presented Nancy Young, Badcock Home Furniture & More - Bartow and Eagle Lake stores, with the top salesperson award for the Ambassadors Club.

The Chamber conducts its member retention and recruitment campaigns using community volunteers, the Can-Do Club. They are assisted and coached by another group – the Chamber Ambassadors.

The Ambassadors are comprised of the top salespersons from previous years, who also hold the distinction of being Bartow’s official greeters.

The Ambassadors get to wear the coveted red jacket to all Chamber events.

The top Can-Do Award was presented to Gail Murray, Bartow CRA. Ms. Murray won the right to wear the red jacket, signifying her as the Chamber’s newest Ambassador.

Ms. Dobbertean also introduced the 2009 Can-Do team including: Debbie Barbee, Citizens Bank & Trust; Wayne Harrison, Pipo’s Cuban Cafe; Carole McKenzie, Clear Springs; Gail Murray, Bartow CRA; Melissa Pittman, MidFlorida Credit Union; Carrie Porterfield, Riverside Bank, Emily Spath Clark, Spath Jewelers; Cecilia Speight, Department of Transportation; Kathryn Stilley, BB&T Bank; and Marie Wilmot, Florida Institute of Phosphate Research. Wayne Harrison, Carole McKenzie, Gail Murray, Melissa Pittman and Cecilia Speight received silver dollar awards for sales of at least $2,000.00 for the year.

The Chamber’s Ambassadors were also honored including: Chairman, Sheila Broom, Glenn Broom & Associates; Jennifer Adams, Bank of Central Florida; Connie Brown; Linda Culpepper, City of Bartow; Sandy Dobbertean, Citizens Bank & Trust; Deanna Gibson, City of Bartow; Karen Guffey, Gibson & Wirt; Mary Jordan, Main Street Bartow; Barbara Newell, retired, City of Bartow; Pam Mitchell, Bank of Central Florida; Amy Purvis, Bank of Central Florida; Pam Renew, Ray Willis & Associates; Pamela Sams, City of Bartow; Carolyn Simpson, Bagley Advertising; Tina Spath, Spath Jewelers; Rosie Thornburg, Polk-Murphy Insurance; Ruth Trainor, City of Bartow; Karen Wheeler, Comcast; Sherry Wheelock, Polk County Public Schools; Nancy Young, Badcock.

Tagged: 2010 Annual Meeting

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