Well known area banker Mike Compton will join Platinum Bank as the organization plans to open its first Winter Haven location. Compton who served as Chamber president in 2005 will become an Executive Vice President for the organization.
Platinum presently has locations in Brandon, Tampa, Plant City and two in Lakeland. The Winter Haven office location will be announced pending regulatory approval.
Mike is a life-long Winter Haven resident and has spent the past 20 years with Citrus & Chemical Bank. That bank was recently purchased by Colonial Banking Group. He will begin his Platinum Bank duties on December 17.
Asked to comment on his new responsibilities Compton said, “We are excited about our entry into the Winter Haven market. Platinum Bank will make a nice addition to the community and will be involved in a variety of community events. I’m thrilled with this opportunity to serve the Winter Haven market with such a fine community bank.”
It looks like Winter Haven will get even more airtime. In addition to the movie currently being filmed at Cypress Gardens, a PBS series will be filming here on December 12.
The Public Broadcasting System’s “History Detectives” series will film in the Winter Haven area next Wednesday. Segments for the popular series will film at the Winter Haven Public Library (a research sequence), American Legion Post and at Fantasy of Flight. They will be filming interviews with a World War II veteran from California that flew B-24 Bombers during WWII in Europe.
Filming will also take place in Sebring. If and when we determine an air-date for the segment we will publish that information. Mr. DeMille … we’re ready for our close up!
If you could help a student become 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs … would you do it? Consider for a moment a young person who meets with a mentor is…
- 27% less likely to begin drinking alcohol
- 52% less likely to skip school
- 33% less likely to engage in a fight
The Chamber Education Committee is asking you to consider becoming a mentor for a student who needs guidance and a caring adult in his or her life. You can partner with an associate which will allow a child to have the commitment of meeting with either you or your partner each week. Support of mentoring is a primary Chamber goal.
Learn more …
Sign up to take mentoring training on December 5, 2007 from 8 - 10 a.m. at State Farm Insurance on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. (Bring a photo ID to enter.)
After lengthy logistical considerations we have arrived at the conclusion that the Chain of Lakes Christmas Boat Parade needs to stay in dry dock. It all boils down to one factor: public safety.
Pulling a series of lighted boats through streets lined with cars, kids and carolers is just too dangerous to take the chance. If we clear the streets of cars then there is no where for people to park. If people throw candy from the boats … and they will … they will hit not only cars but people. Candy will bounce into the street. Kids run after candy.
We all want the holidays to be a joyous time and for that reason we have decided that if Mother Nature had wanted us to have a boat parade … it would have rained more.
You just can’t keep a great parade down! The Christmas Boat Parade … threatened by low water levels … will have a new “twist” this year. It will take place ON LAND!
Based on interest expressed by a variety of residents, boats will be decorated on their trailers and caravan through downtown and around Lake Howard Drive. (The exact route will be announced after consultation with the Winter Haven Police Department.)
The parade will take place on Saturday, December 1, assembling downtown near City Hall. It will begin at 6:30 p.m., circle the Central Park area and the Carols In The Park Tree lighting and then proceed to circle Lake Howard. Several special entries are planned and Cypress Gardens Adventure Park will provide a boatload of Christmas Belles! There will be prizes for boats judged best in show!
Bob and Amy Lanpher have agreed to Chair the effort for this the 25th Annual Chain of Lakes Christmas Boat Parade! The Winter Haven Nautical Club and Marine Supply are also assisting in organizing boaters. To participate boaters must pre-register with the Chamber at 293-2138. You will need to provide your name, telephone number and email address.
There is no charge to participate but the boats must be decorated with holiday lights. Arrangements will be made for Santa to join us on one boat so participants are asked not to bring other “Santas.”
Complete details will be announced on November 20. For now, interested boaters and “land lubbers” need to call the Chamber to register: 293-2138.
The News Chief reported in this morning’s paper that Michael Yon, a 1982 graduate of Winter Haven High won the 2007 Weblog Award for Best Military Blog.
Yon’s blog is funded by readers and he writes, takes photos and creates video from scenes throughout Iraq. You can visit his site at www.michaelyon-online.com.
He won his award in what is described as the world’s largest blog competition. More than 525,000 votes were cast in the 2006 competition according to Weblog. There were 49 categories in the competition.
Some of you may remember the song “Downtown” by Petula Clark. A popular 1960s hit it became the mantra for many downtown promotions before the National Main Street program declared the song had just been used too much. That was 20 years ago and the song is enjoying new relevance as Main Street cities successfully bring their downtowns “back to life.”
Main Street Winter Haven working with the City has brought new energy, beauty and vitality to Downtown Winter Haven. At Main Street’s recent annual meeting there was a “new release” of “Downtown” by a variety of talented Winter Haven folks. There are some surprising cameo appearances as well. You’ll enjoy watching…
The Winter Haven population estimate for 2007 is 33,144 up nearly 7,000 people from the 2000 census. Perhaps more interesting are the population estimates with in a series of concentric circles as follows:
Population within 25 miles of Winter Haven: 660,327
Population within 50 miles of Winter Haven: 3,376,845
Population within 100 miles of Winter Haven: 8,602,111
Estimates for 2007 also indicate the city has 12,889 households and a median household income of $36,164. The median family income is pegged at$45,026.
From 1990 to today the average owner occupied housing value in the Chain of Lakes City has grown from $60,700 to $98,599 … a 62.4 percent increase (an average growth of 3.67% per year).
The chart below represents Workers by Occupation for Winter Haven.
This report was developed specifically for the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce by economist Gordon Kettle. Mr. Kettle is a professor at Polk Community College and a consultant to the Central Florida Development Council. This information will be included in the 2008 edition of Destination Winter Haven and also available on the Chamber’s Web site.
Vaughn McAshan, long time Bank of America city executive here in Winter Haven will assume the position of President of BOA’s Polk County operations effective Monday, November 5. McAshan is successor to Waymon Snuggs who announced his retirement effective Friday, November 2.
McAshan’s office will remain in the Winter Haven location.
McAshan is a graduate of Winter Haven High School and Florida State University. He has spent his entire banking career in his current banking location as it evolved from American National to Barnett, Nationsbank and now Bank of America.
Vaughn is a past president of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and Winter Haven Rotary Club. He received the community’s highest civic honor, the Banker’s Cup Award, in 2005. He is also a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven Class III.
Charles McPherson, President of SunTrust Banks Mid-Florida today announced he will retire effective December 31, 2007. He is a 36 year veteran of the banking industry.
McPherson has a long list of civic leadership contributions including Chairman of United Way of Central Florida, East Polk Committee of 100 and Winter Haven Hospital Board of Trustees. He has also been heavily involved with Polk Vision and in particular the development of the Leadership Polk program unveiled this year.
In 2006 he received the Banker’s Cup Award, Winter Haven’s highest civic honor.
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Mike Compton
Vaughn McAshan, long time Bank of America city executive here in Winter Haven will assume the position of President of BOA’s Polk County operations effective Monday, November 5. McAshan is successor to Waymon Snuggs who announced his retirement effective Friday, November 2.
Charles McPherson, President of SunTrust Banks Mid-Florida today announced he will retire effective December 31, 2007. He is a 36 year veteran of the banking industry.
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