Posts filed under 'Success Stories'
Posted: October 6, 2009: 3:03 pm
Our 2009 Membership Survey produced a variety of interesting information. When we asked you the question, “In terms of receiving Chamber communications, my preferred source is _____________?”
Eighty-three percent of the respondents said their preferred source for communications was e-mail. Fifteen percent preferred printed publications and 15% preferred blog posts. Based upon this response we are going to try sending “Haven View” via this blog. You can access the Fall issue here.
You will find the same high production values you have come to expect — and it is a much more “green” way to distribute this information.
This month you will find information on our 2009 Economic Summit, Industry Award winners and much more. Take a look, download or print the file.
Let us know how this works for you. We will re-evaluate the process for 2010-11.
| See other posts filed in: Chamber Events, General Announcements, Success Stories
Posted: September 29, 2009: 1:02 pm
A Ward Design, a manufacturer of custom cabinetry and furniture based in Winter Haven, has been recognized for outstanding sales growth performance in the 19th Annual WOOD 100 Report. The report, which profiles and ranks 100 fast growing woodworking companies, was published in the September 2008 issue of Wood & Wood Products magazine.
The Winter Haven-based woodworking cabinets and millwork is also featured in the September online issue of Industrial Strength Woodworking as one example of seven companies thriving inspite of the recession. Significant as well, the photo chosen to lead the article was an A Ward installation. The photo and excerpts from the ISW write up follow.
A Ward Design has grown sales of its cabinetry and millwork products through increased service and marketing efforts, including an enhanced Web site and videos.
It’s an achievement these days for woodworking businesses to survive in today’s challenging economy, yet alone thrive. But there are some doing just that.
As part of its ongoing “Survival Guide” series, Wood & Wood Products polled seven woodworking companies from this year’s WOOD 100 whose firms not only grew in 2008, but are projecting increased sales for 2009.
Here is Winter Haven’s “A Ward Design” story …
Banking on Reputation
A Ward Design President Kevin Ward credits a great work ethic and professionalism as keys to the Winter Haven, FL-based custom cabinetry and millwork company’s growing success for 2008 and in 2009.
“I was a general contractor before founding this company, so I understand what the ‘other side’ wants and needs. We have a philosophy that we come to work in professional attire. We try to make a good impression from the first phone call. We answer questions and return calls. Our shop is always clean and neat so that when customers visit — people shopping for high-end products often want to see the place — we make sure we provide the kind of atmosphere they expect,” he says.
Ward says the company goes the extra mile in customer service, including being very proactive. “We are engaged from the first call and try to set up a meeting in a timely fashion. We want people to see that we are interested in working for them and that they matter to us.”
And while many of his competitors charge for design fees, A Ward offers it for free. “I can tell if a potential client is really interested and I don’t charge them to provide a detailed drawing. We try to provide a totally positive experience, from the first call. Once they have a comfort level about you, you pretty much have the job,” Ward says.
- Excerpted from Industrial Strength Woodworking
Congratulations to the staff and management of A Ward Design for their recession busting performance.
| See other posts filed in: Success Stories
Posted: August 20, 2009: 3:17 pm
Winter Haven-based Cross, Fernandez and Riley, LLP, is among ten companies honored and Polk’s Best Places to Work for 2008.
The Best Places to Work Award was developed by Polk Works and WorkForce 2020 in 2003. The honor recognizes companies in Polk who are taking the lead in developing quality workplaces to ensure their competitiveness for a skilled workforce. Each year, the companies that excel in meeting the challenges of the changing workplace with innovation and commitment to their workforce are honored as the Best Places to Work.
Beckert, Price & Rowse merged with Cross, Fernandez & Riley in 2008 after serving as a member of the Winter Haven professional community for more than 28 years. They take great pride in their long, local history and reputation for being progressive in technology and industry practices. Many of their employees have been with BPR now CFR for 20+ years. They strive to provide a healthy work/life balance and make sure to include activities for “fun” during the year. Other perks include family visits for all three offices (Tampa, Orlando and Winter Haven) to area water and amusement parks. They offer a choice of three medical plans and pay 50% toward dependent coverage. (They also offer pet insurance!)
“They strongly believe in work/family balance and provide flex hours, ability to work from home, excellent benefits and educational reimbursement.” – from CFR employee survey with 95% response rate.
Cross, Fernandez and Riley was joined by nine other firms that were honored including: American Compliance Technologies; Ascent Healthcare Solutions; BCI Engineers & Scientists; Bunch & Associates; Clark Environmental; Coca-Cola North America; DSM Technology Consultants; Ferguson Enterprise; Lanier Upshaw (thank you Bill Dorman, Kathryn Koch-O’Malley and Debra Winters for all your efforts on behalf of Winter Haven and the Chamber) and Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida.
Also worthy of mention are 2008-2010 Employers of Distinction including Bright House Networks and Winter Haven Hospital. This recognition was awarded to those companies who were recognized as Best Places to Work for three consecutive years.
Congratulations to all award recipients and a special nod to our friends at Cross, Fernandez and Riley, LLP.
Imagine … pet insurance provided by your employer!
| See other posts filed in: Downtown, Financial Industry, Success Stories
Posted: July 15, 2009: 1:12 pm
It may be a tough economy and budgets are certainly stretched thin but in the course
of routine surveillance, Fitch Ratings affirms the “A+” ratings on the city’s $22.7 million public improvement refunding revenue bonds and $7.5 million sales tax revenue bonds, series 2002. The rating outlook is stable.
The “A+” ratings reflect solid debt service coverage by each issues’s respective pledged revenues with no additional leveraging plans.
Fitch also notes, “The city’s financial position remains healthy despite the challenges posed by the recession. The general fund’s fiscal 2008 unreserved fund balance totaled $6.7 million, a high of 20.4% of total spending … well above the city’s formal 10% target. You can get a copy of the firm’s report here: fitch-ratings
Congratulations to our City Commission, Adminsitration, management team and employee workforce.
From the company Web site: Fitch Ratings is a global rating agency committed to providing the world’s credit markets with independent and prospective credit opinions, research, and data. With 50 offices worldwide, Fitch Ratings’ global expertise, built on a foundation of local market experience, spans across capital markets in over 150 countries. Fitch Ratings is widely recognized by investors, issuers, and bankers for its credible, transparent, and timely coverage.
Fitch Ratings is headquartered in New York and London and is part of the Fitch Group. In addition to Fitch Ratings, the Fitch Group also includes Fitch Solutions, a distribution channel for Fitch Ratings products and a provider of data, analytics, and related services. The Fitch Group also includes Algorithmics, a world leading provider of enterprise risk management solutions. The Fitch Group is a majority-owned subsidiary of Fimalac, S.A., headquartered in Paris, France.
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Financial Industry, Perspective, Success Stories
Posted: June 11, 2009: 6:08 pm
Winter Haven to be home to USF Polytechnic technology business accelerator.
In a memo distributed today, June 12, to the Mayor and City Commisioners, City of Winter Haven Community
Development Director David Dickey announced the following information:
In April 2009, the Polk County Commission, in conjunction with the Central Florida Development Council, earmarked $1 million in funding to help establish a high-tech business incubator to be located on the USF Polytechnic campus.
The incubator concept has gained momentum so quickly that the decision was made to establish two locations prior to the completion of the Polytechnic campus. An incubator will be established in Lakeland with a business accelerator to be located in downtown Winter Haven.
Benefits to new companies will include proximity to, and resources of, a national research university; access to operational infrastructure including office space, equipment and technology; faculty experts; technology consultants; and training programs.
The decision to locate this facility in downtown Winter Haven is result of a partnership between the 6/10 Corporation and the City. The 6/10 Corporation will provide rent-free space in the Verizon building located at 199 Avenue B, NW. This building houses the Inland Fiber & Data Technology Park which makes the accelerator a great fit. Subject to approval and funding availability, the City’s CRA would provide $10,000 annually to help offset operating costs.
It is anticipated that the facility will be operational by September 1, 2009 and will initially house from five to ten new companies. The proposed accelerator can be distinguished from a business incubator in that it will target more mature start-ups that still require a degree of support. It is hoped that the companies will grow into adjacent office space and maintain a long-term downtown Winter Haven presence.
This development will further advance the developing technology-based business core downtown. Congratulations to both Lakeland and Winter Haven. The County/CFDC/USF/Lakeland/Winter Haven/Six-Ten partnership is a very positive step in economic recovery. The Polytechnic influence will grow the high-skill / high-wage sector critical to the area’s long-term future.
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Downtown, Economic Development, Education, Employment Opportunity, Success Stories, Technology
Posted: June 1, 2009: 3:02 pm
Killebrew, Inc. has been named Contractor of the Year by the Florida Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The company was nominated by Michael Crumpton who noted that “Killebrew, Inc. performed exceptionally on several fronts completing projects ahead of schedule and an average of 10% under budget.” He further noted, “the company produces work of outstanding quality and is available for emergency needs 24/7.
Company CEO, Sam Killebrew said of the award, “It is our staff that makes our business great. You are only as good as the people you have working for you and this award is for them.” The Killebrew team is pictured below.
The company is a one-stop design/permit/build contractor handling everything from pipe lines to pump stations and pipe bursting projects.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, General Announcements, Success Stories
Posted: March 12, 2009: 1:15 pm
Downtown Winter Haven is positively abuzz as Publix Supermarkets films an upcoming commercial for the nation’s finest grocery chain (in our humble opinion). The company was founded right here in Winter Haven nearly 79 years ago (September 6, 1930 to be exact). Ironically the filming of this commercial took place directly across Central Park from George Jenkin’s first “Publix Food Store” (now Score’s Sports Restaurant). Between 1930 and 1941 Winter Haven was home to the only Publix Store. In 1940 Jenkins built his first store from the ground up. The building still stands on Central Avenue at 2nd Street NW across from the First Baptist Church.
Publix reported $23.9 billion in retail sales in 2008. They have 141,000 associates and 1,001 stores … and to think it all began here!
We do not know the story line of the commercial but judging by the side of the Publix truck below, we bet it involves PUBLIX ICE CREAM! All is flavor say aye!
Hats off to Main Street and the City of Winter Haven for a Downtown worthy of a Publix commercial.
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Downtown, Main Street Winter Haven, Success Stories
Posted: December 16, 2008: 1:29 pm
Suzanne “Suzie” Moraco has been named the 2008 Leadership Winter Haven Distinguished Alumni. Moraco is a Certified Financial Planner with Morgan Stanley and is also a cofounder and annual planner for the East Polk Economic Summit held each November.
Suzie’s passions include animals and children. She is a native Floridian and involved in many community organizations and is a graduate of Leadership Winter Haven XXIV. She serves as a board member for the Winter Haven Chamber and the Humane Society of Polk County. Moraco is past president of the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven and also on the Advisory Counciil for the Communithy Foundation of Greater Winter Haven.
She was honored at the Leadership Alumni’s annual holiday luncheon. Suzie and husband Sal reside in Winter Haven. She is pictured above right receiving the award from Steve Warner, 2008-09 Leadership Alumni Liaison.
| See other posts filed in: Chamber Events, Financial Industry, Success Stories
Posted: December 15, 2008: 4:11 pm
Winter Haven Hospital is awarded prestigious nursing Magnet designation
As Polk County’s first healthcare organization to achieve Magnet status, Winter Haven Hospital joins 305 hospitals across the country – about 5 percent of the nation’s total – to be recognized for excellence in patient care. Hospital staffers have worked for more than five years to meet the program’s rigorous requirements.
Winter Haven Hospital has been recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) with the prestigious designation of Magnet status for its nursing program. The Hospital is the first in Polk County to achieve Magnet status, which has been granted to about 5 percent of the nation’s hospitals.
According to the ANCC, the “Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice … Recognizing quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice, the Magnet Recognition Program provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care that they can expect to receive.”
“All of our nurses and staff at Winter Haven Hospital have been working hard toward this day for more than five years,” said Mary Jo Schreiber, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. “We are, of course, very proud of our nurses and of the outstanding level of care that they provide to our patients.”
Although the designation is an American Nursing Association standard, it is awarded to the hospital organization as a whole because the excellence in patient care outcomes that the award represents is achieved through the efforts of every staff member, volunteer, and physician on staff at Winter Haven Hospital, Schreiber said.
She noted that an ANCC credentialing team visited Winter Haven Hospital in September and solicited public commentary on the Hospital’s application for Magnet status.
Schreiber said: “On behalf of everyone at Winter Haven Hospital, I would like to express my thanks to the east Polk County community, which so strongly supports our not-for-profit healthcare mission. We are aware of that support on a daily basis, which contributes to the morale and the dedication that our nursing staff have for their profession.”
Lance Anastasio, president and CEO of Winter Haven Hospital, said: “I want to offer my congratulations to our nursing organization for achieving this distinguished national recognition. And I want to emphasize that as an institution, we have made a commitment to remaining on the Magnet journey. We think it’s a vital commitment to our patients from throughout the region.”
A formal award ceremony will be announced in the near future. Representatives from the Commission on Magnet Recognition will travel to Winter Haven to officially present the designation certificate to Hospital officials.
Charles McPherson, chairman of the Winter Haven Hospital Board of Trustees, said: “Everyone in east Polk County should take a measure of pride in the awarding of Magnet status to Winter Haven Hospital. Our commitment to serving our patients with the highest standard of nursing care has been certified to be among the very best in the nation. There simply are not many communities who can say that.”
The Chamber adds it congratulations to the staff and management of Winter Haven Hospital.
| See other posts filed in: Health Care, Success Stories
Posted: September 10, 2008: 2:53 pm
City of Winter Haven officials today dedicated a redesigned and upgraded Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) facility at Wastewater Treatment Plant #3 south of the city. The $15+ million upgrade is one of 60 such projects underway throughout the state and the first in Polk to become operational. (Update: 9-12-08: Jacksonville-based Haskell Co. built the $16 million project and Peter Haskell shocked city officials with a $300,000 refund of money his company didn’t spend.) Mayor Nat Birdsong noted, “It is unheard of to receive a refund of this magnitude. It just doesn’t happen.”
It did today.
Birdsong added, “We all watch wastewater go down the drain and, for the most part, would rather forget about it.” He went on to explain that the new AWT capability actually enhances Winter Haven’s sustainability in that the treated wastewater can be used to replace up to 60% of the potable water currently used in irrigation. And with every million gallons of AWT product used for irrigation — there’s a million gallons of potable water available for resident consumption. In the end, something we’d rather forget becomes an invaluable resource to sustain our community.
The AWT project eliminates the spray fields that were previously used at WWTP #3 and allows some 1200 acres to now be used for economic development purposes including the new CSX inter modal rail terminal.
The city’s successful conversion of the plant to AWT status raises the bar once more on their commitment to becoming a “green” community.
The photograph at right shows a structure designed to introduce chlorine into the wastewater to help clean it. The chlorine is later removed in another structure.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven, Economic Development, Real Estate, Success Stories, Technology
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