PHOTO COURTESY OF C JEFFERY
Dexter Charles, operations manager of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce, is embraced by Board Chairwoman Connie Huber, as the winner of the new Chairman’s Award at the chamber’s annual awards banquet Jan. 12.
By LOIS KINDLE
It was a night of brilliance and aspiration Jan. 12 as the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce honored its best and brightest of 2017.
More than 100 members and guests attended the three-hour event, which kicked off the new year in high style with its annual installation of directors and officers and awards presentation, which included a plated dinner at Club Renaissance and live music.
The evening was emceed by Tony Del Castillo, of the Tampa Bay Times. Outgoing Chairwoman Fran Fabbro began by thanking outgoing board members Hal Jeffery, of 7th Inning Stretch; Don Guiley, of A+ Hearing Center, Inc.; and Jennifer McCafferty, of Jen’s Market Inc. and installing four new directors: Debbie Bates, of Allstate Cypress Creek Insurance; Nick Lanese, of Lanese and Associates CPAs; Cedric Wilson, of Service Master 24 Hour; and Shannon Mitchell, of South Bay Hospital.
She also swore in Connie Huber, of Physician Partners of America, as chairwoman; Kevin Kerbow, of Sun City Center Plumbing Services as chair-elect; Bryce Bowden, of Turner Cole Company, as vice chair; Steve Scuiga, of A-Plus Heating & Air Conditioning, as secretary; and Marcile Buzbee, of AFLAC, as treasurer; and continuing members Jeanne Burkeson, of Square One Inspection Service; Eric Allen, of EA Fitness, LLC; and Nicki Kaukonen, of Keller Williams.
After Fabbro passed the gavel of leadership to Huber, it was time for the new chairwoman to give her opening remarks. After thanking her husband, family, friends and business associates for their support, she included the following:
“My motto for the chamber for 2018 is ‘Believe. Achieve. Succeed,’” she said. “This year we will focus on retaining members, getting more businesses to join the chamber and providing more benefits for our members.
“Many years ago, a young Filipino man decided to build a better future for himself, his wife and his children by joining the United States Navy and becoming a cook,” she continued. “Through hard work and diligence, he rose through the ranks and made sure each of his four daughters understood the importance of going to college so that their lives would be better than his. Today, my sisters and I are very successful, thanks to my dad and what he taught us.
“That’s what we at the chamber want for you and your business. Believe in yourself and your company. Be passionate. Set your goals and achieve them. With hard work and perseverance comes success,” she said.
Chamber Executive Director Lynne Conlan’s comments were filled with promise.
“As I said in our newsletter last month, I cannot give you a recap of last year or offer year-in-review highlights, since I was not around as your executive director until just last month,” said Conlan, who was hired by the board to head the chamber in late November. “However, I can look forward. With the strong leadership of our board, I believe we will look back at 2017 during our next banquet and be proud of what we have achieved for our membership and accomplished in our community. I look forward to working with all of you to make that happen.”
A highlight of the evening was a touching video filmed by Eric Allen on Sun City Center resident Kay Todd, who was nominated for the Frank King Volunteer of the Year Award and could not attend the ceremony. In it, Todd expressed how much it meant to be considered and how much she enjoyed being a chamber volunteer.
Unbeknownst to her, Todd had won, and she didn’t learn about it until the wee hours of Jan. 13, when she woke to find congratulatory messages on her phone.
“I had no clue. I’ve never received an award of any kind before. I’m so overwhelmed,” she said the following day. “I should actually be thanking the chamber. The people there do way more for me than I do for them.
“All the volunteers are more than worthy,” she added, tearfully. “I am so, so grateful.”
Other awards and winners included:
• Ambassador of the Year: Glenna Tanner, of GlennaOnTheGo
• New Member of the Year: Christian Sidney, of Sunshine Auto Shield
• Business of the Year: D&L Insurance Agency of South Shore (Cheryl DeLeon, owner)
• Nonprofit of the Year: South Shore Coalition for Mental Health and Aging (Debbie Caneen, president)
• Chairman’s Award (a new, optional recognition): Dexter Charles, the chamber’s operations manager
• Community Leader of the Year: Jeff Merry, community resource deputy, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Like others who won, Merry was taken by surprise.
“It was a wonderful recognition from the chamber family,” he said, after the event. “I do work hard to protect and serve everyone in Sun City Center, but I couldn’t do it without (support from) the chamber members.
“Any time I need anything or any help, they always step up and volunteer their time, treasures and talents.”
The evening was filled with excitement and laughter.
“If the enthusiasm I saw at the banquet tonight is any indication, we’re off to a great start in 2018,” Conlan said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF C JEFFERY
A delighted Cheryl DeLeon heads to the podium to collect the award for her company, D&L Insurance, which was named 2017 Business of the Year by the Sun City Area Chamber of Commerce.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Community Resource Deputy Jeff Merry, of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, is all smiles after being named 2017 Community Leader of the Year by the Sun City Area Chamber of Commerce.
PHOTO COURTESY OF C JEFFERY
Connie Huber, left, and Fran Fabbro, the chamber’s incoming and outgoing board chairs, share a lighthearted moment at the 7th annual Installation of Directors & Awards Banquet Jan. 12 at Club Renaissance.
PHOTO COURTESY OF C JEFFERY
Lynne Conlan, executive director of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce, addresses more than 100 members and guests at the chamber’s 7th annual Installation of Directors & Awards Banquet Jan. 12 at Club Renaissance.
