YPG collecting school supplies for Volusia County elementary students!

The Daytona Beach Young Professionals Groups' Community Affairs Committee is collecting school supplies and monetary donations to help our area elementary students as they head back to school in a few weeks. At the monthly networking social on August 20th, YPG will be collecting supplies and money and will deliver the supplies to schools the week school begins.

Here are some of the items being sought:

• Crayons (boxes of 24)
• Glue Sticks
• #2 pencils
• Dry erase markers
• Washable markers
• Pocket folders
• 1" and 2" three-ring binders
• Colored pencils
• Fiskar scissors
• Yellow highlighters
• Spiral notebooks
• Composition books
• Wide-ruled notebook paper
• Pencil cap erasers
• 3x5 index cards
• White copy paper
• Hand sanitizer
• Plastic storage bags

If you would like to donate, please contact Josie Ramirez at jramirez@daytonainternationalspeedway.com or Katie Conrad at kconrad@daytonachamber.com.

Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group Update

YPG has had a busy summer so far!

Following the Creative Corridor Charette and working with the City of Daytona Beach on its Riverfront Master Plan, YPG has been hard at work creating a document that emcompasses our concerns and opinions on the future of downtown development in Daytona Beach. Thanks to Scott Polikov of Gateway Planning Group and Jason Jeffries of the City of Daytona Beach for working with YPG in this area. The Riverfront Master Plan and the Creative Corridor are critical components to YPG's mission of attracting and retaining young professionals in the greater Daytona Beach area.

YPG's Local Government Committee has continued their efforts of placing young professionals on city and county advisory boards, as well as local civic boards. This group has attended every Daytona Beach City Commission meeting, and continues to expand the group to other cities as well, so young professionals throughout the county can participate in local government. Thanks to Maja Sander at Cobb Cole for leading this group!

Finally, YPG has scheduled its Annual Gala for Saturday, August 22nd, and dubbed it a "Summer White Party." The event will be scaled down and more informal, and will be held at the Speedway's Boardwalk Community Club, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Heavy appetizers, along with drinks, dancing, and a few awards will provide for an enjoyable evening for the group. The cost is $40 for YPG members, $60 for non-members. RSVP to Katie Conrad at (386) 255-0981, ext. 237 or kconrad@daytonachamber.com.

May Events

May is going to be a big month for The Chamber! Some of the events in the works:

• Friday, May 8 at 12 noon - Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for National City Bank, located at 1537 Nova Road in Daytona Beach. Food & beverages will be served. RSVP required; please contact Sarah Reidling at (386) 238-6000 ext. 21337 or sarah.rediling@nationalcity.com.
• The Chamber's annual "DIAMOND" membership Campaign will begin May 11th and run until the 22nd. The Chamber is shooting for $50,000 in memberships during these two weeks.
• Friday, May 15 at 7:45 am - Our Eggs & Issues seminar will serve as a "Welcome Back" breakfast for the Volusia Legislative Delegation. The breakfast will be held at Halifax River Yacht Club and the cost to attend is $20 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. Please RSVP to Gail at (386) 255-0981, ext. 229, or gail@daytonachamber.com.
• Friday, May 15 at 12 noon - Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for Books A Million, located at 1700 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach (Volusia Mall). Food & beverages will be served. RSVP required; please e-mail Jazmine Robinson McDaniel at robinsonj@booksamillion.com.
• Tuesday, May 19 at 8:00 am - The "Chamber Advantage" seminar series in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College will begin at 8:30 am (registration & continental breakfast at 8:00). The event will be held at the Mori Hosseini Hospitality Center and will feature the Constant Contact method of e-mail marketing. The cost to attend is $45 for Chamber members, $65 for non-members. Please RSVP to Gail at (386) 255-0981, ext. 229 or gail@daytonachamber.com.
• Tuesday, May 19 at 12 noon - Governor Charlie Crist will be speaking at the Ocean Center! Hosted by The Chamber and Tiger Bay, the luncheon is $25 per person. Please RSVP to Gail at (386) 255-0981, ext. 229 or gail@daytonachamber.com.
• Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30 pm - Chamber Business After Hours will be held at Fountain Beach Resort, co-sponsored by DOTS-Orlando Airport Shuttle. Fountain Beach Resort is located at 313 S. Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach. Food & 2 drinks are included with admission. Bring plenty of business cards for the Speed Networking Program! $10 for Chamber members, $35 for guests & future members. RSVP to (386) 255-0981, ext. 405.
• Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 pm - Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group will hold its monthly networking social at Gators Bar-B-Q and Wings. The cost is $5 for membrs, $10 for non-members.

YPG Local Government Fair tonight!

YPG's Local Government & Vision Committee has taken an active role in local government this year, and are currently working to place young professionals on Daytona Beach city advisory boards.

Watch the video promoting tonight's Board Fair at the Marriott Courtyard! 5-8pm.

ISB Creative Corridor

It all started with a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina for the Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce's Inter-City Visit in November 2008. It was there that many ideas about economic development in Daytona Beach began to form.

Then, at the Chamber's Annual Meeting in January, Chairman of the Board Ted Doran announced his plan to create 10,000 jobs in 10 years.

Since then, several business and economic development professionals in the Daytona Beach area have been discussing what's become known as the "International Speedway Boulevard Creative Corridor" which encompasses the stretch between Daytona Beach International Airport all the way to the Ocean Center on Atlantic Avenue.

On February 27, The Chamber hosted Scott Polikov of Gateway Planning Group who made a presentation about regional sustainable development and how we can incorporate Daytona Beach's assets into this Creative Corridor initiative. The Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group (YPG) also jumped on board in this effort, as it is a major component of the YPG's focus in 2009.

Want to get involved? Take a few minutes to view Mr. Polikov's presentation! http://www.gatewayplanning.com/PDFS/Daytona%20leadership%20meeting.pdf.

Stay tuned for updates!

Chamber events this week - February 17 - 20

Tonight, February 17 - Business After Hours at The Arena Sports Cafe in downtown Daytona Beach, co-sponsored by the Impact Invitational! 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., the cost to attend is $10 for Chamber members, $35 for guests and future members. 2 drink tickets and food are included with admission. This is a great networking opportunity - bring plenty of business cards for the Speed Networking program! RSVP to 255-0981, ext. 405.

Wednesday, February 18 - The Economic Domino Effect, presented by Volusia League of Cities and VCARD. Panel speakers include Dr. Glenn W. Harrison, UCF; Mr. Larry McKinney, Chamber president; Mr. Ken Parker, Port Orange City Manager, and Dr. Margaret Smith, Superintendent of Volusia County Schools. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. and the luncheon begins at 11:30 at LPGA International Banquet Center. The cost is $20 per person. RSVP to Mary Curran, 226-0422, ext. 32.

Thursday, February 19 - Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group (YPG) third Thursday networking social at Mariachi restaurant on Beville Road in Daytona Beach. The social will be held from 6 - 8 p.m. and the cost to attend is $5 for YPG members, $10 for non-members, and appetizers and 2 drink tickets are included with admission. These monthly networking socials are a great opportunity to meet the group and to learn about all the programs YPG has to offer!

Friday, February 20 - Break out of your shell...join us for Eggs & Issues! 7:45 a.m. at Indigo Lakes Banquet Center in Daytona Beach, Rep. Dorothy Hukill and Rep. Dwayne Taylor will be discussing their priority items for the upcoming legislative session which begins on March 3rd. The cost of this breakfast is $20 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. RSVP to Gail Miller at 255-0981, ext. 229 or gail@daytonachamber.com.

Friday, February 20 - Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for Daytona Beach Healthcare & Rehab Center, located at 1055 3rd Street, Daytona Beach. 12:00 noon, food & beverages will be served; please RSVP to Jeanette Comerford at 252-3686.

Young Professionals Survey Results

In December, the Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group participated in the Young Professionals Global Impact Survey, facilitated by Next Generation Consulting, a Madison, WI-based consulting firm. The goal was to obtain numeric data regarding the impact of young professionals in the Daytona Beach and surrounding community.

The results show that our young professionals are educated (82% have a 4-year degree or higher), civic minded (94% voted in the last election,) and are giving back to the area (in the last 6 months, 75% made an average charitable donation of $670.)

Even more importantly, we learned that the young professionals in Daytona Beach have an economic impact in our community of $66,000 per person per year!

To learn more about Daytona Beach YPG, or to get more involved in the group, check out the website at http://www.daytonaypg.com/. If your company has interest in supporting an organization which is dedicated to retaining young professional talent in the Daytona Beach area, please call or email Glenn Ritchey, Jr. at (386) 547-3594 or gritcheyjr@jonhall.com.

Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group Third Thursday Networking Social, Family Style!

The DB YPG is having its Third Thursday social tomorrow night, December 18, with a twist - it's a family event!

The Holiday Bonfire will kick off at 5:00 p.m. at Cracker Creek in Port Orange (off Taylor Road; see Cracker Creek's website for directions.)

This year's holiday extravaganza - sponsored by The Daytona Beach News-Journal - will feature a bonfire, hay rides, photos with a princess, tours of the Snow White Cottage, drinks, food, prizes and a great chance for networking. Everyone has been asking for it and now we are delivering, so bring the kids, tell a neighbor, and bring a friend! This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY event!

As always there will be drinks and appetizers provided (most likely SMORES for the bonfire!) The event is FREE – we only ask that you bring an unwrapped gift or gift card in place of the usual fee. Plus, spin The News-Journal Prize Wheel for every donated gift! Gifts will be donated to the Family Renew Center.

PLEASE RSVP to Ashley Kelly at ashley@benedictadvertising.com. We hope to see you there!

Chamber events this week - November 17 - 21

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Chamber's Business After Hours will be held tonight at the Museum of Arts & Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by Encore Catering.

Attendees will receive a sneak peek of the new Children's Museum! The cost to attend is $10 for members, $35 for non-members, and two drink tickets and food is included with admission. Bring plenty of business of cards for the Speed Networking program!

Share your food...bring non-perishable food for Second Harvest Food Bank drive.


Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group will hold its monthly "third Thursday" networking social at Stonewood Grill & Tavern, 100 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach, from 6 - 8 p.m.

The cost to attend is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, and two drink tickets and appetizers are included with admission.