Coming in May 2013 at the Chamber of Commerce

Connect with nearly 150 Chamber members at Business After Hours, Nassau County's biggest networking event.

Amelia Island, FL – Here is what YOUR Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce has coming up in May 2013:

SCORE Counseling
12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8
AIFBY Chamber of Commerce, 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101G, Amelia Island

Bill Pray, one of the experienced business mentors at Jacksonville SCORE, will be available at the AIFBY Chamber to provide free, confidential mentoring to startups, coaching to existing businesses, advice on how to get a business loan and assistance with putting together a successful businessplan.

Sessions will be one-hour long and appointments are required. Schedule your mentoring session online at http://jacksonville.score.org/.

Yulee Area Council
8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 14
Chick-fil-A, 464004 State Road 200, Yulee

The Yulee Area Council meets at 8:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month to network and discuss issues of interest to the Yulee business community.

Our topic in May is hurricane preparedness with Dave Cobb of Florida Power & Light Co.

Admission is free for Chamber members; $25 for non-members. Optional breakfast available. Prospective Chamber members should contact Chamber Business Development Coordinator Lynne Starling for information about attending.

Ribbon cutting & Business After Hours
4:45-7 p.m., Thursday, May 16
Golf Club of Amelia Island, 4700 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island

Connect with up to 150 Chamber members at Business After Hours, Nassau County’s biggest networking event, sponsored in May by The Golf Club of Amelia Island.

Come experience the tantalizing creations of Chef Ed Bennett and the beautiful view from the Golf Club of Amelia’s newly renovated Beach Club. The Chamber will hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate the renovations at 4:45 p.m., immediately preceding Business After Hours.

The Golf Club of Amelia Island is championship golf and so much more! It truly is the place for the time of your life with golf, tennis, a private beach club, various dining options and an active social calendar. The club is the perfect place to meet friends and share good times with family, as well as entertain clients.

The Golf Club of Amelia Island is pleased to offer preferred AIFBY Chamber member pricing of up to $2,500 off the Initiation Fee and no dues until June 1 to Chamber members who join the Club during Business After Hours or contact Club Membership Director Katherine Bean at (904) 277-8015 ext. 13 ahead of time to arrange their own full club tour!

There will be complimentary garage parking available at the Golf Clubhouse for Business After Hours, with shuttle service to the Beach Club.

Admission to Business After Hours is $5 for AIFBY Chamber members, $25 for nonmembers. Prospective members should contact Business Development Coordinator Lynne Starling about attending.

Small Business Expo
8:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 18
Bean Technical Center at FSCJ Nassau Center, 76346 William Burgess Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097

The Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce has created a dynamic line-up of informational seminars, presentations and panel discussions for our first Small Business Expo on Saturday, May 18, at FSCJ Nassau in Yulee.

Admission is free and the event is sponsored by CBC National Bank, the Fernandina Beach News Leader, the Nassau County Record and the Hampton Inn & Suites Amelia Island Historic Harborfront Hotel.

There will be two educational tracks: one for people looking to start a new business and the second for those looking to improve, expand or sell an existing business.

Our keynote speaker is Rick Bisio, author of “The Educated Franchisee,” who will speak at 10 a.m. on “Entrepreneurship through Franchising.”

Expected topics for starting a new business include advice on deciding what legal structure is right for your new business, a look at the insurance, tax planning and reporting, and a panel discussion of local small business owners sharing what worked and what didn’t as they opened their new businesses.

Expected topics for growing a business include a presentation at 8:30 a.m. on social media and your business by Jason Mudd, AXIA Public Relations, how to start planning for when you’re ready to retire from running your small business, everything you ever wanted to know about payroll & personnel but were afraid to ask; and using email marketing to grow your business.

The expo will feature booths where entrepreneurs and business owners can connect with local businesses that provide products and services their company needs. Local lenders will provide information on financial resources available to entrepreneurs.

Some exhibitor space remains. Contact Chamber President Regina Duncan at (904) 261-3248 or regina@aifby.com for information.

Strategic Customer Care
8:30-11:30 a.m. & 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, May 21
Residence Inn Amelia Island, 2301 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach

Are you making the most of your greatest asset . your frontline people? If not, then take advantage of this seminar presented by the Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce to boost sales and customer satisfaction at your business by improving customer service.

“Strategic Customer Care: Creating Your Formula for Success,” will be presented by Michele McManamon, co-owner of Sandler Training, a Jacksonville affiliate of the internationally recognized training firm.

The seminar is designed to enhance the skills of your customer service representatives and raise awareness of the importance of customer care. It is an investment in developing high-finesse skills in those critical staff members who touch your customers and represent your company.

Course topics include:

What do customers really want?
Building customer relationships
Telephone & email communications
Understanding customer behavior (transaction analysis)
Formula for success

Seated is limited. For your convenience, two identical programs will be presented May 21 so employers may send half their staff in the morning and half in the afternoon. The first session will be 8:30-11:30 a.m; the second will be 1-4 p.m.

Admission is only $49 per person for one to four employees, $40 per person for five or more employees if you register before May 10. Registration after May 10 is $65 per person, $60 per person for five or more employees. Payment in full must be received in advance. Cancellations must be received by Friday, May 17, or all charges will apply.

Gauging Customer Experience to Build Brand Loyalty
8 a.m. Friday, May 24
AIFBY Chamber of Commerce, 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101G, Amelia Island

The Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce’s “Build a Better Business” education series continues with “Gauging Customer Experience to Build Brand Loyalty,” presented by Susan Bowen, founder and principal consultant at Leadership Elements.

Customer satisfaction is not enough in today’s competitive marketplace. Businesses and brands rely on customer loyalty in order to achieve exceptional results. This presentation focuses on how your business may tap into its customers’ perceptions and then use this information to enhance the customer experience.

Space is limited to 25 people per session. Admission is free for AIFBY Chamber members; $25 for non-members. Reservations are required and may be made through the Chamber’s online events calendar at www.islandchamber.com.

Health Care Council
8 a.m. Tuesday, May 28
Osprey Village at Amelia Island Plantation, 48 Osprey Village Dr, Amelia Island

Get involved in the Chamber’s Health Care Council’s second year of raising awareness of health care services in Nassau County and developing professional contacts among local health-related organizations.

The Health Care Council meets every other month at 8 a.m. the last Tuesday of the month at a participating Chamber member.

May’s meeting is hosted by Osprey Village. Speaker is Eugenia Ngo-Seidel, director of the Nassau County Health Department.

Admission is free to Chamber members, $25 for non-members. Prospective members should contact Business Development Coordinator Lynne Starling for information about attending.

Government Affairs Committee
8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 29
AIFBY Chamber of Commerce, 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101G, Amelia Island

The Government Affairs Committee works to increase awareness of regulatory and legislative issues affecting AIFBY Chamber members by encouraging input and participation in local committees and boards.

The GAC meets the last Wednesday of the month to discuss issues and to recommend formal policy stances for adoption by the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

For more information, contact Chamber President Regina Duncan at (904) 261-3248, ext. 102.

Business After Hours
5-7 p.m., Thursday, May 30
Don Quixote’s, 520 Centre St., Fernandina Beach

Connect with AIFBY Chamber members at an extra edition of Business After Hours hosted by Don Quixote’s Fresh Seafood & Tapas in Fernandina Beach.

Business After Hours is a great way to meet other local business people and make contacts that will help generate referrals for your business. There is always great food, drinks and door prizes.

Admission to Business After Hours is $5 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. Prospective members should contact Business Development Coordinator Lynne Starling for information about attending.

For more information about any of these events, contact the Chamber at (904) 261-3248 or info@aifby.com.