The Education Chamber

Continuous efforts to provide learning opportunities and resources not only to its 1,150-plus members, but also to the community at large have earned the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce a reputation as "the education chamber."

"We offer the kinds of education that, for the most part, are geared to businesspeople who want to learn different ways and better ways to run their business," says Marietta Mudgett, the chamber's executive director.

An array of monthly workshops and seminars offered throughout the year have included such recent topics as "How to Grow Your Business," "Coaching" and "Wine Education." An accounting workshop will provide CPAs the opportunity to receive continuing-education credits needed to maintain accreditation. Computer training courses are useful not only for businesses, but for individuals. Workshops, like all of the chamber's programs, are open to members and nonmembers. Depending on the topic, attendance ranges from 20 to 50.

In May 2005, the chamber began offering a monthly series titled "Women in Business." The goal was to attract 30 women, and organizers were pleasantly surprised when 135 women and six men attended. "We don't exclude men; we encourage men to attend, as well," Mudgett says. "We provide [attendees] with refreshments and a nice place to gather, and it's been very successful." Each meeting consists of a program with networking time before and after. The Chamber selects program speakers for the series "who we feel would be important and appropriate for women in business," Mudgett says. They include motivational and educational speakers, as well as those who share their own inspirational experiences.

In October 2006, the chamber will recognize one Lee County woman with the Women in Business Apex Award for her outstanding community service and business accomplishments.

Another educational program the chamber offers is Emerging Leaders, an annual leadership series that gathers weekly for 10 consecutive weeks. Participants meet city council and county commission members and staff, as well as education and business leaders. "We take them into the depths of the leadership community," Mudgett says. "It's a very well-rounded program."

While the educational programs offer the side-benefit of networking, other chamber events are geared specifically for that purpose. For example, the monthly general-membership luncheon usually attracts between 165 and 200 people. At those functions, "we've had the governor, we've had the mayor, we've had city council members and county commissioners speak," Mudgett says. Those who attend have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with community leaders.

Business After Five is another networking opportunity. The monthly meeting is often run as a mini tradeshow, where members use provided tables to set up their business displays. Approximately 150 people attend each meeting, and the format always includes opportunity for a business-card exchange.

The Ambassadors Committee allows participating members the chance to take part in ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new companies and ground breakings for new buildings.

A welcoming approach

When people and businesses are considering moving to the Fort Myers area, the chamber is prepared to assist. In fact, the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce was the first chamber contacted by Sony's search company in 1996 when the corporation was thinking about locating its call center in Fort Myers. Without knowing the identity of the company-many companies choose to remain anonymous or ask the chamber to protect their identity-the chamber mailed it a packet containing information about Fort Myers and its demographics and growth.

When the search company called back requesting additional information, Mudgett suspected it was "something significant." She provided contacts at Lee County's Economic Development Office and made some phone calls to ensure the search company would have complete cooperation. Several months later, Sony announced it was moving its call center to the City of Palms.

Once a company has completed its move to the area, the chamber can provide an orientation program for employees. This can include information about daycare and schools, places of worship and social activities. Through the orientation programs, "we help companies get their people more involved in the community," Mudgett says.

While most of the companies the chamber assists with relocation are smaller than Sony, every company receives the same high level of service. The chamber sends free business-relocation packets to companies that request them. But understanding that seeing the area in person can prove most useful, the chamber encourages company representatives to visit the area and schedule one-on-one meetings with chamber staff to help determine the companies' needs and how they can be met.

The chamber even customizes relocation information, as when Lee County schools needed packets to help attract and recruit teachers.

For people considering a personal move, the chamber offers extensive information, including schools, housing, healthcare and the environment.

Depending on the person's needs and interests, the chamber also includes various local publications that he or she might find beneficial.

All packets include Florida's Gulf Coast Treasure: Fort Myers, the official publication of The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. The 88-page glossy magazine contains informative articles about the area's community, businesses and history. It also provides an annual calendar of events, regional maps, listing of chamber members, and accommodation and dining pamphlets. Those already visiting the area can pick up the publication at the chamber's office, 2310 Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers. The newly renovated lobby displays numerous other publications and brochures to assist tourists in planning their vacations.

In addition to providing visitors, or prospective visitors, with easy-to-access information, the chamber's Web site, www.fortmyers.org, also contains useful content for those who are thinking about moving themselves or their business to the Fort Myers area. The Web site lists all chamber members, who also have the option of buying additional advertisement space on the site.

The chamber not only provides education, it supports it. Ten percent of its membership dues are earmarked for The Greater Fort Myers Chamber Foundation, an education fund established in 2005. "When the chamber was formed in 1989, the board of directors found that education was a problem for the community; we needed better education and we needed more education," Mudgett says.

With the goal of helping to solve these problems, the chamber has donated almost $400,000 through grants to fund teachers' classroom projects as well as scholarships to Florida Gulf Coast University and other local higher-education institutions.