As Plant City has evolved so has many of the organizations that have played monumental roles in shepherding in each era of change.
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce has long been a pinnacle in the community and now is at the cusp of beginning a new chapter. Its downtown building on Evers Street has sold and the organization will be moving just across the intersection as it begins the search for a new, permanent home downtown.
“I feel a freshness and opportunity right now,” Christine Miller, president and CEO of the Chamber, said. “It’s as if we are ready with new team and a new location to learn how to further support our businesses in this new world. We have had to deal with some unexpected experiences over the past few years — no one was ready to have to lead a business organization through a world pandemic — and I’ve described it to people that while it was the hardest I’ve worked in my life it was such a rewarding year for our businesses.”
Miller said that while she recognizes the accomplishments of an organization often are attached to its leader she hopes people realize that at the Chamber the success it has had has stemmed entirely from the strong network of staff and volunteers that have worked hand-in-hand to move it and the Plant City business community forward.
Financially the group is in a strong position, according to Miller and in a year’s time they will be hopefully moving to a permanent home within the walkable downtown core.
Miller has been at the helm for five years now and she said that looking back she believes she was handed a prospering and successful organization and used that strong foundation to begin updating and modernizing the processes at the group and further extending the reach of its events.
Several new elements have been added to the Chamber, including its highly impactful Government Advisory Committee, which helps with advocacy for local businesses. Within that group the Chamber found a hole it could help fill for the business community. In the next five to ten years she said she hopes that businesses will look at the Chamber as being an ambitious advocate for their companies and more than anything that the group acts as “the voice of the collective.”
“I hope we are known — both with what we are doing now and where I hope we will be in the next several years — as a group that was able to directly communicate with decision makers on behalf of our businesses,” Miller said. “I want us to be able to help create a space for our members to grow.”
The Chamber’s volunteer board and body has been the “driving force” behind its evolving mission over the years, according to Miller, and she said that it is inspiring to work with a group of people day in and day out who are there simply because they love their community and want to be a part of making it a better place.
Following the uncertainty of COVID-19 the Chamber was able to rebuild its staff and get ready for the new wave of experiences for members as they adapt to a world post-pandemic. With a new team of staff the Chamber is already putting things in motion to continue to have new and compelling services for its members, many of which they intend to announce over the next year.
Meet the Chamber team:
Kristen (Toney) Campbell heads up Member Relations at the Greater Plant City
Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining the Chamber, Kristen was the Editor at Focus Magazine, the Office Manager at Plant City Church of God and the Marketing Director at Strong Tower Insurance, Inc. Kristen earned degrees in Journalism and Public Relations from
Southeastern University, sits on the board of Plant City Academy of the Arts, and is also
a notary public. Kristen’s favorite quote comes from Theodore Roosevelt: Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.
Kendelle Jimenez is the Pig Jam Coordinator for the Chamber. She graduated from Durant High School in 2004 and then attended the University of South Florida where she received a BA Degree in Communication in 2009. In 2013, she graduated from the University of Central Florida, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, with a Master of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She was a member of the GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club from 2009 through 2016. During her time in the Junior Woman’s Club, she had the opportunity to serve in numerous positions including 2nd Vice President, Home Life Chair, 3rd Vice President, Public Issues Chair, and 2nd Vice President. She also was the 2013 and 2014 Committee Head for the Junior Woman’s Club’s 1st and 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournaments. She served on The United Food Bank and Services of Plant City, Inc. Board of Directors from 2015-2021. She was Chairman of the Board 2019-2020, Executive Board Member 2017-2021, and Celebrity Chef Committee Member 2015-2021.
Kate Manco is the Event Coordinator for the Chamber. With a 25-year career working with global companies promoting brand awareness and team building through events Kate started her career in NYC. After meeting her husband, she moved to California and then overseas for the last 10 years. Recently re-locating to the Tampa Bay area, she is now the event coordinator at the Chamber of Commerce. Bringing passion and creativity she is excited to plan and create unforgettable events that bring the community together. Favorite quote: “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” – Mother Teresa
Lydia Smith-Eugene is the Office Coordinator at the Chamber. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She relocated to Florida twenty years ago. She has a degree of Science in Counseling and Human Services. Lydia has been working for the Plant Cit Chamber of Commerce since February 2017 as office coordinator. Some of her job duties include accounts receivable and many other day to day happenings at the Chamber. Favorite quote: “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark. -Jay Danzie”
Emily Pierce heads up Community Relations at the Chamber. Sharing all the Chamber has to offer through the Chamber’s various media outlets, bringing members together through events, and working Downtown are some of her favorite parts of the job. Before coming to work at the Chamber, she spent the past ten years fundraising for local kids with cancer, founding and creating a local nonprofit, Jensen’s Heart of Gold Foundation Florida Chapter, where she is currently Executive Vice President. She earned her degree in Agricultural Education and Communication with minors in Leadership Development, and Extension Education from the University of Florida. Emily’s favorite quote comes from Paul Harvey, “In times like these, it helps to recall there have always been times like these.”