Two of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s most recognizable employees have announced their retirements.
Tourist Information Specialist Al Collinge and Communications Director Nancy Benedict, who combined have worked for the chamber for nearly three decades, both are leaving their posts to spend more time with their families. Benedict’s last day was April 3; Collinge will retire May 7.
NANCY BENEDICT
If you’re a chamber member, chances are, you’ve read Nancy Benedict’s work. Benedict is the author behind virtually all of the chamber’s correspondence, including its newsletters, e-news blasts, special e-flashes and Good Egg of the Month biographies.
Although her degree is in elementary education, Benedict’s gifts of writing and grammar have followed her throughout her professional life.
Raised in Erie, Pa., Benedict graduated from Villa Maria College. Before then, she attended a Catholic school. Benedict said the nuns instilled in her a sense of impeccable grammar.
For seven years, Benedict taught third- and fifth-graders at various schools in Pittsburgh, Erie, Pa., and Camp Springs, Md.
She then moved to Harrisburg, Pa., where she worked for 17 years, for the state at the office of the auditor generals. She was hired to perform clerical duties. But, once her office discovered she was a talented writer, Benedict added writing department manuals and teaching grammar and writing classes to inspectors to her job description.
With just a couple of years before retirement, Benedict left Harrisburg for a warmer climate — Florida. Along with her husband, she moved in 1995, to South Pasadena. Three years later, they moved to Plant City.
“We liked the small-town atmosphere,” Benedict said.
Benedict wasn’t in town for a week, before she was volunteered by friends to take a temporary position at the chamber. But when the permanent employee quit unexpectedly, Benedict’s temporary gig turned into a full-time occupation.
For about five years, Benedict worked at the chamber, performing clerical and administrative tasks. But like her previous employment, the chamber soon tapped into her writing talents and enlisted her as its communications director.
In addition to writing, Benedict has helped coordinate the Leadership Class, designed for business owners and employees to learn about the community.
AL COLLINGE
It was the warm weather that attracted Al Collinge and his wife, SueAnn, to Florida in the 1990s. But it was the welcoming citizens of Plant City that made them stay in the Sunshine State.
“It just always felt like home,” he said. “I was able to work with so many people in the community.”
Collinge, a 15-year chamber employee, will retire May 7, as the tourist information specialist.
Collinge has a long track record of civic participation. Born in Zumbrota, Minn., Collinge studied business administration. After graduating in 1955, he worked for Firestone for two years.
In 1957, he returned home to run his family businesses, which involved the coal, fuel, oil, feed, seed, farm machinery, hardware and trucking industries.
During that time, he served as a volunteer firefighter. He spent 31 years on the force, 11 of those as the assistant fire chief.
Collinge also entered the world of politics, serving on Zumbrota’s city council for 14 years. And from 1987 to 1996, he served as mayor.
While living in Minnesota, Collinge and his family vacationed in Fort Myers. After his stint as mayor, Collinge and his wife looked to the south for the next chapter of their lives. A couple in Fort Myers told the Collinges to look at Plant City as a possible new home.
Shortly after moving to Plant City, Collinge volunteered to open the Union Station Depot Welcome Center. The doors opened Dec. 11, 1997.
“I like the historic part of Plant City and the history of the railroad in Plant City,” Collinge said.
In 1999, a position became available at the chamber.
“Every day is a different day,” Collinge said of the position. “You meet a lot of interesting people from all over the world.”
Collinge was also the coordinator for the Union Station Welcome Center and the Tourism Welcome Center on Park Road.
“It’s a good feeling when you’re volunteering and can help give people directions and make their visit to Florida and to the Plant City area more enjoyable,” he said.
Collinge will move back to Minnesota in May, to be closer to his family.
“It’s hard to leave, but it’s time to move back to family and have a support system,” Collinge said.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.