Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events

Sarasota/Manatee

Monday, Oct. 10

Recent Law Changes for Homeowners - 6 p.m. The Suncoast Chapter, Paralegal Association of Florida Inc., presents keynote speaker attorney Sharon Vander Wulp at the Bay Front Room, Marina Jack Restaurant. For information or reservations, call Carollyn Kinneer at 941-955-5100.

Oct. 10-13

Innovation Creativity Business Summit - The Ringling School of Art and Design presents the interactive business innovation conference. The line-up includes John Remington, vice president of events marketing for Target Corp.; Darryl Blaker of HSN; Linda Kinsey of Michael Graves Design; Michael Lissack, director of the Institute for the Study of Coherence and Emergence; Robert Meade, vice president of marketing for Santa Sweets; Bob Thacker, nationally known marketing authority and former BBDO executive; and Daniel Pink, author of "A Whole New Mind" and "Free Agent Nation." Additionally, local business professionals and innovators, including: Pedro Perez, Nuevo Advertising Group; Bruce Rodgers, The Hermitage; Nan Summers, Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County; Celia Szelwach, Creative Collaborations Consulting Inc.; and Ed F. Ogiba and Grace Landon, Group EFO. These workshops will be held in venues throughout Sarasota. Registration for the Summit is $399 for corporate employees and $299 for employees of non-profit organizations. For information or to register, call 866-ICB-3443.

Tuesday, Oct. 11

Business Academy - 9 a.m. in the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Board Room. The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will present a series of workshops to help small to medium-sized businesses increase revenues and profits. Subject for this workshop: "Marketing: Creating Your Niche." Learn the research process to find your niche and how to use that information to drive your products and services. The cost is $29 for members and $59 for non-members. For more information or to RSVP call Sue Ward at 941-955-2508, ext. 231.

Thursday, Oct. 13

Business Connections - 5 to 7 p.m. at Misty Creek Country Club. The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will present a business-networking event. The cost is $5 members and $15 for non-members. For more information or to RSVP call 941-955-2508, ext. 231.

Friday, Oct. 14

How to Obtain 90% Commercial Financing for Your Small Business - 2:30 to 4 p.m. Congresswoman Katherine Harris presents Todd Kocourek, CEO of Florida First Capital Finance Corp., a state-founded non-profit organization.  FFCFC local Vice-President Steve Aronson will provide a free consultation and assistance concerning the loan application process.  For more information or to RSVP, call Lamont Couch at 941-951-6643.

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Business Academy - 9 a.m. in the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Board Room. The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will present a series of workshops to help small to medium-sized businesses increase revenues and profits. Subject for this workshop: "Marketing: Building Brand Recognition." Find out how to leverage different media to reach different markets. Discover how to create effective advertising and public relations plans to build your distinctive brand. Presenters are Andy Fox of Fox Advertising and Mike Sisti of Sisti & Others. Cost: $29 (members); $59 (non-members). For more information or to RSVP call Sue Ward at 941-955-2508, ext. 231.

Friday, Oct. 21

How to Qualify for Federal Government Contracts - 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Ringling School of Art and Design, Gold Stein 6, in the Gold Stein Studio Village. Garcilaso Rey-Moran, manager for 8 (a) Business Development with the SBA South Florida District Office, will advise attendees on how to navigate the federal government contracting process. A question-and-answer session will follow. For more information or to RSVP, call Lamont Couch (941) 951-6643.

Tuesday, Oct. 25

Downtown Architecture - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Downtown Partnership of Sarasota will discuss: Is there interest in preserving Main Street's character? Are we killing Duran's plan? Is the code too prescriptive on design? Should there be an architectural review board to ensure quality of architecture, rather than style? Cost is $20 for members and $35 for non-members. For more information or tickets, call 941-951-2656.

Business Academy - 9 a.m. in the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Board Room. The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will present a series of workshops to help small to medium-sized businesses increase revenues and profits. The subject for this workshop: "Marketing: Expanding Your Client Base via The Web." Hear about e-strategy development and search engine essentials to maximize your success. The event will include a presentation by Ray Villares of Gravity Free. Cost: $29 (members); $59 (non-members). For more information or to RSVP call Sue Ward at 941-955-2508, ext. 231.

Friday, Oct. 28

2005 Technology Innovation Awards - 8 a.m. The Gulf Coast Business Review and 82 Degrees Tech present the fourth annual awards ceremony at Michael's on East. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. For more information or for reservations, call Grace Carlson at 941-228-9083.

lee/collier

Tuesday, Oct. 11

Real Estate Investment Society Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Speaker will be David Jones, chairman of Investors' Security Trust Co. of Fort Myers, who will provide an economic outlook. Cost: $25 for members; $30 for guests. Register by Oct. 6 at www.reis-swfl.org or call Sharon Heston at 239-410-1253.

Thursday, Oct. 20

Chamber Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. at Holiday Inn Select Bell Tower in Fort Myers. The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce will feature guest speaker Frank D'Alessandro, managing partner of D'Alessandro & Woodyard Commercial Realtors, who will discuss recent real estate trends. Cost is $15 in advance or $17 at the door for members; $20 for non-members. Register online at www.fortmyers.org.

Thursday, Nov. 3

Blue Chip Enterprise Awards - 7:30 a.m. breakfast at Hilton Towers in Naples and 11:30 a.m. luncheon at Holiday Inn Select in Fort Myers. The Chamber of Southwest Florida presents the awards to companies that have had success overcoming adversity. For more details, call the chamber at 239-278-4001 or visit www.chamber-swflorida.com.

Wednesday, Nov. 9

Regional Outlook - Barbara B. Mann Auditorium, Edison College, Fort Myers. The Chamber of Southwest Florida presents the 18th Annual Regional Economic Outlook Conference. For information, visit www.chamber-swflorida.com or call 239-278-4001.

Pinellas/Hillsborough

Oct. 19-21

New Partnerships for Redevelopment Success - The 2005 Annual Florida Redevelopment Association Conference. The conference will be held at the St. Petersburg Hilton. Registration fee for all three days for members is $260 and the non-member fee is $340. Members will receive information by electronic mail. For further information, contact Jan Roberts at (800) 616-1513, extension 258 or go to www.redevelopment.net.