FROM THE CHAIR & PRESIDENT
I
t’ s no secret that the demographics of our Nation are changing. In a report by Fortune, it was noted that two-thirds of the population is made up of minorities and women, and that those two demographics alone, make up 57 % of the workforce. In addition, we have all heard that by the year 2025, the millennials will pass the boomers in making up the majority of our workforce. Why is this important? It’ s important because we have to embrace and look at implementing changes in our businesses to prepare for our future. In this issue of EVOLVE, you will see several examples of businesses that have realized the importance of diversity and inclusion. We applaud them for their efforts and know there is much work to do.
Most often we think of diversity as gender and ethnicity. We also need to think about this in terms of generations and those who are not part of the traditional workforce. As we plan our programs every year, we are forced to think about multiple value statements for our very diverse membership. We have typically used the word diversity as it relates to business size, product and service, and geographic location. Now we need to expand upon the word diversity and ask ourselves very important questions such as how do we look as an organization to varying groups based on age, gender and ethnicity. Are we taking into account the diversity of our members workforces? Are we understanding the demographics of our voting population? All of this plays into a well-rounded chamber of commerce.
From the standpoint of the millennial generation, we are very proud of the Volusia Young Professionals Group, an affiliate of the Chamber. Often branded with a strong stereotype of being too social, our VYPG has done incredible things for our community from hosting clothing drives and food drives to cleaning our beaches and providing a platform for lifelong learning. Their commitment to developing emerging leaders is helping to groom our young professionals as our future community leaders. They are truly setting a great example of blending social needs with community involvement.
When it comes down to it, an important job of the Chamber is to continue to collaborate and lead the conversation of diversity and inclusion with the end result being shared prosperity for all. We are open to your ideas to make sure we are prepared to meet the needs of our changing demographics.
SKIP LILLY Chairman Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce Vision H. R., Inc.
STAY CONNECTED
Facebook. com / daytona. chamber
@ DaytonaChamber YouTube. com / DaytonaChamber
NANCY P. KEEFER CCE President & CEO Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce
Linkedin. com / company / daytona-regional-chamberof-commerce
CHAMBER STAFF Nancy Keefer, CCE • President / CEO Janet Kersey, CDME, CFEE • Executive Vice President / COO Jim Cameron • Senior Vice President, Government Relations Bob Elkin • CFO Consultant Jami Gallegos • Membership Director Kim Hover • Communications & Marketing Director Kerry Karl • Executive Director of VCARD Linda Nash • Membership Relations Specialist Ken Phelps • Events Director Jennifer Pipes • Administrative Assistant Nichole Sprague • Business Manager
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Skip Lilly • Chairman / Vision H. R., Inc. Randy Dye • Chair-Elect / Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM Fiat Eric Peburn • Immediate Past Chair / Halifax Health Rodney Cruise • Special Events Chair / Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Bart Leek • Government Relations Chair / DBL Surety, LLC Bob Lloyd • Legal Counsel / Brown & Brown, Inc. Leonard Marinaccio, III • Treasurer / Bomar Construction Mike Mitchener • Small Business Development Chair / Sam’ s Club Frank Molnar • Economic Development Chair / The M Group Ed Noseworthy • Membership Development Chair / Florida Hospital Kelly Parsons Kwiatek • Community Development Chair / Cobb Cole Charlie Van Derven • Marketing and Communications Chair / Social Advisors
2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Shawn Abbatessa • The Arc of Volusia Maia Albrecht • Shuffield Lowman John Anthony • JTA Financial Services, Inc. Tina Barnes-Budd • Ladies Professional Golf Association Sead Besic • Wells Fargo Bank, NA Owen Chittenden • VYPG Chair / The Shores Resort & Spa Cheryl Coxwell • International Speedway Corp. Bob Davis • Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County Tad Durrance • Halifax Paving, Inc. Steve Farmer • Brown & Brown, Inc. Alan Florez • Halifax Insurance Partners Hubert Grimes • Bethune-Cookman University John Guthrie • Halifax Health Todd Huffstickler • Vann Data Services, Inc. Nellie Kargar • ICI Homes William Landreth • BB & T Dr. Tom LoBasso • Daytona State College Kim Lundstrom • SunTrust Bank, East Central Florida Bill Offill • Daytona Beach News-Journal Patrick Opalewski • Root Company Cynthia W. Politis • Bank of America Julie Rand • Florida Hospital Teresa Rand • Volusia Flagler Family YMCA Bud Ritchey • Jon Hall Chevrolet Dave Schandel • Florida Health Care Plans Ray Schumann • Rice Law Firm Mike Sibley • James Moore & Co. Dr. Stephen Sevigny • Radiology Associates Imaging Jim Tobin • Realty Pros John Ufheil • Daytona Beverages Larry Volenec • Florida Power & Light Jim Weite • TD Bank Chip Wile • Daytona International Speedway
126 East Orange Ave. | Daytona Beach, FL 32114 | 386-255-0981 | Daytonachamber. com
| 12 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE