President's Report

I’m pleased to report February 2023 was another strong month. Membership development (new members) and membership retention exceeded projections, as did our events for the month. The first of hopefully many more Golf Tournaments was hosted at Banyan Creek Country Club and sponsored by Be A Man Buy Land. We welcomed 56 players who enjoyed the beautiful course, breakfast, and lunch. Like many of our members, we remain cautious regarding the economy. The U.S. Chamber recently reported a 65% chance of a mild recession in mid-2023.

As a voice for local businesses, the Chamber’s advocacy efforts are in full swing as the 2023 Florida Legislative Session begins in early March. Planning by Angela Hoffman for the Treasure Coast Legislative Conference, scheduled for March 14-16, 2023, is 99 percent complete. Only a few details remain. There are 50 leaders and business owners from the Treasure Coast attending. The conference is headquartered at the Doubletree by Hilton in Tallahassee. There will be a Welcome Reception sponsored by Ashley Capital from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The Florida Historic Capitol Museum.  A “Kick Off” Breakfast sponsored by the Business Development Board of Martin County is set for Wednesday from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Doubletree, followed by meetings with various legislators and department chiefs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A lunch from 12:00–1:00 p.m. is sponsored by R.V. Johnson Insurance. There will also be an optional behind-the-scenes tour of the Florida Supreme Court Building. Wednesday evening, we will host a Cocktail Reception sponsored by AT&T Florida and the St. Lucie County Economic Development Council at the Doubletree. We will conclude Thursday morning with a breakfast at the Doubletree, sponsored by Project Lift.  

For a full conference schedule or to learn more about Chamber events and benefits, visit our website www.stuart.martiunchamber.org.