North Tampa Chamber of Commerce - Officers, History & Awards

Carol Rehfelt
President (2008)

Phone 813-961-3604
C & J Surveying, Inc.

Carol Rehfelt is President and co-owner with her husband, John, of C & J Surveying Inc which is a full service land surveying company licensed to work throughout the state of Fl. She retired after 20 years from Morrison's Inc where she served in various management positions, traveled extensively, wrote procedures & job descriptions, trained personnel.

She is currently President of Carrollwood Business and Professional Women, (CBPW), Director CBPW Foundation, Secretary/Treasurer of BPW District VII. She provides a local information service for events concerning women’s issues.

Carol is very involved in the community with her primary focus on children and women's issues and is listed as a resource in many directories for those services. In order to be more effective, she has taken extensive courses in Children and Community Issues, Education, Numerous Disabilities, Legal Rights for Children and Adults with Disabilities, Individual Education Plans, Child & Parent Advocacy, etc.

An active volunteer with STAND (Statewide Advocacy Network on Disabilities), she assists families to assure children receive appropriate services in school. With Families as Faculty, she does presentations at the University of South Florida College of Education to better prepare the students for the family side of parent involvement. She is also a member of Families and Educators in Action Together and Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.

She is a member and Past President of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), a member and past facilitator for LDAF (Learning Disabilities Association of Florida), and a member of NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and past state coordinator of Parents of Blind Children.

Carol was born in West Virginia, moved to Florida as a youngster and to Tampa in 1969. She has two grown daughters and one granddaughter. She is an avid supporter of Devil Rays Baseball, Buccaneers Football and University of South Florida Football. Hobbies include collecting Elvis Presley memorabilia, cat statuettes and coins. She enjoys her seven cats and five dogs, swimming, reading, and working jigsaw puzzles for relaxation.

Position
Open

Position Open
Vice President

Kristy Eames
Secretary (2008)
Phone: 813-228-4696
Tampa Electric Company

Jerry Davies
Treasurer (2008)
Phone: 813-269-2091
Davies & Kerr Consulting

Jerry, with 25 years of experience in the accounting field, is one of the founding partners of Davies & Kerr, CPA firm. With strong ties to the community through involvement with non-profits and business associations, he has delivered speeches and written articles for business groups and organizations throughout the Tampa Bay area.

Jerry is a consultant to individuals and small businesses advocating better alternatives in setting up accounting procedures and systems for their business needs utilizing the most automated technology. As tax planning is a big part of the business equation, and the second largest expense for most businesses, Jerry has developed a special interest in helping his clients carefully and professionally analyze their position.

Education: B.S. Accounting & Real Estate. Experience: public and private experience with a national CPA firm, current local CPA firm and fortune 500 companies.

Memberships include: *AICPA - FL CPA Lic #0016609 * Toastmasters International * North Tampa Chamber of Commerce * Suncoast Real Estate Investors Association * Quickbooks Professional Advisor*

Hobbies: Motorcycle riding, tennis, golfing and donating time to charities.

History of the North Tampa
Chamber of Commerce

Updated in 1999 by
Ron Gauszka - Past President and Chamber Historian

In April of 1947, a handful of business people interested in the future of Sulphur Springs (which pretty much was North Tampa in those days), organized the Sulphur Springs Chamber of Commerce. The meeting was called to discuss a fire control district in Sulphur Springs. As Senator Sheldon was unable to attend the meeting, the group decided to use the opportunity to officially form a Chamber of Commerce. They had informally discussed this on several occasions. Mr. J. L. Young was appointed temporary chairman and the first official meeting was held on April 4, 1947, at the American Legion Hall on Bird Street.


*Original logo*		The encyclopedia definition of a Chamber of Commerce is "An association sponsored by businessmen to promote the mercantile interest of their city and community." During its 52 years of existence, the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce has served its community far beyond this interpretation. As a matter of fact, a better definition of the North Tampa Chamber would be: An organization of people who care about their community and each other.

Aside from the many ways our Chamber has helped promote business interests, it has always been aware of a responsibility to the community as a whole. A list of accomplishments would include:

Physically building and installing street markers.

Seeing that traffic lights were properly installed.

In the 50's, operated Sulphur Springs Pool and held a week long celebration of Tampa's Centennial.

August 26, 1965 - North Tampa Chamber held a luncheon meeting to welcome the General Managers of two major industries building plants in the North Tampa area, Minneapolis Honeywell Regulator Co. and Reynolds Metals.

January 26, 1967 - City Council approved replacement of Sulphur Springs pool pavilion. The new $60,000 building was built by the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce. The building was completed in 1968 and donated to the City of Tampa in 1982.

July 18, 1968 - North Tampa Chamber publicly endorsed the stand taken by Mayor Greco in the matter of pay raises for the employees of the City Sanitation Department.

In 1971, raised $5000 which was intended for building a Boys Club. This money was eventually donated to the Sertoma Youth Ranch. Today a plaque at the youth ranch stage reads "Donated by the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce in honor of Francis Dean and Richard Cheney two of our past presidents."

May 20, 1971 - North Tampa Chamber hosted a meeting of area Chambers of Commerce. The purpose of the meeting was to announce a program designed to encourage, and build the morale of our guardians of society, our law officers.

In 1975, fought to save the Sulphur Springs Arcade. The building was eventually torn down.


*Prior Logo*		During the early 1970’s, the chamber took a step to change their image by redesigning the chamber logo. Although Sulphur Springs was still an entity in the North Tampa area, many things had changed and the North Tampa Chamber wanted to show they were a part of the bigger picture. The new logo was designed to encompass the chamber’s service to the Tampa area in general but to also preserve their roots. The tower at Sulphur Springs was an historic landmark and a part of the chamber’s roots to be embraced. The bridge reflected the connection of the North Tampa area to the downtown Tampa area. The sun went along with our slogan: The Brightest Spot in Tampa’s Future. All was centered in a Florida setting of palm trees and water.

In recent times, the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce:

Has recognized students of the month at local schools.

Honored the outstanding ROTC student at Hillsborough High School and supplied the saber, which is the highest honor bestowed on these students.

Was instrumental in obtaining the police sub station and community center.

At its membership meeting in December of 1994, the North Tampa Chamber initiated its Police Officer of the Month program. The North Tampa Chamber was the first local Tampa area chamber of commerce to honor the men and women of the Tampa Police Department. The first officer to receive this award was Officer Mark A. Yost.

In 1996, the chamber supplied fifty percent of the businesses involved in the Adams Youth Connection, a program designed to help middle school students who had been involved in the criminal justice system to get back on track. Was named the 1996 Business Partner of the Year by Adams Jr. High.

In 1997, The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce became involved in a tourism marketing effort which included Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), The Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium. The project was funded by a grant from the Tourist Development fund. The chamber was a major sponsor of this project, donating $14,000, to the Tampa Trio. The chamber also began a grass roots effort to beautify our roads such as Busch Boulevard between the Interstate and Busch Gardens.

1947 April	J. L. Young, Jr.	1947 May	Ray Myers
1947 Aug	J. L. Young, Jr.	1948	W. D. Harris
1949	Q. E. Blewfield	1950	J. L. Young, Jr.
1951	M. L. Young	1952	E. C. Hughes
1953	Carl A. Conrad	1954	Ray Murphy
1954 July	Geo.McDowell	1955	Geo.McDowell
1955 Feb	Beverly Curtis	1956	Beverly Curtis
1957	Milton Linder	1958	Tom Cribb
1959	Ed Jennings	1960	Harris Curtis
1961	E. C. Swing	1962	E. C. Swing
1963	Joe Sperry	1964	Francis M. Dean
1965	J. L. Young	1966	Julian C. Johnson
1967	Richard L. Cheney	1968	M.L.Young
1969	Victor Bonner	1970	Neel S. Yent
1971	Jesse G. Brown	1972	Lois A. Brown
1973	Lois A. Brown	1974	Norman K. Snook
1975-76	J. Harry Whitlock	1977	Julian C. Johnson
1978	Joseph Priest	1979	Raymond Dohle
1980	Phyllis Ellis	1981	Lynn Fairley
1982	Stu Coyle	1983	Chuck Kinard
1984	Phyllis Ellis	1985	John Kistler
1986	lsidor Birkenthal	1986-88	Lawrence Siegel
1988-89	Jay Hofschneider	1989-90	Jim Boggs
1990-91	Dick Christenson	1991-92	Lawrence Siegel
1992-93	Lawrence Siegel	1993-94	Mark Albrechta
1994-95	Ron Gauszka	1995 Jul-Sep	Frank Marinaccio
1995-1997	Ron Gauszka	1997-1998	Frank Apisa
1998-1999	Charles Futch	1999-2001	Cynthia Flowers
2001-2002	Daniel J. Madock	2002-2004	Mark J. Albrechta
2004-	Carol Rehfelt

The Phyllis Ellis Memorial "GIVER" Award is our highest award presented to the member whose meritorious service has been given, not only to the Chamber, but also to other community organizations and civic activities within the north Tampa area, demonstrating a commitment to the goals and mission of the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce.

Phillis Ellis (In 2001, during her second consecutive term as President, Ms. Cynthia Flowers, with the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, changed the name of the "Giver" Award to The Phyllis Ellis "GIVER" Award in honor of our 2000 - 2001 recipient, Ms. Phyllis Ellis. Shortly before her passing, Phyllis received the Award and was honored for her many years of dedicated service to the North Tampa and Temple Terrace Chambers of Commerce, the Economic Growth Organization, the Carrollwood Area Business Association and the many other organizations and community activities in which she so actively participated. Phyllis, who was suffering from cancer, passed away on July 18, 2001. Since her passing, the word "Memorial" has been added to the award.)

Recipients of
The Phyllis Ellis Memorial "GIVER" Award

2006 - 2007
Rosanna Encinosa
Superior Bank


1997 - 1998	Cynthia Flowers	Kitty City
	Charles Futch	Putt-Putt Golf Courses of America, Inc.
	Larry Siegel	North Tampa Chamber of Commerce

1998 - 1999	William Zinn	William J. Zinn & Associates

1999 - 2000	None

2000 - 2001	Phyllis Ellis	Abacus Enterprise of Tampa

2001 - 2002	Rosanna Encinosa	First Kensington Bank

2002 - 2003	John Rehfelt	Parsons Surveying, Inc.

2003 - 2004	Jerry Davies, CPA	Davies & Kerr Consulting

2004-2005	Sherry Markee	SML Services, Inc.

2005 - 2006	Bob Markee	SML Services, Inc.

The Outstanding Chamber Member of the Year Award. Recipients of The Outstanding Chamber Member Award are honored for their continuing service to the Chamber and their participation, above and beyond normal membership.

Recipients of
The Outstanding Chamber Member of the Year Award

2006 - 2007
Sharlene Hartford
National Processing Company


1997 - 1998	Bob & Sherri Markee	SML Services, Inc.

1998 - 1999	Ken Keim	Shell’s Restaurant, Inc.

1999 - 2000	Elliott Steele	University Community Hospital

2000 - 2001	None

2001 - 2002	Betty Reed	Tampa Technical Institute

2002 - 2003	Lorraine Constantine	Constantine Realty

2003 - 2004	Karen Borden	Colonial Bank

2004-2005	Dennis Horton	SignARama

2005-2006	Michael Moore	CareFirst Home Care

Nicole Fielder (2008) Phone: 813-968-3090 Ext. 7000 BankAtlantic		Elaine Kaufman (2008) Phone: 813-909-1088 Prudential Financial

Marie Gay (2010) Phone: 813-269-0732 Beacon Asset Management, Inc.		Rosalie Lampone, Ed.D. (2008) Phone: 813-932-0701 *Remington College*

Mike Howard (2010) Phone: 813-600-5227 JM Franchising Solutions, LLC		Suzanne Eastridge (2009) Phone: 813-558-5212 University Area Community Development Corp.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS:

Rebecca Weinberg BB&T 813-792-1908		Brian Aiken Pilot Bank 813-349-4570

Marie Petresky Cypress Creek Landscape Supply 813-933-7944		Anita Ivey Regions Bank-USF Branch 813-979-7026

Sheri Portalatin ERA Dennis Realty & Invest. Corp. 813-789-2778		Michel Cormon UBS Financial Advisor 813-227-2892

Dan Ebersbach Lakeshore Villas Retirement Community 813-968-5093 Ext. 1518

On April 4, 1997, the chamber held its 50th Anniversary celebration at the chamber office on Busch Blvd. Many dignitaries were present and a proclamation was made by Mayor Greco calling that day officially North Tampa Chamber of Commerce Day.


*Current Logo*		The chamber board decided it was time to bring the chamber logo into the new age of technology so it was only fitting that they celebrate the chamber’s 60th anniversary by doing just that. In May 2007, it was time for another new design that would preserve the symbolism and historic value of the existing logo, but be more modern, more streamlined. This logo would not only have the practical use of being suitable for the many promotional and business uses available, but also would be alive and vibrant and reflect the chamber’s new dedication to their old slogan: A Better Community Begins with You and the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce.