AMPLIFY Clearwater is the leading business advocacy organization in North Pinellas County and serves as the Chamber of Commerce for the Greater Clearwater area. AMPLIFY is a connector, linking communities, people, businesses, resources and more.
Founded in 2019, AMPLIFY Clearwater is the result of the merger of two organizations: the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce. As such, AMPLIFY is privileged to carry out over 100 years of history in the community.
Beyond the traditional benefits offered to its members, AMPLIFY Clearwater leads advocacy efforts at the city, County and State levels to ensure its community enjoys a pro-business environment with opportunities to grow and thrive. The organization also works to make health insurance coverage, retirement options and more accessible to small businesses who employ residents, making the community a more attractive place to live and work in the process.
- 800+ Partners: connections are at the core of what AMPLIFY does. Members enjoy personalized introductions to the people and businesses they want to know.
- Advocacy: AMPLIFY is proud to represent the interest of its partners at all levels of government. Our community thrives when local businesses are able to grow and prosper, which is why we advocate for pro-business policies. Additionally, partners are surveyed every year to establish legislative priorities that are then presented to legislators, in person, in Tallahassee during an annual visit.
- Celebrating the Wins: Every year, AMPLIFY recognizes the shining stars of their business community at the Stellar Awards, an evening to celebrate the people and organizations who make the region a better place. Our partners nominate their peers in categories that reflect the vibrant and diverse small businesses that make up the fabric of Clearwater. Then– it is party time.
- Tourism: Amplify serves as the unified voice for Tourism in the Clearwater destination area, operating two high-traffic visitor information centers and producing the official Clearwater Vacation Guide every year. Visitors from around the world trust AMPLIFY’s recommendations and plan their vacation with the tools they provide.
Making health insurance coverage and benefits accessible to small businesses
Leadership in organizations of all sizes, but especially small businesses, struggle with the costs of employee benefit plans. Over the course of 10 years, premiums have risen by over 43%, while employee contributions rose by 41% in the same time period. Hiring and talent retention are becoming priority issues, for which leadership wants to provide solutions. Benefits rank among the most important components of compensation. In fact, employees will sometimes select jobs with lower pay if the benefits are richer. Competitive benefits are important, but there is often heavy administrative work associated with them. The most optimal solution is a turnkey benefits and administration solution, with customized enrollment services, including online and on-site options.
AMPLIFY Clearwater has partnered with AvMed and Exemplary Health to offer fully customizable health and benefits coverage plans for their members, no matter the size of their business or the number of lives insured. By offering innovative and sustainable solutions, AMPLIFY looks forward to helping its members reduce costs and improve employee satisfaction and retention, as well as quality of care.
AMPLIFY is proud to offer this benefit to ALL their partners, no matter the annual investment they are able to dedicate. Whether a company has two employees or 30, these fully custom health benefits plans will save every participant thousands of dollars a year.
These plans are ONLY available to current AMPLIFY Clearwater members. Interested? Scan the QR code to enter your information and get a quote.
- ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER (2 pages)
DEVELOPING A ROBUST WORKFORCE & BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGH A FULL-SERVICE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER
In 2023, AMPLIFY Clearwater made headlines for launching the first and only business incubator program focused on Tourism Innovation in the State of Florida. Following a successful first cohort and $30,000 in cash distributed to small businesses, AMPLIFY announced that this was only the first step in opening a full-service Entrepreneurship Center at its headquarters.
Here are some of the programs expected to make up its programming:
- Business Incubator Program focused on Tourism Innovation: On the heels of Clearwater being named #1 beach in the US again, this business incubator initiative further capitalizes on what the Clearwater community already does so well. This biannual 10-week program attracts promising existing growth stage businesses from all over the state and assists entrepreneurs to realize the necessary changes to guarantee sustainability in their businesses. The focus is on emerging trends, strategic partnerships and innovative ideas to drive continued success.
- Bootcamps and Workshops: In addition to the twice-a-year incubator cohorts, the Entrepreneurship Center will host bootcamps and workshops periodically. These classes aim to provide continued education in technical, legal and financial subjects to entrepreneurs, with the help of expert facilitators.
- Workforce development initiatives: These programs will fulfill the need to up-skill and/or re-skill the workforce, attracting new employers and higher-paying jobs to the region.
- Internships/Apprenticeships: Amplify looks forward to developing more opportunities to place local high school and college students into the workforce pipeline, and to retain talent in the region.
Photo Caption: AMPLIFY Clearwater leadership unveils IGNITE Entrepreneurship Center at their Spring 2024 Pitch Night event with naming rights sponsor Duke Energy, represented by Florida President Melissa Seixas
Why AMPLIFY?
In 2022, AMPLIFY Clearwater was selected by the City of Clearwater Economic Development department to take over Clearwater Business SPARK, a small business assistance initiative. In less than a full year operating SPARK, AMPLIFY immensely grew its footprint, practicing what the program preaches: resources shared with those wishing to start a business, but unsure how or where to find all the information and help needed for their success.
Why now?
After AMPLIFY rebranded SPARK to fit more organically under its umbrella, there was still an existing gap in service. While SPARK helps aspiring entrepreneurs early on in the business development process, AMPLIFY Clearwater addresses the business’ needs after hanging the first shingle, leaving those in the ideation phase, or the growth phase of a venture without privately-led support in the North Pinellas region. AMPLIFY Clearwater is uniquely qualified to fill this gap, as it already leads the other two initiatives.
Success Story:
Lori Lenhart, owner of Allori Blow Dry Bar; cohort member of the Fall of 2023 Business Incubator program, and second-place winner of AMPLIFY Clearwater’s first Pitch Night.
Lori Lenhart is the owner of Allori Blow Dry Bar in Belleair Bluffs. Unlike a traditional hair salon, Lori’s business is centered around a luxurious blow dry experience that can be enjoyed during a lunch break or a vacation. Other than its location near the Gulf beaches, there is a clear connection to tourism for Lori’s business: vacationers look to indulge in hair, makeup and infusion services while away from home.
Lori heard about the new program on Facebook. She submitted an application and was selected to be a participant of the inaugural cohort. “As a business owner, I came into class once a week, every week and learned new information. They gave us resources to grow our business, whether it was marketing, finances or operations,” she said.
Upon completion of the program, Lori pitched her business to judges April Caldwell, CEO of fayVen; Lauren Fernandez, founder and CEO of Allegrow; and Emmanuel Hernandez, Dean of the College of Business at St. Petersburg College at the incubator’s first Pitch Night. While she was nervous to get up to the podium, she felt supported by the rest of her cohort: “I walked away with new business partners – not financially, but in support of what we all do.” Allori Blow Dry Bar won second place, and was awarded $10,000.
For more information and to apply, contact Joe Lugo, Chief of Staff at [email protected], or visit www.amplifyclearwater.com/incubator.
- ACHIEVEHERS (2 pages)
AchieveHERs is a peer-to-peer networking group for professional women, by professional women. To advance AMPLIFY Clearwater, AchieveHERs provides engaging experiences that intentionally foster leadership through an inclusive culture of support, wisdom and community connections to nurture personal and professional life for all women. AchieveHERs is open to both established women in business and those aspiring to lead.
AchieveHERs offers monthly opportunities for their members to connect in the form of socials, named Energize HER Hour in the mornings, and Happi HER Hour in the evenings. Additionally, AMPLIFY Clearwater produces four Signature Events a year, including the highly anticipated and always well-attended Signature Luncheon. “Every year, we kick off International Women’s Month early with the AchieveHERs Signature Luncheon, where keynote speakers touch on a subject that women in our community seek,” said Camille Hebting, Executive Vice President, External Affairs for AMPLIFY Clearwater, and AchieveHERs Staff Liaison. “It’s an honor to follow the footsteps of the founding members of this group to continue to bring important conversations to rooms full of change makers.” In February of 2024, AchieveHERs welcomed business leaders Liz and Mallory Dimmitt on the Signature Luncheon stage. Liz and Mallory tragically lost their brother Lawrence to suicide; they opened up about their experience, shared advice and highlighted resources that resonated with the 200+ women and men in attendance.
10 Years of AchieveHERs
AMPLIFY celebrated 10 years of AchieveHERs last year – indeed, November of 2023 marked 10 years since the very first AchieveHERs Signature Luncheon. To celebrate, the organization reunited the founding members of the group, invited past members and included new members to share testimonials about the past decade and wishes for the future. The result? Six short-form videos that can be viewed on AchieveHERs Social Media platforms
Social Media handles:
Facebook – AchieveHERs
Instagram – @achieveherswsw
LinkedIn – AchieveHERs
In 2024, AchieveHERs looks forward to sharing the stage with other women’s groups in the Tampa Bay Region. “We are dedicated to intentional collaboration, so that we can amplify the message that vulnerability, while difficult, is paramount,” adds Hebting. “AchieveHERs celebrates the ebbs and flows of being professional women and the diversity of our community by connecting our members to the resources they need, the persons they should meet and the businesses they should know.”
BECOME AN ACHIEVEHER
Join this robust network of professional women from across Tampa Bay as we tackle the issues affecting women in the workplace, connect you with a network of trusted advisors, promote you and your business and provide skills and experiences that help you get more out of life – both inside and outside of the office. To explore our membership levels and benefits, and to join, visit amplifyclearwater.com/achievehers
The Carol Hague AchieveHERs Woman of the Year Award
Named after AchieveHER founding member and former Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Carol Hague, this award recognizes trailblazing women who epitomize community and success. These servant leaders are celebrated by their peers for being change-makers for whom impact is the most valuable deliverable.
Past recipients include:
2023 – Sheri Aquilar
2022 – Sharon Fekete
2021 – Suzy Sofer
2020 – Haley Crum
- CYP (1 page)
Clearwater Young Professionals is the second peer-to-peer networking group existing under the umbrella of AMPLIFY Clearwater. Through monthly socials and quarterly signature events, the group connects like-minded professionals in similar seasons of life to learn, grow and share valuable insights. Members enjoy community connections, personal and professional development, and more.
About our 2024 Chairperson, Matt Maizes of Hill Ward Henderson:
Clearwater Young Professionals is excited to welcome Matt Maizes as their 2024 Chairperson. Although originally from the Fort Lauderdale area, Matt started visiting Pinellas County in 2012 after meeting his wife, Lauren (a Palm Harbor native), at the University of Florida. Matt fell in love with the region and Matt and Lauren were able to move back to the area permanently in 2020. Professionally, Matt is an attorney focusing on mergers & acquisitions and general business law in the Corporate and Tax Group at the law firm Hill Ward Henderson. Matt became involved with CYP in 2023 and, shortly thereafter, was tapped to be the group’s Recruitment Chair. Seeing Matt’s passion for networking, desire to connect young professionals, and new ideas, Matt was asked to be the 2024 Chairperson for the program.
“In the age of social media interaction and remote meetings, simply showing up in person is the most powerful tool to build personal and professional relationships,” says Maizes. Working in Tampa, living in St. Pete and networking in Clearwater (and throughout Tampa Bay), Matt understands that the Tampa Bay region is booming and is attracting some of the most talented young professionals in the world, representing a diverse range of industries. “Clearwater is on the rise and so should be its network of young professionals. I envision CYP becoming a powerful network of these young professionals from all backgrounds that would represent a valuable and reliable resource to its members,” said Maizes.
As such, Matt looks forward to catching up with current members and welcoming new members into the fold this year at our upcoming events.
Join CYP at amplifyclearwater.com/CYP – membership is free. NEW THIS YEAR: looking for opportunities to connect? Purchase the 2024 CYP All Access Pass for complimentary registration into ALL 2024 gatherings, including the Regional Young Professionals Summit in July.
- AMPLIFY’S IMPACT
The impact of AMPLIFY Clearwater is felt way beyond its partners, as all actions taken, and initiatives carried out benefit the community as a whole.
- AMPLIFY Clearwater provides valuable information about the local business environment, market trends and regulatory changes. While this information is made readily available to their partners, it also helps other businesses seeking to understand the local business landscape.
- AMPLIFY Clearwater markets and promotes activities to attract visitors, residents and businesses to the community, which in turn creates employment, lowers the tax burden of our residents and increases their quality of life. All benefit from these efforts as they contribute to the overall economic prosperity and attractiveness of the Clearwater area and Tampa Bay region as a whole.
- AMPLIFY Clearwater advocates for policies and initiatives that benefit the entire community, not just its members. This includes efforts to support economic development projects, like Coachman Park, improve infrastructure, like the road improvements on Drew Street, and attract or retain community partners such as the Philadelphia Phillies, who have called Clearwater their home for Spring Training for the last 75+ years. All community stakeholders benefit from these advocacy efforts through improved business conditions, quality of life and a more vibrant community.
Spring Training:
The Phillies have been training in Clearwater, Florida, since 1947, the second-longest affiliation between a major league club and its spring training home in baseball. While it was Jack Russell, former baseball professional who retired in Clearwater and was elected to the City Council, who told the Phillies, then looking for a Spring Training home, “If you make a commitment, we’ll build a ballpark,” many persons and organizations have played a role in keeping the Phillies in Clearwater – including AMPLIFY Clearwater.
“The Phillies are a great example of a long-term partnership that AMPLIFY Clearwater continues to foster and grow,” said Amanda Payne, President/CEO. Every year, Phillies Spring Training has an economic impact of more than $40 million, a result of direct spending by visitors and teams in the county. And outside of Spring Training, the Phillies invest in our region year-round. The Phillies organization is developing a $250 million residential, dining and shopping complex to enhance player development and visitor experience surrounding BayCare Ballpark. “This important relationship is a great example of the work that we all do together to bring value to our community and its stakeholders,” added Payne.
