Chamber revamps Small Business Week

When Gail Loefgren resumed her position in 2013 as president of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, one of her goals was to bring back Small Business Week.

Now, the chamber is ready to present its 19th Annual Small Business Week from Oct.16 to Oct. 19.

“I guess I’m really looking forward to actually accomplishing it and bringing it back,” Loefgren said. “A lot of times that’s easier said than done. There are so many new members that have never experienced our Small Business Week before, so I’m looking forward to getting their feedback.”

The week will open with seminars Monday through Wednesday. Loefgren plans to have the seminars center on social media and digital marketing.

“Hopefully we can address some of the most popular platforms people use, like Twitter, Google Plus, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram,” she said.

On Oct. 17, a Business After Hours event will be held at Zota Beach Resort along with a “Chamber Showcase” in which members can purchase a table for $75 to display their products and services. The Small Business of the Year nominees will be introduced that evening as well.

The week will conclude with the Small Business Person of the Year Awards Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 19 at Zota. The business person of the year in each of the four categories will be announced.

The annual tradition began in 1994 and aims to recognize business people for their achievements and community contributions.

The awards will be given to a small businessperson in each of the four categories: Rookie Small Business Person of the Year (for businesses 3 years old or less as of Jan. 1, 2017); Small Business Person of the Year (for organizations of 10 or fewer employees and organizations of up to 100 employees); and Green Business of the Year.

In 1994, the first winners of the Small Business Person of the Year were Chris and Ethna Lynch of Lynches Landing. Michele Kneuse, Jan Jordan and Annette Tidwell from the Florida Vacation Connection won Rookie Small Business Persons that year.

The event is organized by the Longboat Key Chamber’s Small Business Council, which accepted nominations for members who are in good standing with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.