As an exceptional group of over 250 young professionals in Marion county, we are redefining what is means to be a leader. Our dedication to making the community a better place for all to live by connecting, engaging, and empowering each other in both our professional and personal lives is unprecedented. Let’s continue to work together to be a reason to live, work, play and stay in Marion County! -Summer Gill ELO Events >> About Elo >> Join ELO >>

Filed under: Message From The Chairman by Jacob Medley | Comments Off

ELO will host the first of three Entrepreneur Series on June 2 at the Ocala Police Department.

Entrepreneur Series, session one — Logistcs of Starting a business, with guest speaker Rolondo Sosa of Architecture Studio, followed by roudtable discussions on business essentials. Rountable discussions will feature experts from the following fields: financal, legal and insurance. 5:30—7 PM in the Community Room at Ocala Police Department, located at 402 South Pine Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471. Please RSVP by calling 352-629-8051 or emailing brittany@Ocalacc.com

Come learn from the experts and participate in this exciting Q & A professional development opportunity!

Filed under: Community Service Spotlight, ELO Community Service Opportunities by amyreed | No Comments »

What do you do for a living? 
I am the Development Specialist with the City of Ocala in the City Manager’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability.  Our office works with economic development initiatives.  It’s a very exciting time to be working with the City, with the various changes and adaptations that are being made.

What is your favorite weekend activity?
I love to spend time with my family and friends, at times this includes taking advantage of the revitalized nightlife that Ocala now features.

What do you want all of ELO to know about you?
I love meeting new people.  I’ve only been a member for a short time; if I haven’t gotten a chance to meet you yet and you see me out and about please come chat with me!

What is your favorite Ocala/Marion County hang-out?
Lately, I’ve really enjoyed hanging out Downtown.  I love the ambiance of the Square and the crowds; generally there are a lot of things to do.  Of course, all the ELO activities are always a lot of fun.

What is the best annual local event?
I haven’t really had a chance to participate in many annual events since coming back to town.  However, when I was in high school we used to come out to Light Up Ocala, which was great!  The St. Patrick’s day festival on the Square was also a lot of fun. 

What are your volunteer and professional activities?
I try to get involved with various activities in town, I am on the Community Service Committee with ELO and I’ve been to several of the IHMC lectures which are really interesting!  I’m also currently going through the City of Ocala’s Citizen’s Academy.  Even though I work with the City, it seemed like a great opportunity to learn what other departments are currently working on.  I would encourage anyone who’s interested in learning more about the community to get involved with the Marion County or City of Ocala’s Citizen’s Academies.

Filed under: Member Spotlight by Ben Gumpert | No Comments »

What do you do for a living?
I am a bank manager for First Avenue National Bank

What is your favorite weekend activity?
Watching my kids play sports, heading to the park, playing music

What do you want all of ELO to know about you?
Good question.  I consider myself to be a pretty diverse person. Catch me at some event and say hi if I don’t beat you to it. Then we can talk specifics!!

What is your favorite Ocala/Marion County hang-out?
Any place with good live music, food, and drinks.  Depending on the night that could be Tin Cup, BFE, or Mojo’s right downtown.

What is the best annual local event?
Though there are several I’d have to say the Christmas Parade.  It is the one event that shows the great diversity of people and organizations in our community.

What are your volunteer and professional activities?
I’m involved with Food for Kids through Interfaith and other local charities through my church (where I am the music director).  I’ve been a musician for a long time so I get calls to help with the entertainment for fundraisers for many of these organizations as well. As for professional, I am currently involved with the Republican Business Council, UF Alumni Association, and an ELO Board member.

Filed under: Member Spotlight by Ben Gumpert | No Comments »

Tickets are $55 each, with group discount for four or more $45 each.

 Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting of the Corporation-Ocala’s Most Established Business Tradition

Thursday, January 14, 2010

5:30 pm-9 pm

Dowtown Ocala

There’s a new and exciting look and feel to the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual gathering of its membership. More than 300 business and government leaders are invited to attend this year’s event being held throughout downtown Ocala dining and entertainment sites.

The evening begins with a culinary tour featuring nine downtown dining establishments.  Check in time is 5:30 pm at the Gazebo on the downtown square. Guests will follow a culinary iternary experiencing a taste of three of the nine sites. Participating in the downtown culinary tour are: Bakers and Cooks, LLC; Booze, Food & Entertainment; Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill; La Cuisine; Mark’s Prime Steakhouse; Pi on Broadway; Stella’s-The Modern Day Pantry; Sushi Bistro and The Mojo Grill.

 The culinary tour will conclude at 7:15, with guests attending the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting of the Corporation at the historical landmark, Marion Theatre. The meeting’s agenda, facilitated by Ken Daley, President, Bernie Little Distributing, Inc. and 2007 Chairman of the Chamber Board includes:

• Remarks by 2009 Chairman of the Board, Kevin McDonald, Owner McDonald Allstate Agency
•  Induction of the Chamber’s 2010 Chairman of the Board, John Hunt, President of First Avenue National Bank
• The announcement of the Stars Over Ocala Business Awards bestowed to individuals in the business community who have demonstrated the entrepreneurial and business spirit uniquely Ocala/Marion County
• The awarding of “Person of the Year” by Linda Marks, Publisher, Ocala Magazine

Event attendees are encouraged to make post event plans enjoying the ever expanding dining and entertainment opportunities in Ocala’s historic downtown. By accessing the invitation on www.ocalacc.com , guests can click through the dining venues for contact information of the various establishments.

The Annual Dinner is presented by Munroe Regional Medical Center. Deluca Toyota presents the Culinary Tour.  The venue partner is the City of Ocala and the Stars Over Ocala Business Awards are presented by Ocala Magazine.

Chamber President and CEO Jaye Baillie said, “The concept of the 2010 event came about when thinking of the events of 2009. The Chamber relocated several blocks off the square to encourage downtown revitalization; there’s been a wellspring of new businesses open in downtown Ocala and we wanted to showcase the excitement and energy of spending an evening in our historic downtown.” Baillie added, “Much like the Grammy’s and Oscar’s, we are encouraging our membership to make post event reservations throughout the downtown dining and entertainment venues. It’s could be considered an economic stimulus project.”

 The evening brings a Who’s Who of our business and governmental leaders together for an evening of celebration of our business community’s success. Tickets are $55 each, with group discount for four or more $45 each. For more information or to make reservations, log onto www.ocalacc.com or contact Tamara Fleischahaker at 352.629.8051 ext 103.

Filed under: Chamber Events, ELO Events by miranda | No Comments »

The Ocala Symphony has partnered with Emerging Leaders Ocala to present the free WIFI project by the City of Ocala on the square on December 11, 2009. The orchestra will be presenting their, “Ocala’s symphony under the lights Community Concert” at 7:00pm the same night. Come out before and get a cup of Hot chocolate and bring your lap tops. Come out and support ELO, the city of Ocala and the Symphony. Drinks will be available at 5:00pm.

Filed under: ELO Events, Special Events by miranda | No Comments »