Chamber of Commerce Gains Record Membership

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce signed up 146 new members - nearly a record -- in a membership campaign just ending.

Steve Queior, CEO, commented, "This is fabulous. Any time a Chamber enrolls more than 100 new members, it's significant." The Chamber's total membership now exceeds 1600.

More than 100 volunteers participated in the campaign, led by Tom Roberts, a member of the Chamber's Board of Directors. The leader in results was "Dr. Bob" Leibold of Leibold Enterprises, Sarasota, who alone brought in 18 applications. Mr. Leibold describes his firm's services as, "We do what the banks do, and we do what the banks don't."

Honoring the new members were gifts and awards from more than 30 existing Chamber members, typified by a free round of golf for four participants from TPC Prestancia.

Until a previous membership drive in 2011, the Chamber had gone seven years without a volunteer-based campaign to sign up new members.

 The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce sponsors Sarasota Tomorrow, "An engine of community prosperity," to promote good jobs, a well-trained work force, and support for new and existing businesses.  he Chamber and its partners report they have created more than 2500 jobs in the program's first four years, with a goal of 3400 jobs in five years, pumping more than $100 million of new economic activity in the community.

The Chamber, with its 1600 members from business and non-profit organizations, is headquartered at 1945 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota 34236. Telephone 941-955-8187 or fax 941-366-5621. Web site is www.sarasotachamber.com.