The Osceola Chamber will host our 100th Annual Meeting on February 8, 2025 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Every year at this event, attendees look forward to learning who will take home our major awards, including the Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award and the Guillermo Hansen Unity Award. We are now accepting applications for both awards through January 3, 2025.
Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award Nomination Form
The Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award is named after Linda Goodwin-Nichols of Goodwin Realty & Associates, two-time Chairman of The Osceola Chamber Board of Directors and a stalwart of Osceola’s Business Community for over 40 years. Throughout her career, Linda has epitomized community involvement and giving back selflessly, and this award honors an individual who will carry on her legacy. Recent past winners include Kelly Trace, Larry Walter, and Rev. Mary Downey. Click on the link above to nominate deserving individuals for this award.
Guillermo Hansen Unity Award Nomination Form
To recognize the importance of the Chamber’s core values of “Embracing Heritage,” “Creating Opportunity,” and “Building Unity,” and our partners who promote them, in January of 2018 Chairman Tim Finkenbinder announced the creation of an award to emphasize these values – particularly “Building Unity.” In 2024 the award was renamed the "Guillermo Hansen Unity Award" to honor inaugural winner Guillermo "Bill" Hansen, owner and editor of El Osceola Star Newspaper. Guillermo was a longtime Chamber member who was also a community leader known for building bridges among the diverse populations of Osceola County. Click below to nominate deserving individuals for this award.
Nominees will receive an application to complete and winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. The top three finalists will be announced ahead of The Osceola Chamber’s Annual Meeting on February 8, 2025 and the award recipient will be revealed at the event.
Chamber of Commerce benefits can be a game-changer for your business, making a difference in building connections, increasing visibility, and driving growth. However, many members may not be fully leveraging all the benefits available. Here are some overlooked Chamber benefits that can drive your business growth to the next level.
Building strong connections is essential for business growth, and networking is one of the most effective ways to achieve this. By engaging with other professionals, you can share ideas, learn from others’ experiences, and form partnerships to propel your business forward. Our local Chamber of Commerce offers networking events designed to help you build these valuable relationships.
Be sure to attend:
Getting your business noticed is key to attracting new customers. The Chamber provides various promotion options to help you reach a wider audience and stand out in the community.
The Member Information Center (MIC) is a powerful online platform accessible to all Chamber members, regardless of membership level. It allows members to effectively manage and promote their businesses within The Chamber’s extensive network. You can maximize your Chamber membership by logging in to the MIC and fully utilizing this platform.
Engaging in key community events keeps you informed and allows you to influence local developments that support your business growth. The Chamber provides access to events to connect with Osceola County leaders and decision-makers, helping you stay engaged and up-to-date on the community’s future. Plus, regardless of your membership level, you receive special rates for major events, making it easier to join important conversations.
Engage with Community Leaders:
Supporting the community is a powerful way to make a lasting impact while building strong local connections. As a Chamber member, you play a vital role in helping Osceola County thrive, and The Chamber provides meaningful ways to get involved and give back.
At the Champion level, you have the unique opportunity to gift a one-year Heritage Level membership to a non-profit, Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), or veteran-owned business of your choice. This includes a public presentation showcasing your commitment to uplifting others in the Osceola community and strengthening the local business landscape.
Explore the diverse resources and Chamber benefits available at your membership level. Start by reviewing community engagement opportunities that align with your business goals. Regular participation in Chamber activities through events, online platforms, or promotional channels can help build meaningful connections, increase visibility, and strengthen your business’s local presence.
Small actions like these can help you unlock these Chamber benefits, strengthening your business and community connections. Not a member yet? Contact us to unlock these opportunities and become a vital part of our thriving business network!
After months of planning, our Poinciana Council brought the community together for the 2024 PoincianaFest: A Poinciana Festival of Community & Commerce on Saturday, November 9! PoincianaFest was formerly an annual event hosted by our Poinciana Council Board of Directors designed to bring the Poinciana business and citizen communities together for a day of fun and community engagement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event had not been held since the fall of 2019, but this year felt like the appropriate time to bring the event back and better than ever at a brand new location - Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures! The main purpose of this event is to raise funds for the Poinciana Council's annual scholarship that benefits high school seniors and those already enrolled in higher learning programs in the Poinciana area - and we can't think of a more fun way to support a great cause! Check out some images and video from our amazing day in Poinciana!
The 2024 PoincianaFest welcomed 50 business vendors and food trucks who welcomed the community to their booths. From major players in the area to family-owned businesses and craft vendors, there was a little something for everyone. The event was sponsored by HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital, Osceola Community Health Services, Central Florida Expressway Authority's Move Poinciana, Central Florida Expressway Authority, Cypress Cove Nudist Resort, and Valencia College Poinciana Campus.
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Attendees had many opportunities to engage with and learn about our community at PoincianaFest. Many chose to donate blood at the OneBlood Blood Bus in exchange for a $20 gift card and some OneBlood swag. Others explored one of Osceola County's real fire trucks serving the Poinciana Community with some Osceola County Fire & EMS's finest there to answer their questions. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office also handed out swag and let attendees explore their special cruiser wrapped for Breast Cancer Awareness and a real sheriff's truck.
There was plenty to do for kids and families at PoincianaFest 2024. The Build Back Better Regional Grant Board/NeoCity and CAAIRE sponsored a STEM City where kids of all ages were able to explore STEM activities and learn about the world of possibility in science and nanotechnology that NeoCity is bringing to our County. Face Painters kept busy giving kids artistic makeovers, while other children played corn hole and pickle ball. Attendees had access to Boggy Creek's park and Boggy Bottom BBQ Restaurant, and the option to purchase an airboat excursion and other activities that the park offers daily. In honor of Veterans Day weekend, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures was even offering free 30-minute airboat rides to veterans! In addition to the restaurant, Steaktion food truck offered Colombian and Venezuelan favorites and Bruster's Real Ice Cream brought a variety of flavors to choose from.
At PoincianaFest 2024, DJ LaVell kept the tunes going - and he event got a little help from the Osceola Magic's mascot Swish!! The event was opened by a presentation of the colors by the Poinciana High School NJROTC under the direction of Kentreal Peters and a Star Spangled Banner sung by members of PHS's choir. The PHS Choir, under the direction of Caleb Pena-Justino, returned to perform later in the day. In between, the Pleasant Hill Elementary Traveling Performance Group also sang selections from 101 Dalmatians for us!
With the main objective of raising funds for the Poinciana Council Scholarship Fund, the event also included a raffle for some amazing prizes from our friends at Universal Orlando Resort, Gatorland, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, Osceola Magic, Staley Development, and more! Congrats to all the winners!
All in all, we commend the Poinciana Council Board for a fantastic event, and e hope to see many of you at next year's PoincianaFest!
