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Chamber Focused On Identity

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

Updated: 01/10/2008 06:44 pm

BRANDON - To do it right, major marketing groups agree that it takes months of research, surveys, cold calls and focus groups to come up with a successful branding campaign.

The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce is in the infancy of that process as it attempts to create a more recognizable identity for Brandon. Two months ago, the chamber hired Catch Your Limit Consulting, a national company, to help.

Marsh Rainey, who grew up in Brandon, graduated from Brandon High School in 1982 and will take over as the chamber's chairman Feb. 1, doesn't need reams of research to tell him what makes the community unique.

It's the reason he moved back to Brandon with his wife, Doris, to raise their four children, ages 6 to 16.

"This community has a heart," Rainey said.

He said he has seen it repeatedly in the way the community has pulled together to form nonprofit organizations such as the Brandon Outreach Clinic, the Brandon Care Pregnancy Center and the Emergency Care Help Organization to address specific needs.

He has seen the community reach out to help families facing catastrophic illness or financial loss. He has seen it in his neighborhood and church, when parents need help picking up one of their children.

"If you look at a map, Brandon is in the dead center of the Tampa Bay area," he said. "And we're a family-oriented, caring community that's got its pulse on the needs of the people who live here. I think the perfect slogan would be 'Brandon: the Heart of Tampa Bay.' It has a double meaning."

Although he will lead the 1,800-member chamber during the next year, Rainey won't choose the community's new brand. That will be part of a yearlong initiative involving the entire community, he said.

Rainey said he's looking forward to having a small part in shaping the community's new image and carrying on the groundwork laid by his predecessors, 2007 chairwoman Sandra Murman and 2006 chairman Rick Kosan.

"Rick's big focus was on accreditation, and Sandy's was on putting together the chamber's five-year strategic plan and getting the economic development council up and running," Rainey said. "My year isn't going to have that kind of sizzle. I just need to get the word out about all the great things we're doing and build on our past successes."

Rainey will juggle his duties as chamber chairman with working at his law firm, Williams Schifino Mangione & Steady P.A., in Tampa. He practices commercial, construction and real estate litigation.

He joined the firm in 1992 and has been involved with the Brandon chamber since 1993, serving as consulting attorney and working on a committee as the chamber built its new headquarters on Pauls Drive. He has also served as a board member and chairman of the Campo Family YMCA.

He graduated from the University of Florida, earning a bachelor's degree in business in 1985 and a law degree in 1988. During college, he met his wife, Doris. The couple celebrated their 20th anniversary last month.

"The chamber's biggest emphasis this year will be the continued implementation of the strategic plan and trying to get the larger corporations more involved in the chamber," Rainey said. "We need to get the word out about all we have to offer."

Murman, who calls herself Brandon's most fervent cheerleader, will continue to help out on that front.

"I plan to continue to stay involved with economic development," said Murman, who was pleased to see a number of her goals for the year reached.

Murman set up satellite chambers in the FishHawk Ranch and Bloomingdale/Winthrop Town Centre areas for the convenience of members in those areas.

"I think we've carved out a great niche for those members," she said. "We've done a lot of surveying in the last three months to determine our members' needs. It's important that members feel they are getting value for their dollar."

Retaining membership will be more critical during the coming year, Murman said, as Florida's economy is expected to continue on its downward spiral.

"We'll have to come up with creative ways to keep members during this challenging time," she said.

If anyone can do it, she said, it's the co-chairmen of the economic development council, Miller Dowdy and John Sullivan.

"Those guys are visionaries," she said. "They see the big picture, where we want to be in five years."

At the same time, Murman, a former state representative, emphasized that the chamber needs to keep abreast of county and state issues and continue to advocate for Brandon.

She said she is proud of how the chamber contracted with the county to attract large corporations to the area, then fought the Hillsborough County Planning Commission when it proposed banning large office buildings on State Road 60.

She believes the chamber should continue pushing the county and state to correct the community's biggest problem: traffic.

"We have more credibility and influence with the county, state and federal government," she said. "We're bigger and better, and we've morphed into a true force."

Murman will pass her chairman's gavel to Rainey at the chamber's annual dinner Jan. 25 at the Embassy Suites Hotel at the University of South Florida, 3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa. A reception will begin at 6:15 p.m., and the dinner starts at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Highlights will include presentation of the Key Citizen Award, which is given to a volunteer for selfless service, and the Outstanding Community Leadership Award, given to a leader dedicated to making a difference in the community. Murman also will present the Chairman's Award to the chamber member who did the most to help make her year as chairwoman a success.

For tickets, call Mary Cummings at (813) 689-1221 or e-mail her at mcummings @brandonchamber.com.

BRANDON CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER

WHEN: Jan. 25

WHERE: Embassy Suites Hotel at the University of South Florida, 3705 Spectrum Blvd.

DETAILS: Reception at 6:15 p.m. Dinner at 7:15 p.m. Highlights include presentation of the Key Citizen Award and the Outstanding Community Leadership Award.

TICKETS: $50. Call Mary Cummings at (813) 689-1221 or e-mail her at mcummings @brandonchamber.com.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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