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Chamber Leader Urges Cooperation

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: February 4, 2009

TAMPA - There's a reason they're called "the good old days."

That's what Brandon lawyer John Sullivan, the 2009-10 chairman of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce, told fellow chamber members at the 50th anniversary celebration and annual dinner Jan. 23 at the Embassy Suites in Tampa.

In his forecast for the year, he related the story of Florida entrepreneurs and developers Henry Plant and Henry Flagler. Rather than competing against one another, they came up with a gentleman's agreement to divide the state. Plant would develop the western half, Flagler the east.

"I'd like to see us return to a handshake economy," Sullivan said. During these difficult economic times, he explained, it's incumbent upon businesses to help each other succeed for the overall economic health of the community.

Therefore, his focus this year will be on chamber programs that will help members pool resources, save money and survive.

"We want to develop a vehicle by which our members can share resources and cut costs during these challenging economic times," he said.

He also plans to find ways to encourage chamber members and the community to "shop local" and support locally owned businesses, which make up about 80 percent of the community's commercial base.

"That's how we're going to get through the hard times, working together," Sullivan said.

It's a philosophy Randy Wolfe adopted after earning his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1989 and moving to Brandon. While building his career as a corporate, estate and tax lawyer, Wolfe engrossed himself in his community and quickly became an active civic leader.

He served as the president of the Bloomingdale Homeowners Association before moving to Barrington Oaks East. He is active in the Presidents' Roundtable of Greater Brandon, which organizes the annual Fourth of July parade and Public Affairs Dinner. He is a longtime board member of Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association and serves as chairman of its executive board. He's an active member of the chamber, serving as counsel to the board of directors.

At the 50th anniversary dinner with his wife, Merinda, and daughters, Christina and Elizabeth, Wolfe joined a long list of civic activists who have received the chamber's Key Citizen Award. The award honors longtime community service. Last year's recipient, Brandon lawyer Clif Curry, presented the award.

Also honored at the dinner was Malcolm Beard of Seffner, a former Hillsborough County sheriff, state representative and state senator. He received the Greater Brandon Community Leadership Award from that award's first recipient, former state Senate President Tom Lee.

Mary Owens of Brandon, co-owner of Black Diamond Associates, won the Chairman's Award from outgoing chamber chairman Marsh Rainey.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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