Dear Carib Chamber:
I wanted to let you know that next week Wed. I will be moving out of FL and heading to Grad School. I have been awarded a $$,000 Assistanship position that will fund my education over a 2 year period at University. I am very excited to commence studying and even more excited to move.
I wanted to once again express ALL MY LOVE and APPRECIATION to the Chamber for the years of assistance, motivation, and inspiration. It has been quite a journey with your organization and just wanted to let you know how grateful I am, as well as share with you some wonderful news- not only did I graduate from St. Leo with a double major and a minor but as the Most outstanding student in the School of Business, Most outstanding student in my area of study-Tourism, St Leo’s Most Outstanding student socially, and Student Government’s highest Achiever. The official awards are listed below.
As my Undergraduate Collegiate Career comes to a close, I leave St. Leo University in high spirits! Throughout my four years here, it seems as if my hardwork and dedication to the community as well as my professional and social development has not gone unnoticed. I received several of the most coveted and respected awards on campus in the past few weeks!
For Academics I received:
1. Student of the Year for the School of Busines at Saint Leo University -This award is voted on and awarded by the entire school of business faculty and staff-including accounting, marketing, communication, etc….I was selected as their TOP STUDENT!
2. Student of the Year for International Hospitality and Tourism Management- The top student selected and awarded by the Direcotr of my program.
3. The Who’s Who of American Universities and Colleges
4.The Honors Medallion- after being a successful student in the Honors Program here at St. Leo, I was awarded with a medallion to be worn at Graduation this Sat.
For Social Involvement:
I received the TWO Top awards from Saint Leo University and Student Government:
5. The Tobey Award- for sustained commitment and personal character of the highest order, embodies the qualities of leadership, service and dedication to Saint Leo University-Presented by Student Government
6.The John I. Leonard General Excellence Award- Presented to the individual who best embodies the qualities of character, scholarship, service, leadership and general excellence for which Saint Leo University stands.- Presented by Saint Leo University.
Your efforts to assist my professionaly growth have contributed greatly to my achievements! I will never forget and will stay in touch no matter where in the world I conquer next 
Respectfully!
Shari Joy Oliver
St. Leo University Grad 2009
Congratulations, CACCTB – Great success and fantastic networking opportunities. I am confident that CACCTB is going to grow in the Tampa Bay and beyond.
GWUA suggests that I’ll be representing GWUA as an active core team player for the future Chamber event. I hope my international business and education event organizing experience be helpful to the Chamber.
Best regards,
Dr. James Y. Lyn
Georgetown Wesleyan University of The Americas
Hamilton School of Business and Education
CACCTB:
Just to let you know what an event like IBS and the Caribbean American Chamber can do to your business. One of the business people I met at the summit and I had a one-on-one follow up last week. We’ve decided to refer our existing and new clients to each other, thereby increasing both our revenues. From that meeting I was also referred to another company that can provide me with technology remotely to train my SAP Consultants. This saved me a lot of time and effort to locate this service.
I’m very glad that I attended your event and will recommend it to any business that’s looking to grow and become more successful.
Looking forward to next year’s event.
Glenn Walters,Business Systems Specialist
Business System Designers
“When I first signed up to volunteer with the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay, I expected it to be just another networking opportunity or Chamber event. By the end of my volunteer, I was entirely wrong and greatly surprised. From the moment I arrived I was put to good use and I felt welcome by all the members. We were faces from across the globe united by a common interest in international business. Regardless of our cultural differences, the environment was so collaborative that the long hours of work went by quickly. Yes, my priority was working and making sure I supported the event as much as possible. At some moments, it actually felt like I had let networking fall into a second plan. But at the end of the day, instead of networked, I had “team-worked”. I closely interacted with every person involved in the event; I got to meet them in a much deeper and broader sense than I could have done had I just networked. I left the happy and with a much more valuable experience: I left knowing more persons and not merely having more contacts.”
Zaloni B, USF Graduate Student
“My experience as a volunteer at one of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bays premier events International Business Summit can be described in one word: AMAZING. As a recent graduate in a tough economy and in a new city, I know very well how hard it is to start a career. Every book will tell you that “Networking” is the key tool for every job seeker, the Chamber along with the International Business Summit not only helped me to increase my network in size but it helped to increase my network in quality. The professionals I met during this event were the most interesting, open-minded, nice and helpful people. I also learnt from the workshops adn monthly meetings I got to participate in and from my responsibilities as a volunteer. The cherry on top had to be the team sprit, they were nice, always smiling, organized, helpful and determined to make this event as much of an opportunity for the volunteers that it was for the attendees. Overall the International Business Summit has been the best event I have been to (as an attendee or as a volunteer) for a very long time. I could not thank enough all the persons who gave me the opportunity to participate, who trusted me and who made of this event a great success.”
Sarah N, Graduate 2008 from UNF, Jacksonville, FL.
Hi CACCTB -
Thanks for the cute pictures of the Jerk Hut booth at the IB Summit event! Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such a big event and to expose all of the other Chambers of Commerce folks to our restaurant!
Look forward to working with you again-
Sabrina W
JERK HUT JAMAICAN INC.
1406 E. FOWLER AVE
TAMPA, FL 33602
www.jerkhut.com
Hello CACCTB Team:
It was nice meeting your organization this past Friday. I enjoyed supporting this event and Chamber. I was very impressed with the organization and turnout.
Thank you and again, congratulations on a terrific event.
Regards,
Julie Balzano-Pizarro
Director of Mexico & Special Projects
Enterprise Florida, Inc.
CACCTB President:
It was a pleasure meeting your organization yesterday; I really enjoyed the ability to speak to the group and learning more about what you have accomplished.
If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Thanks!
Daniel James Scott, MS, MBA
ASBDC Certified Technology Business Counselor
CBA, RMA-CRC, CGBP, CMQ/OE, CQPA, CQIA
Small Business Development Center
at the University of South Florida (SBDC)
The purpose of the Student Professional Networking Event was to provide current students with an opportunity to listen to professionals as they shared their stories about their transition into the work force from University. Students also learned networking skills that are not instructed in the classroom.
A few weeks prior to the event, Amera Edwards, a 2009 graduate of Saint Leo University and the student co-coordinator, was invited to attend an International Business Summit in the Tampa Bay area by the President of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce, Derek Lloyd. That day she realized she had the opportunity to directly connect with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and a variety of professionals in our community.
She wanted to share this experience with her fellow Saint Leo University peers. Thus creating the first Student Professional Networking Event where local professionals are invited to speak as a panel to current SLU students. In collaboration with The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay, Amera sought out some of Tampa Bay’s dynamic professionals to participate in a Panel discussion.
All of the professionals were sourced from the Chamber’s Professional Directory and were more than willing to participate in the Networking Event. The event was well attended and students stayed well after the event to network and ask questions of the panel speakers. The entire panel expressed interest in coming back at a later date to speak with future SLU students. Words can’t describe how thankful we are to partner with Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and to foster a mutually beneficial relationship.
Denyve Duncan, St. Leo Universtiy, Director of Alumini Relations
HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE – SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
During May and June of 2009 four international students (one Pakistani, one Brazilian, and two South Africans) partook in an in-depth internship with the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Tampab Bay (CACCTB). Headed by CACCTB, the four students hit the ground running conducting and completing various assigned projects.
Each project was challenging and demanded the students to think outside the box. Their critical and analytical skills were pushed to the brink and ultimately each student succeeded and in certain instances exceeded expectations.
Through a successful internship, these students were able to gain first-hand knowledge and experience of the inner workings of international business. They honed their communication and decision making skills and concluded the internship significantly better prepared for the “real world”.
Successfully navigating through a challenging internship has bared fruit not only for the students, but also for the Chamber and for Hillsborough Community College. The Chamber saw numerous projects completed or jump started thanks to the diligence and commitment of the interns. This increased efficiency signifies the dedication the Chamber has to its members by offering unique internships whereby all parties can succeed.
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) benefitted through the internship as the organization was able to further enhance the education of its students through real world applicable projects. Furthermore, HCC forged a strong and long lasting relationship with one of Tampa Bay’s perennial powers in the Caribbean Chamber.
Through such a strong relationship, both organizations have the ability to partner together on future ventures that will ultimately result in a win-win situation for all involved; especially the students who continue to be the main focus.
Hillsborough Community College / Tampa Bay Caribbean Chamber Internship Program 2009
Thank you again for organizing and hosting the meeting on Saturday at the Univ of South Florida, with the students of Caribbean Cultural Exchange. I hope your members and students found it valuable. I would love to return and conduct my Guerrilla Marketing for Turbulent Times program.
I need your help. After the break you told the audience that they laughed over 90 times in the first hour of my presentation. Wow!! I forgot specifically what you said. Do you remember. I’d love to use this as a testimonial on my website. Do I have your permission and could you send me a the exact quotation.
Thanks you again.
Sincerely,
Ed Tate, CSP
Certified Speaking Professional
World Champion of Public Speaking
Certified Coach
