Inspire Mental Health will have their Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting at 202 N.E. Second St., Suite #2, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. They will host  a Main Street Mixer right after the ribbon cutting.  

Making the decision to keep learning is what makes us better people, employees, business owners and more! The Chamber of Commerce’s new Bee Business Savvy Training Series is here to help. By participating in this live course for just one hour, two days in a row, you can receive a certificate on the topic of “Telephone Skills and Quality Customer Service”. You must attend both days to receive your certificate. Register for this complimentary class and mark your calendar for Thursday, Sept. 28, and Friday, Sept. 29, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Visitor Center (Chamber) 55 S Parrott Ave.

Here are a few of the learning outcomes you should be able to master at course completion:
• Describe the challenges of telephone customer service in today’s world.
• Cultivate an excellent phone voice.
• Demonstrate first impressions.
• Describe ways to keep the conversation going.
• Describe best practices for using voicemail and taking messages.

• Summarize when to screen calls and recognize when you have to say “no”.
• Summarize best methods for selling on the telephone.
• Describe methods for soothing irate customers.

Bring your lunch if you would like and we’ll supply the water and cookies.

Come join in the exciting Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at noon, for one of our newest business partners, Conviva Care Center, located at 2257 US 441 North, Suite A. You will want to meet the doctor and care team along with their health plan partners. You’ll be able to tour the facility, enjoy free music, lots of food and there will be giveaways too. Event is from noon to 2 p.m. with the ribbon cutting at 12:15 p.m. Don’t miss out.
Make sure to RSVP, to reserve your spot, by Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 by calling Suly at 772-579-7884 or you can register online at www.okeechobeebusiness.com.

When there is a crisis, we have a team of highly trained professionals working together to get to you and are prepared to help you overcome any obstacle. They are the men, women and K-9 friends who are Okeechobee’s First Responders. Join the chamber and presenting sponsor SouthState Bank in recognizing those who serve as public safety, health care providers and military veterans at our Community Heroes Luncheon. We will honor our community heroes  on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the IRSC Dixon Hendry Campus, 2229 NW Ninth Ave. We are truly honored to have Retired Marine Lt. 3 Star General, Frank Libutti as our guest speaker.

Retired General Libutti is Chairman of the Board of RGS, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, and CEO and Chairman of Horses and Heroes of Southeast Florida, Inc. After retiring from 35 years of highly decorated service in 2001, Libutti served as head of the New York City Police Department Counterterrorism Bureau where he was responsible for counterterrorism training, prevention, and investigations serving as a liaison to state and federal agencies.

In 2003, President George W. Bush nominated Libutti as Under Secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He was the first person assigned to the new position in the then two-month-old DHS. Libutti’s military career included time spent in Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Kenya and Somalia among assignments within the United States during which he oversaw more than 80,000 Marines. Libutti joined the IRSC Foundation Board of Directors in 2022.

Please don’t miss out on personally thanking ALL of our dedicated community heroes. Let’s show our support by registering for this special Heroes luncheon. You can register online at www.okeechobeebusiness.com. The event will be scrolling on the left hand side, click into it and register.

Heroes Luncheon Schedule
11:30 a.m. – Arrival & Networking
11:45 a.m. – Lunch
noon – Hero Award Recognition
12:20 p.m. – Feature Presentation
1 p.m. – Dismissal