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<channel><title><![CDATA[Lakeland Chamber of Commerce - Chamber Blog]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog]]></link><description><![CDATA[Chamber Blog]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:22:48 -0400</pubDate><generator>EditMySite</generator><item><title><![CDATA[LRH Advanced TAVR Procedure Helps Patients Return to What They Love]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lrh-advanced-tavr-procedure-helps-patients-return-to-what-they-love]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lrh-advanced-tavr-procedure-helps-patients-return-to-what-they-love#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:40:57 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lrh-advanced-tavr-procedure-helps-patients-return-to-what-they-love</guid><description><![CDATA[Guest Blog Post         When Greg Manning hiked to the top of Yosemite National Park&rsquo;s Half Dome, he knew it marked a milestone, not just in miles or elevation, but in how far he&rsquo;d come since his heart valve replacement.The 16-mile trek, which includes an elevation gain close to 5,000 feet, would be a challenge for anyone. For Greg, it was proof of his renewed health, endurance, and strength.&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I could have done it without the valve. We never had to stop becau [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><em><font color="#a1a1a1">Guest Blog Post</font></em></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/manning-1_orig.jpeg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">When Greg Manning hiked to the top of Yosemite National Park&rsquo;s Half Dome, he knew it marked a milestone, not just in miles or elevation, but in how far he&rsquo;d come since his heart valve replacement.<br /><br />The 16-mile trek, which includes an elevation gain close to 5,000 feet, would be a challenge for anyone. For Greg, it was proof of his renewed health, endurance, and strength.<br /><br />&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I could have done it without the valve. We never had to stop because of fatigue or because I was out of breath. I wouldn&rsquo;t have been able to do that before,&rdquo; says Greg.<br /><br />Greg&rsquo;s path to surgery began many years earlier. He didn&rsquo;t even have any obvious symptoms at first. His journey began when his primary care provider detected a heart murmur at a routine physical.<br /><br />&ldquo;About four years ago, my doctor found it and started doing echocardiograms every other year,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Over time, the numbers kept going down until I reached a point where I needed to consider next steps.&rdquo;<br /><br />When his valve measurements reached that serious level, Greg&rsquo;s cardiology team, including <a href="https://doctors.mylrh.org/details/112/andres-medina-cv_thoracic_surgery-vascular_surgery-lakeland">Dr. Andres Medina</a> and <a href="https://doctors.mylrh.org/details/1249/mohammed-hassan-cv_thoracic_surgery-vascular_surgery-lakeland">Dr. Mohammed Hassan</a>, Cardiothoracic Surgeons at Lakeland Regional Health, helped him review his options. Those included traditional open-heart surgery or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).<br /><br />TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace a diseased aortic valve that isn&rsquo;t opening or closing properly. Instead of open-heart surgery, doctors guide a new valve into place through a small incision in the leg and expand it inside the existing valve. TAVR helps to improve blood flow, reduce symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath, and allows for quicker recovery with less time in the hospital.<br /><br />Dr. Medina helped pioneer the procedure, LRH was the first hospital in Florida to perform it, and more than 1,000 TAVR procedures have been performed since it was introduced.<br /><br />Greg had his TAVR procedure in 2024, staying just one night in the hospital. Within days, he was walking regularly, and he was back to work within a week.<br /><br />&ldquo;My experience was extremely positive,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />With renewed stamina, Greg completed the Half Dome hike with his son and is now planning future climbs, possibly Mt. Elbert in Colorado.<br /><br />If he had to make the decision again, he would choose TAVR every time. &ldquo;TAVR just made sense for me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It was less invasive with a quicker recovery.&rdquo;<br /><br />If you have been told you have a heart murmur or aortic stenosis, talk with your cardiologist about whether the TAVR procedure may be right for you. Lakeland Regional Health provides comprehensive <a href="https://www.mylrh.org/cardiovascular-surgery-program/">cardiovascular care</a>, offering advanced treatment options to support patients across a wide range of heart conditions.<br /><br />&#10145;&#65039; <a href="https://bit.ly/46wRQra" target="_blank">Watch Greg share his story.</a></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Watson Clinic Urologist First in Lakeland to Offer Breakthrough Kidney Stone Removal Treatment]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/watson-clinic-urologist-first-in-lakeland-to-offer-breakthrough-kidney-stone-removal-treatment]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/watson-clinic-urologist-first-in-lakeland-to-offer-breakthrough-kidney-stone-removal-treatment#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:02:53 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/watson-clinic-urologist-first-in-lakeland-to-offer-breakthrough-kidney-stone-removal-treatment</guid><description><![CDATA[Guest Blog Post      Genesis Nieves, MD, a Urologist who treats patients from Watson Clinic Main in Lakeland, is the first specialist in the Lakeland area to offer the groundbreaking CVAC System treatment.   According to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney stones send over half a million people in the U.S. to the emergency room every year. One in ten people will get a kidney stone in their lifetime. These hard, crystalized objects that form in the kidneys can be about the size of a grain of s [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><em><font color="#a1a1a1">Guest Blog Post</font></em></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/nieves-genesis-md-cvac-square_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Genesis Nieves, MD, a Urologist who treats patients from Watson Clinic Main in Lakeland, is the first specialist in the Lakeland area to offer the groundbreaking CVAC System treatment.</div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">According to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney stones send over half a million people in the U.S. to the emergency room every year. One in ten people will get a kidney stone in their lifetime. These hard, crystalized objects that form in the kidneys can be about the size of a grain of sand and cause little to no symptoms. As they get bigger, they&rsquo;re more likely to lodge in the ureter, blocking the passage of urine and causing immobilizing discomfort.<br /><br />Surgical intervention may be necessary to remove larger stones, but clinical studies have shown that traditional approaches can leave residual stone fragments, which leads to post-procedure issues like pain, hospitalization and the need for additional follow-up treatments.<br />&nbsp;<br />The <strong>CVAC System</strong> is a new treatment option designed to remove these risks. <strong><a href="https://www.watsonclinic.com/physicians/genesis-nieves.html" target="_blank">Genesis Nieves, MD</a></strong>, a <a href="https://www.watsonclinic.com/specialties/urology.html" target="_blank">Urologist</a> who treats patients from <a href="https://www.watsonclinic.com/locations/1600-lakeland-hills-blvd-lakeland-fl.html" target="_blank">Watson Clinic Main</a> in Lakeland, is the first specialist in the Lakeland area to offer this groundbreaking procedure, and she has achieved exceptional 98% clearance rates for stones averaging 2 cm in size. &nbsp;<br /><br />The system uses a ureteroscopy (a catheter with a tiny camera that travels through the urinary tract) to break up stones with a laser fiber, then gently removes the stone fragments with irrigation and vacuum aspiration, leaving behind a stone-free kidney.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br />&ldquo;This newer CVAC technology has been a game changer for many patients,&rdquo; she says, &ldquo;because it significantly improves our ability to clear stone burden in one procedure and reduce the chance of leftover fragments or recurrence. While no surgery can promise 100% clearance, outcomes are excellent in the majority of cases.&rdquo;<br />&nbsp;<br /><strong>To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nieves and find out if you&rsquo;re a candidate for this procedure, call 863-680-7300 or visit <a href="https://www.WatsonClinic.com/Nieves" target="_blank">WatsonClinic.com/Nieves</a>.&nbsp;</strong></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lakeland Chamber Signs Permitting Reform Coalition Letter, Addresses United States Senate]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lakeland-chamber-signs-permitting-reform-coalition-letter-addresses-united-states-senate]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lakeland-chamber-signs-permitting-reform-coalition-letter-addresses-united-states-senate#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:21:47 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lakeland-chamber-signs-permitting-reform-coalition-letter-addresses-united-states-senate</guid><description><![CDATA[This coalition letter was sent to the Members of the United States Senate in support of permitting reform.         Alongside 600+ organizations, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce&nbsp;signed onto a U.S. Chamber of Commerce coalition letter urging the U.S. Senate to build on the House of Representatives&rsquo; progress and pass bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform. The support of this organization&nbsp;underscores the shared recognition that modernizing federal permitting is essential to bu [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><em>This coalition letter was sent to the Members of the United States Senate in support of permitting reform.</em></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/advocacy-news_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Alongside 600+ organizations, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce&nbsp;signed onto a U.S. Chamber of Commerce coalition letter urging the U.S. Senate to build on the House of Representatives&rsquo; progress and pass bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform. The support of this organization&nbsp;underscores the shared recognition that modernizing federal permitting is essential to building, investing, and strengthening our communities and economy.<br /><br />The letter has been shared with all U.S. Senate offices. The letter has also been featured in recent coverage [Politico Pro&rsquo;s Morning Energy and shared widely across social platforms. Our charge to Lakeland Chamber members: please help amplify this effort by sharing the letter on your platforms and reminding your Senators that permitting reform must remain a top priority.<br /><br />&#8203;View the full letter below.<br></div>  <div class="wsite-scribd">			  			 				<div id="630082669106215048-pdf-fallback" style="display: none;"> 					Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click <a href="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/260223_coalition_permitting_senate_final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> to download the document. 				</div> 				<div id="630082669106215048-pdf-embed" style="display: none; height: 500px;"> 				</div>  				 			</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nancy Cattarius Named George Jenkins Award Winner at Lakeland Chamber Annual Meeting]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/nancy-cattarius-named-george-jenkins-award-winner-at-lakeland-chamber-annual-meeting]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/nancy-cattarius-named-george-jenkins-award-winner-at-lakeland-chamber-annual-meeting#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:57:27 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/nancy-cattarius-named-george-jenkins-award-winner-at-lakeland-chamber-annual-meeting</guid><description><![CDATA[Harrell&rsquo;s LLC, Bungalow Boutique and Gifts Also Recognized         The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Nancy Cattarius as the recipient of its 2026 George Jenkins Award. Presented at the Lakeland Chamber&rsquo;s 2025 Annual Meeting, this prestigious award celebrates an individual who has provided exemplary leadership and long-standing service to the Chamber and community. Other members of the business community were also recognized for their contributions to Lakeland  202 [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><em>Harrell&rsquo;s LLC, Bungalow Boutique and Gifts Also Recognized</em><br /></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:right"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07875-3_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph"><span>The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Nancy Cattarius as the recipient of its 2026 George Jenkins Award. Presented at the Lakeland Chamber&rsquo;s 2025 Annual Meeting, this prestigious award celebrates an individual who has provided exemplary leadership and long-standing service to the Chamber and community. Other members of the business community were also recognized for their contributions to Lakeland</span><br /></div>  <div class="paragraph"><strong><u>2026 George Jenkins Award Recipient: Nancy Cattarius</u><br /></strong>The George Jenkins Award, named for the founder of Publix Super Markets, is considered the Lakeland Chamber&rsquo;s highest honor for an individual. Todd Jones, Executive Chairman of Publix Super Markets, Inc., presented the award to Ms. Cattarius.<br /><br />A Lakeland resident since the age of 10, Cattarius grew to love the community by attending local schools and college at Florida Southern College. After launching her professional career in Winter Haven, she found her long-term home at a Lakeland company, where she rapidly ascended to leadership and earned multiple accolades. Her career is defined by her adaptability in the face of seismic industry shifts, navigating the evolution from vinyl records to digital streaming, while consistently mentoring her staff to prioritize community engagement and find their own paths to leadership.<br /><br />&#8203;Cattarius&rsquo; civic impact is profound. As a graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class 2, she has dedicated her time to an exhaustive list of organizations, including the SPCA, American Cancer Society, Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, Habitat for Humanity, Peace River Center, and Lakeland Pigfest. Her leadership also extends to Florida Southern College, VISTE, Central Florida Speech and Hearing, the Polk Advertising Federation, and the Radio Broadcasters Alliance of Tampa Bay. With the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Cattarius has served on the Chamber&rsquo;s Board of Directors, as part of the Small Business Awards Committee, Chair of Leadership Lakeland Class 28, and a past president of the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association, through which she was honored in 2008 with the Jere Annis Award for her enduring legacy of service.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07720_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph"><strong><u>2026 Kathleen Munson Quality of Life Champion: Harrell&rsquo;s LLC</u><br /></strong>The Kathleen Munson Quality of Life Champion Award honors those businesses that are dedicated to making Lakeland a great place to live, work, and play.<br /><br />Harrell&rsquo;s, LLC was named recipient of the 2026 Quality of Life Champion. Their story began in 1941 with the purchase of a small feed and seed store at Pine Street and Florida Avenue in downtown Lakeland and has continued through four generations of leadership. What started as a modest, family-run business has now grown into a nationwide leader in customized agronomic solutions, helping turf and ornamental professionals grow a better world.<br />Rooted in unwavering Christian principles, Harrell&rsquo;s is built on integrity, a people-first mindset, and a deep commitment to doing what is right. Its values center on serving, honoring, and glorifying God, caring for people, and growing financial strength responsibly, principles demonstrated daily through action, stewardship, and generosity. In 2016, the company became 100% employee-owned and now includes more than 500 employee-owners across 30 locations. With its corporate headquarters in Lakeland, Harrell&rsquo;s remains a preferred employer and a cornerstone of the local business community.<br /><br />Also in 2016, the Harrell family established Harrell Family Charities to expand its commitment to honoring God and taking care of people. A champion of health and wellness, the Charities have invested in infrastructure to include:<br />&bull; Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness at Lakeland Regional Health<br />&bull; Jack and Tina Harrell Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine at Lakeland Regional Health<br />&bull; Jack and Tina Harrell Family Courtyard of the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine at Lakeland Regional Health<br />&bull; Jack and Tina Harrell Family Botanical Gardens at Bonnet Springs<br />&bull; Jack and Tina Harrell Family Greenhouse at Bonnet Springs<br />&bull; Harrell Family Charities Front Yard Gallery at the Florida Children&rsquo;s Museum at Bonnet Springs<br /><br />Additional philanthropic endeavors have benefitted Parker Street Ministries, Gospel, Inc., YMCA of West Central Florida, VISTE, Catapult Lakeland, and countless others. Through financial support, volunteerism, and long-term partnerships, Harrell Family Charities reflects the heart of the Harrell family and the values on which the company was built.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07801_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph"><strong><u>2025 P. Scott Linder Small Business of the Year: Bungalow Boutique and Gifts</u><br /></strong>The Small Business of the Year Award is a prestigious award given to a member business in recognition of their accomplishments and entrepreneurial spirit. The recipient is selected from 12 Small Business of the Month recipients from the year prior.<br />&nbsp;<br />Bungalow Boutique and Gifts, 2025 Small Business of the Year award recipient, embodies the spirit of local entrepreneurship, rooted in family, passion, and a dedication to serving others. For the past decade, Bungalow Boutique &amp; Gifts has grown from a leap of faith into a welcoming, stylish destination in Lakeland.<br /><br />Owned by sisters Christine Boring and Barbara Boulerice, the boutique offers women&rsquo;s clothing, accessories, and gifts, with unique pieces thoughtfully selected to help customers feel comfortable, confident, and chic. Known as &ldquo;The Shop that LOVES Lakeland,&rdquo; their strong commitment to customer service reflects their belief that supporting customers means supporting the community.<br /><br />Community involvement is central to their story. Bungalow Boutique and Gifts supports ~25 nonprofits, host programs, fashion shows, and events that bring people together. They are active in organizations such as the American Business Women&rsquo;s Association (ABWA) and Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO). The sisters credit their Chamber membership with strengthening credibility, expanding networks, and supporting their growth.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc08041-1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph"><strong><u>2025 Annual Meeting</u><br /></strong>The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce&rsquo;s 2025 Annual Meeting presented by Suncoast Credit Union united business leaders, community advocates, and champions of Lakeland&rsquo;s business community to celebrate a successful year and usher in a new era of leadership. 2025 Board Chair, Lori Martini of GiveWell Community Foundation, reflected on the Chamber&rsquo;s achievements in 2025 as well as treasured moments during her tenure. The event featured a keynote address from Madeleine Thakur, President &amp; CEO of The Children&rsquo;s Movement of Florida, who shared valuable insights on the state of early childhood education in Florida and why access to high-quality, affordable early learning opportunities is a critical matter for the business community.<br /><br />The evening concluded with the formal passing of the gavel to the Chamber&rsquo;s 2026 Board Chair, Par Sahota of Boring Business Systems, who expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to the business community and vision for 2026.<br />&#8203;<br />A special highlight of the Annual Meeting connected more than 50 years of Chamber history and leadership as the 1976 Board Chair Dick Mason and the 2026 Board Chair Par Sahota exchanged ceremonial &ldquo;golden gavels&rdquo; to mark Mason&rsquo;s 50th passing of the gavel ceremony.</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07977_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden;"></div> 				<div id='963239717664938605-gallery' class='imageGallery' style='line-height: 0px; padding: 0; margin: 0'><div id='963239717664938605-imageContainer0' style='float:left;width:33.28%;margin:0;'><div id='963239717664938605-insideImageContainer0' style='position:relative;margin:5px;'><div class='galleryImageHolder' style='position:relative; width:100%; padding:0 0 75%;overflow:hidden;'><div class='galleryInnerImageHolder'><a href='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc1219_orig.jpg' rel='lightbox[gallery963239717664938605]'><img src='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc1219.jpg' class='galleryImage' _width='800' _height='533' style='position:absolute;border:0;width:112.57%;top:0%;left:-6.29%' /></a></div></div></div></div><div id='963239717664938605-imageContainer1' style='float:left;width:33.28%;margin:0;'><div id='963239717664938605-insideImageContainer1' style='position:relative;margin:5px;'><div class='galleryImageHolder' style='position:relative; width:100%; padding:0 0 75%;overflow:hidden;'><div class='galleryInnerImageHolder'><a href='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07535_orig.jpg' rel='lightbox[gallery963239717664938605]'><img src='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07535.jpg' class='galleryImage' _width='800' _height='533' style='position:absolute;border:0;width:112.57%;top:0%;left:-6.29%' /></a></div></div></div></div><div id='963239717664938605-imageContainer2' style='float:left;width:33.28%;margin:0;'><div id='963239717664938605-insideImageContainer2' style='position:relative;margin:5px;'><div class='galleryImageHolder' style='position:relative; width:100%; padding:0 0 75%;overflow:hidden;'><div class='galleryInnerImageHolder'><a href='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07529_orig.jpg' rel='lightbox[gallery963239717664938605]'><img src='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07529.jpg' class='galleryImage' _width='800' _height='533' style='position:absolute;border:0;width:112.57%;top:0%;left:-6.29%' /></a></div></div></div></div><div id='963239717664938605-imageContainer3' style='float:left;width:33.28%;margin:0;'><div id='963239717664938605-insideImageContainer3' style='position:relative;margin:5px;'><div class='galleryImageHolder' style='position:relative; width:100%; padding:0 0 75%;overflow:hidden;'><div class='galleryInnerImageHolder'><a href='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07870_orig.jpg' rel='lightbox[gallery963239717664938605]'><img src='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07870.jpg' class='galleryImage' _width='800' _height='533' style='position:absolute;border:0;width:112.57%;top:0%;left:-6.29%' /></a></div></div></div></div><div id='963239717664938605-imageContainer4' style='float:left;width:33.28%;margin:0;'><div id='963239717664938605-insideImageContainer4' style='position:relative;margin:5px;'><div class='galleryImageHolder' style='position:relative; width:100%; padding:0 0 75%;overflow:hidden;'><div class='galleryInnerImageHolder'><a href='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07951_orig.jpg' rel='lightbox[gallery963239717664938605]'><img src='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07951.jpg' class='galleryImage' _width='800' _height='533' style='position:absolute;border:0;width:112.57%;top:0%;left:-6.29%' /></a></div></div></div></div><div id='963239717664938605-imageContainer5' style='float:left;width:33.28%;margin:0;'><div id='963239717664938605-insideImageContainer5' style='position:relative;margin:5px;'><div class='galleryImageHolder' style='position:relative; width:100%; padding:0 0 75%;overflow:hidden;'><div class='galleryInnerImageHolder'><a href='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07640_orig.jpg' rel='lightbox[gallery963239717664938605]'><img src='https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/dsc07640.jpg' class='galleryImage' _width='800' _height='533' style='position:absolute;border:0;width:112.57%;top:0%;left:-6.29%' /></a></div></div></div></div><span style='display: block; clear: both; height: 0px; overflow: hidden;'></span></div> 				<div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden;"></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dr. Takiyah Dixon Selected for U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Business Leads Master Class on High-Quality Curriculum]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/dr-takiyah-dixon-selected-for-us-chamber-of-commerce-foundation-business-leads-master-class-on-high-quality-curriculum]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/dr-takiyah-dixon-selected-for-us-chamber-of-commerce-foundation-business-leads-master-class-on-high-quality-curriculum#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:57:59 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/dr-takiyah-dixon-selected-for-us-chamber-of-commerce-foundation-business-leads-master-class-on-high-quality-curriculum</guid><description><![CDATA[       Among a highly competitive class of applicants, Dr. Takiyah Dixon was recently selected to participate in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation&rsquo;s Business Leads Master Class: Building Business Leadership for High-Quality Curriculum,&nbsp;a competitive, national fellowship experience focused on strengthening the role of business leaders in education and workforce development.&#8203;The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation empowers the business community to serve as champions for edu [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/uscc-foundation-impactful-blue-scaled-1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Among a highly competitive class of applicants, Dr. Takiyah Dixon was recently selected to participate in the <strong>U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation&rsquo;s Business Leads Master Class: Building Business Leadership for High-Quality Curriculum,</strong>&nbsp;a competitive, national fellowship experience focused on strengthening the role of business leaders in education and workforce development.<br /><br />&#8203;The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation empowers the business community to serve as champions for education and workforce systems that drive long-term economic prosperity. Through its Business Leads Fellowship network, the Foundation convenes leaders from across the country to engage in deep, issue-focused learning on topics critical to the future of education and the economy. The Master Class is an extension of their efforts, focusing&nbsp;<span>on how business leaders can help advance the adoption and effective implementation of high-quality instructional materials, aligned educator training, and systems-level strategies that improve student outcomes and strengthen the future workforce.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br />Dixon's experience included pre-work assigned by the Foundation and&nbsp;<span>a two-day, in-person convening on January 29&ndash;30, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dixon engaged with peers from throughout the nation to explore best practices, build a community of practice, and contribute to solutions that align education systems with workforce and economic needs.&nbsp;</span><span>The Master Class will be&nbsp;followed by virtual community-of-practice sessions three and six months after the event.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span>"The High-Quality Curriculum Master Class clarified that improving curriculum quality is one of the most cost-effective, long-term investments a community can make in its workforce," said Dixon. "Literacy, numeracy, and aligned career pathways are foundational to economic growth, and sustained collaboration between education, business, and community partners is essential to ensuring students are prepared for what comes next."</span><br /></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Hosts All In for Early Learning Day; Adopts Resolution]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lakeland-chamber-of-commerce-hosts-all-in-for-early-learning-day-adopts-resolution]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lakeland-chamber-of-commerce-hosts-all-in-for-early-learning-day-adopts-resolution#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:39:16 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chamber News]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/lakeland-chamber-of-commerce-hosts-all-in-for-early-learning-day-adopts-resolution</guid><description><![CDATA[       On Monday, January 26, 2026, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce joined communities across Florida to participate in All In for Early Learning Day: a statewide initiative powered by The Children&rsquo;s Movement of Florida, convening parents, educators, business leaders, local officials, and community partners to highlight the importance of high-quality early learning programs for all Florida children.&ldquo;The first five years build the foundation for school success, career readiness, and  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/early-learning_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">On Monday, January 26, 2026, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce joined communities across Florida to participate in All In for Early Learning Day: a statewide initiative powered by The Children&rsquo;s Movement of Florida, convening parents, educators, business leaders, local officials, and community partners to highlight the importance of high-quality early learning programs for all Florida children.<br /><br />&ldquo;The first five years build the foundation for school success, career readiness, and lifelong health,&rdquo; said Madeleine Thakur, President &amp; CEO of The Children&rsquo;s Movement of Florida, in a recorded statement. &ldquo;Early learning strengthens families, supports today&rsquo;s workforce, and builds tomorrow&rsquo;s talent pipeline.&rdquo;<br /><br />90% of the brain develops before age five, providing a foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health (Center, n.d.). &ldquo;What children experience during this time shapes everything that comes next&mdash;their confidence, their curiosity, their language development, their ability to form relationships, and their readiness for school,&rdquo; said Sarah Vespa, General Counsel for GMF Steel Group and a Vice Chair of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. &ldquo;Early learning also strengthens our community. It helps parents work, supports local employers, and builds the future workforce our businesses will rely on&hellip; when communities invest in early learning, they see returns in health, education, workforce stability, and long-term economic growth.&rdquo;<br /><br />Strong early learning experiences help children show up to kindergarten ready to learn, confident, curious, and on track. In Polk County, only 38% of students are considered &ldquo;kindergarten ready&rdquo; by state standards, falling below the state average of 44% (Florida Department of Education, n.d.). Readiness is currently measured by the&nbsp;Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Star Early Literacy assessment, a 20-minute, 27-question exam administered within the first 30 days of kindergarten for all kindergarten students&nbsp;<span>(Florida Department of Education, 2025).&nbsp;</span>Yet research by the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County uncovered additional definitions of kindergarten readiness: self-readiness, the ability to follow directions, and kindness. &ldquo;If children walk into the classroom ready to treat each other with care and empathy, everything else becomes teachable,&rdquo; according to ELC CEO, Dr. Marc Hutek (Reynolds, 2025).</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:30px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/img-5565_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Parents, educators, business leaders, local officials, and community partners joined together for All In for Early Learning Day in Lakeland to highlight the importance of high-quality early learning programs for all Florida children.</div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:justify;"><span>Ric Banciella, Director of Business Engagement for The Children&rsquo;s Movement of Florida and head of the Bosses for Babies initiative, joined the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce for All In for Early Learning Day. Banciella delivered a message to community leaders, emphasizing access to high-quality, affordable early education programs as a core workforce issue. He highlighted the critical role businesses play in bridging gaps between the workplace and new parents. Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley followed with remarks on the state of early learning in Lakeland and a reflection on the role employer flexibility played in her professional career while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood.</span><br /><br /><span>Access to affordable childcare creates an added layer of complexity for working parents. Families in Polk County spend up to 18% of their income on childcare, and employers consistently cite childcare access as a top workforce challenge affecting retention and recruitment. A recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation estimates nearly $5.4 billion dollars in economic value is lost annually due to working parents having to be away from their jobs while caring for children under the age of six (Florida Chamber, 2023).</span><br /><br /><span>Childcare and early learning successes &amp; challenges impact all areas of the Lakeland Chamber&rsquo;s Accelerate 2030 Strategic Plan, as access to high-quality childcare and early learning is both a present and future priority for the business community. The Lakeland Chamber Board of Directors, led by 2026 Board Chair Par Sahota of Boring Business Systems, convened during All In for Early Learning Day to adopt a resolution recognizing January 26, 2026, as &ldquo;Florida Early Learning Day.&rdquo; The resolution may be viewed below.</span></div>  <div class="wsite-scribd">			  			 				<div id="565127304576079289-pdf-fallback" style="display: none;"> 					Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click <a href="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/2026-0126_resolution_-_signed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> to download the document. 				</div> 				<div id="565127304576079289-pdf-embed" style="display: none; height: 750px;"> 				</div>  				 			</div>  <div class="wsite-spacer" style="height:50px;"></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:justify;"><strong>About the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce</strong><br /><span>The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce serves as the Catalyst for business success, Convener of leaders and influencers, and Champion for our thriving community. Its vision is to be the premier catalyst for the advancement of Lakeland&rsquo;s economic growth and enhancement of quality of life.</span><br /><br /><strong>About The Children's Movement of Florida</strong><br /><span>The Children's Movement of Florida is the state's leading voice on early childhood: championing policies and investments for high-quality early learning opportunities, health care access, and parent support. For more information, visit www.childrensmovementflorida.org.</span></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><strong>Citations</strong><br />Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (n.d.). Brain architecture. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/brain-architecture/<br /><br />Florida Chamber Foundation &amp; U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2023). Untapped Potential in FL: How Florida&rsquo;s childcare crisis is impacting early learning, workforce productivity, and Florida&rsquo;s economy [Online flipbook]. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.flipsnack.com/flchamber/untapped-potential-in-fl/full-view.html<br /><br />Florida Department of Education. (2025). 2025&ndash;26 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) K&ndash;2 fact sheet [PDF]. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.fldoe.org/file/20102/2526FASTK2FS.pdf<br /><br />Florida Department of Education. (n.d.). Kindergarten Readiness. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-studen0074-assessment/best/k-ready.stml<br /><br />Reynolds, L. (2025, November 26). Planting seeds of kindness: A new chapter of kindergarten readiness for the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County, FL. Highlights Early Learning. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://earlylearning.highlights.com/blogs/the-confident-classroom/planting-seeds-of-kindness-floridas-elc-polk-county-begins-a-new-chapter-in-kindergarten-readiness?srsltid=AfmBOoo6VxS1Mf1_615SkqL3Xc0eIHt3a5FjR_3l0l_G-OSPSGqbEwF</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Florida Chamber of Commerce Releases Annual Jobs and Competitiveness Agenda - 2026 Where We Stand]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/florida-chamber-of-commerce-releases-annual-jobs-and-competitiveness-agenda-2026-where-we-stand]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/florida-chamber-of-commerce-releases-annual-jobs-and-competitiveness-agenda-2026-where-we-stand#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 04:07:57 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/florida-chamber-of-commerce-releases-annual-jobs-and-competitiveness-agenda-2026-where-we-stand</guid><description><![CDATA[       The Florida Chamber of Commerce (Florida Chamber) recently announced the release of&nbsp;2026 Where We Stand, its annual jobs and competitiveness agenda developed in collaboration with job creators, local chambers of commerce, key policymakers, leading business trade groups and industry leaders across Florida. The agenda unites the business community around priorities for the 2026 legislative session and reflects the Florida Chamber&rsquo;s long-term focus on continued national leadership [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/advocacy-news_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph"><br />The Florida Chamber of Commerce (Florida Chamber) recently announced the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flchamber.com/wws2026"><span style="font-weight:600">2026 Where We Stand</span></a>, its annual jobs and competitiveness agenda developed in collaboration with job creators, local chambers of commerce, key policymakers, leading business trade groups and industry leaders across Florida. The agenda unites the business community around priorities for the 2026 legislative session and reflects the Florida Chamber&rsquo;s long-term focus on continued national leadership, job creation, economic growth, and global competitiveness.<br /><br />The&nbsp;2026 Where We Stand&nbsp;was released during day one of the Florida Chamber&rsquo;s&nbsp;<span style="font-weight:600">2026 Legislative Fly-In</span>&nbsp;held in Tallahassee in conjunction with the start of the legislative session and aligns state policy priorities with the&nbsp;Florida 2030 Blueprint. Together, these priorities provide a roadmap to continue strengthening Florida&rsquo;s economy while benefiting communities, families and local businesses in every community in Florida. The agenda also reinforces the Florida Chamber&rsquo;s commitment to making Florida&rsquo;s tax climate the best in the nation while advocating for further tax reductions and guarding against tax increases or shifts onto local businesses.<br /><br />&ldquo;Florida&rsquo;s continued success is driven by a unified business community that believes in free enterprise and has a long-term vision for Florida&rsquo;s economic competitiveness,&rdquo;&nbsp;<span style="font-weight:600">said David Sweeney, Chairman of the board for RS&amp;H and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.</span>&nbsp;&ldquo;The Florida Chamber&rsquo;s&nbsp;2026 Where We Stand&nbsp;agenda keeps Florida on the path where businesses can continue to grow, families can prosper and opportunity reaches every zip code.&rdquo;<br /><br />The agenda draws on data-driven research from the Florida Chamber Foundation and direct input from businesses of every size in every industry from Pensacola to Key West. It focuses on policies that support a strong business climate, prepare Florida&rsquo;s current and future workforce and position the state for sustained economic success and growth.<br /><br />&ldquo;Florida&rsquo;s growth did not happen by chance, and maintaining our competitive edge requires thoughtful policy choices that put the long-term ahead of the short-term and ensuring we don&rsquo;t take any steps backward,&rdquo;&nbsp;<span style="font-weight:600">said Mark Wilson, President &amp; CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.</span>&nbsp;&ldquo;With&nbsp;2026&nbsp;Where We Stand, the Florida Chamber remains laser-focused on&nbsp;the Florida 2030 Blueprint&nbsp;goal of becoming a top&#8209;10 global economy.&rdquo;<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:600">&#8203;Top priorities outlined in the 2026&nbsp;Where We Stand&nbsp;that advance the&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;2030 Blueprint goals&nbsp;include:</span><ul style="color:rgb(44, 47, 52)"><li><span style="font-weight:600">Strengthening Florida&rsquo;s Free Enterprise System</span>: Advancing policies that support job creation, economic growth, and long&#8209;term competitiveness and limit government intrusion in the marketplace.</li><li><span style="font-weight:600">Continued Lawsuit Abuse Reforms and Protecting the 2023 Reforms</span>: Continuing Florida&rsquo;s progress in 2023 by advancing further lawsuit abuse reforms and reducing cost drivers that impact families and businesses.</li><li><span style="font-weight:600">Insuring Florida&rsquo;s Future</span>: Continuing the stabilization of Florida&rsquo;s insurance markets by protecting the significant reforms already made and encouraging additional competition in the market.</li><li><span style="font-weight:600">Expanding Affordable Workforce Housing Options</span>: Supporting policies that continue to increase affordable, attainable workforce housing options at all income levels across Florida.</li><li><span style="font-weight:600">Building Florida&rsquo;s Talent Pipeline:</span>&nbsp;Strengthening Pre-K-post-secondary education, skills training, and work&#8209;based career and technical learning to meet Florida&rsquo;s current and future workforce demand.</li><li><span style="font-weight:600">Investing in Infrastructure for a Growing State:</span>&nbsp;Supporting infrastructure investments that keep pace with the next 2.5 million Floridians, 40 million additional visitors, and 2.1 million new drivers expected by 2030.</li><li><span style="font-weight:600">Advancing Wellness and Mental Health Outcomes:</span>&nbsp;Improving outcomes and access to quality healthcare and behavioral health services to support a healthy, productive workforce.</li><li><span style="font-weight:600">Protecting Florida&rsquo;s Long&#8209;</span><span style="font-weight:600">Term Competitiveness:</span>&nbsp;Promoting responsible fiscal policy, regulatory certainty, and a stable and competitive business climate.</li></ul><br />Through the&nbsp;2026 Where We Stand, the Florida Chamber continues its work to unite the business community around policies that support job growth, strengthen communities and expand economic opportunity across Florida.<br /><br />Read <strong>2026 Where We Stand</strong> below. <em>(Source: <a href="https://www.flchamber.com/florida-chamber-of-commerce-releases-2026-where-we-stand-legislative-agenda-focused-on-furthering-job-creation-and-floridas-long-term-economic-competitiveness/#:~:text=Top%20priorities%20outlined%20in%20the,government%20intrusion%20in%20the%20marketplace." target="_blank">Florida Chamber of Commerce</a>)</em></div>  <div class="wsite-scribd">			  			 				<div id="732642448402593191-pdf-fallback" style="display: none;"> 					Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click <a href="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/where_we_stand_2026.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> to download the document. 				</div> 				<div id="732642448402593191-pdf-embed" style="display: none; height: 500px;"> 				</div>  				 			</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Watson Clinic Podiatric Surgeon Offers Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy Procedure]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/watson-clinic-podiatric-surgeon-offers-minimally-invasive-bunionectomy-procedure]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/watson-clinic-podiatric-surgeon-offers-minimally-invasive-bunionectomy-procedure#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:58:30 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/watson-clinic-podiatric-surgeon-offers-minimally-invasive-bunionectomy-procedure</guid><description><![CDATA[Guest Blog Post         Watson Clinic board-certified Podiatric Surgeon Zully A. Calvo, DPM is pleased to offer a new procedure called Arthrex Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy, an advanced surgical approach to treating a common foot deformity that afflicts millions of adults in the United States.&nbsp;A bunion occurs when the first metatarsal in the big toe rotates out of alignment.&nbsp; This causes the big toe to turn inward against the other toes. The metatarsal at the base of the big toe prot [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><em><font color="#d5d5d5">Guest Blog Post</font></em></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/calvo-headshot_orig.jpg" alt="Dr. Zully A. Calvo, DPM" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Watson Clinic board-certified Podiatric Surgeon <strong><a href="https://www.watsonclinic.com/physicians/zully-a-calvo.html" target="_blank">Zully A. Calvo, DPM</a></strong> is pleased to offer a new procedure called <strong>Arthrex Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy</strong>, an advanced surgical approach to treating a common foot deformity that afflicts millions of adults in the United States.<br />&nbsp;<br />A bunion occurs when the first metatarsal in the big toe rotates out of alignment.&nbsp; This causes the big toe to turn inward against the other toes. The metatarsal at the base of the big toe protrudes outward as a result. This deformity can cause stabbing pain, redness, swelling and difficulty walking and wearing shoes. It&rsquo;s unlikely that many bunions will reverse on their own without surgical intervention.&nbsp;</div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/calvo-bunion-1_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Traditional surgical treatments have involved long incisions, intrusive realignment efforts, and a lengthy period of recovery. &ldquo;The Arthrex Minimally Invasive Bunionectomy offers a wealth of benefits to patients who wish to reclaim their mobility and quality of life,&rdquo; Dr. Calvo explains. &ldquo;These benefits include a much smaller incision that leaves only a tiny, oftentimes imperceptible scar, a correction of the bunion deformity through highly advanced, pin-sized instrumentation, significantly less postoperative pain, swelling and stiffness, and a recovery period that&rsquo;s up to 8 weeks faster than traditional bunion surgery.&rdquo;<br /><br />Dr. Calvo treats patients from <a href="https://www.watsonclinic.com/locations/1033-n-parkway-frontage-rd-lakeland-fl.html" target="_blank">Watson Clinic South</a> at 1033 N. Parkway Frontage Rd. in Lakeland. <strong>Appointments with Dr. Calvo may be scheduled by calling 863-680-7214 or visiting <a href="https://www.watsonclinic.com/physicians/zully-a-calvo.html" target="_blank">WatsonClinic.com/Calvo</a>.</strong></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Baldwin Group and CAC Group to Merge, Creating the Largest Majority Colleague-Owned, Publicly-Traded Insurance Broker]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/the-baldwin-group-and-cac-group-to-merge-creating-the-largest-majority-colleague-owned-publicly-traded-insurance-broker]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/the-baldwin-group-and-cac-group-to-merge-creating-the-largest-majority-colleague-owned-publicly-traded-insurance-broker#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:08:21 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Guest Blog Posts]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/the-baldwin-group-and-cac-group-to-merge-creating-the-largest-majority-colleague-owned-publicly-traded-insurance-broker</guid><description><![CDATA[Guest Blog Post      Left: Trevor Baldwin, CEO, The Baldwin Group; Right: Erin Lynch, CEO, CAC (Source: Insurance Business)   Total upfront consideration of&nbsp;$1.026 billion, consisting of&nbsp;$438 million&nbsp;in cash and 23.2 million shares of Baldwin common stock valued at&nbsp;$589 million&nbsp;based on the 30-day volume-weighted average pricing as of 12/1/2025; implied multiple of 7.9x 2025E Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA inclusive of targeted full run-rate synergies.Post-closing payments in [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><em><font color="#d5d5d5">Guest Blog Post</font></em></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/0378-639004516597646942_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%">Left: Trevor Baldwin, CEO, The Baldwin Group; Right: Erin Lynch, CEO, CAC (Source: Insurance Business)</div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><ul style=""><li style=""><font color="#2a2a2a">Total upfront consideration of&nbsp;$1.026 billion, consisting of&nbsp;$438 million&nbsp;in cash and 23.2 million shares of Baldwin common stock valued at&nbsp;$589 million&nbsp;based on the 30-day volume-weighted average pricing as of 12/1/2025; implied multiple of 7.9x 2025E Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA inclusive of targeted full run-rate synergies.</font></li><li style=""><font color="#2a2a2a">Post-closing payments include a performance-based earnout of up to&nbsp;$250 million&nbsp;and a&nbsp;$70 million&nbsp;deferred payment.</font></li><li style=""><font color="#2a2a2a">The transaction would be accretive to 2025 Adjusted EPS by over 20% based on targeted full run-rate synergies and the exclusion of one-time integration costs and transaction expenses.</font></li><li style=""><font color="#2a2a2a">The transaction is expected to be approximately net leverage neutral at close and to accelerate Baldwin&rsquo;s path to deleveraging through 2028.</font></li><li style=""><font color="#2a2a2a">The combined entity is expected to generate 2026 Gross Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA in excess of&nbsp;$2 billion&nbsp;and&nbsp;$470 million, respectively.</font></li><li style=""><font color="#2a2a2a">On a pro forma basis, Baldwin would rank as the largest majority colleague-owned, publicly-traded insurance broker in&nbsp;the United States, based on&nbsp;<em>Business Insurance&rsquo;s</em>&nbsp;2025 Top 100 U.S. Brokers list.</font></li></ul><font color="#2a2a2a"><br />The Baldwin Group&nbsp;("Baldwin" or the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) (NASDAQ: BWIN), a leading independent insurance brokerage and advisory firm, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with&nbsp;CAC Group&nbsp;("CAC"), a nationally recognized specialty and middle-market insurance brokerage firm (#35 in&nbsp;<em>Business Insurance&rsquo;s</em>&nbsp;2025 rankings). This transformational combination is expected to create one of the largest independent insurance advisory and distribution platforms in&nbsp;the United States, with exceptional depth in industry specialization and product expertise. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.<br /><br />The combination is expected to significantly expand the specialty capabilities of The Baldwin Group&rsquo;s Insurance Advisory Solutions (IAS) segment by integrating CAC&rsquo;s deep expertise in industries such as natural resources, private equity, real estate, senior living, education, and construction. Additionally, the combined company is expected to benefit from CAC&rsquo;s strength in specialty product lines, including Financial Lines, Transactional Liability, Cyber, and Surety. These specialty capabilities are further strengthened by CAC&rsquo;s industry-leading data and analytics platform.<br /><br />The merger pairs CAC&rsquo;s specialty expertise with Baldwin&rsquo;s extensive middle market distribution platform, creating new pathways to bring advanced solutions to a broader client base. The combined platform expects to leverage Baldwin&rsquo;s reinsurance and MGA operations and proprietary technology platforms. The merger also unites two colleague-centric cultures grounded in equity ownership and a shared commitment to attracting and developing the industry&rsquo;s top talent.<br /><br />With a footprint in all major markets across&nbsp;the United States, the combined organization will comprise nearly 5,000 colleagues serving clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance, and MGA platforms.<br /><br />"This is a transformational moment for&nbsp;The Baldwin Group. This combination brings together two highly complementary firms, aligned in culture and values, yet distinct in expertise, business mix, and geographic footprint. By uniting CAC&rsquo;s deep specialty capabilities with Baldwin&rsquo;s scale and diversified platform, we create a stronger, more balanced organization that can deliver exceptional solutions for clients and unmatched opportunities for colleagues," said&nbsp;Trevor Baldwin, CEO of&nbsp;The Baldwin Group. &ldquo;CAC has built an enviable specialty firm, and we are looking forward to welcoming their exceptional team to&nbsp;The Baldwin Group.&rdquo;<br />"Coming together with Baldwin gives us the scale and infrastructure to accelerate everything that makes CAC distinctive: our specialty expertise, entrepreneurial mindset, and relentless focus on client success. This merger positions us to deliver more for clients and create expanded opportunities for colleagues, while staying true to the values that have fueled our growth," said&nbsp;Erin Lynch, CEO of&nbsp;CAC Group.<br /><span style="font-weight:700"><br />WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION</span><br /><span style="font-weight:700">The Baldwin Group&nbsp;</span>will host a webcast and conference call to discuss the&nbsp;CAC Group Partnership&nbsp;on&nbsp;Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at&nbsp;8:30 AM ET. A live webcast and a slide presentation will be available on The Baldwin Group&rsquo;s investor relations website at&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FoihWCyPxYxc6G9g3hMcGga%3Fdomain%3Dglobenewswire.com&amp;esheet=54367600&amp;newsitemid=20251202612384&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=ir.baldwin.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=64b2d3a298b50d9c87b10d6c3331ef98">ir.baldwin.com</a>. The dial-in number for the conference call is (877) 451-6152 (toll-free) or (201) 389-0879 (international). Please dial the number 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.&nbsp;A webcast replay of the call will be available at&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FoihWCyPxYxc6G9g3hMcGga%3Fdomain%3Dglobenewswire.com&amp;esheet=54367600&amp;newsitemid=20251202612384&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=ir.baldwin.com&amp;index=2&amp;md5=4e7bf95c4f5f50367f5774f0c8f0300f">ir.baldwin.com</a>&nbsp;for one year following the call.<br /><span style="font-weight:700"><br />ABOUT&nbsp;THE BALDWIN GROUP</span><br />The Baldwin Group, the brand name for&nbsp;The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc.&nbsp;("Baldwin") (NASDAQ: BWIN) and its affiliates, is an independent insurance distribution firm providing indispensable expertise and insights that strive to give our clients the confidence to pursue their purpose, passion and dreams. As a team of dedicated entrepreneurs and insurance professionals, we have come together to help protect the possible for our clients. We do this by delivering bespoke client solutions, services, and innovation through our comprehensive and tailored approach to risk management, insurance, and employee benefits. We support our clients, colleagues, insurance company partners, and communities through the deployment of vanguard resources and capital to drive our organic and inorganic growth.&nbsp;The Baldwin Group&nbsp;proudly represents more than three million clients across&nbsp;the United States&nbsp;and internationally. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baldwin.com&amp;esheet=54367600&amp;newsitemid=20251202612384&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.baldwin.com&amp;index=3&amp;md5=0234ae846f72fa740a7095e4289d358a">www.baldwin.com</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight:700"><br />ABOUT&nbsp;CAC GROUP</span><br />CAC Group&nbsp;is a leading insurance broker and advisor that provides expertise and placement capabilities across the spectrum of insurance and capital markets. The entity comprises CAC Specialty, an industry leading specialty broker,&nbsp;CAC Agency, a P&amp;C, personal lines and employee benefits broker, and&nbsp;CAC Capital, a structured solutions group that specializes in the convergence of insurance and capital markets. Collectively,&nbsp;CAC Group&nbsp;serves large corporations, small-to-medium enterprises as well as individuals. It is an employee-owned company and ranked in the top 40 of all&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;brokerage firms. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Furl.us.m.mimecastprotect.com%2Fs%2FmH2aCgJNzNhAnBB3zfohPC4jHfj%3Fdomain%3Dcacgroup.com%2F&amp;esheet=54367600&amp;newsitemid=20251202612384&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.cacgroup.com&amp;index=4&amp;md5=44f0f604e0ff801a50c29c25b21ab319">www.cacgroup.com</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight:700"><br /><em><font size="2">NOTE ON NON-GAAP AND PRO&nbsp;FORMA MEASURES</font></em></span><em><font size="2"><br />With respect to The Baldwin Group&rsquo;s expectations or projections regarding the performance of the Company, CAC, and the combined company, such expectations and the related forward-looking non-GAAP measures are presented on a non-GAAP basis without reconciliations of such forward-looking non-GAAP measures due to the inherent difficulty in projecting and quantifying the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliations that have not yet occurred, are out of the Company&rsquo;s and CAC&rsquo;s control or cannot be reasonably predicted.<br /><span style="font-weight:700"><br />NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS</span><br />This press release may contain various &ldquo;forward-looking statements&rdquo; within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which represent The Baldwin Group&rsquo;s expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address&nbsp;The Baldwin Group's&nbsp;future operating, financial or business performance or The Baldwin Group&rsquo;s strategies or expectations, including those related to the merger described above (the &ldquo;Merger&rdquo;). In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as &ldquo;may,&rdquo; &ldquo;might,&rdquo; &ldquo;will,&rdquo; &ldquo;should,&rdquo; &ldquo;expects,&rdquo; &ldquo;plans,&rdquo; &ldquo;anticipates,&rdquo; &ldquo;believes,&rdquo; &ldquo;estimates,&rdquo; &ldquo;predicts,&rdquo; &ldquo;projects,&rdquo; &ldquo;potential,&rdquo; &ldquo;outlook&rdquo; or &ldquo;continue,&rdquo; or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management&rsquo;s current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption &ldquo;Risk Factors&rdquo; in Baldwin&rsquo;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended&nbsp;December 31, 2024&nbsp;and in Baldwin&rsquo;s other filings with the&nbsp;SEC, which are available free of charge on the&nbsp;SEC's&nbsp;website at:&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sec.gov&amp;esheet=54367600&amp;newsitemid=20251202612384&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.sec.gov&amp;index=5&amp;md5=888fd8b0b892c844b8ce97e744dee5c4">www.sec.gov</a>, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreement, the risk that Baldwin or CAC may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the proposed transaction, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the proposed transaction or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction, the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all, Baldwin&rsquo;s ability to successfully integrate businesses that it acquires, including CAC, and to achieve the benefits Baldwin expects to realize as a result of such acquisitions, general economic and business conditions, Baldwin&rsquo;s business strategy for expanding its presence in our industry, Baldwin&rsquo;s expectations of revenue, operating costs and profitability, Baldwin&rsquo;s expectations regarding its strategy and investments, the potential adverse impact on Baldwin&rsquo;s financial condition and results of operations if it does not realize those expected benefits, liabilities of the businesses that Baldwin acquires that are not known to it, Baldwin&rsquo;s expectations regarding its business, including market opportunity, consumer demand and its competitive advantage, anticipated trends in Baldwin&rsquo;s financial condition and results of operations, the impact of competition and technological change, existing and future regulations affecting Baldwin&rsquo;s business, Baldwin&rsquo;s ability to comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to&nbsp;The Baldwin Group&nbsp;or to persons acting on&nbsp;The Baldwin Group's&nbsp;behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and&nbsp;The Baldwin Group&nbsp;does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.</font><br /><br /></em><span>View source version on&nbsp;<a href="http://businesswire.com/">businesswire.com</a>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202612384/en/">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202612384/en/</a></span><br /><span style="font-weight:700"><br />MEDIA RELATIONS</span><br />Anna Rozenich, Senior Director,&nbsp;Enterprise Communications<br />The Baldwin Group<br />630.561.5907 |&nbsp;<a href="mailto:anna.rozenich@baldwin.com">anna.rozenich@baldwin.com</a><br /><span style="font-weight:700"><br />INVESTOR RELATIONS</span><br />Bonnie Bishop, Executive Director, Investor Relations<br />The Baldwin Group<br />813.259.8032 |&nbsp;<a href="mailto:IR@baldwin.com">IR@baldwin.com</a><br /><br />Source:&nbsp;The Baldwin Group</font></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Business Owners Policy vs. Commercial Package Policy: Which One Suits Your Business Best?]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/business-owners-policy-vs-commercial-package-policy-which-one-suits-your-business-best]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/business-owners-policy-vs-commercial-package-policy-which-one-suits-your-business-best#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:38:18 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.lakelandchamber.com/chamber-blog/business-owners-policy-vs-commercial-package-policy-which-one-suits-your-business-best</guid><description><![CDATA[Guest Blog Post         Choosing the right insurance coverage is crucial for protecting your commercial construction business. From property damage and workplace injuries to contract disputes and business interruptions, construction projects have inherent risks. Even a minor incident can lead to significant financial setbacks without proper coverage, so business owner&rsquo;s must understand their insurance options.Two common insurance solutions for business owners are the business owner&rsquo;s [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="paragraph" style="text-align:center;"><em><font color="#d5d5d5">Guest Blog Post</font></em></div>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-none " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="https://www.lakelandchamber.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/142142136/adobestock-290512663-1536x1024_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  <div class="paragraph">Choosing the right insurance coverage is crucial for protecting your commercial construction business. From property damage and workplace injuries to contract disputes and business interruptions, construction projects have inherent risks. Even a minor incident can lead to significant financial setbacks without proper coverage, so business owner&rsquo;s must understand their insurance options.<br /><br />Two common insurance solutions for business owners are the business owner&rsquo;s policy (BOP) and the commercial package policy (CPP). While both provide essential coverages, they cater to different types of businesses and offer varying levels of customization. Understanding the differences between a BOP and a CPP helps contractors and project owners select the best policy for their needs.<br /><br /><strong>What is a business owner&rsquo;s policy (BOP)?</strong><br />A business owner&rsquo;s policy (BOP) is a bundled insurance package designed for small to mid-sized businesses. It combines essential coverages into a cost-effective, straightforward solution for businesses with predictable risks.<br /><br /><strong>A BOP typically includes:</strong><br />&bull;&nbsp;General liability insurance: Covers bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury claims against your business<br />&bull;&nbsp;Property insurance: Protects your building, equipment, tools, and inventory from risks like fire, theft, or vandalism<br />&bull;&nbsp;Business interruption insurance: Provides financial assistance if your business operations are disrupted due to covered perils<br /><br />BOPs work best for businesses with predictable insurance needs, such as retail stores, wholesalers, and small manufacturing operations. They offer a standardized level of protection, making them easier to quote and purchase, often through online platforms.<br /><br />What is a commercial package policy (CPP)?<br />A commercial package policy (CPP) is a highly customizable insurance package designed for businesses with more complex risk exposures. Unlike a business owner&rsquo;s policy, a CPP allows policyholders to tailor their coverage based on their needs.<br /><br />Some common coverages included in a CPP are:<br />&bull;&nbsp;General liability insurance: Similar to a BOP but with customizable limits and endorsements<br />Business interruption insurance: Can be tailored for extended periods or unique operational risks<br />&bull;&nbsp;Errors and omissions (E&amp;O) insurance: Provides coverage for professional mistakes, particularly important for contractors providing design or consulting services<br />&bull;&nbsp;Professional liability insurance: Covers claims of negligence, errors, or omissions in service-based industries<br />&bull;&nbsp;Auto insurance: Provides coverage for company vehicles used by employees<br />&bull;&nbsp;Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI): Covers claims related to wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and other employment-related issues<br />A CPP is ideal for businesses that require specialized coverage, such as contractors, transportation companies, and businesses in higher-risk industries. Because CPPs are more complex, they are typically quoted using ACORD applications and placed with insurance companies specializing in different lines of insurance.<br /><br />Note that not all insurance policies can be bundled into CPPs. Coverages like workers&rsquo; compensation, key person insurance, and directors &amp; officers insurance must be purchased separately, if needed.<br /><br /><strong>BOP vs. CPP: Which one is right for you?</strong><br />To determine whether a business owner&rsquo;s policy (BOP) or commercial package policy (CPP) is the better fit for your construction business, consider the following factors.<br /><br /><u>1. Business size and industry</u><br />A BOP is best suited for small to mid-sized businesses with relatively straightforward risks, such as retail shops, small manufacturers, restaurants, and office-based businesses. These businesses typically have predictable insurance needs and benefit from the convenience of a pre-packaged policy. Conversely, a CPP is ideal for larger businesses or those in high-risk industries, including general contractors, specialty trades, and transportation companies. These businesses often need customized coverage to address their specific risk exposures.<br /><br /><u>2. Coverage customization</u><br />As stated, a BOP offers a one-size-fits-all package with limited customizations. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses that only need general liability, property, and business interruption insurance.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a CPP provides flexibility to add specialized coverages, like errors and omissions (E&amp;O), professional liability, and employment practices liability insurance (EPLI). This mainly benefits construction contractors who face industry-specific risks, like contract disputes and professional errors.<br /><br /><u>3. How policies are quoted and placed</u><br />BOPs are typically easy to quote online through many insurance providers. They have standardized pricing and limited customization, making them accessible for businesses that prefer a quick and easy purchasing process. In contrast, CPPs require more detailed underwriting. They are generally quoted via ACORD applications and placed with insurance companies specializing in specific industries or coverages. This process allows businesses to get customized coverage, but it often involves a longer application and underwriting process.<br /><br /><u>4. Cost considerations</u><br />Due to their standardized coverage, BOPs generally have lower premiums. They are also cost-effective because they are designed for smaller businesses with predictable risks. CPPs tend to have higher premiums but allow businesses to select only the coverage they need, avoiding unnecessary costs. While the upfront cost may be higher, the flexibility and tailored coverage can save money in the long run by ensuring comprehensive protection.<br /><br /><strong>Why contractors and construction businesses benefit from a CPP</strong><br />While a business owner&rsquo;s policy may seem like a simple, cost-effective option, most commercial construction contractors and project owners benefit more from a commercial package policy. Construction work involves higher liability risks, specialized equipment, and contractual obligations that demand tailored coverage options.<br /><br />For example, a general contractor overseeing multiple projects may need:<br />&bull;&nbsp;Higher general liability limits to meet contract requirements<br />&bull;&nbsp;E&amp;O coverage to protect against claims of faulty design recommendations<br />&bull;&nbsp;EPLI coverage to safeguard against employment-related claims from a growing workforce<br /><br />These coverage options aren&rsquo;t typically available in a standard BOP, making a CPP the preferred choice for construction businesses.<br /><br /><strong>Getting the right coverage for your business</strong><br />Both business owner&rsquo;s policies (BOPs) and commercial package policies (CPPs) offer valuable insurance protection, but they serve different business needs. Understanding the distinctions between these policies helps contractors and construction project owners make informed decisions about their insurance coverage. Consult with an experienced insurance broker to help ensure your business is protected against potential liabilities and losses.<br /><br /><em>This document is intended for general information purposes only and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an &ldquo;as is&rdquo; basis, without warranty of any kind. The Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings, LLC (&ldquo;The Baldwin Group&rdquo;), its affiliates, and subsidiaries do not guarantee that this information is, or can be relied on for, compliance with any law or regulation, assurance against preventable losses, or freedom from legal liability. This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional advice. The Baldwin Group does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete. Furthermore, The Baldwin Group does not assume any liability to any person or organization for loss or damage caused by or resulting from any reliance placed on that content. Persons requiring advice should always consult an independent adviser.</em></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>