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’re more likely to lodge in the ureter, blocking the passage of urine and causing immobilizing discomfort.

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.
 
The CVAC System is a new treatment option designed to remove these risks. Genesis Nieves, MD, a Urologist who treats patients from Watson Clinic Main 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.  

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. 
 
“This newer CVAC technology has been a game changer for many patients,” she says, “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.”
 
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nieves and find out if you’re a candidate for this procedure, call 863-680-7300 or visit WatsonClinic.com/Nieves. 

Alongside 600+ organizations, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce signed onto a U.S. Chamber of Commerce coalition letter urging the U.S. Senate to build on the House of Representatives’ progress and pass bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform. The support of this organization underscores the shared recognition that modernizing federal permitting is essential to building, investing, and strengthening our communities and economy.

The letter has been shared with all U.S. Senate offices. The letter has also been featured in recent coverage [Politico Pro’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.

​View the full letter below.

2026 George Jenkins Award Recipient: Nancy Cattarius
The George Jenkins Award, named for the founder of Publix Super Markets, is considered the Lakeland Chamber’s highest honor for an individual. Todd Jones, Executive Chairman of Publix Super Markets, Inc., presented the award to Ms. Cattarius.

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.

​Cattarius’ 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’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.

2026 Kathleen Munson Quality of Life Champion: Harrell’s LLC
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.

Harrell’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.
Rooted in unwavering Christian principles, Harrell’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’s remains a preferred employer and a cornerstone of the local business community.

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:
• Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness at Lakeland Regional Health
• Jack and Tina Harrell Institute for Advanced Cardiovascular Medicine at Lakeland Regional Health
• Jack and Tina Harrell Family Courtyard of the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine at Lakeland Regional Health
• Jack and Tina Harrell Family Botanical Gardens at Bonnet Springs
• Jack and Tina Harrell Family Greenhouse at Bonnet Springs
• Harrell Family Charities Front Yard Gallery at the Florida Children’s Museum at Bonnet Springs

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.

2025 P. Scott Linder Small Business of the Year: Bungalow Boutique and Gifts
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.
 
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 & Gifts has grown from a leap of faith into a welcoming, stylish destination in Lakeland.

Owned by sisters Christine Boring and Barbara Boulerice, the boutique offers women’s clothing, accessories, and gifts, with unique pieces thoughtfully selected to help customers feel comfortable, confident, and chic. Known as “The Shop that LOVES Lakeland,” their strong commitment to customer service reflects their belief that supporting customers means supporting the community.

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’s Association (ABWA) and Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO). The sisters credit their Chamber membership with strengthening credibility, expanding networks, and supporting their growth.

2025 Annual Meeting
The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Annual Meeting presented by Suncoast Credit Union united business leaders, community advocates, and champions of Lakeland’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’s achievements in 2025 as well as treasured moments during her tenure. The event featured a keynote address from Madeleine Thakur, President & CEO of The Children’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.

The evening concluded with the formal passing of the gavel to the Chamber’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.
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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 “golden gavels” to mark Mason’s 50th passing of the gavel ceremony.

Among a highly competitive class of applicants, Dr. Takiyah Dixon was recently selected to participate in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Leads Master Class: Building Business Leadership for High-Quality Curriculum, a competitive, national fellowship experience focused on strengthening the role of business leaders in education and workforce development.

​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 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.  

Dixon's experience included pre-work assigned by the Foundation and a two-day, in-person convening on January 29–30, 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. The Master Class will be followed by virtual community-of-practice sessions three and six months after the event. 

"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."