Photo Credit: CatDave Productions

The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the graduation of Leadership Lakeland Class 41, a group of passionate local leaders ready to shape the future of Lakeland. Graduates celebrated at Bonnet Springs Park among 168 alumni and loved ones.

Leadership Lakeland is an annual program designed to identify leadership and enhance existing leadership in our community. Palemeschia "Pal" Rivers Powell, Director of Museum Events and Special Projects at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, served as Chair of Class 41.

"Serving as Chair for Leadership Lakeland Class XLI was a privilege that was truly meaningful,” said Powell. “Leading alongside such a dedicated and dynamic group of leaders was both powerful and motivating. Each member contributed their unique strengths, and I’m incredibly proud of how they came together to support one another."

Class 41 participated in a series of monthly meetings, where they gained valuable insights about Lakeland through hands-on experiences that will empower them as they lead the Lakeland community. Graduates of class 41 include:

● Tayler Baldick, Director of Community Engagement & Human Resources, Stuart's Plumbing
● Chanel Bellotto, President, Skate World
● Diana Braswell, Partner | Physician Laboratory Director | Dermatopathologist, Watson Clinic
● Kylia L. Carswell, Director of Family Engagement, Polk County Public Schools
● Coady Cheek, VP Professional Relationship Manager, Bank of Central Florida
● Katie Worthington Decker, Foundation Vice President, Orlando Health Lakeland
● John Demming, Director of Safety, Security & Emergency Management, Lakeland Regional Health
● Dr. Takiyah Dixon, Director of Business Resources, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
● John F. Doran, Executive Director, Publix Super Markets Charities
● Heath Frederick, Director of Public Works, City of Lakeland
● Cindy Glover, Editor, LkldNow
● Chris Hammond, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Allen & Company
● Eric J. Jackson, Financial Advisor, CPS Investment Advisors
● Matt Keen, Associate Attorney, Peterson & Myers, P.A.
● Cheryl Kimball, Police Captain, Lakeland Police Department
● Guy E. LaLonde, III, Owner, Lakeland Moonwalk/Under One Tent Events
● Ashley Loute, Vice President of Assets, Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County
● Lindsey Martin, Assurance Manager, CliftonLarsonAllen
● Arden Mitchell, Director of Admissions, Florida Southern College
● Nathaniel Pearson, Dean and Professor, Southeastern University
● Ryan C. Rogers, SVPII/Regional Manager, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
● Landon Schneider, Associate Attorney, Reed Mawhinney & Link
● Jacob Schner, Sales and Leasing, The Ruthvens
● Brandon Silk, Commercial Insurance Advisor, Brown & Brown
● Mary Terry, Chief Operating Officer, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine
● Haley Tonge, Director of Trust & Estate Planning, CORE Wealth Advisors
● William M. Wainwright, Director of Housing, Parker Street Ministries
● Kelsey Elmhorst Wesche, Marketing & Project Coordinator, Rodda Construction
● Heather Willis, Major Account Executive, Boring Business Systems
​● T.J. Wright, Chief Operating Officer / Interim CEO, YMCA of West Central Florida

As the members of Class 41 conclude their journey, the Chamber is shifting its focus to welcoming the next group of community stewards. Leadership Lakeland Class 42 will launch this fall, continuing the program’s tradition of empowering individuals with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to lead. Class 42 Chair, Will Link, Attorney at Reed Mawhinney & Link, looks forward to the experience.

​“Serving as Chair-Elect for Leadership Lakeland Class XLI was an experience I’ll never forget. Getting to walk alongside such a talented and passionate group of leaders was both inspiring and energizing,” said Link. Each member of the class brought something unique to the table, and I’m delighted how they showed up for each other and our community.”

Jennifer Adams, SVP | Professional and Community Banking Service Leader at Bank of Central Florida, will serve as Class 42 Chair-Elect.

About Leadership Lakeland
Established in 1983 by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Lakeland is an annual program designed to identify leadership and enhance existing leadership in our community. Leadership Lakeland does not take public policy positions or advocate any individual viewpoint. The program unites leaders from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to improve their ability to lead effectively, offering its members a broad range of experiences and insights about the community, its people, its needs, and its services.

About the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
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’s economic growth and enhancement of quality of life.

​The Heart of Lakeland
Small businesses are the heart of Lakeland. Whether it’s the family-owned coffee shop on the corner, the local boutique that remembers your name, or the entrepreneur who turned a dream into a storefront success, these are the stories that shape the community that we know and love!

The Economic Power of Small Businesses
Small businesses aren’t just important, they’re essential. Here in Lakeland, they play a key role in our every day life. Nationally, small businesses account for “99.9% of all businesses and create nearly two out of every three new jobs”, which is reflected right here in Polk County.
From local shops and restaurants to services and startups, thousands of small businesses in our area are rapidly growing, creating jobs, and giving back to the communities they call home. These businesses are often the first to support a fundraiser, sponsor a school event, or lend a helping hand. Their success is our community’s success.

Culture and Connection
Beyond just economics, small businesses foster a sense of community. When you walk into a local business, you are not just just a customer, you are a neighbor. You’re greeted by name, asked how your family is doing, and given a personal in-store experience that national companies can’t compete with.

Celebrating Small Business Month
This May, we are celebrating the entrepreneurs, dreamers, achievers, go-getters, and supporters who help Lakeland thrive. Throughout Small Business Month, we will provide helpful tips for navigating small business life and share ways that you can support small businesses right here in Lakeland!

Looking Ahead
As we celebrate Small Business Month, it is important to reflect on the many contributions these businesses make to Lakeland’s economy; however, it is also a time to look ahead. What does the future hold for Lakeland’s small businesses? How can we, as a community, continue to create an environment where our local entrepreneurs can thrive?

Ready to Get Involved?
Stay tuned each week for more stories, resources, and opportunities to connect with Lakeland’s incredible small business community. Let’s celebrate them together, not just this month, but all year long!

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy. “Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business,” 2022. https://advocacy.sba.gov

In the eleventh hour on the last day of the 2025 regular legislative session, the School Readiness bill supported by the Florida Chamber was amended onto HB 1255, which passed the Florida House 100-0. The Senate agreed with the amendment, and the bill passed the Senate Floor by a vote of 30-0. Representative Chase Tramont and Senator Alexis Calatayud championed this bill, led by Representative Dana Trabulsy, which is a significant victory for early learning, working families, and Florida’s future workforce!

According to the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Untapped Potential in Florida report, lack of child care is the #1 reason working parents with young children leave their jobs, costing Florida $5.4 billion in lost economic value every year.

HB 1255 preserves access to affordable child care by modernizing Florida’s School Readiness Program eligibility, which provides early learning tuition assistance, helping more hardworking families stay employed while also providing better educational outcomes for Florida’s youngest students.

Why HB 1255 matters:

• Expands affordable child care access for working families by aligning eligibility with a better measure of economic reality in Florida;
• Helps close the kindergarten readiness gap and other student achievements; and
• Improves Florida’s workforce challenges by keeping more parents in the workforce.

This important step forward supports the Florida 2030 Blueprint goals of 100% kindergarten readiness, preparing children from cradle to career, and securing Florida’s global competitiveness.

Learn more about how early learning plays a role in future success! Join us at the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit on June 24, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Register Her

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber sent a letter asking the administration to address the impacts of tariffs by granting automatic exclusions for any small business importer, establishing a process for companies to apply for an exclusion if the company can demonstrate that tariffs pose a risk to employment for American workers, and providing exclusions for all products that cannot be produced in the United States or are not readily available.

“The Chamber supports many of the President’s policy goals, including eliminating unfair trade and non-trade barriers, and driving American investment. At the same time, we have heard from a historic number of small businesses who have made it clear: they need immediate relief from tariffs,” said Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “As each day goes by, small businesses are increasingly endangered by higher costs and interrupted supply chains that will cause irreparable harm. We applaud the administration’s efforts to negotiate as many new trade agreements as possible that expand market access for U.S. companies and benefit American workers, but these deals take time, and many businesses simply can’t afford to wait while negotiations proceed.”

The letter is part of the Chamber’s advocacy to help businesses get the relief they need. Today, the Chamber is hosting hundreds of small businesses to kick off Small Business Month at its annual CO— Small Business Day. In addition, over 3,000 small businesses participated in a recent Chamber call to help them navigate the administration’s tariffs. The Chamber has been sharing stories from small businesses dealing with debilitating, unplanned tariff expenses, disruptions to products they need for assembly, and depletion of resources that threaten their existence.

In addition to helping small businesses, the Chamber is seeking to protect businesses of all sizes and their workers by establishing an exclusion process for companies and American workers whose jobs are threatened by tariff impacts. Also, the Chamber is asking the administration to prevent escalating prices for consumers through exclusions on products that are not produced in the United States.

“Whether it is coffee, bananas, cocoa, minerals or numerous other products, the reality is certain things just can’t be produced in the United States,” said Clark. “Raising prices on those products will only hurt families struggling to pay their bills. In addition, the administration should protect American workers facing imminent job loss from the impact of tariffs by allowing for exemptions for companies at risk of layoffs.”

Added Clark: “We must work together to avoid a recession and to realize America’s economic potential. The President has no greater ally than the Chamber on our shared pro-growth priorities, like making our current tax policy permanent, reining in regulatory overreach, expanding trade opportunities for American businesses and workers, and unleashing America’s energy potential.”

Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce