Dan Thumberg has become a well-known smiling face, serving up locally crafted and deservingly awarded brews at his premier taproom in Lakeland. His story, shaped by twists, turns, hops and ambition, includes a later-in-life stint at Polk State College, where he received his Associate in Arts degree while developing the preliminary ideas for Swan Brewing – now a staple in the Polk County community.

Thumberg and his business partner Christian Hood opened the doors to their brewery off Lake Wire in 2018. Since then, their team has racked up multiple accolades on Untappd, winning the Brewery Madness 2025 competition and high ratings for varieties like The Bean Blonde Golden Ale and Straight Outta Lakeland IPA. In recognition of its impact, Swan Brewing was also honored as the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month in April 2022.

“I have to give Polk State and the environment at Polk State credit for making Swan Brewing what it is, because it did spark that creativity that I needed,” Thumberg said. “The real planning came right around the time that I was at Polk State…, and it reminded me that there is more to this world than what I was used to.”

He started his college journey after high school at the University of South Florida, but “life got in the way” and led him to the workforce, where opportunities continued to present themselves but often required a degree for career advancement. He worked for Anheuser-Busch, American Express and Apple. It was in his 30s that Thumberg decided it was time to go back to school.

“I was nervous…, I thought I’d be surrounded by 18-year-olds fresh out of high school,” he recalled. “Seeing people my age, balancing work and school, made the transition so much easier.”

With the diversity of people from all walks of life and “an environment with thoughts bouncing around everywhere,” Thumberg was inspired to follow his passions – not only for beer, but also for community.

“It challenged me to understand different people, beliefs and backgrounds, which helped how I approach my business,” said Thumberg, who went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.

With a growing craft beer scene, he developed the ideas for what would become a community-focused brewery. With nearly 40 years of combined brewing experience among its team, Swan Brewing emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and innovative flavors, resulting in standout beer like the Freedom American Lager, which clinched a Gold Medal at the 2022 Best Florida Beer Competition in the American Style Light Lager category.

Today, Swan Brewing stands as a testament to Thumberg’s vision and drive. Located in the heart of Lakeland, the brewery is more than a place to enjoy craft beer. He is most proud when speaking about the community atmosphere that has developed around the business.

“When I look out at our patio overlooking Lake Wire,… [I] see cellphones on the table and people having conversation. That’s the coolest thing,” he exclaimed.

Thumberg’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in Polk County is to embody the We are Polk motto.

“It starts with community, and it should be about the community,” he said. “That’s why I would recommend Polk State College wholeheartedly to anyone – not only to someone who is looking to find a state college to go to, but looking for any college to go to.”

“Polk State is one of the most affordable educations you can get anywhere in the state of Florida, but [it’s also] a world-class education…, right in your backyard.”

Editor's Note: Dan also currently serves on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

A more than decade-long push by business groups will pay off next week with the end of a state sales tax on commercial leases.

The tax, widely known as the business rent tax, will go away Oct. 1 after 57 years as part of a wide-ranging tax package that lawmakers passed in June. The change will come as nearly 30 new laws hit the books Oct. 1.

“By Florida eliminating the business rent tax, it’s going to lower the cost of doing business in Florida, which will help lower the cost of living here,” Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson said.

The business rent tax began in 1968, when the state sales-tax rate stood at 4 percent. The rent tax rate increased as the overall sales-tax rate went up in 1984 and 1988, reaching 6 percent.
Over the past decade, with business groups clamoring against the tax, legislators slowly chipped away at the rent tax rate. It has been 2 percent since June 2024, according to a House staff analysis.

The elimination is projected to collectively save businesses nearly $1.15 billion during the current fiscal year, which will run through June 30. That amount is projected to increase to $1.53 billion next fiscal year.

The Chamber of Commerce highlighted the tax as part of its Florida 2030 Blueprint report released nearly a decade ago. The business group said the tax made Florida less competitive with other states, as it generated about $3 billion a year in tax revenue at the time.

​“Now $3 billion a year goes back into local businesses that they can pour back into their people, back into equipment, back into innovation, back into helping their customers,” Wilson said.

Source: Florida Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Carolyn Johnson, Vice President, Government Affairs  |  [email protected] | 850.521.1235

2025 ATHENA Leadership Award Finalists:
Blair Allen, Public Defender for Florida's 10th Judicial Circuit
Olive Gaye, GenCare Resources
Patricia Uiterwyk, Venue Salon & Spa
 
2025 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award Finalists:
Ashley Gibson Barnett, Nicholas and Ashley Barnett Foundation
Kelsey Jaffer, United Way of Central Florida
Christin Strawbridge, Catapult Lakeland

Finalists will be honored and recipients announced at the 2025 ATHENA Leadership Awards Luncheon Presented By Orlando Health on October 8, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Haus 820. The keynote speaker will be Kourtney Sanchez, Chief Impact Officer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For additional information, including past ATHENA Award recipients and event registration, please visit https://www.lakelandchamber.com/athena-awards.html.

Tickets to this year's luncheon are available on our website: ​bit.ly/46b3OWj

On Wednesday, August 27, Watson Clinic hosted a special Topping Off Ceremony on the construction site of their sprawling new medical campus in south Lakeland. The ceremony marks a tradition in the world of construction as it celebrates the placement of the final beam at the highest point of a structure. In this instance, the Clinic proudly celebrated two new structures, which are both scheduled to open in the Summer of 2026.

Located at 4060 Lakeland Highlands Road, Watson Clinic Parkway Medical Center is a four-story, 80,000-square-foot facility housing some of the Clinic’s most popular specialties, including Urology, Orthopaedic Surgery, General Surgery, OB/GYN and many others. Patients will also benefit from on-site imaging and laboratory capabilities, and other features designed for operational efficiency and patient comfort. The second new facility, located at 4050 Lakeland Highlands Road, will be named Watson Clinic Surgery Center South. This 30,000-square-foot facility will offer convenient outpatient surgical procedures for patients who don’t require an overnight stay. Both facilities will be steps away from the Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, completing a medical campus designed to serve a patient’s every medical need.

Watson Clinic Parkway Medical Center and Watson Clinic Surgery Center South will be operated exclusively by Watson Clinic, much like their additional 20 locations across Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties, while the hospital is a joint collaboration between Watson Clinic and Orlando Health.

“This campus delivers flexibility to both our patients and our medical teams,” Chief Executive Officer Jason Hirsbrunner explained from the podium to the attending crowd. “You can schedule your regular doctor’s appointments at the Watson Clinic Parkway Medical Center, outpatient surgical procedures can be performed at our Watson Clinic Surgery Center South facility, and longer inpatient stays can take place at the Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.”

Conveniently situated directly off the Polk Parkway, the campus will be easily accessible to patients across every corner of Polk County and beyond.  To keep up-to-date on the campus, stay connected to Watson Clinic’s social media platforms or visit WatsonClinic.com/NewCampus.

The U.S. Chamber has delivered a coalition letter to Members of Congress calling for comprehensive permitting reform.  You can find the letter posted on their website here.  529 organizations that signed this letter.
 
Modernizing permitting systems will empower communities and businesses to invest in infrastructure that grows the economy, creates good-paying jobs, and improves quality of life. The coalition is united around four key principles:
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• Predictability: Clear timelines and scope for project reviews.
• Efficiency: Improved interagency coordination to optimize resources.
• Transparency: Accessible visibility into project milestones and schedules.
• Stakeholder Input: Consistent opportunities for input from all relevant parties.