October has arrived, and while ghosts, goblins and pumpkins may be appearing throughout Charlotte County, there is nothing scary about the opportunities ahead for our business community.

At the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, October is shaping up to be a howling good, and incredibly productive month filled with opportunities to connect, learn, collaborate and grow.

That is what your Charlotte County Chamber Commerce is all about. Throughout the month, our members will have numerous opportunities to build meaningful relationships, stay informed, and discover ways to grow and strengthen their business.

Starting with our Networking at Noon Lunch at F.M. Don’s, where all attendees share about themselves and their business.

Our Third Wednesday Coffee will be extremely informative with presentations about the existing 1% Local Option Sales Tax ballot item and the Vote for Success Charlotte County School District Referendum. Then there is our always-popular Halloween Bash Business Card Exchange, hosted by Frohlich, Gordon & Beason Law, where there will be food, refreshment, icebreaker game, and we’ll all be dressed for the occasion; best Halloween costume.

We’ll have a little extra Halloween spirit this month! 



But October isn’t just about networking. It’s also about providing our businesses with information, resources and connections that can help them succeed.

One of the highlights of the month will be our Charlotte County Town Hall; Engage with Your Regional Partners, presented in collaboration with Florida Gulf Coast University on Oct. 20 at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center. This important community conversation will bring together leaders representing higher education, economic development, public safety and education to discuss issues and opportunities impacting the future of Charlotte County.

We will also offer Leveraging Your Chamber Membership, an interactive opportunity designed to help our members maximize the resources, connections and benefits available through their Chamber membership. Why do we put so much emphasis on bringing people together?

Because relationships build businesses, businesses create opportunities, and opportunities strengthen communities.

Every handshake, introduction, conversation and new connection has the potential to open a door. It may lead to a new customer, a partnership, a great idea or an opportunity that simply would not have happened otherwise. 



That is the power of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce; and it is the power of an engaged business community.

So, as we head into October, I encourage our members to get involved. Attend an event, Introduce yourself to someone new, and support a local business, celebrate a ribbon cutting, ask questions, and make connections. There are plenty of tricks and treats this time of year, but when it comes to Charlotte County’s business community, the real treat is what we can accomplish when we work together.

Here’s to a howling good, productive, and successful October!