FIRST FRIDAY - LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION BREAKFAST

This month the focus of our First Friday program on March 6th is Law Enforcement. Healthy commerce only exists in healthy communities, and healthy communities only exist when citizens and business owners feel safe. A strong and effective system of law enforcement is vital to the economic health of our community.
Join us at our March First Friday Power Breakfast from 7:00am – 8:45am at the Agricultural Conference Center on Pennsylvania Ave. as we show our appreciation to the law enforcement agencies, officials, and officers who day in and day out put their lives on the line for our safety, security, and economic well being.
Key law enforcement leaders, Chief’s of Police, Sheriff’s department executives, and others in the law enforcement community will be our guests of honor at this special Law Enforcement Appreciation breakfast, held in conjunction with our First Friday Power Breakfast Speakers Series.
Our featured speaker for March is Michael Crews, Director of the Professionalism Program at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). As Director, Mike works closely with the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission and is responsible for the oversight and direction of the Bureau of Standards, the Bureau of Training, the Bureau of Professional Development, Special Agent and DARE Training, and the Commission on Florida Accreditation.
In June of this year, Mike will also become President of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training. In addition, he is a member of the Florida Police Chiefs Association as well as the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Of local interest, Mike is the son of Daun and Christine Crews of Marianna. Mike’s father, Daun Crews, served for 16 years from 1980-1996 as Clerk of Courts for Jackson County.
Mike Crews began his career with FDLE in 1987 as a Standards and Training Specialist in the Professionalism Program. Over the years he progressed through the ranks serving in a variety of progressively more responsible positions. Some of those positions include: Manager of FDLE’s Criminal Justice Information Program’s Help Desk and Sexual Predator Program, Bureau Chief of Standards in the Professionalism Program overseeing Florida’s Officer Discipline and Alcohol Testing Programs, and Director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute and FDLE Leadership Center.
Prior to joining FDLE, Mike was employed as a certified correctional officer at Apalachee Correctional Institute and a correctional probation officer in Tallahassee. Mike attended Wallace College and graduated from Florida State University. He is a certified instructor through the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and a graduate of the Chief Executive Seminar (Class 22) provided by the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to recognize the men and women who protect our community. Remember, that’s this Friday, March 6th, at the Ag Conference Center Auditorium on Penn Avenue.
Leadership Jackson County Class Registration Underway
In other Chamber news, registration is underway for our 2009 leadership Jackson County class.
This civic leadership program, started just two years ago, is for people who want to really know how our community works and to meet personally with the people who lead the organizations and enterprises that make our community work.
Class size is limited to 12 to 15 people each year who are willing to make a commitment to 8 half day sessions over an 8 month period, plus field trips and other assignments.
Our graduates proudly speak for the value of the program, and the members of our community speak proudly of the contributions that graduates of our Leadership Jackson County program make to our community.
If you want to be informed, involved, and engaged with our community, there is no better way than to register for and participate in this class. This is your opportunity to establish yourself as an influence leader in Jackson County.
If you want to know more about the Leadership Class, call Art or Mary at the Chamber, and request an information packet and application. We will get you everything you need to know to decide if this program is for you. Our First Class is the last Thursday afternoon in April.
Roll-out of ChamberMaster Web Marketing System Continues
We are making rapid progress with the implementation of our new ChamberMaster Web-site marketing tools for members. These new electronic advertising and marketing tools provide many new and better ways to promote your company via the Chamber’s enhanced website.
If you want to "show your business so you can grow your business", then plan to join us for an instructional Webinar on Thursday March 12th from 2:00pm-3:00pm. During this Webinar, you will be given a real-time tour of the capabilities of ChamberMaster marketing tools, and the benefits that will accrue to your business.
Just contact us at the Chamber for more information, or check your email for messages from us announcing the Webinar.
Ribbon Cutting Set for New Hospital Chapel
Also on Thursday, March 12th, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10:30am at Jackson Hospital to unveil the hospital’s new chapel. More details will be coming next week, so stay tuned for this great opportunity to share in the opening of this important new addition to the hospital facility.