Chairman’s Message:
Anu Saxena

Serving as Chairman of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce has been a unique professional distinction. The opportunity to work alongside our Board of Directors has been rewarding as we have collectively combined our talents and energies to help transform Lakeland from being just another great place to live and work to indeed becoming Florida’s “Community of Choice”. It is a pleasure to highlight several of the Chamber’s major initiatives in this Annual Report.

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1,700 member businesses in the Greater Lakeland community, making us one of Florida’s largest business organizations. 2009 presented great challenges for our business community, and the value of membership in Florida’s finest Chamber was never more apparent.

Now, more than ever, we need to “Buy Lakeland.” Lakeland continues to transform itself into a ‘next generation city’…a place where the ideas of tomorrow will be created and launched by the workforce of today. If we work smart and we work together, Lakeland will be well-positioned to take its place as a next generation city.

I ask each of you to actively support and promote the Chamber’s “Buy Lakeland. It makes good cents!” campaign. Dollars spent locally support job opportunities for everyone in the community, and generate the tax dollars that pay for vital services.

This Chamber is led by a talented and diverse Board of Directors and professional staff. Thanks to their efforts, we will continue to provide the highest level of programs and services to sustain this great community we live, work and play in.

Sincerely,

Anu Saxena,
2009 Chairman of the Board