The South Lake Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to host more than 150 local business leaders at the October Chamber Breakfast held on Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Clermont City Center. 

The Chamber welcomed a keynote presentation from the newly appointed President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, Jamie Merrill. During Jamie’s presentation, she spoke about the Boys & Girls Club’s vision to do an even better job serving children and Club families. The goal is to offer professional-level counseling, paid internships, STEM labs, and workforce skills training to teens and to serve many more children who need an after-school club home.

David Colby, President and CEO of the South Lake Chamber, bid farewell to Office Manager Kelly Armstrong. Kelly has been a valuable Chamber staff member for the past 20 months, using her skills to keep our events organized and ensuring that deadlines were met. She has also been instrumental in maintaining our database, ensuring that our members receive their billing promptly and accurately. Kelly’s positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile for our members and team have made her a pleasure to work with. “We are sad to announce that Kelly is leaving us, but we are confident that she will excel in her new role as the Associate Project Engineer at Universal Creative, and we wish her all the best,” said David Colby at the October Chamber Breakfast.

Five months out of the year, the Chamber recognizes a local student with the Ray Goodgame Outstanding Student Leader Award. This month’s award was presented to Johanna Joseph of Real Life Christian Academy by the 2023 Chamber Board Chair Thom Kieft of Lake-Sumter State College.

The Ray Goodgame Scholarship honors exceptional students in the South Lake area who serve as champions for our community. This outstanding student leader earned this prestigious honor through her unwavering passion for learning and dedication to helping others. 

Throughout Johanna’s high school journey, our recipient consistently excelled as an accomplished student, securing a place on the honor roll for four consecutive years. As President of Student Government, National Honor Society, and Key Club, the Chief and Editor of the Yearbook, and team manager for the volleyball team, Johanna has led these organizations with finesse and dedication. Her volunteer work has extended to the church, where she dedicates her time to sharing her knowledge of the Bible with children. Johanna also tutors elementary and middle school students in various subjects, from math and science to history and reading, making a meaningful difference in their lives. She plans to venture into politics after earning a degree in political science, driven by the desire to represent and advocate for those who require a strong voice. The Chamber wishes Johanna Joseph all the best in her endeavors and is excited about what the future holds for her.

This breakfast would not be possible without the generous contributions of our sponsors and partners:

• Main Event Sponsor: Comcast Business 
• Co-Sponsor: Occams Advisory 
• Coffee Station & Coffee Cup Sponsor: Computer Business Consultants 
• Coffee Sponsor: Dunkin’ 
• Linen Sponsor: Holiday Inn Express 
• Water Sponsor: Addition Financial 
• Caterer: Lake Minneola High School 
• Broadcast Partner: SouthLake.TV 

To watch the replay, visit www.SouthLake.TV.