These North Tampa Bay Chamber Members Recently Cut Ribbons! 

We continue to promote the ribbon-cutting events hosted by members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC). A recent one we attended was for Peak Brain & Body (2404 Creel Ln, #101, Wesley Chapel; below photo) on Mar. 11. 

Peak is the office of Family Nurse Practitioner and Chiropractic Physician Dr. Spencer Zimmerman, who moved with his family to our area from Idaho and is the only dual-licensed nurse practitioner/chiropractor using advanced neurological diagnostics, functional neurology, functional medicine and peptide therapy in Florida. 

For more info, call (813) 437-9630 or visit PeakBrainandBody.com. 

Our photographer Charmaine George also was on hand for the ribbon cutting at Jachimek Chiropractic & Wellness, located at 5111 Ehrlich Rd., Ste. 128, Tampa (Top Photo) on Mar. 20. Chiropractic physician Juliet Marvenko, or Dr. J, cut that Chamber ribbon. 

For more information, call (813) 960-2225 or visit JachimekChiro.com. 

And then, on Mar. 26, Tiny Tots Playtown (photo right & below), located at 24412 S.R. 54 in Lutz (in the Eagle Plaza, behind Brunchies), cut an NTBC ribbon. Owner Lauren Pratt introduced Chamber members to her super-cute, shoe-free (don’t forget to bring your socks) little indoor play center for young kids — which surely will be a welcome respite from Florida’s summer heat and rains, which are fast approaching. 

Tiny Tots can host kids parties and has gift cards and unlimited play opportunities available. 

For more info, call (813) 406-4124 or visit TinyTotsPlaytown.com. — GN 

‘Chamber Chatter’ — Our Editor Is Hope’s First Guest; Plus, Tri-Health Cuts A Ribbon 

If you haven’t yet been to the new North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) office — located at 28329 Paseo Dr., Suite 195, in the same space next to Dillard’s in the Shops at Wiregrass that previously was home to a Pasco Sheriff’s Office substation (and then, the off-site office for the Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch apartments), you really should go check it out. 

As NTBC president & CEO Hope Kennedy mentioned when I was her first guest at her new in-office studio for her “Chamber Chatter” podcast last week, “This is the office I always wanted here at the mall. I’m so glad we finally were able to get it!” 

Hope said that it was only fitting that I would be her first guest in the new studio, because of the long-standing symbiotic relationship between the Chamber and the Neighborhood News, especially since Hope first took over the reins at the former Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber 13 or so years ago. 

Not only did I get to tell that story, but also a lot of the history of the only news publication directly mailed to all of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel for the last 30 years under the same owner and editor. 

My 30-minute chat with Hope also touched on my obsession with helping local mom-and-pop restaurants succeed in our communities, on my not understanding why we have to have so many chicken places and my decision to host a contest to find our readers’ favorite chicken restaurant. 

Hope also brought up my dismay over the fact that two sisters who live in Wesley Chapel — Scarlett Spongberg and Fallon Fields (above left photo) — didn’t get to win one of 20 drawn-at-random free Raising Cane’s-for-a-year prizes, despite being first in line at the Raising Cane’s Grand Opening. Hope mentioned “the nice story” that local Realtors Chad and April Emory of Emorys Rock Realty split the cost with me of providing that prize for the two young women. 

Check out “Chamber Chatter” at NorthTampaBayChamber.com. To try to be a guest on the show, call the Chamber office at (813) 994-8534. 

Congrats, Tri-Health! 

One of the other things Hope mentioned during the podcast was how much she appreciates us shining the spotlight in print on so many Chamber members who host NTBC ribbon-cutting events at their locations. 

One such event we never published was the ribbon cutting (right) for Tri-Health Primary Care & Women’s Health Services, located at 2253 Green Hedges Way, #101, in the Summergate Prof. Center, which cut a Chamber ribbon on Jan. 30. 

For more info, call (813) 771-6851. — GN 

Viera Interested In County & State Races for 2026!

District 7 Tampa City Council member and New Tampa resident Luis Viera says he hasn’t made a decision yet, but he is looking at either a State House of Representatives or Hillsborough County Commission run in 2026, before his current City Council term expires in March of 2027.

While introducing Viera, who was the guest speaker at North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’ (NTBC)’s monthly Business Breakfast on Feb. 4, NTBC president & CEO Hope Kennedy mentioned that she had heard Viera might be considering a run for Mayor of Tampa, but Viera said he was more interested in a run for the District 67 State House seat currently occupied by House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, who will reach her term limit with the Nov. 2026 election.

Since that Feb. 4 meeting, Viera says he has been approached by multiple media outlets about his plans going forward. He says he is mulling over the possibility of running not only for Driskell’s Dist. 67 State House seat, but also for one of the County Commission seats up for election in 2026. “I haven’t made a decision yet,” Viera says. “But, once I announce which of those offices I will choose to run for, I will have to give up my City Council seat before my term ends.”

Even though he is a registered Democrat (City of Tampa elections are all nonpartisan), the 47-year-old Viera also discussed his ability to work with other political office holders — including reaching across the political aisle —  in Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as well as with Rep. Driskell, Dist. 20 State Senator Danny Burgess and with Dist. 15 U.S. Congresswoman Laurel Lee.  He also talked about New Tampa’s status as the “Alaska” of the City of Tampa, was well as zip code 33647’s cultural diversity, as well as what he has accomplished in the nine years since first winning election — by 65 votes in the two-candidate Special Election runoff in Nov. 2016 — in his first election over fellow New Tampa resident Dr. Jim Davison.

Look for a full recap of Councilman Viera’s Chamber breakfast chat, and more information about his political plans, in the March 4 New Tampa Neighborhood News Issue #5-25.

3 Natives Cuts A Chamber Ribbon At The Shops At Wiregrass!

Congratulations to local franchise owner/operator Rick Orosco (below left photo), who celebrated the Grand Opening of the 3 Natives Açai & Juicery at 28211 Paseo Dr. (in the Shops at Wiregrass) on Dec. 5 with a North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) ribbon-cutting event. 

Orosco and his happy staff gave away a number of free samples of his popular açai bowls and fresh fruit smoothies and of course, the always-hungry Neighborhood News crew couldn’t resist ordering a couple of 3 Natives’ pressed wrap sandwiches (like the tasty Hawaiian shown below, center, with grilled chicken breast, spinach, purple cabbage, julienned carrots, pineapple and a zesty ginger dressing) and a full-sized Tequesta Dragon (named for Tequesta, FL, where 3 Natives was founded) açai bowl (below right), with dragon fruit, granola, fresh blueberries, raspberries and strawberries and chi and hemp seeds). We also wolfed down the chicken Caesar and chicken salad wrap sandwiches. 

On previous occasions, I’ve also enjoyed the Thai chicken and Cobb salad bowls and 3 Natives even offers a variety of avocado toast sandwiches, from a Mission Beach bagel with tuna salad and avocado to protein (with hard-boiled egg) and avocado toast on multigrain bread. 

The 3 Natives chain now has 45 locations (including Lakewood Ranch and several in Sarasota) and at least five more coming online soon 

To order online or for more info, visit 3Natives.com. Or, stop in or call (813) 838- 6491 & please tell Rick we sent you! — GN 

Chamber Announces Awards Finalists & Introduces New Board For 2025!

The North Tampa Bay Chamber has had a busy week. On Tuesday, the Chamber introduced its new Board of Directors for 2025. President & CEO Hope Kennedy gave Board member Jamie Hess of Computer Emergency Room her President’s Award for “all of his help with events and finding the Chamber a new office, in addition to his regular Board duties.” And, outgoing Board chair Roberto Hiller of Signarama New Tampa gave Lisa Moore his “Chairman’s Award” for her “outstanding commitment to the Board.” Also introduced on Tuesday were new Board Chair Angelique Lenox of Tampa Family Health and her entire 2025 Board:

Chair Elect Ton Benge of Benge Development

Treasurer Jamie Hess of Computer Emergency Room

Vice-Chair of Economic Development Chad Emory of Emorys Rock Realty

Vice-Chair of Membership Lisa Moore of Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel

Vice-Chair of Governmental Affairs Jennifer Batchelor of Pasco County Schools

Immediate Past Chair Roberto Hiller of Signarama New Tampa

Will Atkins of Cinn-Credible Cinnamon Packets

Tye Fowler of SGD Communications

Ryan Fink of Volkswagen of Wesley Chapel

Dr. Davina Jones of Pasco Hernando State College-Porter Campus

Justin Keeney of Fifth Third Bank

Richrd Matte of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel

Jean Carlo Penaloza of Cat’s Meow Tampa Photography

Albert Verile of Sharpline Investigations

Ralph Sevelius of Boardwalk Wealth Solutions

Chuck Sullivan of McFarland Gould Law

Troy Stevenson of Tampa Bay Mobile Billboards

Then, on Thursday, the Chamber announced its Finalists for its 2024 Celebrating Excellence Awards:

Integrity Award — Main Event Wesley Chapel, Pepin Academies & Scenthound Lutz

Collaboration Award — San Antonio Federal Credit Union, New Tampa Family YMCA & Metropolitan Ministries

Innovation Award — RP&G Printing, Outplay Marketing & Furr Wegman & Banks Architects

Inclusivity Award — Main Event Wesley Chapel, Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel & Turner Construction

The 2024 Chamber Award winners will be announced at the Chamber’s Celebrating Excellence Awards event on Tuesday, January 16, 2025, at the Pasco Hernando State College Performing Arts Center (8657 Old Pasco Rd., Wesley Chapel 33544). The cost to attend is $60 per person. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.