The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce have merged to create the largest chamber in Pasco County.
(Courtesy of Stephen John Photography)
The new chamber has more than 860 members, and it is growing. Wesley Chapel contributed about 615 members in the merger, and Greater Pasco nearly 250 members.
The first event of the merged chambers will be a Final Friday mixer on July 28 at the Cheval Golf and Athletic Club, in Tampa.
A consolidation resolution received approval in mid-June from the chambers’ board members.
The merger was announced on June 28 at a press conference at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High School. Hope Allen, president and chief executive officer of the Wesley Chapel chamber; Michael Cox, chairman of the Greater Pasco chamber; Bill Cronin, president and chief executive officer of the Pasco Economic Development Council; and, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore were among those who attended.
Allen will assume leadership duties of the new chamber.
“I don’t have a crystal ball on what the impact will be, but we hope our impact is to be the voice of the business community,” said Allen. “We can speak with one voice, one very large voice.”
The merger follows a decision in January to sign an affiliation agreement to allow members to join both chambers at discounted fees.
“That’s what got us working together,” said Cox. “We realized it was well-received by our members.”
It’s been a natural progression since January, said Allen.
“We were officially courting,” she said. “We were engaged and now we’re married, blending our two families.”
The new chamber and the Pasco EDC can complement one another in supporting the business community, Cox said.
Pasco EDC is a nonprofit that works with Pasco government to create jobs and attract targeted industries to locate or expand in the county.
“The chamber really picks up where the (Pasco) EDC leaves off,” Cox said. “There are a lot of businesses that aren’t targeted industries, but they are vital to our local economy.”
Some details remain to be worked out on the merger, including the new chamber’s name.
A marketing consultant will be hired to do research and gather public input on the name selection. Issues to be sorted out include names related to the geography of the new chamber, but also the Wesley Chapel branding already in place.
“We want to make sure it is a very well thought-out process,” said Allen. “We want to do it right.”
Members will be able to vote on the matter, she said.
A task force initially created to explore the merger will continue to operate until December. Task force members will aid in working through transition details as the merger proceeds.
According to the consolidation resolution, the board of directors will expand from 17 to as many as 24 members, with five to seven members from Greater Pasco added to the board.
The Lutz office of the Greater Pasco chamber will stay open for now. If needed, a new location will be found in Trinity, Odessa or Lutz.
What: Final Friday mixer for chamber members
When: July 28 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Prime 19 @ Cheval Golf and Athletic Club, 4312 Cheval Blvd., Tampa
Cost: Free
Information: Call Wesley Chapel chamber at (813) 994-8534, or email
Published July 12, 2017
