The passing of the gavel is a 31-year tradition. Jim Scott became part of that tradition Jan. 31, when the gavel passed from former chamber Chairman Matt Buzza’s hands to his, at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Banquet.
Scott’s first line of business is to revolutionize the chamber’s website and bring it not just into the modern age of technology, but make it cutting edge and ahead of the curve.
“I want to give members a greater value for their membership,” Scott said.
The new and improved website will be the start of that greater value. Scott wants to have the website show up in the top-three hits on the first page when the chamber or Plant City businesses are Googled. His plan to make this goal come alive is to use search engine optimization (SEO), or specific keywords that help bump the chamber higher in search results, drawing potential customers to the chamber members’ businesses.
“Some small businesses might not even have a website, and some can’t spend the money to pay for SEO on their websites,” Scott said. “So, what we’re doing is pooling our resources to spend money on search engine optimization, which will benefit everybody.”
Scott said this move would help all chamber members, but especially those business members who don’t attend Business After Hours or Contact Breakfasts to network.
The website will also have a new modern look that is more user-friendly.
The idea first came about in October, at the board retreat. Since then, the chamber has established a technology committee. Yvonne Fry and Aaron Davis are co-chairs.
“They are new board members who have hit the ground running,” Scott said.
A couple of months ago, the chamber launched its new mobile site, which is configured to display on phones and tablets in a more simplified version of the website.
“The chamber was behind,” Scott said. “We don’t just want to catch up, but we want to be ahead of the curve.”
This isn’t Scott’s first run as a chamber chairman. In 2004, he was the chairman for Dade City’s Chamber of Commerce after serving three years on its board.
“Whatever town I’m in, I just gravitate toward the chamber,” Scott said. “I love being involved in chambers because it involves business and has to do with commerce. You want all the members of the chamber to do well because that means businesses are doing well. So, it’s just exciting to be part of something like that.”
Scott is originally from the suburbs of Detroit. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in general business administration. After graduating, Scott made it a goal to work for one of the “big three” automakers.
Scott’s uncle and grandfather worked for Chrysler, but Scott branched out on his own to work for Ford Motor Company.
“Ford was a bit of a departure,” Scott said. “Everybody roots for each other, though.”
In 1996, Scott was transferred to Orlando. In 2000, when he became partners with the Jarrett family in Dade City, he moved to the franchise side of the company. Then, in 2004, he partnered again with the Jarrett family to run the Plant City dealership.
Scott has been married to his wife, Leigh, for 11 years. They have two children, Nick, 7, and Connor, 6. He has been president of the Rotary service club and is a past chairman of the YMCA.
CHAIRMAN: Jim Scott, Jarrett-Scott Ford
CHAIRMAN-ELECT: Nate Kilton, Sedita Kilton and Company
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN: Matt Buzza, Platinum Bank
TREASURER: Michael Cameron, Cameron Financial Management
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: Phil Waldron, Waldron Consulting Services
MEMBERSHIP DIVISION: Brian West, Publix Super Markets Inc.
COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIVISION: Keith Smith, Trinkle, Redman, Coton, Davis and Smith P.A.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS DIVISION: Janet Kelly, Rita Staffing
DIRECTORS: Aaron Davis, Hillsborough Title Inc.; Yvonne Fry, Lines of Communication; Michael Gottesman, CenterState Bank Edwena Haney, Hopewell Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens; Charles Harries, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Bradley Herremans, Suncoast Community Health Centers Pediatrics; Vicki Houllis, Sunshine State Federal Savings and Loan; Jason Jones, Advantage Restoration Inc. Advantage Contracting LLC; Gail Lyons, Regions Bank; Steve Nierman, South Florida Baptist Hospital; Michael Watkins, V&R Insurance
Anonymizer Elite –
