In the work of Talent Initiatives, the Greater Naples Chamber aims to address the issue of workforce development. One way we do that is through our partnership with Collier County Public Schools and Junior Achievement to host Career Connect each school year.

Career Connect targets our local emerging talent in grades 10 through 12 and puts them in front of three different career panels. This year, three schools participated, Gulf Coast, Lely, and Naples High School, and each school hosted three panels based on the polled career field interests of the students attending.

QUESTION: In past articles, you have made reference to target marketing. Exactly what is target marketing, and how does one go about developing the strategy?

ANSWER: Target marketing is defined as researching and understanding your prospective customers’ interests, hobbies and needs so that you can focus your message on a specific segment of the market that is most likely to purchase your product or service.

Michelle Borders, co-owner of Naples Networks Services, has been named the recipient of the 2023 Greater Naples Chamber Chairman’s Award for her continued support of the Chamber’s mission. Borders will be presented the Chairman’s Award at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on May 25, 2023, at Arthrex. Past recipients include Jason Korn, Jeanne Seewald, and Bill Barker.

The Chairman’s Award is an opportunity for the chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors to recognize an individual that helped the organization fulfill its mission of cultivating economic opportunity for all. The award honors someone who goes above and beyond, both in service to the Chamber and the community. The winner is selected by the chairman of the Greater Naples Chamber Board of Directors, in consultation with the president and CEO.