Ponte Vedra Chamber, Rotary welcoming new leaders [The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville]

Aug. 27--PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- In the face of the ailing economy, keeping the Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber of Commerce's membership numbers steady will be the newly appointed president's top priority.

And the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach said her priorities are to have fun and get more people involved in the organization's community service events.

New chamber President Vincent Grassia said this week he hopes to recruit and retain members with creative networking events, chamber mixers, ribbon cuttings and continuing to give tips to businesses on how to succeed.

Special events like selecting the best small business of the year are also being implemented to keep businesses interested in being part of the organization.

"We are working hard to come up with interesting, fun and helpful strategies to help businesses grow," he said. "No matter what the economy is, we have to strive to continue to succeed and we will."

Grassia, who was appointed two weeks ago after his predecessor, Greg Totten, resigned to take a job in Fort Lauderdale, said he's still working on the chamber's agenda.

"This was a surprise to me," he said. "I had no idea I'd be moving into the spot so soon. I'm still feeling my way through the agenda."

The chamber plays an important role in helping businesses succeed in the community by helping them come up with new ideas, said Grassia. As in other communities, Ponte Vedra Beach businesses have struggled to stay afloat; some have closed and others have moved in.

"When you frequently patronize the small businesses in your community, the community gets that back ten-fold," he said. "Everyone was hit, even many people who had nice comfortable portfolios."

The Ponte Vedra chamber has about 300 business and professional members.

"I'll try to do everything I can the best I can to help the chamber fulfill its role as the organization to help small businesses in Ponte Vedra," Grassia said. "Small businesses are extremely important."

For 12 years, Grassia has worked with Journal Community Publishing, where he serves as group publisher for the company's Florida papers, including the Ponte Vedra Recorder. He grew up in central New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University. Grassia is active in the Ponte Vedra Rotary Club, serves on the board of Community Papers of Florida, is a former board member of the Florida Press Association and is the 2011 Conference Chairman for the National Association of Community Papers.

Meanwhile, Maryjane DeNardo will serve as the second female president of the Ponte Vedra Rotary.

The Rotary performs and supports community service projects and promotes fellowship. The 99-member club meets Thursday mornings at Marsh Landing Country Club. The club's 2010-11 agenda includes helping build another Beaches Habitat home, ringing the Salvation Army's Christmas kettle bells in December, picking up trash along Florida A1A each quarter, recognizing individual members at weekly meetings with a new "Tip of the Mug" salute and hosting the club's 18th annual "Local Heroes" awards that honor residents for community and professional service.

"I've always been a leader in my industry and my company," DeNardo said. "I'm used to making decisions and working on teams. I think that will lend itself in working with the chamber."

Prior to becoming club president, DeNardo served as chairwoman for numerous committees, as club secretary in 2008-09 and as president-elect the following year. She chaired the club's annual fundraising dinner-dance in February. It raised $42,500 for charity.

DeNardo joined Ponte Vedra Rotary in November 2001, five years after she came to Northeast Florida.

She is an operating executive in the construction and property management field and a licensed Realtor.

Shakaya Andres can also be reached at (904) 249-4947, ext. 6319.

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