By Matt McCormick

When you’re new to a role, especially one rooted in community and connection, the best place to start is by listening. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with business leaders, partners, and stakeholders across Ocala and Marion County. Those conversations have been invaluable—not only in understanding where we are today, but in shaping where we’re headed next.

As we look toward 2026, the Ocala Chamber & Economic Partnership is entering the year with clarity around what matters most. Our work will be guided by three core priorities: growth, workforce development, and supporting our business community. These aren’t new ideas, but they are the right ones—and they are deeply connected.

Growth continues to be a driving force across our region. Businesses are expanding, new opportunities are emerging, and Ocala and Marion County are attracting attention for all the right reasons. The CEP’s role is to help support smart, sustainable growth—whether that’s through business attraction, expansion, or retention. It also means being a strong advocate on issues that directly affect growth, including transportation infrastructure and housing availability. These factors play a critical role in a company’s ability to invest, hire, and plan for the future. Continue reading →

By TomL

I agree the county needs the money for infra structure. The only answer to the County tax is Impact fees, not for the builder but paid by newcomers.The newcomers are moving in… No Stampeding in here by the thousands. Crowding our roads and some times being disrespectful to current residents. The people wanting to move to Florida are here. The County needs County tax money to get ready for them and take care of the people already here. Stop trying to make your long time residents to pay for it!

IMPORTANT FACT: Actually the taxes is only a portion, as I have said to raise the taxes, the county raises is done by raising value of your home, the mortgage gets a great finance move they now have a house that is worth 3 times more than when they started and the insurance company’s pounces on it. They can charge more to insure this house that is now three times what it was value at when the mortgage started. They say they are charging replacement value. Guess who decides how much insurance you need on your home mortgage The Insurance company’s! With the county raising the value the insurance companies have a perfect storm to make a big profit. Board of County Commissioners please stop this! Turn your money raising efforts into a county assessment    tax and don’t raise money on the back of the long time residents. Continue reading →

By Tom James

‘Leadership In Its Purest Form’

Alex Sosa, B.B. Graphics

“Flying influences everything I do in life, including how I run my business.”

CEP partner Alex Sosa draws clear parallels between how he runs B.B. Graphics and how he approaches aviation.

“Being a captain teaches you leadership in its purest form,” he says, stressing the importance of details. “When people’s lives are in your hands, your decisions carry real weight. I approach business the same way—making sure our product is top-quality, our team is well-trained, and every client’s experience is seamless.”

Away from the office, it’s up, up, and away for Alex, who has built an unshakeable bond with the friendly skies starting the moment he received his high school diploma.

“I began my flight training right out of high school and aviation has taken me places I probably never would have seen otherwise.”

Flying runs deep in Alex’s family, as multiple family members have spent time in the cockpit. Continue reading →

By Matt McCormick

It is a true honor to join the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership as your new president and CEO. During my visits to Ocala and my conversations with members of this remarkable community, one thing has become abundantly clear—this is a place defined by excitement, growth, energy, and collaboration. My family and I are beyond thrilled to make Ocala our new home.

The CEP’s mission is to be “the catalyst for a prosperous community.” At its core, our work is about helping businesses do business—and thrive—in a vibrant, growing region. We are also a “convener of collaboration,” because economic development never happens in isolation. It takes partnerships among business, government, education, and the broader community, all working toward shared success.

The CEP has a proud history of supporting businesses, driving growth initiatives, and serving as a strong advocate for this region. I’m eager to build on that legacy while staying partner-focused and mission-driven. Over the coming months, my focus will be on listening and learning—hearing directly from you about what matters most. What challenges are you facing? What opportunities excite you? And how can the CEP be a part of helping you achieve success? Continue reading →

By Tom James

Marjorie McGee

Director of Student Life, College of Central Florida

Back in 2018, Marjorie McGee pealed back the coconut (if you will) on her fun times as part of the Jimmy Buffett-inspired Parrot Head lifestyle. True statement: No one group typifies the tropical headspace quite like Parrot Heads do! But we also learned about all the ways these colorful customers give back locally.

“We are community servants and protectors of the environment who like to party with a purpose,” Marjorie told us at the time, while highlighting a number of community cleanup projects and blood drives the Parrot Heads would spearhead. And that ethos still holds true today, as Marjorie shared.

“When we say ‘party with a purpose’, we mean it,” she says. “We have become very involved with the Walk to End Alzheimers in the past few years, raising funds as well as participating in typical Parrot Head fashion in the walk itself. Lots of crazy hats!” Continue reading →

The Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) was honored this week as a finalist for the 2025 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). The Chamber of the Year award, presented by GrowthZone, is the most prestigious recognition in the chamber industry, celebrating outstanding leadership, impactful programs, and community advancement efforts.

Winners were announced on Wednesday, July 23, during the Awards Show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Philadelphia, and while the Ocala Metro CEP was not selected as this year’s overall winner, being named a finalist places the organization among the top chambers in the country.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a finalist for this national honor,” said Tamara Fleischhaker, Interim CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership. “This distinction is a testament to the strength of our business community, the dedication of our team, and the bold, collaborative work happening across the Ocala Metro to create a more prosperous future.”  Continue reading →

‘A Pivotal Time For Our Organization’

By Tamara Fleischhaker

It is both an honor and a privilege to serve as Interim CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership. As I step into this role at a pivotal time for our organization and the region we serve, I am reminded of the enduring values that have guided the CEP’s work for over a decade: bold vision, collaborative spirit, and an unwavering commitment to being the catalyst for a prosperous community.

Right now, it’s not about starting over—it’s about staying focused on what’s working. Our mission, our momentum, and the strong partnerships we’ve built have all played a key role in moving us forward. Staying on track means sticking with the priorities that have helped make the Ocala Metro one of the most vibrant communities in Florida and beyond. It also means continuing to invest in the relationships that truly make a difference—whether with small businesses, major employers, local governments, schools, or community groups. These connections aren’t just part of our progress—they’re at the heart of it. Continue reading →