Marion County
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
Tamara Fleischhaker has left the CEP Ocala Chamber for a great opportunity. Tamara has been hired by Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce as their President & CEO in Oak Ridge Tennessee.
She concluded her time with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership after 19 and a half wonderful years. She said It has been an incredible journey serving the Marion County community and working alongside so many dedicated partners and colleagues.
Tamara ran the CEP Ocala as their Acting CEO while the Board was looking for a new CEO. The new CEO was chosen, after being announced he gave praise to Tamra for the great job she has done and thanked her. She will be missed.
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
Following a comprehensive national search led by the CEP’s Executive Committee, McCormick was selected for his proven leadership, deep expertise in business and community development, and strong commitment to advancing the Ocala Metro.
McCormick brings 27 years of chamber and economic development leadership experience, most recently serving as President and CEO of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce in Columbia, Missouri. During his tenure, he championed workforce development initiatives, strengthened advocacy efforts at both the local and state level, and expanded the economic impact of the business community.
“On behalf of the board, we are thrilled to welcome Matt McCormick as the next leader of the CEP,” said Charisse Rivers, Chair of the Board. “What excites us most is not only his vision and energy, but his heart for people and community. We believe Matt will inspire collaboration, champion innovation, and carry forward the CEP’s mission of making Ocala and Marion County a place where families, leaders, and businesses can thrive for generations to come.”
In his new role, McCormick will lead the CEP’s strategic initiatives, partner engagement, advocacy efforts, and economic development programs to support businesses across the region.
“I am honored to be named President and CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership and to have the opportunity to serve this organization, the business community, and the region,” said McCormick. “The CEP has a tremendous foundation of supporting business growth and development, and I look forward to working with our team, partners, and community leaders to build an even stronger economic future for the region.”
The CEP also extends its deep appreciation to Interim CEO and Chief eXperience Officer Tamara Fleischhaker for her leadership and guidance throughout the transition.
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
To Kathy Bryant; Chair – Marion County Commissioners
SUBJECT: Marion County Republican Executive Committee support of revised Transportation Impact Fees
On behalf of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee (MCREC), representing more than 130,000 registered Republican voters we support the revision of cost-equivalent transportation impact fees. As an organization we support free enterprise and on-going private equity investment in our County, however a key pillar of this support is “fair share cost liability” with respect to developers and most importantly to Marion County taxpayers.
To state obvious transportation impact fees have not risen for more than a decade, 2015 last revision, subsequent to the economic downturn beginning in 2009 and prior to the Covid impacts of +2019. As a prudent step in 2015 to entice resi-dential and non-residential development, the transportation impact fees set in 2015 were discounted significantly below the actual cost impacts to County residents; only 20% for residential and 11% for commercial developments of the ac-tual impact fee. Again, both below the needed impact fee cost projections. To date, given the ten-year increase in cost for roads, services, property taxes, etc., the current transportation impact fees applied represent an even greater dis-counted fee than in 2015. Continue reading
The CEP Network recently sat down with some of the key members of the search committee for the new CEO—Doug Cone, Ken Ausley, Dwayne Carlton, and Charisse Rivers—along with longtime staffer and newly announced Interim CEO, Tamara Fleischhaker. They discussed what the process will look like, how long it will take, and what they’re looking for in this new person. One thing’s certain: the Ocala CEP is not letting off the gas!
Some of the burning questions included: How was the search different the last time? What kind of person are you looking for this time? What do you think Ocala needs more of in the next 10 years? And more!
PULL QUOTES:
“We’re looking for somebody to come into a very successful organization and keep it going.”
—Dwayne Carlton: Owner, Ellison Property Management
“We’ll make sure that this is a very deliberate process. He or she won’t be a Kevin Sheilley clone.”
—Doug Cone: Founder & CEO, Cone Distributing Continue reading
Ocala, FL — The stage is set for the 11th Annual Youth Business Plan Competition, an event that celebrates the innovative spirit of Marion County’s high school students. Aspiring young entrepreneurs will gather on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM at the Power Plant Business Incubator (405 SE Osceola Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471) to present their big ideas and turn them into reality.
Hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP), this event has become a cornerstone for youth development and entrepreneurship in the region. Each year, high school students compete to pitch their business plans to a panel of local business leaders and mentors, vying for support, guidance, and potential investment to bring their concepts to life. Continue reading
