Reimagining Brevard’s Business Community

There’s no sugar coating it, 2020 has dished us all an uncomfortable opportunity for growth. Brevard’s business community has responded in a huge way; from pooling resources, forming partnerships to benefit the socioeconomically disenfranchised, working together to employ those who now find themselves out of work due to this pandemic and more. As a business leader in this community, I have been inspired and awestruck by the outside-the-box thinking Brevard has brought to the table.

As we move further into the summer clinging to hopes of declining COVID-19 cases, safe gatherings with friends and family and the reopening of our Space Coast economy through local business, we are reminded to be cautiously optimistic as we navigate our new reality.

Navigating this new normal can be a lot less daunting if we all come together as one united front to reimagine what doing business on the Space Coast looks like. From the continuation of social distancing measures, to remote work, to the continuation of online events and curbside service, we are all in a unique position to keep Brevard running safely.

A shining example of a reopening plan is seen in Chamber Partner Westgate Resorts. Their new WestgateCARES initiative clearly and implicitly lays out how they will keep their clients and employees safe while paying careful attention to well thought out plans for the “what if” scenarios. Complete with pictures, blue maps, bulleted cleaning detail, and scientifically backed data, the WestgateCARES initiative is the gold standard so far for protocols and procedures for our business community.

For more information and for reference, visit www.WestgateResorts.com/cares. There you will find all of their plans, procedures and protocols that outline exactly how they intend to keep their team members, guests and communities safe. They have openly invited all of their partners in hospitality from hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail and more to use these procedures in their own businesses or draw inspiration from them as they help stop the spread of the virus.

As we surpass the halfway mark in 2020, I hope you will join me in optimistic thinking, safe execution and thoughtful procedures to keep Brevard safe and in business. I encourage you to do your part to reimagine how you can support Brevard’s business community, whether it’s through takeout, curbside, safe in-person transactions or online orders. Together, through joint reimagining, we are stronger on the Space Coast. 

Jennifer Sugarman, President and CEO of the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, is a busy working mom to son, Emmett. She formed the Cocoa Beach Chamber’s Young Professionals Group in 2016, currently serves on the board for United Way of Brevard and is an active member in Brevard County’s business community.

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