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The Osceola Chamber will host our 102nd Annual Meeting on February 6, 2027 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Every year at this event, attendees look forward to learning who will take home our major awards, including the Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award and the Guillermo Hansen Unity Award.  We are now accepting applications for both awards through December 20, 2026.

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2026 Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award Nomination Form

The Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award is named after Linda Goodwin-Nichols of Goodwin Realty & Associates, two-time Chairman of The Osceola Chamber Board of Directors and a stalwart of Osceola’s Business Community for over 40 years. Throughout her career, Linda has epitomized community involvement and giving back selflessly, and this award honors an individual who will carry on her legacy. Recent past winners include Kelly Trace, Rev. Mary Downey, and Adrianna Sekula.  Click on the link above to nominate deserving individuals for this award.

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2026 Guillermo Hansen Unity Award Nomination Form

To recognize the importance of the Chamber’s core values of “Embracing Heritage,” “Creating Opportunity,” and “Building Unity,” and our partners who promote them, in January of 2018 Chairman Tim Finkenbinder announced the creation of an award to emphasize these values – particularly “Building Unity.”  In 2024 the award was renamed the "Guillermo Hansen Unity Award" to honor inaugural winner Guillermo "Bill" Hansen, owner and editor of El Osceola Star Newspaper. Guillermo was a longtime Chamber member who was also a community leader known for building bridges among the diverse populations of Osceola County.  Click on the link above to nominate deserving individuals for this award.

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Nominees will receive an application to complete and winners will be chosen by a panel of judges. The top three finalists for each award will be announced ahead of The Osceola Chamber’s Annual Meeting on February 6, 2027 and the award recipients will be revealed at the event. Please note that current elected officials are not eligible to win.

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November 2, 2026

2027 Dues Adjustment FAQ

In over 100 years of service, the Chamber has seen ups and downs, constant evolution, shining successes, and moments of great resolve. As a not-for-profit dedicated to helping businesses succeed, we remain invested in our members. Looking ahead to 2027, members will notice a modest adjustment to membership dues. This slight increase will allow us to continue to rise to the standards of our five-star accreditation with the U.S Chamber, while helping us keep pace with the rising costs of running our organization to the standard we all share.

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‍When will my membership investment change?

On your 2027 renewal invoice you will notice a modest adjustment to your current membership investment level. Future dues re-assessments will be evaluated and voted on by The Osceola Chamber Board of Directors.

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By what amount will my membership investment change?

The 2027 dues adjustment by Membership Level is as follows:

Heritage: $450 to $475

Opportunity: $900 to $960

Unity: $2500 to $2650

Visionary: $5000 to $5275

Champion: $10,000 to $10,555

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Why is my investment increasing?

Current membership investments have been modestly adjusted to reflect current costs and ensure continued quality of services. As a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Five-Star Accredited Chamber, we strive to maintain the level of excellence required to meet that designation. This increase will directly benefit members by enabling The Osceola Chamber to maintain our current level of value to our members and investment in the Osceola community.

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How can I maximize my current Chamber benefits?

Start by reviewing your Osceola Chamber member benefits relative to your membership tier here. If you see benefits listed that you are not currently utilizing to their full potential, please reach out to Claire at cragnone@theosceolachamber.com.

You can also log into your Chamber Member Information Center (MIC) account here. There you can update and customize your Chamber profile and directly control the story you tell the world in your business’ Osceola Chamber Directory listing.

Many members find great value in staying engaged. Find our upcoming events and programming here. While event attendance and participation are great traditional ways to find value in a Chamber, we understand that time, logistical, and other restrictions mean that this is not always the ideal option for all members. Learn about the diverse ways The Osceola Chamber members at different investment levels find and create value through their membership here.

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What if I have concerns about this change?

We are happy to sit down with you to hear your concerns, review your member benefits, and explore ways to maximize your value. Please reach out to us at cragnone@theosceolachamber.com.

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Autonomics Agency Helps Central Florida Service Businesses Get Found on Google and AI Search

The way customers find local businesses is changing quickly. Google remains important, but people are increasingly turning to platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Google AI Mode to research companies, compare options, and decide who to contact.

Autonomics Agency helps service businesses adapt to that change.

Based in Lake Nona, Orlando, and serving businesses throughout Central Florida, including Osceola County, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Celebration, and the surrounding communities, Autonomics Agency specializes in SEO, AI search optimization, conversion-focused web design, PPC, and marketing strategy.

The agency works primarily with service businesses that grow through calls, consultations, estimates, and booked work, including home service companies and contractors, healthcare practices, law firms, professional services, and specialized B2Bcompanies. Its focus is not simply generating more website traffic, but helping businesses turn visibility into qualified leads and revenue.

Autonomics Agency was founded by Nikolai “Nick” Gerdzhikov, an SEO and digital marketing strategist who began working in SEO and conversion-focused web design in 2013. Over his career, Nick has led or advised on more than 1,700 website projects while also building experience in artificial intelligence, product management, and digital growth.

One of the agency’s distinguishing characteristics is its founder-led approach. Clients work directly with Nick through regular one-on-one strategy sessions rather than being passed to a junior account manager. Marketing decisions are evaluated based on qualified inquiries, closed business, and revenue rather than impressions, clicks, or rankings alone.

As AI changes the way people search, Autonomics is also helping local businesses understand whether they are being discovered and recommended by AI platforms. The agency developed a free AI Visibility Audit that tests a business across customer-style searches using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Google AI Mode, while also reviewing Google visibility and the website’s readiness for modern search.

For Autonomics, joining The Osceola Chamber is about more than generating business. Gerdzhikov sees the Chamber as an opportunity to build long-term relationships with local business owners, share practical knowledge about changes in search and artificial intelligence, and collaborate with professionals whose services complement his own.

That community-first philosophy also reflects how Gerdzhikov approaches sales and client relationships: offer useful guidance first, be transparent about what a business does and does not need, and only recommend services when there is a genuine fit.

Autonomics Agency looks forward to becoming more involved throughout the Osceola business community and helping local companies stay visible as the way customers search continues to evolve.

Learn more: Autonomics Agency- SEO, AI Search, Web Design & PPC

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