Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/25/2016

Miami, Fort Lauderdale chambers of commerce may merge

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce are exploring a merger. “There are already many existing synergies between our two groups, and by consolidating our powerbases we increase our ability to shape key issues regionally while continuing to address the matters that impact our local businesses and economy,” said Heiko Dobrikow, chair of the Greater Fort Lauderdale chamber and general manager of the Riverside Hotel, in Fort Lauderdale. More at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Earlier video from Florida Trend:
» Video interview with Christine Barney, chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and CEO of rbb Communications.

Sales and Marketing Advice
Want more sales leads? Here's how to get them

Getting prospective customers to raise their hand and take a look at your offering is a bit of an art as well as science. Yet, you don’t need to pay a rocket scientist to get great results. Read the column by Ron Stein.

USA Today publisher Gannett bids for Tribune Publishing -- which includes Florida newspapers

Gannett Co. -- owner of USA Today and more than 100 other media properties -- has offered to buy Tribune Publishing for $815 million. Tribune's assets include such major papers as the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune as well as the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. If the deal happens, Gannett will substantially boost its newspaper presence in Florida. Full story from Reuters, here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times.

Survey shows female nonprofit leaders make less

The men who hold the top positions at nonprofits tend to receive bigger salaries than their female counterparts and the pay gap widens as the male-led organizations grow, according to a new report from the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Small Business Advice
A better way to accomplish the tasks on your 'to-do' list

Having a to-do list gives people a sense of security that they will not forget anything. However, studies show the contrary. On average, only 40% of items on to-do lists actually get done. More from Jerry Osteryoung.

Business Profile
Media Vista Group

When Media Vista Group acquired more television stations in 2013, the economic outlook was still uncertain. With a focus on the blazing Hispanic market, TV station firm Media Vista has come a long way. How will it sustain the growth?

» More from the Business Observer.

Agriculture Trends
Disease threatens world banana supplies

A disease called “Panama” is threatening supplies of the world’s most popular fruit – banana. Two years ago, the United Nations warned that the “Panama disease” could destroy “much of the world’s banana crop.” Since then, things have not gotten better.