Plus, so many alligators.
 
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77º | Light thunderstorms and rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:20 a.m. | Sunset 5:49 p.m.
 

Business

Finding success: How a local business pivoted through the pandemic
Presented by a LALtoday Partner
Business owner Mary Neaf sits behind a desk, looking at a computer screen.
Mary’s business helps theme parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, casinos, and national parks worldwide. | Photo provided by the Bank of Central Florida
What happens when COVID-19 halts your thriving business?

Here’s the story of local entrepreneur Mary Neaf, founder and owner of Florida State Distributors, who, like many, had to navigate her business through the pandemic’s unexpected turns.

A strong start

43 years in the making, Florida State Distributors is a family-owned business that specializes in fun + high-quality souvenirs for theme parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, and more — and Neaf built her empire behind an emphasis on strong, genuine relationships.

Starting small in Orlando, Neaf instilled a service-oriented culture by consistently going above and beyond for each client. This dedication to relationships resonated with her partners, and her business grew quickly as Neaf fostered a network of meaningful connections.

The business flourished, and Neaf strategically opened branches in Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong, establishing a strong global presence.

When trouble hit

A big wrench came in 2020, when the world was thrown into disarray by COVID-19, and the business faced a sudden, unexpected challenge. The big bank Neaf had been working with faltered under the weight of the crisis, and slow communication turned into months of frustrating silence.

So Neaf turned to longtime associate Guy Michel, Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager with the Bank of Central Florida. With Guy’s guidance, Neaf took a leap of faith and pivoted to Bank of Central Florida, a financial institution that, like her, prioritized genuine connections and personalized service.

Together, Mary and Guy navigated the turbulent waters of the pandemic, working collaboratively to refinance and replace Florida State Distributors’ line of credit.

“He was there for us,” Neaf said. “I feel like he became a part of our team, unlike the experience in other banks. With Guy, we were no longer just an entity, but we had a genuine relationship.”

Keep reading to see the game plan that got Neaf through. And if you need financial support for your business, see how Bank of Central Florida can help.
How Guy guy-ded her
Asked

What are you looking for in your bank?
A. Strong business relationships
B. Convenience
C. Transparency
D. Innovation
Tell us
 
Events
Tuesday, Dec. 12
  • Lakeland Music Club | Tuesday, Dec. 12 | 10-11:30 a.m. | United Women’s Club of Lakeland Clubhouse, 1515 Williamsburg Sq., Lakeland | Free | Mingle and enjoy refreshments with other music enthusiasts, then hear holiday music by harpist Dolly Roberts.
  • Pregnancy & Childbirth Education Classes | Tuesday, Dec. 12 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Watson Clinic Main, 1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland | $50 | Prepare for childbirth with this class taught by a licensed registered nurse.
Wednesday, Dec. 13
  • Salsa y Bachata Class | Wednesday, Dec. 13 | 6:15-8:15 p.m. | Coleman Bush Building, 1104 Martin L. King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $10 | Learn two popular Latin dances, then show off your moves in a social dance.
  • Chess Meet-Up | Wednesday, Dec. 13 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Public Library, 325 Ave. A NW, Winter Haven | Free | All ages are welcome to play chess with other enthusiasts.
Thursday, Dec. 14
  • Red Bag Holiday Giveaway | Thursday, Dec. 14 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Christ Memorial Baptist Church, 2929 Hardin-Combee Rd., Lakeland | Free | Drive through for free health + wellness info, clothing, and household supplies for older adults provided by Advent Home Care Alliance.
  • Lakeland Food Truck Rally | Thursday, Dec. 14 | 6-9 p.m. | Munn Park, 201 E. Main St., Lakeland | Price of purchase | Head downtown for live music and bites from 15 local food trucks.
Friday, Dec. 15
  • ART/ifact Studios Resident Artist Show | Friday, Dec. 15 | 6-9 p.m. | ART/ifact Studios, 820 N. Massachusetts Ave., Ste. 2, Lakeland | Price of donation | Browse the works of 18 local artists to support ART/ifact.
  • Classic Albums Live: Lithium Experience | Friday, Dec. 15 | 7:30-10 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $34 | Hear the music of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and more performed exactly how they sound on their best-selling albums.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Traffic
  • You may need to reroute your commute Wednesday, Dec. 13-Thursday, Dec. 14 and Monday, Dec. 18-Tuesday, Dec. 19 during the day. East Highland Drive will be closed to westbound traffic between South Florida Avenue and Cleveland Heights Boulevard for milling + paving. Traffic will be limited to eastbound only.
Biz
  • Inklings Book Shoppe is about to move downtown. The used + antiquarian bookstore will be located at 243 N. Florida Ave. (near Thom Downs’ Antiques Inc.) starting this January. Don’t wait for the new year to visit — shop Inklings’ half-off moving sale from Dec. 19-30 at 2120 S. Combee Rd.
Seasonal
  • The winners of the 2023 Lakeland Christmas Parade have been announced. The eight winners include Cleveland Court Elementary (Judge’s Choice), Bethel Baptist Church (Best Pro Float), and George Jenkins (Most Outstanding Band). Peep the parade pics.
Cause
  • The Back Nine is collecting donations for Lakeland families and children. Check out the list of requested clothes, toys, and books and drop them off at 124 S. Tennessee Ave. to enjoy half-off any drink.
Arts
  • Calling all young artists. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is accepting submissions from Polk County students ages 13 and up. Apply online by Friday, Dec. 15.
Plan Ahead
  • Muster up your Mustangs — registration is open for the 26th Annual Mustang and Mustang Legends Having Fun Car Show. This free event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Lakeside Village. Pre-register online by Sunday, Feb. 11.
Number
  • $40 million. That’s how much 500+ Polk County nonprofits have received this year thanks to the generosity of donors + the work of GiveWell Community Foundation, an organization that links donors with local causes. Learn more in this Q+A with GiveWell’s executive director, Callie Neslund. (The Ledger)
Outdoors
  • We got the gators. According to a list of the top 30 most alligator-infested lakes in Florida, Lake Hancock comes in at lucky no. 13. The list includes other Polk County waters like Lake Hatchineha, Lake Pierce, Lake Arbuckle, and Dexter. (WFLA)
Sports
Active
  • See how easy it can be to FIT healthy habits in your daily routine — Lakeland Regional Health’s free FIT programs offer 12-week fitness challenges for individuals (FITChallenge) and groups (FITChurch Challenge). Perks include free workouts + education sessions, complimentary screenings, prizes, and more. Register here (challenges start in January 2024).*
Travel
  • Ready for some travel inspo? Scroll through Orlando International Airport’s new or resuming flights to start planning where to go next. (Hint: It includes Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, El Salvador, and more.)*
 
Seasonal

Culture

Don’t miss these shipping deadlines for the holidays
A wall height mural reading "Greetings from Lakeland" over a blue bridge.
Send more than a postcard for the holidays. | Photo via LALtoday Team
Get wrapping. It’s time to send your holiday presents. Don’t forget — Hanukkah ends on the evening of Friday, Dec. 15, so plan to ship ASAP.

Have packages that must arrive before Dec. 25? We’ve got when and where to ship them.

FedEx deadlines

  • Wednesday, Dec. 13 | Ground economy
  • Friday, Dec. 15 | 5-Day shipping
  • Monday, Dec. 18 | 4-Day shipping
  • Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 3-Day shipping (ground) + express saver
  • Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 3-Day shipping (home) + 2-Day shipping (ground)
  • Thursday, Dec. 21 | 2-Day shipping (home) + 1-day shipping (ground)
  • Friday, Dec. 22 | 1-Day home delivery + same day
Find your nearest FedEx.

UPS deadlines

  • Tuesday, Dec. 19 | UPS 3-Day Select
  • Wednesday, Dec. 20 | UPS 2nd Day Air
  • Thursday, Dec. 21 | UPS Next Day Air
Find your nearest UPS.

United States Postal Service deadlines

  • Saturday, Dec. 16 | USPS Ground Advantage + First-Class Mail
  • Monday, Dec. 18 | Priority Mail
  • Wednesday, Dec. 20 | Priority Mail Express
Find your nearest Post Office.

Last year, Amazon delivered more packages to homes than both UPS + FedEx. If you’re looking for last-minute gifts, check out our Editors’ Picks.
The Buy

The Buy 12.12.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
The go-to gift for people who have everything: a scented candle.
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The Wrap
 
Jessalin Nagamoto.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Jessalin
From the editor
Speaking of the post office, I was digging around Lakeland Library’s archive of photos and stumbled across this old photo of a postal worker.

I don’t know about you, but after a long day’s work, I wouldn’t mind a cold glass of orange juice from Florida Citrus Mutual.
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