The Breeze Dozen: Cape Trailblazers — Donna Germain
Each week the Cape Coral Breeze will feature a leader within the business community — public sector, private sector, or non-profit — asking a dozen questions that focus on the person and the business in which they hold a leadership role.
Bio:
Name: Donna Schuman Germain
Position: President/CEO
Company or organization: Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
Industry: Non-profit business organization
Contact information: donna@capecoralchamber. com or 239-549-6900
Address: 2051 Cape Coral Parkway, E., FL 33904
Your business at a glance:
What you do: We serve our membership as a champion and advocate for their business and our community.
Unique niche: We are a non-profit that loves to donate to other non-profits. About four years ago, we started donating a portion of the proceeds from each event to different non-profit organizations. The community supports the chamber so much through our events and programs, we wanted to be able to give back. In the last eight years, our Leadership Cape Coral alumni alone have donated more than $150,000 to local organizations through the Casino In The Cape event, and our Education Committee awards $10,000 in scholarships each year to local graduates through our Taste of the Cape event.
Bragging rights: For the Chamber — We’ve proudly hosted the Cape Coral Farmers’ Market each week for our community for more than 25 years which welcomes 250,000 residents collectively just at the Club Square location from October-May. We were the founding organization for the Cape Coral Days in Tallahassee, now known as SWFL Regional Days in Tallahassee, which has helped bring more than $500 million in funding for various projects back to our community.
For me — I was born and raised in Cape Coral. Graduated from the Institute for Organization Management through the U.S. Chamber Foundation in 2017.
I am one of only 18 chamber executives in the state to hold the Florida Certified Chamber Professional designation and currently the only one in SWFL.
Worked with and also served as chairman of an amazing team of volunteers through Relay For Life of Cape Coral for many years.
Where you see your business in five years: I would love for the chamber to expand its current location and also have a location in north Cape Coral so we can better serve our entire business community. We also want to stay on top of current trends as they apply to chambers of commerce through technology, communication and providing unique opportunities for our members to build and grow their business.
About you:
Describe yourself in one word: Hardworking.
Hero, role model or mentor: My parents.
Person you’d most like to meet: My grandfather (my mom’s father). He passed away the year before I was born.
Book that changed your life: “Stephen King On Writing.” I wouldn’t say it changed my life, but definitely one of my favorites.
Best business advice you’ve ever received: Every business is different, you need to discuss their needs and expectations to determine if your organization is a good fit.
Biggest risk you ever taken: Taking the reins as the chamber president/CEO … also, the best risk I have ever taken.
Personal passion: My family and close friends.
Guilty pleasure: Rollerskating and rock concerts.