Forum For Business October | Page 4

e x perie nc e e me r g e JIM SIDOU GRAYROBINSON, P.A. CONNECT ] EMERGELakeland.com Your heart pounding from location to location in a race around downtown Lakeland. A test of your team’s physical and mental capabilities all while having a fun and memorable experience with your friends. What is this event you ask … I’m talking about the EMERGING Race. Last October, EMERGE Lakeland hosted a new event premised on the award winning Amazing Race television show. Teams of four YPs competed in a “race” around downtown Lakeland having to complete tasks at a variety of downtown establishments and solve puzzles and clues to locate their next destinations. The event was created in an effort to showcase the treasure that is downtown Lakeland and to expose EMERGE members to a number of businesses they may not have been aware of. The race began at GrayRobinson on Lake Mirror where the teams needed to locate and take selfies with three of downtown Lakeland’s Swansation statues. After that, the teams went in various directions having to make stops at Madden Brand Agency, Explorations V Children’s Museum, Mitchells Coffee House, Trinity Church, the Lemon Street Art Exhibit (hosted by Platform Art) and then finally cross the finish line in the heart of downtown, Munn Park. Whether it was having to blindly feed their teammate a “standard” slice of Coca-Cola cake at Mitchells (FYI the slices are HUGE) or having to blow up a balloon using only a soda bottle, vinegar and baking soda at Explorations V the teams competed with heart and determination all while having a great time. Like the show, the teams that worked together to solve the clues and complete the tasks in an expeditious manner separated themselves from the pack. On Thursday, October 22, 2015, EMERGE will try and top last year’s event with a new list of downtown locations, tasks and riddles for the teams to experience. The race will kick off at the new CPS Investments building on Orange Street at 5:30 pm. EMERGE GALA 11. 06.2015 EMERGE LAKELAND ANNUAL MEETING Register at www.emergelakeland.com 4 | FORUM FOR BUSINESS There are still spots available, simply go to www.emergelakeland. com/events to sign up, but the race is limited to ten teams so sign up early. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to follow the teams as they move around the course. So, do you consider yourself an expert on downtown Lakeland? Do you have an itch to compete and want to show Lakeland what your team is made of ? If so, the EMERGING Race 2015 is the event you’ve been waiting for and I look forward to seeing you on October 22nd.