Greater Fort Myers Chamber Of Commerce: Industry Appreciation Awards Luncheon To Celebrate Innovation, Resiliency, And Business Excellen ...

Press release from Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:

2021-10-01

Industry Appreciation Awards luncheon to celebrate innovation, resiliency, and business excellence on Friday, October 22

It’s back and full of excitement and surprises!

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2021) — Despite unthinkable challenges during the last 18 months, businesses and citizens in Lee County are holding strong. The 2021 Industry Appreciation Awards will celebrate the perseverance of Lee County businesses and pay tribute to the public-private partnerships that have helped the community pivot – and even prosper – in the face of the pandemic.

The Industry Appreciation Awards are a collaborative effort between the Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation, the Lee Board of County Commissioners and the Lee County Economic Development Office. Award recipients are honored for their innovation, integrity, product quality, community commitments and overall excellence in business and value to Lee County. This year’s Industry Appreciation Awards will be held Oct. 22 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers.

“Our business community came together like never before to face the pandemic head-on,” said Raymond Sandelli, Lee County Commissioner, District 3.  “Thanks to our county’s strong public-private partnerships, municipalities, business owners, and citizens all were quick to respond to the crisis. Together, we fed families, educated children, manufactured and distributed needed supplies, and provided financial assistance through LeeCARES and other programs.”

To salute our community’s response to the pandemic, event organizers have added a special award category for 2021: the Business Resiliency and Innovation Award. This award will honor a business that successfully pivoted its operations, products or services to not only be resilient but to help the needs of the community. Awards will also be presented to Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, Startup of the Year, Innovator of the Year, and Community Steward of the Year.

Tickets for the 2021 Industry Appreciation Awards are now on sale to the public. Each $50 ticket includes VIP networking, a plated lunch and attendance to the awards program. Tickets can be purchased until Friday, Oct. 8, at www.industryappreciationawards.com.

Winners from the following list of finalists will be honored at the Oct. 22 event:

Business Resiliency and Innovation Award: Fort Myers Brewing Company, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Sewing Boutique

Community Steward of the Year: Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida, Florida Repertory Theatre, The North Law Firm

Innovator of the Year: Cigent Technology, Inc., Energy Harness Corporation. Metro Forecasting Models

Large Business of the Year: NeoGenomics Laboratories, Inc., Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, Stevens Construction, Inc.

Manufacturer of the Year: Black Onyx World, LLC/Alikay Naturals, Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats, Storm Smart

Startup of the Year: 239Work, Gather, Seed & Bean Market

Small Business of the Year: Architectural Metal Flashings, Iron Ridge Insurance Services, Stickboy Creative

For more information about or to get involved with the 2021 Industry Appreciation Awards, contact Horizon Foundation Chief Fundraising Consultant Dilman Thomas at 239-810-1948 or dthomas@horizon-foundation.com.

The Lee County Economic Development Office provides business assistance to retain existing businesses, attract new businesses and encourage entrepreneurship to ensure Lee County has a strong economy, thriving communities and broadly shared prosperity.

The Horizon Council is a public-private advisory board established in 1991 to advise the Lee Board of County Commissioners on economic development issues. The Council’s mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment, retain and encourage expansion of existing businesses, and attract new and diversified employers. It is the only public-private partnership of Lee County Government and business leaders.

The Horizon Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission and purpose to support, foster, and encourage the economic development and diversity of business interests in Lee County, Florida. The Foundation provides financial, advisory, and other support for the Lee County Economic Development Office and the Horizon Council as well as financial and other support to such other organizations and entities that the Foundation determines will promote and complement the interests and mission of the Foundation, the EDO, and/or the Horizon Council.

This press release was produced by Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.