BRADENTON – Local business owners recognized high achievers in the business world at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce 2023 Member Gala on Nov. 17 at the Bradenton Country Club.
The event is an opportunity for local business owners and managers to applaud the winners of the Business of the Year Awards. The awards are presented to businesses in four categories that go through a rigorous process of evaluation by a panel of five chamber members before one in each category comes out on top.
“We had 38 nominees this year, and out of that 38 there were 12 that were selected to do a face-to-face interview,” AMI Chamber President Terri Kinder said. “There’s three chosen in each of the four categories. We have one winner and two runners-up in each category.”
The four categories are Not-For-Profit, Small Business, Medium Business and Large Business. Three finalists in each category are chosen for a face-to-face interview with a panel of five chamber members who then decide on a winner.
The committee that chooses the winners consists of Karen LaPensee of LaPensee Plumbing Pools and Air, Eric Cairns of Cedar Cove Resort, Susanne Arbanas of AMI Concierge Service, Mike Southwick of AAA Payroll and Nikita Fosmore of Salon Salon.
The award winners and finalists are:
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
Winner – Manatee County Habitat for Humanity
Runner Up – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
Runner Up – The Sertoma Club of Bradenton
SMALL BUSINESS
Winner – Bins Be Clean
Runner Up – Beach Suites
Runner Up – Harbor Lane Court
MEDIUM BUSINESS
Winner – The Cheesecake Cutie & Café
Runner Up – Once Upon a Beach
Runner Up – Salty Mermaid Real Estate
LARGE BUSINESS
Winner – College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving
Runner Up – Body & Sol Spa & Wellness
Runner Up – Waterline Villas & Marina
