The Manatee Chamber of Commerce hosted the 45th annual Small Business & Nonprofit of the Year Awards on Aug. 21 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, saluting “quality and excellence” as exemplified by growth, productivity, customer service, job creation, and overall contribution to the community.
This year, there were more than 200 nominations from the community. The six winners were chosen from among 32 finalists.
Since the inception of the event, the Manatee Chamber has honored more than 160 local small businesses. In 2016, the awards program was expanded to include nonprofit organizations to recognize their operations and contributions to the community, workforce, and economy.
The awards were presented in partnership with presenting sponsor Credit Union 1. The winners for 2025:
Small Business – Category I: Frosted Pink, Alicia Cardin, Owner/Artist, 5321 123rd Ave. E., Parrish, shop.castiron.me/frosted-pink.
Small Business – Category II: Kona Ice of Manatee County, Chris & Stephanie Edwards, Owners, kona-ice.com.
Small Business – Category III: Kidspot, Tara Hawkins, CEO, 410 10th Ave. W., Palmetto, thekidspot.org.
Small Business – Category IV: Sunshine Movers, Blake Fitzpatrick, Owner, 4050 Middle Ave., Sarasota, sarasotasunshinemovers.com.
Nonprofit – Category I: Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee, Tara Maffei, Executive Director, 8499 S. Tamiami Trail, PMB 267, Sarasota, familypromisesarasota-manatee.org.
Nonprofit – Category II: Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, Maribeth Phillips, President & CEO, 811 23rd Ave. E., Bradenton, mealsonwheelsplus.org.
The judges for the Small Business of the Year Awards included Mike Bear, DEX Imaging; Dennise Berger, Regions Bank; Nick Choat, Sport Clips Haircuts of Bradenton (2018 Winner); Dennis Cooley, Bridgely Key Options; Amy Farrington, Persson, Cohen, Mooney, Fernandez & Jackson, P.A.; Tami Goudy, Veritas! Pest Management (2019 Winner); Wade Hamilton, Connect Central; Sherry Harris, Cogent Bank; Dave Heye; Jason Osborne, Bank OZK; Stefanie Overturf, Phenomenal Business Coaching (2015 Winner – Overturf’s Floor & Fabric Care); Justin Phillips, Minuteman Press of Bradenton; Karen Riley-Love, AMI Beach Weddings (2024 Winner); Philip Stark, Synovus Bank; Jon Stuart, SCORE Manasota Chapter 116; Judy Vobroucek, Discount Med Direct / Wellness Center of Ellenton; Terri West, West Coast Business Solutions; Michael Willats, Esq., Dinsmore & Shohl LLP; and Rick Yocum, Humane Society of Manatee County (2018 Winner).
Sponsors included Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory; Carr, Riggs & Ingram; City of Bradenton; Freedom Village of Bradenton; IMG Academy; Manatee County Government; Manatee Memorial Hospital; MCR Health; The Mosaic Company; NDC Commercial Real Estate; NDC Construction Company; Pittsburgh Pirates / Bradenton Marauders; Raymond James Wealth Management / W. Bruce Body; Sarasota Bradenton International Airport; School District of Manatee County, SeaPort Manatee; and SouthState Bank.
The Manatee Chamber of Commerce, a nationally recognized chamber of commerce with more than 2,100 member businesses and organizations representing more than 75,000 employees, has offices in Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch. Its mission is to build a positive business environment while enhancing the community’s quality of life. For more information, visit manateechamber.com.
Submitted by Dan Yonko
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee Chamber of Commerce hosts 45th annual Small Business & Nonprofit of the Year Awards
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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