provided to The Santiva Chronicle
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC) celebrated its fifth Annual Chamber Awards with a record-breaking evening of recognition, inspiration, and community, welcoming 500 attendees to the Luminary Hotel & Caloosa Sound Convention Center—making it the largest Chamber Awards celebration in the event’s history.
The annual awards recognize the individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment continue to strengthen the Southwest Florida business community.
“This evening is officially the largest Chamber Awards celebration we’ve ever hosted,” said Greater Fort Myers Chamber president and chief executive officer John Lai during his opening remarks. “That’s not just a reflection of attendance. It’s a reflection of momentum. It’s a reflection of confidence. And most importantly, it’s a reflection of a business community that continues to believe in one another.”
Throughout the evening, attendees celebrated not only the chamber’s award recipients, but also the continued collaboration between the Greater Fort Myers Chamber, the SanCap Chamber, and the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, reinforcing a shared commitment to promoting prosperity across the region.
GFMCC board chair Jen Whyte reflected on the chamber’s extraordinary year of growth, noting that the organization surpassed its membership goals while continuing to expand programming, partnerships, and opportunities for local businesses.
“If you haven’t yet noticed, look around this room. Feel the energy,” Whyte told attendees. “This Greater Fort Myers Chamber, by working with others, is absolutely winning.”
Whyte also highlighted the chamber’s continued momentum, celebrating record membership growth, new regional partnerships, and the evening’s historic turnout.
“What started with a cap of 375 attendees exploded to 500 people,” she said. “A blow-out record. Five hundred people who came out to celebrate this business community and, in particular, the nominees, the finalists, and the winners in eight award categories tonight. That is what winning looks like.”
Serving as emcee, Gulf Coast News anchor Lisa Spooner reminded attendees that the evening represented much more than awards.
“Prosperity is about more than economic growth,” she said. “It’s about the ideas that spark innovation, the partnerships that strengthen our business community, the leaders who invest in others, and the organizations that create opportunities for future generations to thrive.”
2026 Chamber Award Winners
APEX Award (Sponsored by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber Women in Business Committee)
• Winner: Anjali Van Drie, Family Initiative
Community Impact Award (Sponsored by Lake Michigan Credit Union)
• Winner: Robbie Roepstorff, Edison National Bank / Bank of the Islands
Entrepreneur of the Year (Sponsored by the City of Fort Myers)
• Winner: Dean Piccirillo, HBKS Wealth Advisors
Nonprofit Excellence Award (Sponsored by M&M Multimedia)
• Winner: The Heights Foundation
Volunteer of the Year (Sponsored by The News-Press)
• Winner: Amanda Berens, Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida
Young Professional of the Year (Sponsored by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union)
• Winner: Ashleigh Droz, Florida Gulf Coast University
Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by CRS Technology Consultants)
• Winner: Bay Street Yard
Large Business of the Year (Sponsored by Stevens Construction)
• Winner: Entech
The chamber also recognized its dedicated volunteers, committee leaders, and sponsors while celebrating the presentation of more than $36,000 in scholarships through the Chamber Foundation’s Women in Business Committee to non-traditional students attending Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to Presenting Sponsor Verizon, all event sponsors, award sponsors, volunteers, finalists, nominees, and everyone who helped make this milestone celebration possible,” said Lai. “The chamber looks forward to continuing its mission of promoting the prosperity of its members while strengthening the quality of life throughout Southwest Florida.”
Planning is already underway for the 2027 Greater Fort Myers Chamber Awards. Sponsorship opportunities are now available and expected to fill quickly. For more information, contact the GFMCC at (239) 332-2930 or email events@fortmyers.org.
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