Whether partially in person or fully virtual, the Small Business Week winners of Longboat Key will have their moment of triumph.
The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce has released the list of businesses nominated for its annual awards. The categories are the same as in 2019, with a rookie category, two categories celebrating small businesses of different sizes and the greenest business in the chamber. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, chamber President Gail Loefgren is unsure how much of the weeklong event, from Oct. 19 to 22, will be in-person versus virtual.
Typically, the week consists of seminars culminating in an awards luncheon. At this point, Loefgren is reasonably sure the seminars will be webinars, and she is still working on how the winners will be recognized.
The businesses below were nominated by a community member or by themselves and are all members of the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce.
2020 Rookie Small Business Person(s) of the Year
- Karen Norton, Blue Heron Home Staging
- Skylar Sostack, Captain Sky Cruises
- Michael Ballos, Cariloha Bamboo
- Tom Bright, CFSG
- Stephanie Klos, Chefanie
- Daniela Salafi, La Norma Ristorante & Pizzeria
- Patti Buchanan, Lifestyle Management Concierge Services
- Lisa Baskfield, Nature's Gem CBD Health and Wellness
- Celia Moore, Technology Solutions and Security
- Ed Kolodzieski, ULTRA-YACHT
- James Brearly, Chef David Benstock and Joe Chillura,Whitney's
2020 Small Business Person(s) of the Year, 10 or fewer employees
- Tony Shiva, Accent Kitchen and Floor
- Cary Dunn, Algae Army
- Gregory Koss and David Roy, David Gregory Salon
- Don Borden, Four Winds Network Services
- Richard Jennette, Jennette Properties
- Jon Schneider, JSC Corp.
- Kim and Greg Gregory, Kayaking SRQ Tours and Rentals
- Mary Lou Johnson, Mary Lou Johnson Photography
- Matt McGuire, Mr. Handyman-Sarasota and Bradenton
- Michael Drake, Property Solutions Group
- Ivan Radosavljevic, RIM Express
- Ken Levanti, Sarasota Trophy and Awards
- Amanda Escobio, Serenity Spa & Bou-tiki
- Dennis Hassell, SMART Merchant Services
- Mary Ann Hollander, Stop Slip Solutions
- Brian Gregg, Suncoast Window Films & Graphics
- Jake Spooner, The Fish Hole
- Dan Alderson, Tyler's Ice Cream
- Neil and Wendy McDonald, The UPS Store
2020 Small Business Person(s) of the Year, 11 or more employees
- Al Purmort, Jr., Al Purmort Insurance
- D'Arcy and Ray Arpke, Euphemia Haye Restaurant
- Andy Moore, Gulf Coast Property Management
- Sarah Whitehead, LeBarge Tropical Cruises
- J. Lloyd Keith, Lighthouse Property Management
- Larry Starr, RVA Resort Vacations
- David Eckel, Wagner Realty
2020 Good As Green Business of the Year
- Aqua Plumbing and Air
- Bekins Moving Solutions
- Cariloha Bamboo
- Cool Today Plumbing Today Energy Today
- Kerkering Barberio & Co.
- WrightWay Emergency Services
