Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance presents its Next Gen Awards

Both Nicole Hackel and Paige Venuto are used to working behind the scenes, in anonymity.

But on Thursday at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, they were center stage.

Hackel was named the Young Leaders Alliance Member of the Year while Venuto was honored with the Emerging Leader Award at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Next Gen Awards dinner.

"It's fun to be recognized," said Hackel, who is responsible for scheduling and programming at many of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch's biggest events in Lakewood Ranch. "But I do love working in the background. Then you see everything you've put into it come to life."

"She makes so much happen here on the Ranch," said Lakewood Ranch Communities' Sandy Shahinian Levins of Hackel's role. "A lot of the fun that you have here on the Ranch is because of Nicole and her team."

East County Observer Associate Publisher Lori Ruth, who presented Hackel with the award, said she "always is the first person to raise her hand to help whenever needed."

Photo by Jay Heater

Hackel said that none of the events' success would happen without her team.

Likewise, Venuto said she gets lots of help putting together events for Lakewood Ranch Community Activities.

"I work with amazing people," she said. "And I grew up here."

Brittany Lamont, the president and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, said the Next Gen Awards is her second favorite annual event next to The Sandies.

"This is a way to honor and recognize our young professionals," Lamont said. "These are our next CEOs who are going to be running companies here."

Lamont said the wide range of nominees at the event represented all different types of businesses, nonprofits and organizations.

"We have such a depth of industry and this is a reminder of what a robust business community we have here," Lamont said.

A panel of LWRBA judges was formed to consider and ultimately select the winners.

Photo by Jay Heater

Besides Venuto and Hackel, Jordan Sebastiano of Sarabay Real Estate, Keiondra Marshall of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, and Blake Fitzpatrick of Sunshine Movers won awards. Sebastiano was named Connection Champion, Marshall earned the Community Impact award, and Fitzpatrick was honored with the Next Gen award.

Sebastiano said it was such an honor to be part of the Young Leaders Alliance. "Essentially, this is a great family," he said.

Marshall thanked Mote for an amazing 3 1/2 years that she has worked there. "They have given me so many opportunities to grow," she said.

Fitzpatrick, who owns Sunshine Movers, said he didn't know what he was doing when he started the business, but his top priority was taking care of his team. He said as the area has gone through hurricanes, COVID and other struggles, he has tried to find ways to give back to the community.

He said giving back to the community grows a great culture in his own company and among his employees that has proven to be a great way to retain quality employees. He urged other businesses in attendance to do the same.