- April 25, 2024
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Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren and supporting sponsor Michael Vejins of Raymond James Financial
Small Business Council Georgina Clamage, Barbara Langdon, Eric Warneke, David Pilston, Al Benincasa and Michael Vejins. Not pictured: Bob Gault
Small Businessperson of the Year 11 to 100 Employees winner Karen and Greg LaPensee of LaPensee Plumbing
Rookie Small Businessperson of the Year Ferruh Muktar and Susan Robinson of Key Culinary Tours
Chamber President Gail Loefgren with Rick Benninghove of Good as Green Business of the Year the Resort at Longboat Key Club
Small Businessperson of the Year 10 or fewer employees winner Michael Bazzy of Bradenton Beach Marina and Chamber President Gail Loefgren
Jack Dean and Tonya Atchison
Georgina Clamage and Jamie Ebling
Debra Fortosis and Tammy Halstead
Breanca Niski and Lexie Ladensack
Diane Junker and Barbara Langdon
Ferruh Muktar and Joanna Whalen
Josh Whitlow and Diane Junker
David Pilston and Eric Warneke
Vince LaPorta, Cindy Steiner and Michele Kneuse
Yvonne Schloss and Jan Jordan
Robyne Richardson and Aurora Kane
Harry Christensen, Aurora Kane and Andrew Vac
Chamber President Gail Loefgren welcomes the 106 attendees to the awards luncheon.
Support sponsor Michael Vejins of Raymond James Financial addresses attendees.
Observer Publisher Emily Walsh, second place winner of Rookie Small Businessperson of the year Robyne Richardson of Beach Fitness and Chamber Chairman Michael Doll
Observer Publisher Emily Walsh, Rookie Small Businessperson of the Year Ferruh Muktar and Susan Robinson of Key Culinary Tours and Chamber Chairman Michael Doll
Chamber Chairman Michael Doll hands Debra Fortosis of Elite Family Care her second place award for Small Businessperson of the Year 10 or fewer employees.
Observer Publisher Emily Walsh, third place winners of Small Businessperson of the Year 11 to 100 employees Harry and Lynn Christensen of Harry’s Continental Kitchens and chamber chairman Michael Doll
Chamber Chairman Michael Doll shakes hands with Karen Lapensee of LaPensee Plumbing, the winner of Small Businesspersons of the Year 11 to 100 employees
Jacqueline Mazer with Jamie Ebling of second place winner of Small Businessperson of the Year 11 to 100 employees
Mike Solmonson of G. Fried Flooring, Third place winner of Good as Green Business of the Year, and Jacci Shovlin
Shane Catts of Happy Paddler EcoVentures and Tours, third place winner of Small Businesspersons of the Year 10 or fewer employees, and Robyne Richardson of Beach Fitness, second place winner of Rookie Small Businessperson
Harry and Lynn Christensen of Harry’s Continental Kitchens, third place winners of Small Businesspersons of the Year 11 to 100 employees
Julie Kirkwood of Book a Little Sunshine, third place winner of Rookie Small Businessperson of the Year and Debra Fortosis of Elite Family Care, second place winner of Small Businessperson of the Year 10 or fewer employees
Small businesses make up 99.7% of all U.S. employer firms.
That was just one statistic Michael Vejins shared as he welcomed 106 guests to the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Week awards luncheon on Oct. 19 at Zota Beach Resort.
Vejins, of supporting sponsor Raymond James Financial, shared other definitions of a small business before giving his own. He said words and phrases like “passionate” and “improve quality of life” described the small businesses represented in the room.
First-place awards were given to a small businessperson as well as first and second runners-up in four categories: Rookie Small Businessperson of the Year (for businesses 3 years old or less as of Jan. 1, 2017); Small Businessperson of the Year (10 or fewer employees); Small Businessperson of the Year (11 to 100 employees); and Good as Green Business of the Year.
After the awards were given out, Vejins reminded the guests how important it was to network with each other beyond leads. He encouraged them to share ideas.
This is the first time Small Business Week has been held since 2012. Chamber President Gail Loefgren was pleased with how it all turned out.
“Recognizing business is one of my favorite things to do, giving credit to people who deserve it” Loefgren said.
The businesses appreciated the recognition.
LaPensee Plumbing won Small Businessperson of the Year in the 11 to 100 employees category. Owners Karen and Greg LaPensee were overwhelmed and surprised at their award, but appreciative. Greg LaPensee said it’s a lot of hard work, so being recognized evokes a good feeling.
Susan Robinson of Key Culinary Tours, who won Rookie Small Businessperson of the Year, echoed those feelings.
“It’s a validation of our hard work,” Robinson said. “It’s hard being a rookie out here.”
