Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance hosts 2015 Sandies Awards
LAKEWOOD RANCH -- On Friday, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance recognized nine accomplished professionals in the community at the 2015 Sandies Members' Choice Awards.
More than 250 business alliance members attended the awards in the Fete Ballroom at the Polo Grill & Bar. The awards "honor Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance volunteers who strive towards the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, devote time and energy to our community and forge paths of leadership for others to follow," according to the alliance.
The nine winners were selected from 47 finalists by business alliance members through an online nomination and voting process. Heather Kasten, LWRBA executive director, said all 47 nominees are significant contributors to the alliance.
"The Sandies is such a special event for our organization," Kasten said in a release. "It's a day for us to pause and genuinely celebrate and recognize outstanding leaders and volunteers within our organization."
The winners are as follows: Janet Arena of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, One of a Kind Award; Courtney Grovatt of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rising Star Award; Maria Hussey of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Ray of Sunshine Award; Mick Wick of Gator Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Networking King Award; Yasemin Chain of ComCenter of Lakewood Ranch, Networking Queen Award; Heather Williams of Kerkering, Barberio & Co., Young Professional of the Year Award; David Fink of Halliday Financial, Bull by the Horns Award; Brad Cranston of PostNet of Lakewood Ranch, Best Rancher Award and Susan Abbott of C1 Bank, Volunteer of the Year Award.
Williams has enjoyed being a part of the LWRBA's Young Leaders Alliance, a sub-group in the alliance comprised of professionals age 40 or under working in Manatee or Sarasota County.
"We're trying to bring relevant events to young professionals," she said. "It's been exciting to be a part of that group."
On the other side of the same coin, Arena said she's "been on earth many years longer than many" of the business alliance members.
"I was surprised I won because I was up against so many great people involved in this organization," Arena said.
The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and awarded 20 companies with the Legacy Award to honor them for 10 years of membership. Blue Skye Lending, Keiser University, Neal Communities, Raymond James and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc. are a few of the companies honored with the Legacy Award.
Over the last year, the LWRBA added 174 new businesses to its membership.
Janelle O'Dea, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter@jayohday.
This story was originally published November 20, 2015 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance hosts 2015 Sandies Awards ."