The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral recently kicked off the new year with its 2026 Chairman’s Gala and Excellence in Business Awards, dedicated to celebrating leadership, service, and business excellence within the Cape Coral community.
Each year, the Chamber recognizes members who have gone above and beyond to support the organization and strengthen connections throughout the business community. The 2025 Chamber Award honorees included:
- Board Member of the Year – Eric Gundersen Photo Booth Cape Coral
- Trustee of the Year – Annette Warren, Priority Business Solutions
- New Member of the Year – The Salad King
- Welcome Center Volunteer of the Year – Kenny Potts, RE/MAX Trend
- Member of the Year – Waste Pro
- Volunteer of the Year – Michelle Allen, Summit Broadband
- Government Affairs Committee Member of the Year – Gloria Tate, Raso Realty
- Membership Development Committee Member of the Year – Ed Estes
- Education Committee Member of the Year – Dusty Shelton, It’s IT
The Chamber also recognized its 2025 Chamber Champions, individuals and businesses that consistently demonstrate extraordinary commitment to the organization’s mission. This year’s Chamber Champions are:
- IncredibleBank2026
- Zachary Zeis, Suncoast Beverage
- Brett Bisbe, B2 Technology Solutions
- Jeff and Sue Justin, Your Name Here Specialties
- Merry Coffman, Intersport, LLC – Fort Myers Tip Off
The 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award went to Annette Carrasquillo, honoring her years of dedicated leadership and lasting impact on both the Chamber and the Cape Coral community.
The Gala also featured the 2025 Excellence in Business Awards, celebrating organizations and leaders who drive economic growth while making a significant difference in the community:
- Non-Profit of the Year – Cape Coral Caring Center
- Large Business of the Year – WastePro
- Small Business of the Year – Modern Woodmen of America – Lenny Cannova
- New Small Business of the Year – The Salad King (pictured below)
- Entrepreneur of the Year – Joe Yapello, Cape Coral Sun
In addition, the Chamber recognized several family-owned businesses that have served Cape Coral for more than 50 years, including the Greco Family of ACRA Electric, the Schuman Family of Ken’s Auto Repair of Cape Coral, the Raso Family of Raso Realty, and Robin Dawn Ryan of Robin Dawn Academy.
The evening also marked the formal introduction and induction of the 2026 Chairman of the Board, Mick Sheldrake of Guardian Angels For Special Populations, along with the Chamber’s 2026 Board of Directors and Trustees. The induction was led by the Honorable Gloria Raso Tate.