Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce names Teri Hansen as 2018 APEX Award winner

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce announced Teri Hansen as the recipient of this year’s APEX Awards. The 13th Annual APEX Awards, presented by Vector & Ink, took place on Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. The black tie optional awards ceremony is designed to honor a local individual who demonstrates career excellence and ingenuity, gives back to the community, and supports others in attaining their professional goals.

Hansen is the owner and president of Priority Marketing. Her entrepreneurial dream began in 1992 and recently celebrated 25 years in business. Hansen is a Fort Myers native and started her business shortly after the birth of her daughter. Hansen ran her business from home until her daughter reached school age, at which time she opened an office and hired a small staff.

Since then, Hansen has grown Priority Marketing to become one of the region’s largest full-service marketing, advertising, and public relations firms with 35 employees. In 2001, this nominee faced the greatest challenge of her life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout her 15-month cancer treatment, Hansen continued to work full-time in a hands-on leadership role at her company. The company was awarded the Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award in 2003 in recognition of its ability to overcome adversity to achieve success. A cancer survivor for nearly 17 years now, she has provided countless hours of heartfelt support and encouragement to more than 20 women who have faced the same diagnosis. She also continues to serve as a role model for the way she balances her priorities, even as the family and business continue to grow.

Hansen is one of the founding members of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, and a member of FPRA’s Counselor’s Network. Recently, Hansen was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the SWFL FPRA and is one of four recipients to have received this award. This award is reserved for public relations professionals who have dedicated their career to the profession and the advancement of it.

Hansen is now among previous APEX Awards recipients including Sandra Stilwell-Youngquist of Stilwell Enterprises, Samira Beckwith of Hope Healthcare Services, Gail Markham of Markham, Norton, Mosteller, Wright & Company, Sarah Owen of SWFL Community Foundation, Dr. Mary Kay Peterson of Radiology Regional Center, Rose Bernal-Tchekmeian, Christin Collins of Lee Health, Mei-Mei Chan, Kathryn Kelly of The Heights Foundation, Sonya Sawyer of Home-Tech, Connie Ramos-Williams of CONRIC PR & Marketing, Diana Willis of Jason’s Deli, Cyndi Doragh of Molloy Financial Group, Tessa LeSage of SWFL Community Foundation, Barbara Dell founder of Dress For Success, and Samantha Scott of Pushing the Envelope.

This year’s APEX Awards finalists also included Susan Bennett of Susan Bennett Marketing and Media LC, Kelly L. Fayer of Kelly L. Fayer, Christina Harris Schwinn of Pavese Law Firm and Judy Williams of SPADA Salon and Day Spa.