Awards & Recognition

Denise S. Houghtaling, founder of Southern Country Business Advisors, a business brokerage and M&A advisory firm serving Fort Myers and all of Southwest Florida, was recognized May 7 with multiple honors from Business Brokers of Florida (BBF), including recognition among Florida’s Top 50 business brokers for sales volume and the Southwest Florida District’s #1 Top…

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, announced the outstanding achievement of 24 attorneys having been selected as 2026 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Florida Super Lawyers employ a multiphase selection process that identifies the state’s top five percent of attorneys annually through a combination of peer nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The process begins…

Youth Haven, Collier County’s only emergency and residential shelter for abused, neglected and homeless children and teens ages 6 to 21, has earned two of the nation’s highest nonprofit recognitions, receiving a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. These designations recognize organizations that demonstrate exceptional accountability, transparency and…

Volunteers of America National Services has named Sarah Richard, executive director of Gulf Coast Village, as its 2026 Executive of the Year through the VOANS Impact Honors Awards program. The national awards program recognizes individuals whose contributions extend beyond their roles to strengthen lives, support colleagues and create lasting impact in the communities they serve.…

Corey McCloskey, president of John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate, has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Women of Influence, a national award recognizing 100 women whose leadership is shaping the housing industry. Now in its 17th year, the Women of Influence program honors executives and industry leaders across mortgage, real estate and homebuilding who…

Suncoast Custom Pools, a Southwest Florida leader with more than 40 years of expertise in custom pool design, new pool and spa construction, renovations and outdoor living, has been admitted as a member of the Master Pools Guild, one of the pool industry’s most respected international associations of elite custom pool builders. Founded in 1962,…

The Immokalee Foundation has once again been recognized among Florida’s top-performing student success organizations, earning Take Stock in Children’s Gold Level of Excellence Award for the fourteenth consecutive year. The Foundation also received the prestigious Luminary Award for the seventh straight year after achieving a perfect score of 100 out of 100 points on TSIC’s…

Elizabeth Dosoretz, founder and CEO of Elite DNA Behavioral Health, has been named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Florida. Presented by Ernst & Young, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program is one of the most prestigious business recognitions in the country, celebrating visionary leaders who are driving innovation, accelerating growth and creating lasting…

Christopher Alan Homes continues to strengthen its position as one of the top homebuilders in the nation, earning several recognitions on HousingWire Homebuilder Rankings, including No. 27 in 2025 new for-sale closings for single-family detached homes. The builder’s ranking among top national homebuilders demonstrates the continued trust and confidence of Christopher Alan homebuyers and the…

LCEC has been recognized with Chartwell’s 2026 Silver Award for Excellence in Customer Experience for its implementation of a Natural Language Interactive Voice Response system. The award highlights the LCEC commitment to enhancing member experience through innovative technology and strong cross-functional collaboration. The upgraded system allows members to navigate calls more easily using natural speech, resulting…