Awards & Recognition
Five Southwest Florida businesses are among the list of distinguished companies that will be hailed as global innovators during the 2026 Edison Awards, an international competition that culminates in April with a celebratory event in Fort Myers. The Edison Awards released its 2026 finalists on Jan. 20, noting the winners are a “curated collective of…
Amy McQuagge, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s vice president and director of marketing, has been named board chair for the Pace Center for Girls Lee. McQuagge joined the PACE board of directors in 2020. She has since held several roles within the organization, including vice chair of the board, chair of both the board development and…
Veronica LeBlanc, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s vice president, head of retail sales and Gateway Branch office manager, has been elected to the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium board of directors. LeBlanc is a banking veteran with over 25 years of experience in the industry. She is actively involved in the community and has held various…
John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate today announced that President Corey McCloskey has been recognized as #115 among the country’s top executives on the 2026 Swanepoel Power 200 list (SP 200). In 2024, McCloskey was promoted to the position of president of the three-generation family-owned firm. She joined the company in 2003 as a staff member,…
Wilson & Johnson announced that Courtney N. Smuder, an associate attorney in the firm’s Trusts & Estates practice, has passed the Florida Bar Exam. Smuder joined Wilson & Johnson in May 2024. She focuses on estate planning, probate, and trust administration, bringing both legal knowledge and financial industry experience to her work with clients. Smuder…
Budge Huskey, chief executive officer of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, has been recognized among the 200 most powerful individuals in residential real estate on the 2026 Swanepoel Power 200 (SP200), earning the No. 44 ranking, an advancement from his No. 50 position the previous year. Published annually by T3 Sixty, the Swanepoel Power 200 is…
For the 13th consecutive year, The Club at Mediterra has been honored with Elite status by Distinguished Clubs, a designation awarded to just 132 private clubs nationwide and representing fewer than three (3) percent of clubs globally.  Distinguished Clubs by BoardRoom magazine recognizes private clubs that deliver exceptional member experiences through a rigorous, merit-based evaluation…
Taylor Carpet One, a mainstay of the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade for more than 20 years, will return to the 2026 lineup with a Taylor family member guiding the region’s signature event. Lauren Taylor, operations manager at Taylor Carpet One and daughter of owner John Taylor, is serving as president of the 2026…
Naples Botanical Garden has been awarded a Gold Medal by the internationally renowned Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show, one of the world’s most celebrated horticultural exhibitions. Presented annually by the Royal Horticultural Society, the Chelsea Gold Medal represents the highest level of achievement in garden design and plant presentation. Naples Botanical Garden’s award places it among an elite…
The Naples Airport Authority (NAA) and its Fixed-Base Operator, Naples Aviation, were honored as a Recycling Champion by the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation, a coalition of businesses and associations dedicated to improving Florida’s recycling rates while implementing initiatives to reduce waste and expand sustainability programs. The Foundation’s annual Recycling Champions Awards recognizes companies, organizations, governmental…