Manatee Chamber Announces Winners for 45th Annual Small Business & Non-Profit of the Year Awards
The 2025 Manatee Chamber Small Business & Non-Profit of the Year Awards was held on Thursday, August 21st at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. This program recognizes small businesses and non-profit organizations for “quality and excellence” as exemplified by growth, productivity, customer service, job creation, and overall contribution to the community. The Manatee community is supported by stellar businesses and non-profit organizations that help strengthen our business environment and improve our quality of life.
The Manatee Chamber of Commerce hosted the Awards in partnership with Presenting Sponsor, Credit Union 1.
This year, there were more than 200 nominations from the community, with eighty-nine companies and organizations electing to take the important and rigorous steps to become applicants. The six winners were chosen from among the thirty-two finalists.
Since the inception of this event, the Manatee Chamber has honored more than 160 local small businesses. In 2016, the awards program was expanded to include local non-profit organizations to recognize their operations and contributions to our community, workforce, and economy.
The Manatee Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the winners for 2025:
Small Business – Category I
Frosted Pink
Alicia Cardin, Owner / Artist
5321 123rd Ave E, Parrish, FL 34219
(254) 247-8041
shop.castiron.me/frosted-pink
Small Business – Category II
Kona Ice of Manatee County
Chris & Stephanie Edwards, Owners
(941) 465-0802
kona-ice.com
Small Business – Category III
Kidspot
Tara Hawkins, CEO
410 10th Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221
(941) 722-3582
thekidspot.org
Small Business – Category IV
Sunshine Movers
Blake Fitzpatrick, Owner
4050 Middle Ave, Sarasota, FL 34243
(941) 447-1719
sarasotasunshinemovers.com
Non-Profit – Category I
Family Promise of Sarasota – Manatee
Tara Maffei, Executive Director
8499 S Tamiami Trl, PMB 267, Sarasota, FL 34238
(941) 350-7744
familypromisesarasota-manatee.org
Non-Profit – Category II
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee
Maribeth Phillips, President & CEO
811 23rd Ave E, Bradenton, FL 34208
(941) 747-4655
mealsonwheelsplus.org
Photo Gallery will be available for download on Monday, August 25 at 45th Annual Small Business & Non-Profit of the Year Awards Photos
The 2025 Small Business of the Year Awards Judges:
Mike Bear, DEX Imaging
Dennise Berger, Regions Bank
Nick Choat, Sport Clips Haircuts of Bradenton (2018 Winner)
Dennis Cooley, Bridgely Key Options
Amy Farrington, Persson, Cohen, Mooney, Fernandez & Jackson, P.A.
Tami Goudy, Veritas! Pest Management (2019 Winner)
Wade Hamilton, Connect Central
Sherry Harris, Cogent Bank
Dave Heye
Jason Osborne, Bank OZK
Stefanie Overturf, Phenomenal Business Coaching (2015 Winner – Overturf’s Floor & Fabric Care)
Justin Phillips, Minuteman Press of Bradenton
Karen Riley-Love, AMI Beach Weddings (2024 Winner)
Philip Stark, Synovus Bank
Jon Stuart, SCORE Manasota Chapter 116
Judy Vobroucek, Discount Med Direct / Wellness Center of Ellenton
Terri West, West Coast Business Solutions
Michael Willats, Esq., Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Rick Yocum, Humane Society of Manatee County (2018 Winner)