South Tampa Chamber Announces Award Winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, FL - The South Tampa Chamber hosted their Annual Meeting and Awards at the Centre Club on January 13. After recounting some of the Chamber’s achievements from the past year including adding more than 130 new members, hosting nearly 100 events, and participating in 40 ribbon cuttings to celebrate new businesses, and Chamber members were recognized during the event with an awards ceremony. The Chamber’s 2023 Chair of the Board Dr. Shane Smith said “We have increased our advocacy efforts, provided educational opportunities to grow your business, continued to be a one-stop resource, and launched a new young professionals program. This is just a snap-shot of all that the chamber has achieved this past year.”
2023 South Tampa Chamber Award Recipients:
Member of the Year: Tara Moody, Synergy Technology Solutions
Impact Award: Cheryl Jones, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
Volunteer of the Year: Elizabeth Montante, ZIPS Cleaners & Qdoba Mexican Eats
Ambassador of the Year: Chris Bruser, Mutual of Omaha Reverse Mortgage
Katie McGill was named the 2023 Citizen of the Year, best known as the driving force behind Dress for Success, Tampa Bay, first as a volunteer and then as executive director, helping more than 35,000 women get back on their feet with a new outlook on life. The Citizen of the Year Award is presented to an individual whose actions help make the community of South Tampa a better place to live. Through their time and effort, they have influenced an improvement in the quality of life in and around South Tampa. The award was accepted by members of Katie’ family.
“For more than 25 years, Ms. Katie provided unparalleled opportunities and resources to thousands of women in Tampa Bay. In every situation, Ms. Katie encouraged and empowered women to accept personal responsibility to gain economic independence,” said Board Member Tanya Cielo.
The Chamber Introduced a new award, the Hero Award that was given to Bryan Stern. Bryan leads Project DYNAMO, a veteran-led donor-funded, non-profit, international rescue organization conducting operations where the US government is not present where civilians, and especially Americans, are at risk where the US government does not have access or a presence in what they call the in “The Grey Space.”
“Today, we honored Bryan for embodying the true spirit of heroism. His acts of courage are a testament to the power of compassion, empathy, and the relentless pursuit of a better world. As we bestow upon him the Hero Award, let us not only celebrate his accomplishments but also use his example as a catalyst for positive change in our own lives,” said Board Member Rebekah Nault.
About the South Tampa Chamber: Established in 1926, the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce is an association of more than 600 businesses, organizations and individuals working together to make the South Tampa community the best place to live, work, and play. The South Tampa Chamber is recognized as a Certified Plus Chamber by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, a Three-Star Chamber of Valor by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2020 Chamber of the Year. Learn more at www.SouthTampaChamber.org.
TAMPA, FL - The South Tampa Chamber hosted their Annual Meeting and Awards at the Centre Club on January 13. After recounting some of the Chamber’s achievements from the past year including adding more than 130 new members, hosting nearly 100 events, and participating in 40 ribbon cuttings to celebrate new businesses, and Chamber members were recognized during the event with an awards ceremony. The Chamber’s 2023 Chair of the Board Dr. Shane Smith said “We have increased our advocacy efforts, provided educational opportunities to grow your business, continued to be a one-stop resource, and launched a new young professionals program. This is just a snap-shot of all that the chamber has achieved this past year.”
2023 South Tampa Chamber Award Recipients:
Member of the Year: Tara Moody, Synergy Technology Solutions
Impact Award: Cheryl Jones, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
Volunteer of the Year: Elizabeth Montante, ZIPS Cleaners & Qdoba Mexican Eats
Ambassador of the Year: Chris Bruser, Mutual of Omaha Reverse Mortgage
Katie McGill was named the 2023 Citizen of the Year, best known as the driving force behind Dress for Success, Tampa Bay, first as a volunteer and then as executive director, helping more than 35,000 women get back on their feet with a new outlook on life. The Citizen of the Year Award is presented to an individual whose actions help make the community of South Tampa a better place to live. Through their time and effort, they have influenced an improvement in the quality of life in and around South Tampa. The award was accepted by members of Katie’ family.
“For more than 25 years, Ms. Katie provided unparalleled opportunities and resources to thousands of women in Tampa Bay. In every situation, Ms. Katie encouraged and empowered women to accept personal responsibility to gain economic independence,” said Board Member Tanya Cielo.
The Chamber Introduced a new award, the Hero Award that was given to Bryan Stern. Bryan leads Project DYNAMO, a veteran-led donor-funded, non-profit, international rescue organization conducting operations where the US government is not present where civilians, and especially Americans, are at risk where the US government does not have access or a presence in what they call the in “The Grey Space.”
“Today, we honored Bryan for embodying the true spirit of heroism. His acts of courage are a testament to the power of compassion, empathy, and the relentless pursuit of a better world. As we bestow upon him the Hero Award, let us not only celebrate his accomplishments but also use his example as a catalyst for positive change in our own lives,” said Board Member Rebekah Nault.
About the South Tampa Chamber: Established in 1926, the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce is an association of more than 600 businesses, organizations and individuals working together to make the South Tampa community the best place to live, work, and play. The South Tampa Chamber is recognized as a Certified Plus Chamber by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, a Three-Star Chamber of Valor by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2020 Chamber of the Year. Learn more at www.SouthTampaChamber.org.