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YOUR LOCAL
“It’s a Wrap” award winners.
Leadership at Its Best!
Take a look at some of the West Orange Chamber businesses that helped keep business going in 2020.
By Stina D’Uva
Even though 2020 wasn’t the type of year that we want to repeat, ever, there were some pretty remarkable moments because of the challenges. Challenging times are those that demonstrate ingenuity in people.
There is an old proverb that says, “When the need for something becomes imperative, you are forced to find ways of getting or achieving it.” Another expression is, “Leadership is not an option — it’s a necessity. If you choose not to lead, someone else will.”
At the chamber’s “2020 — It’s A Wrap” event last month, we honored four leaders — members of our chamber nominated by their peers — who epitomize leadership. Adam Markowitz of Howard L. Markowitz, P.A. and Harold Gattereau of The Vitality Bowls of Dr. Phillips and Ocoee were awarded the Leader Out of Necessity Awards. They both used their talents to help others in need during the crisis, spending hours thinking of and helping others.
Two others demonstrated the ability to reinvent their products or service to provide critical supplies: masks and hand sanitizer. The Innovator Out of Necessity Awards were presented to Marilyn Sawran of Sewing by Marilyn and Ted Khoury of Salon Technologies.
There were many other displays of leadership demonstrated by our members this year, including our municipalities in creating places for outside dining, waiving of tent fees and loosening restrictions for signage, to name just a few. All of these efforts helped businesses do business.
Two chamber businesses that were members of Orange County Mayor Demings’ Economic Recovery Task Force were presented with the Chairwoman’s Award, Deb Linden of The Wine Bar & Bistro and Chuck Whittall of Unicorp. These leaders led working groups that outlined methods to keep businesses in business when restrictions were lifted. Mayor Demings was also presented this award by 2020 Chairwoman Deborah Rios-Barnes.
Our chairwoman presented awards to our Small and Big Business Members of the Year as well. These awards are typically presented at our Big Orange Awards event at the start of the new year.
Empire Finish Systems, a familyowned business in Winter Garden, earned Small Business of the Year for their exceptional contributions to the chamber and community. They’re proud supporters of many local charities, including Shepherd’s Hope, Oakland Nature Preserve and West Orange Habitat for Humanity.
Our Big Business of the Year was Florida Blue, a Community Trustee. Their partnerships with OCPS, Early Childhood Learning Coalition and the Orlando Magic for the Baskets to Books program provided children with much-needed books. They also partnered with Walt Disney World to provide seniors with a virtual Taste of Epcot.
Congratulations to all our winners! They set examples of doing it right in the most challenging of times. With businesses like these in our community, 2021 will be a year to remember.
Taking care of Central Florida’s landscape needs for 31 years.
