ORLANDO | The Metropolitan Business Association celebrated 25 years, as well as the recognition of being named the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber of the Year, at their annual Pride Gala Business Awards for 2017 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando Nov. 4.
The community was dressed to the nines as they honored the best in LGBTQ business in Central Florida.
Hosting again this year was the dynamic duo of WFTV’s Jorge Estevez with the one and only Miss Sammy. The two brought plenty of laughs and charm, along with some pretty good dance moves.
New Business of the Year went to the certified electrical specialists at CDW Electrical Services, Inc. CDW posted their gratitude to the community on their Facebook page.
“We are truly honored, humbled and grateful to be a part of this great organization with all the wonderful people who we call family,” they wrote.
Small Business of the Year went to the media production house and brand consulting firm edgefactory.
Brian Cole, edgefactory’s president and CEO, accepted the award saying, “As long-time members and contributors to the MBA and the greater Orlando community, edgefactory could not be more thrilled to accept this recognition.”
The Nonprofit of the Year went to the collective of LGBTQ organizations known as the One Orlando Alliance. The One Orlando Alliance is a coalition of more than 30 Central Florida LGBTQ organizations.
The One Orlando Alliance was also granted $1,000 from Come Out With Pride on stage while accepting the award.
There was a tie for the first time in the category for Business Leader of the Year. This year, the award was shared between Jennifer Foster of Foster Productions, Inc., and Carlos Carbonell of Echo Interaction Group.
Foster was unable to attend the event but also took to Facebook to express her gratitude for the honor.
“Honored and humbled don’t measure up to expressing my gratitude for the recognition,” Foster wrote.
Foster wrote that winning the award with her friend Carbonell was “icing on the cake” after the One Orlando Alliance was named Nonprofit of the Year. Foster and Carbonell were the co-conveners of the One Orlando Alliance.
In other awards, Business Owner of the Year went to Clayton Reynolds, president and CEO of Suite Management Corp. Suite Management Corp specializes in the management of homeowner and condo associations. The Corporate Ally of the Year was awarded to the law firm Akerman LLP.
In addition to the awards voted on by an independent panel, the MBA selects recipients of the Community Champion and Volunteer of the Year awards.
State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith was named MBA’s 2017 Community Champion for his tireless work on behalf of District 49 and all of Central Florida.
Founder and chair of the T-Network, Jennifer Kurzawa, was named Volunteer of the Year. The T-Network is Orlando’s Transgender Professionals Resource Group.
Stuart Milk, longtime LGBTQ advocate and nephew to the legendary Harvey Milk, was honored with the Debbie Simmons Community Service Award.
