Horizon Council presents 2014 Industry Appreciation Awards
The 2014 Industry Appreciation Week awards ceremony held Friday, Sept. 19, drew more than 1,000 attendees to the Harborside Event Center to honor local companies and leaders for their role in improving the business environment in Lee County. Presented by the Horizon Council, an advisory group to the Lee County Board of Commissioners and Fort Myers Regional Partnership, Lee County’s Economic Development Office, Industry Appreciation Week is a statewide annual event designed to create public awareness about how industry boosts the state’s economy.
This year’s award recipients are:
LeeSar General Business Large Company
Founded in 1998 as a cooperative effort by Lee Memorial Healthcare System and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, LeeSar is a state-of-the-art, regional healthcare supply chain management company serving healthcare organizations in the southeastern U.S. In 2012, LeeSar opened a 205,000-square-foot regional service center in Fort Myers to enhance operational efficiencies and further reduce supply costs for the healthcare systems it serves. LeeSar employs 380 people and serves eight affiliates across the Southeast.
Mark Loren Designs General Business
Small Company
For more than 25 years, Mark Loren has been voted Southwest Florida’s favorite custom jewelry designer. Nationally known for offering unique and rare gemstones, innovative diamond rings, exceptional engagement and wedding bands and expert jewelry design and repair; all services are done on-site at the Fort Myers and Naples gallery locations. Mark Loren Designs was established in 1985 with just one employee. Today, the Fort Myers-based company has 13 employees and two galleries. The studio often creates and donates one-of-a-kind pieces for local charities.
Fusion Metalworks Manufacturing
Established in 2010, Fusion Metalworks provides fabrication, welding and installation services for any commercial, industrial or residential job that involves aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel and exotic metals. With intentions to expand, the company currently has 29 full-time employees running two shifts. To meet demand, Fusion Metalworks invested more than $500,000 in the last year to renovate and purchase equipment that will accelerate production times and increase production capabilities.
Enterprise Holdings Tourism
Established in 1985, Enterprise Holdings is a Florida corporation in the automotive rental, truck rental, retail automotive sales and commercial leasing business. Currently employing 309 people, Enterprise rents vehicles under the brands Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In 2011, Enterprise opened its administrative and sales office in Lee County and has since become an important member of the Lee County tourism industry. Enterprise Holdings supports local organizations through events such as the American Heart Ball, The Cattle Barons’ Ball, D’Latino and Gulfshore Magazine’s FACE Awards, Chrysalis Awards, the Auction for Education and Apex Awards.
CenturyLink Information Technology
CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the U.S. and provides data, voice and managed services in local, national and select international markets. CenturyLink currently has 446 Lee County employees. Focusing on philanthropic and volunteer efforts, Century-Link supports local initiatives such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, American Heart Association, Take Stock in Children, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the United Way.
Hertz Newcomer Award
Hertz Global Holdings Inc. operates its rental car business through the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly brands from approximately 11,555 corporate and licensee locations in about 145 countries. Additionally, Hertz owns Donlen Corporation which operates the Hertz 24/7 hourly car rental business and sells vehicles through its Rent2Buy program. The company also owns Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, which includes Hertz Entertainment Services. Construction is under way on the nearly $70 million, quarter-million square-foot headquarters facility along U.S. 41 in Estero. The new buildings will be completed in 2015. Hertz is bringing 700 new jobs to Lee County, and has already produced more than 450 jobs locally to date.
Robbie Roepstorff – Lifetime Achievement Award
Founder and President of Edison National Bank, Robbie Roepstorff has been involved with the Horizon Council and Horizon Foundation Inc. for nearly two decades. Over the years, Roepstorff has served as the chair of the council, the past president of the foundation for two years, chair of the Healthy Horizon Task Force and was the initiator of the Foundation’s “President’s Circle” which has grown to nearly 30 members. She currently serves as a commissioner Appointed member of the Industrial Development Authority and represented the Horizon Council seat of the Roadway Landscape Advisory Committee. Roepstorff serves the community as Chair of the Board of trustees for Florida Gulf Coast University, and through such organizations as Hope Hospice of Lee County, Lee Memorial Health System, the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, American Heart Association, Sanibel Community Association, Junior Achievement and many others.
She received the Athena Award in 2002, an award presented annually by local chambers of commerce throughout the United States to an individual exemplifying excellence in the individual’s business or profession, serving the community in a meaningful way, and for assisting women in developing their leadership potential. Other awards include the Sanibel Captiva Chamber Citizen of the Year, National Philanthropy Award for Outstanding Small Business in Lee County, Lee County Business Leadership Hall of Fame Laureate Award, Paulette Burton Lee County Citizen of the Year, Florida Bankers Association Bankers of the Year and the 2012 Uncommon Friends Honorary Lifetime Member Award.
The Horizon Council is a public-private board established in 1991 to advise the Lee County Board of Commissioners on economic development issues. The council has up to 80 members representing five cities; chambers of commerce; economic development and trade organizations; community, business, and education organizations; along with various officers and at-large members. For more information, visit www.leecounty-business.com/home/horizon-council.