JA to induct Carter, Hoffmanns, Maddox into 2026 hall class

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida will induct four prominent business leaders into its Business Hall of Fame next month, recognizing careers that have shaped the region’s economy while advancing education, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness for local youth.

Ryan Carter, president of Scotlynn; David and Jerri Hoffmann, founders of Hoffmann Family of Companies; and entrepreneur Rebecca Maddox will be honored March 24 at a ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Naples Grande Beach Resort. The annual event highlights leaders whose professional success is matched by sustained civic and philanthropic engagement.

Carter launched Scotlynn in 2010 with a business partner, expanding it into a logistics enterprise that employs more than 400 people in the U.S., including a significant presence in Southwest Florida. He serves on multiple nonprofit and civic boards, including the Lee Health Foundation, Horizon Foundation and Community Cooperative, and is active with Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business. Carter has previously been named Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year and received statewide and national recognition through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

David Hoffmann, founder and chairman of Hoffmann Family of Companies, built his business portfolio from the executive search firm he launched in 1989 into a global network spanning more than 200 brands and properties across 30 countries, employing more than 22,000 people worldwide. Hoffmann has been listed on the Forbes Billionaires List and received the Horatio Alger Award, among other honors. He and his wife, Jerri, have become major philanthropic figures in Naples, supporting initiatives ranging from education to downtown redevelopment.

Jerri Hoffmann has played a central role in growing the family’s enterprises while pursuing her own entrepreneurial ventures. She founded The Augusta Clothing Company in Missouri in 2022 and has since expanded the brand to Naples, with plans for further growth. Her work blends business development with community engagement, reflecting the couple’s broader commitment to reinvesting in the places where they live and operate.

Maddox brings a career that spans corporate finance, entrepreneurship and real estate. A certified public accountant, she held senior roles at firms including Revlon, Arthur Andersen and Citicorp Guardian before founding and growing multiple businesses that were later acquired. After moving to Naples in 2006, she pivoted during the 2008 financial crisis to acquire and redevelop distressed properties, at one point managing more than 200 units. Her final real estate venture evolved into what is now Three60 Market. Today, she operates Rebecca’s Wine Bar and The Maddox Club while remaining deeply involved in local philanthropy.

The Hall of Fame Committee, chaired this year by Vicki Tracy, selects laureates from Lee and Collier counties who align with Junior Achievement’s mission of preparing students for economic success. Since its founding in 1988, the Business Hall of Fame has inducted more than 100 leaders from across Southwest Florida.

Proceeds from the event benefit Junior Achievement programs serving students in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.

Tickets and sponsorship information are available by clicking here.