Women in Business Awards to honor SWFL leaders

Gulfshore Business will celebrate its fifth annual Women in Business Awards this spring, recognizing 10 standout leaders who are making a significant impact across Southwest Florida.

The honorees, selected for their professional achievements and leadership, include business owners and senior-level executives who have demonstrated excellence in their industries. The annual awards spotlight women who are helping shape the region’s business landscape through innovation, mentorship and community involvement.

The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 20, at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort, 5001 Coconut Road, in Bonita Springs.

Designed as both a celebration and networking opportunity, the Women in Business Awards bring together executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders to recognize the contributions of women across a range of sectors.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Winners will be featured in the May 2026 issue of Gulfshore Business.

Eligibility criteria:

• Nominee must live in Florida.

• Nominee must work for a company based in or operating in Southwest Florida (Collier, Lee or Charlotte counties).

• Individuals may be honored only once.

• Only one honoree per company per year.

• Self-nominations are welcome.

Please complete the nomination form below with information about your nominee. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges.

For questions about the nomination process, contact chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.

Past Women in Business classes

Class of 2026

• Rebekah Bernard, M.D. — Gulf Coast Direct Primary Care

• Denise Carlin, Ed.D. — The School District of Lee County

• JoAnn Elardo — Wicked Dolphin Distillery

• Jenny Gezella — Hoffmann Marine

• Karen Govern — STARability Foundation

• Stefanie Ink-Edwards — Community Cooperative

• Christine Myers — Gulf Coast Site Inc.

• Skylar Porter — SkyStruk Shoes

• Faith Schwalback — Beverly’s Angels

• Ilkay Turk — The House of Turk & Turk

Class of 2025

• Kathy Bigham — Bigham Jewelers

• Linda Goldfield — Youth Haven

• Adria Starkey — FineMark National Bank & Trust

• Aysegul Timur, Ph.D. — Florida Gulf Coast University

• Anjali Van Drie, MA, LCSW, BCBA — Family Initiative Inc.

• Tami Raznoff — Healthcare Network

• Megan Rose — Better Together

• Jenny Namour — Panther Printing

• Kelly Musico — Tacos & Tequila Cantina

• Dr. Robyn Matonti — Matonti Dental / Affordable Dental Care

Class of 2024

• Marie Capita — Taste of Immokalee Inc.

• Kristen Coury — Gulfshore Playhouse

• Elizabeth Dosoretz — Elite DNA Behavioral Health

• Jaclynn Faffer — Baker Senior Center Naples

• Angela Fisher — Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida

• Cotrenia Hood — Steel Bleu

• Jennifer Johnson — True Fashionistas

• Kathryn Kelly — The Heights Foundation / The Heights Center

• Dawn Montecalvo — Guadalupe Center

• Vicki Tracy — Gulf Coast International Properties

Class of 2023

• Samira Beckwith — Hope Healthcare

• Rebekah Barney — Alzada Company

• Sylvia Dorisme — Zeal Technical Institute

• Julie Koester — Veedor Holdings LLC (Dragon Horse Agency / Dragon Horse Publishing / Moxie Creed)

• Missy Lamont — Naples Children & Education Foundation

• Joyce Owens — Architecture Joyce Owens LLC | Studio AJO

• Noemi Y. Perez — The Immokalee Foundation

• Sheryl Soukup — Soukup Strategic Solutions

• Deanna Wallin — Naples Soap Company

• Michelle Avola-Brown — Naples Pathways Coalition

Class of 2022

• Ingrid Aielli — Aielli Restaurant Group (Sea Salt, Barbatella, Dorona, Grappino)

• Nancy Dauphinais — David Lawrence Center

• Marie Grasmeier — Grasmeier Business Consulting

• Teri Hansen — Priority Marketing

• Gerri Moll — Bank of America

• Karen Mosteller — Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co.

• Sarah Newcomb — The Wine Room / S. Newcomb Photography

• Connie Ramos-Williams — CONRIC pr + marketing

• Robbie Roepstorff — Edison National Bank / Bank of the Islands

• Jennifer Whyte — Fort Myers Brewing Co.