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Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County Announces 2008 Hall of Fame Award Winners
9/26/2008
Sept. 26, 2008 (Sarasota, FL) --The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Sarasota County announced winners of the 2008 Hall of Fame Awards today in a ceremony attended by nearly 450 people at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota. The event’s presenting sponsor was Halfacre Construction Co. The following companies were honored: The Award of Excellence, sponsored by Manatee Community College Service Company of the Year, sponsored by Lee Wetherington Cos. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota was the runner-up. Manufacturer of the Year, sponsored by Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen Gulf Coast Signs of Sarasota designs, manufactures and installs signs throughout the United States. The company was recognized as Manufacturer of the Year for their increased profitability and empowerment of employees. The company, owned by Hidayet Kutat was last year’s runner-up in this category. PPi Technologies Global, a packaging machinery company, was the runner-up Technology Company of the Year, sponsored by Kerkering Barberio & Co. P.A. CPAs IntegraClick, an online advertising and marketing company, was recognized as Technology Company of the Year. The company, co-founded by John Lemp and Amanda Huntington, has experienced more than seven thousand percent growth in the last few years and expects $100 million in sales by the end of 2008. Bay Systems, Inc., a database and web application developer, was the runner-up. The companies chosen to receive these four awards will also be nominated for the Florida Governor’s Business Diversification Awards. Criteria for the awards include corporate citizenship and community involvement; corporate responsibility through employee programs; and company growth, innovative achievements and market expansion. Two other awards were presented during the ceremony: Community Partner of the Year, sponsored by The Bank of Commerce Mote Marine Laboratory was named the first ever John J. Cox Community Partner of the Year. The newly created award honors John J. Cox, founder of Halfacre Construction Company and is given to a non-profit that contributes to economic development or improving the area’s quality of life. Mote Marine Laboratory, a marine research organization founded in 1955, employs 186 people and utilizes more than 1,400 volunteers to carry out its research and education initiatives. Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award, sponsored by Sun Hydraulics, Corp. C. John Clarke was presented with the second annual Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award. The award is given to an individual that exhibits outstanding values and business leadership. Clarke, the former CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, was responsible for the firms’ 28,000 acres of agricultural, mining and real estate development operations from 1989-2005. Additional sponsors of the Hall of Fame Award include: The Community Foundation of Venice, The Herald Tribune Media Group, Signs Now, and Baskerville Advertising.
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