South Florida Business & Wealth (SFBW) honored 50 of the region’s most influential C-suite executives and hosted over 250 additional guests on November 19 for the first ever Apogee luncheon. This was the 12th annual Apogee Awards celebration and was hosted at The Venue in Wilton Manors. The ceremony recognized leaders across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties whose innovation, resilience, and community impact continue to shape one of the country’s fastest-growing business regions.
This year, the program received 331 nominations, reflecting an exceptional depth of executive leadership across the tri-county area. An independent selection committee evaluated each submission and identified this year’s outstanding honorees whose achievements set new standards in their industries and communities.
Presented by Nicklaus Children’s Health System, with TD Bank serving as the Gold Sponsor, the Apogee Awards celebrated executives across dozens of sectors including law, healthcare, aviation, real estate, construction, finance, nonprofit leadership, and hospitality. Additional support came from Fifth Third Bank, PeoPayGo, OCMI Workers Comp, Print Basics, and Transworld Business Advisors, helping create an inspiring afternoon of recognition and connection.
2025 SFBW Apogee Awards Honorees
Lifetime Achievement
- George LeMieux, Gunster (Law & Politics)
- Dennis Smith, Tripp Scott (Lifetime Achievement)
Corporate Champion – Executive Excellence in Accounting
- Mike Balter, CBIZ
Excellence in Leadership – Aviation
- Mayor Geoffrey Jacobs, Pembroke Park & Argentum Airways
Excellence in Leadership – CEO Entrepreneur, Aviation
- Anthony Marinello, Tropic Air Rescue
Executive Excellence – Banking & Financial Advice
- MarÃa Peuriot, Pibank USA
CEO Finance & Banking
- Keith Costello, Locality Bank
Executive Excellence – Business Advisory
- Tom Milana, Transworld
CEO Women-Owned Business
- Danielle Gaudreau, The Pretty Nomad
Excellence in Leadership – Construction & Development
- Adrian Barrios, DPR Construction
Corporate Champion – Construction & Development
- Cody Kiess, CORE Construction
Corporate Champion
- Matthew Tinsley, 5 Stones Intelligence
CEO Charitable Commitment – Social Enterprise / CEO Entrepreneur, Hospitality
- Tracy Thompson, Thompson Hospitality
CEO Charitable Commitment – Social Enterprise
- Erica Herman, Voices for Children of Broward County
CEO Women-Owned Business
- Shira Kastan Goldstein, ADG Strategy Group
CEO Charitable Commitment – Social Enterprise
- Greg Schiller, Child Rescue Coalition
Executive Excellence – Business
- Eddie Schwartz, Aryeh Strategic Partners
CEO Women-Owned Business
- Marcie Gregorio, Worldwide Title Company
Executive Excellence – Innovator in Wealth Management
- Steven Hudson, Hudson Capital Group
Healthcare Innovator of the Year
- Farah Garmany, M.D., Nicklaus Children’s Health Institute
Healthcare Innovator
- Vassilia Binensztok, Juno Counseling and Wellness
CEO Women-Owned Business
- Jasmine Johnson, GŪD Essence
Executive Excellence – Healthcare
- Kal Gajraj, CAN Community Health
Healthcare Innovator
- Reynette Romain, Reveye Mental Health and Wellness
COO Healthcare
- Derek Riley, Zoo Health Club Corporate
Rising CEO – Women-Owned Business
- Sherline Lexime, The HR Formula Group
Executive Excellence – Insurance
- Stephen Roche, USI Insurance Services
CEO Small Company (10–25 employees)
- Carmen Cossette Ravelo, Cossette Productions Inc.
Executive Excellence – Law
- Charles Caulkins, Fisher Phillips
Excellence in Law
- Gerald Greenspoon, Greenspoon Marder
- Jamie Cole, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman
Executive Excellence – Law
- Max Adams, The MediLaw Firm
CEO Entrepreneur
- Ryan Malkin, Malkin Law
CEO Luxury Hospitality
- Walter Banks, Lago Mar Resort Hotel & Club
Executive Excellence – Sports Marketing
- Kenneth Kennerly, James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame / PGA Tour Champions / Pro Links Sports
CEO Marine Industry
- Andrew Doole, Informa Markets (U.S. Boat Shows)
Excellence in Non-Profit
- Ana Sasmiresan, HabCenter Boca Raton
- Megan Speck, Museum of Discovery & Science
Excellence in Leadership
- Zack Simkins, Vaster
Corporate Champion
- Miki Naftali, Naftali Group
CEO Entrepreneur / Corporate Champion
- Mark Rothenberg, Ellemar Enterprises
CEO Real Estate
- Manny Angelo Varas, MV Group USA
CEO Retail
- Andrew Koenig, City Furniture
Executive Excellence – Tax & Finance
- Adam Korenfield, CohnReznick
Champion of Women Empowerment
- Angélica Fuentes, NOWFUL
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
- Nicklaus Children’s Health System
Gold Sponsor
- TD Bank
Silver Sponsors
- Fifth Third Bank
- PeoPayGo / OCMI Workers Comp
- Transworld Business Advisors
- Print Basics
Sapphire Sponsors
- Hudson Capital Group
- CAN Community Health
- Tripp Scott
- USI
- City Furniture
- Greenspoon Marder
- Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club
- CORE Construction
Emerald Sponsors
- Gunster
- Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman
- DPR Construction
- NOWFUL
Ruby Sponsors
- Town of Pembroke Park
- Fisher Phillips
Media & Community Partners
- Balloons Galore and More
- Sundial
- The Media Lab
- Jon Saxx
