Main Navigation
Sections
Social Media Connect
Our Other Brands
  • Lifestyle Media Group Logo
South Florida Business and Wealth
South Florida Business & Wealth
Editor's Choice

The 12th Annual Apogee Awards

South Florida Business & Wealth Honors 50+ C-Suite Leaders at the 2025 Apogee Awards
| SFBW Staff

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

  • María 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

You May Also Like
Downtown cityscape of Broward at sunset with high-rise buildings, palm trees, and blurred car lights. Text overlay reads: "Broward Business Pulse: Five Signals Shaping the Week. South Florida Business & Wealth
Broward Business Pulse
January 25, 2026
Three people smiling and holding a KISS Country 99.9 sign indoors, with colorful beach balls and palm trees visible through the window behind them. Two are wearing pajama pants; festive decorations create a cheerful atmosphere. South Florida Business & Wealth
A white modern building with palm trees in front, labeled "Museum of Discovery and Science," featuring a distinctive arched roof and banners, under a blue sky with scattered clouds. South Florida Business & Wealth
Two older men in suits and ties are shown in separate circular frames with gold borders. The man on the left has light hair and a serious expression; the man on the right has gray hair and a slight smile. South Florida Business & Wealth
A Study in Statesmanship
January 20, 2026
More Editor's Choice Posts
Radence Plants Its Flag in West Palm Beach
 |  SFBW Staff

The precision health company selects South Florida for its flagship hub, underscoring the region’s rising influence in healthcare innovation.

Read More
Skyline of West Palm Beach at sunset with modern buildings reflected in the water. Text reads: "Radence Chooses West Palm Beach for Flagship Hub—Boosting South Florida’s Role in Healthcare and Technology Innovation. South Florida Business & Wealth
PEBB Enterprises Sells Cypress Creek Office Asset for $11.93 Million
 |  SFBW Staff

Longtime owner exits the 6400 Building as it sharpens focus on new South Florida office opportunities

Read More
Memorial’s Recent Moves
 |  SFBW Staff

Rita Bunch added to Hospital’s Leadership Team

Read More
A woman with wavy, light brown hair smiles at the camera. She is wearing a dark-colored blazer and a light-colored blouse. The background is a soft blue gradient. South Florida Business & Wealth
A Quiet Week, Not a Slow One
 |  SFBW Staff

Broward’s Latest Business Moves— and What’s Coming

Read More
A charming street with outdoor café seating, tables and chairs lined up, shopfronts with awnings, and string lights; text reads "Broward’s Latest Business Moves. A look at the announcements that actually mattered this week. South Florida Business & Wealth
Other Posts
Why Billionaire Migration Matters to South Florida’s Economy
 |  SFBW Staff

From real estate to financial services, the impact of wealth relocation is becoming increasingly local.

Read More
Two men in business suits stand in front of a backdrop featuring a city skyline with tall buildings, water, and luxury waterfront homes surrounded by palm trees, under a clear blue sky. South Florida Business & Wealth
Are Corporate Retreats Worth It?
 |  SFBW Staff

From alignment to retention, a practical guide to corporate retreats that actually deliver ROI.

Read More
Four businesspeople in formal attire sit cross-legged on grass in a sunlit forest, meditating with eyes closed. Sunlight filters through green trees, creating a peaceful, natural atmosphere. South Florida Business & Wealth
South Florida Business Outlook 2026
 |  SFBW Staff

A Year of Stabilization, Strategy, and Steady Growth.

Read More
A glass crystal ball on a table reflects a city skyline, with the text "2026 Business Outlook South Florida" displayed across the ball. The background is softly blurred. South Florida Business & Wealth
From Momentum to Permanence
 |  SFBW Staff

In 2025, South Florida moved beyond buzz, securing major corporate commitments that reshaped the region’s economic future.

Read More
Aerial view of downtown Miami with high-rise buildings, boats on the water, and the text "Big Business Moves of 2025" overlaid on the image. South Florida Business & Wealth