Naples Chamber gives Excellence awards to zoo, three companies, two individuals

This year's Excellence in Industry award winners in Collier County got the star treatment.

They appeared in video interviews on a big screen at the Silverspot Cinema in North Naples on Wednesday before accepting their awards at a podium, then posing for photos.

An audience of about 130 people watched from the movie theater's comfy stadium seating, enthusiastically applauding every winner for their accomplishments.

The annual event, sponsored by The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, honors businesses and individuals that "exemplify innovation, economic diversification and community enhancement." 

The chamber received about 50 applications for the awards this year.

Over more than 25 years, about 150 businesses and individuals have been honored with the awards. 

More:Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce hands out its Excellence in Industry awards

Here are this year's winners: 

Business Expansion: CID Design Group

Founded more than 15 years ago, the company's employee count has grown from two to 38. Almost 20 of those employees have been hired since January 2017.

The interior design firm has handled multifamily, hospitality and commercial projects in 35 states and more than 65 cities. Since 2014 annual revenue has grown from $1 million to more than $15 million.

Barbara Zella, principal and director of operations, said she sees inspiration everywhere, even in the smallest things.

"It could be a color, it could be a pattern, it could be anything," Zella said. "But inspiration is all around us, and you just have to be open to it and take it in."

Passion, she said, is what keeps her and her daughter and business partner, Jenn Zella, going. Their advice to others? Seek your passion.

Company to Watch: Lenkbar LLC 

The company was started in 2011 with three employees and an idea: to design and manufacture safe and innovative surgical instruments.

The company now has more than 25 employees and is expanding into a state-of-the-art building with 22,000 square feet of space near Naples Municipal Airport.

Erik Papenfuss, company president, said the product he is most proud of is a flexible shaft that enables doctors to attach anything through bone, which can be used for hip, anterior cruciate ligament and other surgeries.

He said it has been a long six or seven years of innovation and passion to get where the company is today.

His advice for other entrepreneurs? 

"Get your helmet, strap it on tight and put your seat belt on too," he said. "Get ready for a lot of work. It's almost like having a baby. You don't sleep — and money never sleeps."

Heart of the Community: Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

The 43-acre zoo and historic gardens reaches more than 350,000 people a year with messages of conservation and education. The leaders behind the landmark attraction are always looking for innovative ways to connect people with animals and nature in hopes of inspiring them to respect, value and help conserve wildlife and the environment. 

Jack Mulvena, president at the zoo, described his staff and the zoo's plans as ambitious, saying there's always a goal of wanting to do better. 

"We all have great improvements that we can make," he said. "It's a fabulous place to live. It's a fabulous place to work.

"I think all of us contributing to making Collier County as healthy and fabulous and productive as possible is the best advice I can probably give. I know we're committed to it."  

Pillar Award: Coastal Engineering Consultants

The company, founded in 1977, has served Southwest Florida for more than 40 years. The goal of its team, which includes engineers, geologists, scientists and surveyors, is to design projects that are in harmony with natural ecosystems.

Employees, who are encouraged to get involved in the community, have volunteered for dozens of nonprofit groups over the past four decades. 

Michael Poff, company president, offered this piece advice to others looking to start a business:

"Hire the best people that you can for the job that you need them to do."

What does he and his staff like most about doing business in Naples? The small-town feel.

 "Despite all the growth and changes we've experienced over the last 40 years, it's still that small-town culture," Poff said "It's a great place to raise a family. It's a great place to house our business. It just has that tropical paradise tucked into this neat little community." 

Young Professional of the Year: Alyssa Haney, First Florida Integrity Bank

Haney, a marketing specialist for the bank, has shown her commitment to the community through her volunteer efforts with many organizations, including the United Arts Council, Naples Players and Humane Society of Naples Pawprofessionals. She is a 2018 graduate of GAIN (Growing Associates in Naples), a leadership program for emerging leaders and professionals in Collier County.

Haney said she was speechless when she learned she had won the award. She said she felt the award didn't belong to her but to all the people she works with every day who encourage her to be as involved as she can in the community.

What drives her the most? Telling her she can't do something. 

"I love to solve problems, and I love to figure out new ways of doing things," she said. "So tell me I can't do something if you really want it done." 

Chairman’s Award: John Passidomo

The chamber recognized Passidomo, who was a chamber board member and chairman of its public policy committee for many years, for his dedication to economic and workforce development, described as "unmatched." He has quietly helped shape the chamber's mission and its government relations platform, never seeking recognition or praise for his involvement.

Passidomo played an important role in the chamber's recent push for voter approval of a one-cent increase in the sales tax for seven years to help pay for a backlog of road, bridge, park, mental health and other projects. Voters approved the tax increase by a slim margin.

Passidomo, a longtime Naples land use and zoning attorney, said that to be successful, it's important to understand who you are and what your passions are in life. About 40 years ago, he said, he learned a life lesson that has served him well:

"To be effective, one needs to listen, learn and understand their audience." 

He said his father, who arrived in America not speaking a word of English and with not a nickel to his name, still inspires him every day. 

More:Collier voters approve sales tax increase by slim margin

Keynote Speaker: Alex Sink

Before the awards were handed out, Alex Sink, a longtime banker and Florida's chief financial officer from 2007 to 2011, talked about her new role with the Tampa Bay Wave, a nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs start and expand breakout technology businesses. She was named chairwoman-elect in March.

Sink, who lost a hard-fought election battle to Gov. Rick Scott, stayed away from politics in her speech, instead focusing her comments on Florida's economy and her new gig.

She discussed the importance of supporting entrepreneurs who can help diversify the state's economy, which once again has become too reliant on construction and tourism, just as it was before the Great Recession.

"Here we go again," she said.

The Tampa Bay Wave provides co-working space, mentoring and funding opportunities to help entrepreneurs succeed.

Started in June 2008, the organization has helped more than 200 early-stage tech firms, 50 of which are active in the program now, Sink said. More than 1,200 jobs have been created by the effort.

Sink talked about some of the import ingredients needed to help start-ups grow in Florida including affordable housing that can keep Florida graduates from fleeing the state so they can become part of Florida's workforce.

She said good transportation and good public schools are also key in keeping and attracting talented people, especially millennials.

Sink told the crowd she'd like to work more closely with Southwest Florida's economic development leaders to share best practices and business opportunities. She encouraged anyone with customers who are looking to expand outside of the region to "give us a call." 

Julie Schmelzle, a senior vice president and senior client manager for global commercial banking at Bank of America and chairwoman of Opportunity Naples, which works to diversify Collier County's economy, said Sink offered some good advice, including visiting other areas to learn what they're doing right or wrong.

"We shouldn't be afraid," Schmelzle said. "We should go out in other communities and seek best practices and bring them home."