2026 Sarasota Business Awards Honor Local Companies, Nonprofits and Community Leaders

Sarasota’s business community took center stage as the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce honored the winners of the 36th Annual Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Sarasota Business Awards.

Nearly 600 business and community leaders gathered Friday, June 26, at The Ora in Sarasota for one of the region’s most respected business recognition events. Presented by the Herald-Tribune Media Group, the annual awards celebrate Chamber member businesses and organizations that are helping shape Sarasota’s economy through leadership, growth, innovation, service and community impact.

The awards are named for the late Frank G. Berlin, Sr., whose legacy of entrepreneurship and civic leadership continues through the program. The Chamber says the awards recognize locally owned and operated member businesses across 10 categories, from small businesses and nonprofits to hospitality, workforce innovation and woman-owned businesses.

This year’s event also carried an America 250 theme, recognizing 250 years of American enterprise, innovation and leadership while celebrating the businesses helping build Sarasota’s future.

2026 Sarasota Business Award Winners

The 2026 winners represent a wide cross-section of the local economy, including arts education, roofing, car wash operations, philanthropy, human resources, communications, hospitality, restaurants and nonprofit service. The Suncoast Post has followed the Chamber’s awards program in recent years, including its coverage of the 34th Annual Sarasota Small Business Awards.

• Small Business of the Year, 1-25 Employees
  Presented by Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
  Winner: Stage Door Studios, Inc.
  Finalists: Holliday Group; Vertical Chiropractic
• Medium Business of the Year, 25-150 Employees
  Presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
  Winner: Blue Collar Roofing
  Finalists: Humane Society of Sarasota County; Jesse’s Garage European Auto Repair
• Large Business of the Year, 150+ Employees
  Presented by Aginto | A Digital Agency
  Winner: Tommy’s Express Car Wash
  Finalists: Bone Dry Roofing; Miles Partnership
• Community Impact Award
  Presented by Kerkering, Barberio & Co.
  Winner: Gulf Coast Community Foundation
  Finalists: Goodwill Manasota; S-One Holdings Corporation
• Non-Profit Organization of the Year
  Presented by Seacoast Bank
  Winner: Harvest House
  Finalists: Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, also known as SPARCC; Teen Court of Sarasota
• Breakthrough Business of the Year
  Presented by Bank of America
  Winner: King HR Services Inc.
  Finalists: Angotti Design; Key Sailing
• Rising Star Award
  Presented by HH Staffing
  Winner: Kaitlyn Perez Communications
  Finalists: Courtyard Modern Development LLC; Voda Cleaning & Restoration of Sarasota
• Woman-Owned Business of the Year
  Presented by Herald-Tribune Media Group
  Winner: State Street Eating House + Cocktails
  Finalists: Luhrsen Goldberg; Vives Digital
• Workforce Development & Innovation Award
  Presented by CareerSource Suncoast
  Winner: Children First
  Finalists: Helios Technologies; NCN Electric, Inc.
• Hospitality Business of the Year
  Presented by Visit Sarasota County
  Winner: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
  Finalists: Sarasota Art Museum; Sarasota Paradise

The winners were also confirmed in reporting from Sarasota Magazine and Your Observer, which listed the 10 winning businesses and organizations recognized by the Chamber.

Why These Awards Matter

The Sarasota Business Awards are more than a once-a-year luncheon. They serve as a snapshot of the businesses and organizations driving the area’s economy.

This year’s honorees show the depth of Sarasota’s business community. The list includes companies that create jobs, nonprofits that serve vulnerable residents, restaurants and hospitality leaders that support tourism, and entrepreneurs who are building brands from the ground up.

For small businesses, recognition from the Chamber can bring visibility, credibility and new opportunities. For nonprofits, it can help highlight the growing need for community support. For larger employers, it reinforces the role they play in workforce development, customer service and regional economic growth.

The 2026 finalists also reflect the diversity of Sarasota’s economy. From arts and culture to construction, healthcare-adjacent services, hospitality, philanthropy, digital media, restaurants and professional services, the list points to a business community that continues to expand beyond any single industry.

A Celebration of Sarasota’s Business Spirit

The Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Sarasota Business Awards have now been part of the local business landscape for 36 years. During that time, Sarasota has changed dramatically, with growth in tourism, housing, healthcare, professional services, the arts, technology and entrepreneurship.

What has not changed is the importance of local businesses and organizations stepping forward to serve the community.

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce congratulated all 30 finalists, noting that their work reflects the innovation, resilience and leadership helping move Sarasota forward.

The event was supported by the Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Foundation through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, along with the Herald-Tribune Media Group, event sponsors, partners, volunteers and attendees.

For more information about the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, visit the Chamber’s official website.

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