VIN'S PEOPLE: Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce honors community leaders at Annual Gala
A bow to the people honored for their work in the community at the recent Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce 2024 Annual Gala.
Movers-and-Shakers of the Year were Shirley Pearson, founder and director of Mount Carmel Resource Center in Palmetto, along with Karla Jones Wilson, a real estate and business attorney. Presidents Award recipients were Debbie DeLeon, Manatee County Neighborhood Connections Division Manager, and Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells.
Paralegal John Murrell Jr. was recognized as Individual Member of the Year. Entrepreneur of the Year went to real estate broker Sabrina Payton-Turner. Nonprofit of the Year went to president-and-founder Helen James’ Suncoast Women of Action. And Medical Practice of the Year went to Dr. Rubena Smith.
Also recognized were Christopher Williams and Aginto Digital Marketing, Small Biz Member of the Year; John Holz and Plunkett Raysich Architects, Corporate Member of the Year; and Pastor Sirrnest Webster and Bible Baptist of Palmetto, Church of the Year.
· Bravo to Southeast High English teacher Kashante Mays, Bay News 9’s A-Plus Teacher of the Week. Mays has taught six years at Southeast.
· Speaking of Southeast, big ups to Alexandra Lowery, named to the FHSAA Academic All-State Team. Only 24 students received the honor. The senior Seminole played three sports (flag football, soccer, swimming), carries a 3.96 GPA and earned 1,300 community service hours with Foundation for Dreams and Dream Oaks Camp. She’ll study kinesiology at LSU.
· Props to both Latesha Thomas, a Certified Nursing Assistant and BEE Award recipient at Manatee Memorial Hospital, and Jackie Pedraza, a Clinical Lead Nurse and DAISY Award winner at MMH.
· My wa-a-ay better half, Sherri Mannix, is 39. Again.
· Congrats to Parrish Community High’s 2024-25 cheerleaders.
The varsity incudes Lexi Barlow, Samantha Bosmeny, Addison Carlisle, Abbie Delauder, Natalie Fellows, Bianca Grindo, Piper Hammett, Rylie Jackson, Laura-Li Lamprecht, Brittney Maroon, Mykaila Mazner, Ryann Panico, Lana Pozzie, Alyse Renda, Leiana Reynolds, Amyrah Robison, Kaedan Rockers, Adreanah Sabolesky, Germisha Samedi, Sydney Sergi, Liz Sevruk, Carson Terrell, Rylee Vitoritt and Sierra Wilson.
The JV includes Emma Anderson, Bella Ashley, Kylie Blizzard, Linsey Coffey, Cassie Earl, Abbie Farnham, Lillian Farnham, Lilly Fulton, Ava Gagne, Alexis Jackson, Morgan Olney and Brooklyn Ward.
· Good Iuck to Betsy Benac, incoming chair of Goodwill Manasota.
· Compliments to Palmetto High’s Gracie Jean-Charles, the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year, and Elizabeth Osibajo of Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary, the Junior Youth of the Year.
· Bunni Roberts is 55 years young.
· And lastly, when tax accountant Ben Cooper was able to get a few dollars back for my father-in-law, Jim Manring was one happy fellow and knew exactly what he was going to do with his tax return: “HARD ROCK MONEY!”
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. X (formerly Twitter): @vinmannix.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce honors business leaders
