SANCAP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Sanibel City Councilmember Holly Smith surprises Diana Taylor with the SanCap Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year Award at its annual meeting on May 15 in Fort Myers.

Exactly 595 days after Hurricane Ian forever changed the way of doing business on the islands, the SanCap Chamber of Commerce returned to a traditional annual meeting format with a luncheon on May 15 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers.

With the storm still foremost in the minds and daily lives of chamber staff, board and members, the typical agenda of the year’s highlights, new board members and officers, and award presentations focused on the positive aspects of hurricane recovery.

In addition to the traditional awards, Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson presented state government officials with “Building Block” awards — bricks from the Sanibel Lighthouse structures washed away by Ian. They went to Reps. Adam Botana and Jenna Persons-Mulicka and staff members of Sen. Jonathan Martin.

“We won’t ever forget that fateful day that changed our community, but in the words of one of my favorite poets, Jelly Roll, sometimes we need to remind ourselves that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said as he took the podium to deliver the State of the Chamber report.

He presented statistics and figures demonstrating the setbacks after the storm compared to the ongoing comebacks to this day. Lai reported a current member census of 414, compared to 22 paying members on Jan. 1, 2023, and that the chamber has cut 1,459 feet of ribbon to welcome back 97 reopened businesses. Currently, the visitor center sees an average of 90 drop-ins a day.

SANCAP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Charitable Foundation of the Islands Executive Director Dolly Farrell, center, receives the SanCap Chamber of Commerce's Business/Organization of the Year Award from outgoing board Chair Calli Johnson and incoming Chair JR Ramirez at its annual meeting on May 15 in Fort Myers.

Innovations such as the Wander App, toll-free weekends, open-for-business flags, state grants and the Restaurant Round Table have bolstered visitations and spirits. More than 45 local businesses received over $1,800,000 in Hospitality Cares Grants.

“This time next year, 2025, we anticipate 50% of our lodging units will be back online with another 19% by the end of 2025, bringing our total to 69%,” he said.

Lai reinforced the chamber’s continued commitment to clean water with the announcement of its Preserving Paradise program, which will immerse business leaders in the state’s connection between ecology and economy.

Outgoing board Chair Calli Johnson, of Bailey’s General Store, who served two years to provide continuity through recovery phases, summed up the island spirit of resiliency: “We may be blown off-course by a hurricane, but we can always find our way home.” She introduced incoming Chair JR Ramirez, general manager of Casa Ybel Resort.

“Having worked in this community for almost three decades, I have discovered firsthand how we all come together. I am certain, with the help of everyone in this room, we will continue our collective efforts … and the Sanibel-Captiva chamber will be there to help throughout your recovery,” he said.

Ramirez thanked Johnson and Lai for their strong leadership in challenging times, then introduced the 2024-25 executive board. Along with Past Chair Johnson, Katie Forret of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille will serve as chair-elect and Michael Nachef of LeeHealth will serve as secretary-treasurer.

New members of the board of directors include Daniel Andrews of Captains for Clean Water, Bill Wellman of The Inns of Sanibel, Evelyn Stewart of Adventures in Paradise Cruises, and Leigh Gevelinger of Coastal Vista. They join incumbent Board Members Joel Goodman of VIP Realty, Ron Clayton of Waste Management, Mark Blust of Prawnbroker Restaurant Group, David Lowden of Bank of the Islands, Patience Rodriguez of Select Vacations, Robert Monk of Law Office of Robert Monk and Samantha Wilson of Toys Ahoy.

Ramirez presented the first annual chamber business award — the Sue Rosica Gray Volunteer Award — to Chip Roach, who has served on the board of directors for various island nonprofits, including the Sanibel Sea School, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and, currently, as chair of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands. He recognized Roach as “someone who always has a calm voice, a warm smile and a helping hand.”

Johnson announced Rosalita’s Cantina as the New Business of the Year Award recipient, quipping: “The team immediately embraced their role as a respite of sorts for our recovering community that needed margaritas and tacos for fuel as we began our rebuild.”

The Business/Organization of the Year Award went to CFI, represented by Executive Director Dolly Farrell.

“This year’s winner is the first organization to win this category, as their engagement with our business community, residential community, nonprofit community and local government must be recognized as an integral part of our recovery process,” Ramirez said.

Sanibel City Councilmember Holly Smith presented the Citizen of the Year Award to Diana Taylor, a local social media marketing specialist.

“I typically say ordinary people doing extraordinary things, but this is no ordinary person,” she said. “The person we are celebrating today, since before the storm hit and every day after, has been steadfast and tenacious in her dedication to highlight and promoting the community and businesses of Sanibel and Captiva like no other … You define community spirit, love of our islands … You have elevated these islands in a way that only you can.”

“What a touching and emotional culmination that was to a truly feel-good celebration of community,” Lai said. “I congratulate all our award winners and each and every business member and island resident who has helped one another make it through these 595 days toward a brighter future.”

Homerun Sponsor for the meeting, in conjunction with Islands Night, was Bank of the Islands. Other sponsors included: Bailey’s General Store and the Island Store, and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as Triple Sponsors; Alliant Property Management, “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, Jerry’s Foods, Newport Property Construction, Sanibel Carts and Whitney’s Bait & Tackle as Double Sponsors; and Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, SCCF and The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company as Single Sponsors.

For more information about the Preserving Paradise program, visit preservingparadise.org.