Resilience, community spirit, and a commitment to recovery were the central themes of this year’s Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet. Held on October 23 at the Lido Beach Resort, the event served as a powerful testament to how local leaders and residents supported one another through the arduous recovery following devastating hurricanes that swept through the island just over a year ago.
Business leaders gathered to recognize the extraordinary efforts of innovators who not only helped Longboat Key survive the storms’ aftermath, but thrive. Attendees commended the individuals and businesses that reopened or launched new shops, supported the wider community rebuilding efforts, and brought renewed life and energy back to the island.
President’s Award Honors Dedication Amid Personal Loss
The evening’s most touching tribute was the presentation of the President’s Award to Sandra Smith of Secur-All Insurance.
Chamber President and CEO Kim Verreault, who co-hosted the ceremony with Maria Vitale, credited Smith for her unwavering commitment, recognizing that she had faced both immense personal and professional challenges. Smith, who has served the island’s residents for two decades, described her year as “the most trying year ever.”
“I lost my office, lost my mom, worked two hurricanes and a flood,” Smith shared.
Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Smith and her team continued their mission to serve nearly 2,000 residents whose homes and lives had been impacted. This was made possible with the critical support of fellow chamber member WrightWay Emergency Services, who offered temporary office space free of charge after Smith’s office was “completely wiped out by the storm.”
“I am so thankful to WrightWay,” Smith stated. “If it wasn’t for them, I would not have been able to serve the clients. I was then able to work around the clock… and we could keep the claims work going seamlessly through our New York office. It was a full team effort and all hands on deck.”
Verreault highlighted Smith’s and Wrightway’s determination: “Even as they faced their own loss and uncertainty, they stayed focused on helping others… It’s a true reflection of their strength and heart.”
The challenging year has since culminated in a sense of renewal for Secur-All. With the help of realtor Andrew Vac, Smith secured a new lease on the old office the insurance agency had occupied for over a decade—at 510 Bay Isles Road, across from Town Hall.
Expressing her gratitude for the recognition while acknowledging the ongoing season by “holding our breath as the final days of hurricane season kick off,” Smith said, “I could not ask for anything more. To have someone notice my efforts and see how much it means to me to work tirelessly and try to give back to the community I love makes me happy beyond belief.”
Key Winners
Several other leaders and organizations were recognized, with winners voted upon by fellow Chamber members:
- Tourism and Hospitality Excellence Award: The St. Regis Longboat Key
- Hall of Fame Award: Michael and Catherine Garey
- Best Workplace Award: The Resort at Longboat Key Club
- Excellence in Municipality Leadership Award: Fire Chief Paul Dezzi
- Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award: Longboat Key Garden Club
- Chamber Spirit Award: Jamie Kahns, Bank of America
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Andrew Vac, Remax Realty
- Business Resilience Award: Longboat Island Chapel
- Legacy Family Business Award: Harry’s Continental Kitchens
- Emerging Business of the Year Award: Le Gardenia Bleu
- Volunteer of the Year Award: Anne Kerry, Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce
- Pinnacle of Excellence Award: Laura Ritter, Observer Media Group
- President’s Award: Sandra Smith, Secur-All Insurance
