Industry Appreciation Awards announces 2026 winners

FORT MYERS, Fla. - EntSun -- The Horizon Foundation, Horizon Council and Lee County Economic Development Office have announced winners of the 2026 Industry Appreciation Awards.

The 34^th annual awards program was held Oct. 23 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers, where local dignitaries joined business and community leaders in honoring Lee County businesses and individuals that drive the local economy, employ the workforce and shape their industries.

The program recognized 21 finalists across seven categories before honoring the following winners:

• Bob Dean Supply Inc. received the Lee Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes a business founded in Lee County that has demonstrated exceptional growth while embodying values that strengthen the broader business community, expand opportunities, cultivate local partnerships and promote long-term, inclusive success.
• Southwest Florida Proton was awarded Startup of the Year. This award celebrates a business founded in Lee County that has launched within the past three years and is already demonstrating strong momentum and community impact.
• ADDMAN Group won the Tech Catalyst Award. This award recognizes a company with a strong and sustained presence in Lee County that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to strengthening the technology ecosystem in Southwest Florida.
• NORTHSTAR Technologies Group was recognized as Small Manufacturer of the Year. This award celebrates a small manufacturing business with 50 or fewer employees that has achieved remarkable growth in output and scale over the last three years.
• PRAVADA Private Label was awarded Large Manufacturer of the Year. This award celebrates a large manufacturing business with 51 or more employees that has achieved remarkable growth in output and scale over the last three years.
• Sun Harvest Citrus won Small Business of the Year. This award recognizes a small business with up to 50 employees that has demonstrated exceptional growth in revenue, workforce, products or services over the past three years.
• South Seas was honored as Large Business of the Year. This award recognizes a large business with 51 or more employees that has demonstrated exceptional growth in revenue, workforce, products or services over the past three years.

Additionally, Dr. Larry Antonucci was awarded the Horizon Council Lifetime Achievement Award for his tremendous contributions to health care in Lee County. Antonucci was the president and CEO of Lee Health from 2017 until his retirement earlier this year. He spent 40 years on the Lee Health medical staff, including 24 years as a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist (OB-GYN). He was a driving force in Lee Health's patient safety program, which has won numerous awards and consistently ranks high in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service's Five-Star Quality Rating System. Prior to joining Lee Health, Antonucci co-founded Physicians' Primary Care in Lee County in 1995.

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To learn more about the Industry Appreciation Awards, please visit IndustryAppreciationAwards.com (https://www.industryappreciationawards.com/).