Holly Smith surprises Diana Taylor with the 2024 Chamber Citizen of the Year Award.
Exactly 595 days after Hurricane Ian forever changed the way of doing business on the islands, the SanCap Chamber returned to a traditional annual meeting format with a luncheon at Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort.
With the storm still on peoples’ minds the agenda focused on hurricane recovery.
In addition to the traditional annual awards, Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson presented state government officials with “Building Block” awards—bricks from the lighthouse structures washed away by Ian. The awards went to state representatives Adam Botana and Jenna Persons-Mulicka and staff members of Senator 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 rear view mirror for a reason,” said John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and CEO.
He presented statistics and figures demonstrating the setbacks after the storm compared to the ongoing comebacks. He reported a current member census of 414, compared to 22 paying members on Jan. 1, 2023. 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.
CFI’s Dolly Farrell (center) receives the Business/Organization of the Year Award from outgoing chair Calli Johnson and incoming chair JR Ramirez. COURTESY PHOTOS
Innovations such as the Wander App, toll-free weekends, open-for-business flags, state grants and the Restaurant Round Table 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 percent of our lodging units will be back online with another 19 percent by the end of 2025, bringing our total to 69 percent,” Lai said.
Outgoing board chair Calli Johnson of Bailey’s General Store 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 the incoming chair, JR Ramirez, the 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,” Ramirez pledged.
Along with past chair Johnson and current chair Ramirez, Katie Forret of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grill will serve as chair-elect and Michael Nachef of Lee Health as secretary-treasurer.
Ramirez presented Chip Roach with the Sue Rosica Gray Volunteer Award. Roach has served on the board of directors for various island nonprofits, including Sanibel Sea School and SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation), and is currently chair of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI). Ramirez recognized him 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. “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.
City council member Holly Smith presented Diana Taylor, a local social media marketing specialist, with the prestigious Citizen of the Year Award.
“I typically say ordinary people doing extraordinary things, but this is no ordinary person,” said Smith. “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.” ¦
The post SanCap Chamber hails hurricane heroes first appeared on Fort Myers Florida Weekly .
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