Our Coalitions Council recently hosted their second annual Coalitions Impact Awards at Holiday Inn Orlando SW Celebration Area. These awards celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and inspiring work within the Osceola business community. The support of sponsors is paramount when putting together an event like this, and the second outing of the Coalitions awards event was brought to you this year by Park Place Behavioral Health Care, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, IMCI, Edward Jones – Gabe Csizmadia, Hello Website Design, Olivia’s Dog Training, Rainbow Getaways, and Whimsical Visions Studios.
Our Chamber Coalitions launched four new awards last year (Hispanic Business Impact Award, Hispanic Leadership Award, ROY G BIV Award, and Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award) and this year they added a few more to recognize our local non-profits and their leaders. These new awards, the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award and Non-Profit Practitioner of the Year Award, had recipients chosen following a nonimation, application, and independent judging process.
Finally, the Coalitions Impact Awards include the Chamber's popular Tomorrow's Leaders Today Award, which recognizes up-and-coming talent in the business world, for the ninth year in a row.
This year marks the 9th year that the Chamber has recognized stars of the business community who are 40 or under and who live OR work here in Osceola County. The Tomorrow's Leaders Today Award has recognized leaders who have gone on to hold public office, provide opportunities and employment to the next generation of up-and-coming leaders, and rise to the ranks in their respective organizations. The 2026 recipients of the Tomorrow's Leaders Today Award were Samantha Allo with AdventHealth and Zaria Jones with the Healthy Start Coalition of Osceola County. Congratulations Sam and Zaria!
The Non-Profit Coalition not only builds relationships within the non-profit community but connects these organizations to resources and education to strengthen the social service network in Osceola. The Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding 501c3 nonprofit that demonstrates exceptional service, measurable community impact, strong leadership, sound financial stewardship, and meaningful engagement with businesses and volunteers in the Chamber’s service area. This award celebrates organizations that strengthen the community and serve as models of excellence, innovation, and sustainability in the nonprofit sector. We were proud to bestow the inaugural Non-Profit of the Year Award to Park Place Behavioral Health Care, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the mental health and well-being of children, adults, and families throughout Central Florida.
Behind every thriving community are individuals who dedicate their talents, passion, and perseverance to serving others. Non-profit professionals are often the bridge between challenges and solutions, working tirelessly to improve lives, strengthen families, and create opportunities where they are needed most. The Non-Profit Practitioner of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding professional working in the non-profit sector—at any level of the organization—who demonstrates exceptional commitment, leadership through action, measurable community impact, ethical practice, and a strong dedication to collaboration and service. This award intentionally honors both frontline practitioners and organizational leaders whose work strengthens the community and exemplifies the values of service, innovation, and partnership. The Inaugural Non-Profit Practitiioner of the Year Award went to Kerry Avery, Executive Director of the Education Foundation - Osceola County.
Last year our Pride Coalition created the ROY G BIV Impact Award to honor individuals making bold, lasting contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Inspired by the colors of the rainbow, each letter of ROY G BIV represents a core value that drives meaningful change: Representation, Outreach, Youth Empowerment, Growth, Boldness, Inclusion, and Visibility. From uplifting Queer youth and creating safe, affirming spaces, to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and driving community growth, this award celebrates those who embody the full spectrum of impact. Whether through advocacy, art, education, or service, recipients of the ROY G BIV Impact Award are recognized for their unwavering commitment to building a more vibrant, inclusive world.
This year, we narrowed the nominee pool to three deserving finalists and then the community was asked to vote for the most deserving recipient of the award. Over 850 votes were cast for the following finalists:
Dr. Ariel Casillas, affectionately known as DR. Bling, is a doctor of nursing practice, founder and Medical Director at Bling Aesthetics and Casillas Medical & Wellness. He has made an extraordinary and lasting impact on the local LGBTQ+ community by ensuring that compassionate, affirming, and high-quality healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances or background.
Joshua Collins is an LGBT business owner, and the founder of Adopt With Pride, a non-profit that helps LGBT individuals through the adoption process, and he recently stepped up to lead the new Osceola Pride event.
Dr. Joseph D’Ambrosi is the Fine & Performing Arts Resource Specialist at the School District of Osceola County. He provides a welcoming and inclusive space for all children and teens to express their true selves.
The award went to Dr. Joseph D'Ambrosi.
The Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award was created to honor a rising Black entrepreneur who exemplifies innovation, resilience, and exceptional potential. It recognizes a business leader who is not only building a successful company, but also paving the way for future generations through bold vision and impactful leadership.
This year, with tightcompetition, we arrived at three very worthy finalists for this award who Iwill introduce you to now.
Simone McFarlane-Tucker is an entrepreneur, speaker, strategist, community leader, and founder of BridgePoint Group, LLC, and Girls Leave A Mark, Inc.
Leia Perez has achieved widespread recognition for her exceptional craftmanship through her award-winning bakery Candyland Designs and affiliated Wedding Wish by Candyland Designs Foundation.
Dr. Tresha E. Williams, is an advanced practice nurse, healthcare entrepreneur, and community leader with more than 20 years of experience in critical care, inpatient medicine, and healthcare leadership, and is the co-owner of MINI HEALTH CLINIC Kissimmee and MINI HEALTH CLINIC West Orlando.
The 2026 winner was Leia Perez with Candyland Designs.
The Hispanic Business Impact Award recognizes Hispanic businesses, organizations, or initiatives that have made a significant positive impact on the Hispanic business community in Osceola County. It is no coincidence that this is a large part of the mission of the 2026 recipient of this award. The 2026 Hispanic Business Impact Award went to BOLD Hispanic Market Consulting.
BOLD Hispanic Market Consulting is a full-service, women-owned, and NMSDC-certified firm specializing in Hispanic marketing, transcreation, and culturally fluent brand strategy. Its founder and CEO Ana Carolina Salazar is a Venezuelan-born entrepreneur and award-winning marketer. She has over 15 years of experience in media, non-profit, and multicultural communications, and is on a mission to ensure Hispanic communities across the U.S. are not only seen but truly understood and celebrated.
The Hispanic Business Coalition created the Hispanic Leadership Award to recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership within the Hispanic community in Osceola County, Florida. The competition was tight and we arrived at three excellent finalists:
Monica Medina is a Consumer Bank Market Manager with SouthState Bank, where she has dedicated more than 20 years to serving clients, developing teams, and building strong community relationships. Throughout her career, she has earned the trust of colleagues and customers alike through her commitment to service, leadership, and professional excellence.
Marta Negron is a seasoned financial services leader serving as Senior Vice President II/Regional Manager at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, with a proven track record of driving business growth, developing high-performing teams, and building strong relationships throughout the communities she serves.
Iris N. Soto serves as Executive Administrative Assistant to the County Manager and Chief Operating Officer for the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners with more than 30 years of distinguished administrative and executive support experience.
The 2026 Hispanic Leadership Award went to Iris Soto.
Christina was raised in St. Cloud and holds degrees from the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida. She joined the Chamber in April 2015. As Director of Administration, she manages the Area Council’s events, sub-committee meetings, projects, and board engagements.
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