St. Johns Chamber Honors Business Leaders

The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce held its CELEBRATE Annual Awards Ceremony Thursday night, November 14, 2024, where various business leaders who made their mark in the community this year were recognized.  The event marked the 120th year of the Chamber and was held at Hyatt Place Vilano Beach. Chamber CEO Isabelle Renault read a proclamation from the Congressional Record provided by Congressman John Rutherford and a timeline unveiled, marking the history of the Chamber.  Historic Tours of America provided period-attired actors to take the group back to 1904 when the Chamber membership first gathered.  The 1904 Celebrate event featured President Teddy Roosevelt as the keynote speaker. 

Four business leaders were recognized for their dedication to St. Johns County and the community in which they live. “The award recipients have distinguished themselves through contributions advancing the Chamber, its members, our business community, and the local economy. This year’s recipient list is impressive, and a testimonial of the favorable economic growth St. Johns County is experiencing. Congratulations to this year’s awardees!” said Chamber President and CEO Isabelle Renault. 

Brian Walter with AIT Environmental Technology was presented with the Marty Lewis Ambassador of the Year Award. In the last three years, he’s attended and volunteered at over 100 events and ribbon cuttings. He also mentors new Ambassadors, helping them develop their roles as catalysts for business connections as they engage new Chamber members. The Chamber Ambassadors are volunteers who assist with welcoming new members and visiting renewing members each year.

The Small Business of the Year award went to Culver’s of St. Augustine.  Garth and Lisa Darton’s restaurant on A1A South was recognized as one of the Top 5 Culvers in the country by receiving the Crew Challenge Award, which acknowledges areas of quality, service, cleanliness, hospitality, community outreach, and team member training and development. Craig Culver, co-founder of Culver’s, recognized the team for its exceptional performance and for going the extra mile to make guests happy.

The Fred Schroeder Economic Development Council award was presented to Baptist Health. Baptist Health / Wolfson Children’s Hospital opened a dual Emergency Room and Imaging Center earlier this year. The 23,879-square-foot facility features two emergency centers under one roof – Baptist Emergency Center for adults and Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center, designed specifically for patients ages 0 to 17. In addition, with the opening of this campus, families in St. Johns County will have easier access to the specialized pediatric care of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, the only full-service children’s hospital in the region and the only state-designated Pediatric Trauma Center in Northeast Florida.

The Chamber Member of the Year Award was presented to Historic Tours of America, the parent company of Old Town Trolley Tours. Historic Tours of America has been a key supporter of the Chamber’s Autism Certification efforts over the past year. They were the first business in St. Johns County to achieve the Certified Autism Center designation, demonstrating a commitment to creating more inclusive, accommodating, and welcoming environments for neurodivergent individuals and their families. The company’s local attractions were certified, including Old Town Trolley Tours, Old Jail, Oldest Store Museum Experience, St. Augustine History Museum, and Potter’s Wax Museum.

The prevalence of autism diagnoses has increased to 1 in 36 children in the US and 1 in 6 people with sensory needs. As a result, it has become increasingly vital to equip businesses and organizations with the knowledge and tools to engage and assist these individuals and their families effectively. The Certified Autism Center designation by these organizations marks a significant step forward for the larger movement. It makes St. Johns County an inclusive, welcoming destination for visitors and residents. The company’s leadership and example have encouraged nine other local tourism and hospitality businesses to complete the certification process, bringing us closer to the goal of St. Johns County becoming a Certified Autism Destination. 

The event concluded with the passing of the gavel ceremony from Immediate Past Chair Berta Odom with RE/MAX Realty 100 to Orv Dothage with Northrop Grumman.