Seven Companies Across Six Industries are Finalists for CFDC Success in Large Business Award
The seven finalists for the Central Florida Development Council’s George W. Harris Jr. Economic Development Award for Success in Large Business showcase the innovative, committed spirit that keeps Polk County thriving.
The Success in Large Business Award is named for George Harris. Harris is a former CFDC chairman and president of Citrus and Chemical Bank. Nominated business were based several aspects: community service, commitment to growth in business, economic stability and promotion of free enterprise. In addition, they must also have at least 100 employees.
The CFDC names the winner at their annual meeting to place at Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus in Lakeland on September 26. Last year, Bank of Central Florida won the award. This year’s nominees, listed in alphabetical order, are:
“These businesses represent six industries that contribute to the community in so many ways, from educating future workers and offering a unique alternative for campers to ensuring our medical health and keeping the lights on,” said Sean Malott, President & CEO of the CFDC. “We applaud the services they provide and the many ways they give back to the community.”
Camp Margaritaville
Camp Margaritaville RV Resort is a 66-acre site near Lake Myrtle in Auburndale. It was first developed as the Cabana Club RV Resort in spring 2021. Then, it rebranded under the Margarita umbrella in 2022. USAToday named it the Best Luxury RV Resort in the nation.
“We are thrilled and honored to be nominated for the Success in Business Award by the Central Florida Development Council,” said Beth Wiley, Director of Marketing, Sales & Revenue. “This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence and our unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in our county by providing employment opportunities, introducing a new segment of tourism to the area and supporting organizations that make a positive impact within the community.”
This year, Camp Margarita has:
- Introduced the resort to locals through events like Paradise Markets. They gave small businesses an outlet to sell their products to resort guests and the public.
- Launched a concert series featuring well-known artists like the Kenny Rogers Band.
“We have also seen an increase in local businesses utilizing our rental spaces for team building, meetings and corporate gatherings,” Wiley said.
Central Florida Health Care
Central Florida Health Care is a non-profit health care organization. They provide many medical, eye, dental, OB/GYN, behavioral health, lab and X-ray services primarily to those who don’t have insurance.
“Florida Health Care is truly honored to be nominated as a finalist for the George W. Harris Jr. Success in Large Business award. As a Federally Qualified Health Center since 1972, CFHC has continued to grow and serve the community by providing exceptional medical and dental care for all ages and all people – never turning anyone away for care,” said CEO Ann Claussen. As a result, last year it served 76,650 patients.
CFHC is partners with Polk County Schools and the United Way. They provide medical services and food, respectively, and prioritize the community’s needs.
“On July 1, we opened our new Bartow Community Health Center and in August we will be expanding services in Davenport, opening our new Frostproof Health Center and breaking ground for our new 32,000-square-foot health center in Lakeland, as well as working on floor plans for our new Mulberry and Dundee Health Centers. We are very blessed to have these opportunities to expand care and services in Polk County.”
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)
CLA is a full-service accounting firm offering everything from wealth advising to tax and audit services. They strive for what they call a “seamless experience” for clients.
“We are thrilled to be nominated for the CFDC Success in Business Award. The CFDC is a great partner with CLA and all of Polk County,” said Lance Schmidt, Managing Principal for Lakeland. “This nomination is a testament to our team’s unparalleled commitment and passion to create opportunities for our clients, our communities and our people. It is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of our entire CLA family and for the many clients we have served over the years, the high-skill jobs we have been able to create and ways we have been able to give back to our communities.”
The business is contributing to economic development in the area. It recently expanded its footprint in Polk County with new office space for 75 team members. “This expansion stands as a testament to our team’s hard work and vision for the future. In addition, we have continued to add to our Polk County team and since January 2024 have added six full-time hires and 15 paid internships due to our collaboration with our local colleges and universities.”
Duke Energy
Duke Energy commits to economic development in Polk County year after year. It serves about 100,000 customers throughout.
“George W. Harris, Jr. leveraged his talents and company for the betterment of businesses and individuals within the Polk community. Duke Energy is honored to be nominated for this award in his memory,” said Peveeta Samuel, Senior Economic Development Manager. “We exist to improve the lives of our customers and the vitality of our communities.”
That commitment is evident in Duke’s economic development program. A program “through which we help recruit new industry and assist existing companies with expansions that result in new capital investment, jobs and an increased tax base in the communities we serve,” Samuel said. “Since 2011, Duke Energy’s collaborative economic development efforts, in partnership with the CFDC and our community partners, have supported the creation of more than 2,500 new jobs and the investment of nearly $751 million in Polk County.”
Duke is proud of its work with the Lake Wales EDC and CFDC to recruit Advanced Drainage Systems to Lake Wales. “We helped identify sites, develop power solutions and award project incentives through Duke Energy’s Florida Investment Fund… to assist with their location decision.”
It also performed a site readiness evaluation on the Hunt Brothers site. This site “brings our total to five Duke Energy Site Readiness sites in the county that have gone through our program to identify, assess, improve and increase awareness of industrial sites.”
Lakeland Regional Health
The Lakeland Regional Health system continues to find new ways to provide residents with the services they need. Particularly, in locations close by.
“We are extremely honored and humbled to be considered for CDFC’s George Harris Success in Business Award,” said President & CEO Danielle Drummond. “We are inspired by George Harris and his steadfast commitment to this unique community. Each day our organization serves the same community by living out our mission of placing people at the heart of all we do. It is our greatest privilege to work with our patients and help them live healthy, full lives.”
In the last year, LRH accomplished the following:
- Opened several new locations- one such is its 20-acre Kathleen Campus. This campus will provide primary and specialty care services at Interstate 4 and Kathleen Road. Training space dedicated for the Family Medicine Residency program is at this location. It is part of the new Graduate Medical Education (GME) program.
- Welcomed new Graduate Medical Education residents to the program. They designed the program to help alleviate the shortage of doctors in Polk County.
- Lastly, LRH grew its team to more than 7,600.
“We are looking forward to continuously expanding access to the care our community has come to know and trust,” Drummond said.
Southeastern University
Colleges of Distinction named Southeastern to its 2024-2025 list of honorees. It noted SEU’s “dedication to fostering hands-on learning, strong student-faculty relationships, an active campus community and stellar student outcomes.”
“We are thrilled and deeply honored to be selected as a finalist for the CFDC Success in Business Award in the George Harris Large Business category. This nomination is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire Southeastern University community,” said Dana Davis, Chief Communications Officer.
“At Southeastern University, we strive to make education affordable, accessible and integrated with real-world experiences,” she said. “Being recognized in this way underscores our commitment to excellence and our efforts to positively impact our students, faculty, staff and the broader community.”
The university, which has significant business, medical and education degree programs, takes pride in helping the community.
“In the last nine months, Southeastern University has celebrated significant milestones. But, the graduation of over 1,500 students stands out as a testament to the fulfillment of our mission, alongside the launch of SEU Trades, strategic partnerships with MidFlorida Credit Union and Lakeland Regional Health, and community recognitions.”
W.W. Gay Mechanical
W.W Gay Mechanical started as a HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and plumbing business. However, it now does just about everything, including employing more than 1,200 as it pursues excellence in every project.
“W.W. Gay feels honored to be nominated for this award because it recognizes our strategic growth and the significant contributions we’ve been able to make to our industry for the last 62 years,” said Emily Andrews, Vice President of Marketing & Community Relations. “This nomination reflects the dedication of our entire team and acknowledges our commitment to customer satisfaction and community engagement.”
The company is looking to expand in Central Florida, likely Tampa, and the Georgia market.
“W.W. Gay has developed a thoughtful strategic plan, Forging Ahead – The Next 5 Years, that addresses current challenges but also positions our company as a dynamic force for years to come,” she said. “With this plan, our company is taking steps to diversify our geographical footprint. Developing processes to further efficiency, focusing on strengthening our relationships with current customers, and giving back to our communities, all while ensuring our employees’ growth and advancement are the top priority.”
