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Caption: Incoming SanCap Chamber chair Katy Forret presents outgoing chair JR Ramirez a plaque of appreciation for his service
San-Cap Chamber introduces 2025 board, honors awardees at annual meeting
The SanCap Chamber held its annual meeting on April 30, 2025, at Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel Island — the first on-island annual meeting since April 2022, pre-Hurricane Ian. Chamber president and chief executive officer John Lai introduced new board chair Katy Forret, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, who announced winners of the annual business awards along with outgoing chair JR Ramirez, Casa Ybel Resort.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” said Ramirez. “As I pass the baton to Katy, I do so with great confidence and gratitude, knowing the chamber is in great hands. … I’ve seen her in action — her work ethic and her engagement with the community. She is in the perfect position to help this community continue to thrive.”
Forret took the podium with a message of love for the community and resilience. “These have been incredibly trying years,” she said of her years on the board. “It has made me realize how much I care about protecting and supporting this community,” she said. “We fought to stay open, we fought to reopen, and continue to fight for the islands we all love. My focus is simple: to strengthen genuine community interactions, to support the businesses, and to make sure every chamber member knows their voice matters.”
Forret introduced and thanked the rest of the board officers and members: Chair elect Michael Nachef with Lee Health, secretary-treasurer TK, Daniel Andrews with Captains For Clean Water, Evelyn Stewart with Adventures in Paradise, Leigh Gevelinger with Coastal Vista Design, Joel Goodman with VIP Realty Group, Ron Clayton with Waste Management, tk, David Lowden with Bank of the Islands, Robert Monk with Law Office of Robert Monk, and TK.
The presentation of annual business awards began with the Sue Rosica Gray Volunteer of the Year Award. Forret presented the award to Sue Van Oss, who, as director of digital communications and Christian formation at St. Michael & All Angels Church on Sanibel, volunteered time and services to help see islanders through hurricane recovery. Most notably, she opened The Gathering Place for islanders and organizations to assemble on island at the church and launched and promoted the Love Sanibel Back program, a calendar of opportunities to patronize local businesses and organizations throughout August 2024.
Ramirez presented Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant and The Magic Bus the New Business Award for 2025. The combined efforts of Mad Hatter and Island Cow restaurants to create a new business on Sanibel Island’s East End “have brought new life into the businesses that surround them,” Ramirez said. Owners TK and TK accepted the award and thanked all the businesses that have opened and continue to do so to bring more people out to the islands.
For carrying “the burden and blessing of being the only hardware store on the islands during our recovery efforts,” Forret presented Forever Green Ace Hardware with the Business of the Year Award. She commended owners Jim and John Stomatitis for their longevity and stability in serving islanders well beyond their hardware needs.
Ramirez honored Lisa Riordan with the prestigious Citizen of the Year Award for her widespread devotion to island causes throughout Sanibel and Captiva. She currently serves on the boards of the Captiva Civic Board of Governors, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and Charitable Foundation of the Islands (as chair). As president of the Captiva board, she has helped “to shape the future of our islands through advocacy and outreach with the Protect Captiva Coalition,” Ramirez said. “[She] is a tireless advocate, a visionary leader, and, above all, a generous neighbor and friend. We are thrilled to celebrate a true force for good for our community.”
“This, like being in love, we’ve all had some heartbreak,” said Riordan following a standing ovation. “I have to say I wouldn’t want to have gone through that anywhere else in the world but on these two islands. Because resilience here, the friendships made here, the understanding is unmatched.” She commended the board and staff of the SanCap Chamber as “heroes of this community” in bringing the islands back through coalitions and partnerships.
“We congratulate all our deserving award winners this year for bringing our communities closer and closer to the incredible destination and home we will become,” said John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and chief executive officer. “I was able to share impressive figures to demonstrate the chamber’s growth this year – 1.3 million website views and a social media reach of more that 3 million, to name a couple. Those numbers would not have been possible without the incredible support and energy of businesses and individuals such as our award-winners and the strong and giving spirit of everyone on Sanibel and Captiva islands.”
Homerun Sponsor for the annual meeting, in conjunction with Islands Night on May 7, was Bank of the Islands. Other sponsors include: Triple Sponsor Lee Health; and Single Sponsors Alliant Property Management, LCED, SCCF, and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.
The next SanCap chamber monthly business meeting will take place Wednesday, June 4, at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa. Craig Thomas, the interim president and chief executive officer of VISIT FLORIDA, will speak about the state of Florida tourism. Fort Myers Tip-Off will sponsor the luncheon.
ABOUT SANCAPCHAMBER
The SanCap Chamber is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].
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