Brown & Brown's Abbie Teague named Volusia-Flagler 'Young Professional of the Year'

DAYTONA BEACH ― Abbie Teague was thrilled to be included among the outstanding young professionals recognized at the annual Volusia-Flagler "40 Under Forty" awards gala on Tuesday.

What she didn't expect was to also walk away with the evening's top honor: the 2023 Young Professional of the Year Award.

"I literally have no words," the Brown & Brown vice president stammered as she accepted her award along with a bouquet of flowers. She also received a check for $500 to be donated to the charity of her choice.

Tuesday's event was put on by The Daytona Beach News-Journal and its digital marketing arm LocaliQ. The program which began in 2006 recognizes young professionals from throughout Volusia and Flagler counties for their achievements both within their professions as well as in the community through volunteer efforts based on nominations submitted by readers.

Eight of this year's "40 Under Forty" honorees were also selected to receive special awards from a panel of judges consisting of the previous year's special award winners.

LOOKING BACK:40 Under 40 Awards: Circelli named Volusia-Flagler area 'Young Professional of the Year'

'Small things that can have the most impact'

Last year's Young Professional of the Year, Kristina Circelli, marketing director for Volusia Mall, presented this year's top award to Teague.

"This award is for a young professional who exemplifies outstanding overall leadership, professional accomplishments, and service to the community," Circelli explained to the audience.

Teague was selected for not only "dominating the commercial insurance world" as part of her job but also for her numerous efforts to help make her community a better place to live, including serving as board chair for the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, as well as being involved in United Way's Women United Volusia organization and volunteering at her church.

Circelli also noted, "(Teague) once said, 'I feel like life is not always about the big things, but a lot of small things that can have the biggest impact.'"

Who else won special awards?

• Ashlee Selman, a sales manager with Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, was named winner of this year's "Rising Star" award.

• Malcolm Williams, a resident advisor at Halifax Urban Ministries, won "Young Civic Leader of the Year."

• Jessie Thompson, Volusia County School Board member, won "Young Local Government Officer of the Year."

• David Weis, CEO of AdventHealth Daytona Beach and AdventHealth hospital system's East Volusia Market Leader, won the "Most Charitable" award.

• Victor Emmanuel Sims, a management consultant and president of Restorative Justice for Guiding Hope, won "Nonprofit Young Professional of the Year."

• Sarah Hancock, owner of the Blind Pig Pub in DeLand, won "Young Private-Sector Professional of the Year."

• Jamie Yeomans, owner of Yeomans Gems, won "Small Business Young Professional of the Year."

Who were the other '40 Under 40' honorees?

The rest of this year's 40 Under 40 honorees included the following: Allison Berard, director of behavior support services at Easterseals Northeast Central Florida; Amanda El Shemi, director of choir, theater and dance at Ormond Beach Middle School, Volusia County Schools; Amy Lyn Michaelis, president board-certified behavior analyst at Upward Trend Academy; Andrew Gall, director of sales for The Gallery at Port Orange; Anthony Lupoli, owner/founder of AVL CPA Firm LLC; Brittani Preschel, CEO of D2 Advertising; Brittany Hawthorne, group wellness coordinator for Florida Health Care Plans; Dr. Drew Hayden, an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Medical Center of Deltona; Dr. Erika Equizi, the owner and chiropractor at Premier Chiropractic & Wellness; Jamie Eady, chief operating officer at Page Insurance Agency; Jessica Realin, a loan originator for Waterstone Mortgage; Jim Pappalardo, a DeBary City Council member who works as assistant director of advanced analytics and finance for Comparion Insurance Agency (Liberty Mutual); John Benning, owner/president of J&B Painting Plus of Florida Inc.; Julie Kuhlman, a senior account executive with Brown & Brown of Florida Inc.; Kabir Bhakta, owner of the Dahlia Mexican Kitchen restaurants in Daytona Beach and Port Orange as well as the owner of BurgerTen eatery at One Daytona and GigaBites food delivery/pickup service in Port Orange; Kaci Lipthrott Hasson, salon owner and elite color professional at Moroccanoil, Canvas Beauty Company; Katie Bischoff, owner and lead designer at Katherine Bloom & Co.; Kendrick Thomas, special projects coordinator for the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Office; Lindsay Strausbaugh, owner and a teacher, and board-certified behavior analyst at Upward Trend Academy; Mallory Cone, an assistant principal at Atlantic High School; Mary Gelow, co-owner of Orbit Performing Arts; Mary Martinez, community wellness liaison for Florida Health Care Plans; Mitchell VanSumeren, associate director of athletics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Nathaniel Gittner, director of operations at Halifax Health; Nealon Joseph, an emergency management planner with Flagler County Emergency Management; Nicole Sharbono, chief operating officer at SMA Healthcare; Peter Ferreira, deputy parks and recreation director for the City of Port Orange; Rabecka Collins, director of the Falcon HOPE Center at Daytona State College; Samantha Ertel, managing director with Randstad; Tiffany Joubert, philanthropic advisor for the community foundation branch of United Way; Veronica Patterson, a licensed community association manager for Moontide Condo; and Winona Dienes, a licensed marriage and family therapist with Winona Squires Counseling.

Event was at the new Cultuvue gallery

The event was held at Kenneth Grant Inzpirations photo studio's new 7,000-square-foot Cultuvue exhibit space at the International Speedway Square shopping center at 2500 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach.

Kenneth Grant Inzpiration owners James and LaToya Carey, whose photo studio is at The Shoppes at One Daytona, also served as the "40 Under Forty" gala's presenting sponsor.

"We're excited that everyone's here," LaToya Carey told the sold-out gathering of 200 people. In explaining her and her husband's personal mission to inspire others with their current exhibit of photos of outstanding local African-American community leaders, she told the crowd, "You're (also) breathing life into others as a part of your leadership."

What else happened at the event?

The event kicked off with a cocktail hour that allowed the attendees to mingle, enjoy appetizers, beverages and desserts as well as check out the exhibit by photographer James Carey.

Jane Katona, Gannett vice president of sales for the coast east Florida area that includes the coverage area for The Daytona Beach News-Journal, provided opening and closing remarks while Jeff Horning and Krissy Chalk of Gary Yeomans Ford Lincoln served as the "master and mistress" of ceremonies for the evening.

Musical entertainment was provided by DJ Kid K, aka Kaelum White of Palm Coast, while William Bacigalupi of EventOneFL manned a photo station where attendees posed for group photos while holding or wearing wacky props.

A special section that includes question-and-answer pieces on each of the eight special award winners and photos of each of this year's 40 Under 40 honorees will be published in the print edition of The Daytona Beach News-Journal on Sunday, March 26.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia-Flagler young professionals honored at '40 Under 40' event