Here are the top small businesses, nonprofits in Bradenton and Manatee for 2023

James A. Jones Jr.
·6 min read

One business is making a difference in the Bradenton area’s affordable housing crisis. Another is making a difference in children’s oral health. And yet another is teaching young girls to be entrepreneurs.

Those were some of the highlights of the 43rd Annual Manatee Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Awards on Thursday night at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto.

One Step Housing, led by Mark Vengroff, was named Small Business of the Year in Category V, the category for companies earning the most revenue.

“This company steps up to the problem and provides solutions,” said presenter Rick Besio in announcing One Stop Housing as one of this year’s winners.

Besio cited One Stop Housing’s ability to thrive in an inflationary environment and come up with creative solutions.

“This organization focuses on problem solving. One of our judges asked, ‘how it is that this company has figured out how to do this?’” Besio said. “This company is a leader in providing affordable housing.”

Among the projects Vengroff and One Stop Housing are involved with are an affordable workforce village of about 400 units, where residents would pay no more than 30% of their earnings for rent.

Vengroff, about a dozen local companies and the Bradenton Area Economic Development Council have all played a role in trying to make the workforce village a reality.

“A lot of people are really suffering and are cost-burdened,” Vengroff said of what drives him and his company to find solutions.

One Stop Housing has housing complexes in Bradenton, Sarasota, Orlando and Tennessee. Among its Bradenton properties are Robin’s Apartments, 2303 First St., Omega Apartments, 5411 8th St. Court W., Forest Cove, 45th Ave. Circle W. and El Patio Bradenton, 128 Ninth Ave. W. All have rents starting under $1,000 a month.

All of the the Manatee Chamber of Commerce small businesses of the year and nonprofits of the year and their team members gathered on the stage at the Bradenton Area Convention Center 6/29/2023.
All of the the Manatee Chamber of Commerce small businesses of the year and nonprofits of the year and their team members gathered on the stage at the Bradenton Area Convention Center 6/29/2023.

Stronger Moving & Delivery Service

Category IV Small Business Award winner Stronger Moving & Delivery Service is the epitome of family, said presenter Eleni Sokos.

“From the way this company operates to the customers it serves, there is a deliberate focus on family-like connections. Relationships run deep in this company, which may explain why it hasn’t had any shortages in this tight labor market,” Sokos said.

Ruben Ferrer accepted the award, saying he was surprised to be honored and wanted to dedicate the award to his entire team.

Dr. Andre Lewis of ALL About Kids Pediatric Dentistry won the Category IIII small business of the year award from the Manatee Chamber of Commerce 6/29/2023.
Dr. Andre Lewis of ALL About Kids Pediatric Dentistry won the Category IIII small business of the year award from the Manatee Chamber of Commerce 6/29/2023.

ALL About Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Andre Lewis and his ALL About Kids Pediatric Dentistry practice won the Category III award.

“This business received a perfect interview score from our judging panel. This owner’s humility and passion were among the shining qualities that stood out,” presenter Justin Phillips said.

“This company’s key to creating life-long customer loyalty is connecting with them at a young age. For a company like this, it’s easy: they took a record 800 pounds of candy from your babies in their candy buy-back program,” Phillips said.

Lewis was moved by his small business of the year award.

“I truly love what I do. I get to be a kid all day, every day,” Lewis said. “I truly want to offer a place where they can feel safe, laugh and maybe see a guy dressed up as a tooth fairy,” he said.

More than 200 small businesses and nonprofits were nominated for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce small business of the year awards. They gathered at the Bradenton Area Convention Center 6/29/2023 for a group photo.
More than 200 small businesses and nonprofits were nominated for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce small business of the year awards. They gathered at the Bradenton Area Convention Center 6/29/2023 for a group photo.

Your CBD Store Bradenton

Through products and services, volunteering and philanthropy, Your CBD Store Bradenton is actively involved in promoting wellness in Manatee County, said presenter Ramin Hashemi.

“Our judges noted that this owner is faith-driven and data-driven,” Hashemi said. “We better ourselves by bettering others encompasses this owner’s philosophy in business and the community.”

Rachael Quinn, owner of Your CBD Store Bradenton, accepted the Category II award winner.

Ohana Embroidery

Paul Farmer, owner of Ohana Embroidery, was the Category I award winner.

“Our judges were impressed with the owner’s humility, sincerity and full heart. One judge noted that this individual believes that a smile can change someone’s day. Other judges noted how this business was willing to give back, using its success to start a program to help other people evolve,” said presenter Don Goudy.

“Weaving business and kindness together create the fabric of this company’s success,” Goudy said. “Armed with needle and thread, they create products that tell stories.”

Farmer said receiving the small business award was very humbling.

“I love what I do and take a lot of pride in trying to help people,” he said.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.

The Category II nonprofit award winner, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc., has been a leader in building courage, confidence and character in local young ladies, and it currently serves more than 800 girls and nearly 400 adults, said presenter Kevin Cooper of Mote Marine.

“It also offers the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world to young ladies in Manatee County, empowering these children with skills such as goal setting, decision making and of course resiliency — one box of cookies at a time,” Cooper said.

Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, said the organization’s local roots date back to 1920 when the scout council started here. In 1953, the council bought its first 40 acres along the Braden River for what would become Camp Honi Hanta.

“We are proud to be part of such a diverse and spirited community,” Servian said.

Healthy Teens won the Category I nonprofit of the year award from the Manatee Chamber of Commerce 6/29/2023. Accepting the award was executive director Jonathan Evans and founder Mary Ann Legler, second from left.
Healthy Teens won the Category I nonprofit of the year award from the Manatee Chamber of Commerce 6/29/2023. Accepting the award was executive director Jonathan Evans and founder Mary Ann Legler, second from left.

Healthy Teens Inc.

“This organization is completely youth-centered, partnering teen educators with at-risk teens to increase the likelihood of successful outcome,” presenter Joseph Dunn said in recognizing Healthy Teens as the Category I nonprofit winner.

“Simply put, the organization provides a community platform so that teens can help other teens,” Dunn said.

In accepting the award, Healthy Teens executive director Jonathan Evans said, kids “don’t want to listen to us — they want to listen to each other.”

Founder Mary Ann Legler said that growing up in today’s world is not easy.

It takes a village, she said, adding this “is a wonderful place to grow up.”

Small business in perspective

Jacki Dezelski, the Chamber’s president and CEO, said nationally two out of three jobs created are by small businesses.

Jeff Podobnik, chairman of the board of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber has more than 2,000 members, and half of those employ five or fewer.

More than 200 companies were nominated for this year’s small business awards, and from those 34 were chosen as finalists.

List of finalists

For-profit businesses

  • A.L.L. About Kids Pediatric Dentistry

  • Apollo Medical Transport

  • Clark Financial Partners

  • Coastal Kapital LLC

  • Custom ComTek

  • Discover Bradenton

  • Harbor Chiropractic

  • Honors Interiors LLC

  • J&J Wealth Advisors

  • JLS Remodeling Services

  • Kava Social Club

  • L.E.T.S. Landes Emergency Training Services

  • Len’s Roofing, Inc.

  • Mr. Handyman Serving Sarasota & Bradenton

  • Ohana Embroidery LLC

  • One Stop Housing, LLC

  • Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida

  • Re3 Stem Cell and Healing Institute, PLLC

  • Rise to Shine Cleaning

  • Send Me Cyndee Travel

  • Star Academy of Dance & Aerial Arts

  • Stronger Moving & Delivery Service, Inc.

  • Urgent Dental Care

  • Your CBD Store Bradenton

Nonprofit organizations

  • Avenue941

  • Chargers Soccer Club at Lakewood Ranch

  • Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

  • Foundation for Dreams

  • Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.

  • Healthy Teens, Inc.

  • Manatee County Habitat for Humanity

  • Parenting Matters

  • The Twig Cares, Inc.

  • United Way Suncoast