Lee County Industry Awards Celebrate Local Business Leaders and Up-and-Coming Companies for Economic Impact

At the Caloosa Sound Convention Center, local firms gathered for the 33rd annual Industry Appreciation Awards. The Oct. 24, 2025, event put the spotlight on seven standout companies making waves in Fort Myers and Lee County.

NeoGenomics Laboratories won the Elevate Award for its work in disease testing and cancer studies. Starting small in 2001, they've grown to offer doctors more than 500 ways to spot illness.

The Start-Up of the Year title went to two businesses. Bay Street Yard turned an empty lot into a 12,000-square-foot location where the community gathers for music, games, and food truck treats. At Bell Tower shops, McGregor's Public House brought Irish flair with craft beers and old-world cooking.

Storm Smart won Large Manufacturer of the Year. What started as a small shop in 1996 has grown into the nation's biggest maker of hurricane protection. 

In Lehigh Acres, Liberty Aluminum Company earned Large Business of the Year. They've spent 30 years crafting outdoor structures, growing from a tiny workshop to a team of 80 skilled workers who build screens, car shelters, and fences.

e2Companies won the Tech Catalyst Award. They started by fixing pollution problems in 2009. Now they build smart power systems that store and make clean energy.

Recycled Firefighter turns old fire hoses into useful items people love and won Small Manufacturer of the Year. Gulf Coast Business Bank won Small Business of the Year for backing local shops in Lee and Collier counties since 2022.

"These exceptional businesses and leaders truly embody what makes our community thrive," said Helen Edenfield, chair of the Horizon Council and vice president of operations at City Mattress, per WGCU News.

Maylene Kiang Wu, who runs Pacific Peak LLC and leads the Boys & Girls Clubs board, received the Lee County Distinguished Achievement Award.