Past Winners
The Sandies honor LWRBA volunteers who strive towards the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, devote time and energy to our community, and forge paths of leadership for others to follow.
2024
Volunteer of the Year Award - Eric Konovalov
Company Community Champion - Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
Above & Beyond Award - Lee Kotwicki
Best Rancher Award - Annemarie Graff
Bull by the Horns Award - Maribeth Phillips
Ray of Sunshine Award - River Yang
Rising Star Award - Nicole Hackel
Networking King Award - Henry Decoo
Networking Queen Award - Cherri Kessler
2023
Volunteer of the Year Award - Annemarie Graff
Above & Beyond Award - Nyda Bittmann Neville
Best Rancher Award - Keith Pandeloglou
Bull by the Horns Award - Wayne Parrish
Ray of Sunshine Award - Jorge Augero
Rising Star Award - Skyler Betts
Networking King Award - Dennis Butt
Networking Queen Award - Zoe Kasper
Young Professional of the Year Award - Tieler Gittelman
2022
Volunteer of the Year Award - Julie Fanning
Above & Beyond Award - Nyda Bittmann Neville
Best Rancher Award - Ashlyn McCarty
Bull by the Horns Award - Chris Williams
Ray of Sunshine Award - Yulia Kuzenko
Rising Star Award - Brian Garnant
Networking King Award - Bruce Abramson
Networking Queen Award - Lori Abramson
Young Professional of the Year Award - Danielle Visone
2021
Volunteer of the Year Award - John Holz
Above & Beyond Award - Lorri Kidder
Best Rancher Award - Michelle Olivo
Bull by the Horns Award - Allison Imre
Ray of Sunshine Award - Alicia Chalmers
Rising Star Award - Heather Koester
Networking King Award - Ron Trytek
Networking Queen Award - Karen Medford
Young Professional of the Year Award - Abigail Kahl
2020
Bull by the Horns - Company Under 25 Employees - The Circus Arts Conservatory
Bull by the Horns - Company 25+ Employees - Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County
Community Champion – Company: Willis Smith Construction
Community Champion – Individual: Peggy Kronus, Willis Smith Construction
Rising Star - Alex Gault, The Otto Group at Hightower Advisors
2019
Volunteer of the Year Award - Ashlyn McCarty
Above & Beyond Award - Amanda Parrish
Best Rancher Award - Jaime Marco
Bull by the Horns Award - Heather Williams
Ray of Sunshine Award- Molly Lawley
Rising Star Award - Julia Heide
Networking King Award - Al Benincasa
Networking Queen Award - Debbie Shaffer
Young Professional of the Year Award - Colleen Bankuty
2018
Volunteer of the Year Award - Erik Hanson
Above & Beyond Award - Toni Perren
Best Rancher Award - Jaime Marco
Bull by the Horns Award - Monaca Onstad
Ray of Sunshine Award - Kelly Erdmann
Rising Star Award - Laura Lynch
Networking King Award - Bruce Loeppke
Networking Queen Award - Shawna Hicks-Cranston
Young Professional of the Year Award - Britney Guertin
2017
Volunteer of the Year Award - Violeta Huesman
Best Rancher Award - Fern Grace
Bull by the Horns Award - Lori Ruth
Ray of Sunshine Award - Lisa Kirkland
Rising Star Award - Amanda Arnold
Networking King Award - Adam Miller
Networking Queen Award - Charlotte Griffin
One of a Kind Award - Dianne Kopczyinski
Young Professional of the Year Award - Keith Pandeloglou
2016
Volunteer of the Year Award - Sally Ullman
Rising Star Award - Jonathan Marsh
Bull by the Horns Award - John Barnott
Ray of Sunshine Award - Peggy Kronus
Networking King Award - Ken Burke
Networking Queen Award - Morgan Gerhart
Young Professional of the Year Award - Ryan McIntyre
Best Rancher Award - Felicia Seedorf
One of a Kind Award - Kim French
2015
Volunteer of the Year Award - Susan Abbott
Rising Star Award - Courtney Grovatt
Bull by the Horns Award - David Fink
Ray of Sunshine Award - Maria Hussey
Networking King Award - Mike Wick
Networking Queen Award - Yasemin Chain
Young Professional of the Year Award - Heather Williams
Best Rancher Award - Brad Cranston
One of a Kind Award - Janet Arena
2014
Volunteer of the Year Award - Jason Seelbach
Rising Star Award - Holly Littlefield
Bull by the Horns Award - Barbara Jones
Ray of Sunshine Award - Lori Ruth
Networking King Award - Brian Volner
Networking Queen Award - Violeta Huesman
Young Professional of the Year Award - Amanda Vercheski
Best Rancher Award - Yasemin Chain
One of a Kind Award - Lori Denny
2013
Volunteer of the Year Award - Annette Gueli
Rising Star Award - Chris Deleonardo
Bull by the Horns Award - Tommy Klauber
Ray of Sunshine Award - Jules Price
Networking King Award - Marc Simms
Networking Queen Award - Violetta Huesman
Young Professional of the Year Award - Amanda Vercheski
Best Rancher Award - Annette Gueli
One of a Kind Award - Judy Athari
2012
Entrepreneurial Spirit Award - SouthTech
Corporate Philanthropy Award - MGA Insurance Group
Business of the Year - Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
LWR Citizen of the Year - Bob Delaney
2011
Entrepreneurial Spirit Award - Tommy & Jaymie Klauber
Corporate Philanthropy Award - Gold Coast Eagle Distributing
Business of the Year - Neal Communities
LWR Citizen of the Year - Don O’Lea