On Tuesday, November 18^th The Osceola Chamber’s Coalitions Council hosted their Inaugural Coalitions Impact Awards to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, and inspiring works of the Osceola business community.  The breakfast event was held at Holiday Inn Resort Kissimmee by the Parks and sponsored by Experience Kissimmee, Toho Water Authority, and SaintClair Life Ministries.

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For the past eight years, the Chamber has awarded up-and-coming business leaders, age 40 or under, who either live or work in Osceola County with the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Award. Past winners of that award have gone on to hold public office, lead successful companies that employ the next generation of leaders ,and rise in the ranks of their own organizations.

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This year, the Chamber proudly announced the addition of four new awards sponsored by three of the Chamber’s seven Coalitions. These awards are the Emerging Entrepreneur Award, presented by the Black Business Coalition; the Hispanic Business Impact Award and Hispanic Leadership Award, presented by the Hispanic Business Coalition; and the ROY G BIV Impact Award, presented by the Chamber’s Pride Coalition

This year’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Award recipients were Amber Lavoie and Maggie Rosenbaum, both with Toho Water Authority, Natalie Mosquera with the Early Learning Coalition, and Kevin Torres, an Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

The Emerging Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by the Black Business Coalition, was created to honor a rising Black entrepreneur who exemplifies innovation, resilience, and exceptional potential. It recognizes a business leader who is not only building a successful company, but also paving the way for future generations through bold vision and impactful leadership. The award went to Charminta Brown, who in 2022 founded Brown Joy, LLC, which uplifts the world with affirmation stickers designed in the likeness of children of color. Since its launch in 2022, Brown Joy has sold over 10,000sticker sheets across the United States and Africa, spreading positivity and representation one sticker at a time.

The Chamber’s Hispanic Business Coalition presented two awards. The Hispanic Business Impact Award, created to recognize a Hispanic business, organization, or initiative that has made a significant positive impact on the Hispanic community in Osceola County, went to RICO Foods Company dba Mr. Cappuccino and its owner Nelson Mendez. Nelson has used his community involvement and relationships to bring his portable coffee machines to lobbies and breakrooms all over the county. The Hispanic Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership within the Hispanic community in Osceola County, was presented to Gladys Thayer, a highly-decorated Realtor with RE/MAX Premier Properties and involved community member who is passionate about home ownership for all.

The ROYG BIV Impact Award, created by The Osceola Chamber’s Pride Coalition to recognize individuals for their unwavering commitment to building a more vibrant, inclusive world, was awarded to Experience Kissimmee’s Emily Flores, whose work has quietly but powerfully reshaped the way travelers experience Osceola County and how they see themselves reflected in it both with initiatives within her role as Experience Kissimmee’s Manager of Interactive Media, and personal missions that go above and beyond.

The Osceola Chamber plans to continue this annual event and add awards created by the Chamber’s four other Coalitions in future years.  Applications for next year’s awards will open in late spring.