This year marks the ninth annual Gulfshore Business Best of Business readers’ poll. Of the thousands of votes received, one winner and two finalists in each of the 35 categories were selected through online polling with SurveyMonkey.com, which required each participant to provide their name and email address so each could cast only one ballot.
Each category winner is listed, followed by the two finalists, in alphabetical order for each business type. Thank you, readers, for your participation. And congratulations to the local businesses chosen as this year’s winners and finalists for the Best of Business 2021.
FINANCE & INSURANCE
BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM
MARKHAM NORTON MOSTELLER WRIGHT & COMPANY, P.A.
Gail Markham is founding partner of one of the most visible CPA firms in Southwest Florida
FINALISTS
HBK
Hughes Snell
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK
FIRST FLORIDA INTEGRITY BANK
Garrett Richter is president of the Naples-based bank, which has $2.3 billion in total assets
FINALISTS
FineMark
SanCap Community Bank
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISORY FIRM
ADVANCED WEALTH ADVISORS
Provides financial planning, wealth management services
FINALISTS
Merrill Lynch
Morgan Stanley
BEST HEALTH INSURANCE BROKERAGE
BKS PARTNERS
Agency works hard to develop long-term relationships
FINALISTS
Brown & Brown
Green Line Benefits
BEST COMMERCIAL INSURANCE BROKERAGE
GULFSHORE INSURANCE
Fosters “we care” motto for client-carrier collaboration
FINALISTS
Brown & Brown
McGriff
BEST LIFE INSURANCE AGENT
JAVED KAPADIA STATE FARM
One of most successful State Farm agencies in the nation
FINALISTS
Case Life Solutions
Benson Blackburn
BEST TRUST COMPANY
FINEMARK
Offers array of banking, trust and investment services
FINALISTS
Northern Trust
Naples Trust
BEST PAYROLL COMPANY
ADP
Software, services for unique HR and payroll needs
FINALISTS
Integrity Employee Leasing
Paychex
LEGAL
BEST CORPORATE & BUSINESS LAW FIRM
PAVESE LAW FIRM
Offers 70 years of full service in Southwest Florida
FINALISTS
Aloia Roland
Henderson Franklin
BEST INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM
HENDERSON FRANKLIN
One of South Florida’s largest, full-service firms
FINALISTS
Whitelaw Legal Group
Hahn Loeser
BEST LITIGATION LAW FIRM
HENDERSON FRANKLIN
Experienced firm with local roots founded in 1924
FINALISTS
Boy Agnew Potanovic
Cheffy Passidomo
BEST REAL ESTATE, LAND USE AND ZONING LAW FIRM
WOODWARD, PIRES & LOMBARDO
Decades of knowledge and service in Southwest Florida
FINALISTS
Pavese Law Firm
Henderson Franklin
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM
BOY AGNEW POTANOVIC
John Potanovic, Suzanne Boy, John Agnew, John Miller. Local, collaborative, service-oriented law firm
FINALISTS
Henderson Franklin
Pavese Law Firm
BEST TAX LAW FIRM
HENDERSON FRANKLIN
More than 50 attorneys who live in Southwest Florida
FINALISTS
Pavese Law Firm
Bond, Schoeneck & King
BEST TRUST & ESTATE LAW FIRM
BARBARA PIZZOLATO
Provides business law, trust administration, estate planning
FINALISTS
Pavese Law Firm
Bond, Schoeneck & King
MARKETING
BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM
PRIORITY MARKETING
Region’s largest full-service advertising, marketing, PR agency
FINALISTS
Pushing the Envelope
CONRIC pr + marketing
BEST ADVERTISING AGENCY
DRAGON HORSE
Next-generation creative syndicate, marketing and business strategy agency
FINALISTS
Priority Marketing
TLC Marketing & Creative Services, Inc.
COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND REAL ESTATE
BEST COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM
ADG ARCHITECTURE
Assists in projects from pre-planning through construction
FINALISTS
Studio+
Schenkel Shultz
BEST ENGINEERING FIRM
HOLE MONTES
Firm has 50-plus years of full service in Southwest Florida
FINALISTS
Davidson Engineering
Morris-Depew Associates
BEST COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING FIRM
GREENSCAPES
Owned, operated by local family for more than 50 years
FINALISTS
Juniper
Property Care Landscapes
BEST COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY (LEASING)
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
SW Florida team has 100 years of combined experience
FINALISTS
LandQwest
CRE Consultant
BEST COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
PBS
Concierge builder with 35 years of commitment to the Naples community
FINALISTS
DeAngelis Diamond
Gates
BEST COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY (PURCHASE)
CRE CONSULTANTS
Delivers full spectrum of customized property solutions
FINALISTS
LSI Companies
Fischler Property Co.
BEST COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
B&I CONTRACTORS
Employee-owned local company for 60-plus years
FINALISTS
ACRA Electric
Schultz Low Voltage Systems
BEST COMMERCIAL HVAC CONTRACTOR
B&I CONTRACTORS
Tackles jobs for commercial and industrial buildings
FINALISTS
Conditioned Air
Kobie Kooling
BUSINESS SERVICES
BEST IT SERVICES CONTRACTOR
ENTECH
Provides customized IT services and support in Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay
FINALISTS
CRS Technolgy Consultants
Stickboy
BEST BUSINESS HOTEL AND CONFERENCE/MEETING CENTER
HILTON NAPLES
Luxury hotel provides memorable experiences with an unexpected value
FINALISTS
Luminary / Caloosa Sound
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
BEST FLEET VEHICLE DEALER
GALLOWAY FORD
Connection between Ford and Galloway family since 1927
FINALISTS
Tamiami Ford
Nextran Truck Centers
BEST FLEET MAINTENANCE COMPANY
TERRY WYNTER AUTO SERVICE CENTER
Provides advanced car care with old-fashioned service
FINALISTS
Pro Fleet Care
Tamiami Ford
BEST STAFFING AGENCY
MONZINGO LEGAL SEARCH
Law firm recruiting agency has offered hands-on management in legal industry for 25-plus years
FINALISTS
Robert Half
Spherion
BEST VENDING / COFFEE COMPANY
STAN’S COFFEE & FOOD SERVICE
Serving companies, restaurants and clubs on Florida’s Gulf Coast for more than 60 years
FINALISTS
Aroma Coffee Service
Bad Ass Coffee
BUSINESS DINING & DRINKS
BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
SHULA’S
Local steakhouse showcases classic American fine dining
FINALISTS
Farmers Market Restaurant
DeRomo’s
BEST PRIVATE DINING ROOM
THE VERANDA
Unique dining experience with Southern regional cuisine
FINALISTS
Shula’s
Angelina’s
BEST NETWORKING RESTAURANT / BAR
MILLENNIAL BREWING CO.
Family- and pet-friendly brewery tasting room
FINALISTS
Fort Myers Brewing Co.
The Bevy
BEST CATERER
CRAVE CULINAIRE
Chef Brian Roland and team create exclusive culinary experiences
FINALISTS
Artichoke & Co.
Two Guys Catering
