Inaugural Business Awards & Gala March 14^th 2026 

A BUSINESS Celebration Honoring Excellence, Leadership & LGBTQ+ Achievement

 

Jacksonville, FL — Jax LGBT Chamber of Commerce proudly announces the Inaugural Business  Awards & Gala, returning in March 14, 2026 as the city’s premier LGBTQ+  event. This year’s gala will celebrate outstanding leadership, community impact, and cultural contributions across Jacksonville’s LGBTQ+ community.

 

The 2026 gala will be a black-tie and evening gown/ business attire, featuring an elevated program that includes business & non-profit awards and distinguished honorees recognized for exceptional service, visibility, and advocacy.

 

Guests will enjoy an elegant evening that includes:

 

• Red Carpet Arrival & Photo Opportunities

• 3 Course Dinner (Soup or Salad, Entree & Dessert)

• Cash Bar

• Live Entertainment

• A Formal Awards Presentation

 

Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available

Businesses, nonprofits, and community partners are invited to support the event through a variety of sponsorship packages, offering premium brand visibility, community engagement, and recognition during the awards ceremony.

 

Sponsorships help ensure that the Inaugural Business Equality Awards & Gala are highlight the achievements and contributions of local LGBTQ+ individuals, organizations, and allies.

 

Event Details

Event: Inaugural Business  Awards & Gala 2026

Date: March 14, 2026

Dress Code: Black Tie & Evening Gown Affair

Location: River Club Downtown

Time: 6:00pm-7pm VIP Reception & Awards Show 7pm-9pm

 

About the Inaugural Business  Awards & Gala

Founded to honor excellence and amplify LGBTQ+ voices, the Inaugural Business Awards & Gala is Jacksonville’s most anticipated annual LGBTQ+ celebration. Presented by Jax LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the event recognizes achievements in arts, business, leadership, activism, entertainment, and community service.

 

For media inquiries, sponsorship requests, or ticket information, please contact:

Jax LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Email: dvandygriff@jaxlgbtchamber.org

Website: www.jaxlgbtchamber.org

INAGURAL BUSINESS AWARDS NOMINEES

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Tulua Bistro

Jeff’s Gym

Cork Thyme at All Spice

Hardwick’s Bar

Manifest Distilling

Arbus Magazine

InCahoot’s Nightclub

Cowford Realty & Design

Hair Peace

Cultivate

Park Place

Juice & Wine Bar

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Bruce Musser – Hair Peace

Tina Wirth – Wirth Works LLC

Cinda Sherman – Arbus Magazine

Andreas Heinrich – Prudential Financial

Steve Williams – Florida Mining

Tim, Todd, & Tim – Hardwick’s Bar

Calli Marie Webb - Brew 5 Points

NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

NFAN (Northeast Florida AIDS Network)

Lutheran Social Services Jax

Jasmyn

UnSpoken Treasure Society

Rebel Recovery

RISING STAR

Rebel Recovery Team

Tina Wirth - Jax Allies/Wirth Works

Dan Hutton - Reze Ride/AMP

Christina Feliciano - Alpha Clinic

Cole Gabriel – Ascent Trial Solutions

CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Florida Blue

Bank of America

TD Bank

Dunn & Bradstreet

Baptist Health

VyStar Credit Union

EverBank

Mayo Clinic

CAN Community Health

Edward Jones Inc

Bankcorp

Jacksonville Jaguars

OUTSTANDING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION LEADER OF THE YEAR

Regina Livingston – UnSpoken Treasure Society

Maddie Hilt – Riverside Church at Park & King

Tayden Haile – Swamp Pride

Blake Micheal Osner – Jasmyn Board

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Chevara Orrin – Speaker/Entrepreneur

Kathey Porter – Author/Entrepreneur

Sol Angel Winter - Multilingual Consulting Group Services

Tina Wirth – Wirth Works

PRIDE SUPERSTAR ERG OF THE YEAR

Florida Blue ERG

Mayo Clinic ERG

Bank of America ERG 

EverBank ERG

Mayo Clinic ERG

CHAMBER CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Paige Mahogany Parks – Transgender Awareness Project

Joey Brown – Tulua Bistro & Purple Bagel

Elias, Todd & Tim – Hardwick’s Bar

Ed Tooker – HomeSmart Residential & Commercial Realty

Joe Steineck – Rental Property Owner/Realtor

ALLY OF THE YEAR 

Mo Reza - Reza Health

John Phillips – Law Offices of Phillips & Hunt

Julia Torres-Carmichael – AMP Board Member/JASMYN Superstar Volunteer

Shawna Flager – Treasure Chest Mind & Body Coaching Services

Christina Feliciano – Alpha Clinic

COMMUNITY IMPACT/ADVOCACY AWARD 

Stonewall Sports Jacksonville

Jim Piggott – Mayors LGBTQ+ Board of Advisors

Sherwin Salla – Florida Ballet Board of Directors

Kathryn Garcia Belina – Equality Florida/Friends of the Quilt

Karissa Wade – Community Advocate/Catalyst 

GOVERNMENT OFFICAL OF THE YEAR 

Angie Nixon – Florida State Rep

Donna Deegan – Mayor of Jacksonville

Jimmy Peluso – Jacksonville City Council

Traci Davis – Florida State Senator

HONOREES

Jacksonville Legal Aid

Fleming Island Plastic Surgery

Riverside United Church of Christ & Rev Linda Dowling Girouex

Courtney Lewis – Jax Symphony Orchestra Conductor

Darnell Smith – Florida Blue

Beth Parker – NFAN

Janet Allen – Community Foundation

Anthony Hall – Outdoorsy

Stephen Pajcic III - Pajcic & Pajcic Law Firm

 

Finally votes determine the winners & honorable mentions. The Board of Directors votes to end a tie. Only one winner & one honorable mention per category. Exception will be the Honorees.

Nomination & Voting Process for the Business Awards

GENERAL AWARDS CRITERIA

 

Encouragement of Self-Nominations

Self-nominations are allowed and encouraged.

 

Eligibility of Prior Winners

Prior Business Award winners are not eligible to win in the same category again. Honorable mention winners are eligible to win the same category.

 

Criteria for LGBTQ+ Designated Awards

For awards that denote LGBTQ+ status, the nominee must self-identify as an LGBTQ+ individual, or the business must be more than 51% LGBTQ+-owned. This doesn’t include corporations, but they must have an ERG.

 

Nomination Deadline

Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., Feb 13, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

 

Top Nominee Voting

Top nominee voting ends Feb 28, 2026.

 

Nominee Consent

If you are nominating another member, please confirm they are willing to accept the award and commit to participating in the Inaugural Business Awards & Gala on March 14, 2026.

 

Nominee Availability

If nominees must also attend specific events (e.g., photo shoots, interviews, or sponsor-related activities), these requirements will be outlined clearly in advance.

 

Membership Status for Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Inaugural Business Award & Gala, nominees must be a member/partner in good standing with the JAX LGBT Chamber of Commerce. This will become effective January 1, 2027.

 

This year’s AWARD Winners will be given 1 year Jax LGBT Chamber Membership, valued at $250.

 

Please send votes to info@jaxlgbtchamber.org or click the link above.

 

INAGURAL BUSINESS EQUALITY AWARDS & GALA CATEGORIES

 

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

12 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

7 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

5 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR

12 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

RISING STAR 
(4 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention Annually)

 

OUTSTANDING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION LEADER OF THE YEAR

4 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR 

4 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

PRIDE SUPERSTAR ERG OF THE YEAR

5 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

CHAMBER CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

5 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

ALLY OF THE YEAR

5 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

COMMUNITY IMPACT/ADVOCACY AWARD

5 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

GOVERNMENT OFFICAL OF THE YEAR

 4 Nominees - 1 Winner & 1 Honorable Mention

 

HONOREES

Jax LGBT Chamber Board  Member's Discretion on total of Honorees for any given year. 

 

Finally votes determine the winners & honorable mentions. The Board of Directors votes to end a tie. Only one winner & one honorable mention per category. Exception will be the Honorees.