Junior Achievement Celebrates 2026 Business Hall of Fame Laureates, Raises Nearly $450,000

FORT MYERS, Fla. – April 2, 2026 – Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida recently hosted its 38th Annual Business Hall of Fame Gala at the Naples Grande Beach Resort, honoring outstanding business leaders across Southwest Florida. Nearly 400 business leaders and community members gathered on Tuesday, March 24, to celebrate the induction of the 2026 Laureates. This year's recipients included Ryan Carter, President of Scotlynn; David and Jerri Hoffmann, entrepreneurs and founders of Hoffmann Family of Companies; and entrepreneur Rebecca Maddox.

The 2026 Business Hall of Fame, chaired by Vicki Tracy, raised more than $447,000, a 7% increase year-over-year, to support local Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida programs that teach students the importance of financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and work-readiness. Each year, the Business Hall of Fame recognizes influential leaders in Lee and Collier counties for exceptional leadership, generous philanthropy, and meaningful community impact on the programs that support local students. The 2026 Laureates join an esteemed group of more than 100 Southwest Florida business leaders honored since the Hall of Fame’s founding in 1988.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida extends its sincere appreciation to the sponsors of the 2026 Business Hall of Fame for their invaluable contributions that make a difference in the lives of local students. Sponsors for the event include Presenting Sponsor First Citizens Bank; Champion Sponsors Pushing the Envelope, Stock Development, and Title Professionals of Florida; Hospitality Sponsors Moran Wealth Management and Seagate Development Group; Visionary Sponsors Entech, MHK Architecture, and State Farm; and Trailblazer Sponsors Hertz, Publix Super Markets Charities, and Seacoast Bank. Special recognition is also given to the media sponsor, Gulfshore Business, for their support.