That is how the dictionary defines “admire,” though Ambrose Bierce once defined it as, “Our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves.” What we admire in others is certainly what we hope and yearn to see in the mirror and if we don’t, it is their example that spurs us towards those ideals. Certainly, for each of us the admiration may be defined as differently as we would describe our taste in art or music. It might be those who overcome great obstacles or the one whose entrepreneurial spirit and dogged perseverance built an idea into a business. For others it is those who put in a full day’s work and then give additional hours to make our community better and to ensure that those less fortunate have the opportunities they deserve. Perhaps it is those who imagine a better future and then roll up their sleeves and go to work bringing that future about. They are the ones whose character, courage, ingenuity, sacrifice and community spirit inspire others to reach higher and to reach further.

SpaceCoast Business surveyed business leaders throughout the county to bring you this year’s SCB 100 Most Admired Businesspeople. Listed in alphabetical order:

1. Wade Alliance - Market Executive Central Florida - PNC Financial Services Group
2. Mark Balmer - Pastor - Calvary Chapel Melbourne
3. Jim Barfield - President, CEO - Luke & Associates
4. Bob Baugher - Owner - Cocoa Beach Surf Co, Radisson, Sheraton
5. Matt Barringer - Vice President - The Dance Place of Brevard
6. Brian Binggeli - Superintendent - Brevard Public Schools
7. Wendy & Harry Brandon - Owners - Brandon Properties
8. David Brock - President, CEO - Community Credit Union
9. Chris Burton - President - Christopher Burton Luxury Homes
10. Anthony Catanese - President - Florida Institute of Technology
11. Dr. Silas Charles - Founder - Cancer Care Centers of Brevard
12. Dr. Ross Clevens - Founder, Director - Clevens Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery
13. Aaron Collins - Artistic Director - Space Coast Symphony Orchestra
14. Chris Conneen - CEO - Pizza Gallery & Grill
15. Angelica Cotshott - CEO - Kindred Hospital Melbourne
16. Gen. Anthony Cotton - Commander - 45th Space Wing
17. Wes Covell - VP Strategy & Chief Growth Officer - Harris Corp.
18. Dale Coxwell - Sr EVP - Coastal Steel Inc.
19. Carol Craig - CEO - Craig Technologies
20. Brian Curtin - President - BRPH Companies
21. Lindsey & Kevin Deaton - Co-founders - KLD Youth Foundation
22. Frank DiBello - President, CEO - Space Florida
23. Joseph Duda - Chairman - A. Duda & Sons
24. Richard Ennis - Executive Director - Melbourne International Airport
25. Betsy Farmer - Executive Director - Brevard Leadership Network
26. Robin Fisher - Commissioner - Brevard County Commission
27. Dr. Gopal Gadodia - Chairman - Brevard Physicians Network
28. Walter Gatti - President - Tensor Engineering
29. Pam Gatto - President - Gatto’s Tire & Auto Service
30. Dawn Gluskin - CEO - Soltec Electronics
31. Ian Golden - Director - Brevard County Housing & Human Services
32. Derrick Gores - Artist
33. Steve Griffin - General Manager - Computer Sciences Raytheon
34. Dr. Roxanne Guy - Owner - Brevard Plastic Surgery & Skin Treatment Center
35. Myra Haley - Community Volunteer & Philanthropist
36. Paul Hanson - VP of Operations/General Manager - Bright House Networks
37. Gary Hardey - CEO - Brevard Eye Center
38. Debbie Harvey - President – Ron Jon Surf Shop
39. Bob Herman - KSC Site Director - ATK
40. Bjornar Hermanson - Partner - Ocean Partners
41. John Hopkins - Partner - Berman Hopkins Wright & LaHam
42. Chas Hoyman - Managing Partner - Carr, Riggs & Ingram
43. Jim Jenson - CEO - SatCom Direct
44. Steve Johnson - CEO - Health First
45. Link Johnsten - Owner - Eau Gallie Florist
46. Robert Jordan - President, CEO - Genesis VII
47. Dana Kilborne - President - Florida Bank of Commerce
48. Malcolm Kirschenbaum - Partner - Gray Robinson
49. Reed Knight - Owner - Knight’s Armament
50. Don Kramer - CEO - One Senior Place
51. Adrian Laffitte - Director Florida Government Relations - Lockheed Martin
52. Dr. Richard Levine - President - Space Coast Cancer Center
53. Scott Marathas - Owner, VP, General Manager - Long Doggers/Meg O’Malley’s
54. Fred Maxik - Founder, Chief Technology Officer - Lighting Science Group
55. Mike McBride - Owner - McBride Marketing Group
56. Gary McCann - Executive Director - Runaway Country Music Fest
57. George Mikitarian - President, CEO - Parrish Medical Center
58. Dan Moisand - Principal - Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, LLC
59. Javier Molinares - Publisher - Al Dia Today
60. Bruce Nelson, Jr. - President - Cocoa Hyundai
61. Dale Olson - President - Brevard Achievement Center
62. T.R. Page - Dealer Principal - Lexus of Melbourne
63. Jack Parker - Sheriff - Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
64. Steve Patonai - CEO - Wuesthoff Health System
65. Stan Payne - CEO - Canaveral Port Authority
66. Djon Pepaj - Owner – Numerous restaurants
67. Denise & Don Piercy - Owners - Running Zone
68. John Porter - President - Porter World Trade, Inc.
69. William Potter - Vice Chairman - Melbourne Airport Authority
70. Michael Powell - Executive Director - Titusville Cocoa Airport Authority
71. Travis Procter - CEO - ndtArtemis
72. Brenda Radke - CEO - Brevard Physicians Network
73. Rob Rains - President - United Way of Brevard
74. Lisa Rice - President - Brevard Workforce
75. Eric Richard - President - Richard’s Paint
76. Charley Richards - Owner, President - Absolutely Natural
77. Jim Ridenour - General Manager - Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott
78. Shay Rowe - Owner, General Manager - Mercedes-Benz | Porsche | Audi of Melbourne
79. Doug Samuels - President, CEO - Space Coast Credit Union
80. RJ Scaringe - CEO - Rivian Automotive
81. Natalie Sellers - Director of Service & People Excellence - Parrish Medical Center
82. Mark Senti - President - Advanced Magnet Lab
83. Mike Shah - President - Southeast Petro Distributors
84. Joe Lee Smith - Ambassador - Brevard Community College
85. David Soper - President - ndtHost
86. Scott Sorensen - President, CEO - Sorensen Corporation
87. Chris Stagman - Executive Director - Brevard Alzheimers Foundation
88. Tim Stockton - CEO - Certon Software
89. Fred Sutton - President - Sutton Properties
90. Bill Taylor - President, CEO - Community Bank of the South
91. Nancy Taylor - CEO - Prudential Sterling Properties
92. Lorelei Thompson – Owner – Dixie Crossroads
93. Howard Tipton - County Manager - Brevard County
94. Donna Trantham - Owner - Mr. Submarine & Salads
95. Mitch Varnes - Owner - Smooth Running
96. Susie & Tom Wasdin - Owners - Wasdin Associates
97. Lynda Weatherman - President, CEO - EDC of Florida’s Space Coast
98. Ken Whittaker - Principal - Whittaker Cooper
99. Mike Williams - President - MH Williams Construction
100. Keith Winsten - Executive Director - Brevard Zoo

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