County Employee Honored at Tampa Bay Business Journal 2012 Business Women of the Year Awards

Cheri Coryea

MANATEE COUNTY –  Manatee County Neighborhood Services Director Cheri Coryea was among 12 businesswomen receiving awards by the Tampa Bay Business Journal Friday during its annual Business Women of the Year Awards.

51 finalists were recognized during a Friday night event at Innisbrook, Golf and Spa Resort in Palm Harbour, Florida. Coryea and Manatee Technical Institute Director Dr. Mary Cantrell were the two local women receiving awards in their industry categories.

Coryea, who has helped oversee nearly $7 million in Manatee County Commission-approved economic incentive grants awarded to companies that relocate or expand in Manatee, won in the Government category. The grants could help create or retain more than 4,000 jobs over the next five years.

Cantrell won in the Education category.

“We have built an impressive team of business-minded men and women within Manatee County Government, dedicated to growing business in our community,” Coryea said. “The partnerships we have developed in the economic development arena are turning heads in Florida and across the country. I am grateful to be a part of the team and to be selected by the Tampa Bay Business Journal along with Dr. Cantrell, for this honor.”

Dr. Mary Cantrell

Category winners were also selected in the following areas; Business Services, Entrepreneur, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Media, Nonprofit, Technology, Young Businesswoman two special areas, Community Leader and Angie’s award.

Coryea and Cantrell were selected as finalist and category winners by an independent panel of judges from over 350 nominations in the region to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The program has been in existence for 10 years and honors the significant achievements of women which positively impact the business climate in the Tampa Bay Region (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Hernando, Sarasota, Pasco and Manatee County).