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Gulf Coast Builders Exchange 71st Annual Dinner Contact Name: Kelly Monti Contact Email: kellymonti@gcbx.org Contact Phone Number: 941-907-7745 SARASOTA, Fla. – The Gulf Coast Builders Exchange (GCBX), a not-for-profit construction industry trade organization, will hold its 71st Annual Dinner on Tuesday, February 21 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Over 400 GCBX Members are expected to attend. Keynote Speaker, Adam Goodman, will speak on the topic “Learn Why Politics is Important in your Business and Learn the Rules of the Game for Your Business.” Twice named by Florida Trend as one of the state’s “500 most influential business leaders,” Adam Goodman has worked with business, academic and political leaders in 46 states and 5 nations. He has also provided commentary on current events for major news networks; been cited by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, GQ, and Variety; and has become a nationally known columnist appearing in Newsweek’s The Daily Beast, The Washington Times, the NY Daily News, and the Tampa Bay Times. Goodman’s political spot work includes winning campaigns for dozens of candidates for the U.S. Senate and Congress, governors and over 100 Floridians. His other clients – past and present – include the NFL, Seminole Tribe of Florida/Hard Rock, the Walton Family Foundation, Mazda’s Road to Indy, the University of South Florida, the City of New York, Bacardi, and the Florida Foundation Against Domestic Violence. It will be an evening of special recognitions. Lemuel “Lem” Sharp III, former President of W.G. Mills, Inc. and currently CEO of Sharp Properties, Inc. will be awarded the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award is granted to members in recognition of a lifetime of distinguished service and contributions to GCBX, the commercial contracting industry and the community. “I am sincerely honored and humbled to receive this recognition. The past 13 years serving on the board of GCBX has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of my career in the construction industry. . . so many special memories!” GCBX’s current chairman, Mark Freeman, President, McIntyre Elwell & Strammer General Contractors, Inc. will pass the gavel to incoming Chairman, Chuck Jacobson, Owner of Aqua Plumbing and Air. Carlos Buqueras, Executive Director, SeaPort Manatee, will be awarded the distinguished Chairman’s Award. Other awards to be presented are Volunteer of the Year and a new award, Big Vision, Big Ideas. Tickets are still available to attend. Please contact kellymonti@gcbx.org or register online at Gulf Coast Builders Exchange website. About the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange: The Gulf Coast Builders Exchange was established in 1952 and is a not-for-profit corporation operating as a trade organization under the guidance of a volunteer board of directors as representatives of the industry. The not-for-profit organization represents a broad cross section of the building industry, including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and others from affiliated industries. The GCBX membership is comprised of over 400 companies in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. It includes some of the most respected contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, service providers and businesses in construction-affiliated industries. GCBX’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the building industry are conducted in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. For more information, visit www.GCBX.org.