The Destin Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated exceptional community leadership on Jan. 29, presenting four annual awards to local business and nonprofit leaders during the Awards Party & Wine Pairing Dinner at Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer on Destin Harbor.
- Brenda Gray of Hilton Garden Inn – Destin/Miramar Beach received the Paul Woolman Ambassador of the Year Award.
- Jessica Holzapple of Shoreline Church earned the Ann Gibson Community Service Award Sponsored by Okaloosa Gas.
- Jennifer Gutai Comella of Hand Arendall Harrison Sale was named Business Person of the Year Sponsored by Trustmark.
- David Butler of Faith Assembly Christian Church received the James D. Neilson Sr. Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service Award.
The event featured a cocktail reception and awards ceremony before guests enjoyed a curated dinner paired with Orin Swift wines.
Jenni Brunson, the 2025 Destin Chamber Chairwoman from Okaloosa Gas, served as master of ceremonies and presented the first award to Gray.
“As you know, the Ambassadors play a vital role in the success of our functions and events. This year’s winner certainly earned the honor. Always smiling or laughing, and just plain having fun, she makes it easy for everyone,” Brunson said. She credited Gray’s role as a major cause of the effectiveness of the entire Ambassador organization.
Brunson next presented the Ann Gibson Community Service Award Sponsored by Okaloosa Gas to Holzapple, noting the natural fit for Okaloosa Gas to sponsor an award focused on community involvement and service.
- “Since moving to the area in 2011, she has been a driving force behind meaningful change both locally and globally. She has coordinated disaster relief efforts, established community-wide service days to meet the needs of local organizations, and worked with mission partners around the world, including building a school in Uganda, Africa,” Brunson said.
As a mother of four, including a child with special needs, Holzapple’s passion for connection and inclusion drives her leadership of initiatives like Night to Shine, a prom night celebrating individuals with special needs, which led to her nomination and selection.
John Sumrall, president of Trustmark’s Emerald Coast Operation, presented the Business Person of the Year Award, explaining that Trustmark’s sponsorship aligns with its core values of integrity, service, accountability, relationships and solutions.
“She is a 2018 graduate of Destin Forward. She has led numerous state and local organizations as a board member and chair of the board of those organizations,” Sumrall said of Comella. “She’s done a great job of becoming known as a top-notch attorney and plays a vital role in the success of her firm. Her involvement locally includes the Destin History and Fishing Museum, HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital, and Destin Water Users boards. She recently served the Destin Chamber Board of Directors and was chairman in 2022.”
Brunson presented the James D. Neilson Sr. Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service Award, an honor determined by the chairman of the board and president and CEO after input from chamber staff.
- “This year’s winner has gone so far and above that it’s impossible to describe his value to the Destin Chamber and the business community. He attends almost everything the chamber does. He is truly an extension of the staff,” Brunson said, calling Butler to the stage.
Butler’s contributions include graduating from the first Destin Forward class, emceeing HarborWalk Village’s Thursday night All American Concert Series every year, serving on the chamber board for a fifth year, and serving as a multi-year Honorary Commander on Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field.
Brunson recognized Trustee members celebrating milestones. Trustee membership represents the highest level of commitment to the Destin Chamber and the business community. She thanked and congratulated Trustmark, Warren Averett and Destin – Fort Walton Beach for their 20-year commitment and Eglin Federal Credit Union for its five-year commitment.
The chairman also recognized outgoing board members, including Jason Belcher of FNBT Bank, Dr. Cristie Kedroski of Northwest Florida State College and Tanya Rauch. She called all past chairmen and board members to the front and led them in a toast to the chamber and the year ahead.
