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City of Coral Springs Recognizes 2023 Business Excellence Awards Winners

Connor and members of the P & H Interiors team accepting their Business Excellence Award {City of Coral Springs}

By Bryan Boggiano

On Wednesday, the Coral Springs city commission recognized seven local businesses that won the 2023 Business Excellence Awards.

The Business Excellence Awards recognizes companies for creating economic opportunities, committing to the city’s growth, and contributing to the community through philanthropy and service.

Any business within Coral Springs is eligible for a Business Excellence Awards nomination. The Economic Development Office then reviews nominations and visits the companies for on-site interviews.

The 2023 Business Excellence Awards winners are:

Large Company: Flora Fine Foods

The Large Company Business Excellence Award recognizes companies with 50 or more employees. Flora Fine Foods occupies a 70,000-square-foot facility at 12327 W. Sample Road and employs 130 people underneath President and CEO John Flora.

Flora Fine Foods distributes Italian food and wines to supermarkets, Italian grocers, and specialty food retailers across the country, according to a press release.

The company also supports the Coral Springs Police and Coral Springs-Parkland Fire departments.

Members of the Flora Family (center) surrounded by the city commission and Senior Economic Development Analyst Annie Norris (far right) [City of Coral Springs}

Small Company: USK Karate

The Small Company Business Excellence Award recognizes businesses with 49 or fewer employees.

Originally opened in 1995, USK Karate operates two locations throughout the city under owners David and Jillian Alvas, Hans and Shelby Elie, and Eyleen Waters. The karate studio, located at 4394 N. State Road 7 and 10629 W. Atlantic Blvd., employs 16 people, including instructors.

USK Karate serves as a platform for self-defense and fitness and uses martial arts to help children develop life skills.

The USK team also volunteers throughout the community at elementary schools and donates to local sports teams.

David Alvas (center) surrounded by the city commission and Norris [City of Coral Springs]

Company to Watch: Corellia Gifts + Goods

The Company to Watch Business Excellence Award recognizes companies open for less than five years but have shown growth.

Kayleigh Carpenter opened Corellia Gifts + Goods at 10269 W. Sample Rd. in June 2021. The store offers pop culture gifts, witchy wares, handmade crafts, and education about Tarot, crystals, Reiki, and more.

Corellia Gifts + Goods also gives back to the community by hosting open-door community nights and donating to raffles and giveaways for local charities.

Left to Right: Vice Mayor Shawn Cerra, Commissioner Nancy Metayer Bowen, Mayor Scott Brook, Kayleigh Carpenter, Commissioners Joshua Simmons and Joy Carter, and Senior Economic Development Analyst Annie Norris [City of Coral Springs]

Sustainability Award: Harmony Eco Spa Boutique

The Business Excellence Award for Sustainability goes to a business that shows a commitment to green practices.

Silvia Bolt opened Harmony Eco Spa Boutique, located at 7656 Wiles Rd., in 2013. Her business offers services such as organic facials, peels, and massages. In addition to sustainability partnerships, the company also helped to plant more than 15,000 trees and achieve net-zero environmental impact by offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.

Harmony Eco Spa Boutique also supports local schools and offers discounts to local law enforcement, first responders, military personnel, and veterans.

Bolt (center) is surrounded by the city commission and Norris (far right) [City of Coral Springs}

Legacy Award: Homeland Property Inspections

The Business Excellence Awards’ Legacy Award goes to a business that has been in operation for more than 20 years.

Richard and Joyce Petrillo, both Coral Springs High School graduates, opened in 1993. Homeland Property Inspections provides inspections for residential and commercial properties and general contracting services.

Homeland Property Inspections also supports Coral Springs Little League, North Springs Community Little League, and the Coral Springs Community Chest.

Joyce Petrillo accepting the Business Excellence Award at Wednesday’s city commission meeting [City of Coral Springs}

Heart of the Community: Let’s Chill Homemade Ice Cream

The Business Excellence Award for Heart of the Community goes to a business that has given back to the community through service and philanthropy.

Army veterans Ricardo and Cristina Braga own the ice cream parlor at 9739 W. Sample Rd., which first opened in June 2021. Let’s Chill Homemade Ice Cream offers fresh, homemade ice cream using natural ingredients without preservatives or artificial colors.

They also support local school fundraisers and provide a free-ice-cream incentive to students who have received academic achievement awards. They have also donated ice cream to veterans in an assisted living facility.

Richard and Cristina Braga accepting their award from the city commission and Norris [City of Coral Springs]

Commissioners Award: P & H Interiors

This Business Excellence Award goes to a business that has shown growth, a positive corporate culture, and community engagement.

Susan Connor, president, and CEO, founded P & H Interiors, located at 475 Ramblewood Dr., in 1988. She and her team of 32 staff members specialize in providing personalized and harmonized designs for interior spaces that focus on quality, functionality, and beauty.

Connor is involved with the Coral Springs Rotary Club, where she helped facilitate a donation of $112,250 to the Coral Springs Community Garden for a new pavilion.