Daytona Beach Business Awards Honor Local Leaders
The annual program highlights 37 executives, offering operators a look at the business leaders shaping the local region.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Business — General
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The Daytona Beach News-Journal honored 37 local business leaders during its annual awards ceremony at The Shores Resort & Spa. The event recognizes business contributions across Volusia and Flagler counties, highlighting professional impact through a nomination-based selection process.
Why it matters
Programs like these serve as a mechanism for benchmarking regional business leadership and identifying key influencers within the local market. For operators, these honors provide visibility into the organizations and individual executives shaping the competitive landscape in the area.
The awards program has recognized 530 women over its 21-year history, with 37 individuals honored in 2026. This year's ceremony saw 200 women in attendance to celebrate achievements across public and private sectors.
The players
Teresa Rand
Founder of the Boss Lady conference and recognized as the 2026 Most Influential Woman in Business.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
A regional media outlet that serves Volusia and Flagler counties and coordinates business community recognition programs.
LocaliQ
A digital marketing agency that co-hosted the awards ceremony.
The Shores Resort & Spa
The hospitality venue that hosted the 2026 business awards ceremony.
The details
The event, co-hosted by the Daytona Beach News-Journal and LocaliQ, utilized a nomination-based model to identify honorees. Awards were categorized by sector, including civic leadership, public sector roles, and private sector achievements, which underscores how local media-led recognition programs validate professional status within the regional business community.
Timeline
The awards program launched in 2005.
Teresa Rand established the Boss Lady conference in 2021.
The 2026 awards ceremony occurred on October 22, 2026.
Market Landscape
This event follows a 21-year pattern of regional business recognition programs that define local leadership tiers. Such ceremonies mirror established professional recognition cycles common in mid-sized U.S. markets where media outlets act as market validators.
Business operators should track regional award cycles to identify potential partners and competitors gaining prominence in the local market. Maintaining a presence in these nomination cycles can serve as a metric for brand authority within the Volusia and Flagler county business sectors.
The takeaway
Regional awards offer a clear signal of who is currently influencing the local commercial environment. Operators should review the list of this year's honorees to identify potential strategic partners or regional benchmarks for their own business leadership strategies.
Further reading
To monitor regional business developments and networking opportunities, visit the Business — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
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