Best of Cape Coral winners feted
Readers choice awards presented by The Breeze
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Every year, businesses throughout the city of Cape Coral vie to be the best in whichever area of the community they serve.
On Tuesday, those voted as the top in more than 300 categories gathered once again to pick up their reader-choice awards at the Cape Coral Breeze's annual "Best Of" luncheon.
Breeze Newspapers Publisher Ray Eckenrode said the paper loves seeing each of the respective winners take home awards they take pride in.
"It's wonderful to see all the smiling faces each year at our awards event and it's especially gratifying to see how many businesses share their successes with their employees and customers in various ways," he said.
Laurie Ragle, advertising director at the Breeze, said the luncheon is a celebration of those who won the "Best Of" awards voted on by the community, and credited staff that organizes the event.
"The Best of Cape Coral is an amazing annual event that not only involves the community, but is managed by a top-notch team of Breeze sales and administrative staff," she said. "Led by Lyn McElhaney, the event held each year at Torched Bar & Grill is the largest networking and celebration event for business owners in the area. Pamela Aubuchon and Deb Carletti worked on the event as well to pull off another exciting year."
Dr. Mel Youngs Chiropractic Physicians & Associates took home its whopping 24th "Best Of" award for best chiropractor in the city.
Dr. Youngs' practice has been built by getting people well, one person at a time. She said good news travels fast and patients who received relief from their pain have referred their friends and family to Dr. Youngs. She said her patients have become her extended family and they enjoy the extra care and concern that she provides, much like the doctor-patient relationship in the old days.
"It's a group effort," Dr. Youngs said of being named best chiropractor by readers of The Breeze. "We have an amazing team of talented and kind individuals that make that possible. All of us together have that synergy that really makes people continue coming in and feel better."
Dr. Youngs offers lifestyle modification coaching to her patients that can change the way they feel through nutrition counseling, exercise instruction as well as ergonomic advice. As a nationally certified group fitness instructor and former aerobics and kickboxing instructor, she has made a full time commitment to teaching others how to achieve healthy lifestyles.
Dr. Youngs said she and her team loves what they do, and that "when you really love what you're doing, and you're committed to excellence and have a team on the same page, you get really amazing results.
"What makes our wellness center special is that we're so aligned. We're grateful out patients come see us and we have fun while we're doing it."
Dr. Mel Youngs Chiropractic Physicians & Associates is celebrating 25 years in the Cape in 2025. The practice serves roughly 30,000 patients.
"We started one patient at a time, and I feel so grateful that Cape Coral, even though it's growing, it's still a small town where good news travels fast," Dr. Youngs said.
Along with chiropractic services, the office also offers massage therapy, laser therapy, and more.
Dr. Youngs said she and her team are "humbled" and "grateful" to the community for its support over 20-plus years.
"Without patients, we wouldn't be doing what we're doing," she said. "We don't take it lightly that people trust us with their health and that they vote for us and come in and spend time and money and energy on their bodies and trust us to help them on their wellness journey."
Dr. Youngs and her team are students of the game, and have stayed up to date on the latest practices offered for patients.
"One of our values is our team is life-long learners," she said. "We're all very curious about the body -- always wanting to learn more, always collaborating and sharing what we know and what's working. We enjoy constantly being challenged to learn."
Dr. Youngs and her staff also teach their patients how to take care of themselves, and know the importance of keeping ones self healthy.
"We're big on what we call 'prehab' as opposed to rehab, meaning to take care of your body before it has a problem," she said. "We enjoy being part of people's journey to take good care of themselves for maintenance, not because they have pain."
Cape Coral Animal Shelter was again voted as the best affordable care animal clinic, and was also voted as best nonprofit organization. The shelter has been named the best affordable care animal clinic since they started entering in 2021.
"We take great pride in winning these special awards, especially considering all the other incredible organizations nominated in the categories," said CCAS Executive Director Liz McCauley. "We are so proud of all we've accomplished in just over five years, and we're just beginning. We've saved the lives of over 6,000 animals with our very small shelter. Once we expand, we will be able to save even more lives."
McCauley said without the support of the community, the shelter would not be able to have the impact it does, with the potential to do even more for animals in the region.
"Our shelter is truly a product of our community and their dedication, not only to the animals, but to making our city and region a better place to live and work," she said. "We love being a part of this community and are grateful to The Breeze for giving us great opportunities to get our message out to the community."
Another big winner was Academy Home Kitchen & Bath and Academy Home Development, which also won seven awards -- remodeling, cabinetry, countertops, home renovation, kitchens, outdoor kitchens, and pool cage repair. Academy has taken home at least four Best Of awards over the last six years.
Rich Dantona, owner and president of Academy, said the awards are a testament to his staff and their commitment to excellence.
"Our hard work has paid off, and we're ascending," he said. "When you have a collaborative team that believes in the company that they work for, has a positive reputation in the community, and customer service being the most important -- you have a trifecta for continuous success."
From minor kitchen renovations to comprehensive bathroom remodeling, no job is too big or too small for Academy, with ability to turn home remodeling dreams into a reality.
Academy carries a wide variety of products to choose from and feature a complete showroom for additional inspiration. Remodeling experts work with customers to create a renovation plan that's right for them and their home, within a budget. Renovation Specialties include: kitchen and bathroom remodeling, crown molding, interior trim, and wood flooring. Academy also offers full granite sales and installation services.
"We feel we are a one-stop experience," Dantona said. "If you're buying a house from us, you can pick everything out. We handle everything. Our tradesman, other than pluming and electrical, are in-house, but they work with us five days a week so they feel like part of the team anyway."
From starting in the construction industry in 1997, Dantona came to Southwest Florida in 2003 and got into more of the service side of the business. He noticed customers would say they wish they could go through Dantona for all of their home needs, so he opened a showroom in Cape Coral in 2012. A few years later, he added the granite showroom in North Fort Myers.
"The growth has made us that one-stop experience where you only have to call one phone number," he said. "I think that's what sets us apart from our competitors. And customer service, I drill that into everything we do. Without the customer -- and that's not a sales line -- without the customer, there is no business.
"One simple thing above all, is just do what you say you're going to do."
Academy serves Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties.
Academy and Dantona are also involved in the community, as he runs the Florida Warriors Youth Hockey Club, helps Golisano Children's Hospital, helped renovate homes in Cape Coral and Matlacha after Hurricane Ian, and sponsors programs locally.
Dantona said he feels the Best Of awards are a great motivator for local businesses in Cape Coral.
"The Best Of Cape Coral is great for the community because not only does it set a competitive tone -- whenever there's a competitive tone in anything, it's going to make everybody else up their game," he said. "The people that benefit from that are going to be the customers. It's a win-win. When you add that competitiveness and the camaraderie from the community, you're getting that overall satisfaction.
"The Best Of Cape Coral brings out the best of the businesses and their character."
Photos by Pink Lady Photography.