A Publication of the Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce

Dear Chamber Members, Partners, and Friends,

As we continue moving through another exciting season in the Glades, I am reminded of the strength, compassion, and unity that make our community so special. From leadership development to charitable giving and community celebrations, the support we show one another continues to create a positive impact across the region.

On May 14, the Leadership Glades graduation celebration was held at Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, recognizing another outstanding class of leaders committed to strengthening and serving our Glades communities. Congratulations to all graduates on this remarkable achievement and for their dedication to making a positive impact throughout the region.

The Tory Island BBQ Showdown was also a tremendous success, raising $71,000 to support adults with intellectual disabilities and local charitable organizations throughout the Glades region. On May 20, 2026, event organizers and community leaders proudly presented The Arc of the Glades with a check in support of their continued mission and service to our community.

These events are a reminder of what makes the Glades so special. As a community, we continue to come together to support one another, celebrate achievements, and create opportunities that make a lasting difference for generations to come.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our local organizations, businesses, events, and community initiatives. Your dedication and generosity help make the Glades a stronger and brighter place for all.

Warm regards,

Erika Medellin

This year’s class marks the 33^rd graduating class of our local Leadership program. Participants represented many sectors of our community, including agriculture and ag-related businesses, retailers, service providers, non-profit social services, government agencies and municipal leadership. 

Leadership Glades has long attracted some of the best and brightest in our community…individuals committed to making our region the best that it can be. It is especially rewarding to look around today and see that many of our current business, community, and municipal leaders are graduates of Leadership Glades.

Among our current strategic goals for Leadership Glades is continuous improvement of the program deliverables. Class member feedback has been very positive, overall, though we will continue to make improvements where we see opportunities. We appreciate the input from our class members and from our alumni. 

We concluded the year with our Leadership Glades Graduation Celebration held May 14^th at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center.  The evening was truly special, bringing together a large graduating class and guests, and dozens of Leadership Glades Alumni. During the event, this year’s class presented more than $2,000 to Pioneer Park Elementary School in support of its Ben Carson Reading Room initiative.   

In addition to recognizing the accomplishments of the graduating class, members selected one of their own, Dawn Frood, as the inaugural recipient of the Jeanne Woodard Class Spirit Award. Dawn received the award from Jeanne’s daughters, who expressed pride that their mother’s enthusiasm for community service will live on through the Leadership Glades program. Dawn, in turn, donated the Class Spirit Award grant funds to The Glades Initiative in recognition of the wide range of services the organization provides to local residents in need. 

Eddie Lee Rhodes (Leadership Glades Class of 2009) received the inaugural Leadership Glades Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his many years of leadership throughout the community. This award will now be presented annually to a Leadership Glades alumnus who exemplifies the spirit of service the program seeks to promote. Our intention is to engage our Alumni in Good Standing for future selections, so stay tuned! 

Finally, a special thank you to all the alumni who helped us this year as Sponsors and Facilitators! The program relies upon our facilitators, and it could not run without our sponsors! Special thanks to our class-year Program Sponsors - The Hand Foundation; Royal Family Businesses; Everglades Equipment Group; City of Belle Glade; TKM Bengard Farms, LLC; McNeill Labor; Big W Brand; and Bank of Belle Glade.  

The Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament was another successful day of golf, fellowship, and community connection. Players, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters came together at the Belle Glade Municipal Golf Club for a day filled with friendly competition, networking opportunities, and fun on and off the course. The Masters-inspired atmosphere, contests, and strong sponsor participation helped create an enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. Congratulations to our 1st Place Team — Jorge Suarez, Remi Suarez, and Lane Collins — for taking the top spot and earning bragging rights for the year!

Events like the annual golf tournament continue to highlight the strength of our business community and the value of coming together to support the Chamber’s mission. A big thank you goes out to our sponsors, players, and volunteers who made the event possible. Your continued support helps events like this thrive here in the Glades, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on the course next year.

We were excited to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for NP Vickers Accessible Wellness and Healthcare Clinic with an incredible turnout from community members, Chamber supporters, and local leaders. The event marked an important milestone as we officially welcomed a business dedicated to improving wellness and expanding access to healthcare services within the Glades community.

The Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce is proud to support businesses that invest in the health and well-being of our region. Congratulations to NP Vickers and the entire team on this exciting achievement. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the lives of so many throughout our community.

Andrea Lakatos - Florida Premier Realty

City of Belle Glade - Johnny Gooden

DAM Marketing

Domino's

Insurance Office of America

Marcia Lyew-Ayee, Realtor Partnership Realty, Inc.

Mental health Recovery & Counseling Foundation, Inc.

NP vickers Accessible Wellness and Healthcare Clinic, LLC

ODC Roofing

Perfectly Pour'd LLC

Play 2 Lear Center LLC

Tillman's Barbecue

USA Home Health Services, Inc

Wiliam Kennedy Farms, Inc.

The 3rd Annual Torry Island BBQ Showdown delivered another record-setting year, bringing thousands of visitors to the Glades and raising more than $71,000 to support local charities and programs serving adults with intellectual disabilities. Held March 21, the sold-out event featured nationally recognized entertainment, BBQ competition teams, airboat events, vendors, youth activities, and strong community participation.

Proceeds included a $60,000 donation to The Arc of the Glades and additional funding for local organizations, with event organizers noting the overwhelming support from volunteers, sponsors, and the community that helped make the event a success.

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