Nearly 400 people celebrated the people, businesses and organizations that make St. Petersburg unique Dec. 10 at an equally distinctive event.<\/p>\n
Chris Steinocher, CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, said the 13th annual Good \u2018Burger Awards highlighted \u201cwhat happens when we have a full year of doing great things.\u201d The event, held at St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social Club, also served as a coming-out party for the buzzy new business.<\/p>\n
Steinocher dedicated the 2024 Good \u2018Burger Awards, held in the aftermath of back-to-back hurricanes, to the city\u2019s storm heroes. This year\u2019s celebration and St. Pete Athletic proved that people \u201cgot back to work \u2013 got back to creating things we\u2019ve never seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis event symbolizes the best of St. Pete, and I think that\u2019s why it\u2019s so much fun to be here,\u201d Steinocher said. \u201cWe say every good conversation starts with, \u2018I love St. Pete,\u2019 and I think this is why. These kinds of events.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ceremony\u2019s moniker is a tribute to a former mayor who referred to his constituents as \u2018Burgers, as in St. Petersburg-ers. Residents voted finalists in 11 categories, with winners receiving an award fashioned from a pickleball paddle, bragging rights and the opportunity to promote themselves or their business.<\/p>\n
Steinocher said highlighting people who are \u201cdoing great things\u201d inspires other entrepreneurs to \u201ctake that leap.\u201d The outpouring of support Dec. 10 shows that they are \u201cnot alone, they\u2019re with this big community here to celebrate them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not your old kind of chamber awards where we\u2019re all eating chicken dinners at round tables of 10,\u201d Steinocher added. \u201cThis is a party, and we\u2019re all having a blast.\u201d<\/p>\n
He believes St. Pete Athletic, led by a group of local entrepreneurs, provides a \u201cwhole other level of experience\u201d in the city. \u201cI think there\u2019s more to come. We\u2019re not done yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
City Council Chair Copley Gerdes, a Most Valuable \u2018Burger nominee, echoed that sentiment. He noted that businesses are thriving in the city, which increases the event\u2019s popularity.<\/p>\n
Gerdes credited Steinocher, Candace Hulcher, vice president of operations and member development for the chamber, and the rest of their team for an \u201camazing job.\u201d He also believes that \u201cbusiness is doing well in St. Pete, and the celebration of that equals how well we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerdes was not the only city official nominated. Council member Mike Harting\u2019s business, 3 Daughters Brewing, was named Favorite St. Pete Hangout.<\/p>\n
St. Petersburg\u2019s Parks and Recreation Department also won the Sustaining St. Pete award. Director Mike Jefferis, community enrichment administrator, said his team continues searching for new ways to bolster environmental sustainability across the \u201cwhole spectrum.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look at the seven miles of waterfront parkland we have \u2014 third-largest in North America \u2014 we\u2019ve got something to be proud of,\u201d Jefferis said. \u201cThe second line of the city charters says that we are to protect parkland, and that\u2019s what we do, very seriously, every day.\u201d<\/p>\n