Archive by category "Persons of Vision Award"

Darryl Shaw Is Our 2027 Person of Vision

Preserve Vision Florida (PVF), the state’s premier nonprofit committed to vision screenings and eye health education, has selected Darryl Shaw as the recipient of its 2027 Person of Vision Award. The award will be presented to Mr. Shaw, the 60th honoree, at the Person of Vision Award Dinner, Wednesday evening, February 3, 2027 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, when PVF will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Stay tuned for further details, to be announced soon.

A driving force behind the Ybor City historic district revitalization, Shaw perfectly embodies the values and impact the Person of Vision Award was created to recognize. “When considering who we might honor at this signature event, Darryl’s name was top of mind, given the vision he has created for Ybor City and the considerable work done, underway and forthcoming to fulfill that vision,” said PVF Board Chair Kevin Bakewell.

Honoring Our 2025 Persons of Vision

Preserve Vision Florida honored Dr. John L. Smith, Jr. and Dr. Juel Shannon Smith at our 46th Annual Person of Vision Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

The Award honors Persons of Vision who have had a profound impact through true community leadership and vision. The scope of accomplishments of our Honorees, first awarded in 1979, tells an amazing and compelling story about their impact on Tampa Bay, the state of Florida and far beyond.

We’re Grateful for Our Sponsors!

Sponsors of Preserve Vision Florida’s 46th Annual Persons of Vision Award Dinner on Nov. 20, 2025.

Previous Persons of Vision Honorees

For a complete list of all Persons of Vision we have honored in the past 45 years, view this post. We look forward to seeing you at our annual awards gala this fall! Details to come.

Richard Gonzmart, Andrea Gonzmart Williams Honored as 2024 Persons of Vision

A Gala Reception & Dinner was held February 5, 2024 at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, 4121 N 50th St, Tampa, FL 33610. Reception at 6 p.m. Dinner and awards at 7 p.m. Preserve Vision Florida has selected Richard Gonzmart and Andrea Gonzmart Williams, above, as its 2024 Persons of Vision in recognition of their visionary leadership in Tampa Bay’s history and its future. The 45th Annual Person of Vision Award Gala was Monday, February 5 at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre in Tampa. Richard Gonzmart and daughter Andrea Gonzmart Williams are the fourth- and fifth-generation caretakers of the 1905 Family Of Restaurants, a…

2024 Persons of Vision Award Dinner

2024 Persons of Vision Sponsors

David Yates, 2023 Person of Vision

Thank you for joining us in honoring David Yates as our 2023 Person of Vision, and celebrating the life-changing work of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The Person of Vision Award annually honors a Florida visionary who has had a profound impact on the community, region, state or world. David Yates was CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) from 2006 – 2020, where he Co-Produced Dolphin Tale and Executive Produced Dolphin Tale 2. CMA is internationally recognized thanks to these blockbuster movies, starring the aquarium’s most famous resident, Winter the dolphin, along with Harry Connick, Jr., Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Kris…

2022 Person of Vision: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor

Preserve Vision Florida honored Tampa Mayor Jane Castor as our 2022 Person of Vision on April 13. At that time, we also celebrated Preserve Vision Florida’s 65th Anniversary of providing vision services to Florida’s children and adults. The Person of Vision award annually honors visionary leaders who have had a profound impact on the region or the State of Florida through true community leadership and vision. Established in 1979, the Person of Vision Award has recognized visionary leadership in the arts, business, education, public service and community engagement. Recent recipients include: Banker and Chair of the State University System of…

Brian Lamb, Our 2020 Person of Vision

Preserve Vision Florida is proud to announce that on February 3, 2020 the Board of Governors will honor Brian Lamb as its 2020 Person of Vision. The Person of Vision Award has been presented annually since 1979 to honor an individual who has had a profound impact on the Tampa Bay region or the State of Florida through true community leadership and vision. Brian Lamb serves as executive vice president of Fifth Third Bank, heading Retail Banking and Retail Brokerage. He has held a variety of leadership roles since joining Fifth Third, including head of Wealth & Asset Management and…