Feature
Best Services
From the tastiest scoops to the splashiest influencers, here are your winners of the 2024 readers’ choice awards!
best IT service
C Solutions
From setting up servers to tackling WiFi glitches, Ron Cervantes is here to lend a hand. With years of experience crafting user-friendly tech solutions, C has your back!
Runner-Up: Mighty Manatee IT
best air conditioning
Bizzy Air
This veteran-owned-and-operated HVAC company is built upon honor, duty and service, “buzzing” in and out with speed and efficiency exactly when you need it.
Runner-Up: Premier Power
best handyman
Frank Cartwright | Central FL Handyman
Let’s face it: we don’t know how to do it all around the house. When those moments come, Frank is the Handyman you can trust.
Runner-Up: Jake McKenna | Jake of All Trades
best home builder
Element
Superb craftsmanship at every level. With their unparalleled reputation, your dream home is always within your element.
Runner-Up: Boyer Building Corp.
best attorney
Pam Helton | Helton Law
More than a lawyer, Pamela Helton is a community advocate, empowering families with compassionate legal representation and giving a voice to the vulnerable.
Runner-Up: Greg Zele | Zele Huber Trial Attorneys
best financial advisor/management
IQ Portfolios
Financial planning doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. Andy Ortiz brings a down-to-earth approach to his boutique-style offerings, and delivers them with personalized attention—and most likely a cocktail.
Runner-Up: Pence Financial Group
best photographer
Nick Cepeda | Studio 22
“Capturing life through my lens has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” Nick says, and it shows. Inspired by their daughter’s lemonade stand, Nick and his wife, Kelsey, turned their hobby into a meaningful career just two years ago. Known for their creative storytelling, one flash at a time, they’re giving Winter Garden a whole new glow.
Runner-Up: Jason Cannon | Cannonfire
best interior designer
Marilou Stones | Stones Design
Finding the balance between beauty and functionality isn’t always easy, but Marilou brings both to the table. From new construction to remodeling, furniture selection to fabric decisions, Stones Interior Design is ready to wow with creativity and expertise.
Runner-Up: Soraya Tamaddon | Design and Staging Group
best plumber
John Drew | Horizon West Plumbing & Gas
When disaster strikes, you don’t have time to wait, it’s time to call Drew. With 24-hour service calls and a wide range of options, you never have to worry about things going “drip” in the night’.
Runner-Up: Johnny Jones Plumbing
best travel agent
Richard Johnson | Dream Vacations
Planning your next vacation shouldn’t be stressful. Richard has years of experience planning hundreds of trips from start to finish so you can get back to enjoying life, not planning it.
Runner-Up: Kristin Guillemette, Tink’s Magical Vacations
best property manager
Jeremy Porter | PorterHouse Properties
In the world of rentals, there’s one simple truth: A top-notch property manager is the key to smooth sailing. In Winter Garden, that man is Jeremy Porter.
Runner-Up: Francisco Nieves-Taranto | RentCare Property Management
best remodel/renovator
Viewpoint Design & Installation
From inspiration to installation, John Reid and his team turn dreams into reality. Whether you’re choosing custom designer cabinets, refreshing a single room, or diving into a whole house renovation, you can trust Viewpoint to deliver an extraordinary experience.
Runner-Up: Colorworx Painting
best real estate agent
Shelley Dawson | RE/MAX
From starter homes to vacation getaways, Shelley champions buyers and sellers through every step. By the time you sign the finished contract, you’ll be best friends, and have in the inside scoop for all things fun in your new neighborhood.
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Runner-Up: Chris Sapp | Revel Realty
best roofer
Kevin Mitchell | Horizon West Roofing
This third-generation family business is committed to your home and your family! With shingles guaranteed for life, they pride themselves on “call today, we will be there tomorrow!”
Runner-Up: Derek Anderson | West Orange Roofing Management
best electrician
Mr. Electric
Nothing but raves for Owner Josh Mikels and his team. This proud WG resident delivers a R.I.C.H. experience—Respect, Integrity, Customer Focus, and Having Fun in the Process.
Runner-Up: Premier Power
best landscaping
Paradise Landscaping & Irrigation
Jonathan Bahamonde channels his passion into yours, transforming outdoor spaces and basic backyards into a personal paradise.
Runner-Up: AdvanceScape
best mechanic
Michael Brankert | Mike the Mechanic
Top-notch automotive service with a friendly smile and fair prices? That’s exactly why Mike the Mechanic is Winter Garden’s #1 choice for auto repair.
Runner-Up: Rolando Rojas | Mechanic of West Orange
best pool builder
Blue Dream Pools
Who doesn’t want to dive in a pool in our hot summer months? With 48 years of experience, they have the knowledge and the creativity to help make outdoor living a splash.
Runner-Up: Dixie Pools
best landscaping
Paradise Landscaping & Irrigation
Jonathan Bahamonde channels his passion into yours, transforming outdoor spaces and basic backyards into a personal paradise.
Runner-Up: AdvanceScape
best mechanic
Michael Brankert | Mike the Mechanic
Top-notch automotive service with a friendly smile and fair prices? That’s exactly why Mike the Mechanic is Winter Garden’s #1 choice for auto repair.
Runner-Up: Rolando Rojas | Mechanic of West Orange
best pool builder
Blue Dream Pools
Who doesn’t want to dive in a pool in our hot summer months? With 48 years of experience, they have the knowledge and the creativity to help make outdoor living a splash.
Runner-Up: Dixie Pools
Your votes matter
Thank you for participating in our inaugural readers’ choice awards! Each of these honorees illustrate the truly diverse talent and excellence within our community. A few categories were decided by just one or two votes, so we mean it when we say that every vote counted!
We are especially grateful to anyone who contributed extra votes to help us raise $4,000 for two local charities.
Lift Disability Network
Disability has a far-reaching impact — not just on the individual, but also on the family that supports them. Due to their unique challenges and limitations, disability families are more likely to experience loneliness, poverty, and helplessness.
Lift Disability Network creates opportunities for these families to connect to one another, building new support systems and a welcoming community. Throughout the year, Lift provides camps, community events and family services that elevate life for families and individuals impacted by disability.
Funds Raised: $2,000To Support: liftdisability.net
Polka Dogz Pet Rescue
Polka Dogz specializes in second chances. Its mission is to rescue senior, disabled, neglected, and abandoned dogs, which are less likely to be adopted in ordinary shelters, and provide them with shelter, medical care, and love that they may have never gotten before.
Polka Dogz is 100% donor-supported and needs both funds and donations of daily-use items such as dog food, treats, toys, and cleaning supplies. Above all else, their goal is to find forever homes for their animals, but volunteers and foster home applicants are just as vital to their success.
Funds Raised: $2,000To Support: polkadogz.org
