2025 EDISON AWARDS
Awards blend spirit of Thomas Edison with Lee Co. growth potential
Lee County is home to the prestigious Edison Awards, a week-long event that honors excellence in new product research, development and innovation.
Thomas Edison left his legacy in the once small town of Fort Myers, now a community with a growing county population of more than 800,000 residents. The Edison Awards are held in the Downtown Fort Myers River District, where the historic and the modern come together to host creative minds from around the world. The Edison Awards continue to make Fort Myers the lead destination for honoring individuals who contribute to the world of technical leadership and cutting-edge inventions.
The Lee County Economic Development Office is a proud partner of the Edison Awards and its mission to be a leader in global recognition, celebration and support of the innovative minds creating products to help change the world. Because of this partnership, Lee County is able to enhance its reputation as an innovative hub and leverage its historic connection to Thomas Edison, who once called Fort Myers home. With the help of the Edison Awards, the Lee County EDO can recruit businesses to inspire the next generation of workers in fields such as engineering, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, education and more. Scientific Research and Development Services is a growing industry throughout Lee County. The promotion of the Edison Awards’ new product and service development can help benefit businesses looking to attract innovative talent to this market.
The Edison Awards play a crucial role in strengthening Lee County’s local business community and economy. This event inspires both businesses and en-
BY JOHN TALMAGE Guest Columnist
trepreneurs to prioritize research, development and technological advancements to support a culture of creativity and problem-solving. Innovation in Lee County is driven by its business community, which has been a center for technological advancement since Thomas Edison’s arrival in 1885. Innovation by necessity has evolved since then. Businesses in Lee County now have the capability to support vital and improved research, including cancer research, biomedical manufacturing, software development and more. Academic partnerships with Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College and the School District of Lee County have helped create the region’s innovative hub by offering hands-on learning and critical thinking to tomorrow’s workforce.
This year, Lee Health was recognized at the Edison Awards for its innovative Mobile Health Unit, which can better reach underserved communities and be rapidly deployed during emergencies and natural disasters.
The Edison Awards engages with the community through educational initiatives such as the AI (artificial intelligence) + HI (human intelligence) Innovation Challenge. The Edison Awards partnered with the Lee County EDO, CareerSource Southwest Florida, Horizon Council and Horizon Foundation to introduce this challenge to Lee County high school students to
EDISON AWARDS
Dare to Dream
Connecting the innovations of the past with the technological advancements of today, a Welcome Reception guest snaps a photo of himself with “Thomas Edison” and “Lewis Latimer.”
identify how AI-driven solutions can assist key industries in Lee County to bridge the workforce-education gap. Initiatives such as this help students collaborate through real-world learning and skill building to prepare for entering the workforce and contributing to innovation in Lee County. As the Edison Awards continue to shine a spotlight on groundbreaking achievements, they solidify the Lee County EDO’s support for attracting forward-thinking businesses and transformative ideas.
John Talmage, Lee County Economic Development Office Director, has more than 20 years’ experience in City government and Economic Development. Contact him at (239) 533-6800 or jtalmage@leegov.com.
The City of Fort Myers is proud to host the Edison Awards, a monumental gathering of some of the world’s most inspired thinkers, innovators, and inventors across many industries Edison Awards went one step further and created a program aimed to foster a passion for innovaaon among our students in this community, allowing them the opportunity to experience firsthand award-winning invenaons. Someday, our own inspired and driven children will concei conceive and develop the next ingenious concept that will improve all of our lives. I cannot wait to see this program grow each year, as we must challenge, moavate and SUPPORT our students so that they can dare to dream the next big idea!
Mayor Kevin Anderson CITY OF FORT MYERS
WELCOME RECEPTION
Above: Guests from around the world and here in Southwest Florida were welcomed as they gathered to open the upcoming 2025 Edison Awards events.
Left top: Edison Awards Executive Director Frank Bonafilia welcomes guests from far and near to the 38th annual Edison Awards. Left bottom: “Thomas Edison” greets one of the global guests in attendance at the Welcome Reception. Below: Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson and First Lady Krista enjoy the evening’s festivities.
THE INNOVATORS FORUM
THE EDISON AWARDS GALA
The 38th annual Edison Awards gala was held at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheatre in downtown Fort Myers. Right: Serving as the Gala Emcee for the second consecutive year, comedian Chuck Nice was a crowd-pleaser once again. Below right: Nothing but smiles for this Edison Award-winning team. Below center: Pure joy is what you see when this innovator receives his Edison Award. Below left: Dr. Aysegul Timur, Florida Gulf Coast University President, talks about the importance of the Edison Awards, here in Southwest Florida and across the globe. Left: 2025 Lee County Horizon Council President Helen Edenfield and 2025 Horizon Foundation Chair Guido Minaya welcome winners and guests to the evening’s festivities.
INNOVATORS SHOWCASE
Top Left: Trade show attendees experience virtual reality at the Robo-9/ XRCC Logistics and Supply exhibit. Middle Left: Wings Up! Florida Gulf Coast University shares information about its innovative educational programs, such as those offered at the previous Edison Award Winner, the Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship. Bottom Left: Addman is a Fort Myers-headquartered 3-D printer whose mission extends far beyond the latest advancements in metal and polymer 3D printing. Bottom Right: The Hyperion XP-1 is a hydrogen-powered hypercar that redefines the luxury automotive market and drives the global green energy transition. Middle Right: The Soul Happy Mind Pod is an experiential, innovative and real-time therapeutic environment entirely designed to de-escalate anxiety.
Top Right: Pivotal Flying Machines is an American company that designs, develops and manufactures electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, also known as flying cars.
The Edison Awards is an annual competition honoring excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation.
Above: (l-r) 2025 Lewis Latimer Fellows Cortney Woodruff and Titus Walker, along with Latimer Fellows Co-Founder Jon Cropper, listen as Latimer Fellowship Day Instructor Bunmi Akinyemiju leads a workshop.
Below: The Latimer Fellows prepare for their introductions at the Meet The Innovators Forum. (l-r) Jason Teeters, Titus Walker, Aaron Fitzgerald, Alexandria J. Maloney, Lauren Ruffin, Randy Allen, Cortney Woodruff, Demetrius D. Harris.
Above: (l-r) Syd Kitson, Founder of Babcock Ranch, and Carmichael Roberts, 2022 Edison Awards Achievement Honoree, discuss Building for Future Resiliency. Right top: NVIDIA Founder and 2025 Edison Awards Achievement Honoree Jensen Huang talks about the development of his company.
Event Photos courtesy of Alyssa Ringler. All photography is copyright of the Edison Awards.
LEWIS LATIMER FELLOWSHIP
How the Edison Awards are inspiring a new generation of innovators
Each year, the Horizon Foundation proudly sponsors three signature events that reflect our commitment to advancing economic growth and innovation in Lee County. We begin with our Annual Meeting, typically in February, where we share our annual report and celebrate leadership transitions. The year concludes with the Industry Appreciation Awards, a celebration of excellence in our business community. But among these signature events, the Edison Awards elevate Fort Myers and Southwest Florida to a place of international prominence.
It was no small achievement to bring this prestigious event here from New York City. Thanks to the dedication of former Horizon Council and Foundation leaders and our region’s historic ties to Thomas Edison, we were able to court the Awards to relocate. This partnership continues to flourish, powered by the support of our Horizon Foundation Investors, and showcases the best minds and ideas transforming our world.
The Edison Awards honor the world’s top innovators in fields such as: Green Energy Transitions; Health, Medical and Biotech; Transportation; Engineering and Robotics; Education; AI (Artificial Intelligence)-Driven Advancements; Clean Water; Security and Software Solutions; Commercial Technology; Critical Human Infrastructure; Materials Science;
BY GUIDO MINAYA Guest Columnist
Entertainment Design and Experience; Food and Agriculture; Manufacturing and Logistics; and Social and Cultural Impact.
This year, we welcomed innovators from over 20 countries, each contributing groundbreaking ideas shaping our global future Among the most celebrated were Dr. Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and architect of the New American University model, and Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, whose leadership is fueling the AI revolution across industries.
But one of the most inspiring additions was our AI + HI High School Innovation Challenge—a powerful initiative launched in response to our region’s need to develop AI and HI skills in our future workforce and to solve for the projected need for over 200,000 additional workers in Lee County in the next 3 to 5 years. Eighteen high school teams competed to design workforce solutions that combined artificial intelligence with human intelligence (HI). Leveraging a cutting-edge Learner Experience Platform called Solvably, students en-
Area high school students competed on topics addressing local workforce issues. Winning teams were announced at the Edison Awards. (L-R) “Solvably Strategists” from Dunbar High: Hudson Belcher, Shourigna Madishetty, Alisha Satyr and Belinda Bell (teacher/sponsor); “Verot Visionaries” from Bishop Verot High: Serena Kasai-Hazecamp, Leah Chung, Alejandro Carbonell and Jason Castaldo (teacher/ sponsor); and “DHS Senior Tigers” from Dunbar High: Denise Spence (teacher/ sponsor) accepting award on behalf of her team.
gaged in real-world problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking.
The top three teams (two from Dunbar High, one from Bishop Verot Catholic High) were awarded cash prizes and earned the rare opportunity to present solutions live at the Edison Awards in front of world-renowned innovators. In recognition of this groundbreaking effort, Lee County Commissioners issued a formal proclamation applauding the students, mentors and community partners—including the Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation, Lee County Economic Development Office and CareerSource Southwest Florida.
The Edison Awards are not just a celebration—they are a catalyst, a gift to our
EDISON AWARDS
community and a gateway to the world. As President of the Horizon Foundation, I encourage business leaders to tap into this extraordinary event. Let’s embrace the bold ideas it brings, draw inspiration from the brilliant minds it convenes, and foster a culture of innovation right here in Southwest Florida.
The future is being imagined in Lee County. Let’s help shape it.
Dr. Guido A. Minaya is President of the Horizon Foundation. He is also the CEO and Chief Learning Officer of a corporate education and training services firm, Minaya Learning Global Solutions. Contact him at info@minayalearning.com.
SHINING LIGHT ON INNOVATION
HINING ON NNOVATION
th innovator arou contribut mod
Lee County is honored to be the host of the Edison Awards and celebrate the numerous innovators and entrepreneurs from around the globe who contribute to technical leadership and modernization.
