Best of ORL 2024: Professional Services Winner Spotlights
Take a closer look at this year's first place winners in the professional services category.
Winner: Commercial Real Estate Developer | Ustler Development, Inc.
Ustler Development’s projects are always in the news. Earlier this year, Craig Ustler was named a Downtowner of the Year for his work as co-developer of the 68-acre Creative Village. He was also honored with an award in Public Works & Placemaking for his efforts with Luminary Green. Since 2001, Ustler has been a principal and founding partner in the development of several local restaurants downtown.
Winner: IT Services | Smart Guys Computers
Locally owned and operated since 1995, Smart Guys Computers will help you buy a new computer, make sure you have all the components you need, offers remote service support, can recover lost data and much more. Using your computer for gaming? They’ll make sure you have the system of your dreams.
Winner: Ad Agency | &Barr
This full-service advertising agency has been based in Orlando for 65 years. Its success comes from a team of thinkers and doers across creative, digital, media, social media, public relations and account services disciplines. Its diverse client roster includes Habitat for Humanity, Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, YMCA of Central Florida and more.
Winner: PR Firm | Wing Woman Public Relations
Kristin Weissman is founder and CEO of Wing Woman Public Relations, and received top Best of ORL honors last year. She works with clients across a wide spectrum of industries: arts and entertainment, sports, education, technology, health and wellness, lifestyle and business. Her philosophy—in business and in life—is to lead with kindness and to represent the brands and people she believes in.
Winner: Legal Firm | Abdin Law
Yazen Abdin founded Abdin Law in 2019. He previously worked at a firm where he focused exclusively on immigration matters, but wanted to create a firm to focus on the clients, not the numbers. Abdin has a personal connection to the field—he’s the son of immigrant parents and knows first-hand the issues immigrants face. His goal is to provide solutions to those seeking immigrant benefits and make the process as simple as possible.
Winner: Financial Advisor/Wealth Management | Certified Financial Group
Certified Financial Group’s goal is to help its clients reach their goals. They aim to give their clients financial peace of mind—to know where they stand financially, know where they’re going and what steps they need to take now to get there. Services offered are retirement planning, financial planning, investment planning, social security planning and estate planning.
Winner: Bank | Truist
Truist not only offers a full complement of banking tools—checking and savings accounts, credit cards, loans, mortgages, insurance and investments—it offers insights on how to best maximize them. It was named by Forbes as one of the best employers for diversity in 2023 and is investing in underserved Orlando neighborhoods through the Truist Community Benefits Plan.
Winner: Credit Union | Fairwinds Credit Union
Helping people achieve financial freedom is key at Fairwinds Credit Union. It helps its members build their savings with the Change It Up program, makes the car-buying process less painful and offers fee-free accounts for small businesses. It has consistently placed on lists such as American Banker’s Best Credit Unions to Work For and Florida Trend’s Best 100 Companies to Work for in Florida.
Winner: Staffing and Recruitment | CareerSource Central Florida
CareerSource Central Florida is a partner of the American Job Center Network and helps change people’s lives, transforms businesses and creates deeper prosperity for the community by helping career seekers advance their skills, assisting businesses looking to hire them and developing qualified talent. Tools include resume development, in-person workshops and career coaching.
Winner: Travel Agency | GoTravel
In the day and age of virtual planning, travel agencies may seem out of date. But sometimes you just need that personal touch, particularly when it comes to having all the needed documents for international travel, planning a cruise or just getting tips from those in the know. Plus, should your travel plans go awry, there’s always someone to sort out alternate arrangements for you.
Winner: Commercial Property Management | FirstService Residential
For more than 30 years, FirstService Residential has been regarded as the Orlando-Maitland area’s most comprehensive property management company. Their associates keep the finances on track for townhomes, single-family homes, condo and high-rise buildings, address landscaping concerns and makes sure decision-makers have the knowledge they need to make well-informed choices.
Winner: Commercial Real Estate Brokerage | JLL
By combining innovative technology with the expertise of their associates, JLL has become a powerhouse in the world of commercial real estate. They help buy, build, occupy and invest in assets in the industrial, commercial, retail, residential and hotel real estate sectors. They are committed to sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
Winner: Accounting Firm | McDirmit Davis
Ranked one of the Top 10 accounting firms in Central Florida by the Orlando Business Journal, McDirmit Davis’ partners have more than 100 years of combined experience in public accounting. They have been assisting individuals and businesses with accounting, audit, tax and financial services since 1984, and serve their clients as consultants as well as accountants.
