What’s Up FMB President Dawn Miller was recognized with the Town of Fort Myers Beach Citizens of Distinction Award Nomination Arts and Culture Recognition Award. She was nominated by Council member Rebecca Link.
Link said Miller has become a driving force in the revitalization, promotion, and community spirit of Fort Myers Beach through her vision and leadership as founder and president of What’s Up FMB. “Following Hurricane Ian, Dawn helped create opportunities that brought residents, visitors, and local businesses back together during one of the most challenging periods in the island’s history. Through community-focused events, tourism initiatives, and business collaboration, she has worked tirelessly to restore energy, optimism, and economic activity to Fort Myers Beach.”
“Dawn’s contributions extend beyond business promotion. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to preserving the culture, character, and resilience of Fort Myers Beach by creating experiences that foster unity, pride, and engagement within the community. Her leadership has helped showcase Fort Myers Beach not only as a tourist destination, but as a vibrant and connected community working together toward a stronger future. Through vision, perseverance, and service, Dawn Miller has made a lasting and meaningful contribution worthy of recognition through the Citizens of Distinction Award.”
After winning the award Miller told Beach Talk Radio she was incredibly honored and deeply grateful to Councilmember Link for nominating her. “Fort Myers Beach has endured so much, and being able to play a role in bringing residents, businesses and visitors back together has been incredibly fulfilling. I truly enjoy what I do. Creating experiences that bring energy, connection and excitement back to our island never feels like an obligation—it is something I genuinely love. Seeing our businesses benefit, our community come together and visitors rediscover Fort Myers Beach makes every challenge and every long hour worthwhile. This recognition may have my name on it, but the work has never been mine alone. It belongs to the dedicated What’s Up FMB board, our members, volunteers, community partners and every local business that continued believing in this island, even during its hardest days. Fort Myers Beach is more than a destination. It is a community filled with resilient, creative and determined people who refuse to give up on one another. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and remain committed to preserving the spirit of our island while helping build an even stronger future. Thank you to Councilmember Link and the Town of Fort Myers Beach for this meaningful honor. I am truly humbled.”
Congratulations Dawn! You are helping to make FMB fun again.
I have just learned that, unfortunately, the Millers are not going to allow Hammerhead Gym to reopen in the former church property that they purchased. To me, this is a slap in the face to Armand, a US Marine veteran, who was decorated with a silver star for heroic actions taken during the Iraqi war.
I feel the need to correct this because the premise of your comment is simply not accurate.
The property Mike and I purchased was a church. It was never Hammerhead Gym. Hammerhead Gym did not operate in this building, we did not purchase Hammerhead Gym, and we did not purchase a property that Hammerhead was occupying.
So to publicly characterize us as “not allowing Hammerhead Gym to reopen” and call that a “slap in the face” to Armand is misleading. There was no Hammerhead Gym in this building for us to reopen or prevent from reopening.
I have tremendous respect for Armand’s service as a United States Marine. His military service and accomplishments deserve recognition and respect, but I don’t think they should be used to imply that Mike and I have somehow disrespected him by deciding what to do with a completely separate property that we purchased.
We haven’t even completely determined the future of the former church property yet. Like any property owners, we are evaluating what makes sense for the building and working through that process.
What I find particularly disappointing is that you chose to post this on a completely unrelated announcement recognizing my Citizen of Distinction Award. If you wanted to ask me about Hammerhead or the former church property, you certainly could have done that. Instead, you presented an assumption as fact in a way that makes Mike and me appear to have taken something away from a veteran.
We didn’t. The building was a church. It was never Hammerhead Gym.
You’re welcome to have an opinion about what you’d like to see happen with the property, but please don’t create a narrative that simply isn’t true.
I recognize that this property was a church and not hammerhead gym, which was located in the 711 building in the 3000 block of Estero Boulevard. I was a member of hammerhead for 12 years before the hurricane, and feel that those who served should be given some special dispensation, especially by those who are committed to rebuilding our community. I was extremely disheartened when I heard that you were not going to rent the church to them to open a gym.
Steve: Anyone could have purchased that building when it was for sale you know? Even you.
I think what is most troubling is that you are “extremely disheartened” by a decision we haven’t even made. We are still evaluating the property and its future. There are also properties available for rent throughout the island, so Hammerhead’s ability to return to Fort Myers Beach certainly doesn’t rest solely on whether we rent them this particular property.
And considering this comment was made on an article specifically recognizing my commitment to Fort Myers Beach, it does feel as though you’re questioning whether that recognition is deserved based on a decision that doesn’t even exist yet. I respect that you would like to see Hammerhead return—I just don’t think it’s fair to tie that desire to my commitment to this community or to Armand’s military service.
My comment was not meant to besmirch the recognition you received, nor the work you and Mike have done for this community. It was born out of the frustration I feel for the failure of society to recognize the contributions and sacrifice our veterans have made. The information I received was that you were contemplating renting the space to nonprofits, which is a noble cause. I hope that indeed you have not yet made a decision and will still consider renting to hammerhead.
Whose business is it anyways what they do with their own private property. You sound extremely uneducated.
Steve, can you tell us what you have done for our community? Dawn is the poster person for how to get a people back to enjoying paradise!!! Her ideas are legendary! She works endlessly.
I am proud to be one of Dawn’s minions. Thanks for helping bring us into the light at the end of Ian’s dark tunnel🫡
This is Awesome! Dawn is amazing. Nicely done!
Well Done:)
Thank you Millers for being the leaders in bringing hope back to the island that is special to so many! So many are/were scared to invest in FMB after Ian, but you guys inspired others to jump in an invest in FMB! We never thought possible but we were able to purchase a home on Pearl Street that we God willing will have for us, our kids and grandkids kids.