Recently retired City of Sanibel Town Manager Judy Zimomra was awarded the 2021 Junonia Award from the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau this week. The award recognizes those who positively impact Lee County’s tourism community in a big way. In her 20 years with the city, Zimomra helped secure more than $30 million in tourist tax grants for beach and shoreline projects on Sanibel.
The award is named for the Junonia, a shell known for its rarity and quality.
Former Sanibel Mayor, Lee County Board Chairman Kevin Ruane said, “This week’s VCB award is just another recognition for the fantastic work that Judie Zimomra did for the City of Sanibel every day for 20 years.”
Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman tells Beach Talk Radio News, “Judy has always been a champion for Sanibel and tourism. She was a tireless advocate for great ideas that improved the experience for our guests and the quality of life for her residents. I will miss hearing from her at the Tourist Development Council meetings as she was always the first to raise her hand to speak on behalf of Sanibel.”
We also reached out to Judy and asked her about receiving the award this week. “Over the last 2 decades we have approached the relationship between the City of Sanibel and the Lee County Tourism Development Council as a partnership that has generated more than $30 million in grants to the City from the local Bed Tax. These funds have been utilized to protect and preserve the natural state of Sanibel’s beaches, improve handicap accessibility, to contribute funds to our biking and traffic management programs. We have also invested in high quality facilities which enhance the quality of life for our residents and our visitors’ experience. At this time the challenge of most of the world’s great travel destinations is to not now be “loved to death” or “overbooked”.