Pasco EDC Announces Winners for the 38th Annual Awards

October 5, 2026

The award ceremony recognized three outstanding local businesses along with a Pasco County community leader for their remarkable economic contributions.

PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA (October 5, 2026) — The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) hosted its 38th Annual Awards event last week at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center. The event’s theme was An Evening in Paris, where a touch of Parisian charm set the stage for celebrating the companies and leaders driving Pasco County's growth and success. The event was a memorable evening of networking and celebrating economic excellence in Pasco County, bringing together business professionals and local elected officials to recognize the achievements shaping our community. A special thank you to our Hospitality Sponsor, Florida’s Sports Coast, and our Presenting Sponsors for the evening, AdventHealth, Speros, and YorkBridge Concepts.

“We had a great evening recognizing the businesses and leaders who have made a significant impact in Pasco County,” said Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC President/CEO. “It was truly an honor to recognize Michael J. Sierra with the Leadership Award. His dedication and commitment to our community have made a tremendous contribution to Pasco County and helped make it the place it is today.”

The award winners featured leaders in their industry, global companies choosing Pasco County to expand, and an entrepreneur who utilized the SMARTstart Program to grow their business. The winners were announced with riveting videos created by the evening’s Video Production Sponsor, TradeUp Marketing (view videos here).

The award winners for 2026 are:

SMARTstart Entrepreneur of the Year: Mary Katherine Mason Alston, Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, LLC
1. Mary Katherine Mason Alston opened Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread in downtown Dade City after utilizing the SMARTstart East Pasco Incubator Kitchen to bake her shortbread. Her vision for Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread began after her grandma’s shortbread recipe won first place at a Highland Games festival. Now, Alston owns a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Dade City and ships her shortbread internationally.
Industry Impact: Speros
1. Moffitt Cancer Center has expanded into Pasco County with Speros, a 775-acre research, industrial, and clinical development hub. The campus has opened the Speros Outpatient Center and began treating patients earlier this year, and research facilities are currently under construction, bringing medical treatment closer to home for Pasco County residents.
Economic Excellence Award: Bauducco Foods
1. Bauducco purchased 85 acres of the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park Ready Site in the City of Zephyrhills. The company is expecting to invest over $200 million in the new facility which will produce and distribute its product across the U.S.
Leadership Award: Michael J. Sierra (Read full press release)
1. Michael J. Sierra is a Tampa native and has worked in land development since 1985. Sierra has worked on numerous developments in the last thirty years including Cypress Creek Town Center in Pasco County and Avila, Tampa Palms, Lakeview Village in the Tampa Bay region. Sierra has been involved in developments across the nation including Florida, Illinois, and Georgia. As a director for the Sierra Family Foundation, Sierra been involved with dozens of local and national non-profits, including the YMCA Pasco Education Foundation, and local hospitals, including BayCare and AdventHealth.

After the awards ceremony, guests gathered in the lobby to network with the award winners and enjoy a coffee and dessert reception.

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About Pasco Economic Development Council
The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida's most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses, that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area, a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.