26th Annual Riverwalk Tribute

Photos from the 25th annual Riverwalk Tribute

Sponsors for the 25th Annual Riverwalk Tribute included: E. J. Smoker and Associates, Moss, The Las Olas Company/Riverside Hotel, Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Bahia Mar/Tate Capital, Centuric, Merrill Lynch, Lochrie & Chakas, P. A., Toothaker.Org, RCC Associates, Flo and Rick Celender, Walter Duke + Partners, Starmark, Holland & Knight, KEITH, The Smoker Family, Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, Ocean Land Investments, General Caulking & Coatings Company, Ellis Connects, S. Mark Graphics & Go Riverwalk Magazine.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo • Author and former President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises

Lutoff-Perlo served as President & CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee, positioning Miami and South Florida as a standout host for the seven Miami games, anticipating over 700,000 visitors and close to two billion dollars in economic impact. She shares her inspiring story through her best-selling book, Making Waves: A Woman’s Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart, and Courage.

Accomplishments and Recognition
• South Florida Business Journal and Forbes Travel Guide Lifetime Achievement Awards
• CEO Build, Habitat for Humanity of Broward
• Honorary Chair, South Florida 2021 Evening of Hope for Cancer Research
• Broward Workshop, Board of Director

Melissa Milroy • Galleria Fort Lauderdale/JLL

Galleria’s highly successful signature Men of Style event recently celebrated its 18^th sold out year and has singularly raised over $2 million throughout the years for charitable organizations.

New events shine light on female leaders present and past, History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s “Women Trailblazers Champions of Change: Broward County”, and on LGBT Pride month with “Take PRIDE”.

Milroy is a past Board Chair for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Leadership Broward, Class V, and serves on the Boards of Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the Heart Gallery of Broward County and Arc Broward, among others. She has been recognized for her dedication to the community by Boys & Girls Clubs, the March of Dimes, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and as a “Tru-Heart” recipient by Heart Gallery of Broward County.

Ed Smoker • E. J. Smoker and Associates, Inc.

With emphasis on local knowledge and experience, E. J. Smoker and Associates has earned the City of Fort Lauderdale’s 1989 and 1991 Community Appearance Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Urban Environmental Design, as well as the 2006 Project of the Year. 

Smoker has previously served on the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Board of Directors, as President of the Property Owners of Las Olas, President of the Fort Lauderdale Executives Association, and is a member of the Stranahan House Pioneer Family. He lead the effort to name Smoker Family Park in honor of his late father, Stanford Smoker.  

Dean J. Trantalis, Esq. • Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale; Trantalis & Associates

Trantalis’ long track record of public service in our community began with his involvement in the fight against discrimination. Recognized for his leadership in our community, Mayor Trantalis has received multiple awards and honors including both the Diversity Honors and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Harvey Milk Foundation.

Accomplishments as Mayor
• Public Safety – Added more than 35 firefighters and 45 sworn police officers; major upgrade and expansion of fire stations; construction of new Police Headquarters
• Parks – Fought for voter approval in 2019 of $200 million parks bond to improve City parks
• Transportation – Built community support for commuter rail expansion and a tunnel as the preferred solution to the New River Crossing

For sponsorship information on Riverwalk events contact Riverwalk Vice President Jeremy Collette – Jeremy@GoRiverwalk.com or call (954)568-1541 ext. 203.

Previous Riverwalk Tribute honorees*:

*Honorees prior to 2001 are not listed.