POWER 100: Sunshine Coast’s most powerful people 20-11

THE countdown of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest movers and shakers continues today with 20-11 of the region’s most influential people of the past 12 months.

THE Sunshine Coast Daily 2018 Power 100 countdown continues and it’s getting ever so close to the Top 10.

Today we count down from 20-11, the movers and shakers of the past 12 months.

20. DIMI LIMNATITIS

If you go out on the Sunshine Coast, chances are your night has involved one of Mr Limnatitis’ establishments.

The Solbar boss owns a large swath of Maroochydore’s Ocean Street.

The Cypriot is a self-made businessman who built himself up from living in a caravan five years ago to running four venues, driving the Night on Ocean Street markets and preparing to deliver a new rooftop bar overlooking the thriving precinct.

Owner of Sunshine Coast venue SolBar Dimi Limnatitis.

Mr Limnatitis is a success story in the entertainment industry and the Ocean Street World Festival drew 50,000 into the area this Easter.

He’s currently fighting to better understand plans for entertainment precincts in the region, pushing to have Ocean Street recognised as the region’s leading entertainment area.

19. JOHN KNAGGS

The former Sunshine Coast Council CEO continues with the task of leading the company designing and delivering the new $430 million Maroochydore CBD.

The SunCentral CEO is working to secure investment in the new 53ha CBD site, with the first buildings set to begin construction next year.

The vision is to transform the old Horton Park Golf Course into a thriving, tech-driven centre for commerce, innovation and entertainment.

SunCentral chief executive officer John Knaggs.

Deposits have been taken on lots within the CBD already and major investors, including Asian gaming firms, are understood to have been eyeing off parcels within the site.

The project is considered one of the most significant the region has seen, and is set to create 15,000 new jobs in a $4.4 billion boost to the local economy.

18. ANDREW STEVENS

Mr Stevens is managing director of the region’s most prominent development consultancy firm, Project Urban.

A glance at the Sunshine Coast Council’s online development application website gives a quick insight into just how busy the firm is, with masses of applications in front of council at any given time.

Andrew Stevens, president of UDIA Sunshine Coast.

The former president of the Urban Development Institute of Australia Sunshine Coast branch is a fellow of the UDIA and had been a member of the board of Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Flinders Rugby Club and was a former director of the Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

The foundation board member of the University of the Sunshine Coast was recognised as the Coast’s Outstanding Business Person of the Year in 2011.

17. CLAYTON WILLIAMS

The Duporth Tavern owner and experienced publican is a business partner of Mayor Mark Jamieson and is also a prominent investor in new The Sports Hub Sunshine Coast facility at Lake Kawana.

He and fellow investor Shane O’Brien stumped up $13 million towards the project, which is set to run as a not-for-profit, similar to a surf club.

Publican Clayton Williams.

The project has been labelled a game-changer for the region with state-of-the-art sports training and rehab facilities set to establish the Sunshine Coast Stadium precinct as a world-class destination for elite sports teams.

The vice-president of Bokarina-based Brothers Rugby Club has been influential in the gradual growth of the footy club, having worked for almost a decade to establish the organisation.

16. ASHLEY ROBINSON

The Alex Surf Club general manager and Sunshine Coast Falcons chairman continues to be a hugely influential member of the community.

Presiding over one of the region’s most popular and successful surf lifesaving clubs, Mr Robinson spends plenty of time mentoring young lifesavers.

general manager and Sunshine Coast Falcons chairman Ashley Robinson.

He’s helped rebuild the Falcons alongside the likes of CEO Chris Flannery and was in charge of dispersing millions of dollars worth of grants to local organisations as the head of the Gambling Community Benefit Committee.

Mr Robinson, an Order of Australia Medal recipient in 2016, is a co-founder of the annual Island Charity Swim from Mudjimba to Mooloolaba which has raised more than $1 million for special schools in Nambour and Currimundi.

15. WILL SHRAPNEL

The Helimods boss has had a breakout year in 2018, backing up his Sunshine Coast Business of the Year title last year with another massive gong.

Mr Shrapnel’s company was named the Telstra Queensland Business of the Year for 2018, just rewards for a man who turned his local helicopter company into one of the world’s best.

The company was founded with $5000 on his credit card back in 2002.

Helimods owner Will Shrapnel.

Mr Shrapnel’s company takes helicopters and does all the engineering and most of the manufacturing to turn them into hi-tech emergency medical, search and rescue, or disaster relief machines in Australia and around the world.

The multi-generational local employs 30 people, with a headquarters in Caloundra and a North American presence in Vancouver.

14. GARRY CRICK

The major charity supporter had another significant year in the Coast automotive market and helped others realise their dreams.

Having founded the Garry Crick Auto Group in 1995, Mr Crick’s empire now spans more than 12 dealerships and represents almost 30 new-car brands.

Garry Crick Auto Group founder Garry Crick.

Mr Crick’s brand of businesses have helped plenty, including apprentices like Emily Tidswell who had been Garry Crick’s Apprentice of the Year and was this year named Australia’s first female Subaru Master technician.

Mr Crick and co-founder John Eastham continue to be huge supporters of charities that support children, cancer research or the community and major beneficiaries included Wishlist, Bloomhill, the Variety Club and Ronald McDonald House.

13. ROZ WHITE

The Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network president has continued to lead the way in 2018.

Construction is well underway on the Bli Bli Village Town Centre project which Roz and her husband Michael are developing, while it was also announced they would open a new Supa IGA in Caloundra South.

Their new 2000sq m IGA will be the anchor tenant of the $33 million Stockland Baringa Shopping Centre which will service some of the region’s newest residents.

Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network president Roz White from Whites IGA.

Roz started her retail journey on the Coast in 1993 and White’s IGA remained prominent community supporters through donations and sponsorships.

Roz is a current member of the board of directors for Montrose Therapy and Respite Services and recently joined the University of the Sunshine Coast Foundation board.

12. CAROLINE HUTCHINSON

A constant voice on local radio waves for the past 20 years, Caroline Hutchinson’s star continues to shine brightly.

The MixFM announcer, who has previously had a crack at federal politics, etched another remarkable chapter in their Give Me 5 For Kids fundraising campaign in 2018.

With the help of the community and a cult following forged over 20 years, Caroline and the team managed to raise more than $606,000 in a month.

92.7 Mix FM breakfast announcers Caroline Hutchinson (left).

The enormous amount took their total fundraising efforts above $5 million in nearly 20 years with more than $1 million of that coming in just the last two years.

Caroline isn’t afraid to tackle the tough issues either on-air or in her weekly Sunshine Coast Daily column.

11. TONY WELLINGTON

The Noosa Mayor has to balance out the need for economic prosperity with the desire to protect Noosa from becoming a victim of its own success.

The juggling act is one Cr Wellington has had to manage since his election in 2016, having served as a Sunshine Councillor prior to de-amalgamation and then as a Noosa Councillor before stepping up to replace outgoing Mayor Noel Playford.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Tony Wellington.

A former filmmaker, author, lecturer, artist and photographer, he rose to public office on a de-amalgamation platform.

Boasting some of the most sought-after real estate in Queensland and an endless supply of tourists to prop up the economy, Cr Wellington leads a council which continues to strive to strike the balance between progress and protection of its abundant environmental assets.