FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Anne Rollings, Exec. Dir. Communications & Business Development, Anne.Rollings@watershedhospitalitysrq.com

              Sheryl Viera, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, sheryl@ctrust.com

The Argus Foundation Announces the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Watershed Hospitality Concepts’ Mike Quillen 

& Caldwell Trust’s Roland Caldwell 

to be recognized Nov. 11, 2026

Sarasota, FL; August, 2026//: Since 2002, The Argus Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Awards has been an annual highlight for the organization, honoring exemplary leaders of Sarasota who have made valuable contributions to the community throughout their business and personal lives.  This year’s honorees are two local leaders who started businesses from scratch, created thousands of job opportunities and contributed to our community through service, leadership, camaraderie and commitment.

Mike Quillen founded his first hospitality company, Gecko’s Hospitality Group, in 1992. With a roll-up-your- sleeves leadership style coupled with his mission of ‘relentless hospitality’, Quillen navigated economic cycles and the many challenges inherent to the industry.  Quillen kept the heat on the growth and evolution of his businesses and reinvigorated his portfolio in 2022 with the founding of Watershed Hospitality Concepts and Cashiers Mountain Holdings.

Now the President of 15 restaurants and with a workforce of 800, Quillen said, "I’m deeply honored to receive this award from The Argus Foundation, an organization that has played such a pivotal role in shaping the direction of Sarasota and the robust business climate we all worked hard to achieve together. I share this recognition with the incredible team members and local partners that I’ve had the privilege to work alongside of over the years. Our shared dedication, passion for hospitality and hard work have made this possible and I’m grateful to share this award with them.”

The Lifetime Achievement Awards program will also recognize the life and legacy of Roland George Caldwell, founder of Caldwell Trust Company and a longtime leader in the region’s financial community. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 89. A visionary entrepreneur, Roland built his life and career on the principle that fiduciary responsibility is not simply a profession, but a way of being, grounded in integrity, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to putting others first. From humble beginnings during the Great Depression, his journey reflected resilience, independence, and a deep sense of purpose, shared throughout his life with his beloved wife, Annette.

Roland’s influence extended well beyond the institution he founded. He instilled a culture of honoring commitments, fostering multi-generational relationships, and investing meaningfully in the community, values that continue to guide the firm today. A lifelong learner, writer, and thinker, he remained deeply engaged with ideas ranging from economics to emerging technologies, always guided by his personal motto, “Do and hope.” Today, Caldwell Trust Company serves more than 3,000 clients and oversees more than $2 billion in assets under management, reflecting the enduring strength of his vision. The firm’s leadership remains committed to carrying forward the principles he established while continuing to serve future generations.

“My father believed that being a fiduciary was not just what you do, but who you are,” said R.G. “Kelly” Caldwell, Jr., Chairman, President & CEO of Caldwell Trust Company. “His commitment to integrity, to keeping promises, and to serving families continues to guide everything we do today and for generations to come.”

Michael Quillen grew up Sarasota. He is President of three independent restaurant groups operating 15 locations across Florida and North Carolina, including Gecko’s Grill & Pubs, Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, Cask & Ale, Pie on Main, Blasé Martini Bar/Pi Pizza, Lefty's Oyster & Seafood Bar, Red Barn Bar and Micas Mountain Kitchen. His hands-on management and leadership style emphasizes hospitality, community engagement, and promoting from within.  Quillen serves on numerous local Boards, including the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, as a Trustee for Marie Selby Botanica Gardens, Visit Sarasota County and is a founder and current Chair of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Charitable Foundation. He is past President of The Argus Foundation, a public policy community foundation and the Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and currently serves on the FRLA Executive Board and the Governmental Affairs & PAC Committees of the FRLA. He is a graduate of Leadership Florida. He was personally awarded the prestigious National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Florida Cornerstone Humanitarian award four consecutive years and in 2017 earned national recognition with the Restaurant Neighbor Award for the entire United States. In 2025 Quillen was honored as the ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ and inducted into the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s prestigious Hall of Fame.

The Watershed Hospitality Concepts family of restaurants serves Hospitality. We are committed to creating welcoming experiences through quality, locally inspired fare, seasonal local crops from our farm partners & innovative cocktails. WHC employs 100+ hospitality- driven team members in our four restaurants. WHC believes in Local Partnerships for the Greater Good and offers our community casual, lively gathering places to savor craft cocktails and creative cuisine and enjoy the timeless ritual of sharing a meal.  https://watershedhospitalitysrq.com/

Caldwell Trust Company has been a trusted leader in financial stewardship in Southwest Florida since its founding in 1993. Now celebrating more than three decades of service, the firm is a Florida-chartered independent trust company with offices in Venice and Sarasota and oversees over $2 billion in assets under management for clients nationwide.  Caldwell Trust Company provides comprehensive trust and wealth management services, including fiduciary administration, investment advisory, custodial services, estate settlement, and retirement plan management for employers.

Built on a foundation of integrity, expertise, and long-term client relationships, the firm is known for its personalized approach and commitment to disciplined fiduciary stewardship.  Beyond its financial services, Caldwell Trust Company maintains a strong commitment to the local community, having contributed nearly $2 million to nonprofit organizations supporting youth and social causes across the region.  https://www.ctrust.com/

About The Argus Foundation The Argus Foundation applies business leadership to identify, educate, advocate, and collaborate on solutions for important community issues that will enhance the quality of life, environment, and economic well-being of Sarasota County. The Argus Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, business membership-based organization in Sarasota County. Established in 1983, we are a think tank and government watchdog. Our founders were concerned about an anti-business climate in government and wanted to make sure they had a pure, unified business voice that was unfiltered by government, but solution-oriented and collaborative. Argus was born out of the founders’ concern for future generations. https://argusfoundation.org/

The Lifetime Achievement Awards will take place Wednesday, November 11th from 6-9 pm at The Ora.

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