Business Before Hours: Annual Valor & Community Service Awards


Join the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce for our 'Business Before Hours: Annual Valor Awards' on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 to celebrate our region's first responders and all their hard work and dedication to keeping our communities safe beyond the call of duty. 

Keynote Speaker:
Alexcia Cox, State Attorney, 15th Judicial Circuit

Alexcia Cox proudly serves as the elected State Attorney for Florida’s 15th Judicial
Circuit. She leads a team of 115 prosecutors and 180 professional staff in five offices
throughout Palm Beach County.

A Palm Beach County native, Cox’s esteemed legal career has spanned almost two
decades, during which time she has successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases,
including first-degree murders, domestic violence felonies, elder abuse, child abuse,
and other violent crimes.

After the workday ends, Cox selflessly lends her time and talents in support of
community groups, youth programs, and other organizations. She believes “mentors
matter” and serves as a mentor for single mothers and other young women.
Cox’s strong leadership and dedicated service to the community have been recognized
by numerous organizations. In 2019, Cox received the distinguished Justice Barbara
Pariente Award from the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association for
Women Lawyers for her commitment to promoting women in the Palm Beach County
legal community and was named ‘Trailblazer of the Year’ by Legacy South Florida
Magazine.

In 2022, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County recognized Cox
as the recipient of its first Rising Star Award. In 2024, she was honored by the Palm
Beach County Black Chamber of Commerce as an Ascension Award recipient. Cox also
has been a finalist for the Athena Leadership Award given by the Chamber of
Commerce of the Palm Beaches, and she was a finalist for the Woman of the Year
Award from the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce.

Cox is a past chair of the Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee and an active
member of the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism. She served two
terms as Board President of the YWCA of Palm Beach County. Cox previously served
as co-chair of the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee,
following a successful term as co-chair of the Criminal Law CLE Committee. She
currently serves as chair of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit’s Local Professionalism Panel.
Cox is an active member of several organizations including Leadership Florida, the
Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, the National District Attorneys Association, National
Black Prosecutors Association, the National Bar Association, the F. Malcolm
Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the
Craig S. Barnard Inn of Court, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Cox graduated with honors from both the University of Central Florida and Florida State
University College of Law. While attending UCF, she was a member of the Burnett
Honors College and the President’s Leadership Council. In 2002, Cox received the
Order of Pegasus Award from the University President. The Order of Pegasus is the
most prestigious and significant award a student can attain at the University of Central
Florida and recognizes exemplary performance in the areas of academic achievement,
outstanding university involvement, leadership, and community service.

Cox began her legal career as a domestic violence prosecutor in the Palm Beach
County State Attorney’s Office. She later earned a promotion to Chief of the Domestic
Violence Unit, responsible for overseeing all aspects of misdemeanor and felony case
management, as well as supervising attorneys assigned to the unit. In 2019, she
became the first Deputy Chief Assistant for former State Attorney Dave Aronberg.


Award Descriptions:

• Valor Award - Awarded to a first responder who demonstrates exceptional courage above and beyond the call of duty, regardless of personal safety, in order to save another person's life or protect them from harm. 
  • This is a rare award to share and might not be applicable in 2025; nominations are due in mid-March 2025 and the Chamber can confirm if this award is available afterwards
• Community Service Award - Awarded to first responders who have given back to their community by unselfishly volunteering their time to a non-profit agency, organization, community group or project that benefits the community within the boundaries of Palm Beach North. 
• Call of the Year - Awarded to recognize one outstanding call from a Fire/Rescue department AND one outstanding call from a Police Department for acts of valor. 

• Sponsorship deadline is ONE WEEK before the event! Click the blue "Register" button at the top right corner of the event webpage (see this video tutorial) to secure your spot. Email Brittany Cartwright for further questions.
• *Sponsorships are available for PBN Chamber members only. Membership start at just $565 for businesses with up to 2 employees. Become a member today!

• Valor Award - SOLD - Smith, Ball, Baez & Prather (is not always available; depends on submissions)
• Community Service Award - SOLD - Baptist Health
• Call of the Year - SOLD - HCA Florida JFK North Hospital