Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight today presented the agency’s first ever Community Partner Award to Mike Quillen, co-owner of Gecko’s Hospitality Group.
Quillen is a Sarasota local who graduated from Riverview High School before attending State College of Florida and New College. He and his business partner, Mike Gowan, opened the original Gecko’s restaurant at the Landings in Sarasota in 1992. Gecko’s Hospitality has received recognition from the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation with Florida’s Restaurant Neighbor & Cornerstone Humanitarian Award for five consecutive years. They have been recognized by local publications including Biz941 and SRQ Magazine, who in 2018, named Quillen and Gowan the ‘LocalPreneur of the Year.’ Quillen and the Gecko’s team are key supporters of Sarasota and Manatee County schools and several local non-profits including the Y Youth Shelter, Operation Second Chance, Sarasota County 4-H Foundation and UnidosNow……
Quillen is a Sarasota local who graduated from Riverview High School before attending State College of Florida and New College. He and his business partner, Mike Gowan, opened the original Gecko’s restaurant at the Landings in Sarasota in 1992. Gecko’s Hospitality has received recognition from the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation with Florida’s Restaurant Neighbor & Cornerstone Humanitarian Award for five consecutive years. They have been recognized by local publications including Biz941 and SRQ Magazine, who in 2018, named Quillen and Gowan the ‘LocalPreneur of the Year.’ Quillen and the Gecko’s team are key supporters of Sarasota and Manatee County schools and several local non-profits including the Y Youth Shelter, Operation Second Chance, Sarasota County 4-H Foundation and UnidosNow……