Speaker Announced for 21st Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Aug. 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Dave Clark, former professional athlete and motivational speaker, has been selected as the keynote speaker for the 21^st Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Award luncheon. Sponsored by BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company and BB&T Bank, the event will take place on Nov. 5 at Harborside Event Center. The annual Blue Chip Award program recognizes successful, small business owners who have overcome adversity to achieve success.

Dave Clark is a motivational speaker who has a powerful history of overcoming obstacles to reach his dreams. Clark suffered from polio as a child, but overcame the health challenges this presented to become a successful professional baseball pitcher. He is the only professional league pitcher to have pitched using crutches. As an author, motivational coach to athletes and the founder of the Dave Clark Foundation, Clark inspires people to overcome personal challenges and their perceived limitations in order to lead productive and satisfying lives.

Clark has received the National Heroes of Sports Award in 1999 and the Bo Jackson Courage Award in 2011. He was also honored at the White House by President Bill Clinton and has spoken before the U.S. Sports Conference, TedX Conference, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Siemens Energy.

For information on how to get an application for the Blue Chip Award or to attend the luncheon, please contact Stacey Mercado at (239) 433-7189 or SMercado@BBandT.com.

The 2015 Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award is endorsed by the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, Business Observer, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte County Economic Development Office, Christian Chamber of Southwest Florida, City of Cape Coral Economic Development Office, Englewood-Cape Haze Area Chamber of Commerce, Estero Chamber of Commerce, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Southwestern State College, Florida Weekly, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, Gulfshore Business, Hodges University, Lee County Economic Development Office/Horizon Council, Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce, Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Florida Business Today, Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.

About BB&T Oswald Trippe and Company

BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company provides comprehensive insurance and risk-management services to families and businesses throughout Florida. The agency offers the most effective insurance protection, strategies to meet changing business and insurance trends and the highest level of customer service. BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company has offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Holmes Beach, Miami, Naples, Ocala and Weston, Fla. To learn more, please call (239) 433-4535.

About BB&T Insurance Services

BB&T Insurance Services, the fifth largest insurance broker in the U.S. and the sixth largest internationally, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Branch Banking & Trust Company (BB&T). Founded in 1922, it operates more than 100 insurance agencies in Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida and California. Visit Insurance.BBT.com to learn more.