The 25th Annual Riverwalk Tribute will honor: Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Melissa Milroy, Ed Smoker and Dean J. Trantalis, Esq.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Riverside Hotel | 8th Floor
VIP Reception: 5 pm-6 pm
General Admission: 6 pm-8 pm
Riverwalk’s premier annual event, Riverwalk Tribute, honors community leaders that have made a significant, positive contribution to Riverwalk and the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Join Riverwalk and the City of Fort Lauderdale as we honor:
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo • Author, Celebrity Cruises and FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is a global business powerhouse, best-selling author and a recognized icon and trailblazer in the hospitality industry. Through her 40 year career with Royal Caribbean Group, she held progressive leadership positions and became the first woman to serve as President and CEO of a Royal Caribbean Group subsidiary, Celebrity Cruises. Under her leadership, Celebrity made Port Everglades its home port of choice for its fleet of ships, with significant effect on Broward County’s economic growth.
Lutoff-Perlo served as President & CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee, positioning Miami and South Florida as a standout host for the seven Miami games, anticipating over 700,000 visitors and close to two billion dollars in economic impact. She shares her inspiring story through her best-selling book, Making Waves: A Woman’s Rise to the Top Using Smarts, Heart, and Courage.
Accomplishments and Recognition
• South Florida Business Journal and Forbes Travel Guide Lifetime Achievement Awards
• CEO Build, Habitat for Humanity of Broward
• Honorary Chair, South Florida 2021 Evening of Hope for Cancer Research
• Broward Workshop, Board of Director
Melissa Milroy • Galleria Fort Lauderdale/JLL
Melissa Milroy, a Fort Lauderdale native, has developed strong ties between Broward County’s business and philanthropic community throughout her career at Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Broward County’s premier shopping destination. A huge fan of community investment and family causes, Milroy is the driving force behind Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s philanthropic campaigns, partnership programs and initiatives that have raised awareness and millions of dollars for respected local charities.
Galleria’s highly successful signature Men of Style event recently celebrated its 18th sold out year and has singularly raised over $2 million throughout the years for charitable organizations.
New events shine light on female leaders present and past, History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s “Women Trailblazers Champions of Change: Broward County”, and on LGBT Pride month with “Take PRIDE”.
Milroy is a past Board Chair for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Leadership Broward, Class V, and serves on the Boards of Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the Heart Gallery of Broward County and Arc Broward, among others. She has been recognized for her dedication to the community by Boys & Girls Clubs, the March of Dimes, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and as a “Tru-Heart” recipient by Heart Gallery of Broward County.
Ed Smoker • E. J. Smoker and Associates, Inc.
Ed Smoker has been leading the way in South Florida’s real estate brokerage and consultation services field. With over 50 years of experience in all aspects of real estate studies, commercial property management, acquisitions and development, E. J. Smoker and Associates is a leader in South Florida real estate and has developed over 1 million square feet of properties throughout South Florida.
With emphasis on local knowledge and experience, E. J. Smoker and Associates has earned the City of Fort Lauderdale’s 1989 and 1991 Community Appearance Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Urban Environmental Design, as well as the 2006 Project of the Year.
Smoker has previously served on the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Board of Directors, as President of the Property Owners of Las Olas, President of the Fort Lauderdale Executives Association, and is a member of the Stranahan House Pioneer Family. He lead the effort to name Smoker Family Park in honor of his late father, Stanford Smoker.
Dean J. Trantalis, Esq. • Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale; Trantalis & Associates
Dean Trantalis has served as the Mayor of Fort Lauderdale since March 2018, and has overseen upgrades to the city infrastructure, including a planned new water treatment plant; the transformation of downtown to a cosmopolitan center; the creation of major new public amenities, including InterMiami’s Chase Stadium and the Florida Panthers renovation of War Memorial Auditorium and construction of the Baptist Health IcePlex; and the protection of its beautiful neighborhoods.
Trantalis’ long track record of public service in our community began with his involvement in the fight against discrimination. Recognized for his leadership in our community, Mayor Trantalis has received multiple awards and honors including both the Diversity Honors and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Harvey Milk Foundation.
Accomplishments as Mayor
• Public Safety – Added more than 35 firefighters and 45 sworn police officers; major upgrade and expansion of fire stations; construction of new Police Headquarters
• Parks – Fought for voter approval in 2019 of $200 million parks bond to improve City parks
• Transportation – Built community support for commuter rail expansion and a tunnel as the preferred solution to the New River Crossing
The 25th annual Riverwalk Tribute will feature a VIP reception for the honorees from 5 pm-6 pm. Honored guests, sponsors and special guests will enjoy an exquisite evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and an impressive silent auction. There will also be a special presentation officially recognizing the 2025 Riverwalk Tribute honorees.
Sponsors for the 25th Annual Riverwalk Tribute include: Toothaker.Org, RCC Associates, Flo and Rick Celender, Walter Duke + Partners, Starmark, Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, Ellis Connects, S. Mark Graphics & Go Riverwalk Magazine.
For sponsorship information contact Riverwalk Vice President Jeremy Collette – Jeremy@GoRiverwalk.com or call (954)568-1541 ext. 203.
For member tickets email membership@GoRiverwalk.com.
For information on donating auction items email events@GoRiverwalk.com
Photos from the 24th Annual Riverwalk Tribute
Previous Riverwalk Tribute honorees*:
2001 – Edward D. Stone & EDSA
2002 – Jack Loos
2003 – Congressman E. Clay Shaw
2004 – Terry Stiles
2005 – Marti & Wayne Huizenga
2006 – Ginny & Tom Miller
2007 – Mayor Jim Naugle
2008 – Downtown Development Authority
2009 – Dr. George Hanbury
2010 – M. Austin Forman
2011 – The Seminole Tribe of Florida
2012 – The Honorable John P. “Jack” Seiler
2013 – Gale Butler
2014 – Lisa Scott- Founds
2015 – Kelley Shanley
2016 – Doug Eagon
2017 – Jorge Perez
2018 – Mike Jackson
2019 – The Moss Family
2020 – Vincent “Vinnie” J. Viola
2021 – Beverly Raphael Altman
2022
Joe Cox & Jon Ferrando, Courtney & Jason Crush,
Jim Ellis, Jacqui Hartnett & Peggy Nordeen
2023
Nectaria Chakas & Robert Lochrie, Keith Costello,
Renée Korbel Quinn and Bob Swindell
2024
Alexa & Britt Lanier, Bill Walker,
Jarett S. Levan and Phil Purcell
*Honorees prior to 2001 are not listed.