(L-R: FRLA 2025 Chairman of the Board Nick Sarra, FRLA Supplier of the Year Jordan Beckner, FRLA President & CEO Carol Dover)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – At the 2025 Hospitality Stars of the Industry Gala, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) awarded Supplier of the Year to Jordan Beckner, Founding Partner and President of Sales for FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions. With his win, Beckner was inducted into the FRLA Hall of Fame during the ceremony, which was held recently at the Henderson Beach Resort in Destin.
“Behind every great dining and lodging experience are suppliers who go above and beyond to support our industry’s success, and Jordan Beckner sets that high standard,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Under Jordan’s leadership, FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions has exemplified innovation, reliability, superior quality, and collaboration. Ever present and always engaged in our industry, Jordan’s dedication to supporting our operators and their guests makes him the perfect choice for our 2025 Supplier of the Year.”
The Hospitality Stars of the Industry Gala pays tribute to restaurant and lodging operators and suppliers from across the Sunshine State for their remarkable work in hospitality. The Hall of Fame distinction is reserved for visionary leaders whose decades of service, dedication, and passion have left a lasting impact on Florida’s hospitality industry.
“On behalf of FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions and my partner of 25 years, Paul Knapp, I am deeply honored to be recognized as the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Supplier of the Year,” said Jordan Beckner, 2025 FRLA Supplier of the Year. “First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Any success I’ve achieved — in business or in life — is because of His grace, guidance, and the strength He provides. I truly believe that through faith, hard work, and perseverance, all things are possible. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Carol Dover and her entire FRLA team. For nearly two decades, they have demonstrated unwavering leadership, built meaningful business relationships, and, most importantly, offered genuine friendship. It has been a privilege to work alongside such passionate advocates for Florida’s hospitality industry. To my incredible family — thank you for your constant love, encouragement, and understanding through every season of this journey. Your support gives me purpose and strength. And to our amazing employees — the heart and soul of FiberBuilt — this recognition belongs to you. Your dedication, craftsmanship, and pride in what we do every day are what make our company exceptional. I am truly humbled by this honor and grateful for the opportunity to serve such an inspiring industry. Together, we will continue to strengthen and support Florida’s hospitality community for many years to come.”
Jordan Beckner is the founding partner and President of Sales of FiberBuilt Umbrellas and Cushions. He graduated from Northwood University with his bachelor’s degree and earned an MBA from the South University in Savannah, Georgia. Since 2000, when he and Paul Knapp founded FiberBuilt Umbrellas, Inc., he has been an enthusiastically engaged member of the hospitality industry. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Educational Foundation, as a member of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s (FRLA) Marketing and Allied Member Council, on FRLA’s Educational Foundation Board, as a board member of the Culinary and Hospitality Academy at Forest Hill Community High School in Wellington, and as co-chair of the Suppliers’ Council of the American Resort Development Association. Jordan and his wife JoAnne have been married 36 years. They have two adult children and four grandchildren.
To learn more about Jordan Beckner and FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions, please watch the FRLA Hall of Fame Video here.
About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry and its two million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through Safe Staff® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.
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