Local businessman Bruce Laishley recently received the Florida Economic Development Council’s Richard McLaughlin Economic Development Volunteer of the Year Award, according to a news release from the Charlotte County Economic Development Office.

The award is named in honor of McLaughlin, who believed in the significance of volunteer contributions to the achievement of economic development goals for the state. McLaughlin was the second president of the Florida Economic Development Council in 1965. In honor of his contributions, one outstanding volunteer is recognized annually in each of the eight FEDC Regions. Laishley received this year’s award for the Southwest region at a conference in Tampa.