Northwest Florida's Business Climate November 2014

NOVEMBER 2014

Also:

NEGOTIATE EVERYTHING INCARCERATION EDUCATION OKALOOSA COUNTY: A GROWING BRIGHT SPOT IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S ECONOMY WE ARE TOMODACHI

NOT JUST A PIPE DREAM How The ECUA Is Leading Us Into the Bright Future of Natural Gas

By Josh Newby

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 1

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from the publisher’s pen

America has been suffering an energy crisis for a long time

challenges is access to good education. The State of Florida

now. Our dependence on foreign oil, coupled with exorbitant

has recently decided that the buck should stop somewhere,

fuel usage domestically, has made for a situation that must be

and that somewhere is prison. Now, prisoners can access

resolved if our economy is to remain relatively stable. Enter

education and workforce development training while serving

natural gas. Though it has been around for millions of years,

their time that will help ensure a safer and more successful

we are just recently beginning to understand its potential as

reentry into society upon their release. Studies show that

a cost- and environment-saver. Unfortunately, as with many

prisoner education greatly reduces the chances of recidivism,

big changes that challenge the status quo, use of natural gas

and we look at one local company that is making it all possible

has met some resistance. Fortunately, there are companies

on page 10.

TO SUBSCRIBE: contact (850) 433-1166 ext. 30 or info@ballingerpublishing.com Turning our attention from crises to accomplishments, the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council deserves a lot of credit for enriching and growing our neighbors to the east. This region of Northwest Florida is home to a lot of exciting industries--industries we thought deserved some attention. The EDC recently celebrated their 25th anniversary, and what better time to marvel at their accomplishments than now? Marvel with me on page 14.

Speaking of neighbors, I recently had the pleasure to attend a breakfast with a local Japanese delegation of businessmen and women, military members, students and more. Florida’s success and tourism industry is surprisingly closely tied with Japan, and our neighbors to the far west are very interested in continuing partnerships with Pensacola. We take a look at some of those partnerships and our burgeoning friendship with this country on page 18.

Also included in this feature is a piece from a guest writer like the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority that are unafraid of

about strategies and tactics for effective negotiation, a concept

fostering new advances, especially when that progress means

many of us shy away from but should embrace more readily.

safer, healthier citizens, a more sustainable environment, and

Thank you for reading, and if you have any comments or

of course, cost-savings for both customers and the business

suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

itself. On page 22, we look at how natural gas is not just a pipe dream anymore, and at how the ECUA is leading us into the bold future of cleaner energy.

Another crisis we have in this country is our high rate of imprisonment. While many offenders certainly deserve to be locked up, there are others who are placed there because of the systemic challenges they face early in life. Among those

4 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 5

contents

22

Not Just A Pipe Dream

8

Negotiate Everything

10 Incarceration Education

14 Okaloosa County

A Growing Bright Spot in Northwest Florida’s Economy

In Every Issue

Reader Services Letters We welcome your letters and comments.

Send letters to Ballinger Publishing PO Box 12665 Pensacola, FL 32591 or contact specific staff members under the Contact Us: Staff Info link on ballingerpublishing.com

18 We Are Tomodachi

Writing Opportunities We are always willing to consider article ideas. Please send queries to Josh Newby, business editor, at josh@ballingerpublishing.com, or care of Josh to the postal address.

Around the Region

People on the Move 29 Business Scene

6 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

28

30

NOVEMBER 2014

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com Executive Editor Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com BC Editor/Design & Layout Josh Newby josh@ballingerpublishing.com Art Director Rita Laymon rita@ballingerpublishing.com Graphic Designer & Ad Coordinator Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Emily Lullo emily@ballingerpublishing.com Editorial Interns Christian Pacheco, Sarah Walter Sales & Marketing Sharyon Miller, Account Executive sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand, Account Executive becky@ballingerpublishing.com

Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger Publisher Malcolm Ballinger · malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com Executive Editor Kelly Oden · kelly@ballingerpublishing.com Art Director Rita Laymon · rita@ballingerpublishing.com Graphic Designer & Ad Coordinator Guy Stevens · guy@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Emily Lullo · emily@ballingerpublishing.com Business Editor Josh Newby · josh@ballingerpublishing.com Sales & Marketing Sharyon Miller, Account Executive, ext. 28 sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand, Account Executive, ext. 31 becky@ballingerpublishing.com Simone Sands, Account Executive, ext. 21 simone@ballingerpublishing.com Website: ballingerpublishing.com Editorial Offices 41 North Jefferson St., Ste. 402 Pensacola, FL, 32502 850-433-1166 · Fax 850-435-9174

Published by Ballinger Publishing: Member of:

NW Florida’s Business Climate and Pensacola Magazine is locally owned and operated. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher.

Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser.

Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2014

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 7

BY STEVEN BLUM

NEGOTIATE EVERYTHING NEVER ACCEPT THE FIRST OFFER

L

ife is a series of negotiations. While we may realize this in theory, we probably don’t realize how often it applies in practice. Your work schedule, your pay and benefits, prices in big box stores, cell phone contracts, day care arrangements—you name it, it’s negotiable, says Steven G. Blum. The notion that you just have to fall in line and accept the options you’re given is an extremely limiting one.

“This is a whole different way of looking at the world,” says Blum, who is also a teacher at the Wharton School of Business. “We all know we can negotiate car or real estate prices, but the idea that everything is negotiable is foreign to most of us.

“Sharpen your negotiating skills and you’ll unlock options and opportunities that you may have assumed were closed to you,” he adds.

“This can truly change your life.”

Before you can negotiate anything, you have to know how to start the dialogue and how to ask right the questions. Blum offers the following tips: Know what you don’t want, what you do want, and what’s even better. One of the most important things a negotiator can do is figure out what she is trying to gain or achieve.

When you know exactly what you want, you can be purposeful in keeping the process moving toward your goals and avoiding measures that might throw you off course.

“Don’t make agreements based on the idea of ‘winning’ if they don’t get you what you really want,” says Blum. “Don’t worry about whether the other side is getting too much—that does not matter as long as you reach all your goals.

And once a good deal comes into view, see if you can improve it before you close the deal.”

8 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com 8 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

Harness the power of BATNA. In negotiation, power comes from alternatives. You must identify your Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA). Doing so lays the foundation for increasing negotiating strength, which presents the potential for greater control, influence, and authority. You will never accept a deal unless it is better than your BATNA. It forms a minimum acceptable level for you.

Here’s a quick example: Sam and Sara both decide to approach their boss and ask for a 10 percent raise. Sam’s strategy is to make a list of everything he does for the company. Surely, he thinks, if he documents all he does, the boss will realize how valuable he is to the company. Sara, on the other hand, writes letters and makes some calls and ends up getting an offer from a competing employer. The offer comes with a salary that’s 4 percent above her current pay level.

Initially, the boss tells both employees that a raise isn’t possible at this time. Having failed to strengthen his BATNA, Sam has little leverage. He simply thanks his boss for his consideration and goes back to his cubicle. But Sara’s story doesn’t end here. She tells the boss she’s received an offer from a competitor and must decide whether to accept it. Not wanting to lose Sara, her boss asks how much salary she has been offered. She replies, “While they demanded confidentiality, I can tell you it is more than I am currently making.”

In the Sam and boss situation, Sam has a problem he doesn’t know how to solve. In the Sara and boss situation, the boss has a problem.

Sara gets her 10 percent raise.

Aim for higher than just win-win. As you begin to hone your negotiating skills, you might be tempted to seek out “win-win” solutions.

Doing so might seem like a great way to keep your relationship with your negotiating partner positive, but the approach can actually backfire, causing you both to settle for the first plausible

solution that improves everyone’s position.

For example, Randy the Realtor was trying to get her client (the buyer) and the other side (seller) to agree on a price. The buyer was moving from a “low tax” town to one whose wealthy school district could better serve her special needs child. The two sides were only $600 apart. So Randy teamed with the other side’s agent and said, “Sign this deal right now and we’ll cut our commissions by $150. We want each of you to compromise your price demand by $150 each. That will total the entire $600 in dispute and everyone will share the burden of compromise equally.” The deal closed and the two agents toasted each other for the “win-win” solution.

But Randy had failed to notice the value that was being left on the table. The client was going to need a real estate agent to sell their old property. Randy might have worked that into the bargain by aiming higher than merely “win-win.”

See that your interests come first, but make sure others’ interests are served, too. Good negotiators pay a great deal of attention to underlying interests. They seek a deal that meets their own interests very well, satisfies the interests of other parties sufficiently, and adequately addresses those of all important players who are not part of the actual negotiation.

“If the agreement does not meet the needs of the other negotiation parties, they will not agree to enter into the deal,” explains Blum. “If they are somehow tricked into signing a contract that does not really work for them, they will seek ways to sabotage, escape, or otherwise not comply. That is not good for anyone.

“Keep in mind that what you view as being a ‘good outcome’ might not be that good if it leaves the other negotiating party feeling worse off or victimized,” notes Blum. “Chances are you’ll need to negotiate with certain people on

more than one occasion, and you don’t want to burn those bridges by leaving them feeling you’ll take advantage of them the first chance you get.”

Don’t get distracted from your real goal.

Many people pride themselves on a competitive tenacity that leaves nothing on the table. If possible, they take the table as well. But research has shown that many of these winners end up regretting their victories.

“Competition is a natural and necessary motivator, yet it does not always bring a happy ending,” says Blum. “The desire to win represents a dangerous shift in focus: Besting the competition becomes the primary goal, and the outcome itself becomes secondary.

Paradoxically, the strategies and behaviors that follow are usually self-damaging. Avoid hurting your own efforts by keeping your eyes firmly fixed on where you really are trying to go.”

Insist on both a fair process and a fair outcome. Good negotiators refuse to be part of a process, or outcome, that is anything less than fair. Leading negotiation professors urge us to look to authoritative standards and norms, such as market value, precedent, and equal treatment, to help delineate fairness. Just as a skilled negotiator will never agree to a deal that does not do a good job of meeting her interests or that is not better than her best alternative, so, too, she should decline one that is observably unfair.

Pay attention to power dynamics. Don’t accept a power imbalance that leaves you at a disadvantage. “Where the power dynamic in place is neither a necessary consequence of larger roles and relationships, such as deferring to a government official, nor a good one for advancing a negotiator’s interests, work to change it to your own advantage,” explains Blum. “Don’t be rude or inappropriate, of course, but also don’t be afraid to question anything that seems unfair or detrimental.

Always own your power and politely decline any part of the negotiation process that makes you feel uncomfortable, disadvantaged, or manipulated.”

Strong listening skills, along with good preparation habits and the ability to express thoughts clearly, are among the top traits of the most effective negotiators.

Don’t trust imprudently. The mere fact that you have insisted on forthrightness, and unwaveringly offered it, does not mean you should entirely trust the other parties. “The best advice is to always act in a trustworthy manner but do not assume that others will do the same,” notes Blum. “Be extremely cautious about placing too much trust in others. Better to allow your confidence to build slowly as it is earned. And never trust anyone whose incentives and interests suggest strong motivation for them to defect.”

Be mindful of each “little agreement” step. “The negotiation process is made up of a series of little agreements,” says Blum. “Pay attention to them not only as they affect you, but also with an eye toward their impact on your negotiating partners. The idea is to use small commitments to pave the way for the other party to easily agree to the next step. Before you know it, you will find yourselves marching confidently, arm in arm, toward agreements that ensure good outcomes for everyone.”

Ask lots of questions. An important study found that skilled negotiators spend almost 40 percent of their time acquiring information (asking questions) and clarifying information (restating and reframing what they’ve heard to verify that they’ve understood correctly).

Average negotiators spend about 18 percent of their time on the same behaviors. In other words, average negotiators ask half as many questions as skilled negotiators.

“The key is to ask previously prepared questions and, just as important, listen well enough to pose precise follow-up questions,” notes Blum. “Probing and clarifying the other party’s position requires that you listen carefully and formulate good questions on the spot. Strong listening skills, along with good preparation habits and the ability to express thoughts clearly, are among the top traits of the most effective negotiators.”

Create scarcity. Negotiators respond to what is referred to as a closing window of opportunity, i.e., making an offer that is good for only a limited amount of time. When a proposal or offer is structured to end at a certain time, the

scarcity effect adds pressure.

Another factor that causes scarcity is competition. When everyone else wants something, there is a tendency for us to want it more, too.

Making it clear that everyone desires the item for sale can make even those with little use for it determined to buy it. Nobody wants to be left out.

“People seem to be hardwired to greatly fear loss, and that’s why creating scarcity can be an effective negotiating technique,” says Blum. “A take-it-or-leave-it tactic or an ultimatum in a negotiation can raise the scarcity effect to skyhigh levels.”

Prepare and practice. Blum says if he could offer only one suggestion to improve your negotiating, it would be this: If you prepare fully for each negotiation, you will do better. It is that simple. As a general rule, the more prepared you are, the better your outcomes will be.

“Practice makes perfect,” notes Blum.

“Use every opportunity to test out your skills and think through situations as if they were important negotiations. As you practice, you’ll become a more agile negotiator, able to work around tough situations and create much better outcomes for yourself.”

Be patient. One of the best things you can do in the closing and commitment stage of a negotiation is to be patient. The negotiator who is not rushed has a favorable position and is free to work for the best possible deal. Some methods to help make this attitude possible include starting early, not procrastinating, and avoiding negotiating when you are in a needy state of mind.

“Negotiation isn’t just about getting a better price for a product or service,” says Blum. “It’s about dramatically improving the quality of your life, creating better outcomes for everyone, and even building more harmonious relationships. Improving your negotiating skills is an effort worth making.”

Photo: Sebastiaan ter Burg nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 9 nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 9

Photo: Davey Nin

Being tough on crime does not always mean harsh punitive action and strict, merciless enforcement. Sometimes, it means giving prisoners a second chance at education--and life.

By Josh Newby

Incarceration Education

C

URRENTLY, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (DOC) houses more than 100,000 inmates in 56 state prisons. These inmates range in age, race and criminal history. All this punitive action is not cheap, either, as it costs the government about $30,000 per year to care for just one inmate.

10 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

INCARCERATION EDUCATION

Madison Correctional Facility graduation, November 2012 Once upon a time, in the early 1980s, the United States had the 21st highest percentage of its population in prison among industrialized nations. Today, we are first. Though many factors are to blame for the nation’s high incarceration rate, it cannot be ignored that about 70 percent of criminals enter prison without a high school diploma or GED, due mainly to high rates of behavior-related dropout. Many individuals will reenter the correctional system within years of being released, due to nearly nonexistent job and social re-entry opportunities.

In efforts to cut down on recidivism, focus on inmates being productive, employable members of society, and thereby reduce costs, the DOC has decided to be tough on crime in a new, inventive way, by offering students a quality, career-focused education while they fulfill their sentence.

By earning a diploma during their time in prison, inmates are not only better behaved and more occupied during their incarcerated time, but are also more able to attend college or find meaningful work afterward. If prisoners do

The computer labs where inmates learn are extensively monitored, the Internet extremely secure, and all other precautions taken to ensure education and safety coexist peacefully. nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 11

INCARCERATION EDUCATION

IT COSTS THAT SAME PERSON, a b o u t WITH A DIPLOMA AND $1.5 MILLION A COLLEGE DEGREE, to imprison can contribute over a YOUTH TO for SOCIETY IN THEIR LIFETIME

for inmates who have traditionally faced

not receive accredited education during

basic educational assessment test. Some

Howard Liebman, CEO and superin-

their time of incarceration, however, the

individuals need help with the most

inmate is about twice as likely to be re-

elementary principles of reading and

incarcerated within three years. Without

arithmetic, while other individuals can

what is considered the bare minimum

read, write and more on a higher grade

requirement for job selection, former

level. Those who are more advanced

prisoners often find it difficult to not

are given the opportunity to take the

return to a life of crime.

GED test and earn their diploma in that

LIFE

$1 MILLION

Horizons

way. Others, however, are offered Smart

Career Online Education is a private

Horizons’ career-focused education pro-

online school district, the first in Florida,

gram, completely paid for by the Florida

that was contracted to develop an

Legislature.

Pensacola-based

Smart

educational challenges.”

The company also offers prisoners certifications in childhood education, office management, transportation services, food service, healthcare and more, so that inmates will be equipped to enter growing and in-demand job fields upon release. The ultimate goal is to keep offenders from returning to prison.

“Our mission at Smart Horizon’s Career Online Education is to prepare students for entrance into the workplace by delivering quality, supportive, and career-based online education,” said Dr. tendent of the Smart Horizons district.

“I can think of no better partner than the Florida Department of Corrections and their students for us to fulfill this mission. We couldn’t be more pleased to see the success and expansion of our program together as we work to help change the lives of these inmates.”

The online school is conducted differently than traditional high school, with participants declaring their major first and working through the applicable 18

accredited career-focused online educa-

“Our work with Smart Horizon Career

tion program for the state’s inmates fol-

Online Education on this effort is a tan-

lowing 2011 instruction from the Florida

gible expression of our commitment to

Legislature. The instruction charged the

the Florida Department of Correction’s

DOC to issue a request for proposal to

vision of changing lives to ensure a safer

establish a pilot online diploma program

Florida,” said Lewis. “Earning a high

to serve up to 400 inmates. The state

school diploma is a very important event

recently expanded the existing online

in people’s lives and this is especially so

ing them as people as well. When people

high school degree program from eight

EMPLOYMENT following release is 13 PERCENT M O R E L I K E LY among prisoners who LEARN WHILE SERVING

PRISONERS participating in VOCATIONAL T R A I N I N G are 28PERCENT more likely to find

to 15 facilities across the state.

“Previously, prisoners were only able to earn a GED through long-standing education programs provided by the department,” said Dr. John Lewis, chief of education for the DOC’s Office of Re-Entry. “While there is no legal or technical difference between a GED and a diploma, there is a perceptual difference.”

After a prisoner is integrated into the correctional system, he or she is given a 12 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

credits toward that end goal.

“These individuals have an end goal in mind, and they are mindful of that goal,” said Liebman. “We want to give them something different than what failed them in the past, while rehabilitat-

WORK AFTER RELEASE

INCARCERATION EDUCATION accomplish something, they feel better about themselves.”

A prisoner can be neither too young nor too old to participate in the program, and each individual does so at his or her own pace. Currently, about 156 incarcerated students are enrolled in the Career Online High School. Once all 15 sites are up and running, the program will have the capacity to serve up to 336 participants at any one time, according to Lewis.

Participation in the program is voluntary, but its popularity has increased since beginning.

“Since its inception in 2012, around 570 inmates have participated in the program,” said Lewis. “Of those, around 470 earned high school credits, and over 230 earned a high school diploma.”

The program’s retention rates are also quite admirable, exceeding 90 percent.

“Of course, we do have somewhat of a captive audience,” conceded Liebman.

Eventually, Lewis would like to see the DOC or another state agency offer prisoners who obtain their diploma help

“EARNING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT IN PEOPLE’S LIVES AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY SO FOR INMATES WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY FACED EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES.” with job or college placement once they

School will be Everglades Correctional

leave prison.

Institution in Miami-Dade County, Fla.

Liebman also believes that the Florida

Then, six other institutions will be added

system could serve as a model for other

to the program over the next few months

states, though he admitted that there are

to bring the total number of facilities in

a number of roadblocks in the way.

the FDOC system offering Career Online

“Obviously with a prison, the first

High School to 15.

priority is security,” said Liebman.

At the end of the day, Liebman says

“The internet connection has to be very

that this program is all about collec-

secure, and in some states, inmates are

tive impact—impact on an inmate’s

not even allowed on the internet. We

knowledge base, workforce viability,

need to get these correctional facilities

emotional and mental states, and hopes

more flexible resources so that students

for the future.

can take receive education offline. It

“When I go to graduations across the

needs to be more transportable and right

state, I’ll talk with these prisoners about

now it’s not. The students are essentially

their experience,” said Liebman. “One

confined to the computer lab.”

participant told me that he kept a picture

The new contract for the expanded

of his daughter near his computer key-

program took effect on Sept. 20 and the

board for inspiration. That’s really what

next Florida Department of Corrections

it’s all about.”

facility to start using Career Online High

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 13

OKALOOSA COUNTY

by Josh Newby photos by Emerald Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau

A GROWING BRIGHT SPOT FLORIDA’S ECONOMY

14 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

With Escambia County and its cultural and technological renaissance to the west, and Tallahassee and its strong government and education sectors to the east, Okaloosa County is in the middle of Northwest Florida yet able to hold its own against neighbors that often receive the lion’s share of attention.

A

robust military network, emerging technological opportunities and an attractive workforce put this county on the precipice of further greatness, thanks in no small part to the Economic Development

Council (EDC). The intrepid staff of three that comprise the public-private agency has seen many victories over its past 25 years and guarantees that the best is yet to come.

Over the past five years, the Okaloosa County EDC has facilitated agreements that resulted in the creation of more than 1,500 jobs and helped support businesses in the defense and aerospace sectors.

“Obviously, military is crucial to the economic stability and health of this region,” said Nathan Sparks, executive director of the EDC. “Our Defense Support Initiative (DSI) is crucial to the long-term viability of the military here, especially in the face of cuts and other budgetary concerns.”

The DSI, founded in 1991, is charged with ensuring military installations in the area, like Eglin Air Force Base, remain viable contributors to national defense and the area economy.

“Eglin supports 70,000 jobs and has a $7 billion economic impact,” said Sparks. “It is therefore our job to advocate for them locally and to Washington. We also recently formalized a tri-county partnership initiative to work hand-in-hand to identify mutually beneficial projects to assist bases by leveraging their relationship with communities located in the area, to result in cost savings.”

Okaloosa County’s economic climate is quite diverse, though, and has stakes in various other industries.

“We also have a strong aerospace presence here, and with Airbus coming to Mobile, Ala., that promises to continue,” said Sparks.

In fact, of the top 10 defense contractors in the nation, seven are located in Okaloosa, including Boeing,

HARRY T’S IN DESTIN

IN NORTHWEST

Aerospace, Lockheed Martin and others. With this infrastructure and workforce already in place, Sparks is optimistic about the county’s viability for participating in the expanding aerospace sector.

“We have an engrained cluster that will serve as a huge contribution to this growing field,” said Sparks.

In 1988, Okaloosa County’s EDC established TeCMEN (Technology

Coast

Manufacturing

&

Engineering

Network) to retain and expand existing manufacturing and engineering related industries. The TeCMEN committee meets monthly and allows local technology-based nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 15

companies to interface with other larger,

“We already have a nucleus of

national companies and work together

unmanned systems activity here,” said

to improve workforce readiness and

Sparks. “And with the military presence,

technology saturation in the area.

who have a strong work ethic and often

“Companies of all shapes and sizes

experience in this field, that industry

are at that table,” said Sparks. “It’s a

could really grow incrementally here.

great opportunity for companies to

A number of businesses already have

share ideas, express challenges, and talk

efforts and activities in unmanned

through how those challenges can be

systems. We also have the Air Force

addressed.”

Research Lab on Eglin as a key player

On average, there are about 156 tech-

in developing technology, and of course

nology-based companies in Okaloosa

the REEF is doing research on that topic.

per

We’re currently in the process of evaluat-

100,000

people.

Members

of

DESTIN COMMONS

ing how we can become a greater contributor.”

F-35 LIGHTENING AT EGLIN AIRFORCE BASE

The EDC’s impact in the Okaloosa community extends far beyond military and technology, though. Since the BP oil spill, the EDC helped secure $930,000 in bridge and loan programs. These loans helped 41 businesses retain 437 employees during that trying time in Gulf Coast history.

The EDC is a member-based organization, with 60 percent of funding coming from 140 paying partners in the community.

Nevertheless, Sparks said, the

TeCMEN maintain close affiliations with

EDC’s focus is the entire community—

educational

member or not.

and

technology-transfer

organizations, such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical

University,

“We do a lot with workforce devel-

Northwest

opment and employee training,” said

Florida State College, and the University

Sparks. “Over the past four years, we’ve

of Florida’s Research, Engineering and

provided training programs to 37 busi-

Education Facility (REEF).

nesses for an economic impact of more

TeCMEN has helped bring new business and industries to the area, too, according to Sparks.

than $280,000.”

Sparks said that the EDC is also in the process of developing a site-certification

“It’s a great recruitment tool,” said

program for targeted industry recruit-

Sparks. “When I talk about the county,

ment much like Gulf Power’s current

I can point to TeCMEN as a resource,

program in Escambia County. The EDC

because it’s a tremendous benefit.”

has been developing the Crestview

Okaloosa County could even play a role in the emerging unmanned systems

Industrial Air Park, which has a 8,000foot runway just north of I-10.

industry, which has been getting a lot

According to Sparks, the certification

of attention recently thanks to drone-

program should be up and running by

centric delivery and services. Right now,

early 2015, and he expects that possible

the EDC staff is turning some of its atten-

tenants will be excited to utilize the pro-

tion to the possibility of expanding that

gram.

sector right here in Northwest Florida.

16 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

“We’ve had a great track record of

“

OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE’VE PROVIDED TRAINING PROGRAMS TO 37 BUSINESSES FOR AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MORE THAN $280,000.

”

success, but this will surely turn it up a

opportunity, but I want to make sure we can

develop a strategy to partner with those

notch,” said Sparks. “Getting a site certified

most leverage this bad situation and do some

already involved with small businesses, like

removes a potential roadblock for a tenant if

good with it,” said Sparks. “How best can we

area chambers of commerce and the Small

they want to relocate.”

utilize Okaloosa’s share and make certain

Business Development Center.

An upcoming challenge for the EDC involves the use of RESTORE Act dollars,

that there are economic benefits associated with that?”

“We want to provide a platform for small business culture,” said Sparks. ‘The EDC

money that BP has pledged to help restore

Despite all these big dreams and excit-

needs to take them seriously. Recruitment is

the Gulf Coast to its former glory in the

ing plans, Sparks maintained that the focus

important, but it’s not all about that. Grants

wake of the oil spill. While no final amount

is on small business, the backbone of the

and loans are important, but they’re not the

has been determined for Okaloosa County,

American economy. Small businesses rep-

main thing. We have to look out for those

Sparks wants to make sure the region gets

resent more than 90 percent of the 7,000

who spend money here, employ people here,

the most bang for the bucks.

businesses in the county. It is for that reason

and improve this area.”

“Of course the money is for ecosys-

that Sparks and his team are working hard

tem restoration and general economic

to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 17

We Are TOMODACHI

The Japanese Government is taking bold steps promote new, exciting ties with Florida-Pensacola specifically.

By Josh Newby 18 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

I

n the spirit of diversity, cultural enrichment, and leveraging an increasingly global economy, the Japanese government started the “Walk in US, Talk on Japan: We Are Tomodachi (friend)” program in 2014. Participation in the program is independent of

the Japanese government, and Shinzo Abe, the country’s prime minister, encourages participants to speak their mind as they travel to various cities in the US to establish mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses and governments.

S

SINCE THE PROGRAM’S LAUNCH, four teams have visited our shores. The ages range from 18- to 82-years-old, and participants come from a variety of different backgrounds, including business, military, education and more. While sharing their own views with people in our country, the Japanese participants are encouraged to present explanations and opinions on foreign policy, economic policies and culture. These exchanges and the dialogue that stems from them take place on the grassroots level to foster international understanding and commerce.

Program members have visited places like Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Richmond and more. One team visited Pensacola on Nov. 6 and 7 and included Ken Shimanouchi, a former member of the Japanese Foreign Ministry; Takao Kawasaki, an international businessman; Keijiro Hata, a retired Air Force general; Yoko Chivers, a specialist in environment and energy at a large Japanese bank; and Yohei Komatsuzaki, a law student at the most prestigious private university in Japan. Their activities included panel discussions at the UWF Conference Center, Pensacola North Rotary luncheon meeting, and visits to UWF Japan House and NAS Pensacola.

Each member of the delegation came with stories about their homeland that they wished to share with the gathered

Pensacolans, who included Rep. Clay Ingram; Pensacola State College President Ed Meadows; Senior Vice President of the Pensacola Chamber’s economic development arm Scott Luth; and Sacred Heart Foundation President Carol Carlan, among others.

Japan is responsible for $7.3 billion in trade with Florida every year and more than 21,000 jobs in our area.

“Our partnership with Japan extends beyond just tourism and economic development, though,” said Ingram.

Pensacola also has a sister city relationship with Gero, Gifu, Japan. These sister cities are established to partner with one another through human contact and cultural links.

“When you plan to do something, you need the cooperation of others, regardless of whether the job is big or small, easy or complicated,” said Kawasaki. “You must have good people to rely on. Relationships between two nations are not an exception.

I believe this understanding of cooperation is fundamental. If you do not know people, how can you establish firm relationship?”

Japanese culture places emphasis, Kawasaki explained, on three distinct characteristics—first, cooperation, which was epitomized following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. The tragedy took the lives of thousands of people, yet through foreign aid and a feeling of community among the

Ken SHIMANOUCHI

The Japanese economy remained stagnant for 20 long years following the collapse of the economic bubble in the early 1990s. Japan was the sick man of the industrialized world. During those years we heard nothing but talk of doom and gloom, which in turn had the effect of driving down economic growth even further. Since late 2012, things have changed dramatically. People in Japan have once again become more upbeat about the future. I want to take advantage of this visit to the U.S. to discuss with our friends why this is happening and what this means for the future of the economic partnership, security alliance as well as people-topeople ties between the two countries.

Takao KAWASAKI

My international experiences gave me an appreciation of the importance of cross-cultural communication and the need for business people to improve their skills in working with people from different backgrounds. I feel that the communication skills of many Japanese people are sometimes insufficient, meaning that they struggle to convey their intended message or meaning to people from overseas.

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 19

Keijiro HATA

Japan is the most trustworthy and reliable ally of U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region. We can avoid becoming unwillingly involved in a confrontation in the Asia Pacific region in the future by demonstrating the strength of the US-Japan-military ties.

“WHEN YOU PLAN TO DO SOMETHING, YOU NEED THE COOPERATION OF OTHERS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE JOB IS BIG OR SMALL, EASY OR COMPLICATED.” Japanese, help was delivered quickly and the lost infrastructure was rebuilt. Second, Kawasaki said that the Japanese people long for coexistence and co-prosperity, both at home and abroad.

“Perhaps not many people know, but Japan as a nation has been one of the largest contributors to United Nations,” said Kawasaki. “In fact, Japan is the second largest after the US. Japanese people are very conscious of the importance of peacekeeping, because of our own experiences during the war. Aside from financial contributions, many young Japanese people join programs to travel to developing countries to participate [in] activities. In addition, there is now also a trend for baby-boomer retirees like me to join such activities.”

Finally, Kawasaki stressed that his people are reliable and hard-working, with emphasis placed on innovation.

A pervasive theme of Japan’s current national economic discussion and these international visits is the role of women in society. “Womenomics” is currently a popular expression in Japan and involves the fact that a growing number of young women in Japan are active, positive, and willing to work outside the home. This, in conjunction with a decreasing working population, lends a unique opportunity for the nation’s women.

“Diversity is crucial to our economy and I welcome women to join us at all levels of business,” said Shimanouchi.

Prime Minister Abe has often said that advancement of women’s roles in the workforce is indispensable to his economic growth strategy, and he encourages 20 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

other countries to take similarly proactive approaches. As part of this continuing progress, the US Embassy Tokyo and the Tomodachi Initiative launched the Tomodachi MetLife Women’s Leadership Program, a 10-month mentorship that pairs highly motivated Japanese female university students with Japanese midcareer professionals.

Another emphasized theme of Japan’s continued proactive relations with the US, Florida, and Pensacola in particular is tourism. Many older Japanese citizens have the means and desire to visit far-off places that also offer a dose of cultural differences.

“Pensacola is a beautiful place with beautiful people,” said Shimanouchi.

“Pensacola should do more to reach out to our people who would love to visit. We will be coming back as soon as possible.”

The delegation traveled to Austin next as part of their journey through America, but they assured the gathered business leaders that they would take the tales of their experiences back to their friends and family in Japan.

“I believe it is important that both sides recognize that there are differences in terms of our cultural backgrounds, but that we respect such differences,” said Kawasaki in conclusion. “Cultural difference aside, I would like to reiterate that the characteristics of Japanese people are not so different from those of Americans, especially from the view point of one’s own integrity. In conclusion, I would like to stress that Japan, having such wonderful people, is a trustworthy partner to the US.”

Yoko CHIVERS

My experience in New York inspired me to pursue a career in the environmental field within the banking sector. In the US I saw many professional women in the workplace, which changed my view of work as a woman. Now I work on developing projects overseas in relation to climate change issues. I believe there is a lot of potential for the US and Japan to cooperate in the field of climate change.

I look forward to meeting you all and exchanging views on future cooperation.

Yohei KOMATSUZAKI

As a representative of Japan’s younger generation, I am eager to hold honest and open dialogue on US-Japan relations and other topics. I believe the younger generation have a unique role to play in fostering stronger international ties, especially between Japan and the US. These bonds are essential not only for bridge-building and communications, but also in supporting the promotion of peace over the long-term. Such engagement and dialogue should be encouraged.

Season 5 Free Preview Screening & Soirée Tuesday, December 16 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio Pensacola State College 1000 College Boulevard, Pensacola

Be among the first to view the Crawley household’s return to PBS for Downton Abbey’s fifth season. Watch the first full hour on the big screen and enjoy light refreshments and door prize drawings.

Add to the fun by dressing as your favorite character from the upstairs elite or downstairs domestics!

SUNDAYS 8PM BEGINNING JAN 4

wsre.org

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 21 4538-1014 WSRE PM_BC fp Nov ad.indd 1

10/14/14 7:53 AM

not just a pipe dream

by Josh Newby

how the ECUA is leading us into the bright future of natural gas 22 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

22

t natural gas, by its very nature, has been around for hundreds of millions of years, along with other forms of fossil fuels, like coal and oil. We are just now, however, beginning to understand natural gas’s potential and use it to more efficiently and effectively power our cities, infrastructure, and means of transportation.

The difference between natural gas and coal and oil, other than its state as a gas whereas the other two are a solid and liquid, is that the former has the least environmental impact and is relatively clean to produce. Whereas the burning of coal and oil produces greenhouse gases and other chemicals, natural gas produces these greenhouse gases to a lesser extent and is relatively benign.

Natural gas is proCNG is better duced when layers of for engines. organic material are It contains heated and pressurno lead, thus ized over many years, extending storing the energy they spark plug originally received life. It does from the sun. Today, not dilute it represents about 30 oil, reducing percent of the US energy maintenance mix, and though it is a costs and non-renewable resource, extending the is quite available and life of engines. cheap to come by.

The resource comes mainly in two forms—compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG). CNG is produced by compressing natural gas to less than 1 percent of the volume it would otherwise occupy. CNG can be used as an alternative to gasoline, diesel and propane, all of which have oil properties. LNG is produced by storing natural gas at a low temperature—about 260 degrees below 0, Fahrenheit—and thus converting it to a liquid, though it is much more costly to create and store than CNG. It is this CNG that has saved many industries through cost efficiency and overall effectiveness, including the utility business locally. The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA)—founded in 1981 by the Florida Legislature as a governmental body responsible for utility service, sanitation, policy formulation and more—has recently gotten the attention of the utilities and gas industry by radically transforming their business model to adapt to natural gas.

The ECUA started its CNG fleet with the purchase of 50 vehicles for $12 million in 2011. Today, the ECUA maintains and operates the most diversified CNG fleet in the state of Florida with a current roster of nearly 100 vehicles and a projected fleet of

the ecua

130 by October of 2015. Through a partnership with the ECUA, Pensacola Energy built and maintains two public CNG fueling stations, in addition to the ECUA’s own private fueling stations. The cost savings have been enormous and CNG vehicles have meant expanded services, generally cleaner energy and better cusonly run tomer service for all involved. about $5,000 It is estimated that the to $8,000 ECUA’s current CNG program more than has delivered fuel cost-savings oil-dependent of $1.1 million in fiscal year vehicles, or 2012-2013, or about $3,000 a about the day, and $1.3 million in 2013same cost as 2014. Plus, the ECUA saved hybrids. more than $350,000 in maintenance costs.

“There’s real, tangible evidence of this thing paying off,” said ECUA public information officer Jim Roberts. “We used to have to replace brakes every three months because of diesel fuel. That’s gone to replacements every two years. We used to have change $10,000 filters every year for every truck.

With natural gas, there’s no filter. It’s clean.”

While the national average for a gallon of diesel fuel is around $4, an equivalent amount of CNG actually stays around $2.05, even though it is a commodity. And that price does not waver like with oil-based nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 23

23

ECUA

“CNG HAS BEEN THE CATALYST FOR A LOT. IT SAVED THE RECYCLING SYSTEM. IT SAVES CUSTOMERS MONEY. IT SAVES WEAR AND TEAR FOR OUR VEHICLES, AND IT’S HELPED US LOOK CRITICALLY AT EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXISTING SYSTEMS. WE’RE A MODEL FOR A LOT OF OTHER CITIES, A LOT BIGGER CITIES, WHO WANT TO DO WHAT WE’VE DONE.” Jim Roberts, ECUA fuels, said Roberts. operation,” said James Gentry, ECUA fleet “It has been that price since we opened maintenance manager. “Fuel and maintethe stations in 2012,” said Roberts. “We had nance costs are substantially down, driver long discussed the transition because of comfort is better, and our customers have aging equipment, increased fuel costs, new recognized the environmental benefits.” emission requirements and of course mainOthers in the field have taken notice, tenance costs.” too, evidenced by a recent industry-wide For the garbage, sanitation and other award given to the ECUA. The 2014 NGV trucks, the ECUA uses a slow-fill method (Natural Gas Vehicles) Achievement Award that refuels the vehicles over night. For the recognizes outstanding contributions to the public, however, the CNG is transferred via advancement of natural gas as vehicular a fast-fill method that takes 45 seconds. fuel.

For the past several years, the ECUA As outlined by the award criteria, ECUA staff knew that CNG represented a huge win. has been unique, innovative and creative in Even the ECUA staff recognizes the benefits. their approach to the energy crisis and have “CNG is cleaner, period,” said Brian reduced dependence on foreign oil for themSimpson, a fleet maintenance specialist. selves and customers.

“Working on the CNG fleet routine mainteMembers of other utility authorities nance is easier and faster, which means the are taking the ECUA’s lessons to heart and trucks stay on the road and spend less time implementing their own similar program. in the work bay.”

“I especially latched onto the informaCurrently, ECUA drivers and trucks have tion that reduced fuel costs can translate to transport 85 tons of recycled materials into reducing or eliminating collection fees daily to Infinitus Renewable Energy Park in for recycling and yard waste,” said Chris Montgomery, Ala., which is 320 miles round Strippelhoff, vice president of Municipal trip. Most diesel trucks get almost 2 miles Gas Authority of Georgia. “This is a huge per gallon, or about a 146-mile range. CNG PR opportunity for our members employing trucks, however, get more than 3 miles per CNG in their waste services fleets.” gallon and a 250-mile range. Whereas most “CNG has been the catalyst for a lot,” companies would simply take this trip as a said Roberts. “It saved the recycling system. loss, the ECUA actually makes money on the It saves customers money. It saves wear and trip because of low fuel costs. tear for our vehicles, and it’s helped The ECUA’s customers also take us look critically at existing infraThere are notice. The diesel fuel surcharge structure and existing systems. about 12 disappeared from their bills when We’re a model for a lot of other million CNG the program was implemented. cities, a lot bigger cities, who want vehicles There is also 90 percent less air to do what we’ve done.” worldwide, pollution now and less greenhouse Beyond the scope though only gases in neighborhoods. The vehiof Northwest Florida about 250,000 cles are also much quieter. and the ECUA, in use in the “CNG technology has allowed natural gas has the United States.

ECUA to grow into a smoother opportunity to change American’s

nation wide

24 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

24

dependence on foreign oil and make our lives better, easier and safer.

For one, natural gas is the only fuel alternative powerful enough to energize large, heavy-duty vehicles. While the heavy-duty transportation sector is the largest contributor to harmful greenhouse gases, natural gas provides a low-carbon alternative. Natural gas boasts 99 percent less sulfur dioxide than diesel, as well as 90 percent less particulate matter and 90 percent less volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

There are three types of natural gas vehicles. Bi-fuel, the most popular, has two separate fueling systems that enable the driver to switch between natural gas and traditional gas. Dedicated, the most expensive, are vehicles designed and built to run on natural gas exclusively. And dual-fuel, popular for larger, heavy-duty vehicles, run on natural gas but use diesel fuel temporarily for ignition assistance.

Due to an expanded natural gas cultivation infrastructure and considerable resources, North America has enough natural gas to be self-sufficient for about 100 years. This is good for the economy, too, as every 1 percent increase in natural gas production leads to about 35,000 jobs.

Currently, about 3.4 million people in America have jobs related to natural gas.

Depending more heavily on natural gas, rather than foreign oil reserves, could put up to $160 billion back into our own economy.

Right now, about 85 percent of the natural gas used in America is produced in America.

Natural gas is safe, too. If there is a leakage or rupture, natural gas simply evaporates, as opposed to traditional gas which puddles and leaves a fire hazard. There is some concern about natural gas storage, especially compressed natural gas, which

ECUA

Energy market share distribution

Images courtesy of Encana Corporation

sulfur dioxide - 99% less particulate matter - 90% less VOCs - 89% less carbon dioxide - 20-30% less carbon monoxide - 70-90% less nitrogen dioxide - 75-95% less

diesel

natural gas

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 25

25

ECUA

can explode if containers are not adequately strong. Thankfully, fuel storage devices for CNG are typically built much stronger than their gasoline-holding counter parts and must meet federal standards for CNG. A win for the natural gas industry may unfortunately mean a loss for the coal industry, as analysts, experts and politicians are slowly realizing that an America built on coal is not as strong or sustainable as an America built on natural gas. For one thing, natural gas is In the US, about 60 percent more there are efficient at producing about 500 one-kilowatt hour than public CNG filling stations. coal. For another, if our energy infrastructure were to fully replace coal with natural gas, we could experience a 50 percent drop in harmful emissions.

Of all other energy alternatives, natural gas seems the most viable option right now.

Coal is shrinking in both market share and availability, and increasing in cost. Nuclear energy, while reliable, is extremely expensive and has a negative social stigma. Wind and solar energy, while promising with recent technological advances, is intermittent at best and reliant on more than $5 billion in taxpayer subsidies annually.

The ultimate consumer benefits, as well, as we saw with the ECUA. Customer costs should decrease by 20 to 30 percent, while almost half a trillion dollars were generated from the purchase, production and usage

26 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

26

Photo: Steven Depolo

of natural gas in 2008 in Canada and the US. Many utility companies in many cities across the country offer rebate programs to help mitigate the cost of switching from electric to natural gas appliances.

Currently, there are a number of federal programs in place to help ease and expedite the transition from traditional fuel to cleaner, natural fuel. Clean Agriculture USA is a program that allows farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to apply for funding for vehicles and equipment that promise lower diesel exhaust emissions.

Clean Bus USA is another program, this one a public-private partnership focused on reducing children’s exposure to harmful exhaust. The program provides funding to retrofit or replace older, oil-dependent models with newer, cleaner alternatives.

Other programs provide similar funding

and informational resources for airports, ports, cities, public transit, construction and more.

There are pushes on both the public and private side for higher natural gas adoption, and analysts are excited about the possible outcomes. For its environmental, economic, and safety benefits, natural gas could very well signal a transition to what is one of the world’s largest energy consumers. If the ECUA is a replicable case study, as most experts believe it is, our fuel costs could soon plummet while increasing jobs, sustainability and efficiency.

ECUA

the natural gas production journey

Image courtesy of Encana Corporation nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 27

27

around the region Imagination Station receives national award The National Educational Telecommunications Association has honored WSRE’s Imagination Station with the 2014 NETA Award for Community Engagement Based on a Local Project. WSRE General Manager Sandy Cesaretti Ray accepted the award on behalf of the Public Broadcasting Service member station last week during the NETA Professional Development Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Located at the Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, the Imagination Station is a free, educational public venue designed to promote early education and provide access and exposure to family learning activities. Parents, and often grandparents, accompany their children and enjoy playing and learning together in an activity center like no other in this region and unique to PBS nationwide.

The Imagination Station leverages a vast assortment of educational resources available through PBS and is equipped with books, educational toys and touchscreen technology loaded with PBS KIDS educational games.

UWF partners with Historical Research Associates for Next Exit History™ The University of West Florida and Historical Research Associates, Inc. signed a licensing agreement for Next Exit History™ on Nov. 5 during a partnership celebration event, marking the first agreement signed from a social sciences department at UWF. The event also recognized the grand opening of the HRA Pensacola office.

Next Exit History™ is a GPS-based mobile app developed by UWF faculty researchers that provides information about more than 55,000 historical sites across the country.

Through the partnership, HRA holds exclusive oversight of Next Exit History™, including building income through partnerships and more. By establishing a Pensacola office, HRA aims to create new job opportunities in the Northwest Florida region for those interested in heritage tourism, cultural resource management and historical research.

Waterfront Rescue Mission serves a traditional Thanksgiving feast On Thanksgiving Day, Waterfront Rescue Mission will host a traditional Thanksgiving meal for men, women and children of the Gulf Coast. All are welcome to come and enjoy a delicious meal and share in the holiday spirit at the Waterfront Rescue Mission campus located at 348 West Herman Street.

Waterfront Rescue Mission’s staff is gearing up for the Thanksgiving Banquet and would like to invite the community to help support this great event. There are numerous ways that individuals, groups, or businesses can become involved: • Donate food: 16-18 lb. turkeys, canned vegetables, desserts, nonperishable foods and gift cards are appreciated.

• Make a financial donation- $2.23 provides 1 meal, $11.15 provides 5 meals and $22.30 provides 10 meals. Visit www.waterfrontmission. org to donate today!

• Donate items to prepare for the cold months - coats, jeans, gloves, scarves, hats, blankets, backpacks, socks, sleeping bags, underwear, personal hygiene items, etc.

• Volunteer to serve meals on Thanksgiving Day. If you would like to volunteer, please call (888) 8538655.

All item donations can be delivered to Waterfront Rescue Mission located at 348 West Herman Street, Pensacola, FL. The Thanksgiving Banquet will begin at 11:00 A.M. and will include a short program, music and the traditional Thanksgiving meal will be served at noon.

Nominations now open for 55th annual PACE Awards The Greater Pensacola Chamber is now accepting nominations for its 55th annual Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence (PACE) Awards. The PACE Awards honor outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the Greater Pensacola’s overall economic progress. Visit http://pensacolachamber.com/events/pace-awards/ to submit a nomination.

28 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

State group praises ongoing efforts to improve health and trim costs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Two Pensacola hospitals have won a prestigious award for their work to improve public health and reduce health care costs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

The Florida Hospital Association granted its 2014 Community Benefit Achievement Award (over 150 beds) to Baptist Health Care and Sacred Heart Health Care System for their accomplishments with the Partnership for a Healthy Community.

The Partnership established Live Well Northwest Florida, which is focusing on healthy weight, tobacco cessation and access to health services.

The Partnership has recruited more than 100 businesses and organizations to help people deal with common health concerns that ultimately cost the two counties many millions of dollars.

Live Well Northwest Florida’s efforts include a free booklet that shows people how to improve health and reduce medical costs. It promotes “5-2-1-0,” an Escambia County Health Department program, which encourages healthy eating and active living by urging people to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, limit screen time (television and computer) to two hours, play actively or exercise one hour and drink zero sugary drinks.

In addition, the organization is developing a pilot program to reduce inappropriate use of hospital emergency departments, a significant factor in costs Studies by Partnership for a Healthy Community have documented that Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have above-normal rates for tobacco use and unhealthy weight and too many people overuse emergency departments to address many health issues.

people on the move UWF appoints O’Keefe as dean of College of Business University of West Florida Provost and Executive Vice President Martha Saunders recently announced the appointment of Dr. Tim O’Keefe as dean of the College of Business. O’Keefe previously served as interim dean of the College of Business and director of graduate programs. As dean of the College of Business, O’Keefe is responsible for oversight and management of four academic departments and the Florida Small Business Development Center at UWF. Additionally, he continues to serve as a professor of accounting.

Baptist Medical Group opens new Ear, Nose & Throat practice in Pensacola; welcomes Kevin Botts, M.D., and Josh Dixon, M.D. Baptist Medical Group, the growing physician network of Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Fla., is pleased to announce the opening of a new specialist practice location in Pensacola, Fla. The office, located at 1717 North E St., Suite 239, will be the home of the newly established Baptist Medical Group Ear Nose and Throat practice. Along with the opening of the new office, Baptist Medical Group welcomes two ENT- otolaryngology physicians, Kevin Botts, M.D., and Josh Dixon, M.D.

Seelmann Selected to Serve as Pharmacy Director for Baptist Hospital Baptist Health Care (BHC) has selected Rudy Seelmann, Pharm.D, to serve as pharmacy director for Baptist Hospital. For the past four years, he has served as the CPS Clinical Coordinator of Pharmaceutical Services for BHC. Seelmann received his doctorate of pharmacy degree from the Mercer University School of Pharmacy located in Atlanta, Ga. During the past 13 years, Seelmann increased services at Baptist to include antimicrobial stewardship, nutritional support, critical care, internal medicine, medication reconciliation and discharge counseling, and currently is working on two separate pilot programs involving psychiatric pharmacy and emergency medicine.

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 29

business scene

AT THE BLUE ANGELS AIR SHOW, NOV. 8 Ryan Chamberlain Amy Miller, Glenys Ballinger, Sasquatch, Celeste Southard, Malcolm Ballinger

Patrick Nichols Stunt parachutist

Roy Kelley, PC Wu, Keith Hoskins

AT THE PENAIR PALAFOX GRAND OPENING

30 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

Patty Veal, Wanda D. Tyus, Maurice W. Johnson, Betty M. Petree, Grady Hester, Mike Heller

TEAM MINDSET

Warren Averett Members Gary Tringas, CPA; Scott Warren, CPA and Kathleen Baldwin, CPA, CCIFP

BOLDLY GO, KNOWING WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK When clients work with Warren Averett, they’re a client of the entire Firm. That means more people with more experience looking out for them. This talent sharing mindset means clients work with the Warren Averett team member who can make the most valuable contribution at the right time. Whether clients need industry expertise, technical proficiency or business know-how, our team will be there when they need us.

Let’s thrive together. www.warrenaverett.com nwflbusinessclimate.com Climate | 31 Florida l Alabama| Business l Georgia

32 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com