Northwest Florida Business Climate November/December 2013

November/December2013

• IMPACT 100 Winners • Just Say NO to a Working Vacation • LinkedIn or LinkedOut?

The Affordable Care Act’ s Effect on Local Small Business

www.nwflbusinessclimate.com

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from the

publisher’ s pen Malcolm Ballinger Publisher

We here at Ballinger Publishing are excited to once again distribute Northwest Florida Business Climate as its own, stand alone magazine.

Improving economic times and rapid growth have allowed and mandated this expanded format. I hope you enjoy the additional stories and more in-depth, local business and government journalism.

Impact 100 is a wonderful organization that depends on the pledges of at least 100 women giving at least $1,000 annually. This money is then pooled and donated to qualified charities and non-profits in the community. I am very proud, as you should be as well, to be a part of the city that has the largest Impact 100 group in the world. That's right, our Impact 100 is the most expansive one not only in the country, but in the world. This year saw a record number of beneficiaries, and we profile each of them, starting on page 14.

Our main feature this month is on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare. The health insurance and health provision mandates outlined in the new law mean a lot of changes for a lot of people, but we've decided to closely examine the small business benefits and drawbacks of the act. It's a contentious subject, but we consulted local experts on the law, as well as fact-checking services, to guarantee that only the best, most helpful information is included in our feature on page 20.

Social media is growing at a quicker pace than I think any of us could've predicted. LinkedIn, the most popular professional social media site of them all, now plays an integral role in helping people find jobs and helping businesses find talent. Learn how to utilize this great tool on page 11.

Finally, as the holidays approach and break time is nearing, don't fall into the temptation to take a working vacation. Instead, follow our helpful tips, provided on page 8, so that you can get work done and focus on what matters during this time of year: family, relaxation and rejuvenation.

As always, it's my pleasure to present these features to you, and I hope you enjoy our new expanded format!

Reader’s Services Subscriptions If you have questions about your subscriptions, call Guy Stevens at (850) 433-1166 ext. 30 or email info@ballingerpublishing.com.

Gift Certificates NW FL’s Business Climate Magazine makes a great gift! Contact Malcolm Ballinger at (850)433-1166 ext. 27 or info@ballingerpublishing.com to arrange a gift certificate for your friend, business associate or loved one.

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Please send queries and/or suggestions to Kelly Oden, executive editor, at kelly@ballingerpublishing.com, or care of Kelly to the above postal address.

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FEATURES 14. IMPACT 100 WINNERS IMPACT THE COMMUNITY 20. The Affordable Care Act’s Effect on Local Small Business

14.

20.

DEPARTMENTS 8. Just Say NO to a Working Vacation 11. LinkedIn or LinkedOut?

in every issue 28. AROUND THE REGION 29. PEOPLE ON THE MOVE 30. BUSINESS SCENE 6

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Nov./Dec. 2013

> Inside this issue

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 PUBLISHER

MALCOLM BALLINGER malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com BC EDITOR

KELLY ODEN kelly@ballingerpublishing.com ART DIRECTOR

RITA LAYMON rita@ballingerpublishing.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

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EMILY LULLO emily@ballingerpublishing.com BUSINESS EDITOR

JOSH NEWBY josh@ballingerpublishing.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS NEAL SCHAFFER BRIAN MORAN SALES & MARKETING

SHARYON MILLER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EXT. 28 sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com BECKY HILDEBRAND, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, EXT. 31 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 & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

GUY STEVENS II • 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, becky@ballingerpublishing.com

EXT.

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NW Florida’s Business Climate Magazine 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. © 2013

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Just Say NO to a Working Vacation:

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Eight Ways to Make the Most of Your Time BEFORE You Hit the Beach

By Brian Moran

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Did you know 61 percent of employed Americans expect to have to do some work while on vacation? According to a recent survey, it’s true. This reality is why so many of us approach vacation with mixed emotions. You’re excited about the quality time with your family and hopeful that this will be the year you’re able to truly unplug. But there’s also a dull sense of dread as you stress about how you’ll ever get everything done beforehand. You’d love to be part of the minority of people who just cut all ties with work for the week, but you know that just isn’t a reality. Or is it?

It absolutely is, and not only that, it’s essential.

“Successful people work with great focus and intention, and they play the same way,” says Moran, coauthor along with Michael Lennington of the New York Times best seller The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months.

“When they’re working they’re really working, and when they’re vacationing they’re really vacationing. Rest and rejuvenation are the other side of the success coin.

“You must be purposeful about how you spend the time leading up to your vacation,” he adds. “The reason people end up working from their hotel room isn’t that they just have so much to do that they can never take a break. It’s that they aren’t working with intention—and thus, they aren’t executing effectively.”

Being intentional about how you spend your time is the heart of the authors’ message. Our ability to do so impacts not only business profit sheets but also the quality of our personal lives.

“Many of us spend our days reacting to problems rather than proactively moving toward our goals, and that’s how we end up feeling pulled in a hundred different directions,” says Moran.

“And of course, it’s also why we find ourselves in so much trouble when vacation time rolls around.”

Moran and Lennington’s new book, The 12 Week Year, offers a new way to think about time and how you use it. In a nutshell, plan your goals in 12-week increments rather than 365 day years.

When you do so, you’re far more likely to feel a healthy sense of urgency that gets you focused. Whether you’re a business leader or just an individual seeking a better work/life balance, you’ll get far more done in far less time—and you’ll feel a lot less stressed and a lot more in control.

Below are a few essential tips for what you can do right now to make sure your vacation is truly a time for rest and relaxation.

Picture the perfect vacation. Hours on the beach with your kids—building sand castles and riding waves. Romantic evenings out with your spouse. A little uninterrupted reading time by the

pool. These are the makings of a great vacation, and they should serve as the vision that will drive you through the hard work you’ll have to get done before you hit the beach.

“Vision is the starting point of all high performance,” says Moran. “It is the first place where you engage your thinking about what is possible for you. The more personally compelling your vision is, the more likely it is that you will act upon it. It is your personal vision that creates an emotional connection to the daily actions that need to take place in your business. Once you understand the link between your vision of the perfect vacation and your work, you can define exactly what you need to do to make that great vacation happen.”

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Create a pre-vacation work plan. The authors’ book emphasizes the benefits of planning how you use your time via 12-week increments. Of course, as fall creeps to an end most people probably don’t have 12 weeks to work with before their vacations. That’s okay. The same principles you would use to make a 12-week plan can be used to plan out the weeks and days left before your vacation.

In The 12 Week Year, Moran and Lennington explain that working from a plan has three distinct benefits: it reduces mistakes, it saves time, and it provides focus. Planning, they write, allows you to think through the best approach to achieving your goals. You make your mistakes on paper, which reduces miscues during implementation.

“Leading up to your vacation, it is a good idea to create a plan for each work week you have left,” notes Moran. “Your weekly plan encompasses your strategies and priorities, your long-term and short-term tasks, and your commitments in the context of time. For example, as part of the first week of your pre-vacation plan you might set up a meeting with your boss, colleagues, and/or clients to a) inform them of your upcoming vacation and b) let them know what projects you’re going to prioritize. Then in the last week before vacation, block out time to inform your clients that you’ll be out of the office and whom

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they should contact while you’re out. This helps you focus on the elements of your plan that must happen each week in order to make that perfect vacation vision possible.”

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Resign yourself to being uncomfortable NOW so you can be comfortable LATER. Without a compelling reason to choose otherwise, most people will take comfortable actions over uncomfortable ones. This is just human nature. Problem is, the uncomfortable tasks you avoided prior to your vacation are precisely the ones that will blow up or get out of control while you’re trying to enjoy some time on the beach.

“Important actions are often the uncomfortable ones,” says Moran. “In our experience, the number-one thing you will have to sacrifice to be great, to achieve what you are capable of, and to execute your plans is your comfort. So, if your goal is to have a carefree vacation, commit to sacrificing your short-term comfort so that you can reach it. Take care of any tasks you’ve been avoiding now so that they can’t ruin your vacation and so that they aren’t on your mind when you’re trying to have a good time.”

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Know what to do when you’re not doing the things you know you need to do. Of course, upping the work ante prior to going on vacation won’t be easy. There will be times when your level of execution is less than exceptional, and it’s very likely you won’t be able to ignore the nagging, guilty feeling that drop in execution brings on. But the good news is you can use that feeling—what the authors call productive tension—to get yourself back on track.

“Productive tension is the uncomfortable feeling you get when you’re not doing the things you know you need to do,” says Moran. “Our natural inclination when confronted with discomfort is to resolve it. Sometimes this leads people to simply bail on their plans. In your case, it might mean resolving that you simply can’t get everything done before your vacation that you need to get done. So you throw in the towel and accept that you’ll have to make your vacation a working vacation.

“But productive tension can also be used as a catalyst for change. Instead of responding to the discomfort by bailing, use the tension as an impetus to move forward. When you eliminate bailing out as an option, then the discomfort of productive tension will eventually compel you to take action on your tactics. If turning back is not an option, then the only way to resolve the discomfort is to move forward by executing your plan.”

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Make the most of performance time and down time. As you work toward your vacation, it will be very important that you not respond to the demands of the day reactively. In other words, you can’t satisfy the various demands of the day as they are presented, spending whatever time is needed to respond without giving any thought to the relative value of the activity.

You have to use your time wisely.

You can keep control of your day through time-blocking.

Basically, you block your day into three kinds of blocks— strategic blocks, buffer blocks, and breakout blocks. A strategic block is uninterrupted time that is scheduled into each week.

During this block, you accept no phone calls, no faxes, no emails, no visitors, no anything. Buffer blocks are designed to deal with all of the unplanned and low-value activities—like most email and voicemail—that arise throughout a typical day, while breakout blocks provide free time for you to use to rest and rejuvenate.

“Breakout blocks bring up an important point,” notes Moran.

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“Even in the frantic rush leading up to a vacation, you should allow yourself some down time. Always working longer and harder kills your energy and enthusiasm. Even before your vacation you need to schedule time to refresh and reinvigorate, so you can continue to engage with more focus and energy.”

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Don’t go it alone. It’s likely that out of your network of colleagues and friends you aren’t the only one who is a) hoping to have a work-free vacation and b) currently working frantically to make that goal possible. And if that’s the case, team up with them. The peer support you receive will be invaluable in your pursuit of the perfect vacation.

“Your chances of success are seven times greater if you employ peer support,” says Moran. “In working with thousands of clients over the past decade, we have found that when clients meet regularly with a group of peers, they perform better; when they don’t, performance suffers. It’s that simple.

“But there is a caveat,” he adds. “Who you associate with matters. Stay away from victims and excuse makers. Treat that mindset like a deadly, contagious disease.”

Isolate yourself from modern day distractions. In our modern world, technology can be a major distraction. When you’re focused on executing your pre-vacation plan, don’t let smartphones, social media, and the Internet distract you from your higher-value activities.

“Some spontaneity is healthy, but if you are not purposeful with your time, you’ll get thrown off course,” explains Moran.

“Allow yourself to get distracted by emails, social media, or the latest viral video while you’re working your pre-vacation plan, and before you know it, you’ll be on your vacation, stuck in your hotel room working on the project you didn’t finish while your family is playing on the beach. Learn to isolate yourself from distractions when there is important work to be done.”

Make a keystone commitment when you start your vacation.

As Moran and Lennington explain, many of their clients set a 12week goal in a certain area—say, getting fit. Then they build a 12-week plan around it with a handful of tactics like “do 20 minutes of cardio three times a week,” “train with weights three times a week,” and so forth. But the other option is to again set a 12-week goal but, rather than building a tactical plan, identify a keystone or core action and commit to completing it every day for the next 12 weeks. It’s this second option that can help you make the most of your vacation.

“Your keystone commitment might be making breakfast for your family every morning—something you don’t get to do during a normal work week,” suggests Moran. “Or you might commit to taking a walk on the beach every day with your spouse. Or to going on a one-on-one adventure with each of your kids before the week is up.

“Setting a keystone commitment helps you avoid wasting your time on meaningless activities—like sleeping too late every day,” he adds. “Remember, your pre-vacation plan was all about spending your time with great intent and purpose so that you’d be able to have a great vacation. Why should you stop being more purposeful with your time once you’re actually on vacation? Think about the difference these relatively simple commitments can make to you and your family!”

“Your vacation time is precious,” says Moran. “Don’t ruin it by giving your BlackBerry all the attention. You need that time to rest and rejuvenate so that when you do go back to work you’re ready and committed to making great things happen.

And you and your family deserve that uninterrupted time together. Set your vision. Make a plan. Stay the course. When you’re relaxing on the beach, you’ll be so glad you did.”

LinkedIn or LinkedOut? Why Your LinkedIn Profile Can Make the Difference in Your Job Search— and 17 Must-Have Components

By Neal Schaffer

These days, for those stuck in the job market, social media can be the great differentiator. Use it effectively and it can give you a big boost. Ignore or misuse it and you’ll be treading water in the job pool for a long while. LinkedIn is quickly becoming a job-search must, but many users haven’t quite figured out how to maximize the social network. Social media strategy consultant Neal Schaffer shares his LinkedIn profile “must-haves” to help you make connections—and set up interviews.

If you’ve been in today’s job market for more than five minutes, you know that it’s a complex, competitive, even cutthroat environment that’s difficult to navigate. Not only is the market overflowing with highly qualified individuals, but to complicate matters, the job search and application functions of yesteryear are no longer valid. If you simply update your résumé and (e)mail it off to a hiring manager, you’ll probably be left twiddling your thumbs for a long, long time while other applicants get all the interviews.

Whether you like it or not, you need to take your job search on the social media road…but even then, says social media strategy consultant Neal Schaffer, there are numerous do-and-don’t rules you need to follow. And the most important place of all to cross your t’s and dot your i’s is your LinkedIn profile.

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“LinkedIn continues to evolve at a fast pace, but many job seekers’ profiles are stuck in past years. That’s a big problem, because an increasing number of businesses use LinkedIn to find prospective employees and fill openings,” comments Schaffer, author of Maximize Your Social: A One-Stop Guide to Building a Social Media Strategy for Marketing and Business Success.

“So if you want to maximize your chances of landing that interview, you need to consider your LinkedIn profile to be the front page for ‘the website of you’—a place that summarizes who you are, what you represent, what your professional history is, and your area of expertise.”

If you’re asking, “Why LinkedIn?” the answer is clear: It’s a professionally geared site that’s focused on the quality, rather than the quantity, of its users—meaning that it’s fertile ground on which to find and develop meaningful networking connections.

“From a demographic perspective, LinkedIn is very different from other social media channels in that it has a very influential, affluent, and educated audience,” Schaffer comments. “According to reported data, more business decision makers, people with household incomes exceeding $100,000, and college and postgraduates are LinkedIn users than the physical distribution audience of the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times. I don’t know about you, but that’s definitely the group to whom I want to be showcasing my skills and experience.”

Whatever activity you do on LinkedIn, Schaffer points out, it will always lead people back to your profile.

“Think of all the time and effort that businesses put into investing in creating a well-branded and strategic website,” he instructs. “Have you spent even a fraction of that time thinking about how to create a strong professional LinkedIn presence?”

If not (and even if you think you have your bases covered), read on for 17 LinkedIn profile must-haves.

Must-have #1: A serious photo. You should always have a professional picture represent you. In other words, wear officeappropriate attire and avoid distracting backgrounds. And no cocktail-in-hand photos or on-the-beach vacation shots.

“You might be tempted to just go photo-less if you don’t already have an appropriate picture, but keep in mind that having a visual will increase your CTR (click-through rate) after people find you in LinkedIn search results,” Schaffer states.

“Actually, LinkedIn itself has asserted that profiles with photos are seven times more likely to be viewed by others. And, besides, if you want to make a deeper connection with someone, shouldn’t you be showing your real face?”

Must-have #2: A professional name. Trawl LinkedIn for a little while, and you’ll probably come across individuals who use keywords, or even worse, phone numbers and email addresses, as part of their names.

“When you employ this tactic, you may think you’re making yourself more conspicuous and/or more accessible, but the truth is, you look cheesy—and I can tell that you’re blatantly trying to sell me on something, which is a turn-off,” says Schaffer.

“LinkedIn is the most trusted social network out there, so you should have a name that is cognizant of its professional atmosphere. Stay away from gimmicky nicknames. You’ll have plenty of other areas in your profile where you can differentiate yourself.”

Must-have #3: A headline that reinforces your professional brand. Speaking of areas to differentiate yourself, says Schaffer, look no further than your Professional Headline; in other words, the 110 characters that appear prominently just under your name both on your profile and, more importantly, on search results.

You don’t need to put here that you are TITLE at COMPANY NAME—viewers can see that in your profile.

“Instead, you need to include information in your Professional Headline that will draw your potential visitor into wanting to 12

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find out more about you,” Schaffer explains. “Be explicit as to how you can help people—but do it in a professional and wellbranded manner. Overtly selling to people in your Professional Headline feels like a slap in the face to many a LinkedIn user. For instance, here are some headline turn-offs: • “Call me to hear why I’m the last branding consultant you’ll ever need to hire.” Directly asking for a phone call is inappropriate for a professionally branded headline.

• “Tri-state businesses get a free logo redesign.” This headline makes you look desperate for business.

• “Bet your business doesn’t show up in the top 10 Google and LinkedIn results. But I can make it happen.” This headline is provocative, not to mention questionable in terms of truth.

“Ouch. Now, let’s look at some examples of professionals who add value with their headlines—and who are undoubtedly attracting more inviting contacts: • “Providing thought leadership and compelling content in public relations @ XYZ Company.”

• “Bilingual human resources professional with 15 years’ direct experience.”

• “A proven track record in the financial services industry.”

“Much better, wouldn’t you agree.”

Must-have #4: An optimized location. On LinkedIn, it’s sometimes best for your stated location not to match your physical one. Yes, this sounds counterintuitive, but it’s important to put yourself in the shoes of your target visitor.

“For instance, I live in Orange County, Calif., but if I were in charge of a territory that was primarily centered around Los Angeles, I would want to change my location to Los Angeles,” says Schaffer. “This location change makes me more approachable in my target market because I’m considered ‘local,’ and it also means I get found in more relevant search results because many are using the location feature as a filter.”

Must-have #5: An optimized industry. Much like optimizing your location, think about what the people with whom you’re trying to connect might type into the “Industry” field during a search. This can be tough, admits Schaffer, because even individuals who work at the same company might list different industries here.

“Note that if you upgrade to a paid LinkedIn account, your complete ‘Who’s Viewed Your Profile’ will also include data as to which industries best represent the visitors to your profile,” shares Schaffer. “Regardless, you might have to do some experimenting in this area. While not everyone uses the Industry feature to filter search results, you should still put your best foot forward and experiment in seeing how changing your industry might affect your profile views.”

Must-have #6: A customized profile URL. LinkedIn provides you with a default URL that you can—and should—customize. Some talk about the SEO (search engine optimization) benefits of doing so, but Schaffer looks at your LinkedIn URL in a simpler way.

“Once you’re invested in LinkedIn as part of your professional infrastructure, you’ll probably want to include your LinkedIn URL in your email signature or even print it on your business card,” he points out. “Wouldn’t you rather have a professional looking— and easy to input—URL like http://www.linkedin.com/in/nealschaffer rather than http://www.linkedin.com/pub/neal-schaffer/4a/z89/145/?”

Must-have #7: Strong status updates. Posting constant updates about our lives has become a common part of our culture, whether it’s through Facebook, Twitter, a photo on Instagram, or something else. But as you probably suspect, your LinkedIn updates shouldn’t reflect your political opinions, announce your child’s achievements, or comment on the latest reality TV twist. For that reason, many users simply skip status updates altogether. However, says Schaffer, that’s a mistake too.

“When someone finally lands on your profile, your activity section will show your latest status update—if you have one,” he explains. “This is the only dynamically updated part of your profile that gives others the ability to see what’s on your mind, so get into the habit of updating your status on a regular basis.

Sharing thoughtful, insightful, and relevant news that might interest your target visitor just once a day is a great way to keep your professional profile ‘fresh’—as well as engage with your own network of connections!”

Must-have #8: A compelling Professional Summary. If done effectively, one of the most time-consuming items on this checklist will be writing a well-crafted and branded Professional Summary. But don’t worry—the effort will be worth it.

“Your Professional Summary should support what you say in your headline and expand upon its branding, as well as potentially end with a good call-to-action,” Schaffer instructs.

“This is how you ‘close the deal’: by making sure that, after your profile visitors read your Professional Summary, they will be sold on you and want to initiate contact Must-have #9: A window into your past. Your LinkedIn Profile is about helping you get found. It is an inbound marketing tool.

That’s why it’s important to connect the dots with your past: so that as many people as possible can find you—and so that you can find them.

“Don’t stop at your current employer,” Schaffer advises. “Go back in history and fill in every employer you’ve ever worked for and every educational institution you’ve attended. I go as far back as high school on my own profile, and even include shortterm study abroad programs—which have helped me restore old ties with valued professionals in my network.”

Must-have #10: Valuable keywords. Many LinkedIn users a) haven’t leveraged keywords enough or b) have overstuffed their profiles with keywords to the point of meaninglessness.

“To avoid falling into either of these traps, search for keywords that you’re thinking of using in your own profile,” recommends Schaffer. “Examine the profiles of those that appear in the top few results, paying attention to the location and frequency of the keywords. Now take that knowledge and apply it to your own profile.”

Must-have #11: Credibility-enhancing recommendations. With all of the quid pro quo recommendations you see out there, many people wonder whether LinkedIn recommendations should be taken seriously. Yes, very much so—because they can help you establish credibility if someone viewing your profile doesn’t know you.

“When I speak on LinkedIn, I often talk about how I was looking for a realtor on LinkedIn and found three good-looking profiles,” recounts Schaffer. “One had zero recommendations, another had two, and another had more than 30. Who do you think I first contacted? You don’t need to have 30-plus recommendations, but remember that every genuine recommendation helps to establish your credibility.”

Must-have #12: Well-managed endorsements. Of all the features that LinkedIn has released, endorsements are the one that have stirred the most controversy in the professional community. Schaffer recommends that you ignore that controversy and utilize whatever functionality LinkedIn provides you. For instance, some believe that endorsements might affect how you appear in LinkedIn search results.

“You should make sure that the people you’d most like to be associated with your brand comprise all of the maximum 50 endorsements you can display,” Schaffer instructs. “Let them show off your skill set and provide your profile with a little bit more credibility (although not nearly as much credibility as having good recommendations, of course).”

Must-have #13: Curated visuals. LinkedIn gives you the ability to upload contents from a link (presentations from SlideShare or

Prezi, videos from YouTube or Vimeo, and documents from Scribd are all supported) or directly from your computer (in addition to images, PDF, Word, and PowerPoint presentations are supported).

If you’ve ever been interviewed or had your picture taken at a professional event, this is your chance to promote yourself by adding these visual elements.

“But don’t stop there: This is the area where you can be as creative as you want to be,” says Schaffer. “Even uploading your standard corporate presentation will at least provide something for your viewers to look at—and it might provide you business benefits as well!”

Must-have #14: Clear contact information. Don’t make it hard for other users to contact you: If they can’t easily get in touch, they might just move on to the next person! Remember, if you’re a third degree connection or beyond, many people won’t go through the hassle of sending a high-risk introduction or buying an InMail in order to initiate a conversation.

“LinkedIn gives you the ability to include your contact details, such as up to three websites and a Twitter handle, for anyone to see,” points out Schaffer. “There is also an ‘Advice for Contacting [Name]’ section where you could include your email address and/or phone number. You also have the option to subscribe to the LinkedIn Personal Plus account plan and, for a low price, join the OpenLink Network, giving those not in your network the opportunity to email you without having to pay for it.”

Must-have #15: Membership in relevant Groups. According to Schaffer, joining LinkedIn Groups is about enhancing your contactability. Joining the same Group allows others to contact you using the Group messaging feature. So, which LinkedIn Groups should you become part of?

“You don’t have to join the maximum 50, but at least join a few groups that are related to your industry, discipline, or location—not to mention alumni groups from your university or even previous workplaces,” Schaffer answers. “If you haven’t been active in Groups before, you might be surprised as to the business opportunities that exist within them! Even if you don’t have time to be active, displaying those Group logos on your profile increases your contactability.”

Must-have #16: Customized Sections. While this might not apply to everyone, many LinkedIn users should be leveraging their profiles’ Sections.

“LinkedIn gives you the ability to add a number of additional items to your profile called ‘Sections,’ including Projects, Test Scores, Courses, Patents, Certifications, and Volunteering & Causes,” explains Schaffer. “If these are important to you or your professional brand, you’ll want to make sure they’re part of your professional profile.”

Must-have #17: Connections. Schaffer’s final tip isn’t related to filling out your profile, but to how many people might find and interact with you on LinkedIn. Simply put, if you don’t have enough LinkedIn connections, you might not show up on as many LinkedIn searches as a second-degree connection.

“From an outbound networking perspective, you also won’t discover many of the hidden connections that exist all around you,” Schaffer notes. “Those are uncovered only when 1) you have a specific objective to search for, and 2) you have a robust network.”

“After you’ve used this checklist to evaluate and tweak your LinkedIn profile, ask someone you trust to do the same,” Schaffer concludes. “You might be surprised by what they find!

Remember, when it comes to your profile, the opinion that matters most is that of the person who’s looking at it, not your own. Once you finish auditing and overhauling your LinkedIn profile, I think you’ll notice a difference in your job-hunting fortunes. So brush off your interview suit—and start networking!”

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WINNERS IMPACT THE COMMUNITY

By Josh Newby

This year, a record eight out of 15 non-profit finalists received $104,500 each for community outreach programs ranging from technology assistance for the blind to spay and neuter services for area animals. Each of the finalists represents the philanthropic, educational, family-centered qualities of the Pensacola community. As a result, countless peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;will benefit from these grants through the services these grant-winners offer.

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Started in 2003 by four local women, the Pensacola Bay Area Impact 100 has become the largest Impact group in the country.

The idea behind Impact involves recruiting at least 100 women to donate $1,000 each and pooling those resources into one big grant for a qualifying non-profit. In the 10 years since the Pensacola chapter began, the women of Impact 100 have donated a cumulative $5.15 million to charities and non-profit organizations such as Manna Food Bank, Autism Pensacola, ARC Gateway and Pathways for Change.

Before winning the grants, 15 finalists were separated into categories like Arts and Culture; Education; Environment, Recreation and Preservation; Family; and Health and Wellness. This year, the group was able to reward a record eight grants, some to charities that have won before, and some to first-time recipients.

The winners were announced at the Impact 100 annual meeting on Oct. 20.

Arts and Culture The only Arts and Culture grant this year went to the Santa Rosa Historical Society for its Light Up the Imogene project. Dilapidated from a fire since 2009, the Imogene Theatre was one of the few historical and cultural attractions in Milton since 1912, when it originally operated as a vaudeville theater. With the Impact 100 funding, the Imogene Theatre will soon boast new stage and lighting equipment, kitchen upgrades, an audio-visual system and complete museum renovation. In its 100-year history, the Imogene has hosted thousand of plays, films, concerts, weddings, and more.

This restoration will guarantee it is able to once again be the county’s only performing arts venue, other than schools and churches.

“We couldn’t have been happier to have been selected, especially

during the 100 year anniversary of the Imogene,” said Vernon Compton, executive director of the Santa Rosa Historical Society.

“We were also honored in light of the great projects presented by the other finalists. Being able to make the repairs and improvements will greatly improve the functioning of the Theatre, leading to increased community and event usage. We feel the impact will be much larger than just the Imogene Theatre and arts and culture in the area, but also see it leading to additional revitalization in historic downtown Milton, much like the Saenger Theatre has done for downtown Pensacola.”

Education The Education recipient this year was Independence for the Blind of West Florida, Inc., and 2013 marked their first year winning an Impact 100 grant. The organization’s mission in the community is entirely devoted to educating the blind and visually impaired by teaching independent living and computer technology, and providing vocational training.

The Impact 100 grant will allow for the purchase of new computers, software and software upgrades that allow the blind to read books, receive emails and texts, access GPS navigation, and other important technological assets that many take for granted.

The grant will also purchase iPhones and iPads, which are accessible to the blind, and a fuel-efficient vehicle for transportation. High school students, 18- to 55-year-olds seeking work, and older blind students who cannot work will all benefit from this expanded program.

The technology should be in place by February or March of 2014.

“We have felt very frustrated for years knowing that there was so much assistive technology out there to help the blind and visually impaired in this area,” said Becky Kirsch, executive director November/December 2013

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for Independence for the Blind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With blindness comes loneliness, fear and loss of hope. Life has many wonders, and vision is not the only way to fully appreciate them. With technology and training, the blind can also experience and open a window to this amazing world. With help from our community, we can all make a difference to allow the blind to be successful and a functioning part of society.â&#x20AC;?

Environment, Recreation and Preservation For the Environment, Recreation and Preservation category, the Humane Society of Pensacola received its first Impact 100 grant.

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Founded in 1943, the Humane Society operates under contract with the City of Pensacola to control and shelter stray animals, as well as conduct cruelty investigations.

With their grant, staff at the Humane Society will establish and operate a scalable, high quality, low cost spay and neuter clinic to serve the unmet feline and canine needs in Pensacola. There are about 30,000 low-income pet owners in the area, which contributes to 85 percent of local pet overpopulation. By providing this service, the Humane Society will offer accessible and affordable spay and neuter options, effectively ending pet euthanasia in our community.

“This clinic will fundamentally change Pensacola’s approach to animals and animal welfare,” said Sarah Humlie, managing director of the Humane Society. “It will allow us to take a proactive approach to reducing the number of animals being born in our area. Finally, we can reduce our overabundance of homeless pets through an avenue other than euthanasia.”

Humlie also expressed enthusiasm in the Humane Society’s first ever Impact 100 grant and its subsequent impact on the community.

“Making Pensacola an animal-friendly, no-kill community will take a community effort, and I think being awarded this grant

means we’ve got the community behind us and it means we’ll achieve the goal together,” said Humlie.

The second winner in this category is the Pensacola Museum of Art, an Impact 100 recipient for the second time. The PMA’s Jail for Art project will use grant funds to complete two vital upgrades and replacements to this visual arts destination in downtown Pensacola.

The replacement includes the installation of a new first floor with long-life, high quality oak flooring throughout the facility.

There is no currently no subfloor on the first floor and the existing wood has worn thin over the years since 1909. The upgrade also

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entails a new boiler for the HVAC system, which will help efficiently and effectively regulate the temperatures necessary to the preservation of the building and the art inside. All renovations should be complete by February 2014.

“The PMA is the only accredited visual arts museum between Mobile, Ala., and Tallahassee, Fla., and our building is the second oldest surviving city or county jail in the state of Florida,” said Jodi Gup, executive director of the PMA. “Those facts make us significant in the bigger picture, but we think what we do and what we can do right here in Pensacola with our numerous arts experiences and educational opportunities is our greatest achievement, and we want to preserve it for the next generations.

Both of the projects made possible by this grant will elevate all visitors’ experiences at the museum, cementing the PMA as one of the greatest gems of downtown Pensacola.”

Family In the Family category, Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc. won a grant for the first time. The Council’s primary mission is community advocacy for Pensacola’s aging population. The money will go to the completion of two primary goals. First, the purchase of three multi-passenger vans, which will be able to go to and from senior dining sites, the adult day health care center, medical appointments, grocery stores and other community activities.

“According to the United States Department of Transportation data, drivers age 75 and older rank highest in fatal crashes by driver age group per 100 million miles traveled and fatality rates among drivers age 85 and older are higher than any other age group, including teens,” said Jeff Nall, vice president of communication and development for the Council on Aging. “It is imperative to offer alternative forms of transportation to seniors in need to prevent harm to themselves or others when driving is no longer an option. Safe and reliable transportation options play a significant role in helping people who no longer drive stay connected with the community.”

The transportation service expansion should be running by early 2014.

The second goal is the installation of aluminum handrails on the walking track at the adult day health care center, which will aide

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seniors with special medical conditions, gait disturbances and various cognitive impairments. It is estimated that 32 clients will be able to enjoy the trail without staff assistance.

The second Family category winner is the Pensacola Habitat for Humanity for its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative.

The project, which marks Habitat’s second Impact 100 win, involves the expansion of the Pensacola chapter to include revitalization of low-income neighborhoods in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The grant money will purchase a 15-passenger van for transportation, a heavy-duty pickup truck, a large trailer for tools and materials, a dump trailer, a general use utility trailer, a field and brush mover, and other tools necessary to new construction, home repair, and community improvement efforts in west Pensacola and Cantonment.

With the purchase of the van, Habitat for Humanity estimates than an additional 5,000 volunteer hours will be utilized, the equivalent of $50,000 worth of labor.

“The grant award both shines a spotlight on the program, raising community awareness to what we are doing that is different than what most expect from us, and it puts booster rockets on the program itself, pushing it to the next level of effectiveness in the community,” said Timothy Evans, executive director for the Pensacola Habitat for Humanity.

Health and Wellness The first Health and Wellness winner of 2013 is FavorHouse, a safe shelter for domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their children. The Impact 100 FavorHouse project, named Safe Haven for People and Paws, is the renovation of a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom residential facility on several acres of property in Santa Rosa County. In addition, a short-term and longterm kennel will be provided as a safe facility for pets from homes where the abuser threatened the animal. Research has shown that pets are sources of comfort for battered women and children, so this project will serve dual needs.

Finally, the second Health and Wellness winner is the Gulf Coast Kid’s House, which received their first Impact 100 grant this year.

The Gulf Coast Kid’s House serves Pensacola by offering a comprehensive, effective and collaborative approach to child abuse

rehabilitation and prosecution.

The grant will go to the construction of an 850 square foot expansion, expected to break ground in April 2014, that will help the Gulf Coast Kid’s House serve the recent increase in child abuse cases. The new medical room, with more space and lighting, will be a private location where children can receive better quality care, and where injuries and evidence can be documented for prosecution.

“The way our medical exam room is set up currently is very limiting,” said Stacey Kostevicki, executive director of Gulf Coast Kid’s House. “The work of the Child Protection Team within GCKH

requires private space for the medical exams and for their forensic interviews. Thorough medical exams and uninterrupted interviews of child victims often will reveal evidence which may ultimately aid the State Attorney’s Offices efforts to successfully prosecute a criminal case.”

Impact 100’s continued growth and expanding positive effects on the community is proof of Pensacola’s philanthropy and the betterment of organizations that do well for others. As a result of Impact’s contribution, area non-profits can pay the goodwill forward, benefitting people, animals and areas that need it most.

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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

President Barrack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Actâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Effect on Local Small Business

By Josh Newby

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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

The national healthcare law signed into effect in 2010 has taken on a speculative life of its own, fueled by punditry, endless false rumors, statute postponements, and confusion. Many still falsely believe that all businesses will be required to provide health insurance or that full-time workers will be forced to work part-time in order to avoid the employer mandate.

A majority of mandates and provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, more commonly known as Obamacare) apply to individuals, insurance companies and big businesses, but a hefty amount of those rules affect people who own or work in a small business. Currently, a small business, according to key parts of the law, is defined as an organization with fewer than 50 full-time-equivalent employees and comprises almost 6 million firms in the country. While some elements of the law do not pertain to small employers, such as the employer mandate, there are rules regarding rate development and benefit design that will make coverage through small employers less affordable for many.

The widely-publicized employer mandate, the rule that any business that does not provide insurance to its workers will be charged a fine, is only applicable to organizations with 50 or

more full-time-equivalent employees, or about 4 percent of businesses. The full-time-equivalent number is based on a formula that you can find in our first infographic.

The ACA actually creates a new program designed to help small businesses, including the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). Although in Florida, options on the SHOP are currently limited, expanded offerings should roll out in 2015.

Prices for the SHOP are expected to be the same as group coverage purchased outside the SHOP.

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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

“Historically, small businesses have not had the buying power and leverage of larger organizations,” said Ted Kirchharr, vice president and COO at Landrum Professional Employer Services in Pensacola, and expert on the law. “By utilizing the SHOP or employer services made available through Landrum, small businesses have options for affordable coverage.”

Today, almost half of America’s uninsured are small business owners, employees or their dependents. And while many small businesses consider it a moral obligation to offer health insurance despite not being mandated by the law, those who do not or find the prospect too expensive now have help in the form of tax credits. These tax credits help cover the cost of up to 50 (35 for non-profits) percent of their contribution to employee premiums via the SHOP. It is expected that small businesses, America’s biggest job creators, will now be able to focus on hiring more by incentivizing health benefits. The savings are mitigated somewhat, however, by the fact that an eligible employer may take the tax credit, or an expense deduction, but not both. It is best to work through this with an accountant in advance.

On average, small businesses pay up to 18 percent more than a larger business for the same coverage. The SHOP and SHOP tax credits are meant to combat this. Starting in 2017, states can allow businesses with more than 100 employees to purchase coverage in the SHOP Exchange.

Small businesses with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees with annual average salaries of less than $50,000 can get tax credits to help pay for employee premiums. While

credits differ based on the organization, the smaller the business is and the lower the salaries, the better the breaks are.

And while the employer mandate does not affect small businesses, it does help ensure that larger companies take a shared responsibility in providing health insurance to their workers.

Small business employers with over 25 full time employees will not have access to the same tax credit option as those small businesses with under 25 employees, and those with less than 10 employees reap even more benefits. Tax credits are available for small businesses on a sliding scale depending on the number of employees and average annual wages.

“The law is really meant to be consumer beneficial,” said Todd Torgersen, president of Combined Insurance Services.

“There are a lot of positives for the end user, including coverage to kids, accessibility, and maximum 90-day enrollment periods, but the concern is how much all of this will cost. It will be interesting to see how the effects of the less popular parts of the law play out.”

Negative effects of the ACA on small businesses have included employee hours being cut. Torgersen said that he has not seen a lot of this occurring on a local level, in large measure due to the mandate being delayed until 2015. Though there are isolated incidents of this occurring, part-time employment as a percentage of the working population has actually dropped in 2013.

Reduction in hiring and more out-of-pocket expenses for larger firms are real fears, as there are not tax credits or federal assistance in place for big companies that previously did not offer health insurance and are now being forced to.

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have increased for individuals in order to cover these costs.

Most premium increases to date have been seen on the individual market, an increase federal subsidies are intended to help cover. As a result, it may be more beneficial for employees to stay in a group plan than venture out in to the individual markets. Nevertheless, about 30 percent of small employers are considering that action by 2015.

Small employers who are considering health care savings by forcing employees onto the exchanges are advised to evaluate the potential burden this places on their workers. Of course, insurance premium increases depend on a variety of factors, and no one plan applies to everyone.

As of Sept. 23, 2010, group plans cannot drop individuals from coverage unless that person commits fraud or intentional misrepresentation. This is a benefit to small firm workers, and important for small employers to note.

The ACA uses taxes, in combination with free market competition principles in the exchanges and cuts in spending, to provide cost assistance to employees and employers. For small businesses, this means offering employees more attractive compensation packages and receiving federal help in fulfilling what many consider a moral obligation.

There are many critiques of the law, however, as it pertains to individuals and big businesses, including the individual mandate, a glitch-ridden website, higher premiums, medical device taxes, and more.

“If the law wasn’t so politically charged, our representatives could take a real look at what works and doesn’t work, and collaborate to fix it,” said Kirchharr. “We will have to see how it all plays out. Hopefully once the controversy dies down, we can appreciate the positives and change the negatives.”

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

“Big employers need to start preparing now for the mandate, which was postponed to 2015,” said Kirchharr. “Especially in Pensacola, there are a lot of seasonal and tourist-driven businesses that may be affected by that magic 50 number. The law has calculations in place for dealing with seasonal workers and there are software options available to concerned employers.”

Today, most firms offer health insurance and other benefits as a talent recruitment and retainment strategy. Small businesses who subscribe to these practices will find it easier and more cost-effective to do so, thanks to the ACA. Small businesses that do not offer those plans may consider offering them now, thanks to the credits now available.

Ironically, in many respects, the law has had the opposite effect, however. Individuals who are employed by businesses that do not offer them healthcare can seek refuge in online, individual marketplace exchanges, where they may be eligible for federal subsidies if they make under 400 percent of the federal poverty line, which most in Pensacola do. In order to save health care costs, some small businesses are cancelling their group plans and advocating that employees use the exchange, letting the government take over the previously employer-supplied subsidies.

“There have been some unintended consequences of the law, to be sure,” said Torgersen. “I suggest that small employers evaluate their current group plan and the benefits and premiums that accompany that plan. They should then evaluate that against tax credits they would receive on the SHOP and employee benefits/cost on the exchange.”

As insurance plans purchased after March 23, 2010 now have increased federally-mandated benefits and rules, premiums

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>AROUND THE REGION

business news bits you should know Pensacola Chamber awarded cyber warfare grant The Florida Defense Support Task Force, an arm of Enterprise Florida, awarded the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce with $200,000 to establish a research center for cyber warfare training. The research center is expected to be affiliated with Corry Station, and is the culmination of the chamber’s ongoing relationship and collaboration with federal partners at the base.

Greater Pensacola Chamber opens up nominations for 2014 PACE Awards The Greater Pensacola Chamber is calling for nominations for its 54th annual Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence (PACE) Awards. Each year, the PACE Awards honor outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to Greater Pensacola’s overall economic progress. The entry deadline for nominations is Friday, Nov. 27.

Santa Rosa Industrial Park adds 300 jobs Over the next 18 months, two tenants will add approximately 300 jobs to the Santa Rosa Industrial Park. The first company, Gulf Cable, is constructing a 70,000 square-feet facility expected to open in early 2014. The second company, Goldring Gulf Distributing, has purchased a 34acre land allotment and is expected to begin construction soon.

Chamber to offer free seminar on workplace shootings The possibility of an armed assault occurring anywhere in the United States is a real one, as evidenced by the recent mall shootings in New Jersey and at the Los Angeles International Airport. The Chamber will be offering a free seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to help businesses prepare for such an event.

It will be open to the public but is intended specifically for businesses in the Greater Pensacola Area.

New student organization at UWF inspires future entrepreneurs The University of West Florida College of Business is encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurial ideas through a new organization, Student Collaborative Entrepreneurship Organization, or Student CEO. The organization was founded in January 2013 in an effort to create a link for UWF students who are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship and to facilitate networking opportunities between student members and the business community. Members of the organization have the opportunity to participate in classes offered at the UWF Small Business Development Center to learn more about creating and managing a business. Members also attend weekly meetings to brainstorm new business ideas and provide feedback. Future plans include starting a business to be owned and run by members of Student CEO.

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Naval Hospital Pensacola earns “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures®” recognition from the Joint Commission On Nov. 1 Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP) was named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by the Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. The hospital was recognized by the Joint Commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions. The clinical processes focus on care for heart attack, pneumonia, surgery, children’s asthma, stroke and venous thromboembolism, as well as inpatient psychiatric services. New this year is a category for immunization for pneumonia and influenza.

West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc. announces new name, UWF Historic Trust West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc., a direct support organization of the University of West Florida, now operates under the new name of UWF Historic Trust, following a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors last month. This name was selected as a result of an extensive research process, which included a review of numerous organizational facets. It symbolizes not only the attachment to the University, but also a relationship between the organization and the historic assets with which it is entrusted.

Association of College and University Auditors recognizes UWF AVP for Internal Auditing Betsy Bowers, UWF associate vice president for Internal Auditing and Management Consulting, was recently awarded the Member of Excellence in Service Award by the Association of College and University Auditors. The ACUA Member of Excellence in Service Award, started in 1997, recognizes a member who has made outstanding contributions to ACUA through exceptional volunteer service in fulfilling its mission. The

>PEOPLE ON THE

award is announced each year at the ACUA Annual Conference.

Bowers has worked in higher education for more than 30 years as a grant accountant, internal auditor and internal audit director/chief audit executive. Prior to joining the University, Bowers worked at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and Northeast State Technical Community College (NSTCC).

Pensacola lands Southwest Airlines After nearly 20 years, Southwest Airlines has finally come to Pensacola International Airport, creating more options for Northwest Florida and Southeast Alabama travelers. Southwest now offers twice daily nonstop service between PEnsacola and Nashville and daily nonstop service between the airport and Houston Hobby, with additional same-plane or connecting service to nearly 70 total destinations served by the carrier's all-Boeing 737 fleet.

Southwest Airlines gives Ronald McDonald House $90,000 On Nov. 4, Bob Montgomery, Southwest Airlines vice president of airport affairs, presented the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) with nearly $90,000 raised during the most recent Southwest's LUV Classic golf tournaments. For nearly 30 years, these tournaments have supported families to stay near a hospital where a child is receiving medical attention. Southwest Airlines supports RMH through employees who volunteer to cook and serve meals to the families, financial sponsorships and ticket donation.

Justin Beck's Maritime building approved Beck Property Co.'s forthcoming $4 million property has been approved by the Community Maritime Park Associates board. Justin Beck's proposed design includes a three-story building that will house retail spaces on the first floor, Beck office space on the second floor, and luxury condominiums on the third. Beck hopes to break ground before the end of the year, pending approval of the design from the City of Pensacola.

Destin Commons adding retail space One-hundred thousand square feet of new retail, restaurant and entertainment space is being constructed at Destin Commons. The new space is expected to bring 25 new businesses and 200 new employees to the shopping center. H&M and Uncle Buck's are the currently-announced anchors, and Sunglass World, Tervis Tumblers, yogurt store YogoMogo and Chipotle Mexican Grill are also expected to open. The construction that began in September 2012 is well ahead of schedule, with an expected grand opening sometime in July 2014.

MOVE

Baptist Hospital selects Cynde Gamache as vice president and chief nursing officer Baptist Health Care (BHC) has selected Cynde Gamache as the new vice president and chief nursing officer for Baptist Hospital. Cynde comes to BHC from Central Florida Health Alliance where she served as vice president and chief clinical officer. Gamache gained experience as chief nursing officer at several large organizations in the mid-west and is passionate about patient care and safety. Gamache earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and her master’s degree from Mid-America Nazarene University. She is currently completing her doctorate in business administration from Northcentral University.

Kutell, Stokes, Metzger headline changes at QMotion Advanced Shading Systems Several company-wide changes in personnel are underway as QMotion Advanced Shading Systems continues multiple new initiatives in the automated window covering industry. Ben Kutell is director of Strategic Programs, a newly created post that includes product management, training, trade shows and strategic programs. Kutell, who joined QMotion in 2011 to oversee its marketing, has an MBA from Tulane University and 15 years of industry experience. Preston Stokes, a 2010 graduate of the University of West Florida, becomes QMotion’s logistics and inventory specialist, bringing experience that will improve shipping times and efficiencies. Cassie Metzger heads the newly designated Brand Development Department that will ensure brand consistency, public relations strategies, website content and QMotion’s brand and reputation. Metzger, a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, has more than 20 years marketing experience, including consulting for distributors/dealers and internet start-ups.

To be included in Around the Region or People on the Move, email your news releases and business announcements to josh@ballingerpublishing.com.

Mayor Hayward's reiterates promises at State of the City address In his annual State of the City address, Mayor Ashton Hayward focused on successes from his first three years in office and looked to the future. Looking forward, he promised to pursue economic development by supporting job creation and creators, ensure the city gets back its share of the tax dollars it sends to Tallahassee and Washington, promote workforce education in targeted industries, maximize city assets, reduce crime, and take the area's shared prosperity to the west side of Pensacola.

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>BUSINESS SCENE

...at the reception for John Hemingway at Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

John Hemingway, Celeste Southard & Maria Davis

A happy group at Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall menu tasting

Caroline Martin, John Hemingway & Kelly Oden

...at the Jukebox Gala Sponsor Party at the home of Nan Fetterman

Maria Davis & Justine Simone

Bill & Beth Gibson, Amy Miller & Charlie Bockwith at the Gulf Coast Kids House Luncheon

Becca Boles & gracious host Nan Fetterman

Kathy Dunagan & Glenys Ballinger

GE plant visitors for National Manufacturing Day

...at Business After Hours

Don Bowen & Jeff Martin

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Wendi Summers & John Towns November/December 2013

Katie Kingsman & Wendy Simon