Pensacola Magazine, September 2022 by Ballinger Publishing

SEPTEMBER 2022 • PENSACOLAMAGAZINE.COM BUSINESS CLIMATE ON THE MARKET A REAL ESTATE SECTION ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: A ROUNDUP OF LOCAL SHOWCASEBUILDERSHOMEBUILDERS SMART APPLIANCES DESIGN TRENDS SÉANCE AT PMA DESIGNDEMOLISHPENSACAN:HUNGER,HOPE

Real Estate is OurBusinessFamily Selling New Homes Since 1982! 850.478.4141 buysellconnell.com Connell & Company Realty, Inc. | 2107 Airport Blvd | Pensacola, FL 32504 We are Northwest Florida’s premier Real Estate Brokerage. We’ve been setting the standard for excellence since 1982! Shopping Centers, Hotels, Offices and Land Developement. Harper ompany, ll 2107 airporT Blvd. pensa 32504 www.harpertitle.com When you think title, think Harper 14 live oak sTree GulF Breeze, Fl 32561 Shellie Isakson-Smith Loan O cer NMLS #440325 Direct: 850.777.3513 Fax: 1115www.ShellieHomeLoans.comShellie.IsaksonSmith@supremelending.com850.777.3518EGonzalezStreet|Pensacola,FL32501 EQUAL OPPORTUNITYHOUSING Cell: 850.232.3224 ADVERTISEMENT. EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC. D/B/A SUPREME LENDING NMLS ID #2129 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) 14801 Quorum Dr., #300, Dallas, TX 75254. 877-350-5225. Copyright © 2021. For licensing information go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Intended for Florida consumers only, Florida Mortgage Lender Servicer License MLD909. Real Estate is OurBusinessFamily Selling New Homes Since 1982! 850.478.4141 buysellconnell.com Connell & Company Realty, Inc. | 2107 Airport Blvd | Pensacola, FL 32504 We are Northwest Florida’s premier Real Estate Brokerage. We’ve been setting the standard for Shopping Centers, Hotels, Offices and Land Developement. H ompany, 2107 airporT Blvd. pensaCola, Fl 32504 When you think title, think Harper 14 live oak s GulF Breeze, Fl Shellie Isakson-Smith Loan O cer NMLS #440325 Direct: 850.777.3513 Fax: 1115www.ShellieHomeLoans.comShellie.IsaksonSmith@supremelending.com850.777.3518EGonzalezStreet|Pensacola,FL32501 Cell: 850.232.3224 ADVERTISEMENT. EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC. D/B/A SUPREME LENDING NMLS ID #2129 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) 14801 Quorum Dr., #300, Dallas, TX 75254. 877-350-5225. Copyright © 2021. For licensing information go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Intended for Florida consumers only, Florida Mortgage Lender Servicer License MLD909. Real Estate is OurBusinessFamily Selling New Homes Since 1982! 850.478.4141 buysellconnell.com Connell & Company Realty, Inc. | 2107 Airport Blvd | Pensacola, FL 32504 We are Northwest Florida’s premier Real Estate Brokerage. We’ve been setting the standard for excellence since #BuySellConnell1982! Harper TiTle Company, llC 2107 a pensaCola (850)435-4435 www.harpertitle.com When you think title, think Harper sTreeT , Fl 32561 Shellie Isakson-Smith Loan O cer NMLS #440325 Direct: 850.777.3513 Fax: 1115www.ShellieHomeLoans.comShellie.IsaksonSmith@supremelending.com850.777.3518EGonzalezStreet|Pensacola,FL32501 EQUAL OPPORTUNITYHOUSING ADVERTISEMENT. EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC. D/B/A SUPREME LENDING NMLS ID #2129 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) 14801 Quorum Dr., #300, Dallas, TX 75254. 877-350-5225. Copyright © 2021. For licensing information go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. 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With over 50 Full-Time Realtors, we have specialists in all areas of Real Estate ranging from Residential Sales to Commercial Shopping Centers, Hotels, Offices and Land Developement. Harper TiTle Company, ll 2107 airporT Blvd pensaCola, Fl 32504 www.harpertitle.com When you think title, think Harper 14 live oak sTree G B , Fl 32561 Shellie Isakson-Smith Loan O cer NMLS #440325 Direct: 850.777.3513 Fax: 1115www.ShellieHomeLoans.comShellie.IsaksonSmith@supremelending.com850.777.3518EGonzalezStreet|Pensacola,FL32501 EQUAL OPPORTUNITYHOUSING Cell: 850.232.3224 ADVERTISEMENT. EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC. D/B/A SUPREME LENDING NMLS ID #2129 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) 14801 Quorum Dr., #300, Dallas, TX 75254. 877-350-5225. Copyright © 2021. For licensing information go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Intended for Florida consumers only, Florida Mortgage Lender Servicer License MLD909. 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6 | SEPTEMBER 2022 CONTENTS FEATURES 14 SÉANCE Photographer Shannon Taggert’s explorations into spiritualist practices on exhibition at the Pensacola Museum of Art. 17 DEMOLISH HUNGER, DESIGN HOPE Manna’s annual PensaCan event in partnership with AIA Florida Northwest kicks off for 2022. 21 WHAT’S TRENDING IN INTERIOR DESIGN? Local interior designer Connie Crosby gives her take on what’s hot in the world of interior design. 25 SMART APPLIANCES GALORE! Get a glimpse into the modern kitchen with some of today’s top smart kitchen gadgets and tools. 35 BUILDERS SHOWCASE A roundup of local home builders in partnership with the Home Builders Association of West Florida. TOPICS 8 Editor’s Note 10 Page 10 with DeeDee Davis 12 Pensacola Scene 67 Event Calendar BUSINESS CLIMATE ON THE MARKET ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: A REAL ESTATE SECTION ON THE COVER: Photo courtesy of Acorn Developers

Jennifer McKeown-Putney

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Kelly@pensacola_magazineOden

Subscription expiration date is printed on the address label. Renew your subscription today online at ballingerpublishing.com: One year $14.95 or two years $22.75.

Editor’s Note

If you’re interested in conservation, check out Dakota Parks story on local Panhandle Rooftop Nesting Biologist, Rebekah Snyder. Through her work with Audubon Florida, Snyder helps to ensure local shorebirds have safe nesting spaces in an increasingly overpopulated region.

So, turn off the news, put down your phone and enjoy these heartwarming tales and adorable of photos of local animals and the folks who care for them. When you’re done, give your kitty a little catnip and throw your dog a bone. It’s these simple pleasures that will keep us all sane.

Executive Editor

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Kelly Oden

We’ve also included information on upcoming events like the Pensacola Museum of Arts’ SÉANCE exhibit, which features spiritualist photographs by fine art photographer Shannon Taggart. Plus, Manna Food Pantries’ annual fundraiser, PensaCan, is back with its architecturally- inspired friendly competition featuring non-perishable food items. Also, be sure to check out our Business Climate section this month. It features all the details on the upcoming ITEN WIRED Summit, which offers techies a place to connect, share ideas and build the tech community in Northwest Florida.

Note

I hope you enjoy the issue!

Procrastination

NW Florida’s Business Climate Magazine and Pensacola Magazine is local ly-owned and operated. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or use of the con tents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Com ments 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 publish er. 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. © 2022 SEPTEMBER 2022

Real estate—it’s the hottest topic in town and across the nation. While rising interest rates and record high pricing loom large, those factors have yet to bring sales or new builds to a halt. In fact, inventory is still low and although sales are slowing a bit, the industry is still strong. Pensacola’s real estate offerings are unique in that the ages of available homes range from over 100 years old through homes built in 2022. While older homes carry plenty of charm, craftsmanship and history, many buyers are looking toward new construction as a way to ward off increasing costs because new builds are low maintenance, energy efficient and often more affordable to insure. So, how do you choose a builder for your new construction or custom built home? Location, design and materials all play a big role in homebuyers’ decisions, but so do the relationships and the trust they feel with potential builders. In this issue, we’ve partnered with the Homebuilders Association of West Florida to bring you profiles and information on some of the areas most trusted builders. We hope learning a little bit about these companies will help make your home buying decision a little easier.

Executive Editor

2021 Instead,resolutionslovedsurvivedissuebarragelossandentireones,keptside,atleastwillchangevaccinescoronavirus,somefreelyWhathassuspectitmentaltimepositiveexperiences.broughthomehaveuncertain.mycommunity.healthisourknewit.

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8 | SEPTEMBER 2022 EDITOR’S NOTE

Executive Editor

Editor’s Note

first responders and hospital workers? Thank you for putting yourselves on the front lines to keep us as safe as possible. Also, a big shout out to all the teachers out there scrambling to put together online lessons to keep our kids engaged and learning instead of worrying about things they cannot control. We appreciate you! On that note, I encourage you to read our COVID-19 Resource Guide, which provides resources for food, business, community and more. The ever-changing nature of this crisis necessitates that I mention that these resources may or may not be available to you by the time you read this issue. I hope it will provide a place to start, some ideas or some inspiration either way. You may also notice that we have some nonpandemic related stories in this issue. We made the call to include already planned articles that might still be helpful, relevant or enjoyable for our readers. We hope you find them useful. As for us, Pensacola Magazine has been published under one title or another for more than 40 years. We have no plans on changing that. We will continue to publish and to bring you all the information we can for as long as we can. Please reach out to us with story ideas, inspiration or just a quick hello. We are all working from home and we are missing our water cooler conversations. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay strong, Pensacola! already? assure alone.equally—you Societysuspect.it—theI’moveronaword:overOnlypandemicthestress,distancingandmanythingscanprovidemorereturn.hashadfosteringknowthatalwaysasweetkittysoundscheckpage34.forourwithsome incredible special-needs pets and their owners and she discovered that while these precious babies may take a little more care, the love they give in return is worth every second. If exotic animals are more your thing, head on over to the brand spanking new and significantly enlarged Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. The new location features all the hands-on, up close interaction as the previous location plus added attractions, amenities and experiences that will make for a wonderful family day out.

All of this, plus a few DIY pet treat recipes and some good news from the Florida legislature regarding protection for pets in abusive situations.

This year, I hope to explore creative and personal endeavors that help me rediscover myself and discover new outlets for personal expression.

Obesity, diabetes and heart disease became death sentences for too many people battling Covid. While genetics predispose some to these illnesses, many can be managed or eradicated by lifestyle changes. I’d like to focus on making healthy choices while still enjoying the bad-for-you good stuff in moderation. Passion and Joy I don’t know about you, but 2020 offered far too little of either of these to me. I was so consumed with my mom’s illness and then with surviving the grief of her loss and the anxiety of the pandemic and the sorrow of so many national news stories that I took little time for myself.

While many people made glorious headway on home improvement and personal projects in 2020, I did not. I did not organize anything. I did not fix anything. I did not learn a language or a new skill. Nothing. But that’s ok, too. I’m still here. That’s an accomplishment. However, in 2021, I’d like to lighten my load and empty my house of much of the clutter and unnecessary junk that fills it. It’s time to make room for something new. In this issue, we’ve covered all of these topics and more to help readers shift their own focus in 2021. We hope you enjoy. Here’s to your health!

Malcolm Ballinger Publisher Malcolm malcolm@ballingerpublishing.comBallinger Executive Editor Kelly kelly@ballingerpublishing.comOden Art Director Ian ian@ballingerpublishing.comLett Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Garrett advertise@ballingerpublishing.comHallbauer Editor Morgan morgan@ballingerpublishing.comCole Assistant Editor Nicole nicole@ballingerpublishing.comWillis Contributing Writers DeeDee Davis Paul TerriThompsonHaggertyCarsonWilber Sales & Marketing Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com CULTURE + LIFESTYLE

Executive Editor

@pensacola_magazineKellyOden

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PENSACOLA MAGAZINE

You bet. When you are there it seems so right. The day after is another story. The tailgate parties at most campuses are legendary, with Ole Miss probably topping the list. Stake your territory and set up camp is what it’s all about. Once upon a time these gatherings included a couple of ice chests and some pom poms. Now they have television, catering, full bars and party favors. If as much effort went into solving world problems as goes into planning an SEC game weekend, there would unquestionably be peace and harmony among the nations.

It’sanyway.only a game you may say? Not a chance. SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 2 Corbett Davis III 4 Tina Tortomase 5 Crystal Spencer 13 Sue Straughn 28 Bob Montgomery 30 Todd McWaters

DeeDee Davis, Contributing piece: the views expressed in this article are solely of the writer and not representative of Pensacola

But mercifully, in the fall, we have one reprieve, one glorious distraction. College football. There ain’t nothing like it. I have never exactly been what you would call a politically correct person, if politically correct means avoiding taking sides or offending anyone, so let’s just get it out there. I love Auburn football, though I was not raised to bleed orange and blue. I grew up in a home where Friday nights meant high school games, Saturday was all about college ball, and Sundays included a pro game. But Saturdays were the best. One game on the television and others on the radio, though often they were one and the same since my father thought, and still feels, the University of Alabama is the only school in the universe that matters.

Magazine Page 10

When you get all wrapped up in support of a team it has a way of blocking out everything crummy in your life. Unless you lose, that is. Even then, it’s a different kind of misery that you know you share with everyone else wearing your colors. And it’s not the kind of disappointment that changes the world like war and disease. It’s temporary. There is always next year and a clean slate with new players and if it was a really bad season, most likely new coaches as well.

And it’s not all restricted to actually going to the game. Every bit as much goes into a stay –at- home -and -watch, because then you follow all of the games. Not that I am one of them, but many are said to take as much joy from another’s loss as they are from their own win. You don’t say this out loud; you just keep it deep inside where some sign of it does occasionally show it’s ugly self intheprecedefireworksoutbandtheAndtakesuitwasgearteamamtelevision,witheventrees.poisoningwayshorriblelikeButalonemyIwearingsupportasifIreadytoupandthefield.whenmarchingstrutsandteam bursting into the arena, nothing else matters. Not COVID, not war, and certainly not politics. Not for three and a half hours

10 | SEPTEMBER 2022

I know I don’t need to explain football fever to anyone who has gone to a college with a team or who has had a child who has attended a college with a team. And, of course, there are plenty of people out there who can claim neither and yet still are wildly passionate about the game. Listen to the Paul Finebaum show sometime. So this is for those who don’t share the love or understanding of the bizarre craziness that follows college football. It’s not meant to make a fan or convert out of you. It’s only to offer a meager justification for the absolute insanity that overtakes anyone who Stresscares.isundoubtedly at the core of all misery and disease. But who can avoid it? The best we can do is take care of what we have and try our darndest to exercise and eat right, hoping that is enough. Covid, Russia, Global Warming, Iraq, terrorism, cancer, gangs, drug dealers, where does it end? We are surrounded 24/7 with plenty to keep us up at night.

Writer Opinion

Other than maybe a Jimmy Buffett concert, where can you go to hang out all day drinking with people dressed in costume for the cause? I packed up once last season to head for Auburn and stopped by my office before getting on the road. I work in a place where almost everyone has declared loyalty to a team. But there is something screaming like neon about a lone car in a parking lot adorned in magnets, shakers, flags, and yes, a tiger tail. What kind of normal person does this? It’s another story altogether when you hit the interstate with your brethren. Fight song blaring from the radio, onward to the Beerapartytakingbeforerevelrytoentiretospot,parkingatoatinfindDon’tofisTailgatinggame!acultureitsown.trytologicleavingdaybreakfindgoodonlyhaveandayfillwiththeintostadium.at10am?

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14 | SEPTEMBER 2022 F or those that find haunted houses too gauche and feel a bit too old to go trick or treating, the Pensacola Museum of Art will be hosting a supernatural exhibit this fall which provides a glimpse into real-life attempts to communicate with the dead.

Shannon Taggart was first introduced to the religion as a teenager, when her cousin received a message from a medium at Lily Dale revealing a strange family secret. The incident made Taggart deeply curious about Spiritualism, leading her first to photograph the Lily Dale community in 2001 and eventually to document other Spiritualist centers, including Arthur Findlay College in the United Kingdom and Montcabirol in France.

While this double-sided coin of belief and skepticism haunts the histories of both photography and Spiritualism, Taggart’s

While the subject matter for this photography exhibit may feel strange to some viewers, Spiritualism and photography have many similarities. Having both developed in the mid-nineteenth century, the religion and the art form provided a new method for convincing the audience that things are not always as they seem.

The photography exhibit, Séance, showcases the work of Shannon Taggert and her explorations into Spiritualist practices across the United States, England and France from the last 20 years. The exhibition examines the relationship of Spiritualism to human celebrity, its connections to art, science and technology and its intrinsic bond with the medium of photography.

Spiritualism is an American-born religion that believes in communication with spirits of the dead. The movement emerged in Rochester, New York in 1848 when two adolescent sisters, Kate and Margaret Fox, claimed to communicate with the spirit of a murdered man through a system of coded knocks. This phenomenon drew large crowds eager to witness the girls serve as ‘mediums’ of communication with the deceased. As the religion grew, several Spiritualist schools and communities formed that still operate today, of which Lily Dale, founded in Western New York in 1879, remains the most popular.

When Spiritualists began using photography to document their work, the religion seized on the new medium as a tool for revealing the existence of spirits. For non-believers, the ghostly forms that materialized in spirit photographs proved nothing more than darkroom trickery.

SEANCE

Photographer Shannon Taggert’s explorations into spiritualist practices on exhibition at the Pensacola Museum of Art Table-tipping workshop with mediums Reverend Jane and Chris Howarth. Erie, Pennsylvania, 2014 32” x 48”by the Pensacola Museum of Art

Contributed

Medium Kai Muegge displays ectoplasm filled with images of the dead. Basel Psi Association, Switzerland, 2018 30” x 20”

• Reverend Jean heals Jennifer, the Healing Temple. Lily Dale, NY, 2003 20” x 30” Medium Annette Rodgers participates in a direct radio voice experiment led by medium and tutor Kim Moore-Cullen, in a circle that includes other bereaved parents. Arthur Findlay College, England, 2018 12” x 18”

Wombs, cameras and séance rooms are all devices that generate and transmit presence from inside a dark chamber.”

Shannon Taggart is an artist and author based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her photographs have been exhibited and featured internationally, including within the publications TIME, New York Times Magazine, Discover, and Newsweek. Her work has been recognized by Nikon, Magnum Photos and the Inge Morath Foundation, American Photography and the Alexia Foundation for World Peace. Taggart’s monograph, SÉANCE (Fulgur Press, 2019) was listed as one of TIME magazine’s ‘Best Photobooks of 2019.’

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 15 photographs do not take sides. As seen in many of the exhibit photos on display in Séance, her photos often include unexplained phenomena including glowing orbs, out-of-place light flares and visual blurs which invoke the feeling of otherworldly entities. Taking on the role of participant observer, Taggart bears witness with her camera to an unseen world of belief lying just beyond the fringes of everyday reality.

“Over the years, I’ve encountered an array of photographic séance phenomena,” Taggart said in her book. “These artifacts made me consider the analogies found at the intersection of life, death, Spiritualism and photography. Photography and Spiritualism both offer an interaction with what was once present, but is now gone. Each uses the term ‘medium’ to describe their role as an intermediary instrument for communication. Trance states often develop under a red light, like the latent images brought forth in the fluid of chemical darkrooms. Ectoplasm is described as moist and fragrant, like human emissions, and light-sensitive, like photographic materials.

The Pensacola Museum of Art, in partnership with the UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and the Humanities will also be hosting an event with Shannon Taggart on September 30. The artist talk begins at 6:30 pm with a book signing to follow. PMA members are invited to a members only preview at 5:30 pm before the public reception begins at 6 pm.

Séance: Photographs by Shannon Taggert will be on view on the first floor of the Pensacola Museum of Art from September 16 to

December 4, 2022. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The Pensacola Museum of Art is located at 407 S Jefferson Street in downtown Pensacola.The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and on Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm. To learn more about Séance: Photographs by Shannon Taggert, register for the Artist Talk or explore more of the exhibitions at the PMA, head to pensacolamuseum.org.

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PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 17

The categories that all teams are eligible to win include–“Best Nutrition” (the structure that contains as many of the five food groups as possible), “Best Graphics” (the structure that best utilizes the colors, shapes, sizes, etc., of the food labels), “Juror’s Favorite” (the structure that stands above the rest in all aspects), “Honorable Mention” (the structure who deserves recognition, but is not worthy of the top honor) and “Video Production” (the team whose video is the best).

After seeing success with the off-site and digital building options, PensaCan organizers decided to keep these options available for those who want to participate but cannot make it out to the mall to build on-site. For public viewing and voting purposes, physical displays with images of digital and off-site builds will be put on-site at the mall. Since additional time is required to create an in-person display of digital and off-site submissions, these builds should be completed and submitted by September 9 at 5 pm. Digital builders must follow the same size rule as the physical builders—10’ x 10’ area and a maximum of 10’ high (3m x 3m x 3m). Digital sculptures should be modeled to scale using the dimensions of cans and boxes and should also include images of the product labels.

There are also two categories that only physical builds (not digital) are eligible to win–the “Most Valuable” (the structure that utilizes the most of Manna’s highly-needed food PensaCan, the annual event benefitting Manna Food Pantries, is returning to Cordova Mall. PensaCan 2022 is a donation-focused event organized by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Florida Northwest and Manna, hosted by Cordova Mall in Pensacola. AIA and Manna are seeking to embody and spread the event’s motto, “Demolish Hunger, Design Hope.”

For this annual event, local architectural firms, businesses, organizations, clubs, schools and other groups compete by forming teams to create elaborate structures made entirely out of non-perishable food items. The structures will be set up in the common area between Dillard’s and Ross inside of the Cordova Mall for both viewing and judging from September 29 through October 7. At the end of the competition, each of the team’s structures are broken down and the canned food items are then donated to Manna to help support their mission of feeding the hungry in Northwest Florida.

A massive dump truck created by the STOA Architects team by Nicole Willis

Manna has hosted this inseveralcreatingofuntiltheirwillonThisbeingwhichforPensacolatograntsexpirationrightgreathead,NWFLSmaydareceivedcountiesEscambiainmealsthanableorganizationKerriwidecommunity-fundraiserformorethantenyearsandaccordingtoMannaAssociateExecutiveDirector,Smayda,thehasbeentoprovidemore41,230healthytoindividualsneedthroughoutandSantaRosafromdonationsthroughtheevent.andAIAStateDirectorandthePensaCancommitteeJoeeyPoitevin,expressedaneedforfoodinthecommunitynow,especiallywiththerecentoftheCOVID-19lunchinpublicschools.AccordingSmayda,manystudentsintheareawillnowhavetoapplyfreeorreducedlunchesatschools,canresultinsomechildrennotabletoeat.year’sPensaCaneventwillbeginSeptember29.Thestructuresbeondisplayforoneweek,fromconstructiononSeptember29theirteardownonthemorningOctober8.PeopleinterestedinateamofbuildershavewaysthattheycanparticipatePensaCan–theycanbuildon-siteat the Cordova Mall, off-site or digitally PensaCanonline. organizers began providing builders with off-site and digital building options out of necessity once the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The donation-centric event is too crucial to Manna’s operations for it to disappear during the pandemic. “PensaCan is a critical food drive, especially going into the holiday season,” Smayda said. Poitevin added, “we did not want to shut this amazing event down.” So, the building process was adapted to allow for PensaCan’s continuation during the pandemic.

PensaCan organizers suggest several themes of inspiration of their builders, some of which include Disney, Superheroes, and Sports, but they are open to seeing anything and everything that the builders can craft up. Poitevin explained that the structures are a complete surprise to organizers and judges. “It’s always a nice surprise to see what everybody is building. It’s another one of the mystical points of the event,” he Onremarked.September 30, the judging process will begin with in-person judging. A panel of judges will walk around and view each display, making notes of which build best fits each category.

items) and “Structural Integrity” (the structure that demonstrates a technically impressive feat).

T: (850) 944-6805 • E: chopllc@yahoo.com • classichomesofpensacola.com • Parade Winner 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 • Builder of Dream Home 2015 • Builder Of The Year 2015 Free Design Service Build on our lot or yours! Come visit our furnished model homes Monday - Saturday 10am to 6pm Sunday 1pm to 6pm Just West of the Equestrian Center Now Building Huntington Creek Award Winning Homes! Spongebob created by the Dalrymple Sallis Team

The “People’s Choice Award” is also up for grabs for all teams, but this award has a wider voting pool. This award is exactly what it sounds like, an award chosen by the public. You don’t even need to leave your house to participate in this voting process, though you should visit the mall to look at the incredible structures in-person. Every team is required to create a video showcasing their build. These videos will be posted online for the public to see all of the incredible art that was created and then vote on their favorites. “People’s Choice Award” voting is open to the public and will be accepted online at mannahelps.org starting September 30 through October 7. The awards ceremony will be held at Beyond the Grape in the Cordova Mall on October 11 at 5 PensaCanpm.teams are responsible for purchasing all of the food items for use in their sculpture. Teams can purchase their food items directly from Manna, or on their own. There are no other registration fees or costs associated with participation in PensaCan apart from the food. While teams may purchase and bring their own canned goods, Manna offers an option that is easier than lugging hundreds of heavy cans into the mall on build day. Teams can order canned goods directly from Manna to have all of the heavy lifting done for them. Interested teams should visit aianwfl. wildapricot.org to complete an order form specifying how many units of each item the team will require. Then, on building day, Manna will deliver each team their canned goods at the mall. The order forms are due by September 2 at 5 pm. If a team chooses to purchase food on their own, Manna requires there be no alcohol, glass containers, pet food, expired food or open packages of Registrationfood. to participate as a builder is open now until September 9 at 5 pm. Anyone can become a builder and participate in PensaCan! This family-friendly event can include everyone from architects and engineers to teachers and students. Local businesses often choose to participate by creating a team with their staff. Don’t have a team but still want to get involved? No worries, you can choose to be placed on a team. There is no limit on how many team members can participate. The more the merrier! “We have anywhere between four and six teams sign up every year. Some of the teams have a lot of help and get their families involved. Some teams have one or two people building on it, and other teams might have 10 people,” Poitevin explained. He added that in previous years, as many as 10 teams have Ifparticipated.youwantto get involved but don’t want to build, sponsorships and donations are excellent ways to show your support. There are various sponsorship levels available, all of which can be viewed at aianwfl.com. Sponsor forms are due September 9 at 5 pm. Manna will also be accepting donations directly, at mannahelps. org/donate/money. Use the “in honor of” field to specify your donation towards PensaCan or a specific building team. To learn more about PensaCan, including registering your team and becoming a sponsor, visit aianwfl. Towildapricot.org.donateandkeep up with Manna, visit mannahelps.org and follow @mannahelps.org on Facebook.

FOOFOOFEST.COM november 3-14, 2022 Scan to see all Pensacola,eventsFL 12-day celebration of culturally creative happenings, events, and moments under one banner.

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Trend 2 Open shelving or pantries with a clear, see-through door

Fall is nearly here, and it’s the perfect time to update one, or a few, of your home’s design elements. We asked local interior designer Connie Crosby of Constance Crosby Interiors for some insight on what’s hot in the world of interior design this season?

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 21

Trend 1 Warm neutral colors and simple, stand-alone accent pieces Neutral colors create a relaxing and welcoming space. Light brown colors that can be bright during the day but warm in the evening create a room that is perfect all day long. Those stand-alone accent pieces in a variety of shades of brown create a lovely space that is not over crowded. You want clean and clear, not cluttered, so that your space is inviting but still accentuates your taste.

The dishes and other everyday items in the kitchen can become part of the decor and add a different sense of style. Baskets, jars and other open or clear containers can add some new and exciting texture throughout a home. When you have everything out on the shelves that you use everyday, it becomes part of your decor (and things won’t get lost in the back of a cabinet).

What’s Trending in Interior Design?

22 | SEPTEMBER 2022

The Open Shelving and Neutral Color Image are taken from two of Connie’s clients. The Wall Paneling Image was from RealHomes.com. Constance Crosby Interiors, Inc. is an award winning design firm with 29 years of experience throughout the Southeastern United States. Connie studied interior design at Florida International University, Florida State University and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. In addition she has taught Interior Design classes at Pensacola State College.

CONSTANCE CROSBY

Trend 3 Wall paneling

Adding wall paneling before you paint adds texture and elegance to any room. Most varieties are corrosion, water, mold and mildew resistant, making them the perfect accent for busy, high-traffic rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, hallways and anywhere you have kids. Paneling can give you that luxury feel, even on a budget.

Save big with HOT appliance rebates from Pensacola Energy. Save up to $3,000 in COOL CASH with HOT appliance rebates when you convert or replace select household appliances to natural gas. See incentive details at PensacolaEnergy.com, or call 850-436-5050 for details.

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SMART APPLIANCES GALORE! A GLIMPSE INTO THE MODERN KITCHEN

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 25

Think Keurig for cocktails with the bev by BLACK+Decker Cocktail Maker. The bev makes bar-worthy cocktails in just seconds without the hassle and excess of ingredients or mess. With bev, there’s no need to have barely used bitters and partially cut fruits– the machine’s magic comes from a capsule like a Keurig. The bev requires Bartesian cocktail capsules that contain everything necessary for the drink it is labeled as. There are more than 40 capsule options so that you can make all kinds of drinks, from an old fashioned or a whiskey sour to a margarita or a cosmopolitan. The bev automatically pulls the spirits from the necessary bottle, combines it with the juices, extracts and bitters contained within the capsule, and dispenses it into your glass. Then sit, relax and enjoy a delicious and effortless cocktail. The bev Cocktail Maker is available on Amazon.com for $321.74. Your Personal Bartender bev by CocktailBLACK+DeckerMaker

In a technology-driven world full of electric vehicles, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, it only makes sense that our homes would follow suit and ride the wave of technological advancements. Smart home devices add easy automations to our daily lives, allowing us to conveniently perform simple tasks at home from controlling the lighting to locking doors remotely, all through simple voice commands or with the use of a smartphone companion app. With many of us living fast-paced lives, we need home appliances that are reliable, effortless and most importantly, take little time to use. When it comes to cooking dinner for the family after a long day at work or brewing the perfect cup of joe before you go, some tech-led convenience can help simplify things in the kitchen. We’ve rounded up some of the most useful and unique technology-driven kitchen appliances to simplify your kitchen and make your cooking experience all the more fun. From countertop toasters that perfectly brown your slice of toast, to an espresso machine that runs on an app from your smartphone, there’s a tech-based kitchen product or smart appliance out there for just about everyone.

Revolution InstaGLO 2-Slice High Speed Smart Toaster

The Ultimate Chef System Ninja Smart Screen Kitchen System

Touch-Screen Toaster

Gone are the days of burnt toast, overcooked bagels and soggy waffles. The Revolution InstaGLO Toaster toasts your favorite breakfast items exactly how you like them. The toaster’s touchscreen interface is the first of its kind and simplifies the toasting experience— all the user has to do is place their desired breakfast item in the slots and make a few selections on the screen. First you select your product, in which there are five options to choose from: bread, bagel, waffle, english muffin or toaster pastry. Next, select the state of what you are toasting with the options fresh, frozen and reheat. When we are cooking a large breakfast, sometimes the timing does not work out favorably, and items get cold. The toaster’s reheat setting allows you to reheat your bread without it getting overly crispy or burnt. Whether you want toast with a slight golden hue, a warm and gooey toaster pastry or a basically burnt bagel, this toaster can do it all with a few taps. The Revolution InstaGLO Toaster is $349.95 and can be purchased at William Sonoma or online at williamsonoma.com.

The system’s 40-ounce Precision Processor is built for chopping and shredding tough ingredients like carrots, zucchini and squash. The system’s smart base is able to recognize which vessel is connected to the base and then lights up the available programs. These programs are preset and feature unique patterns of pulsing, pausing and speed changes. Programs include chop, puree, smoothie and more. The Ninja Smart Screen Kitchen System is available to purchase on Amazon for $199.95.

BY NICOLE WILLIS

The Ninja Smart Screen Kitchen System is the ultimate all-in-one kitchen device for seasoned chefs and home cooks alike. This Ultimate Chef System can process, blend, chop, extract, slice, puree and more—all in one easy-touse system. The system features three “vessels” or attachments which each perform different tasks. The 72-ounce Total Crushing Pitcher is perfect for making smoothly blended dips and smoothies and the 20-ounce Single Serve Cup is designed to create various extractions, dressings and sauces.

We are all too familiar with the mobile ordering option available at coffee chains across the country. Well, now you can have this experience at home with the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus. The Dinamica Plus takes the concept of “mobile ordering” to a whole new level with its intuitive app-based programming. This powerful machine can make everything from lattes and cappuccinos to flat whites and iced coffee. The attached thermal milk carafe allows the machine to create milk-based espresso drinks like lattes with milk of any texture. The machine has 16 set beverage options that can be brewed either simply with one touch through pre-set settings or can be customized with the app, Coffee Link. De’Longhi’s Coffee Link app allows you to adjust things like the milk and coffee quantity and allows you to create your own drink. Apart from the app, the machine also features a touch screen interface that displays your mostbrewed drinks first. The De’Longhi Dinamica Plus is a coffee lover’s dream because of its vast customization options and state-of-the-art technology. The De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine is available to purchase for $1,699.95 at William Sonoma.

Mobile Ordering… At Home

Family RefrigeratorSamsungFUNctionalityFamilyHub

When it comes to convenience in the kitchen, there’s a product to make just about everyone’s life a little easier. These products are just a handful of the hundreds of smart kitchen appliances on the market.

De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine

26 | SEPTEMBER 2022

An important addition to the Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator is the Family Hub app for Android and iOS devices, which allows you to take your fridge’s hub on the go. The Family Hub app allows you to look inside your fridge while you are shopping to see if you have a certain ingredient.

Just open the app to get a glimpse into the refrigerator. Via the hub or the app, you can also track the food you currently have in stock including their expiration dates, add items to your shopping list, plan meals and find recipes that contain ingredients that you already have on hand. The Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator comes in various sizes and colors and can be purchased at Lowe’s or online at lowes.com.

The appeal of Samsung Family Hub Refrigerators is less related to the fridge itself, but more related to the fridge’s high-tech functionality for the whole family. The Samsung Family Hub serves as a digital bulletin board, allowing family members to post their calendars, notes, voice memos, photos and videos. The fridge is also equipped to be an entertainment center for those cooking or hanging out in the kitchen. The fridge’s built-in speakers are surprisingly good quality for... well, a fridge. There are several music, podcast and radio apps available for download on the fridge, including iHeart and Spotify.

Can’t remember if there’s any milk left?

From smart fridges with cameras to one touch cocktail makers, products are available to make your time in the kitchen fun and simple. No matter what you want, you can get it in today’s tech-driven world.

By setting the standard for excellence, Connell & Company Realty has become among the largest independently owned real estate companies in Northwest Florida. We are a locally owned, multimillion dollar corporation of more than 50 Realtor Professionals and staff. We don’t compete with each other; we work as a team with over 2,000 years combined real estate experience— committed to offering you the best possible real estate experience! Connell & Company Realty, Inc. 2107 Airport Blvd | Pensacola, FL 32504 850.478.4141 info@buysellconnell.com BuySellConnell.com PROUDLY SERVING THE PENSACOLA AREA FOR 40 YEARS!

Hello, Northwest Florida. BROKERAGE. LEASING. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. Tina Tortomase Office & Retail Proudly Serving Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Fort Walton, Navarre, Destin and CameronCrestview.Cauley Office & Retail Specialist Ken Ellzey Land & Industrial John Griffing Land & Industrial COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES (850) 433.0577 | naipensacola.com When you engage NAI Pensacola you are getting over 300 years of knowledge and experience, all laser focused on providing excep tional results. As a full-service provider, NAI Pensacola can expertly handle all your com mercial real estate requirements. • Commercial Sales and Leasing • Property Management • Investment Sales • Site Selection • Tenant Representation • Buyer Representative DeeDee Davis Broker / CEO 850 380 6150 Logan DeVries CPM, MiCP NAI Pensacola is Northwest Florida’s largest full service, strictly commercial real estate com pany, and has been providing exceptional results to our clients in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties since 1983. 24 W. Chase St Pensacola. FL 32502 8 2022 AD.indd 1 8/16/2022 2:59:19 PM

• Putting additional money down on the house can help. By lowering your mortgage amount through a larger down payment, you lower the mortgage to home value. A lower loan to home value can mean a lower interest rate.

By Renee’ D Wilhoit AVP Market Sales Leader, Loan Office, Synovus Bank

Marry the House, Date the Rate

• Consider negotiating the seller’s paying some of the closing costs as this opens up an opportunity for the buyer (you!) to pay discount points that allow for a lower interest rate. This could potentially get the interest rate closer to last year’s rates. It is much cheaper for the seller to pay the closing costs than it is to lower the sales price and it gives a bigger benefit

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 29

Navigating the housing market, mortgage process and current interest rates can be overwhelming and stressful. With more than 30 successful years in the real estate and mortgage business, I offer some of my insight below.

There are no promises that rates will go down, nor is there a timeline for future rate drops, but there are other considerations when buying in the current market, because you do have options! Take the path that keeps you financially secure by purchasing a home that comfortably fits your budget. What does that mean for buyers’ options with rates increasing along with home prices?

• Government loans (FHA, VA, USDA) offer lower rates, however, each of these loan products have additional fees which are added

You may have heard the quote in the title before —“Marry the house, date the rate.” There are a few ways that it can be interpreted. One way to translate it is to think of the words as, “Buy the home you have fallen in love with, even if it’s over your budget.” A different translation is, “Buy the home that is within your budget, and when and if rates go down you will have the opportunity to refinance—taking advantage of lower rates, and the extra money will be gravy!”

• If this is your first time buying a home, look into the many programs that are available to assist first time homebuyers. Down payment assistance, 100 percent financing and second mortgages to cover closing costs are some of the benefits offered. Take advantage of these opportunities if you can. The City of Pensacola, Escambia County and Santa Rosa County offer programs for down payment assistance.

• Adjustable rate mortgages are becoming more popular, along with the one/two buy downs being offered.

2019 © All Rights Reserved. Closets by Design, Inc. to the overall mortgage cost to support the high loan to home value. Consider this as an opportunity to pay additional points with the savings from these loans, which will lower your interest rates as well.

There are many options available to home buyers in the current market. Do your research and happy home buying!

Call for a free in home design consultation and estimate (850)805-8407 www.closetsbydesign.com Follow us Imagine your home, totally organized! Custom Closets, Garage Cabinets, Home Office, Pantries, Laundries, Wall Beds, Wall Units, Hobby Rooms, Garage Flooring and more... forFINANCINGSPECIAL1 2 Months With approved credit. Call or ask your Designer for details. Not available in all areas. Walk in Closet 40% Off Plus Free Installation 40% off any order of $1000 or more. 30% off any order of $700 or more. On any complete Closet, Garage or Home Office. Not valid with any other offer . Free installation with any complete unit order of $500 or more. With incoming order, at time of purchase only. Home Office BedroomGarageClosetCabinets byClosetsDesign®PM Serving the entire Emerald Coast! Locally Owned and Operated

About the Author Renee’ D Wilhoit has provided home financing in the Panhandle for 32 years. She has been with Synovus Bank for 15 years. Renee is a member of the Women’s Council of Realtors, the Pensacola Association of Realtors and the Home Builders Association of West Florida. She also serves on the Favor House Board, the Affordable Housing Board and Women’s Council of Realtors Board. Whilhoit was also chosen as a Task Committee Member to help Affordable Housing meet their goal of 500 homes in five years.

Our team of Real Estate Attorneys are ready to assist you with all your Residential and Commercial Real Estate needs. We can assist you with Real Estate matters including: • Real Property Disputes • Title Insurance Issues • Land Use and Zoning • Quiet Title Actions • 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges •Acquisition, Sales and Development • Competitive Settlement Fees • Traditional and Nontraditional Loan Processing Emmanuel Sheppard and Condon is a full-service law firm dedicated to protecting individuals’ and businesses’ interests. Experienced, effective, and evolving since 1913. esclaw.com • 850.433.6581 We can assist you with Construction matters including: • Contract Review & Consultation • Risk Management • Construction Disputes • Liens Our team of experienced Construction Law Attorneys can provide a full range of services to help you with your Construction Law and Construction Litigation needs. • Regulatory Issues Clay H. Whittaker* H. Wesley Reeder* John G. Terhaar Robert Emmanuel* Adam Cobb* Greg Fayard John Monroe*Holly Jurnovoy Sally Fox* Rachel M. Miller Scott Copeland*Anna-Marie Forshee 30 S. Spring Street Pensacola, FL 32502 Adam White © 2022 Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon * Florida Bar Board Certified Attorney 202208 - ESC - Ad - Parade of Homes Magazine - VS3.indd 1 8/19/22 3:07 PM

Hometown Hometown Visit VUs isit Us YOUR MORTGAGE LENDER 244 E INTENDENCIA ST • PENSACOLA • FL 32502 www.SoutheastMortgage.com P R O X I M I T Y H A S B E N E F I T S Working with a local mortgage lender like Southeast Mortgage means we don't handle hundreds of other markets We focus on our neighbors, like you This allows us the opportunity to provide you with personalized service from a dedicated support team R E B E C C A C A M P B E L L A N G E L A L A N E C A S S I E F O W L E R T R A C Y B A R D I N 4 7 0 8 7 7 3 0 9 5 8 5 0 . 7 7 6 . 6 0 9 4 8 5 0 . 5 5 4 . 1 9 7 3 8 5 0 5 5 4 1 9 7 3 NMLS #924607 GA #924067 FL # LO81611 TN #236395 SC #MLO 924607 AL #78015 NC # 200667 EMLO NMLS #1249678 AL #63873 FL #LO33778 GA MLO #58649 MS MLO #1249678 EMLO NMLS #1030152 AL #63872 F # O33899 EMLO NMLS #1601506 AL#71586 GA MLO #61466 FL# LO43273 TN# 206775 Equal Housing Lender | Southeast Mortgage of Georgia Inc | NMLS #103956 | 3575 Koger Blvd Suite 400 Duluth GA 30096 Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee #6578 Alabama MC #21610 Florida #MLD718 MS MLS #103956 NC #L 180587 SC MLS #103956 TN MLS #168644 | 244 E Intendencia St Pensacola FL 32502

Whether building a custom home or choosing a pre-designed new construction house, selecting the right builder is a critical step in the process. It’s important to find a builder who has a reputation for using quality materials, for communicating well with clients and for delivering on time and as promised. Fortunately, the Pensacola area is home to dozens of homebuilders who meet or exceed those expectations. We’ve partnered with The Homebuilders Association of West Florida to bring you exclusive profiles on some of Northwest Florida’s top home builders. These builders offer a variety of options—from large custom homes and cottages to patio homes and townhouses. With so many local builders to choose from, we are sure you’ll find the perfect one for your new home in our inaugural Builders Showcase.

SHOWCASEBUILDERS

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 35

Builder Profiles Written By Paul Thompson

A designer and builder for the past 34 years, Les developed his eye for detail while in the U.S. Army where he served as a helicopter pilot and flew hundreds of successful missions. Before each flight, he had to thoroughly review a pre-flight and takeoff checklist containing 152 items in order to keep everyone safe. Today, he brings that same level of meticulous preparation and attention to detail to the homes he builds. Now his check list is 610 items in order to build a highquality home up to his standards. His specialty is waterfront homes built to the highest levels of design, construction, and durability standards. Every Acorn home offers maximum storm resistance, universal accessibility for aging in place, energy efficiency, and low maintenance burden.

Les, his team, and trade partners have been widely honored for their design and construction excellence placing first in the 2017, 18, 19, and 20 in the Parade of Homes® sponsored by the Home Builders Association of West Florida. They remain vigilantly committed to constantly improving what they do and staying on the leading edge of enhancing building science and technology. The entire construction team cares about their customers and takes great pride in their work.

all the boxes” for your dream home, Les White of Acorn Fine Homes has a unique combination of skills that makes him one of the area’s leading custom home builders. “We believe very strongly in the quality weofcraftsmanshipandthehomesbuild.” Acorn Fine Homes – RG0055853

Acorn homes are built with Earth Wise Home features using an air-tight, foam encapsulated thermal envelope along with advanced heating, cooling, ventilation, and climate control systems, products, and technologies. The result is a home that is comfortable, clean, and affordable to operate. Acorn’s construction standards include Storm Tuff™ features for framing, windows, roofing, and built-in safe rooms that protect you, your loved ones, and pets from tornadoes, hurricanes, and intruders. Each Acorn home is wired for an optional portable, or wholehouse generator, or solar system. Acorn homes are engineered and built to survive hurricane force winds without losing their roof, windows, or other types of structural failure.

36 | SEPTEMBER 2022

“We run into many unique challenges in the custom home building process,” says Les, who studied construction technology at the University of West Florida after his military service. “The challenge of building fine custom homes is doing things we’ve never done before and getting them right the first time”

As challenging as the building process can be, Acorn makes it easy and exciting. Through the use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) 3D modeling, Les and his team are able to show clients what their homes will look like even before they’re built.

“We believe very strongly in the quality and craftsmanship of the homes we build,” says Les. “We have a checklist that covers every detail. We are constantly improving our processes and procedures and adopting best practices in order to build better homes.”

Acorn Fine Home builds in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including the cities of Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, at748-3066,acornfinehomes.com,visitaboutForlifethendreamsExpressThePensacolaHolley-by-the-Sea,andNavarreBeaches.valuepropositionisclear:yourwants,needsandtoLesandhisteam…lookforwardtoyourbestinanAcornFineHome.moreinformationAcornFineHomes,theirwebsiteatwww.call850-oremailLesWhiteles@acornfinehomes.com.

ACORN FINE HOMESWhenitcomesto“checking

Les considers custom home building an art as much as a science. Creative thought is applied to every aspect of the home from the effective use of space to the maximization of waterfront vistas. Les and his team draw on the natural attributes of your home site, including trees, site lines, and borrowed views to unlock your property’s hidden potential.

“Being a designer makes me a better builder and being a builder makes me a better designer,” says Les. “We design not just for the aesthetic appeal but for every aspect that makes a home comfortable, livable, safe, and durable. We build a lot of our clients’ last homes.”

In Milton, Adams offers homes with three, four, or five bedrooms from 1,605 square feet up to 3,044 square feet at Hamilton Crossing and Hampton Cove, as well as fourand five-bedroom homes at SA Jones ranging from 1,920 square feet to 3,010 square feet. Adams is also building in Holly-by-theSea in Navarre and Riverwalk in Freeport (Walton County).

For more information about Adams Homes, visit their website at www.adamshome. com, or call 850-469-0977.

HOMESADAMS

Kyle Nicholas knicholas@adamshomes.com850-934-0470

Wayne Adams was bigger than life. A man of amazing grit, guts and determination. A true force of nature. When he started Adams Homes in 1991, the die was cast: his company would become one of the most prolific home builders in the nation, starting in Florida and ultimately extending operations to Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and most recently the Lonestar Region in Texas.

“We know that buying a home can be stressful, but our team works very hard to make the process evenpredictable,orderly,andenjoyable.”

Adams Homes – CRC10330146

Adams makes a promise to each and every homebuyer:

In addition to knowing that Adams makes construction integrity and workmanship a top priority, clients have the peace of mind that comes with the fact that every Adams home is backed by a thirdparty 10-year warranty that covers workmanship for one year, systems such as air conditioning and heating units for two years, and structural items for 10 years. Adams Homes has a andlimitstoproceduresandendlesscompaniesWhilehomebuilding.outlookuniquetowardsmanyhavemanualsstandardbywhichoperate,Adamsthe“redtape”empowers its managers and Team Members to serve the home buyers’ needs at a local level. “Although all companies need some level of structure and procedure,” says Bryan. “We believe that every situation is not the same and that we have surrounded ourselves with great people who will treat the customer as we would expect to be treated.”

“We believe that a homebuilder should offer customers a homesincludedreducesomesaysthetheiraunderstandthatpurchasestraightforwardprocessiseasytoandhomethatfitsneedsfrombeginning,”Bryan.“Whilehomebuildersthefeaturesintheirtosellthecustomer highpriced upgrades, we believe that value and satisfaction are delivered to the homebuyer by offering a home that includes the features that most homebuyers want. As my father always said: ‘Regardless of price, size, or location, all buyers want their builder to deliver value.’”

When his iconic father died of cancer, Bryan Adams boldly brought a new generation of leadership to the company, staying true to its original guiding principle of going beyond simply building homes to creating win-win results for its clients, team members, and trade partners. Indeed, “The Adams Story” now includes more than 50,000 homes built by 34 divisions around the South and Southeast and thousands of happy homeowners. Adams Homes has long been a key player in the Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Currently, the company builds in three Pensacola communities –Cardinal Cove, Embers Ridge, and Nautical Landing – where its three- and four-bedroom homes range in size from 1,250 square feet up to 2,751 square feet.

“Value, Simplified,” which encompasses a step-by-step approach to helping people make what is most likely to be the single biggest investment of their lives, and provide them the quality home of their dreams.

“We know that buying a home can be stressful,” says Bryan.

“But our team works very hard to make the process orderly, predictable, and even enjoyable.” Each client begins the journey by finding the community that best suits their needs. Then they select from a number of floor-plan options, based on family size and lifestyle. A visit to the preferred model comes next to see how their home will actually look, followed by decisions related to the home’s exterior and interior, as well as its amenities and features.

While their housing products might change with market theiraDooroneconditions,thingatwillnot:commitment to community service. “When we talk impactthatorganizationscharitiesnumbermoneyresourcesinvestbuild.wherecommunitiesinvolvedaboutareAustin.mortar,”justmeanbuilding,community-aboutwemorethanbricksandsays“WepassionatebeingintheweWehumanandintoaoflocalandpositivelyourclients and the communities we all live in.”

Tenpenny’s DNA. Throughout Austin’s life he has been surrounded by a family of hard working entrepreneurs. On one side of his family his grandfather was a home builder, and his grandmother a real estate agent. On the other side, his grandfather was a mechanic who owned and operated a small business for over 40 years. So naturally, Austin discovered early in life that it was destiny to follow a family tradition.

38 | SEPTEMBER 2022

What the young now-President of aDoor Properties could not have envisioned is just how exciting and rewarding his career evolution would grow to be. Today, aDoor is one of the most prolific home builders and developers in Northwest Florida, on target to build over 100 homes, and develop close to 500 lots this year.

“With the upturn in mortgage interest rates, we have seen a slowdown in sales as it is becoming harder for people to buy a new home while fighting interest rates,” says Austin. “The demand for housing is still there. Inventory is still low, and people still need a place to live.” Our goal is to provide a rental product that still has the aDoor style, quality and all of the perks and amenities that come with living in a home, versus renting an apartment.”

Looking ahead, Austin says the company’s future includes converting some of the for-sale spec homes to rental properties.

Additionally, Austin and aDoor give back through the support of hiring students from the School of Construction Management at the University of West Florida.

PROPERTIESaDOOROnemightsaythatConstruction,Real Estate, and an entrepreneurial spirit are in Austin

“When we talk allcommunitiesclientspositivelyorganizationslocalintoresourcesbuild.communitiesbeingWejustwecommunity-building,aboutmeanmorethanbricksandmortar.arepassionateaboutinvolvedinthewhereweWeinvesthumanandmoneyanumberofcharitiesandthatimpactourandthewelivein.” aDoor Properties – CBC1262128

“I remember being a new construction management graduate,” says Austin. “The construction industry is not an easy industry to jump into without field experience. A local multi-family general contractor in Middle Tennessee gave me industryhomeaboutpassionateAustingrads.”managementforopportunitiesandpaymyit’sthatgraduate.inexperiencedontookopportunitythatandachanceayoungFrompointon,alwaysbeengoaltoitforwardcreatejobconstructionisverythebuildingandis currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Home Builders Association of West Florida. For more information on aDoor Properties, visit the company’s web site at info@adoorproperties.com.callwww.adoorproperties.com,850-637-1880,oremail

“Our success is really all about our people and our processes,” says Austin, a Tennessee native who earned a Bachelor’s of Science in subdivisionbuildingformirror,pandemicchainWithourorientedhaveinMiddleandresidentialManagementConstructionwithafocusinhomebuildinglanddevelopmentfromTennesseeStateMurfreesboro,TN.“Wecreatedafun,growth-culturethatallowspeopletothrive.”theworstofthesupplyissuescausedfromtheintherear-viewitisfullspeedaheadaDoor,whichiscurrentlyouta92-homeatRedfishHarbor near Perdido, and 40 plus infill homes in City limits of Pensacola. They are also about to break ground on 60 townhomes in Navy Point. aDoor homes are smartly designed with a custom home feel. They range in size from 1,850 to 2,500 square feet, and sell for between $400,000 and $550,000.

NewsRadio923.com Talk & Text 850.437.1620 Report Traffic & News 850.262.6111 Drive Home & Know More Bobby Rossi Pensacola Right Now 4–7pm Wake Up & Know More Andrew McKay The Pensacola Morning News 5–9am INFORMATIVE, LOCAL, DEPENDABLE Your CoverageHurricaneDestination should disaster strike!

As Blake wound down his career with the airlines, he shifted his focus to speculative home building, but with a twist. “I believed there was a market for people willing to buy well-designed homes in great locations with highly customized features,” said Blake. “So that became our niche.”

Avant Home Builders - CRC1332536

“As builders became more sensitive to environmental issues and sustainability, building ‘green’ meant making productive use of job site waste,” said Blake. “After I set up my grinding operation, I immediately signed a contract with several large-volume home builders to convert wood, drywall and bricks to useful building materials. I recouped my equipment costs and turned a profit.”

Blake’s clients get the best of his wide-ranging expertise. He makes it a priority to find the very finest lots available, many on waterfronts or golf courses, or in gated communities. He offers them his keen insights into home design and energy-efficiency, and helps where needed with the mortgage lending process. Growing up in Dothan, Alabama, Blake credits his father for early entrepreneurial inspiration.

And that niche proved rewarding. Blake’s semicustom spec homes ranged from $700,000 to $1.2 million in price. They all had three-car garages, highly livable floor plans, and modern upgrades in the kitchens and baths. About one month before completion of each home, Blake worked with a local Realtor® to market them through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and every home listed sold within 30 days.

“Dad had a business where he worked with local pharmacies to deliver prescription drugs to people’s homes,” says Blake. “To do it as cost-effectively as he could, he bought Volkswagen Bugs. Ultimately, Dad decided to get a more steady job at the Post Office but I learned a lot from him about working hard and helping people.”

While most builders tend to follow a family member or mentor into the business, get on-the-job training, or undertake formal education in construction management, Blake’s introduction to home building was in an airplane 10,000 feet above the ground.

Blake Avant knows all about helping people today, especially those who turn to him to fulfill their home buying dreams. For more information about Avant Home Builders, email Blake Avant blakeavant@gmail.com.at

HOMEAVANTBUILDERSBlakeAvantdidnottravelthetraditionalpathtohomebuildingsuccess.Butastheysayingolf,it’snothowyoudrive,buthowyouarrive.Clearly,Blakeandhiscompany,AvantHomeBuilders,havearrivedataplaceamongtheleadingcustomandsemi-customhomebuildersinEscambiaandSantaRosacounties.

Most recently, Blake has switched to a more traditional custom home building model, working with clients who already have a homesite (or rely on him to find them one) and want a fully customized home, typically priced between $1.2 million to $1.7 million.

“I was in the Air Force for 10 years and a commercial pilot for another 10 years so it seemed natural for me to get into aerial photography,” says Blake. “From the air, I had a unique perspective to see homes in various stages of construction. It fascinated me to the point that I wanted to make home building my third career.” Blake’s unique aerial experience was not the only non-traditional way he fell in love with home building. From the air, he went to the ground, seizing an opportunity to use a grinder, front-end loader, and dump truck to collect construction debris that was in turn recycled into building materials and soil nutrients. For example, the gypsum in drywall makes soil more fertile, and leftover bricks can be crushed into tiny pieces that help form a solid foundation for driveways. This endeavor provided further insight into the construction processes that helped trigger Blake’s desire to advance from trash man to contractor.

“Honestly, I’m as busy as I want to be,” says Blake. “I been involved in real estate for over 17 years now and have been fortunate to work with a lot of nice people and a lot of repeat clients. I’m very proud of that.”

40 | SEPTEMBER 2022

As you might imagine, Bob’s services are in high demand. He is building mostly in Santa Rosa county specializing in waterfront homes. Bob also has clients in Baldwin County, Alabama. Each custom home is meticulouslyplannedandtakesbetweeneightand18monthstobuild.ManyofhisbuyersmakeacashinvestmentintheirhomebutBobworkswiththreemajormortgagelenders to help those clients who need financing.

After graduating from Tate High School, Bob went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi. He launched his own company by building three homes on speculation. Bob established the sound business practices, the high quality standards, and the culture of customer service. When his parents retired in 2010, Bob hired his brother Allen who took the lead in project management, including

andloyalwheresays“Allenplumbingframingprocess,aspectsbothclientjob-sitesubcontractorscheduling,relationships,coordination,andrelations.Theyarewell-groundedinallofthehomebuildingfromfoundationstotoroofingaswellasandelectrical.andImadeagoodteam,”Bob,“butwewouldn’tbewearewithatalentedandgroupofsubcontractorsbuildingsuppliers,many

Bob Price, Jr. Builder – CRC1328354

Reflecting on the creation of his company in 1987, Bob Jr. is quick to praise his father and mother and the lessons they taught him and his brother. “They had an extreme work ethic,” recalls Bob, “but the thing we remember most is how generous they were and how they truly cared about everyone they came in contact with. So hard work and treating people right became two of the foundations on which our business was built.”

“Our reputation relies on every home we build so whether it’s me, or Allen, a sub, or supplier, we set the bar high when it comes to superior quality and workmanship that surpass expectations.”

Growing up in the Pensacola area, Bob Price, Jr. always honored his father and mother, Bob and Faye, and respected the success they achieved as a husband-wife home building team. But just like his parents, Bob was fiercely independent and after just a few years working in the family business, he launched his own home building company.

“While we do work with clients who want to make personal modifications to existing plans or those who already have a set of plans they want to build, most of our work is done on a design/ build basis,” says Bob. “We take personal pride in knowing that every home is built with great care and quality. This is what we love and it’s evident in the relationships created and the trust we build with our clients.”

For more information on Bob Price, Jr. Builder, email Bob Price, Jr. bob@bobpricejrbuilder.com.at

BOB PRICE, JR. BUILDER, INC.

The rest, as they say, is history, as Bob Price, Jr. Builder is one of the premier custom home builders in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, building homes, on owners’ lots, from $500,000 to $3 million. Bob has been widely recognized for his commitment to construction excellence and his industry leadership, having won numerous Parade of Homes® honors over the years, and being selected by his peers to build the Home Builders Association of West Florida’s Dream Home in 1993 and serve as President of the HBA in 2006.

of whom have been with us for many years. Our reputation relies on every home we build so whether it’s me, or Allen, a sub, or supplier, we set the bar high when it comes to superior quality and workmanship that whileofonown,ifeachintegrity.tohisbuiltBobexpectations.”surpasshasclearlyabrandforcommitmentqualityandBuildinghomeasitwerehishefocuseseverydetailtheprocessensuringhis

“It’s really hard to believe we have been building homes for 37 years,” says Bob. “But we love what we do,” says Bob. “Every home we build is unique and every client is like welcoming a new friend. We enjoy meeting challenges, solving problems, and making our clients happy.”

clients’ wants, needs and desires are incorporated into their home.

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 41

The Edgar’s are beautifully blended as a family and home building professionals. Clearly, they are of one mind in believing that while their company is rich in history, it is poised to fulfill the promise of an even brighter future.

HOMEBUILDERS

42 | SEPTEMBER 2022

If you want a home builder who will treat you like family, Edcorp Custom Homebuilders is your obvious choice. The Edgar name has been synonymous with construction excellence in the Pensacola area since the 1950s and today, family members Jody, Kim and Chad Edgar are not only maintaining the company’s rich tradition, but taking it to the next level.

ED-Corp Custom Homebuilder – RR0067147

“Home building is in our DNA,” says Jody, Edcorp’s President who launched the company in 2005 along with his father Charlie and brother Brandon, who tragically passed away in 2016. “My father Charlie and Chad’s father Henry were both successful, hands-on builders. They’ve been involved with every aspect of this business, from land development through vertical construction, and everything else in between. They were great teachers and role models, and both still work with our company. Kim married into our family and shares the same passion we have to help people achieve the American Dream of owning their own home.” Ed-corp will build about 50 homes this year in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as well as in Baldwin County in Alabama. Prices range from $300,000 up to $600,000. Edcorp Custom Homebuilders focuses on “build on your lot” construction with a large selection of home designs to help our clients find the one that best meets their needs and lifestyles. The process is quite seamless thanks to Edcorp’s inhouse ahasin-houseandhomemanageHavingcapabilities.designJodyalldesignsestimatingprovenstrongassetto the company and their clients. “It allows us to give our clients a high level of flexibility and customization,” says Chad. “When plans change, we don’t have to involve a third-party, which can really slow down the process. We make those changes quickly and efficiently ourselves, saving our clients time and money.”

Kim serves as Vice President and oversees Edcorp’s finances as well as sales and marketing. She began working at Edcorp when the company was first started and has been instrumental in helping grow the company and drive its success. “This is a family business in every sense of the word,” says Kim. “We’re proud of what we do and happy to bring joy to our home buyers.” Having worked with many of the area’s leading home builders such as Mitchell Homes, notandEdcorp,hisChadTrulandBuilders,HolidayandHomes,hasfoundhappyplaceatandJodyKimcouldbehappier.“I worked for years to get him to come on board with us,” said Jody. “Chad has already made a huge impact on improving our systems management. In the months and years ahead, his true value to our company will become even more evident.”

“This is a family business in every sense of the word. We’re proud of what we do and happy to bring joy to our home buyers.”

CUSTOMEDCORP

For more information on Edcorp Custom Homebuilder, visit the company’s web site at www. ed-cop.com, call 850-857-9266, or email edcorphomes@att.net.

Chad also has the distinct honor of serving this year as President of the Home Builders Association of West Florida. “Obviously, it’s special when your peers respect you enough to put you in a position of leadership,” says Chad. “It’s fun to work with a fantastic group of people at the HBA who are committed to improving our industry, fueling our economy with jobs, and enhancing the communities where we live and work.”

Every home builder faces their share of challenges, including supply chain issues, volatility in the prices of key building materials, and a scarcity of skilled labor. But for the Edgars, this ain’t their first rodeo. They each bring knowledge and experience to the home building process and they have developed a strong group of suppliers and subcontractors, all of which translates into peace of mind for their buyers.

Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Loans subject to approval, including credit approval. Synovus Bank is an equal Housing Lender. Find us online at synvous.com/mortgage.

Karen S. Welch NMLS karenwelch@synovus.com850-994-2503594834

The right lender for building in the Florida panhandle. With a proven track record and experience in the area, Synovus has become the lender of choice for purchases, construction-permanent and lot loans. Contact us today to learn more about our seamless process.

Renee’ D. Wilhoit NMLS reneewilhoit@synovus.com850-436-2982640470 Hudson NMLS lisahudson@synovus.com850-436-7842664126

Tracey McClurd NMLS traceymcclurd@synovus.com850-436-6538664145

Charles Thomas NMLS charlesdthomas@synovus.com850-436-7831938537

Rhonda Holl NMLS 850-837-6525437030rhondaholl@synovus.com

Lisa

ENCORE HOMES BY PARSCO

goal. I hope I can make a difference when it’s my time to be President of the HBA.”

Amir took his ambition to the next level by studying Civil Engineering at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) and graduating with a B.S. degree in Construction Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I based my business on three foundational principles,” says Amir. “One, we would always give our clients the undivided attention and loyalty they deserved. Two, we would always be responsive when our clients had questions or concerns. Three, we promise there will be no surprises. In other words, good communication was key to our philosophy of customer relations.”

Amir is quite aware that he works in a business with lots of challenges and almost a crisis a day. He doesn’t ignore the labor shortage, supply chain kinks, or market volatility but he refuses to let them derail his projects. “We don’t saysdidn’twhyexcusesacceptonsomethinggetdone,”Amir.“Ourclients hire us because we are peopleseeimportantsaysprofessionalismalways“As2023.servicebeFlorida,BuildersViceHefindsdemandingEvenwantproblem-solvers,experiencedandwenevertoletthemdown.”whilerunningalargeandbusiness,Amirtimetohelphisindustry.currentlyservesasFirstPresidentoftheHomeAssociationofWestwhichpositionshimtoPresidentoftheinfluentialandtradeorganizationinHerelishesthechallenge.anassociation,we’reworkingtoenhancetheinourindustry,”Amir.“Ibelievethat’ssoandIalsolovetothesynergyinplaywhenworktowardacommon

There were early signs that Amir would become a successful builder. As a child, his toy of choice was Legos. “It’s the only toy my parents would buy me so I spent countless hours building various structures,” says Amir. “I loved it. There is no doubt Legos fueled my interest in construction and gave me a passion for creativity.”

From Legos to homes to structures to people, do you see the pattern? Amir Fooladi is always building, always making things better. It’s not just what he does... it’s who he is.

Like many builders, Amir gives back to his community, but his approach ManagementConstructionprofessorisunique.isphilanthropytosomewhatHeanadjunctin at the University of West Florida and uses that platform to offer encouragement, career advice, and even internships with his company. “This is my way of investing in people,” said Amir. “And I’ve found it to be quite rewarding.”

– CGC1512307

44 | SEPTEMBER 2022

While Encore Homes is the residential arm of the company, ParsCo is also involved in the construction of commercial and government buildings, and the restoration of historical properties. As a Certified General Contractor in Florida and several other states, ParsCo brings a high level of experience and expertise to everything from its cottage homes in the Pensacola Garden District to a fabulous custom home with a subterranean hanger for an amphibious airplane to a multi-million-dollar testing facility at Eglin Air Force Base.

What’s in a name? For Encore Homes by ParsCo, their name speaks volumes about their founder/ owner, Amir Fooladi, and their mission. PARS stands for “Professionals Achieving Results Successfully.” For Amir and his talented team, it’s much more than just a catchy phrase… it’s a commitment to excellence that permeates every aspect of his multifaceted construction business. “Our clients hire us because we are experienced problemsolvers, and we never want to let them down.” Encore Homes

Early on he honed his skills working for a custom home builder in El Paso, and then later working for one of the largest General Contractors in the world building everything from retail facilities for Wal-Mart to luxury high-rise condominiums here along the Gulf Coast. By the time Amir launched his own business, he knew who he was as a builder and what he wanted to do.

For more information about Encore Homes, visit their web site at pars-co.net, call 850-6967656, or email info@pars-co.net.

Flynn Built builds in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as well as Baldwin County in neighboring Alabama. The company’s professionally staffed Design Center is great resource for its clients and their selection of exterior designs, floor plans, paints, finishes, and cabinets that serve to personalize each and every Flynn Built home.

Even with his industry leadership responsibilities, Blaine stays sharply focused on his thriving building business, which has grown to over 175 homes sales annually. He credits that success to strict adherence to what he calls the three P’s –people, product, and process.

FLYNNBUILT

Flynn Built – CGC1525721

It’s one thing to have “satisfied customers” but it’s even more impressive to create “Raving Fans” –those people who are quick to tell their friends and neighbors about their buying experience. Through the quality of its construction and its unwavering commitment to its clients, Flynn Built has built a reputation as one of West Florida and South Alabama’s leading semi-custom home builders.

“We understand that we are building more than just houses, but homes, the foundation of people’s lives.”

Now it’s Blaine who reaching out with a helping hand to his industry peers. “You know, we might be competitors in one sense, but as builders, we all want to see healthy communities, vibrant local economies, and a strong job market,” says Blaine. “We know that one of the biggest problems is providing affordable housing which is why we fight so hard as an industry to reduce unnecessary regulations and fees. We all have a vision where everyone can have a home and contribute to the joy that brings to people.”

“Our mission is to build superior homes, personalized to every client, that create lasting value in our communities,” says Blaine Flynn, the company’s founder and owner. “We promise to uphold a standard of quality over quantity, with a vision to always exceed the expectations of our clients, trade partners, and employees. We understand that we are building more than just houses, but homes, the foundation of people’s lives.”

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 45

During his time as HBA President, Blaine created an industry-wide Governmental Action Committee that combined forces with the Pensacola and Navarre Area Boards of Realtors and the Northwest Florida Chapter of NAIOP (whose members specialize thethatpoliciestodevelopment)realcommercialinestatesupporthelpedlocaleconomies and the building and development industries in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

“It all starts with people who buy into our vision for the company,” says Blaine. “They have to be dedicated, driven, and willing to learn. Then we must create a quality product that makes us the obvious choice for today’s value-conscious home buyers. And finally, we have to work smart, with efficient operating systems in place. It’s an ongoing, evolving process where we are learning and trying to get better every Lookingday.”back on his life, byfirstcharacterbelievesBlainehiswasshapedparents who modeled hard work and responsibility. He was influenced early in his career by working with one of the area’s longtime leading builders: Florida Housing Hall of Fame member Edwin Henry of Henry Company Homes. “I learned a lot from Edwin,” says Blaine. “First of all, I embraced the commitment to always build quality homes. But even more than that, he taught me the importance of having good management systems and procedures in place.”

Everyone that moves into a new Flynn Built home gets two things: the company’s Stamp of Approval for quality and workmanship, and a new American flag to acknowledge the freedoms we enjoy in America. From his heart, Blaine Flynn believes “a home is more than bricks and mortar: it’s truly the American Dream.”

In addition to home building excellence, Blaine has set a high standard of industry leadership, having served two terms as President of the Home Builders Association of West Florida in 2020-2021, during the challenging times of the COVID pandemic.

For more information about Flynn Built, visit the builder’s web site at www.flynnbuilt. com, call 850-477-6118, or email Blaine Flynn blaine@flynnbuilt.com.at

“Dad is amazing in that he could build anything and his work ethic was off the charts,” says Heath. “Learning from him gave me the best education in construction that I could ever have.”

In addition to his father-mentor, college helped Heath grow into the businessman he is today. “At Auburn, I majored in marketing but had lots of courses in business and finance. By the time I graduated, I felt I had the foundation to be successful in Afterbusiness.”hisbaseball career, Heath gained valuable experience handling production for a large-volume home builder and as a project manager for the Pensacola-based custom home building firm and commercial contractor Williams Brown, Inc. Confident in his experience and knowledge, Heath became licensed as a state-certified general contractor and struck out on his own with Heath Kelly Construction in 2012. With a high level of customer service and an intense focus on the hundreds of details that go into a construction project, Heath built the company volume up to over $4 million annually with a mix of custom homes and commercial structures. He employs one project manager and relies on longstanding relationships with subcontractors and suppliers to assure construction Heathquality.finds joy in both the residential and commercial sides of the business. “We like thinking outside-the-box with our custom home clients and giving them the experience of creating a truly one-of-akind home that fits their wants and needs,” says Heath. “The commercial sector comes with a different set of challenges but it’s still about meeting our client’s needs and helping them achieve their Whethergoals.”it’s cheering fans, proud parents, or satisfied customers, Heath has a passion for making people happy. After the Tampa Bay Rays released him in 2003, he returned home to play for the Pensacola Pelicans during his last year of professional baseball so his parents could see him perform. When he started at shortstop on that 1997 Auburn team that featured the likes of David Ross (a former major leaguer and now the manager of the Chicago Cubs) and Tim Hudson (who had a stellar 17-year career pitching for the Oakland A’s and Atlanta Braves), his father was unable to go out to watch Heath and Auburn play in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. “I always felt bad about that,” says Heath. “So when Auburn made it to Omaha this year, I told Dad to jump in the truck and let’s go. We did and had a great time.” You could say that while baseball influenced Heath Kelly, it didn’t define him. Today, he takes great joy in being a son, husband, and father (especially coaching his 9-year-old son’s Little League team). And when it comes to his business, he’s working hard, with ingenuity and integrity, to take Heath Kelly Construction to the next level of professional Forperformance.moreonHeath Kelly Construction, visit their web site at com.heath@heathkellyconstruction.com,www.heathkellyconstruction.call850-232-7195,oremail

Heath

HEATHcounties. CONSTRUCTIONKELLY Kelly Construction

46 | SEPTEMBER 2022 Heath did what every young boy dreams of. He was a high school and college baseball star at Tate and Auburn, respectively, played in the 1997 College World Series, and was drafted by the Florida Marlins, launching a seven-year career in professional baseball.

“I enjoyed my baseball experience and developed some lifelong friendships and sweet memories through it,” says Heath, “but God called me to follow a different path and gave me the opportunity to do something else that I really love.” Heath didn’t have to look very far to find a sterling role model. His father Glenn was a subcontractor in all facets of the construction industry for more than 45 years and Heath was at his side on the construction sites as a young boy.

When life closes one door for a good person such as Heath Kelly, you can be sure a new door opens and an even brighter future lies ahead. That’s certainly the case for the energetic owner of Heath Kelly Construction, who is poised to break into the ranks of the top custom home builders in Escambia and Santa Rosa

– CGC1521400

Edwin and Susan’s body of work is long and impressive. Their company has developed over 90 communities in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties, and built more than 12,000 homes. Winners of 54 Parade of Homes® Awards, they were the area’s first builders to adopt sophisticated sales, marketing and customer service practices.

When Edwin and Susan Henry bravely launched a small home building business in their personal home in Pace in 1983, they gave birth to a dream. From a modest beginning building just a few homes a year, their vision and vigilance carried them to the pinnacle of success as Henry Company Homes became and remains today the preeminent singlefamily home builder in Northwest Florida.

48 | SEPTEMBER 2022

Today, they build primarily in Heather Place in Gulf Breeze and the Woodlands in Pace. Heather Place features six models from the 1,318-square-foot Lancaster to the 2,397-square-foot Sexton – all in a popular cottagestyle adorned with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and covered patios. Woodlands reflects the Henry’s long-standing commitment to affordable housing, with prices starting around $280,000. In addition to his legacy as one of the area’s most prolific home builders, Edwin shined as an industry leader, serving as President of the HBA of West Florida in 1993 where he focused on working with local governments to streamline regulations that would drive up the cost of housing. Most recently, he played a leading role in the HBA’s successful challenge to the $5,000-per-house impact fees proposed in Santa Rosa County, which saved homebuyers an estimated $17 million. That came on the heels of Edwin’s leadership on a rewrite of Santa Rosa County’s land ingiveathaveTheaboutworkers’andworkershousing.buildersmaderegulationsgenerallypeoplethatbuildingofanddevelopmentinfluentialwhereinAssociationHomeofasEdwinbuilt.approximatelysavereduceinputbelievescode,developmentwhereheindustryonwaystocostshelpedbuildersanddevelopers$27,000perhomeservedPresidenttheFloridaBuilders1999,hewasintheadoptionastatewidecodeprotectedandpropertyyetwasfreeofexcessivethatwouldhaveitmoredifficultfortoprovideaffordableHealsoledafightforcompensationreformlegislationthatreducedcomppremiumsby20percent.Henrys–whoareproudtotheirsonStephenworkingHenryCompanyHomes–backtotheircommunityanumberofways.They

“The fact is home building has always been and we believe always will be about relationships. It’s about earning the trust of our clients and putting our reputation on the line with each and every home we build. That has always been the key to our success.”

ForSociety.AmericanYMCA,andUnitedToyssoccerbaseballbenefittedsupportTheirvolunteers.charitablehasyouthandinPace,forTots,Way,BoysGirlsClub,andtheCancerEdwinand

HOMES

Even though Edwin was recently elected to the Florida Housing Hall of Fame for his career achievements in the home building industry, he and Susan refuse to rest on their laurels. They are just as excited about their current communities, homes, and home buyers as they were when they started more than almost four decades ago.

Susan Henry, Henry Company Homes is more than just a building company. For them and their hundreds of happy homeowners, it’s living proof that dreams can come true. For more information on Henry Company Homes, visit the builder’s web site at henrycompanyhomes.com.Edwincallhenrycompanyhomes.com,www.850-994-0984,oremailHenryatEdwin.henry@

projectsfornumerousspearheadedHabitatHumanity–including a Blitz-Build home for a Tallahassee family that was built (after the foundation was pre-poured) on a single day by over 100

Henry Company Homes – RG0045112

“We have seen many changes in the building business over the years,” says Edwin, “from new building codes to design trends to the use of the Internet for home shopping. But the fact is home building has always been and we believe always will be about relationships. It’s about earning the trust of our clients and putting our reputation on the line with each and every home we build. That has always been the key to our success.”

COMPANYHENRY

– CGC062771

“While most of our homes offer various forms of customization, we realized that in order to build more affordable homes, we needed to streamline the process and the product,” said Armacost. “So we worked with our suppliers and subcontractors to do as much customization as we could while trimming our costs. HB Value has been very successful and we’re so proud that we could produce homes that fit into most family budgets.”

BUILDERSHOLIDAY

With respect to the biggest investment most people will ever make, Holiday has again taken a unique approach, presenting its prices in term of the estimated monthly payment before property taxes and insurance are added. “Home buyers like to cut to the bottom line,” says Armacost. “We take the current mortgage interest rate and try to give them our best estimate of their monthly housing expenditure. It’s right on our web site for each model. Our buyers have said it really helps them in their budgeting and HolidayFloridascenicandWithenvironmentalstandardshomealsoHolidaydecision-making.”Builder’sclientsappreciatethateachisbuilttothehighestofdesignandefﬁciency.numerouscommunitieslotstochoosefrominlocationsthroughoutandCoastalAlabama,Builderscreates

Under the leadership of area director David Armacost, Holiday Builders continues to bolster its brand as a fan favorite among purchasers of new homes in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. Builders

In addition, the company assigns a personal team of seasoned building professionals to guide buyers through the new home building process. From deciding on a homesite and floor plan, to adding individual style through many available options and upgrades, to navigating the ﬁnancial process and providing customer care through move-in day, Holiday Builders is there for its buyers every step of the way.

Holiday

In Freeport, River Walk is already sold out with buyers embracing the popular models and strong price-point value.

“We like to say that Holiday Builders is the home builder with a heart – and not just the little one you see in the logo,” says Armacost. “We are a family business and we treat our customers like family. It’s why we pour our hearts into every relationship and every home we build. We are not just building a “house” but a “home” – a special place at the center of people’s lives.”

For more information on Holiday Builders, visit the company’s web site at, call 850259-1029, or email holidaybuilders.com.darmacost@

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 49 Holiday Builders is unique in so many ways. Next year, the Melbourne, FL-based company will commemorate its 40-year anniversary – a major milestone for any enterprise in any industry, let alone the oftenvolatile construction industry. In addition, in 1999, Holiday made history as the first employeeowned home-building company in the nation. And from Day 1, Holiday has built its success on a high level of customer service, including a 2-year limited home warranty, and a 10-year structural warranty on every home it builds.

homes of uncompromising quality and lasting value.

“We feel like we offer home buyers the best of both worlds,” says Armacost. “On one hand, we draw on the many ways a larger-volume builder can add value through size and scale. At the same time, I and my team are local people skilled in home building but also fully invested in the communities we serve.” Holiday has a strong presence in the Pensacola area and has branched out with new communities and homes in Milton in Santa Rosa County and Freeport in Walton County. Homes in Milton can be found in the developments of Airway Oaks, Cadence Place, and Sanborn Hill, which features one-acre homesites.

Continually on the cutting edge of market trends, Holiday introduced a new concept in 2019 known as HB Value. The program was established by the team at Holiday Builders to solve a common issue home buyers face in the real estate marketplace. Owning a new home is often out of reach for many of today’s homebuyers so HB Value Homes became the solution for affordable, quality new homes for savvy, budget-conscious buyers who refuse to sacrifice quality.

AtlocalbuilderscarpentersdevelopHighPineAcademyConstructionHBAatForestSchooltoskilledandfortheindustry.age62,Alton is blessed with insight and perspective, drawing on his leadership and involvement in the HBA of West Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA), where he served recently as Area 1 Builder Vice President and now contributes as a member of the Governmental Affairs, Finance, and Construction Costs & Codes committee. “When you look at the socalled big picture, we know our beautiful area of Northwest Florida and Florida overall will continue to grow and along with that growth comes the responsibility to provide good transportation, infrastructure, jobs, and housing,” says Alton. “Our HBA and FHBA are focused on all those issues. But then there is eachthoseFHBAOurandprofessionalismcustomersandtheytoresponsibilitybuilderindividualwithabethebestcanbeservetheirwithintegrity.HBAandpromoteconcepts as well through education andTherenetworking.”isnoquestion that Alton Lister embodies the very best qualities of a professional home builder. His legacy of excellence and success is built one client at a time and grows stronger with each home he builds. For more information on Lister Homes, visit the company’s web site at www.listerbuilders. com, call 850-393-9450, or email Alton Lister at lbldr@aol.com.

“I’m very humbled to have so many repeat customers,” says Alton, owner of Lister Builders LLC and the 2019 President of the Home Builders Association of West Florida. “I can’t think of anything more satisfying than knowing that what we do is impacting multiple generations.” Indeed, advertisingword-of-mouthhasmadeAlton as busy as he wants to be as a smallvolume builder constructing eight to 12 homes a year ranging in price from $340,000 to $1 million. “I always gravitated to the custom building sector of the industry,” he says. “It comes with a lot of customer interaction and plenty of challenges, but at the end of the day, you really feel you’re making a difference in people’s lives.” Alton says he puts as much time and effort into a 1,700 square foot home as he does a minimansion. “Whatever size the customer can afford, we make the most of it,” he says. “We take our owner’s ideas, photos, and past experiences to design and build their own custom home.”

It should come as no surprise that Alton was selected by his peers to build the HBA of West Florida’s 2018 Dream Home, proceeds from which help the association engage in a wide range of community and charitable activities. He is personally and professionally invested in the future of the home building industry with a passion for seeing young people trained for rewarding careers, and he’s proud that the HBA sponsors the

BUILDERSLISTER LLC

As one of the premier custom home builders in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties since 1984, Alton Lister is experiencing something truly unique. He is now building homes for the children of some of his first clients. It speaks volumes about the trust he has earned and the legacy of excellence he has created. “Each house is a unique design with theirwithtoappliances.thespecifications,customizedfrommoldingtotheOurgoalisprovideourclientsthekeystodiscoverdreamhome.” Builders LLC – CBC060089

Lister Builders is also involved in light commercial construction and has built several office buildings, commercial stores, church buildings, restaurants, and warehouses. The company has a full-service remodeling arm as well and the experience to work with all type of construction from traditional wood framing to insulated concrete form (ICF) wall construction to metal buildings. “Our slogan is ‘When Details Matter’ which means we put our very best into every home we build,” says Alton. “Each home is designed and built one-onone with the homeowner. We have the capability to draw our own plans, so there are no limitations to what we can build. This means that each house is a unique design with customized specifications, from the molding to the appliances. Our goal is to provide our clients with the keys to discover their dream home.

Lister

50 | SEPTEMBER 2022

Let home.welcomeHarvestersyou Everyday, Harvesters’ Mortgage Team dedicates themselves to serving not only our 20,000 members, but also our entire surrounding community in Northwest Florida. We are here for all of your mortgage needs, and our loans close in a few short weeks, not months. ✓ Purchases & Refinances One-Time Close Construction Loans Competitive rates Experienced & knowledgable staff ✓ ✓ ✓ Robin Arnold Nine Mile rarnold@myharvesterscu.com850-937-4613Branch Nancy Connelly Pace nconnelly@myharvesterscu.com850-937-4612Branch Visit mortgages.myharvesterscu.com to learn more. Federally Insured by NCUA | Equal Housing Lender | NMLS # 506711 | Robin Arnold, MLO NMLS #1186739 | Nancy Connelly, MLO NMLS #805531NCUA myharvesterscu.com

NAPIER, INC.

The Napier name has been synonymous with construction excellence and corporate integrity in Northwest Florida since the 1960s when patriarch Joseph Napier founded the business, built great communities and beautiful homes, and served with distinction as President of both the Home Builders Association of West Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association. “I have been blessed that so many people put their confidence in me and my team. The really great thing about this business is that you meet so many interesting people and so many of the business relationships turn into lifetime friendships.” Napier, Inc. CGC014886

Perfectsomewhat“It’stotheandenoughhasgood,businessWhileCity.inthatRestaurantislocatedPanamaisPhilipseenupsdownsinindustrybecautious.beenofaStormbetween

products. The bottom line is we’re typically dealing with a well-informed buyer who has some specific ideas about what they want in their custom Sohome.isthat a good thing? “Depends,” says Philip. “In a way, it makes our job as builders easier because people have done their homework on things like flooring, finishes, and fixtures. “But every now and then, the customer wants a product or feature that is extremely expensive, hard to get, and may not even be code-compliant in Florida. This is where it’s important to be honest and transparent, and build that trust with your client that you’re looking out for their best interests.” That trust — proven time and again over 40 years and hundreds of successful residential and commercial assignments — sets Philip Napier apart. He came by it naturally. “Dad defines true success as treating people the way you want to be treated,” says Philip of his 96-year-old father who now lives in a small town in Mississippi. “I never forget that advice. Do the right thing, every time, and everything else will take care of Foritself.”more information on Napier, Inc., visit the company’s web site at www.napierinc. com, call 850-232-8963, email philip@napier.inc.com.or

–

COVID, labor and material shortages, and now the probable uptick in mortgage interest rates,” says Philip. “But we have so much going for us here in Northwest Florida that keeps our economy on solid footing, I think we’ll be Whilefine.”Napier, Inc. builds in many locations around Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Philip has seen his custom home buyers gravitate west to Innerarity Point near Perdido Key and Navarre Beach. He’s also seen them move in another direction: toward technology. “The Internet has become a onandandathoursTheyreadonlinetheirpeoplePhilip.buyers,”toolpowerfulforhomesays“Manyshopforbuilderandreviews.spendlookingelevationsfloorplansevenmorespecific

52 | SEPTEMBER 2022 Today, Philip Napier has not only upheld the family tradition, he’s enhanced with a level of professionalism and performance that puts him at the top of class of the area’s elite residential and commercial “Ibuilders. havebeen blessed,” says Philip, “that so many people put their confidence in me and my team. The really great thing about this business is that you meet so many interesting people and so many of the business relationships turn into lifetime Throughfriendships.”acombination of existing and new customers, Philip is super-busy with work. Currently, the company has five waterfront custom homes underway ranging from $1 million to $4 million and eight projects in the pipeline. In 2010, his company did the interior build-out of the original Grand Marlin Restaurant on Pensacola Beach and is an investor in the restaurant as well as in the second Grand Marlin

For Klein, home building has always been an art rather than a science. He was inspired by the late architect A. Hays Town, and his southern masterpieces. Every home Old South builds is creatively designed, constructed with the highest levels of workmanship, and reliant on the use of traditional southern products such as antique brick, and old pine and cypress for Thatbeams.formula, and Old South’s flawless execution of it, produced a brand that has attracted over 180 clients since the company started in 1990. “You know, people say you shouldn’t build homes for your friends because things might go wrong and it might end the friendship,” says Klein. “I reject that thinking. In fact, we not only build for friends, but people who become our friends when we start building their home.”

OLD CONSTRUCTIONSOUTH

“We are definitely a team. We love what we do and we pour heart and soul into every home we build. Quality is the biggest component .” Old South Construction – RR0066708

Even with his endearing personality, Klein‘s success as a custom builder is no solo act. Marcy, an accomplished CPA (and LSU graduate) who left a long time financial career to join Klein at Old South, expertly oversees the company’s finances. Son Stephen, who graduated from LSU in 2011 with a degree in construction management, is Klein’s partner and is becoming the face of the business. He brings new ideas and energy as he runs Old South’s daily operations and home building processes. The business is truly a family affair where we all enjoy leavingforwardKleinofdifferenttogetherworkinginaspectsthebusiness.lookstothelegacy of Old South to the next generation. “We are definitely a team,” says Klein. But seriously, we love what we do and we pour heart and soul into every home we build. Quality is the biggest component . We’ve earned a strong reputation in the area, especially for our volume of waterfront homes. And we are blessed to have work booked well into the first quarter of Old2025.”South’s files are overflowing with testimonials, such as this one from Paul and Susan Quinlan. “We were impressed that every sub-contractor that worked with Old South was not only extremely professional, but also the best in the business. Klein and Stephen were very dedicated to our project and made us feel like we were the only and most important client they had. They always made time to meet and the doors toouropen.werecommunicationofconstantlyTheybuiltdreamhomeraiseour family and enjoy a lifetime of Andmemories.”then,of course, there is the matter of LSU football. Klein’s beloved Tigers are rebuilding this year with new coach Brian Kelly, who left Notre Dame for Baton Rouge. “I have great hope for Coach Kelly and the Tigers in the years to come.” If Kelly is anywhere near as good at his job as Klein, Marcy and Stephen are at theirs, another national championship can’t be far Foraway.more information on Old South Construction, visit the company’s web site, call 850-982-8918, or oldsouthklein@me.com.email

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 53

Klein Miller loves what he does and it shows. For over two decades now, the Baton Rouge native has followed his dream to bring authentic southern-style homes to the Florida Panhandle. His passion for creating multi-million-dollar residences of distinction has in fact distinguished him as one of the premier builders in his industry.

“It truly has been an exciting journey,” says Klein, whose love of God, family, and home building is followed very closely by his unwavering devotion to LSU football. “I left a great job with the largest cement company in the world to follow my heart.” At first, it was tough sledding. “When my wife Marcy and I left Baton Rouge in1987 and arrived in Pensacola, all we had was a beat-up Volvo, a Golden Retriever, and $4,000 in our pockets,” said Klein. “But we believed in our ability to make people happy through the homes we could build for them. Now we look back on our decision with no regrets and a great feeling of satisfaction.”

You should know that Shon Owens the builder is the same Shon Owens who serves as the Mayor of Jay. “I am a community-driven person,” says Shon. “So, whether I’m building homes or working with my fellow City Council members to secure funding for infrastructure or even a new recreational park for the citizens of Jay, I feel my mission is helping people.”

Louise and Fadiel Pittman opened Pittman Building Supply in the 1950s, and the family business is still in operation today. Shon has owned and operated Pittman Building Supply in Jay since 2009.

A graduate of Jay High School, Shon was just 25 years old when he built his first house while working as an estimator at Pittman Building Supply at the Pace location. Not too long after, he launched his own company and vowed from Day 1 to hire the best people available.

Shon knows all too well that inthe-field construction activities rely heavily on a strong in-house operation which is why he places a high premium on the work of his Office/Business Manager Jeanne Brown, Customer Support Specialist Angel Nowling, Estimators Carlton Henderson and Jerrold WareEhlers, and Lender Liaison/AP Professional Denise Nolen.

By the same token, Shon the builder and Shon the elected official each know the value of staying ahead of the infrastructure needs of a growing community, particularly in the school system, which is welcoming 100 new students this year – a whopping 20 percent increase. “Growth has its challenges but then again, it’s a matter of staying proactive and anticipating the needs.”

Shon is also concerned about affordable housing, especially with the dramatic increase in mortgage interest rates spurred by the Federal Reserve’s inflation-fighting initiatives. “I appreciate all those people who have the means to build a new home,” says Shon, “however, I’d love to see that dream available to everyone in our community.”

Owens Custom Homes – CGC1508796

“We knew it was going to take more people to keep up with the changes in the way we ordered and accessed materials. So, we hired some additional highly qualified people to join our team and stayed ahead of the game.”

Speaking of the new park for the Town of Jay, those references are not hypothetical. Since Shon took over as Mayor five years ago, Jay has been awarded more than $4 million in community enhancement grants. The most recent one funded demolition of the outdated city park and construction of a new updated park consisting of ballfields, a stadium for youth sports games, and an amphitheater for community entertainment events, just to name a few. “While the park will be a source of fun and entertainment for our citizens, I also love that all the work is being done by local people, which sustains and creates jobs, and fuels our economy,” says Shon.

A low volume of homes under construction at any given time ensures the company’s ability to provide white glove treatment to its clients.

CUSTOMOWENS

“You are only as good as the people who work with you,” says Shon. He takes great pride in the fact that his lifelong friend, Cary Upton, serves as the company’s Lead Superintendent and Field Manager of Junior Superintendents – Travis Gunn and Will Seib – who are already highly invested in the company’s way of doing business and its future.

“You know, when COVID hit in 2019, a lot of companies started cutting back on employees and reevaluating how to do business in the new climate,” says Shon.

While he deserves a lion’s share of the credit for starting his business and setting the standards for its success, Shon is quick to credit his grandparents for their influence on him.

For more information about Owens Custom Homes & Construction Inc., visit the company’s web site owenshomeconstruction.com.orcom,owenshomeconstruction.atcall850-554-0701,emailJeanne.brown@

HOMES

Owens Custom Homes has also maintained long-term relationships with the majority of its subcontractor base, allowing the builder to produce at a higher level of quality.

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From his home base of Jay, Florida, Shon Owens of Owens Custom Homes & Construction. Inc. has spent the last 20 years developing a sterling reputation as a home builder – one satisfied customer at a time.

H o m e L o a n A d v i s o r N M L S # 3 1 1 6 7 0 K I M H A J E K Cell: (303) 503 2634 Email: TeamHajek@caliberhomeloans com F O R A L L Y O U R M O R T G A G E A N D R E F I N A N C E N E E D S ! Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated N E W O F F I C E N O W O P E N ! R e a l t o r T E R R Y M A H O N E Y Cell: (603) 521 0774 Office: (850) 285 0341 Email: terrymahoney@kw com 2425 W 9 Mile Road Suite 1 Pensacola, FL 32534 S c a n Q R c o d e t o d o w n l o a d m y F R E E p r o p e r t y s e a r c h a p p ! B u s i n e s s D e v e l o p m e n t M a n a g e r L I N D Y H U R D Office: (850) 479 8038 Email: Lindy Hurd@firstintitle com 4300 Bayou Boulevard Suite 7 Pensacola, FL 732503 0 0 N e w W a r r i n g t o n R o a d , P e n s a c o l a , F L 3 2 5 0 6 A g e n t / O w n e r M A R Y J O R D A N Office: (850) 497 6810 Email: mary@gcainsurance com www gcains com We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to own their own home. A r e y o u f o l l o w i n g t h e c u r r e n t g u i d e l i n e s ? C a l l u s t o h e l p f i n d t h e b e s t c o v e r a g e f o r y o u r n e e d s ! W H E R E Y O U ' R E F I R S T I N T I T L E L o c a t i o n s a c r o s s F l o r i d a 411 W Gregory Street Pensacola, FL 32502 Office: (850) 912 8166 www firstintitle com www HajekHomeLoans com What's your home worth? Scan QR code to find out! T H E I N S U R A N C E I N D U S T R Y I S E V E R C H A N G I N G

He’s always been personally invested in his community and many clients are family, friends, or friends of friends.

“Yes, it’s personal to me,” says Doug. “I like to tell people I don’t build houses – I build homes – and that means I’m improving the quality of lives. It doesn’t get any better than that.

R-Squared builds mostly in fast-growing in Santa Rosa county, producing 10 to 15 homes annually at a price of between $200 and $210 per square foot (roughly $500,000 for a 2,500 square foot home).

Doug was born and raised in Pace and attended Pace High School before he joined his Dad in the precast concreate business.

For more information on R-Squared Construction, visit the company’s web site rsquaredhomes.com.3401,callwww.rsquaredhomes.com,atDougRussellat850-698-oremailhimatdoug@

CONSTRUCTIONR-SQUAREDDougRussellhasaworldofrespectforthe veteran builders in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who have built fine homes in nice communities for many years. But as the relatively “new kid on the block,” he believes his R-Squared Construction brings a breath of fresh air to the clients who select him to build the home of their dreams.

R-Squared Construction - RR282812204

56 | SEPTEMBER 2022

You might say Doug came by his commitment to excellence naturally. His father Pete, who owns WPR Concrete, instilled in Doug both a strong work ethic and the importance of doing things right the first time. “Dad showed me that you can’t separate who you are as a person and who you are as a builder,” says Doug. “Every home I build is a reflection of who I am. I am humbled each time someone asks me to build their home and I feel a great professional and responsibilitypersonal to each and every client.”

R-Squared installs a Rain Bird® irrigation system on every lot to assure that the landscaping and lawn are properly nourished. On the inside, a floor plan is designed for beauty, functionality, and livability. Many hours are spent with clients selecting the desired flooring, finishes, and feel. Once construction begins, R-Squared demands a high level of craftsmanship not only for its own workers but from every supplier and subcontractor who steps on the job site. And Doug is the consummate hands-on builder, continually monitoring the job and quickly correcting anything that does not meet his lofty standards. The result is a home that is well-planned, well-executed, and ready Day 1 to deliver on the promises R-Squared made it its clients.

“We work very hard to give our clients the very best home that fits their budget,” says Doug. “At the same time, we want them to enjoy the custom home building experience and realize the home of their dreams.” Many of R-Squared clients have purchased their own lots but others rely on the company to help them find land. With respect to financing, Doug often steers clients to University Lending and their excellent they’llit’sstressfulit:andcancustomForpermanentconstruction-to-loanprogram.manyhomebuyers,thehomebuildingprocessbequiteoverwhelmingevenintimidating.“Wegetbuyingahomecanbeveryandformostpeople,thelargestsingleinvestmentevermake,”saysDoug.

“But we do our best to explain the entire process in as much detail as we can and then answer the questions that arise. We’ve found that the key is clear and consistent communication. Our clients know they can call us anytime, during or after the construction timeframe, and we’ll respond in a timely manner.”

“From the very first day we opened for business 20 years ago, I wanted R-Squared to break from the old way of doing things in custom home building,” says Doug. “A lot of builders build to a standard dictated by the building code. We reject that approach and take quality and workmanship to the next level. It’s what I believe sets us apart.” Indeed, every detail matters when R-Squared builds a custom home. Doug’s vision of what a home can be starts with the streetscape and the land itself as he works with natural amenities and positions the home for maximum yard space, views, and energy-efficiency.

SIGNATUREHOMES They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. That’s why it’s no surprise that Monte Williams of Signature Homes has followed in his father E.B. Williams’s footsteps to become one of the most respected custom home builders in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

“We like it that we have the flexibility to do semi-custom and custom homes,” says Monte. “With the patio homes, our goal is to provide affordable housing with some customization. Of course, custom homes are much more client-intensive with a lot of choices in terms of design, products, and finishes. We do love the challenge of giving people the home of their Nodreams.”surprise there: custom home building excellence is part of Monte Williams’s DNA. After all, it’s a family tradition. For more information about Signature Homes, call Monte Williams at 850-572-0083 or email him signaturehomesllc.biz.at monte@

ofDestininmini-mansionstheprestigiouscommunityWatercolorbutleft the business for a time to work on a construction project for Lockheed-Martin in HeAfghanistan.returnedto the Pensacola area, first with CHB Homes, then started his own company, which he’s operated for over 20 years.

While Monte builds on owner’s lots in various locations in the two-county area, he has targeted Iron Rock as the ideal community to build homes in the $800,000900,000 price range, and has purchased 22 lots there.

Iron Rock is strategically located 20 minutes from downtown Pensacola and 30 minutes from both NAS Whiting Field and NAS Pensacola. It features a wealth of recreational and lifestyle-rich amenities, including a huge community pool, playground, covered outdoor clubhouse with bathhouse facilities, covered grilling and cooking areas, nature trails, two dog parks, event lawn, volleyball court, community garden, a half basketball court, and pickleball courts.

While Iron Rock will grab lots of Monte’s attention – especially with the Dream Home commitment – he remains committed to building affordable homes in Santa Rosa county, where he produces an average of 50 patio homes a year in the $375,000 price range.

“Yes, it’s quite an honor,” says Monte. “I have seen many fine builders build the American Dream Home over the years and it’s my turn to step up the plate. I look forward to the challenge.”

“The Dream Home builder coordinates the donations of hundreds of products and services,” says Monte, “so it’s vital to have a strong working relationship with subcontractors and suppliers, and I am fortunate in that regard.”

Signature Homes - CRC024288

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 57

Monte learned some valuable lessons from his father E.B Williams, a great builder, consummate professional, and kind-hearted man who served as President of the HBA of West Florida in 1968. “He never raised his voice –never had to – but he taught us through words and actions how to work hard, work smart, and treat people the way you would want to be treated,” says Monte. “He surely was a great role model not only for me, but for my brother Dean (owner of Panhandle Homes and a Past President of the HBA) and my lifelong friend Kevin Ward (owner of KW Custom Homes LLC). We all learned so much from Dad and are still applying those principles in our businesses today.”

Monte was still attending Tate High School when he began doing remodeling and renovations and he built his first home, for Sunbelt Construction, at age 18. He honed his custom home building skills with

Not only does the Dream Home take an experienced, exceptional builder like Monte to meet the lofty expectations of the thousands of people who view it annually, but it also requires a high level of logistical precision.

So respected in fact that the Home Builders Association of West Florida has selected Signature Homes to build its 2023 Dream Home in the hot new Cantonment community of Iron Rock. The home will be ready for public viewing in the Spring of next year.

Sadly, during the last of the three specs, Derek was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma and passed away after a six-month fight. “I am so grateful to have spent that last year with my dad learning the ropes from him day in and day out,” says Kyle. “I am motivated each and every day to continue my dad’s legacy. I have been around the construction industry my whole life. My grandpa and dad paved the way for me and taught me the importance of a strong work ethic and treating people right. I wouldn’t be where I am at today without both of their influence on my life.”

CONSTRUCTIONSUNCHASEEveryhomebuilder,tosurvive,mustkeepa sharp eye on the so-called bottom line. But for Kyle McGee and his dedicated team of professionals at Sunchase Construction, home building has a much higher purpose than simply generating corporate profits. “We treat our clients with the utmost respect. We strive to be consistent in our communicationattitude, and projects we produce to ensure complete customer satisfaction.”

Sunchase’s homes are rich in design and quality. Most feature three bedrooms, two baths, open kitchens, spacious living areas, and large back porches. Every home Sunchase builds is a reflection of its Core Vision: ‘To enhance the communities we invest in.’ “We pride ourselves in the level of attention to detail we take in Kylesaysproject,”eachKyle.”alsosets a high standard with respect to service.customer“We treat our clients with the utmost respect,” says McGee. “We strive to be consistent in our attitude, communication and projects we produce to ensure complete customer satisfaction” . Sunchase is generous in its support of two local organizations doing work that is close to Kyle’s heart, including participation in and financial support for the Miracle League of Santa Rosa County; a non-profit organization providing children and adults with disabilities, regardless of their ability, the opportunity to play baseball, and Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, which teaches young people about finances, careers, and business ownership.ForKyle,“community”extendswellbeyondSantaRosaCounty.Sunchaseisapartnerwiththelocalnon-profitLiveWellWater–Nicaraguathatbringscleanandaccessiblewatertovillages in Nicaragua. By raising funds to buy property and dig wells, the opportunity to improve living conditions has been given to thousands of people. It’s clear that Kyle McGee has stayed true to his mission and purpose. His business is not only built on trust, work ethic, and excellent communication skills, but more importantly on his passion to help others. For more information about Sunchase Construction, visit their website at sunchaseconstruction.com.orcom,sunchaseconstruction.www.call850-710-0862,emailKyleatkyle@

Sunchase Construction – CGC1525911

Kyle comes from a long line of entrepreneurs in the construction industry. His grandfather, Roy McGee, was a brick mason and eventually had his own construction business as a subcontractor in the Pensacola area. His father, Derek McGee, worked for his father starting at 12 years old in the summers. He eventually opened up his own construction business in 1991, Sunchase Construction, where he mainly focused on larger commercial jobs. Kyle got his start with his dad in 2016, when he was 22 years old and fresh out of college. “I was working as a Realtor® right out of college and three lots came for sale across the street from my parents’ house,” said Kyle. “I pitched the idea to my dad to buy the lots and build spec homes on them and he wanted nothing to do with it. After some time, he told me if this was something I was seriously interested in and would take the lead that he would help me get started. During the first build I quickly could see a future in the industry for myself and got my contractor’s license during the second build.”

“We care about the people we build for and the communities where we live and earn our livelihoods,” says Kyle, who was born and raised in Gulf Breeze, and graduated from Gulf Breeze High School and Florida State University. “What we do is so much more than just about making money.”

58 | SEPTEMBER 2022

Scan the code, Skip the Hassle

Last year, Southern Ventures celebrated its 45th Anniversary – a milestone for any business. For nearly half a century, we are proud to have been a part of the northwest Florida community, employing over 1,000 people throughout our history.

60 | SEPTEMBER 2022

Southern Ventures’ current development and management operations also include properties in the local hospitality market, such as the Courtyard by Marriott – Pensacola West; the Fairfield by Marriott – Crestview; and the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in Navarre. Further afield, the Fairfield by Marriott – Myrtle Beach/Conway, South Carolina is currently under active construction and the Embassy Suites – Jacksonville at Glen Kernan Park was recently announced as being under Thedevelopment.company also offers both architectural design and real estate brokerage services which facilitate the acquisition, development, and sale of its properties, while also offering those services to the public.

Lowell III serves the company as Production Manager of its homebuilding program, and he is a Florida state certified residential contractor and a Florida state licensed real estate associate. Lowell has earned multiple college degrees having graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in political science; Montgomery College in 2014 with an Associate Degree in construction management; and the University of West Florida in 2015 with a Master’s Degree in contract administration. Lowell currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Home Builders Association of West Florida. In addition to acting as the Director of 2015FloridawithsciencedoubleBachelorUniversitygraduatedmultipleprogram.thedevelopmentManagerVentures,TechnologyInformationforSouthernKyleisanAssetwithinthehospitalityprogramandBrokeroftherealestateKylehasearnedcollegedegreeshavingfromVanderbiltin2009withaofArtsdegreewhilemajoringinpoliticalandphilosophyaminorinhistory;andStateUniversityinwithaMasterofBusiness

In addition to Founder and CEO Lowell Larson, Jr., Southern Ventures is a family business that also benefits from the collective talents of sons Lowell Larson, III and Kyle Larson, as well as wife, Rhonda Larson.

Southern Ventures maintains its homebuilding roots, having recently completed the construction of over 100 new homes in The Preserve in Milton, Florida and is currently developing Wild Heron – a new waterfront and gated community in Navarre, Florida featuring 35 homes designed by resident architect and Director of Design, Mel Miller. Wild Heron will also include two commercial parcels along Navarre Parkway, one of which will be developed as a new office park for Southern Ventures, featuring the latest real estate technology systems.

In addition to homebuilding, Southern Ventures is proud to have developed and operated several multifamily apartment communities in the local area, to include the Cayo Grande Apartments in Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, and Bluewater Bay; Chez Elan Fine Apartments in Fort Walton Beach; and Riverwood Apartments in Crestview.

VENTURESSOUTHERNSouthernVentureswasfounded in 1976 by Lowell Larson, Jr. as a homebuilding partnership which, over time, evolved into a real estate company engaged in the construction, design, development, investment, management, and sale of real estate assets across the southeastern United States.

Southern Ventures – RG0031974

Administration Degree with a specialization in real estate. Kyle is a current student at Cornell University where he is pursuing a Master of Management in Hospitality Degree with a specialization in hospitality real estate, asset management and hotel development. Kyle is a Florida state licensed real estate Whilebroker.Rhonda spent several years teaching in the local school system, she continued to support the company in her off-hours by overseeing the interior design of multiple homebuilding projects, models, and sales centers as well as apartment community models and hotel lobbies. Today, Rhonda brings those many years of experience to the company’s benefit by overseeing its interior design program as well as its marketing initiatives. Rhonda earned a Bachelor’s Degree in business education from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of West ForFlorida.more information, visit the company online at www. venture.realestate or e-mail Lowell Larson III at lowell3@ venture.realestate.

Thomas’s heritage is unique in itself. Of Norwegian decent, the young Thomas would accompany his grandparents and parents on trips from Norway to New York. When they reached an age of maturity, the Westerheim children were given the option to stay in the United States and make a future for themselves. Thomas seized that grandfather“Watchingsayscomewherewas“Americaregrettedandopportunityneverit.theplacedreamstrue,”Thomas.myand father gave me a vision of what I could do in design and building. I was swinging a hammer when I just 3 or 4 years old. I felt I could make a living working with my hands. I believed that in America, if you are honest and work hard, you can be a Bysuccess.”anymeasure,

FloridaUniversityisinThomas’scommunities.thenewpreferencesconsumerinhomesandmostattractivepartnerlifeandbusinesswifeJennifer,aofWestgraduate and a licensed real estate broker at her own firm, Westerheim Realty. They are truly a team in the operation of Westerheim Properties and in the raising of three fun-loving children. It’s one thing to be professionally and financially successful, but Thomas soars above and beyond in one significant way: the respect of his peers. In addition to electing him to serve as their President in 2016, three times over the past seven years, the leaders of the Home Builders Association of West Florida have selected Thomas to design and build the HBA’s popular Dream Home.

No builder is immune from the challenges created by the often wildly fluctuating price of building materials, the shortage of skilled labor, and now an uptick in mortgage interest rates, but Thomas remains optimistic about the future of his company. “Certainly, we’ll keep our eye on things and pivot if we have to,” says Thomas. “But right now, things are on a good track, and we feel we can continue to deliver a very strong value to our home Forbuyers.”more information on Westerheim Properties, visit the company’s web site, call 850-497-2980, or westerheim2000@gmail.com.email

Thomas is one of the most accomplished builders in the area, designing and constructing homes from $300,000 to $700,000, primarily in Pensacola, Navarre, Pace and Milton. Most are built for clients who have already purchased their homesite but, if not, Thomas helps them find a buildable lot. He builds some home on speculation, drawing on his knowledge of

Of course, the Dream Home brings Thomas well-deserved recognition as a premier custom home builder and enhances his brand. “We are very proud of our reputation for creativity and quality,” says Thomas, “and especially pleased that we are building the second and third homes for the same clients.”

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 61

WESTERHEIMPROPERTIES

It should come as no surprise to anyone that a thirdgeneration master carpenter would become one of the preeminent custom home builders in Northwest Florida. That’s the story of Thomas Westerheim and Westerheim Properties – a story built on one man’s incredible courage, creativity, and commitment to excellence.

Some builders might consider it a burden, sort of like “taking one for the team” since the Dream Home builder spends countless hours not just constructing the home but working with over 100 suppliers who use it to showcase their products and services. On the contrary, Thomas willingly embraced the challenge of building the first-ever Dream Home at Nature Trail in 2014, the second one in 2017, and a third in the pandemic year of 2020 when Hurricane Sally impacted the production “Theschedule.Dream Home has a special place in my heart,” says the quiet, soft-spoken Thomas. “I love it that I can try out a new designs incorporating all the latest trends in the industry,” says Thomas. “And every subcontractor and supplier who works on the Dream Home brings their A game, knowing that the home will be viewed by thousands of people.”

Westerheim Properties – RB0067180

“The Dream Home has a special place in my heart. I love it that I can try out a new designs incorporating all the latest trends in the industry.”

These policies have exclusions and limitations. For cost and complete details of coverage, contact your local insurance agent or Florida Blue. The amount of benefits and premium will vary depending upon the plan selected. Florida Blue is a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Torgersen Causey Combined Insurance Services, Inc. is an Independent Broker of Florida Blue. TCBenefitsGroup.com FLORIDA’S TRUSTED PROVIDER FOR: • Employee Benefits • HR Tools & Resources • Payroll Solutions • Individual Plans 850.433.9996 Please call us in advance of your benefits renewal for a consultation. 1403 E. Belmont St. Pensacola, FL 32501 Todd Torgersen, CHC Anna Barbee Causey Reid Torgersen Cherie Meguess Mike White Rachel Fanara President Executive Vice President Vice President Director of Consumer Markets Account Executive Account Executive

FIRST CITY ART CENTER’S I6TH ANNUAL HANDCRAFTED GLASS AND CERAMIC P U M P K I N PAT C H 1060850.429.1222NGuillemard St FirstCityArt.org Oct. 8th • 1–4 pm Blue Wahoos Stadium Free Admission First Pick Tickets for Early Entrance On Sale Sept 7th!

UNIVERSITY LENDING GROUP The Smart Choice for Mortgages! Scan the code to get started today! (850) 912-8002 3439 North 12th Ave Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 677-1523 3690 Gulf Breeze Parkway Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 University Lending holds the standard in the industry for quick underwriting turn times, local processing and appraisers, and getting to the closing table on time. We’re certain we’ll help make your move a positive one! Purchase | Refinance | Build | Renovate University Bank, dba University Lending Group is located at 2015 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 – Equal Housing Lender and Equal Housing Opportunity - NMLS 715685 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org), Member FDIC. For a complete list of the states University Bank is able to provide financing in please visit https://university-lending.com/Library/More-Information/State-Licenses .University Bank is not affiliated with any government agency. University Bank is not FDIC insured.

With our best agents located in Pensacola, you can be sure you’ll... • Get the most value for your money • Secure protection for your most valued assets • Better understand what coverages you have and what is available • Have access to an experienced agent providing you with personal service throughout Florida Mary Jordan Agent/Owner (850) 384-0593 mary@gcainsurance.com Cassy Smith Operations Manager (850) 497-6810 cassy@gcainsurance.com Taylor Bubert Senior Advisor (850) 497-6810 taylor@gcainsurance.com Vicki Ruschel Personal Lines Manager (850) 497-6810 vicki@gcainsurance.com Speak with one of our agents today! One Great Team, Amazing Service! 700 New Warrington Rd Pensacola, FL 32506 Pensacola O: 850-497-6810Gulf Coast gcains.comInsurance

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magine confirming your perfect accommodations for your next vacation Next you receive a call from a sweet knowledgeable professional concierge This person is interested in what's bringing you to town what's driving you and how they can make this vacation different than all others That's exactly who we are at Foxy Whether you're staying for work, vacation or celebrating a magical moment in life, we're here to make sure you have an experience better than you expected We can coordinate anything including Chef to You experiences, dolphin cruises, private yoga and barre classes, in home massages, limo transportation, exclusive access to VIP tickets and events and much more! Curious where the locals go for live music, comedy or a night on the town? We have you covered there as well If you decide to add additional experiences while you're in town, you can book the last minute through our Monscierge

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Plantapalooza is an event celebrating all types of plants and gardening. Hosted by Pensacola Hoya Lovers and Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten, Plantapalooza will take place at Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten (208 Newman Ave) and will run from 12 pm to 5pm. The event will feature an assortment of plants including indoor and outdoor plants, common and uncommon plants, fruiting plants, and more. There will also be local vendors selling plant-related accessories such as handmade pots, macrame, plant jewelry and other items for Pensacola’s plant-lovers. Stop by to meet other plantlovers in the area and enjoy delicious brews. For more information, visit fb.me/ e/1ydG3Lh54.

Magic City Hippies at Vinyl Music Hall

at 6:35 pm - Biloxi Shuckers vs Blue Wahoos

Council on Aging of West Florida’s inaugural Kites on the Coast event will feature two days of high-flying fun at beautiful Casino Beach on September 2 from 4 pm to sunset, and September 3 from 10 am to 4 pm. This fundraising event will feature local vendors, food trucks, activities, and of course, kite flying. Kite-related festivities include professional kite-flying demonstrations from Chicago Kite, kite-flying displays from Pensacolians and various kites for sale. Proceeds from event sponsorships support the seniors and programs served by Council on Aging of West Florida. To learn more, visit the Council on Aging of West Florida Facebook page. 2022 Northwest Florida Heart Walk

September 16

September 2-3

July Home Games at Blue Wahoos Stadium For more information and tickets, visit milb. com/pensacolaSeptember13-16

Emerald Coast Beer Festival

September 10

September 9, 16, 23 & 30 Come on down to the Blackwater River in downtown Milton for a night of great music, food and family-friendly fun!

The cleanup will run from 9 am to 10 am and will span across the Bay Bluffs, Chimney Park and the surrounding area.

EVENT CALENDAR

The Emerald Coast Beer Festival is back for its 26th anniversary. This festival is held annually at Seville Quarter with lots of beer, food and live music. Homebrewers and craft breweries from across the country will join local brewers on the downtown streets to share their delicious craft with Pensacola. This year’s Emerald Coast Beer Festival will begin at 5:30 pm and run until 8:30 pm. For ticket information, visit emeraldcoastbeerfest.com.

Blue Wahoos Schedule

The Northwest Florida Heart Walk is a community event benefiting the American Heart Association. Participating in the Heart Walk is a great way to support a good cause while boosting your heart health, improving your mental health and socializing with family and friends. This year’s Northwest Florida Heart Walk will take place at the University of West Florida (11000 University Pkwy). Pre-walk festivities begin at 4:30 pm and the walk begins at 5:30 pm. To register or donate, visit www2.heart.org.

Bay Bluffs and Chimney Park Cleanups September 10

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 67

Pensacola

Details for potential League Championship Series Games are TBD Blue Angels Practice Dates

September 17 at 6:05 pm - Biloxi Shuckers vs Blue SeptemberWahoos18at 4:05 pm - Biloxi Shuckers vs Blue Wahoos

Join the Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) as they host world-renowned artist Clyde Butcher for a book signing and artist talk. Butcher’s exhibition, “America’s Everglades: Through the Lens of Clyde Butcher’’ has been on display at the PMA since June. PMA members are invited to attend a special book signing and reception at 5 pm, before the public event begins at 6 pm. Guests can view the exhibition and partake in light refreshments before the artist talk and public book signing. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Florida-based band, Magic City Hippies, will be bringing their indie funk sounds to the Vinyl Music Hall. With their unique rock, pop and funk influenced sound, Magic City Hippies draws fans of all ages and demographics. Doors open at 8 pm and the show begins at 9 pm. For ticket information and more, visit vinylmusichall.com.

All ages are welcome to participate and cleanup supplies will be provided. For more information, visit cityofpensacola.com/ Calendar.

Presented by the City of Milton, the Bands on the Blackwater concert series features a variety of musical artists playing everything from Bluegrass and country to blues and rock. The concerts are held from 7-9 pm at Jernigan’s Landing (5158 South Willing Street, Milton). Upcoming shows include: Blue Levee on September 9, Jordan Chase on September 16, Adam Calvert on September 23 and Stephanie Leigh Hall on September 30. For details, visit BandsOnTheBlackwaterorg/427/Bands-on-the-Blackwatermiltonfl.or@onFacebook.

September 8

September 9

Kites on the Coast

The Scenic Highway Foundation, Ocean Hour, Earth Ethics and the City of Pensacola are joining forces to keep the city parks clean by hosting a cleanup at the Bay Bluffs Preserve (3400 Scenic Highway).

September 7, 13 & 20 DoD identification card holders and their guests who are able to access Naval Air Station Pensacola to visit the National Naval Aviation Museum can view the Blue Angels practice flight demonstrations directly from the flight deck. The gates open at 9:30 am. Practice flight demonstrations can also be viewed in areas outside of NAS Pensacola including Fort Pickens, various boat cruises and throughout downtown Pensacola. The Blue Angels will take flight each day at 10:30 am. For more information, navalaviationmuseum.org/blueangels/.visit Bands on the Blackwater

PMA Artist Talk: Clyde Butcher September 16

Plantapalooza at Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten

September 17

The 45th annual Pensacola Seafood Festival is back for three days of good food, drinks and culture! The Pensacola Seafood Festival is a time for Pensacolians to gather together and celebrate all of the wonderful sea cuisine that the city has to offer. The festival features some of the best local seafood vendors, as well as arts, crafts and more family-friendly activities. For more event details, visit pensacolaseafoodfestival.com.

The Miracle Strip Corvette Club are hosting their 19th annual “Vettes at the Beach” event. Vettes at the Beach is an all Corvette car show hosted on Pensacola Beach that features over 300 Corvettes. Every year, Corvette enthusiasts flock to Pensacola Beach from all across the country to attend this event. Proceeds from the show support the Santa Rosa Kids’ House and Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida. In 2021, Vettes at the Beach raised $2,500 for each of these charities. For more information, visit miraclestripcorvette.com.

EVENT CALENDAR

The Perfect Oktoberfest at Perfect Plain Brewing Co. September 24 Join Perfect Plain Brewing Co. as they host their fifth annual Oktoberfest celebration. The Perfect Oktoberfest will be an all-day celebration, running from 11 am to 9 pm. The event will feature a plethora of German food and eight delicious German Beers on tap. As the afternoon rolls into the evening, there will be more fun including a Lederhosen & Dirndl competition and stein hoisting competition. For more information, visit perfectplain.com.

The Best Way to See the Bay Book a cruise today and experience relaxing sunsets and exciting thrills! SEPTEMBER SUNSET CRUISES Wednesday–Sunday Evenings 6:00 PM 750 S Commendencia St | Pensacola, FL 32502 • 850.466.3379 • PensacolaBayCityFerry.com BLUE ANGELS PRACTICES 9:45 AM | 9/7 • 9/13 • 9/20 BANDS ON THE BEACH 6:00 PM | 9/6 • 9/13 • 9/20 • 9/27

Resident Evil at the Saenger

Vettes at the Beach Car Show

September 17 Saenger Summer Movie Series presents Resident Evil. Experience this thrilling horror adventure full of zombie-slaying action. Resident Evil is rated R and attendees must be 17 years old or older. An hour before the show, Alex Gartner, Executive Director of the Pensacola Children’s Chorus, will perform music from the film on the Great Saenger Pipe Organ. The show begins at 7:30 pm. For ticket information and more, visit pensacolasaenger.com

The Garden Bros Nuclear Circus is bringing its world-renowned show to the Cordova Mall. This year’s show features breathtaking special effects and the best performers from over 22 countries. This action-packed 100 minute performance will include crazy performances like the Human Slingshot, Motorcycles in the Sphere of Fear, HairHanging and more. For showtimes and more information, visit gardenbroscircus. com. Pensacola Seafood Festival

September 23-25

Garden Bros Nuclear Circus September 22-25

directedByFEASTTHEcoryfinleybybrandonmayo

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F O X Y V A C A T I O N S we prioritize property integrity, return on investment and creating memorable experiences for every guest that walks through the door. We like to view ourselves as a hospitality company that happens to sell real estate. For inquiries, email info@foxyvacations.com or call 850 549 8869 At Foxy Vacations PROPERTY MANAGEMENT www.foxyvacations.com At Foxy Vacations, we pride ourselves in offering quality vacation packages for every genre. We deliver an experience no matter the reason for stay; business, leisure, family stays, couples getaways, the list is endless. Not only do we offer beautiful accommodations and amazing experiences, but we can also assist in your search for an investment property of your own. Our in house real estate team will help you find a property to purchase, review rental projections, manage as well as promote your investment.

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 71 72. By The Numbers: A Look at July’s Market Highlights 78. How Much Longer Can You Afford To Wait? 80. Building Your Dream Home Anytime, Anywhere 82. High-ROI Home Upgrades to Improve Curb Appeal 88. InspirationOutdoorAward-WinningSpace ON THE MARKET a Real Estate Section In This Section

Pending sales for July rebounded slightly from June and were 16% of last July.

A Look at July’s Market Highlights

HighlightsMarket

For Sale 15 DAYS MARKETON 345 1200 325k PENDINGSALES NEWMEDIANLISTINGSRESIDENTIALSALEPRICE

72 | SEPTEMBER 2022 Data courtesy of the Pensacola Association of REALTORS ® BY THE NUMBERS

Total sales slipped 17% compared to June. The median sale price is Average$325,000.days on market for residential and condos combined fell to 15, a new low for the year.

716 N 9th 7Ave 16 N 9th Ave MLS #30803772 | $1 500 000 | 13 906sqft 835 Concordia 8Blvd 35 Concordia Blvd mls #30810469| $399,000 | 4,100sqft Historic Church of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Current Auto Paint and Body shop located in Pensacola Darlene Hammond RE/MAX Americas Top Realty 850 572 2615 Looking to buy your next property or sell your current Lone? ooking to buy your next property or sell your current one? | darlene@americastoprealty 2com 777 Gulf Breeze Pkwy | CALLDarlene! m 850 270 3305 yourpensacolamove.com We are a team of market experts with 80+ closings in 2022, so far! Call us today to have an honest discussion about the ever changing real estate market "The notion that one agent can be their own head of IT, transaction coordinator, listing launcher, customer service manager, rainmaker, digital marketer, videographer, showing agent, buyer specialist, & listing agent at SCALE is faulty at best " Tom Ferry 2020 2021 Jan 22 Aug 22 *Cummulative Pensacola Region Stats per PAR MLS from 1.1.2020 8.10.22 yourhome value

SPECIALIZING IN • New & Resale Homes • Custom Homes • First Time Home Buyers • Investment Properties • Land • Commercial Servicing: Cantonment • Pensacola • Gulf Breeze • Pace • Milton Ramani Cantrell REALTOR® ramanisellsrealestate@gmail.com 850.572.7990 HOARD PROPERTIES LLC

My belief is Service with a Smile. I will go the extra mile to help my customers buy and sell their homes. Pensacola is my home, and I’m happy to have lived here for more than 30 years. As a resident of Pensacola, I have served the community as a volunteer at Beulah Elementary School, Beulah Academy of Science Middle School, Boys Scouts of America, my Church, Habitat for Humanity, enjoyed serving as a soccer coach, the Indian Association and many more. My Real Estate career began in 2007 when I received my Real Estate License. During my career, I have received the “Bay Area Top Gun Award” and am a member of PAR, ECAR and the Women’s Council of Realtors. Over the years as a Realtor I have enjoyed helping all my customers sell and purchase their homes. I love the real estate business and will work very hard to find a home for you!

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 75 ADD-ONPOPS!MASTERWORKSCONCERT OPENING SCHUMANNNIGHT!SYMPHONY NO. 3 BEETHOVEN & BLUE JEANS VERDI DVOŘÁKSEASONREQUIEMFINALE:SYMPHONY NO. 7 CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR! CIRQUE RACHMANINOFF’SBRONFMANSPECTACULARPLAYSTHIRD OCT. 1, 2022 NOV. 5, 2022 JAN. 14, 2023 FEB. 25, 2023 APR. 22, 2023 DEC. 31, 2022 FEB. 11, 2023 MAR. 25, 2023 CLASSIC ROMANTIC MODERN 2022-23 CONCERT SEASON NEW SUBSCRIBERS SAVE UP TO 50% 850.435.2533 | PensacolaSymphony.com

Jenn Cole 850.712.4084 jenncole2003@aol.com PARADISE COASTAL REALTY 1500 Via De Luna Dr, Unit D3, Pensacola Beach CONTRACTUNDER$665,000 70 Baybridge Dr, Gulf Breeze $485,000SOLD YOUR DREAM. MY MISSION. — Live Where You Love —

KNOWLEDGE OPENS DOORS 17 W Cedar Street | Suite 2 Pensacola, FL 32502 phone: 850.434.2244 fax: www.BHHSPenFed.com850.434.8081 © 2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. 4 Bed, 3 Bath, 4,083 sq.ft — Bayou Texar Waterfront, Swimming Pool, Dock. Located on a Cul-De-Sac apprx 1 acre lot. Private Haven in The Heart of Town! 4 Bed, 2 Bath, 2,670 sq.ft — This fantastic home is located in the highly desirable Villa Venyce neighborhood with top rated schools and close proximity to Pensacola Beach! 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 2,217 sq.ft — LOOKING FOR A BOAT LOVERS PARADISE? Dock your boat in your backyard! All brick home located in the boating community of Polynesian Islands, Boathouse with observation deck! 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,653 sq.ft — This mostly all brick ranch home is priced to sell with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,653 square feet on quarter acre+ lot, just minutes to restaurants and shopping. 4201 KARMICH PL $1,100,000 | MLS# 611148 962 CORONADO DR $455,000 | MLS# 609368 1647 LAHAINA CT $675,000 | MLS# 611417 7749 GRUNDY ST $267,000 | MLS# 611837 East Pensacola Linda Turner • 850.324.4235 • linda.turner@penfedrealty.com Simone Sands • 850.293.2292 • simone.sands@penfedrealty.com Nancy Grogan • 850.377.7578 • nancy.grogan@penfedrealty.com Joe Nacchia • 850.865.0482 • joe.nacchia@penfedrealty.com https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/new+photo/CllgCHrjmndtLFRcJwNGfndsCVgMqMbWSQzBgKslGKnMqdzXxxTJZtBLcTSjpZV Gulf WarringtonBreezeGulf Breeze

Lastly, remember that a property’s taxes and insurance, in most cases, will be added to the monthly payment so that the lender can make those payments and ensure they are paid timely. A buyer must qualify for the mortgage payment with those numbers factored in as well. To that point, if you are following our insurance issues here on the Gulf Coast, you understand just what a challenge that may be – especially for older homes without recent improvements or hardening that may be subject to extremely high premiums right now. Knowing what to look for (and what to avoid) is key.

Holly Lovett is the broker and owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Main Street Properties, serving the Florida & Alabama Gulf Coast from Pensacola, FL to Mobile, AL since 2011. Find your favorite agent at www.mainstreetproperty.com. MUCH LONGER CAN YOU AFFORD TO WAIT? RATE ON 30-YEAR JUMPS TO 5.81%

By Holly Lovett

$300,000 home 30 yr at Monthly5.55%P&I payment $1713 30 yr at Monthly5.81%P&I payment $1762 $500,000 home 30 yr at Monthly5.55%P&I payment $2855 30 yr at Monthly5.81%P&I payment $2937 Difference = $59/mo x 12mo = $708/yr x 5yrs = $3,540 x 30yrs = $21,240 approx. 7% increase over the life of a 30 yr mortgage loan Difference = $82/mo x 12mo = $984/yr x 5yrs = $4,920 x 30yrs = $29,520 approx. 6% increase over the life of a 30 yr mortgage loan

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac’s website publishes historical mortgage rate data and, while we are seeing interest rates at their consistently highest since 2008 (August 2008 rates were at 6.48%), we are still in a much better rate position than, say, August 2000 when rates were just over 8% - in a booming real estate market, I might add. dollarschangessomeTakewanenow,–playingmarketwillthislesscostpurchaseloanthehomebuyer.and,intounderstandsthenotSo,freddiemac.com/pmms/pmms30https://www.whileacompletesurrenderiscertainlycalledfor,withratesstillattractivelyinupper5%range,aninformedconsumerthateveryincreasetranslatesmoreexpenseonborrowedmoneyultimately,ahighercostforafinancingAndsellersarenotimmunetoimpacts.Whenbuyersarepushedoutofqualificationbyarateincreaseorwhencostsincrease(duetothehigherofmoneyovertime),thattranslatesintonegotiatingroomforsellers.Overtime,downwardpressureonborrowedmoneyultimatelyturnourcurrentsellers’intosomethingofamorebalancedfield,withlessdemandandurgencytwothingsthatbodewellforsellersrightalthoughtheyarealreadybeginningtoinsomepricepoints.alookatthenumbersbelowtoseeroughprojectionsofwhattherecenttranslateinto,intermsofrealandcents:

The bottom line? If you are in the market to buy or sell in a shifting market, where rates are increasing and the landscape is changing daily on multiple fronts, knowing your numbers, your financing, purchase and insurance options, and your best timing is Don’tcritical.go it alone. Get a real estate pro working for you and start strategizing today. Expect Better.

78 | SEPTEMBER 2022

According to a recent article in Forbes Magazine, the average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages jumped to 5.81% on August 22, up from 5.55% one week prior. While an increase in interest rates signals slightly higher costs for homebuyers and, inversely, tighter times for homesellers, all is not lost as rates still remain reasonable by historical standards.

MORTGAGE

As you can see, even a seemingly small change over the course of one week can considerably impact cost over the life of a 30-year loan, with this most recent change translating to a net cost of 6-7% more on a home in the $300,000 - $500,000 range. On top of these cost increases, the charging of “points,” or prepaid interest, upfront (also called a “buy down”) is becoming more commonplace as lenders look to hedge their bets and insulate their investments, while keeping rates as attractive as possible. While points may sometimes translate into savings over time with a lower interest rate, they may also simply move some of the costs around to give the perception of lower long-term costs without any real savings. Do the math. Know what you are looking at, and how long you plan to stay in the home, before you act.

HOW

850. 291.3341 cell COMMERCIAL1stCAMERONccauley@naipensacola.comCAULEY,MiCP,CCA,SIORSENIORCOMMERCIALADVISOROnlyCryptoCertifiedAgentinNWFL.REALESTATESALESANDLEASING NAI Pensacola 24 West Chase Street Pensacola, FL. 32502 naipensacola.com $60MM in Closed Transactions 1M SF of Commercial Property Managed 100% Satisfaction Rate Florida’s Top Properties 24 West Chase Street Suite 100 floridastopproperties.com Eric Milstead Senior Residential Real Estate Broker 850-221-0443 Buying or Selling? In today’s tight market you need THE EXPERT. • Over $100 Million in Closed Sales • Seasoned Marketing Specialist • Valuation Expert • Licensed Since 1992 Milstead 20 22.indd 1 4/18/2022 1:18:03 PM

Five tips to create a comfortable forever home

You’ll need to start by determining how much you can spend on your house. Typically, the cost of building a home is around $100-$200 per square foot, according to research from HomeAdvisor. You’ll also need to account for the lot price as well as design fees, taxes, permits, materials and labor. Materials and labor should make up about 75 percent of the total amount spent, but it’s wise to build in a buffer for price changes and overages. While building your budget, consider what items and features are “must-haves” and things that should only be included if your budget allows.

IDENTIFY THE PERFECT LOCATION

Like natural gas, propane can power major appliances such as your furnace, water heater, clothes dryer, fireplace, range and standby generator. Often, propane works more efficiently with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than electricity, meaning your home is cleaner for the Propaneenvironment.canevenpower a whole-home standby generator, which is often a big selling point.

When a homeowner purchases a standby generator, a licensed electrician installs the unit outside the home and wires it to the home’s circuit breaker. When a power outage occurs, the generator automatically senses the disruption of service and starts the generator’s engine, which then delivers power to the home. From the warm, comfortable heat of a propane furnace to the peace of mind offered by a propane standby generator, many homeowners trust propane to provide a safe, efficient, whole-home energy solution.

KEEP UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN MIND

Many homebuyers want to ensure their space is accessible to family members and guests both now and for decades to come. As the housing market slows and mortgage rates rise, buyers may look to incorporate features that allow them to age in place. Incorporating principles of universal design - the ability of a space to be understood, accessed and used by people regardless of their age or ability - can make it possible to still enjoy your home even if mobility, vision or other challenges arise as you age.

80 | SEPTEMBER 2022 For most homebuyers, their dream homes are not something they’re likely to find already on the market. With a unique vision of your dream home’s look, location and features, building a custom home is generally the easiest way to make that dream a reality. To keep things moving as smoothly as possible amid what can be a complicated process, consider these tips as you embark on the journey.

Think about where you’d like to live and research comparable lots and properties in those areas, which can give you a better idea of costs. Because the features of many dream homes require a wider footprint, you may need to build outside of city limits, which can make natural gas more difficult to access. Consider propane instead, which can do everything natural gas can and go where natural gas cannot or where it is cost prohibitive to run a natural gas line. Propane also reduces dependence on the electrical grid, and a propane standby generator can safeguard your family if there is a power “Asoutage.areal estate agent and builder, I have the pleasure of helping families select their dream homes,” said Matt Blashaw, residential contractor, licensed real estate agent and host of HGTV’s “Build it Forward.” “The homes we design and build are frequently in propane country, or off the natural gas grid. Propane makes it possible to build an affordable and entertainingspaceshigh-performingcomfortable,indoorlivinganddynamicoutdoorareas.”

SET A REALISTIC BUDGET

CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

With today’s electric grid, more than two-thirds of the energy is wasted; it never reaches homes. Unlike electricity, propane is stored in a large tank either above or below ground on the property. A 500-gallon tank can hold enough propane to meet the annual energy needs of an average single-family homeenough to power major systems in a Propanehome.pairs well with other energy sources, including grid electricity and on-site solar, which makes it a viable option for dual-energy homes.

Hiring the right people can make the process of turning your dream into reality go much

BUILD A TEAM OF EXPERTS

Building Your Dream Home Anytime, Anywhere

For example, the entryway could have a ramp or sloped concrete walkway leading to a front door wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair with a barrierfree threshold. Inside, wider hallways and doorways, strategic lighting and appliances installed at lower heights are mainstays of universal design. Counters of varying heights, drop-down cabinet racks and roll-under sinks in kitchens and zero-entry

showers, slip-resistant flooring and grab bars in bathrooms offer enhanced accessibility.

STANDBY GENERATOR

You may be surprised to learn propane can power major appliances, which can increase the value of a home because of their high performance, efficiency and reduced dependence on the electrical grid. FURNACE A propane-powered furnace has a 50% longer lifespan than an electric heat pump, reducing its overall lifetime costs. Propanepowered residential furnaces also emit up to 50 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than electric furnaces and 12% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than furnaces running on oil-based fuels.

smoother.

CLOTHES DRYER

APPLIANCESPROPANE-POWERED

BOILER Propane boilers have an expected lifespan of up to 30 years, but many can last longer if serviced and maintained properly. Highefficiency propane boilers offer performance, space savings and versatility as well as a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to those fueled by heating oil.

Propane standby generators supply supplemental electricity in as little as 10 seconds after an outage. Plus, propane doesn’t degrade over time, unlike diesel or gasoline, making it an ideal standby power fuel.

Propane-powered clothes dryers generate up to 42 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to electric dryers. They also dry clothes faster, which can reduce energy use and cost. RANGE With up to 15 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to electric ranges, propane-powered ranges also allow for greater control of heat levels. Plus, their instant flame turnoff capabilities help them cool faster.

TANKLESS WATER HEATER

Propane tankless water heaters have the lowest annual cost of ownership in mixed and cold United States climates when compared with electric water heaters, heat pump water heaters and oil-fueled water heaters. They also only heat water when it is needed, reducing standby losses that come with storage tank water heaters.

Photos courtesy of Laurey Glenn and Paragon Building Group (house exterior and kitchen)

Start by researching reputable builders, paying special attention to the types of homes they build to find a style that matches what you’re looking for as well as price ranges for past homes they’ve built. Consider how long the builders have been in business and if they’re licensed and insured. Depending on your builder’s capabilities, you may also need to hire an architect or designer. In addition to your real estate agent to assist with purchasing the lot and selling your previous home, you may need assistance from other professionals, such as a real estate attorney, landscape architect and propane supplier. A local propane supplier can work with the builder to install a properly sized propane storage tank either above or below ground and connect appliances. Find more ideas for building your dream home at Propane.com.

Source:#16265

Propane Education & Research Council 850-432-0202 601 E. Chase Street residenceinnpensacoladowntown.com 850-439-3330 700 E. Chase Street courtyardpensacoladowntown.com 850-476-8383 6000 Cobble Creek Road www.marriott.com/pnsrp 850-474-3777 5049 Corporate Woods Drive pensacolaairport.homewoodsuites. com 850-478-1123 2187 Airport Boulevard pensacolaairport.hamptoninn.com PENSACOLA AIRPORT/CORDOVA MALL PENSACOLA DOWN TOWN Business Vacation Extended Stay HIGHPOINTE.COMA Place for You 850-479-8900 1144 Airport Boulevard pensacolaairportmedicalcenter.hgi.com

“The Vintage Homestead Color Collection offers an effortless look that reveals the impor tance of being hopeful to find stability and balance,” said Ashley Banbury, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams senior color designer. “Our 2023 Color Collection of the Year revives elements from the past that are perfectly paired with vintage, comfortable and classic colors.”

• Vintage Homestead: Reviving design elements from the past with mixed patterns, classic shapes and vintage decor adds up to comfortable and comfort ing design. With this trend, prints and patterns en compass a range of styles, reinforcing how interiors connect to fashion. Mixing classic elegance with sleek vintage shapes is refining the concept of polished comfort. To achieve the look, curate pieces in her itage shapes and patterns, along with retro accents. Be sure to incorporate vintage lighting and glass, as well. A versatile color choice like Darkroom, the 2023 Color of the Year from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, is an alluring shade that is classic enough for heritage interiors but also modernly retro for a throwback-in spired aesthetic. It’s a neutral perfect for creating an eclectic yet modern look inside and out. Indoors, use it on the walls to offset more earthy brown and taupe tones in your furnish ings and textiles. Get inspired to combine the past with the present for a comfort ing design that’s all your own at com.hgtvhomebysherwinwilliams.

CRAFTING A CONSERVATORY

Today’s homeowners are also in creasingly interested in biophilic design and bringing the outdoors in, which prompts a conserva tory aesthetic in home design. To achieve the look, design your space to make maximum use of natural light in creative ways. Incorporate large potted trees and statement plants that blur the lines between indoors and

BLENDING PAST AND PRESENT

82 | SEPTEMBER 2022

TIMELESS COLOR

Fill your home with balance and hope

Source:#16330outdoors.HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams

Striking a balance between old and new can take many forms, as these styles show:

In the world of design, what’s old inevitably becomes new again, and a similar pattern is inspiring today’s on-trend color palettes for home decor. The latest styles reflect reviving and comforting colors influenced by heritage and romance, lending to a look that is familiar in an individualistic way.

With more people living their everyday, working lives at home, many homeowners are discover ing the contentment that comes with slowing down. Often that means looking to the past to find comfort for moving forward.

Comforting Color

Nostalgia serves as an emotional tool that delivers deep-rooted serenity and powerful healing properties. Looking to the past is often beneficial during times of uncertainty and can be an opportunity to bring styles and practices back to the present to create an appreciation of the Whetherpast. living through the romance of rural lifestyles, the comfort of home or the nostalgia from far-off times, some of today’s most beloved design aesthetics celebrate the past, present and future while bringing balance, hope and comfort for you and your family to embrace.

Using color to evoke feelings and emotions is hardly new but combining a carefully curated color palette with other design elements can allow you to create a look that pays homage to the past while breathing new life into your living space. Reimagining classic, familiar tones allows you to achieve a design motif that is equal parts reminiscent and refreshing.

• Heritage Revival: An interest in reviving the past is evident in design trends like a remerging apprecia tion of antiques and vintage elements, such oversized furniture and traditional shapes. To capture this style, your design should focus on contrasting old and new for a mix-andmatch look. Ultimately, the aesthetic is a look that feels simultaneously individual istic and curated. A cohesive color scheme can allow the various elements to stand on their own while working in harmony for an inten tional design. For exam ple, the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams 2023 Color Collection of the Year includes a combination of familiar tones that have been thoughtfully curated by design experts who borrow color and design concepts from the past for a hopeful future and a sense of belonging. Hues like Poetry Plum and Hot Cocoa evoke warmth and depth, while moderate shades like Restrained Gold and Glamour offer fresh ways to incorporate mid-range neu trals. Meanwhile, soft tones like Natural Linen and Cool Beige offer subtle color for lighter, brighter spaces.

• Mixing and Matching of Eras: A new take on retro design is emerging in which eras are blended and new and old furnishing work side by side. To get this look, you’ll craft a space that marries historical and contemporary design, cel ebrating both the old and new. To design for longev ity, incorporate pieces that are ambiguous in era and stand the test of time.

PEACEFUL LIVING on Bayou Texar A lovely Mid Century Modern home on 1.2 acres Contact Tracey Collins or Gay Landreth at850.231.7896 for more information. Service | Integrity | Excellence Gay Landreth Tracey Collins Managing Member and Broker Realtor® We do what we do because we are That’s the La Florida Difference. 206 Severin Drive 4 BR/4 BA • 4,258 sq. ft. Welcome to 206 Severin Dr. located in Pensacola’s desirable East Hill. This solidly constructed home is situated on 1.2 acres with 210 feet of waterfront, with the rare feeling of privacy The main living area with soaring 20 ft. ceilings boasts of solid mahogany wide plank oversized residential lots provide ample room to expand the grounds to feature a pool and dock; and is ready for your brushstroke as “the good bones” are evident throughout. We invite you to discover the possibilities of living and playing in East Hill. Let the adventure begin!

Pensacola | www.warrenaverett.com WE ARE HERE FOR YOU We often begin relationships with traditional tax or audit services, but clients quickly realize we can offer so much more. Whether you are managing commercial office buildings and multi-family properties, are a real estate developer or work in another facet of commercial real estate, our experts understand the ins and outs of your industry. Managing budgets, planning for tax reform and keeping your properties full is a lot of work. Let us help take some of the weight off you. Proudly serving 550+ real estate clients, but we’re waiting for you! Contact Cyndi Warren today to see how we can help you. Cyndi Warren, CPA Pensacola Managing Member 850.444.7232 Cyndi.Warren@warrenaverett.com Our lending experts provide local one-on-one service, competitive rates and closing costs, all to ﬁt your budget. Learn more at penair.org/Mortgage. The right mortgage gets you there. THE BEST JOURNEY TAKES YOU HOME © 2022 Pen Air FCU. NMLS# 413053. Products, terms and conditions subject to change without notice. Subject to credit approval. APR may vary based on individual credit history & underwriting factors. Call 1-877-4PENAIR for credit costs and terms.

COMPOSITE DECKING Another exterior remodeling project with a high ROI (62.1%), according to the report, is replacing your home’s existing wood deck with composite deck ing. An option like Zuri Premium Decking combines the natural beauty and warmth of exotic hardwood with the durability and low-maintenance require ments of PVC (cellular polyvinyl chloride), which resists stains, scratches, fading and moisture, for a deck that will last for years with minimal upkeep.

HIGH-ROI HOME UPGRADES TO IMPROVE CURB APPEAL

VINYL SIDING Updating your home’s exterior with vinyl siding yields a 67.2% return upon sale, according to the report. When considering new siding, look for high-quali ty, low-maintenance materials. Depending on where you live, insulated vinyl siding can add additional protection against the elements, as well as increased energy efficiency. While function is important, don’t be afraid to make bold choices with color, texture, different profiles and contrasting trim to make a true statement with your home’s Forexterior.example, Westlake Royal Building Products offers a wide range of vinyl siding options in the latest shades, including adding five on-trend colors to its Royal Siding and Exterior Portfolio lines. Inspired by colors found in nature, the gray, blue-gray, brown and green tones reflect the latest trends in modern exterior home design. Both lines feature patented color protection technology to resist fading, which is especially important for darker shades.

86 | SEPTEMBER 2022

Your home’s exterior can say a lot about you and your family while also making a first impres sion on guests (and potential buyers). Because of the impact curb appeal has on the amount prospective buyers are willing to spend on a home, it’s important for homeowners to look beyond simply choosing the right siding color and consider different siding materials and profiles, adding accents like stone veneer and researching other exterior upgrades that can both increase beauty and deliver performance over time.

In fact, exterior remodeling projects typically top the list of projects that add the most resale value to homes. According to Remodeling’s 2022 Cost vs. Value Report, nine of the top 10 projects delivering the best return on cost were exterior Ifrenovations.you’relooking to sell or just want to increase the overall val ue of your home, consider these high-ROI exterior upgrades from the experts at Westlake Royal Building Products that can improve aesthetics and increase resale value.

SHUTTERS Adding or replacing shutters is another easy way to add a bit of flair and can be a key finishing touch in creating the perfect ex terior. With the potential to play beautifully alongside windows and siding as well architectural style and surrounding land scaping, it’s important to make thoughtful choices and install them properly to ensure they look and function as designed.

FRONT DOOR If replacing the front door isn’t necessary, adding a fresh coat of paint is a simple way to refresh your home’s exterior. You can take your “dated” door and make it modern again with a bold, on-trend color. Take it one step further by adding artistic house numbers, a new light fixture or a door knocker in an unexpected shape for inexpensive pops of style.

COLUMN WRAPS

Give your front porch an instant facelift by wrapping your exist ing columns with PVC wraps. This is an easy way to achieve a cleaner and more modern, updated look. Resistant to mois ture, PVC column wraps prevent issues found in traditional wood columns, such as warp ing, rotting and insect damage. Available in a variety of readyto-install styles, they can also be painted to complement your home’s exterior color palette. Find more ideas to increase your home’s beauty and resale values at ProductsSource:#16333ucts.com.westlakeroyalbuildingprodWestlakeRoyalBuilding

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 | 6:00 PM Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center All-Inclusive Ticket: $175 | Cocktail Attire PENSACOLAOPERA.COM | 850.433.6737SCANTOLEARNMORE! PENSACOLA OPERA’S SIGNATURE FALL FUNDRAISING EVENT Over a gourmet four course dinner, world-class opera singers serenade you and your guests tableside. A preview of our upcoming season starts off the night – but the rest of the entertainment is up to you! Bid on popular selections from opera and musical theatre to be performed - just for your table! - course by course. All proceeds directly support Pensacola Opera’s professional opera productions, education initiatives, and community engagement opportunities. WHERE THE MUSICAL SELECTION IS UP TO YOU! Come play the jukebox! This year’s Jukebox Gala is in honor and memory of Drs. Jim & Nell Potter $865,000 39503,5424BD/2.5BASQFTWMADURA RD GULF BREEZE, FL 32563 $790,000 350 FEET OF WATERFRONT 6.43 ACRES 7533 PETERSEN POINT RD MILTON, FL 32583 WORK WITH A FULL CONCIERGE REAL ESTATE TEAM WITH ACTIVE BUYERS CALL TARIA 850.449.9422WHITE

88 | SEPTEMBER 2022

Residential Landscape Design/Out door Living Under $100,000

A young, active family was looking to create a distinct outdoor living space with multiple entertainment spaces that tied in with the existing aesthetic and elevated the home amongst its neighbors. The low-maintenance backyard now features an outdoor dining area, sunken living room, entertainment area and additional storage space built with the home’s current architectural features while also maintaining a large enough yard for the kids and their friends to play.

National Association of the Remodel ing Industry

Residential Landscape Design/Out door Living Over $250,000 A 4,000-square-foot project built at four different elevations, this client wanted to in clude a safe way to move from the upper level to the backyard without coming through the house, a structure for shade and protection from mosquitoes and a pool with features that reflected the home. Adding a covered screen room with individually controlled wall panels, see-through fireplace, fountain, pool with sheer descent waterfalls, recycled rock walls and staircase from the upper elevation while enclosing it all within a stone wall met those expectations.

The clients wanted to upgrade a poorly drain ing, impractical backyard into an attractive, functional outdoor entertainment space that flowed from the renovated basement. The project included an outdoor area for entertaining, outdoor kitchen, spacious patio with a custom concrete fire pit, oversized ceiling fans, ample storage and landscaping complete with native plants around the perimeter.

“By working on this project, we learned how important it is to take a holistic look at what clients are trying to accomplish with their renovations,” said Thomas Boyce, president of Boyce Design & Contracting. “Often with outdoor living projects, designers and contractors look at the exterior of the home in isolation. We learned to look at how the interior and exterior of the home connect to each other to make sure the features and floor plan flow and work well together. By taking this approach, we were able to achieve a better finished product that is more func tional and attractive for our clients.”

Residential Landscape Design/Out door Living $100,000-$250,000

Renovating your home’s outdoor spaces not only enhances the aesthetic but can also provide a host of recreational benefits. Taking a look at award-winning projects can help many homeowners draw inspiration while also identifying capable, reputable contractors to take on the project.

For example, selected by a panel of industry experts based on functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation and degree of diffi culty, these 2021 National Association of the Remodeling Industry National Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award Winners showcase a variety of ideas for upgrading your outdoor spaces. Find the complete list at nari.org/ cotywinners.

“A sound piece of advice for anyone building anything in the backyard: get a plan,” said Ken DePratt, owner of KD Poolscapes, Ltd. “Have it match your expectations list. Then, and only then, will you know if it matches your budget. We would recommend doing your research when taking on a pool project of any size. It’s hard to push that hole around once it’s dug.”

Source:#15733

AWARD-WINNING OUTDOOR SPACE INSPIRATION

“The aesthetic of the outdoor areas was designed not only for function but also to re flect the interiors and keep the inside-outside living feeling continuous,” said Tim Johnson, owner and founder of Livit Site + Structure. “For example, the shiplap used on the fire table is the same shiplap featured inside the home. Likewise, the Douglas fir timbers used on the pergola are the same as the interior ceiling beams.”

© 2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. Looking to Buy or Sell? Call The A Team! 850.932.6278 ATEAM.BHHSPenFed.com 836 Gulf Breeze Pkwy | Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 EZModernHomes.com 850.384.7607 BUILDING NEW HOMES IN SANTA ROSA & ESCAMBIA COUNTY FLORIDA • Committed to making the homebuilding process easy for clients • Building homes modern features and quality material • Veteran owned and operated • In house design capabilities • Proud members of the West Florida Homebuilders Association Pamela L. Smith, Realtor® CRS, PMN, e-Pro | (850) 516-7809 PamLSmith12@gmail.com | PamLSmith.com Experience Matters. With 28 years in the industry, I’m the neighborhood’s real estate professional that you need when searching for your next home. Call today! I Love Living in East Hill! “ I am passionate about sharing the East Hill lifestyle and real estate opportunities throughout the Pensacola area. My goal is to meet your needs and exceed your expectations. ”

Funded by business people who champion their belief that ethics in business matters! Better Business Bureau® Funded by business people who believe that ethics in business matters. info@nwfl.bbb.org | 850.429.0002bbb.org/nwfl Your resource for free, objective, and unbiased information on businesses and charities. Don’t be a victim, check out bbb.org for information on the latest frauds and scams. 91 Chanteclaire Circle Gulf Breeze | 6 Bed | 5.5 Bath | 7280 sq ft Waterfront estate offered at $2,800,000 Scan our QR code for 3D tour Check out other other waterfront listings from Perdido to Navarre at KeenanTeamHomes.com JENNIFER KEENAN Broker Associate 850.449.9432 GBJenKeenan@gmail.com 800 Langley Ave. | Pensacola, FL 32504 Each Keller Williams Realty office is independently owned and operated.

I would like to help you make the right move! Sunnie McClung O: 850-374-7334 C: 850-982-4828 AlwaysSunnieInFlorida.com 4632 US-90 Milton, FL 32571 Linda Murphy REALTOR 850-748-0865 Award Winning Service Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated LindaMurphyRealtor@bellsouth.netLindaMurphyRealtor.comPensacolaGulfBreezeHomes.com CALL 850-748-0865APPOINTMENTFORTODAYANRobin Bennett, Broker • 850.803.6688 Southern Shores Realty Inc. 8736 Ortega Park Dr | Navarre, FL 32566 1 Acre Mini Estate in Clear Creek Farms 4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 3,102 Sq Ft Brick Home | MLS #598992 Special: Seller $10,000 contribution to Buyer closing costs OR Seller Temporary Loan Buy Down with full price offer. New Roof 2020, Updated HVAC, Wiring, Heat Pump Water Heater, Tile, Travertine & Beautiful Wood Floors, Granite, Built in Shelving & Wood Burning Fireplace. Expansive Backyard with a Bridge Walkway to Garden Patio, 21x21 Workshop, 1/2 Basketball Court.

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PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 95 NW Florida’s Business Climate 97 ITEN RewiredSummitWIREDIsfor2022 100ITENSummitWIRED Featured Keynote Speakers 103BecauseSoftSkillsMatter: Information Technology Professionals Also Need People Skills 107 CyberGBSI ExerciseRange Competitive Cybersecurity Exercise for Area Students Special Section • September 2022

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PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 97

The event showcases the latest trends and best practices in technol ogy within a collaborative environ ment where local professionals and students are invited to ask questions, engage in activities and learn more about future careers in IT and cyber

INNOVATION: the act of developing a new method, idea, or product. Synonyms include transformation, metamorphosis, and ingenuity.

ITEN WIRED

WIRED Summit is the Southeast’s premier cybersecurity and IT (information technology) event of the season. Hosted annually by IT Gulf Coast, the event brings together hundreds of likeminded innovators, technologists, entrepreneurs, students and educators to share their expertise, exchange ideas and network over common interests.

Thesecurity.three-day summit will also highlight the area’s cybersecuri ty, information technology and entrepreneurial communities, while exploring emerging technology and some of the top innovators in start-up tech, artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging trends and technologies occuring on the national level. This collaborative tech community is what ITEN WIRED is all about, with the event name coming from the ITEN acronym, which stands for Innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Networking along the I-10 corridor.

ITEN WIRED IS REWIRED FOR 2022

ITEN WIRED Summit will return to the Hilton on Pensacola Beach October 5 through 7, where leading industry experts and tech celebrities from across the region will present a crash course on the state of the tech scene.

The ITEN (Innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Network)

Innovation isn’t exclusive to technology and enterprise, but it’s no secret that these have taken massive strides in the past decade.

The rate of new startups has skyrock eted across the country in the past few years, and here is no different. Many tech startups that have their roots here have grown into success ful businesses, alongside others with an established presence. In recent years, local success stories like AppRiver and Intelligent Retinal Im aging Systems have made headlines by placing on prominent publica tions such as the Inc. 5000 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private Incompanies.addition, companies like Global Business Solutions, Inc. (GBSI), headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, provide both experienced cyberse curity professionals and resources to build incredible tech capabilities for businesses and government or ganizations alike. As a supporter and sponsor of this year’s ITEN WIRED Summit, GBSI will open their by Carson Wilber

state-of-the-art Security Operations Center located in downtown Pensacola to both attendees and local students for interactive cy bersecurity exercises inside the GBSI Cyber Range.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: a sense of pride in community and industry radiated by philanthropists and business JettybyFloridaWestprogramasneursbusinesstothataPensacolabusiness.sectors–theirindividualsasofFlorida,mentSmallforresourcesNorthwestneursandCouncil,preneurshipGreatgroupsty.throughoutandalsoTheexistinganddevelopmentdevelopment,lifebloodEntrepreneursstarters.aretheofeconomicfuelingtheofstartupstheexpansionofbusinesses.entrepreneurialspiritcontinuestogrowliveonininitiativesthecommuniLeadingthechargearesuchasFlorida’sNorthWestEntre&Innovationwhichsupportsconvenesentreprethroughoutthecorridortoshareandprogramsbusinesssuccess.TheBusinessDevelopCenters(SBDC)ofheadquarteredoutPensacola,alsoservesastrongresourceforlookingtoturnideasandproductsintechnologyorother–intoaburgeoningisalsohometonumberoforganizationswerepurposely-builtserveasincubatorsstartups,entrepreandinnovatorssuchtheCO:LABincubatoroperatedbyandsupportedPensacolaStateCollege;IoT,aprivatecowork ing space near downtown Pensacola and The Spring Entrepreneur Hub, located in the Studer Community Institute building with the UWF Center for Cybersecu rity and SBDC Headquar ters. The proximity to each other has enabled an en vironment of hubs”esopportunitiescollaborativeandresourcunrivaledbyother“techacrossthecountry.

ITGC also hosts various events for professionals in the Pensacola area throughout the year, fea turing guest experts and apprentices from various IT backgrounds to learn and grow together. This collaborative tech community is what ITEN WIRED is all about, with the event name coming from the ITEN acronym, which stands for Innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Networking along the I-10 corridor.

98 | SEPTEMBER 2022

TECHNOLOGY: a field pervasive across all industries, utilizing the newest developments of science and engineering to make processes faster, more efficient, and more effective. Technology has many forms and the power to revolutionize any Throughoutindustry. the summit, attendees will hear from industry experts and tech nology leaders from across the country representing a variety of industries from cybersecurity, healthcare technology and hospitality to government contracting and artificial intelligence. Each of these sectors are of major importance to the Southeast’s technology industries, which serves as a logistical hub and is home to critical government and military facilities, such as the Center for Information Warfare Training at NAS Pensacola Corry Station and the Department of Homeland Security Net work Operations Security Center.

NETWORKING: an act of outreach to colleagues and strangers that drives the development of a community. Networking is foundational to the success of every career and Thisbusiness.year’s ITEN WIRED Summit will kick off on Oc tober 5 with a renewed and renamed Career Evolution Expo sponsored by Clark University where students, early professionals and seasoned experts will have the opportunity to network with companies looking to fill a wide range of open positions in cybersecurity and ITGCIT.is the local trade association that backs and organizes the ITEN WIRED Summit each year. This association consists of a consortium of professionals serving as the core of the Planning Committee and utilizing Summit proceeds to award scholarships to de serving students pursuing careers in IT and cyberse curity in schools from New Orleans to Tallahassee.

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 99

The ITEN WIRED Planning Committee is also re sponsible for utilizing the proceeds from the annual summit to award scholar ships to deserving IT and cybersecurity students throughout the Southeast. ITGC Membership pro vides local students and professionals with another avenue to collaborate with fellow techies and discover new opportunities to ITGCinnovate.members like Teri Haggerty, who serves on the ITEN WIRED planning committee, will bring valu able insight and training expertise through a series of breakout sessions about critical soft skills needed in the tech industry. The list of notable speakers and companies in North west Florida extends much longer than any one article could cover, and ITEN WIRED is a premier event to get to know them all. All of these partnerships, events and the Summit it self culminate into a week that hoists the tech com munity high, proving why the Gulf Coast is growing into the next big national flashpoint for the contin ued tech revolution.

ITEN WIRED has come a long way in its 12 years, but there is still time to get in on the ground floor. Tickets can be purchased in advance up to the day of the conference or at the door, with discounts available for military and current students. For more information on purchas ing tickets for the Career Evolution Expo or for details on the Cyber Range exercise hosted by GBSI, visit itenwired.com.

ITEN WIRED brings speakers from across the country to areas In 2022, ITEN WIRED speakers will High Tech from backgrounds, including State of Florida Chief Information Officer, & Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Pen Air Federal Credit Union and many more.

discuss everything from

Keynote Presentation: “AI Will Radically Change IT & Cybersecurity” SPEAKERS

Innovation and Microservices to Cyber SpeakersForensics.come

Richard Staynings is a globally renowned thought leader, author, public speaker and advocate for improved cybersecurity across the Healthcare and Life Sciences industry. He has served on various industry and international cybersecurity committees and presented or lectured on cybersecurity themes or concerns all over the world. He has advised numerous government and industry leaders on their security strategy and defensive posture, and has served as a subject matter expert on government Committees of Inquiry into some of the highest profile cybersecurity attacks and breaches. Richard is currently Chief Security Strategist for Cylera, a pioneer in the space of medical device and HIoT security. He is also author of Cyber Thoughts, a leading healthcare cybersecurity blog, teaches postgraduate courses in cybersecurity and health informatics at the University of Denver University College, and is a retained advisor to a number of governments and private companies. A recovering CISO, with more than 25 years’ experience of both cybersecurity leadership and client consulting in healthcare, Richard has lived in over 30 countries and delivered innovative solutions to organizations in all of them. Some of his more notable successes include work for: Amgen, Childrens’ National, Cisco, CSC, Intermountain Healthcare, PeaceHealth, PwC, Intel, Microsoft and Zurich Financial, to name a few. After spending many years based out of the UK, Australia and various parts of Asia, Richard now resides in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado. When he’s not flying between clients and conferences, Richard enjoys most things between mountaineering and scuba diving. Although he doesn’t get to spend a lot of time at home, Richard is active in his local community and serves on several Boards in a pro-bono capacity. Richard will deliver the opening keynote presentation Thursday, October 6 from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in the main Ballroom.

all

share their expertise and enthusiasm for high tech

FEATURED KEYNOTE

Cybersecurity

Richard Staynings Chief Security Strategist, Cylera

of innovation.

2022 ITEN WIRED SUMMIT

Jamie Grant FL CIO, State of Florida

Jamie Grant currently serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the State of Florida and is responsible for leading the Florida Digital Service (FL[DS]). FL[DS] was created by the Florida Legislature to propose innovative solutions that securely modernize state government, to achieve value through digital transformation and interoperability, and to fully support Florida’s cloud-first policy. The Digital Service has subsequently been designated as the acting lead entity on cybersecurity and been made responsible for establishing the state government’s first enterprise-wide cybersecurity operation. Prior to being appointed as the State CIO, Grant spent more than a decade in the private sector launching and scaling innovative technology solutions with a focus on data interoperability and the healthcare industry. He has co-founded multiple ventures, one of which raised more than $70 million of institutional capital and scaled internationally. Grant also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-2014 and 2015-2020, chairing numerous legislative committees and carrying significant policy reforms which were passed into law. Born and raised in Tampa, FL, Grant is a third-generation Floridian and recovering lawyer. He earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration with a minor in political science from Auburn University and his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law.

Mark Forman is an accomplished Executive with more than 30 years of professional work experience, including a Presidential appointment to be the first U.S. Administrator for E-Government and Information Technology, the Federal Government’s Chief Information Officer. Mr. Forman has a long record of results in government management reforms, spanning a variety of government and industry positions. As a government executive, he is widely recognized for accomplishments in modernizing the Federal government and implementing the federal IT governance processes relating to IT Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC), Enterprise Architecture, and cybersecurity required under OMB Circular A-11, the E-Government Act of 2002, Clinger Cohen Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, and Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). As the Administrator for E-Government, he managed and led more than 2000 people working on 25 large multi-agency Presidential initiatives to improve customer experience in interactions between the federal government and citizens, businesses, and state and local governments. As an industry executive, he built and led solutions teams supporting governments around the world. Mr. Forman excels at team building to define and achieve strategic programs and transformation initiatives. As the Senior Vice President at Dynamic Integrated Services, Mr. Forman leads the Enterprise Optimization Services practice working with U.S. federal government leaders to improve mission outcomes through innovations related to organizational effectiveness and digital transformation. Mark will deliver the opening keynote presentation October 7 from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in the main Ballroom.

Jamie will deliver the closing keynote presentation Thursday, October 6 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in the main Ballroom.

Keynote Presentation: “Objectives and Key Results... Measuring What Matters For Digital Transformation Success” Mark Forman EVP, Enterprise Optimization, Dynamic Integrated Services

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On the other hand, it’s also interesting how your career at many other times, outside of events like this, includes people that don’t share your view of technology’s charming features. It’s a core part of their workday too, just like it is yours. Yet, this is where the trouble lies—people have problems with technology, especially people who are not as captivated with the awesomeness of technology as you are. Despite this distaste, everyone has to interact with technology every day. Their issues may seem pesky to you, but for them, dealing with technology may be one of the worst parts of their job. Perhaps technology may even bring about fear and frustration. You may ask yourself, “How do I work with these people, and accomplish my task when my job is to help the technology and support the people who use it?” People skills (usually called “soft” skills) are the magic potion to solve this important part of your IT work.

SOFTBECAUSESKILLS MATTER

challengescanprofessional,Forandwithmanagingothers,andforproficiencymanagement,upper-levelsoftskillismandatorybuildingrelationshipscommunicatingwithdevelopingreports,projects,dealingconflict,leadingtheteamoverallorganization.anInformationTechnologysoftskillsbeoneofthebiggesttosuccessonthe

As an Information Technology professional, you enjoy working in the IT sector. There are so many avenues of success open to you. The technology is fascinating and captivates your focus. Refreshingly, professionals in the IT field and attendees at the upcoming ITEN WIRED Summit share your perspective.

WHAT SOFT SKILLS ARE AND WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT: Even for IT

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 103

THE VIEW FROM WITHIN IT:

Information PeopleProfessionalsTechnologyAlsoNeedSkills

job. IT professionals need both technical proficiencies (the “hard” skills) and theseAppropriatelycustomerresultingfactorswork.sidessuccessfullytotheyBecauseunexpectedlyandthathiddenperilthesetakenyourinvestment.reportedand85Softstakeholdersrelationshipsskillsrelationship-buildinginterpersonalsofttobuildsuccessfulwithcolleagues,andcustomers.skillsarereportedtobepercentofcareersuccesssoftskillstraininghasa256percentreturnonSo,thisaspectofcareerskillsetisnottobelightly.Ignorebuildingimportantskillsatyourtoyourcareer.It’slikeareeftoaship’screwseesclearwaterahead,thencrashesandsinksonahiddenreef.softskillsmatter,areoftenamajorpiecebridgingthisgaptowardjoiningbothoftheITprofessional’sSoftskillsarekeyforcareersatisfaction,inemployeeandretention.showcasingskillsduringajob

By Teri Haggerty

The ITEN WIRED Summit exists to celebrate and support the critically important role of the Information Technology industry within our community. Pensacola has been a leader, and central factor, in the I-10 corridor development of information technology (IT) in the Florida panhandle. It has been chosen often, and in many ways, to develop and maintain leading-edge technology for the area’s economic growth and national security.

Each year, the ITEN WIRED Summit seeks to bring together people from all over this geographic sector of the U.S. for a one-of-a-kind gathering. All ages and IT skill levels are invited to attend, learn and network. Sharing and advancing current IT information and skills with one another is vitally important. Because soft skills play a critical role in success for both the IT professional and IT industry, a special focus on this topic is explored in this article, and at the conference, with breakouts several days on this topic. Teri Haggerty, soft skills corporate training specialist with Doorknob Consulting will speak directly to IT professionals with current information on this topic, both in this article and in several sessions at this year’s conference to be held October 5 through 7. For more information on the upcoming ITEN WIRED Summit and this year’s panel of speakers, visit itenwired.com.

104 | SEPTEMBER 2022 interview can be a deciding factor in the next step of your career. It was recently reported that 93 percent of employers want to see the use of soft skills on a resume.

• Flexible Mindset (look for solutions, embrace the fluidity and constancy of change, decision making, creativity)

• Why the need has increased in these post-pandemic times

• Communication (timely, professionally worded, clear to your specific audience, oral and written skills, showing appreciation)

Soft skills are learned and developed essential habits of actions and thoughts that create positive interpersonal relationships with colleagues and customers to produce solutions that optimize work. There are three important aspects to this topic that should be included in any quality training for soft skill learning and development:

• Customer service; time management; project management; thoughtsdependability;determination;innerandattitude.

• Collaboration (reaching consensus, problem sensitivity, diversity awareness, management,conflictnegotiation)

ABOUT THE WRITER: Terri Haggerty is the owner of Doorknob Consulting, which provides soft skills training courses to all industry sectors, including IT professionals. Doorknob Consulting also provides courses and training on organizational sustainability and retention of employees and customers. Haggerty will present two interactive soft skills breakout sessions on both October 5 and 6 as part of this year’s ITEN Wired Summit. To learn more about Haggerty and Doorknob Consulting services, visit itenwired.com/speakers.

Soft skills are reported to be 85 percent of career success and soft skills training has a reported 256 percent return on investment. So, this aspect of your career skill set is not to be taken lightly.

• The need for soft skills in the IT sector

• The rise in customer/ employee interactions, due to current manufacturing trends that elevate the need for employee soft skills in IT Employee training in the important area of soft skills development now falls onto the businesses, large and small across America. In-person training is the best method of delivery for sustainable skill development and is important to start now for yourself and your team. Each day the opportunity to increase revenue and delivery of products and services is impacted by the soft skills used (or neglected with loss of revenue) that day in business operations.

SELF-CHECK YOUR SOFT SKILLS: Soft skills matter to everyone and create positive employee interactions and customer loyalty. They have direct positive bottom-line results for longterm organizational success. It’s important to watch for these specific skills in your professional and team’s skill set:

Let’s get down to the specifics of what these skills are, where to gain them and why they are increasingly important.

October 5-7, 2022 Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front The Southeast’s premier cybersecurity and IT conference! The Southeast’s premier cybersecurity and IT conference by IT Gulf Coast to connect, collaborate and build community with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, students & educators. Join us on Pensacola Beach, Florida to discuss topics such as: • Career Evolution • Cyber • Finance • Government • Healthcare • AI Machine Learning The three-day event highlights the region’s cybersecurity, information technology and entrepreneurial communities, and explores emerging technology and innovators in startup tech, artificial intelligence, robotics, and advancements in technology on the national level. IT Gulf Coast is a Pensacola based non-profit organization for students, educators, IT professionals and corporate members. Our mission is to promote business and technology within our community, provide social and networking opportunities, produce educational content that specifically aids our member base, and assist in fundamentally changing how we inspire the youth of our community toward careers in technology. GATHER GROWEXCHANGEINSIGHTS.IDEAS.RELATIONSHIPS. #ITENWIRED #ITGulfCoast #CyberCoast #Geeksonthebeach Register today at ITENWIRED.COM STAY CONNECTED Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors

In conjunction with this year’s ITEN Wired Summit, Global Business Solutions, Inc. (GBSI) will host a competitive Cyber Range Exercise for local students to assess technical skills, practice their craft in the field of IT and experience a day in the life of working in the GBSI Security Operations Center (SOC).

GBSI to Host 2022 ITEN Cyber Range Exercise

Participants will face off in this year’s Cyber Range Exercise to put their cybersecurity skills and knowledge to the ultimate test. GBSI will open their SOC and Cyber Range to area high school and college students who are interested in or currently pursuing a career in cybersecurity. For this cyber range exercise, local students will have a chance to compete against one another for prizes and recognition at the annual ITEN Wired Summit. “GBSI is working with area schools to identify and register teams for the event and we anticipate having four schools represented in the competition this year,” GBSI Senior Program Director, James Morris said. The Cyber Range Exercise will be hosted by GBSI on Saturday, October 1 from 9 am to 3 pm at the GBSI Security Operations Center located at 316 S. Baylen St., Suite 500 in downtown Pensacola. The primary goal of this exercise is to provide exposure and hands-on experience to students pursuing careers in cybersecurity (CS) using skill-based scenarios. The scenarios are presented as challenges, games, or competitions with live scoring and leaderboards to enhance the experience but at the basic level the exercises are designed to make the players use the knowledge, skills and abilities they have gained through training they’ve received in school along with their personal IT “Competitorsexperience.will gain an in-depth understanding of the CS landscape while gaining familiarity with different roles and duties of the varied occupations within the field,” Morris explained. “By holding this event in our Security Operations Center (SOC), the students will have an immersive

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 107

By Morgan Cole

108 | SEPTEMBER 2022 experience relative to the day-to-day life of a cybersecurity professional. Email phishing, external threat vectors (like viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware), security best practices and security policy implementation are just a handful of some of the skills, knowledge and abilities that can be assessed and enhanced by utilizing GBSI’s Cyber Range. “The exercise itself will require students to complete activities and tasks to reach objectives outlined in the selected scenario. Skills exercised will range from the most basic (logging in to a virtual machine) to more advanced requirements which could include things like vulnerability identification and mitigation or security policy implementation,” Morris explained. “Our Cyber Range has countless scenarios ranging from beginner to advanced and the goal for this event is to identify or create a scenario that is challenging but achievable for each of the participants within the time allotted.”

The event will kick off with a tour of the GBSI facility and a full introduction to the Cyber Range, which is where the competitive exercise will take place. The exercise will be time-boxed and feature a full range of cybersecurity topics to test the knowledge, technical skills and abilities of each participant. At the end of the competition, the most skilled contestants will ascend to the top of the leaderboard and the results from the competition will be “Therevealed.leaderboard internal to our Cyber Range, which can be monitored by the competitors, will keep score and the team with the highest score at the end of the day, will be declared the victor for this year’s event,” Morris said. Competition winners who receive top honors will be awarded and recognized by GBSI President, Chris Middleton during the ITEN Wired Summit on October 6 at 11 am at the Pensacola Beach Hilton hotel. For more information on the ITEN WIRED student cyber range exercise, visit itenwired.com.

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• Spine EquipmentBoarding;Removal; and Facemask Removal

“My hope and prayer for once this park is built is that it will offer the next generations something like what it’s already given me,” Shell said. “A place where they can learn to overcome obstacles, have something to work towards, be encouraged and supported, and feel like they have a place to belong. Moving forward with Upward Intuition, I’m hopeful that this skatepark will show all of the kids that helped make this happen that they have the ability to take on meaningful projects of their own and will have the confidence and skills to get started because they have already done it.”

The skatepark is part of the overall transformation of Hollice T. Williams Park through a joint project with the City of Pensacola and Escambia County, which will ultimately create a place for community members of all ages to connect and enjoy activities in the heart of the city. The Hollice T. Williams Park will also serve to improve water quality and reduce stormwater in the area. To learn more about the Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park project, visit myhtwpark.com.

The Sports Medicine Outreach department at Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine recently conducted its annual Management of Sideline Emergencies course for athletic trainers and other sideline first Theresponders.hands-on course takes participants through a series of potential emergencies divided into four clinical skills labs.

• Heat Management: Cold Water Immersion and Rectal StretcherandWeather:Assessment;TemperatureLightning/ConsiderationsTriage;Scoop

PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 111 Around the Region

The City of Pensacola is conducting its annual resident satisfaction survey and is encouraging all city residents to participate and let their voices be

City Seeks Input from Residents for Annual Satisfaction Survey

Andrews Institute Sideline Emergencies Course SchoolTeamAthleticPreparesHealthCareforUpcomingYear

• Fracture Management and Bleeding Control Basics; Ortho Trauma Reminders and Scenarios

District 3 Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, District 4 Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender, Jon Shell of Upward Intuition and Jane Lauter of the Kugelman Family Foundation. The event took place at the future skatepark location at Hollice T. Williams Park, under Interstate 110 along North Hayne Street, between Jackson Street and La Rua AdditionalStreet. improvements through the project will include stadium seating, sidewalks, concrete gathering areas and artificial turf areas, benches, multi-colored concrete, trash cans and a small stage area.

• CPR Review and Skills Practice; General Medical Reminders; Internal Organs; Medical Time Outs; and EMS Relations

Pensacola celebrated the start of construction on the Blake Doyle Skatepark at Hollice T. Williams Park with a groundbreaking event today, Tuesday Aug. 2, kicking off a highly anticipated and monumental project for the Pensacola skate community. The Pensacola community joined Mayor Grover Robinson, the City of Pensacola and Upward Intuition to celebrate this exciting project, which will include approximately 25,000 square feet of skateable surface area for skaters of all ages and skill levels. The skatepark will feature a beginner area, multilevel skate plaza, and two skate bowls, along with an additional 5,700 square feet of surrounding sidewalk and gathering areas. “I know there are so many people in our community who have been waiting for this day,” Mayor Robinson said. “I’m incredibly excited to see the Blake Doyle Skatepark project take this monumental step toward becoming a reality, and I’d like to thank everyone who worked together to make this happen. I look forward to providing our skating community a dedicated place to skate right here in the City of ThePensacola.”groundbreaking event featured remarks from Mayor Robinson, District 6 Councilwoman Ann Hill,

Construction of the Blake Doyle Skatepark is expected to be completed in summer 2023, weather permitting. The City of Pensacola awarded a contract to Bear Construction for construction of the skatepark, which will be managed by the city’s Public Works and Facilities TheDepartment.projectwas funded by the City of Pensacola’s Local Option Sales Tax, Community Redevelopment Agency, private donors, and the American Rescue Plan Act. The project design was funded by an Escambia County RESTORE Direct Component Grant. HDR Engineering and Kimley-Horn were selected to perform the overall park design and skate park design with the assistance of American Ramp Company.

Theheard.Cityof

“The course does a great job of mimicking urgent and emergent scenarios we see in sports medicine coverage,” Michael Milligan, M.D., director of external development for sports medicine outreach at Andrews Institute said. “When there is an actual sideline emergency, we know our team is prepared.” The Management of Sideline Emergencies course is one of many ways the Sports Medicine Outreach department at Andrews Institute supports the health and safety of athletes. Chad McCammon, vice president of orthopaedics at Andrews Institute said, “Andrews Institute is committed to keeping student athletes across Northwest Florida as safe as possible. That’s why a course like this is so important.” Andrews Institute provides athletic trainers to all public high schools in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties along with the University of West Florida, Pensacola Christian College, Pensacola Christian Academy and Aletheia Christian Academy. Services for student athletes include injury-prevention training/ education, injury treatment, concussion baseline testing and pre-participation physicals. Coaches and leaders at Andrews Institute partner schools also have access to receive AED/CPR training and education seminars covering different topics related to sports medicine. For more information on the sports medicine outreach program at Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, email theandrewsinstitute.com.sportsmedicineoutreach@

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Pensacola Magazine, September 2022

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SMART APPLIANCES GALORE

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WHAT’S TRENDING IN INTERIOR DESIGN?

DEMOLISH HUNGER, DESIGN HOPE

SÉANCE

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