APR - JUN 2019 | VOL. 9 / ISSUE 2 PANAMACITY.ORG
T H E VO I C E O F B U S I N E S S F R O M T H E B AY C O U N T Y C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
BAY COUNTY NAMED 2019 GREAT AMERICAN DEFENSE COMMUNITY THE STATUS OF CHILDCARE FOLLOWING HURRICANE MICHAEL
april - june 2019
departments 4
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
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POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE Opportunity Zones in Bay County
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DEFENSE INTEL Bay County Named 2019 Great American Defense Community
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14 HEALTH Worksite Wellness: Safety While Working in Extreme Heat 18 EDUCATION The Status of Child Care Following Hurricane Michael 24 TECHNOLOGY Panama City Beach Parkway Traffic Relief 32
ECONOMIC PROFILE
38
WORKFORCE CONNECTION
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BAY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEMBER TO KNOW
40
BIZ LIST
44
NEW MEMBERS
46
MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
10 14
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features 22
COVER STORY Transportation Progress Continues in Bay County
36 2019 ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS CEREMONY
The Bay Biz is published quarterly by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Bay County Chamber, PO Box 1850, Panama City, FL 32402 or email taylor@baychamberfl.com. The Bay Biz welcomes story ideas from its readers. To have your story added, please email taylor@baychamberfl.com. To request additional copies, call 850-785-5206.
PUBLISHER Carol Roberts
COVER Aerial view of the 23rd Street Flyover Project as of February 2019.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Taylor Smith
BAY BIZ MAGAZINE c/o Bay County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1850 Panama City, FL 32402 850-785-5206 panamacity.org | information@baychamberfl.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FOLLOW US ON: Brandi DeRuiter, Kim Bodine, Lindsay Holmes, Heather Kretzer, Adam Rose, Taylor Smith, Becca Hardin, and Debbie Ward CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bay County Chamber, Bay County Government, City of Panama City Beach, Desiree Gardner Photography, and Sean Brosnan ART DIRECTION, LAYOUT, AND DESIGN GORGEOUS (getgorgeo.us | 850-888-8GRG)
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
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It isn’t necessarily a bad thing not to be in the national news spotlight. Our community is still open for business and the negativity of national news will only keep our visitors, investors and companies from coming back or locating to our area. Hurricane Michael presented us with the opportunity to not only rebuild a more visually Life is good, thanks to our business community! I have to start this off by saying thank you to our members. Goodness, never did I imagine that we, the Chamber, would emerge from the storm stronger than ever. After the storm, we struggled with decisions such as whether or not we should hold our First Friday event in Decem-
appealing community, but a more resilient one.
Look at the positives that are happening:
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ture. MQ-9 Environmental Impact Study is still on track and the
ber, our annual dinner and so on. However, we decided to go forth
F-35 will be coming our way in the near future.
with it, and as a result, our members have come out in full force and helped us set record numbers in attendance. This is truly appreciated.
We’re rebuilding Tyndall Air Force Base into a base of the fu-
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Verizon has identified, and is in the process of making us a 5G community - one of only five cities in the country. This is huge, and puts us on the map for high-tech companies.
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The Chamber, Gulf Power, Bay County and the cities of Callaway, Panama City and Parker have teamed up with NextSite, LLC to bring commercial development and big box stores back to the east side of Hathaway Bridge. So far, they have met with nearly 100 developers and are exploring almost 175 retail and restaurant concepts. That is more than two-million square feet of proposed and pipeline projects that are being supported by NextSite in Bay County!
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The EDA of Bay County continues to set records for industry recruitment and even after the storm, those companies are still committed to Bay County.
In this issue, you’ll see a recap of our Annual Dinner where nearly 800 members celebrated our successes with us. Once again, I never imagined it would happen, but I am not totally surprised as nothing keeps Bay County down. I am simply amazed at the strides our community has made since October 10. Hats off to not only our elected officials, but also their staff, for their passion to rebuild a better Bay County and region. I keep hearing criticisms of these folks, but I ask that everyone pause and realize there is a process we must go through. Our state is doing their due diligence. They do not walk around with blank checks, and we don’t want them to; we need to be ensured all expenditures are justified. Of course, we can’t just sit back and do nothing. We need to work to make sure our needs stay top of mind
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St. Joe has stepped up and has numerous developments coming out of the ground in an expedited effort to create housing immediately versus their original plan for the future.
And, that’s just a few of the highlights. The Bay County Long-Term Recovery Task Force is a huge undertaking and it pleases me to see all the municipalities and county officials working together to develop a plan for recovery and a long range plan for economic development. I commend our new Chairman, Will Cramer, for taking on the responsibility of not only this organization, but also to be the lead for the Economic Development Group of the Task Force. As a community development organiza-
not only on the state level, but federal too.
tion, this Chamber takes its job very seriously. Without good bones,
In addition, I keep hearing that we’ve been forgotten. That’s simply
to invest. We are excited for what is to come in the future, and are
not true. We, the Chamber and community, continue to host, on a
privileged to serve this community.
the community cannot attract individuals and companies who want
daily basis, agencies, agency heads, Governor DeSantis, First Lady DeSantis and many others. There is a continuous flow through our county from the Department of Economic Opportunity, Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center, Department of Environmental Protection, West Florida Regional Planning Council, International Economic Development Council, FEMA and many others. 4
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
Carol Roberts President/CEO
Is your business connected? Gulf Power’s business website includes a new Small Business Connect online tool that brings the top local resources together into one database to help start, grow and keep business in Northwest Florida. Visit GulfPower.com/Business to use the free Small Business Connect tool and get connected.
GulfPower.com/Business
political perspective Opportunity Zones in Bay County by: Brandi DeRuiter, VP of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce
Opportunity Zones Much discussion has centered around Opportunity Zones lately, but what they are, how they work and how they can be of benefit are still unclear to many. This article will attempt to shed some light on this seemingly complicated federal program and spur local community development initiatives.
reducing taxes for job creators. The intent is to build on county economic development plans, bringing more jobs and capital investment into every county across Florida. Opportunity Zones maintain their designation for 10 years. The program encourages private investment by providing a tax incentive for investors who invest in qualified businesses and property in
A federal tax overhaul included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017 created an “Opportunity Zones� program. This program was designed to generate economic development and create jobs in distressed areas by providing a mechanism to spur investment.
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these areas. Investors, such as businesses, developers and financial institutions, that invest in targeted areas can defer capital gains taxes through investments in federally established Opportunity Funds. Bay County has three designated areas, located in Panama City,
In an Opportunity Zone, new investments, under certain condi-
that have been certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury as Op-
tions, can be eligible for preferential tax treatment. This encourages
portunity Zones. Florida can nominate up to 427 census tracts and
long-term investment and job creation in targeted communities by
over 8,700 Zones have been designated across the U.S.
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
“We anticipate that $100 billion in private capital will be dedicated
prior gains invested in an Opportunity Fund until the earlier of the
towards creating jobs and economic development in Opportunity
date on which the investment is sold or exchanged, or December
Zones,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This incentive will foster
31, 2026.
economic revitalization and promote sustainable economic growth, which was a major goal of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”
If the investment is held for longer than 5 years, there is a 10 percent exclusion of the deferred gain. If held for more than 7 years, it becomes 15 percent. The benefits also include tax forgiveness on gains on that investment if the investor holds the investment for at least 10 years.
Selection Process Governors may submit nominations for a limited number of opportunity zones to the Department of the Treasury for certification and designation. Governors must give particular consideration to areas that enhance local communities’ ability to attract businesses, developers and financial institutions to invest in targeted areas by allowing investors to defer capital gains taxes through investments in federally established Opportunity Funds. Special consideration is also given to communities in which the evaluation process included statistical analysis of poverty rates, population, unemployment rates and other economic indicators, along with assessing
Census Tracts Census tracts are small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county that are updated before each U.S. Census. The U.S. Census counts every resident every 10 years. These tracts
recommendations from requests. These specific requests came from municipal and county governments, regional planning councils, nonprofits, developers, investors and more. The act allowed the Governor of each state to nominate up to 25 percent of eligible low-income census tracts as Opportunity Zones.
average about 4,000 people. For example, in urban areas, census tracts correspond roughly to neighborhoods. A census tract is designated as a Low-Income Community when 20 percent or more of households in the tract fall below the poverty line (for their household size) or the median family income in the tract is below 80 percent of the statewide median income.
Opportunity Fund An "Opportunity Fund" is any investment vehicle organized as a corporation or a partnership to invest in opportunity zones that holds at least 90 percent of their fund in Opportunity Zones to receive the tax benefits, which will vary depending on the number of years the investment is held in the Zones. Tax benefits are available to those who invest in the Zones, even if they do not live, work or have a business in an Opportunity Zone. Simply invest a recognized gain in an Opportunity Fund and elect to defer the tax on that gain. To become a Qualified Opportunity Fund, an eligible corporation or partnership self-certifies by filing Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund, with its federal income tax return. The return with Form 8996 must be filed timely, taking extensions into account. A LLC that chooses to be treated either as a partnership or corporation for federal tax purposes can organize as a Qualified Opportunity Fund.
Investing Opportunity Zones are designed to spur economic development by providing tax benefits to investors. Investors can defer tax on any
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
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defense intel Bay County Named 2019 Great American Defense Community by: Brandi DeRuiter, VP of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce
B
ay County, proud home to Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity-Panama City, is celebrating recognition and success on a national level as being designated
a 2019 Great American Defense Community. The Association of Defense Communities (ADC) endows this appellation to only the most commendable communities demonstrating unified support, strength and resiliency while supporting their installations and military residents. Bay County truly works at creating welcoming and supportive spac-
ly with the Bay Defense Alliance (BDA), which was developed out of the MAC in 1994 in response to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts. The Chamber President, Chairman of the Board and MAC Chairman all serve on the BDA as partners, and the group works closely together toward the goal of keeping and growing our military presence in Bay County.
es for service members and their families to live and thrive. This
Bay Defense Alliance
article will take a look at some of the highlights that make our com-
The Bay Defense Alliance (BDA) achieves its mission through build-
munity unique, allowing us to stake our claim as the world’s most
ing community and state support for Tyndall Air Force Base, Naval
military friendly community and what this award will bring for the
Support Activity and Coast Guard Station Panama City. Comprised
year ahead.
of community leaders and retired military leadership, the group
Military Affairs Committee The Bay County Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee (MAC) has long been instrumental in fostering the continuous growth of community/military leadership relationships for over 70 years. Comprised of business leaders, elected officials and retired military, and 300 members strong, this committee serves to develop understanding, support and goodwill between men and women in
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leader trips as well as support for our troops. The MAC works close-
studies every aspect of our local military installations, and works to preserve and enhance their missions and value. Some recent highlights of their accomplishments include protecting the Underwater Range the Navy uses from a development that would have conflicted with their special operations training. The BDA also worked to prevent encroachment by securing a parcel of land that bordered Naval Support Activity Panama City. This piece
uniform and the local business and civic leaders.
of land had been identified as a top priority buffering project with
The MAC hosts receptions for visiting military dignitaries, honoring
bers worked closely with stakeholders for more than 10 years to fa-
arriving and departing leadership at our military installations, civic
cilitate a transfer of a former USAF fuel depot. This project will pro-
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
local, state and federal efforts and support. Additionally, BDA mem-
vide an opportunity to benefit FSU-PC’s higher education initiatives and serve as compatible development for the City of Lynn Haven. These projects provide joint benefits to local installations, Bay County and the State of Florida by ensuring that land use is compatible with the presence of military installations buffers are provided, encroachment is monitored and long term installation interests are considered for the future.
Supporting Military Missions Bay County business and community leaders have rallied together to introduce our community to other military communities in support of new missions throughout the years. Teams have traveled to Maryland and Virginia to provide insights on Bay County and
Thanks-A-Million
welcome personnel transitioning to Naval Surface Warfare Center
As home to our military, we recognize the unique challenges and
Panama City Division in the 1990’s. Community leaders have travelled to Holloman AFB in New Mexico as an outreach to answer questions on education, workforce and housing, as well as share the community’s excitement to welcome all who were relocating to Tyndall AFB with the F-22 squadrons. Most recently, in May 2018, community leaders travelled again to Holloman AFB in New Mexico to learn more about the needs of the men and women and their families who will be relocating to Bay County, and how we can better plan and prepare for the MQ-9 Reaper Wing basing initiative at Tyndall AFB. These missions increase the importance of our installations ensuring they remain viable and help insulate from base closure efforts when the next rounds of BRAC occur.
Community Partnerships
hard work needed to ensure military families are made to feel valued and able to succeed. The “Thanks-A-Million Campaign,” through the Gulf Coast State College Foundation, met its fundraising goal just half way through its two-year campaign, and through the generosity of local community members, continues to surpass all projected goals. These funds are designated to fill financial gaps in college related costs the government does not pay for. Those additional costs can make or break whether military students can attend school. Campaign Chairman, Bill Cramer stated, “It's amazing that a small amount of money at the right time can make all the difference. To be able to plug that gap at the right time with the right amount of money is just a blessing.” The money is available to all branches of service. Requirements are demonstrating a need and maintaining a 2.0 GPA or higher.
Advancing community-military partnerships promotes the value of
What The Year Will Bring
military installations and strengthens relationships to foster growth
A Community Celebration in support of Bay County being named a
and accomplishments. While these partnerships have been around
2019 Great American Defense Community will be held in conjunc-
for years, recent initiatives have greatly expanded programs to
tion with the Bay County’s Chambers 7th Annual Block Party. This
leverage resources both inside and outside the fence, creating win-
event will be held April 11, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in front of the Chamber
win opportunities.
building at 235 W. 5th Street. In addition to viewing or participating
Among them includes an establishment of an Emergency Management Task Force between Tyndall AFB and local fire, police and EMS. This task force holds seven memorandums of understanding. Veterans and transitioning military members possess unique and highly desirable skills that are valuable to targeted high wage industries such as aviation, aerospace, information technology, and manufacturing. A pilot project allows non-identifiable data from the Military Personnel Database to be captured to correlate military job codes with private sector skillsets. This allows economic develop-
in the highly entertaining bed races, there will be food, activities for kids and live music. Bay County also looks forward to sharing the community’s story of resilience on a national level. A video showcasing local programs dedicated to supporting military families and local governments incorporating the needs of the installations in their strategic plans will be shown at the Installation Innovation Forum in Miami, FL. Bay County will also be recognized at the 2019 Defense Communities National Summit in Washington D.C. during a formal awards ceremony.
ment and workforce development officials to connect transitioning military and create jobs.
Tyndall Air Force Base, Naval Support Activity Panama City, Bay Dis-
MILITARY ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR BAY COUNTY: $2.5 billion DEFENSE SPENDING: $1.1 billion EMPLOYMENT: 22,720 jobs
trict Schools, and Bay Haven Charter Academy. This partnership
Source: Florida Defense Factbook
For military students, the Bay Area Education Alliance partners with
commits to provide exceptional service to military families, military-dependent students, students in the broader community and those in education who serve them.
Video: YouTube, Association of Defense Communities, Spirit of Resilience, Bay County, FL
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
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health Worksite Wellness: Safety While Working in Extreme Heat by: Heather Kretzer, Public Information Officer Florida Department of Health in Bay County
T
he official start of the summer is just around the corner, but temperatures in the Panhandle are already picking up. Many types of organizations have workers who are
exposed to the elements on a regular basis as part of their jobs.
Below are a few tips to protect your workers from heat related stress:
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tions. NIOSH offers different recommendations depending on
These include; emergency services, construction workers, and ser-
if an employee is accustomed to working in extreme heat or
vice workers in the tourism industry among others. With the rebuilding of homes and businesses following Hurricane Michael, we know there will be more workers involved in the re-
not.
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able, and watch for signs of heat stress. Be prepared to seek
with the number of trees lost, shade that may offer protection to for all companies with workers who may be exposed to heat to review their policies and procedures on heat related illnesses. Preventing heat related illnesses can be part of your organization’s worksite wellness plan. If you already have a committee formed to
and provide medical assistance.
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Schedule and encourage frequent breaks. These rest breaks should include drinking lots of water either in the shade or an air-conditioned area.
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Emphasize the need for appropriate clothing. Encourage work-
serve in this role, they could add heat stress as part of your current
ers to wear clothing that is; breathable, light-colored, and
health promotions. The National Institute for Occupational Safety
loose-fitting. Wear a wide-brimmed hat when possible. Cotton
and Health (NIOSH) offers posters, infographics, and fact sheets
clothes can be wet to aid in cooling employees off. Be aware
that can easily be shared.
personal protective equipment may increase the risk of heat
NIOSH recommends employers provide training to workers. The training should cover what heat stress is, how it affects health and
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Set up a buddy system. It is recommended to pair up workers so that they can make sure water and shade are readily avail-
construction that could be exposed to extreme heat. We also know those working outdoors may no longer be available. It is important
Gradually increase the time spent in hot environmental condi-
stress.
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Encourage workers to drink plenty of fluids. With moderate ac-
safety, and how it can be prevented. If you already have set employ-
tivity in moderately hot conditions, employees should drink 1
ee meetings, this information could be discussed during those time
cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes. As temperatures rise, this
frames. It could also be part of your employee orientations to en-
number should increase. The goal for persons not working in
sure all members of your organization know the dangers and what
heat related conditions is to drink about half their body weight
to do when they see signs of heat stress.
in ounces of water daily. For persons working outdoors or
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
with no air conditioning, they need much more to stay hydrated. Make them aware that it can be harmful to drink extreme amounts of water. They should not drink more than 12 quarts (48 cups) in a 24-hour period.
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Eat during lunch and other rest breaks. Food helps to replace lost electrolytes.
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Ask employees to talk to their doctors about their medications. Some medications can make workers more at risk for heat stress. Their physician can tell them if their medications may affect their tolerance of heat.
Heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable. Unfortunately, more than 600 people in the United State are killed annually by extreme heat. There are many health-related problems that can arise from the heat including; heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat rash. Heat stroke is the most serious. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Heat stroke happens when the body’s temperature regulating system fails and body temperature rises to critical levels. Symptoms include; confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, very high body temperature, and hot, dry skin or profuse sweating. If a worker shows possible signs of heat stroke call 911 immediately while giving first aid. You should also; make sure someone stays with the employee, move them to a shaded or cooler area and remove outer clothing, wet the worker with cold water, and place wet clothes or ice on their body or soak their clothes in water. Heat exhaustion is another serious heat-related health problem. Symptoms are; headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature, and decrease urine output. Workers with these symptoms should be taken to a clinic or emergency room. The same care should be provided to them until they get help. You may also encourage them to drink sips of water. Heat cramps are muscle pains usually caused by the loss of body salts and fluid during sweating. Workers who show signs of cramps should replace fluid loss by drinking water and having a snack. They should also avoid salt tablets. If an employee has heart problems, is on a low sodium diet, or if cramps do not go away within one-hour, medical treatment is necessary. Heat rash is the most common heat-related illness. It is caused by sweating and appears on the neck, upper chest, groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases. The best treatment is to provide a
Better Business Bureau® 800-729-9226 bbb.org/nwfl
cooler working environment, keep the rash dry and do not use ointments or creams.
OSHA and NIOSH have created a Heat Safety Tool App. The app is available in the App Store or Google Play. Tools feature: a visual indicator of the heat index and association risk, recommendations for those risks, and signs and symptoms and first aid information for heat-related illnesses. For more information on heat stress and workplace safety visit www.cdc. gov/niosh/topics/heatstress.
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M O R E T H A N A N E I G H B O R H O O D. ST R O N G E R T H A N A STO R M .
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BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
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education The Status of Child Care Following Hurricane Michael by: Lindsay Holmes, Communications & Community Relations Manager, Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida
I
f you live or work in a coastal town, there is one thing that is inevitable; hurricane season will come. In the late spring of 2018, many people began their yearly discussions about
tracted to provide services that offered early childhood education
evacuation routes, bottled water and batteries, but no one could
might not have otherwise been afforded high-quality, early learning
have adequately prepared for the storm that ravaged our area on
opportunities. Now, their fate was unknown.
October 10.
and engaging learning environment for nearly 1,800 children who
Where Were The Children?
When our community awoke on October 11th and began to assess
On October 15th, after a lengthy series of situation update calls
the damages, the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida had
with the Florida Department of Children and Families (the state
two questions they knew must be answered: Where were the fam-
agency responsible for regulating child care) and the Office of Early
ilies and the children? How well did Bay County child care providers
Learning (the agency that administers School Readiness and Volun-
weather the storm?
tary Pre-Kindergarten with Early Learning Coalitions), the Coalition
Almost everyone and everything in Bay County was impacted by
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through the School Readiness. Those programs provided a safe, fun
began the arduous task of trying to locate all 1,800 children that were being served in Bay County prior to Hurricane Michael. For
Hurricane Michael; local child care providers were no exception. Es-
weeks, coalition staff called, texted and reached out on social me-
pecially hard-hit were child care programs providing care to low-in-
dia to find families. After establishing contact, staff simply asked if
come, working families. Prior to the storm, there were 57 child care
the families and children were okay. Many parents reported the loss
centers, school-age and family child care homes in Bay County, con-
of employment, stated they were staying with a friend or relative,
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
or let coalition staff know they were forced to relocate due to the damages their home sustained during the storm. Many expressed a desire to come back, but were not sure if they would be able to any time soon. For most of our parents, we were the only link they had to any hope that their lives, and the lives of their children, could get back to normal.”
issue, now we are not as fortunate. Families are contacting the Early Learning Coalition daily, trying to find a child care center that takes infant and preschool age children. Some centers now have a few spaces for preschool age children, but infant spaces are still quite It has been almost five months since the hurricane, and there are still 600 previously enrolled children that are not attending an early learning provider in Bay County. While most of these children and their families have moved elsewhere, many are still here and are waiting for services like childcare to be restored.
How Well Did Childcare Providers Weather The Storm? Five days after landfall, coalition and DCF staff began to contact every School Readiness provider to coordinate onsite visits to help assess damages. Suzan Gage, Executive Director of the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, recalled, “as soon as businesses were able to bring their employees back, they (the employees) needed someplace to take their children; unfortunately, most of the child care providers sustained massive damage or total destruction.” Nearly five months post-Michael, some child care providers are fortunate enough to already be operating on a regular license. Most, however, are operating on a provisional license, which ensures their ability to provide care for children even without the use of an outdoor play area or repairs to the building being complete. Currently, 22 locations that were previously operational are not open. Eight of those locations will never reopen. Bay County is currently experiencing a 38% reduction in the number of locations able to provide childcare, which equals around 1,500 child care slots.
rare. While the number of families in Bay County has dropped, as made evident by the impending school closures announced by Bay District Schools, there is still an overwhelming demand for childcare for parents going back to work. Now, they are all competing for the limited number of spaces available in a limited number of open programs. Gage observed, “If there is one thing that I have been reminded of, it is of how critical the availability of childcare is for a community, and even more so for ones recovering from a disaster such as this.”
But Not Everything Is So Bleak. With every major disaster comes the opportunity to rebuild – better and stronger than before. Our community has begun recovery efforts and childcare is included in the process. The Coalition is an active participant in the Bay County Long Term Recovery Task Force and in planning initiatives with the County and various municipalities. Many childcare providers are back in business, and are looking for ways to expand at their current location or open new locations. The Coalition has received tremendous support from local, state and national entities who have provided resources and funding specifically for recovery of childcare services. Each day that passes brings Bay County one step closer to recovery, establishing our “new normal.” We look forward to making that journey together.
Some child care providers that are operational now were once struggling to keep their classrooms filled; they are now finding themselves operating with long waiting lists, and even having to turn away families who are in desperate need of childcare. Before Hurricane Michael, Bay County did not have a child care capacity
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
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Please help restore hope by donating to the Panama City Hope Fund today. There are three easy ways to donate: GO ONLINE TO: give.idonate.com/the-signatry-foundation/panama-cityhope-fund MAIL A CHECK TO: The Signatry 7171 W. 95th Street, Suite 501 Overland Park, KS 66212 (Make the check payable to “The Signatry.” Include “The Panama City Hope Fund #133915” in the memo line.) SEND A WIRE TRANSFER: Receiving Bank: National Bank of Indianapolis Receiving Bank ABA: 074006674 Beneficiary Name: The Signatry Beneficiary Account Number: 1643188 (Indicate “The Panama City Hope Fund #133915” in the comments section.)
BY: Adam Rose, Public Information Specialist, FDOT In the months following Hurricane Michael, Bay County continues to recover and its transportation corridors continue to improve to accommodate economic growth and increased traffic to the area. Many of the congested traffic areas are under construction or are being considered for improvements. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) currently has numerous major projects that are in development. These projects include the 23rd Street Flyover, the State Road (S.R.) 388 corridor, U.S. 231, and the Tyndall Flyover.
23rd Street Flyover
design calls for a four-lane divided highway (photo 2) with a buff-
When completed, the 23rd Street Flyover project will elevate U.S.
and buffered bike lanes on both sides of the roadway.
98 over 23rd Street, Collegiate Drive, Seaport Drive and the Bay Line
ered shared use path for pedestrians and bicycles on the south side,
Railroad. These improvements will provide continuous movement
Segment 5 construction began February 18 of this year. Segment 6
along U.S. 98 and 23rd Street and allow better access to Port Pana-
and Segment 7 have been designed but are not funded in the cur-
ma City, Gulf Coast State College and Florida State University Pan-
rent FDOT Five-Year Work Program; however, public meetings have
ama City. The traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 98 and 23rd
been held to allow for review and input of the design.
Street will no longer exist. Maintaining the continuous flow of traffic along U.S. 98 is a FDOT priority. Current work is focused on preparation to shift traffic on temporary U.S. 98 west to permanent U.S. 98 west from east of Brown Avenue to east of the Hathaway Bridge beginning summer 2019 to allow for eastbound U.S. 98 ramp construction. 23rd Street south traffic will utilize the ramp system to access permanent U.S. 98 west (see map).
HERE IS A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT EACH SEGMENT:
Segment 5 Spanning four miles from S.R. 79 to east of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, this four-lane roadway project includes:
›
alignment. (photo 3)
During this phase of construction, travel on temporary U.S. 98 east and 23rd Street north will continue without interruption. Motorists traveling temporary U.S. 98 east will encounter continuous left turn lanes onto 23rd Street and the railroad crossing will be operational.
›
A multi-lane roundabout at the entrance to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. (photo 4)
›
Twin 720-foot bridges over Crooked Creek.
Collegiate Drive and U.S. 98 westbound ramp intersection.
›
A twelve-foot shared-use path along the south side.
Construction of the Flyover’s ramp system is well underway, and
›
Buffered bike lanes.
The traffic signal at Seaport Drive and temporary U.S. 98 will remain in effect and an additional traffic signal will be operational at the
will enable motorists to travel from elevated U.S. 98 to ground level roadways. The ramp system will also provide ground level entranc-
Once the project is complete, the former S.R. 388 at S.R. 79 will
es to elevated portions of U.S. 98.
become County Road (C.R.) 388 (Photo 5). Work is scheduled to be
STAYING UP-TO-DATE WITH THE 23RD STREET FLYOVER
roads.com and alerttodayflorida.com/roundabout.html.
PROJECT For more project information, to view videos, and receive the latest
20
A new traffic signal at the new S.R. 388 and S.R. 79 intersection
completed fall 2023. For more roundabout information, visit nwfl-
Segment 6
traffic advisories, visit and like Facebook.com/my23rdstreetflyover
Segment 6 is two miles in length, going east from the entrance to
or follow the project on Instagram at my23rdstreetflyover.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport to east of Burnt
State Road 388 Corridor
Mill Creek. In addition to four-lane construction, the existing cause-
In order to widen 12 miles of S.R. 388 from two to four lanes, the
Burnt Mill Creek. Voyles Road will be realigned with South Burnt Mill
project has been divided into three segments (photo 1). Overall, the
Creek Road.
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
way will be removed to construct twin 2,000-foot bridges over
The 23rd Street Flyover Permanent U.S. 98 West Traffic Shift
STATE ROAD 338 CORRIDOR Project Map: Segments 5, 6, and 7. Segment 5 is from S.R. 79 to east of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport; Segment 6 is from east of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport to east of Burnt Mill Creek; Segment 7 is from east of Burnt Mill Creek to S.R. 77.
Segment 7 Segment 7 is six miles in length from east of Burnt Mill Creek to S.R. 77 and is the eastern-most segment of the S.R. 388 Corridor. S.R. 388 will be realigned northward 1.5 miles to intersect with S.R. 77 at C.R. 388 (photo 6). A residential cul-de-sac will be constructed on existing S.R. 388 approximately one mile west of the existing intersection at S.R. 77 and Edwards Road. STAYING UP-TO-DATE WITH THE S.R. 388 CORRIDOR PROJECT For more project information, follow Florida Department of Transportation District Three on Twitter @myfdot_nwfl or like the Face-
U.S. 231 from U.S. 98 (15th Street) to north of Pipeline Road Project Map: Segments 7 and 8. Segment 7 improves U.S. 98 (15th Street) to north of S.R. 368 (23rd Street). Segment 8 improves U.S. 231 north of 23rd Street to north of Pipeline Road.
a portion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard has been divided into two segments: Segment 7 and Segment 8 (photo 1). Overall, these projects enable motorists to fly over Jenks and Harrison Avenues and the Bay Line Railroad (photo 2) and widen 5.5 miles of U.S. 231 from four to six lanes. Connections to all local side streets and businesses will be maintained by a frontage road system. Bike lanes, sidewalks, and drainage improvements are included. During U.S. 98 construction, temporary roadway (like the 23rd Street Flyover) will allow U.S. 98 east and westbound traffic to flow smoothly and avoid construction.
book page at www.facebook.com/MyFDOTNWFL.
Two customized typical sections have been designed for this proj-
U.S. 231 from U.S. 98 (15th Street) to north of Pipeline Road
ect. Typical sections under consideration are:
Improving traffic congestion at U.S. 231, U.S. 98 (15th Street), and S.R. 77 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) intersections is a FDOT priority. Improving these intersections and widening U.S. 231 and
›
U.S. 231 south of Mill Bayou Bridge including bicycle lanes and a sidewalk on the west side
›
U.S. 231 north of Mill Bayou Bridge including paved shoulders and a sidewalk on the west side
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
21
TYNDALL FLYOVER
The proposed design of the flyover for the intersection of U.S. 98, Airey Avenue, and Tyndall Drive.
HERE IS A DETAILED LOOK AT EACH SEGMENT:
Segment 7 Segment 7 is approximately 1.6 miles in length from U.S. 98 (15th Street) to north of S.R. 368 (23rd Street). This includes adding flyover ramps on U.S. 98 at Jenks and Harrison Avenues (photos 2 and 3) and on S.R. 77 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard). Northbound and southbound traffic on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard will be four lanes flying over U.S. 231 and the Bay Line Railroad, providing continuous movement with no traffic signals. For those needing local business access, U.S. 231 will have a traffic signal at ground level (under the new flyover bridge), allowing for left turns between U.S. 231 and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Additionally, S.R. 77 will have ground level U-turn lanes north and south of the U.S. 231 intersection (Photo 4). Drainage improvements for Segment 7 includes a floodplain compensation area, modifying the existing stormwater pond and constructing nine additional stormwater ponds. Presently Segment 7 is funded for right-of-way acquisition with bids for construction beginning fall 2023.
Segment 8 The design of approximately 3.9 miles of Segment 8, from north of 23rd Street to north of Pipeline Road, includes widening S.R. 389 (East Avenue) from Sherman Avenue to Baldwin Road; and Transmitter Road from C Street to Brooke Lane from two to four lanes. Additionally, a new six-lane bridge will be built over Mill Bayou. Drainage improvements for Segment 8 include eight new stormwater ponds. Segment 8 is funded for right-of-way acquisition; however, construction is not funded in the current FDOT Five-Year Work Program. Additional right-of-way will be required for both segments. The project’s design is scheduled to be completed summer 2019. STAYING UP-TO-DATE WITH THE U.S. 231 PROJECT For more project information, follow Florida Department of Transportation District Three on Twitter @myfdot_nwfl or like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MyFDOTNWFL.
22
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
Tyndall Flyover Construction of the new U.S. 98 Flyover at Tyndall Air Force Base is scheduled to begin this spring. This $19.9 million project will improve mobility on U.S. 98 and enhance security for Tyndall Air Force Base. The construction project will focus on a one-mile section of U.S. 98 (Photo 1) centered on the installation’s main gate at the intersection of Airey Avenue and Tyndall Drive. Crews will elevate the two U.S. 98 travel lanes above the intersection. A second overpass will be constructed above Louisiana Avenue, east of the main gate, to permit base traffic to travel to and from the support facilities on the south side of the installation to the flight line on the north side without having to pass through the security checkpoint at the main gate. The design concept is known as a single point urban interchange. It is similar to the U.S. 98 interchange constructed at the USAF’s Hurlburt Field main gate in nearby Okaloosa County in 2015. Engineers and traffic planners consider a single point urban interchange an efficient solution for moving large volumes of traffic safely and efficiently through a constrained geographic area. The project is a collaborative effort involving FDOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Tyndall’s 325 Fighter Wing. Completion of the project is tentatively scheduled for late 2020. To minimize traffic impacts during construction, FDOT will limit routine lane closures on U.S. 98 to overnight hours.
NOTE As with any project, all planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are always reminded to be aware of trucks and equipment entering and exiting the roadway and to pay attention to the reduced speed limit when traveling through the construction area. Speeding fines are doubled when workers are present. For information on these projects follow the Florida Department of Transportation District Three on Twitter @myfdot_nwfl or like them on Facebook at Facebook.com/MyFDOTNWFL.
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23
technology Panama City Beach Parkway Traffic Relief by: Debbie Ward, Public Information Officer, City of Panama City Beach
P
anama City Beach Parkway continues to exhibit the pains of being the primary thoroughfare in a growing tourist town that attracts 17 million visitors each year.
Two road projects offer a more permanent solution to alleviate the burden on the roads:
›
Traffic delays are a common inconvenience, but out-of-state visitors and daily commuters are the backbone of the local economy. So, while heavy traffic is a headache, it is due to a thriving economy with robust commercial and residential development.
to six lanes by the Florida Department of Transportation
›
Completion of the next segment of Bay Parkway to Nautilus Street
Those pains were exacerbated after Hurricane Michael hit Bay
Traffic Signals
County. PCB Parkway is also the island’s primary hurricane evacua-
Bay County controls every traffic signal in the county, that’s 187 in-
tion route. While most of the beach experienced minimal damage,
cluding those on Panama City Beach Parkway. The traffic signals on
the area has seen an explosion in daily population as displaced res-
PCB Parkway from Thomas Drive to State 79 are part of an adaptive
idents found temporary housing at the beach and further west, as
traffic control system, an intricate management system that adapts
did contractors and others working the disaster.
its timing based on real-time traffic, via cameras located above the
Those residents and workers make daily treks across the Hathaway
signals.
Bridge to their jobs and homes, pushing traffic over the 40,000 dai-
Marc Mackey, Bay County Traffic Engineering manager, said data is
ly capacity at the Bridge to more than double that to 80,000 cars
gathered from the signals and adjustments are made as traffic in-
a day. Just after the hurricane, PCB Parkway traffic created a bot-
creases or decreases at signalized intersections.
tleneck for first responders, power workers and other emergency personnel. While there is no easy fix, city, county and state officials are working
24
An eventual widening of Panama City Beach Parkway from four
“This system has cameras looking at each approach, and the signal communicates with other traffic signals. It is live and based on vehicular demand,” Mackey said. “The signals know what is in front of
together on multi-pronged, short-and long-term solutions.
them on the through lanes and the left-turn lanes. It is looking at
Some relief has come with the installation of smart traffic lights
fic signals, and can ask for five more seconds of time to alleviate
three years ago that read existing traffic and adjust signal timing.
issues. All these intersections are communicating back and forth.”
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
the whole intersection, and can communicate with the other traf-
OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Bay Parkway, which is being completed in phases, is a project designed to alleviate congestion on Panama City Beach Parkway in the area of Pier park. The new road witll extend from Hihjway 79 north of City Hall to U.S. 98 near the Colony Club golf course.
Construction and/or engineering is underway on more than a dozen infrastructure projects, several of which involve roadways. The financial breakout includes: $19 million in street and drainage construction projects; $1.3 million for design of street and drainage projects; and $9.4 million for construction and design of utility projects. These include:
›
ILLUSTRATED MAP BY CHARLES BAKOFSKY
Mackey said the cameras can see a few hundred feet back and alert the signal when there is a line of cars waiting. He estimates the lights have reduced wait times by about five percent since they
› ›
were introduced in January 2015. But there’s only so much the lights can do, he said, when on some days there are 80,000 vehicles passing through the Nautilus Street intersection, which was designed for about 40,000 cars per day. Nautilus Street is especially problematic because its north sidewalk ends at that intersection and it becomes a primary pedestrian
› › ›
crossing point. While it may only take five to 10 seconds for someone to cross, state and federal laws require a 40-second halt in traffic for every pedestrian crossing.
›
“There are 100 to 130 pedestrian crosses a day there in peak season. We watch that corridor every day and make tweaks as we can, but with 80,000 vehicles, nothing will fix that but asphalt.” Mackey
›
said. “We know the roadway is at double capacity right now. We are doing everything we can, trying to squeeze every second. Constructing Bay Parkway will help.”
Adding Lanes to Panama City Beach Parkway
› ›
Nautilus Road at PCB Parkway seems to be one of the heaviest traveled intersections. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) puts average daily traffic for PCB Parkway and Powell Adams Drive at Pier Park at 47,500 vehicles. The average daily traffic for PCB Parkway just west of the Hathaway Bridge is 62,489, according to
› ›
the FDOT website. According to FDOT spokesman Adam Rose, the state recently completed contract negotiations with DRMP for engineering that would add lanes to a portion of Panama City Beach Parkway (U.S. 98/State Road 30A) from the entrance to Frank Brown Park, which is Mandy Lane, to east of Nautilus Street. The project would add capacity by making it a six-lane roadway. The portion of the project in FDOT’s five-year plan listed on their website shows an allotment of $2.4 million in 2019 for preliminary engineering; the next scheduled allocation is in 2023 when $5 million is set aside for right-of-way acquisition. The project has not been funded for construction, and will not be
› › › ›
CRA Segment 2 Front Beach Road: $16.85 million project currently under construction with some delays due to Hurricane Michael. Project is 90 percent complete and will be finished Spring 2019. Gulf Highlands Drainage Improvement Project: $908,700 project completed in 2018. Street resurfacing: $924,000 project completed in 2018. New $750,000 street resurfacing for 2019 will begin in the Spring 2019 and completed by Fall 2019. Sea Oats Phase 1 drainage project: $463,000 project completed 2018. Sea Oats Phase 2 drainage project: $63,700 design completed with project under construction to be completed summer 2019. North Glades ditch widening project: $90,400 design plans submitted with construction to begin Spring 2019. Bay Parkway Phase 2: $698,000 design underway; completed wetland delineation, boundary and topography survey and traffic data collection. Project design to be completed February 2019 and construction to begin in Summer 2019. CRA Segment 3/Highway 79: $489,800 redesign underway; project design to be completed July 2019 and construction to being Winter 2019. Thomas/Beach Drive utility improvements (manhole replacements): $450,000 project completed 2018. Thomas/Beach Drive utility improvements: $265,000 design to be completed March 2018. Construction of Thomas Drive utility improvements to be complete Fall 2019. Bayside Water/Wastewater utilities replacement: $3.6 million project completed 2018. CRA Segment 2 utilities relocation: $2.6 million project 95 percent complete; to be completed September 2019. Gravity Sewer Rehab: $2 million project 25 percent complete; to be completed September 2019. Conservation Park parking expansion: $415,000 project under construction; to be completed March 2019. PCB Parkway/Cauley reclaimed transmission main: $120,000 design completed 2018 and construction starts Fall 2019. New Wastewater Treatment Plant site acquired: survey with wetland delineation, boundary and topography survey and traffic data collection complete. Design of underground utilities maintenance complex to be completed September 2019 and construction to begin Fall 2019. Design of Wastewater Treatment Plant begins 2021.
until the design phase is complete. But there is new hope it could come sooner.
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
25
Bay Parkway Option City, county and state officials are working to advance the next phase of the Bay Parkway, a back beach road bypass that connects the existing 1.4 miles of Bay Parkway from North Pier Park Drive to Nautilus Street. Construction will begin this year to tie in to the existing portion of Bay Parkway , which ends at State Road 79. Last year the Panama City Beach City Council approved an engineering contract for the planning and design of the 2.4-mile SegLast year, the Bay County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), which determines priority on road construction projects, obtained FDOT’s Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) designation for
lic-private partnership with Panama City Beach, Bay County, FDOT and the St. Joe Company.
U.S. 98 in Bay County. That includes all of Panama City Beach Park-
The City and the County have each committed $3.5 million to the
way.
approximately $8.5 million project. The County is also applying for
Panama City Beach councilmen Hector Solis and Geoff McConnell
up to $4 million in grant funds from FDOT, to go toward construction which will begin this summer. Segment 2 of Bay Parkway could
serve on the 19-member TPO board.
be fully operational by mid-2020.
“It took us a year and a half to get the designation, but this opens
“The completion of Bay Parkway will alleviate a lot of problems on
up other pools of money with qualifying factors,” said Solis. “This
PCB Parkway, especially the type we have seen since the hurricane,”
designation means we are not competing for the same bucket of
City Manager Mario Gisbert said. “It will be helpful to have it open
money as every road in the county.”
when the widening of PCB Parkway does commence so motorists
Any leftover funds from other SIS projects around the state, are put back into the SIS pool to be used on another project. TPO members
would have an alternative route to escape possible construction delays.”
are pursuing funding under this SIS designation in the hope that ex-
Bay Parkway is being constructed to FDOT standards with the belief
pedites the six-laning of PCB Parkway. Instead of eight to 10 years,
that in the future, the state will fund an additional two lanes for Bay
movement could come by 2020.
Parkway, giving motorists a new 4-lane bypass.
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BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
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economic profile current labor statistics for bay county LABOR FORCE
EMPLOYED
UNEMPLOYED
UNEMPLOYED RATE
October 18'
95,803
92,993
2,810
2.9
November 18'
97,446
92,515
4,931
5.1
December 18'
97,206
91,768
5,438
5.6
October 17'
95,196
92,080
3,116
3.3
November 17'
93,396
89,847
3,549
3.8
December 17'
92,907
89,372
3,535
3.8
real estate sales
EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BAY COUNTY
FLORIDA
REALTOR SALES
MEDIAN PRICE
REALTOR SALES
MEDIAN PRICE
November 18'
156
$230,000
20,578
$255,000
December 18'
248
$213,500
20,633
$255,000
January 19'
291
$208,500
15,526
$249,000
November 17'
253
$208,000
19,990
$240,000
December 17'
277
$216,700
22,903
$244,185
January 18'
229
$212,000
16,564
$240,000
CONDO-TOWNHOMES SALES BAY COUNTY
FLORIDA
REALTOR SALES
MEDIAN PRICE
REALTOR SALES
MEDIAN PRICE
November 18'
93
$265,000
12,012
$188,688
December 18'
81
$232,500
8,156
$185,000
January 19'
92
$264,900
6,739
$182,500
November 17'
131
$255,000
8,235
$176,000
December 17'
120
$260,000
9,193
$180,000
January 18'
124
$245,000
7,634
$179,000
bay county sales tax collections
30
Bay County Demographic Snapshot Bay County Population: 183,563 Median Age: 39 Labor Force: 61,535 Average Wage: $38,510 Households: 67,939 Household Income: $48,577 Per Capita Income: $25,695
bay county building permits
GROSS SALES
TAXABLE SALES
TAX COLLECTIONS
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
October 18'
$528M
$276M
$16.2M
September 18'
41
7
November 18'
$437M
$244M
December 18'
$569M
$374M
$15.2M
October 18'
36
0
$23.6M
November 18'
10
2
October 17'
$650M
$323M
$19.6M
September 17'
38
3
November 17'
$558M
$315M
$19.3M
October 17'
41
5
December 17'
$489M
$278M
$17.3M
November 17'
52
4
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
October 2018 - January 2019 from Becca Hardin, President, EDA of Bay County Recently, I was asked to speak to a group of economic development professionals. The topic was “Recovering after devastating storms.” I served on a panel with professionals from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. During a pre-conference planning call, one of the other panelists said to me: “Oh, we know how you feel, we’ve been through this before. You feel like everyone has forgotten you, the media has moved on to other stories, state and federal assistance is slow in coming and you feel that recovery will be a long, very difficult process.”
morning putting one foot in front of the other to make great progress every day! Thank you all for your efforts in the wake of Hurricane Michael!! Please know we are working hard to keep the momentum moving in the positive direction. Through this storm we have also seen the commitment from companies who have recently moved into our community. GKN Aerospace is back in operation and are still actively hiring. Air Temp of America, ACMT Technologies, Butterfly Training, and Revint Solutions are all still fully committed to Bay County, and are currently rebuilding their facilities.
I, in turn, said: “Well, then you don’t know me very well and you sure don’t know the leadership of Bay County, Florida!” I then proceeded to tell those on the call that every day, we are focused on rebuilding a Bigger, Better, Stronger Bay County. I also told them it doesn’t really hurt our feelings the media has moved on to other stories because we are about to hit our peak tourism season, and we want visitors to continue to come to our beautiful beaches. It would be so easy for us to get depressed and consumed with self-pity, because this truly has been a devastating experience. I am so proud to work with such great public/private leaders who wake up every
In regards to active economic development projects, these still remain very active. Currently we have over 20 active projects including local expansions and new recruitment projects. Hurricane Michael has not deterred our economic development efforts and to-date, we have not lost any active projects due to concerns with the hurricane. The coming months will certainly be a rebuilding period for our community, but we know that on the other side of recovery we will rebuild to a bigger, better, and stronger community.
northwest florida beaches international
bay county bed tax collections
airport passenger traffic
PANAMA CITY
PANAMA CITY BEACH
MEXICO BEACH
TOTAL PASSENGERS
March 17'
$31,046
$270,947
$11,052
March 17'
83,585
6,323
March 18'
$29,517
$355,758
$12,212
March 18'
90,896
6,453
% Change
-4.92%
31.30%
10.50%
% Change
8.75%
2.06%
April 17'
$29,857
$326,162
$11,412
April 17'
87,915
6,023
April 18'
$29,751
$339,039
$10
April 18'
91,866
5,415
% Change
-0.36%
3.95%
-8.84%
% Change
4.49%
-10.09%
May 17'
$31,852
$417,788
$13,618
May 17'
100,115
6,314
May 18'
$31,196
$443,879
$13,940
May 18'
104,942
5,997
% Change
-2.06%
6.25%
2.36%
4.82%
-5.02%
% Change
COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS
national, state & local unemployment rate (Apr 2011 to Jul 2018) United States
Florida
Bay County
30
20
10
0
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
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33
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce held its 106th Annual Din-
“Thank you for welcoming and accepting me and allowing me to
ner and Awards Ceremony on January 25 at Edgewater Beach and
serve,” said Moore. “I am certainly proof that if you show a willing-
Golf Resort. Bay County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO
ness to help, Bay County will welcome you with open arms.”
said this event is one of the most important events of the year for the Chamber. “The Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony is our chance to reflect on all of the accomplishments from the previous year,” said Roberts. “From the winning of the federal courthouse to winning multiple communication awards, and even surviving Hurricane Michael, there are many reasons to celebrate.” The event began at 5:30 p.m. with a social and silent auction benefiting Junior Leadership Bay (JLB), a program of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. JLB prepares Bay County’s youth and future business leaders to meet the challenges facing our area through hands-on activities and exciting discussions involving community leaders and motivational speakers. The main event started at 7:00 pm where almost 800 community leaders and numerous elected officials gathered to celebrate the Chamber’s successes of 2018 and to honor the outgoing Chair of the Board, Doug Moore of The Panhandle Group. Franklin Harrison, Founding Partner at Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Moore passed the gavel to the incoming 2019 Chair, Will Cramer of Bill Cramer Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC. In his closing remarks,
34
Moore’s term as chairman included many successes such as – ensuring legislation that safeguarded bed tax money from use on infrastructure; reducing the Business Rent Tax; ensuring the Panama City Federal Courthouse stayed in Bay County; working with several cities and the county to secure the services of NextSite, LLC to promote areas on the east side of the County for redevelopment; and last but not least, working at the Bay County Emergency Operations Center during Hurricane Michael as the Liaison Officer. Also being honored at this event was the outgoing Military Affairs Committee (MAC) Chair, Claire Sherman of Lamar Advertising. Sherman was the 2017 Chair of the Board of Directors before becoming the 2018 MAC Chairman. Sherman officially passed the gavel to Doug Moore who took over as the 2019 MAC Chairman on Tuesday, January 17th at the MAC Passing of the Gavel. During the event, Sherman commended the work of the local military installations of Bay County, stating had it not been for them, there would be no reason for her to serve as MAC Chair. “Our local military are the ones to be commended for their service for our country,” said Sherman. “Both of our military installations play a vital role not only economically, but also through their individual community involvement and the impact of spouses on our workforce. We appreciate you!”
Moore stated he never thought he would be addressing a crowd of
Each year, the Chamber recognizes an outstanding member with
this size as an outgoing Chair of the Bay County Chamber Board of
its Member of the Year Award. Bob Majka, County Manager of Bay
Directors when he first arrived to Bay County nine years ago.
County, was announced as the 2018 recipient. Doug Moore intro-
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
country, and programs focused on revitalizing the commercial corridors of our communities.” The last award of the night was the Lauren Merriam Memorial Award, the Chamber’s highest honor. Glen McDonald, the 2011 recipient of the award, presented the 2018 award to Joey Ginn, who was chosen for this award for his heart and love for all that is Bay County. He has served on multiple boards, including Chair of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Economic Development Alliance, United Way and American Red Cross to name a few. Despite holding a number of serious positions, McDonald said Ginn was chosen for his sense of humor, a trait considered in earnest each year when a recipient is selected. duced Majka as the recipient stating he was top of mind from the very beginning. “From our first conversation, this person stood out as a shining star,” said Moore. “Over the last several years, I have watched [Majka] in numerous situations, some rather controversial and others more placid. [His] temperament and treatment of those around him rarely changes and he is always focused on doing what is best for the community.”
“Joey and his wife, Michelle, form a dynamic duo in our community and sets the real estate world on fire,” said McDonald. “They are truly a Bay County couple, and family, that everyone can be proud of.” Wrapping the evening up, 2019 Chairman, Will Cramer gave his vision for the organization over the next year. Cramer touched on the aggressive priorities for 2019, stating key objectives for the year include business restoration and retention; commercial development; business continuity and disaster planning; all while continu-
Majka has been involved in many projects aimed at bettering the
ing to support military, work force, educational, medical, housing,
community, including presenting the solution to save the federal
tourism, planning and infrastructure improvements.
courthouse in Panama City, being involved in the community’s partnership with NextSite for the benefit of both new and existing businesses in Bay County, as well as working to maintain the County’s
“We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to revitalize and refresh our community, not only for ourselves, but also to affect those
fiscal discipline.
who want to invest in our area and grow with us,” said Cramer. “Our
The Chairman’s Award, of which has only been awarded on five oth-
and developers looking for opportunities here.”
er occasions, is given only when the Chair of the Board of Directors feels there is someone (or group) that has been especially impactful in a way that is outside the realm of normal operations of impacts in our community. Stan Connally, Executive Vice President of Oper-
phones are ringing every day with calls from individuals, realtors
Cramer ended the evening inviting attendees to stand together with optimism and enthusiasm stating, “Together, we will build a better Bay!” The “Build a better Bay” campaign is being utilized to
ations at Southern Company (formally Gulf Power), was announced
emphasize the need to continue efforts to redevelop our beautiful
as the 2018 recipient of the award. Doug Moore, introduced Con-
community. A surprise performance of dancers, presented by Toni
nally as the recipient, stating he did not waste any time exhibiting
Bense of Tonie’s Dance Workshop, wrapped the evening up in a fes-
visionary skills in assessing the potential of our region and paving
tive and lively way.
the way towards making Bay County a growing, thriving competitive hub for business development. “Connally has worked tirelessly with local legislative delegation, as well as community and business leaders, to identify and eliminate barriers,” said Moore. “Serving on a number of boards in various leadership capacities, including being one of the first appointees to the Triumph Board, Stan and his teams have developed programs that have made northwest Florida a leader for site selection in the
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
35
workforce connection Kickstart Your Career at the 15th Annual Career Expo on April 25th! by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast
We are closing in on the date of our 15th annual Career Expo. As our team works on the final preparations, I want to take this opportunity to address our job seekers who can greatly benefit from this event. The Career Expo was founded on the idea that there be an exclusive job fair for those individuals within our community who have had some level of formal training. We typically look to organize our job fairs by industry or employer, and the Career Expo criteria takes
2) DRESS TO IMPRESS As you are meeting with these employers, you are marketing yourself. Do so professionally. Come to the Career Expo “dressed to impress.” This means you should wear business casual or business professional attire, with close-toed shoes and your hair groomed. This is not an event to wear jeans and a t-shirt. How you represent yourself is considered a reflection of how you will represent the employer’s organization.
those factors into consideration.
3) FOLLOW-UP WITH EMPLOYERS
The employers at our Career Expo will be offering positions that
After you have attended the Career Expo and made connections
start out at $15 per hour or $31,000 per year. This is a great opportunity for job seekers with formal training and/or extensive experience to come browse the jobs that will compensate that formal training they have worked so hard to obtain, or that level of experience they have worked towards, within a one-stop-shop experience. If you are a job seeker interested in attending our Career Expo, here are three of the most important actions to keep in mind before, during and after the event:
1) UPDATE YOUR RESUME Review your resume to see that it is up-to-date. While there are three main types of resume formats—reverse chronological, functional and combination/hybrid, all resumes should have current
with our employers, we recommend you follow-up in a timely manner—within 2-3 business days. Delivering a handwritten note can help you stand out among other applicants. If you cannot deliver a handwritten note, send an email. The goal is to show consideration for the employer’s time and gratitude for them considering you for the job. Please note this might fluctuate depending on the context of the situation. For example, if the employer has scheduled an interview with you, send the message after the interview. Whether you are new to the job market, looking for a change in profession, or interested in sharpening your on-the-spot interviewing skills, the Career Expo is the event to go to! We will be hosting a variety of industries with employers eager to meet you face-to-face.
contact information and experience and skills. If applicable, have
36
education and additional information that may be helpful to your
We invite the community to join us on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at
resume.
FSU Panama City’s Holley Center from 9 AM-12 PM. We will also be
We recommend you periodically take note of major accomplish-
the event. If you are interested in learning more about the event
ments as they occur. You can refer back to these notes when con-
or participating employers, we encourage you visit our website at
structing the skills portion of your resume.
www.careersourcegc.com or view the Facebook event.
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
offering free professional headshots to registered job seekers at
Heather Weekley Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Heather Weekley is the Associate Campus Director at the Embry-Riddle Tyndall AFB/Panama City Campus. She has worked for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for three years. Heather was born in Jacksonville, AL and moved to Panama City, FL at the age of 24. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University in Communication/Public Relations and is currently working on her Master of Science in Management degree from Embry-Riddle. Heather has always enjoyed education and the military. Her job as the Associate Campus Director at one of Embry-Riddle’s 130 worldwide locations combines both. She enjoys working with each student individually on a degree path that works for them. Watching a student walk across the stage on graduation day is one of her top joys, and she strives to make each student a success in his or her program. In her spare time, Heather enjoys traveling, hiking with her husband and kids and trying new foods.
Where Bay County's employers come to recruit top talent
April 25 l 9 am-12 pm
www.careersourcegc.com CareerSource Gulf Coast is an equal employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this website may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
37
The Bay County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce its 2019 Officers and Directors.
Board of Directors
Officers
Holly Melzer Barron & Redding, P.A.
Chairman of the Board
Chairman Elect
Vice-Chairman
Term Expires Dec 2019 Terry Cole WMBB-TV Jan Gainer Bay Lincoln Mercury Dodge Hyundai
Elizabeth Moore Anchor CEI, Inc. Amy Myers Hand Arendall Harrison Sale Brad Thomas MidSouth Bank
Will Cramer Bill Cramer Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC
Andrew Rowell GAC Contractors
Treasurer
MAC Chairman
Sandy Sims Gulf Power Company Vice Chairman of Communications
Board of Directors
Term Expires Dec 2020 Michael Archibald Deseret Cattle & Timber Jean Capps
Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort
Ryan Davis Capital City Bank Ben Lee Hancock Bank Tommy Martin WestRock Chris Moore GDIT
Doug Moore The Panhandle Group
Garrett Anderson Anderson Construction Company
Harry Patel Sage Development Group
Board of Directors Board of Directors
One Year Chair Appointments Garrett Anderson Anderson Construction Company Mynta Harbison Los Antojitos Kyle Shoots System Service & Engineering, Inc.
Term Expires Dec 2021 Debbie Ashbrook Central Panhandle Association of Realtors Jason Crowe Community Bank Rhea Goff The St. Joe Company Darren Haiman Nations Real Estate Reginald Johns Portfolio Real Estate Management Mike Smith Jimmy Johns
38
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
NextEra Energy completes acquisition of Gulf Power from Southern Company
"We are excited to welcome our new colleagues from Gulf Power to the NextEra Energy family," said Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy. "The last several months have been among the most challenging periods in Gulf Power's rich history as the team worked tirelessly to restore power to those impacted by Hurricane Michael. We couldn't be more pleased by Gulf Power's performance and commitment to getting the lights back on during what were extremely dangerous and difficult conditions. As we turn to the future, we look forward to extending to Gulf Power's customers our best-in-class value proposition of low bills, clean energy, high reliability and outstanding customer service." NextEra Energy, Inc. is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. Along with owning two electric companies in Florida (Florida Power & Light Company and Gulf Power Company), NextEra Energy also owns a competitive energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ranks #1
Hurricane Michael left our community devastated, but not defeated. Bay County’s resilience has shown
to be both inspiring and amazing. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is honored to remain in the area serving not only our students, but the community as well. Embry-Riddle Tyndall Campus, located on Tyndall AFB was hit hard, but our staff at remote locations jumped into action following the storm to provide outstanding service and support to ERAU students located at Tyndall and those that were displaced. Embry-Riddle has been a part of Bay County for more than 30 years and in the months following the storm, our local ERAU Alumni chapter along with the ERAU Tyndall Campus staff have volunteered with the area’s recovery efforts. Our students and staff have cleared debris, volunteered for community events, and provided resources to local foster family homes in need of repair. The ERAU Tyndall Campus set-up office hours in town to better assist current and prospective students. Our students are able to walk in to any of our 130 locations worldwide. No matter where our students landed post-Hurricane Michael—they will continue to be taken care of. Not only is Embry-Riddle committed to continuing to serve Bay County and our students, but we are committed to continuing to improve ourselves as well. U.S. News has awarded Embry-Riddle the sole No. 1 spot on the 2019 U.S. News & World Report list for online bachelor’s degrees. For the sixth consecutive year, Embry-Riddle Worldwide has been named one of the nation’s top five online educators. With online, webcam learning, and seated course options we have a flexible learning modalities for everyone. Embry-Riddle Tyndall Campus is continuing to serve students remotely while waiting for our office on Tyndall AFB to be repaired. We expect to move back into our office space in mid-April. ERAU knows that times are hard and attending classes may be difficult for students. We offer award winning online programs in several modalities that can help stu-
dents attend classes from anywhere without disrupting their rebuild process. We at Embry-Riddle are dedicated to seeing this community comeback from this tragedy better than ever. Embry-Riddle is here—continuing to serve you.
GCSC Health Sciences Program Receives National Recognition
Students in Gulf Coast State College’s Surgical Technology Program recently received national recognition from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBTSA) for achieving a 100% graduate pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist exam. The exam is for individuals who have completed an accredited program and are ready to enter the professional field. “Reaching 100% pass rate is great and means every student has achieved their goal for certification,” said Libby McNaron, Surgical Services Coordinator. “We as an institution are achieving our outcome goals and accreditation requirements with these outstanding results,” she said. The program accepts 20 students each year for intensive, hands-on classes. The training is designed to prepare students for a real-world environment with an engaging curriculum and techniques. Gulf Coast State College offers students an exceptional platform to develop the skills and procedures expected in the healthcare industry,
Kerigan Marketing Associates selected to the 2019 Seminole 100 Kerigan Marketing Associates was selected for the Seminole 100 award for the second year in a row during Florida State University’s Seminole 100 Celebration on March 2. BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
39
The 2019 Seminole 100, hosted by the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the FSU College of Business in partnership with the FSU Alumni Association and EY, recognized the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned by Florida State alumni.
spearheaded by Visit Panama City Beach and Sports Facilities Management (SFM), has hired a General Manager J.D. Wood. Wood is an experienced sports tourism industry leader who has had the privilege of working with prestigious sports organizations including the Dallas Sports Commission, National Senior Games and Texas A&M Athletics. 1981 to encourage lawyers to volunteer free legal services to those who cannot afford legal fees. The Florida Bar recognizes those lawyers who make public service commitments and aim to raise awareness of the volunteer services lawyers can provide to the public.
Founded in Mexico Beach, in 2001, the agency ranked #70 among this year’s Seminole 100. The firm specializes in website development, digital strategy, video production and graphic design. To qualify for the Seminole 100, a company must have been in business for at least three years and generated revenue by January 1, 2015. Additionally, the business must be owned, or majority managed, by an FSU alumnus for three consecutive years prior to nomination.
Florida Bar Recognizes Local Attorney The Florida Bar will recognized Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, LLC. Attorney Julia K Maddalena along with 21 other Florida litigators in February for their pro bono work. The awards recognize and honor stellar volunteer service across the state. The attorneys of the Sunshine State provided more than 1.58 million hours of pro bono services in 12 months and more than $5.8 million to legal aid organizations. “I’m honored to receive this award and my pro bono journey will not end here,” states Julia Maddalena. “We still have a lot of work to do in Northwest Florida, especially after Hurricane Michael. Thank you for the recognition and everyone’s support.” The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Awards were established in 40
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
Local Restaurants Receive 2018 Golden Spoon Awards
Firefly Restaurant (Sushi/French/ Floridian) and The Grand Marlin (Seafood) were recently recognized with Florida Trend’s 2018 Golden Spoon awards. Over 150 top restaurants are honored in Hall of Fame, Golden Spoon or Best New Restaurant categories. For over 50 years, Florida Trend has provided readers with a guide to the state’s finest restaurants, celebrating the diversity of dining opportunities from coast to coast. These offerings range from the treasured institutions in the Hall of Fame to trendy newcomers making their debuts. The Golden Spoon awards recognize individual achievement and distinctive contributions to the Florida restaurant scene. For a complete list of the Golden Spoon award winners, go to FloridaTrend.com/Golden-Spoons.
PCB Sports Complex Announces General Manager One of the newest, premium sports tourism complexes in the nation, Panama City Beach Sports Complex,
The hiring process was a selective and lengthy nation-wide talent search led by SFM. The team at SFM is confident in Wood’s ability to run the facility that will service the unique and well-known destination of Panama City Beach with a focus in youth and amateur travel sports in the ‘Gem of the Florida Panhandle’. “We wanted to be sure we found the right person for the role, and we used our national network to narrow our selection. We have high expectations for this facility and knew Wood would be the ideal candidate for the position” says John McDonald, VP of SFM. The facility, opening in May 2019, will be a world-class outdoor sports complex catering to travel sports programs throughout the southeast region, and will include 13 various athletic fields, training facilities and more.
Have a submission for the Biz List? Please contact Taylor Smith at 850-215-3755 or via email taylor@baycountyfl.com.
CELEBRATE
TOURISM
HELD IN MAY, TOURISM APPRECIATION MONTH, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS TAM, CELEBRATES BAY COUNTY’S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY: TOURISM.
FIR ST FR IDAY WI TH TH E BE AC H
SP RIN G CL AS SIC GO LF TO UR NA ME NT
TO UR ISM AF TE R HO UR S
MAY 3, 7:3 0- 9:0 0 AM
MAY 10, 11:0 0AM - 5:00 PM
MAY 14, 5:0 0- 7:0 0 PM
SPO NSO RED BY: ST STAT E COLL EGE COA GULF N TION FOU NDA
SPON SORE D BY: BILL CRAM ER CHEV ROLE T CADI LLAC GMC , WOW ! BUSI NESS , BUIC K GM AND TECO
SPO NSO RED BY: BY THE SEA RES ORT S
FSU- PC HOLL EY ACA DEM IC CENT ER
BAY POIN T GOLF CLUB
BY THE SEA RES ORT S
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new members A&A Roofing of NW FL 102 W. 4th St. Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 271-5302
Cohen Law Group 350 N. Lake Destiny Rd. Maitland, FL 32751 (407) 478-4878
El Jaliciense 233 S. Tyndall Pkwy. Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 481-1232
Hunter Claims, LLC PO Box 4679 Tampa, FL 33677 (919) 282-8302
Accredited Public Adjusters, LLC 465 Harrison Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 463-0114
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 726 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 234-6696
El Jalisco 1815 N. Hwy. 77 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 571-3155
Intellichoice Builders, LLC 1818 Michigan Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 427-2727
Affordable Tree Service 851 S. State Rd. 434, Ste. 241 Altamonde Springs, FL 32714 (321) 200-6884
Comcast Spotlight 4001 W. 23rd St. Panama City, Fl 32405 (850) 354-1092
Enclosure Rescue, Inc. 758 W. 13th St. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 588-3966
Aguilar Construction Services 9762 Eaton St. Westminster, CO 80020 (720) 746-9296
Complete DKI 511 Wynnehurst St. Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 712-7829
Extreme Disposal, LLC 325 W. 6th St. Panama City, FL 32401 (239) 574-5280
Allstate Chuck Bond Agency 621 N. Tyndall Pkwy, Ste. A Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 747-1187
Claims Specialists 2310 S. Hwy 77 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 692-4606
Fast Rehabs, LLC 2310 S. Hwy. 77 #110 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (844) 322-0822
Askin Construction 3300 2nd Ave., N, Ste. 3 Billings, MT 59101 (406) 702-1097
Continental Public Adjusters, Inc. 7505 Thomas Dr, E. 413 Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (800) 989-4769
Flooring Depot of Panama City 1310 W. 15th St. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 785-2216
Countryland Roofing 7940 Front Beach Rd., #122 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (931) 209-0195
Florida Association of Public Insurance 9100 S. Dadeland Blvd., Ste. 1500 Miami, FL 33156 (866) 235-6489
Barfield Contracting & Associates, Inc. 6923 Hwy. 77 Panama City, FL 32409 (850) 212-1639 Bay Point Community Association PO Box 27089 Panama City Beach, FL 32411 (850) 234-2727
Crowley Wealth Management of Raymond James 2309 Frankford Ave., Ste. B Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 872-3760
BOLT Construction & Roofing 1100 W. 26 St. Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 771-2658
Cumbie Property Development (850) 867-0516
CBO Platinum Promotions, LLC (850) 628-8857 Chick-Fil-A 401 N. Tyndall Pkwy. Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 872-1512 Chick-Fil-A 11428 PCB Pkwy. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 234-9540 Cintas 2379 Commercial Park Dr. Marianna, FL 32448 (850) 851-9990 Claims Specialists 2310 S. Hwy 77 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 692-4606 44
from September 1 - February 28
Custom Painting & Remodeling 913 Century Oak Dr. Winder, GA 30680 (678) 425-5079 D-Train Security, Inc. 44 Smith Rd., Ste. B Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 (850) 892-4027 Dex YP PO Box 619810 DFW Airport, TX 75261 (850) 417-4006 Doc's Tire Repair 307 E. 17th St. Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 265-5488
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
Florida Pool Enclosures 114 Taxi Ct. Deatsville, AL 36022 (334) 588-2372 Florida Professional Law Group, PLLC 4600 Sheridan St., Ste. 303 Hollywood, FL 33021 (954) 284-0900 Floridian International Adjusters 2850 NW 79th Ave. Doral, FL 33122 (305) 330-6252 Hinckley Roofing 401 W. 14th St. #3 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 703-4016 House Dr. Development, LLC 202 S. Gay Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 900-6940 Hull Group, Inc. 1016 Thomas Dr. #340 Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (877) 470-4855
j4 Development 1700 Jay Eli Dr., Ste. 100 Richardson, TX 75081 (214) 354-5356 Kanner & Pintaugla 925 S. Federal Highway Boca Ranton, FL 33432 (954) 801-8100 Larry Brooks, Lic. Independent Agent (850) 624-5612 Less Mess, LLC PO Box 27256 Panama City Beach, FL 32411 (850) 225-1443 LinkUp Communications Corporation 1016 Thomas Dr. #313 Panama City, FL 32408 (703) 378-5090 M&H Construction Services, LLC (850) 739-0849 McCabe/Ronsman 1601 Benton Dr. N Jacksonvillle Beach, FL 32250 (850) 607-4173 Moe's Southwest Grill 1000 E. 23rd St., Ste. D Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 522-8606 The Morgan Law Group, P.A. 82 S. Barrett Square, Unit 2C Rosemary Beach, FL 23461 (850) 403-0092 Mr. Herman Bell Mr. Larry Basford PO Box 1040 Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 872-4473 Mr. Nicolas Lovelace MSC Industrial Supply 4345 Halls Mill Rd., Ste. D Mobile, AL 36693 (850) 624-9979
new members Naval Surface Warfare Center PC 110 Vernon Ave., Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 235-5486
Robbins Metal Fab, LLC 5814 Merritt Brown Rd. Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 624-3210
The Steak House 1320-C N. Tyndall Pkwy. Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 841-1280
Venture Construction Group 301 Yamato Rd., Ste. 1240 Boca Raton, FL 33431 (866) 459-8351
One Blue Crab Productions 107 Amar Place., Ste. 100 Panama City Beach, FL 32403 (850) 276-9624
Roofing & Reconstruction Contractors 17842 Ashley Dr., Unit B Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (877) 240-7720
Sun Coast Roofing and Solar PO Box 210 Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 570-3433
We Insure Group 621 N. Tyndall Pkwy., Ste. B Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 747-3005
One Way Roofing PO Box 19289 Panama City Beach, FL 32417 (850) 381-8987
Sarten Catering 1609 Arthur Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 532-5374
Sunspot realty 16428 Front Beach Rd. Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 234-7151
Woodspring Suites 902 N. Tyndall Pkwy. Callaway, FL 32404 (662) 571-4806
P&P Heating & Cooling 1075 Hwy 79 Bonifay, FL 32425 (850) 832-1345
Sentry Public Adjusting, LLC 571 Harrison Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 344-9616
Palm Realty of PCB 415 R. Jackson Blvd., Ste. 206 A Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 545-3333
Sharp Carpet & Ceramic Tile 2617 Highway77 Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 769-8505
Palmetto Dental 10510 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 234-7080 Pruitt Health Care 3212 Jenks Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 (678) 294-0767
Signature Staffing, LLC 2310 Parklake Dr., NE. Ste. 100 Atlanta, GA 30345 (678) 267-3733 Sims Crane & Equipment 4897 Capital Circle NW Tallahassee, FL 32303 (850) 273-7069
RBS Construction 5205 S. Orange Ave., Ste. 102 Orlando, FL 32809 (850) 815-8818
Southern Orthopedic Spine Surgery 1399 Jenks Ave., Bldg. G Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 771-2001
Rebuild United 609 Dogwood St., Unit C Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (662) 571-4806
SPC Roofers 234 Oceanway Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32218 (808) 366-4868
Revint Solutions 3109 Minnesota Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 252-1805
Standpoint 33 W. Shore Place Inlet Beach, FL 32461 (949) 667-9445
Target Builders PO Box 1013 Panama City, FL 32402 (850) 872-4473 Timber Creek Builders, LLC 2425 New Pinery Rd., Ste. 201 Portage, WI 53901 Tire Kingdom 1918 W. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 387-0901 Total Restoration Services Group, LLC 12216 PCB Pkwy. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 541-5919 United Claims Specialists 495 Grand Blvd. #205 Miramar Beach, FL 32550 (855) 321-5677 United Rentals 1503 W. 15th St. Panama City, FL 32401 (850)763-0174 Universal Contracting of Florida 171 Commercial Blvd. Napels, FL 78738 (850) 344-9898
Company Name
DON ALD GI LES MAI, SRA Cert. Gen. RZ356
Commercial and Residential Property Valuations
122 E 4th St Panama City, Fl, 32401 Phone: 850-769-6593 Fax: 850-872-9160 gilesappraisal@knology.net
Company Name
Staff local with your Panama City experts
850.747.1211
Employee Nam e
Position Title adeccousa.com
Street Address Address 2 City, ST ZIP Code Phone: 555.555.0125 Fax: 555.555.0145 E-mail address
CBoA YmB p IZ a / n A Py R I LN - a J Um NEe 2019
45
member anniversaries from September 1 - February 28 5 years
15 years
35 years
Accurate Control Equipment, Inc. Allstate Brown Insurance Agency Bluewater Development Group Edgewater Crossings Goldring Gulf Distributing Good Cents Travel Agency JourneyPure Emerald Coast The Morris Law Firm Mr. John Lincoln Out of the Box Gifts & More Outback Steakhouse Representative Jay Trumbull Sunnyside Beach and Tennis Resort Superior Residences Tadlock Roofing, Inc. ZHA, Inc.
Dale Carnegie Training Eye Center South First Choice Physical Therapy G&W Inspectioins GM Appliance Habitat for Humanity of Bay County Innovations Federal Credit Unon MidSouth Bank NAI TALCOR Northstar Church Ron Wolff Servpro of Bay County Suncrest/Omni Home Health
Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort
20 years
65 years
Brain & Spine Center, P.A. Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC Chevron USA, Inc. Mary Kay Cosmetics
Tipton, Marler, Garner & Chastain
10 years Bay County Clerk of Court Counts Oakes Resort Properties Davis Oil Company Dunkin' Donuts Eastern Shipbuilding Group Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital Hancock Bank L&R Construction of FL Ladybug Embroidery Designs & Gifts Prine Orthodontics Spine Care Plus
46
BAY B I Z / A P R I L - J U N E 2019
25 years Better Business Bureau of NW FL Deloitte Consulting, LLP Office Depot Regions Bank
30 years Bauman Chiropractic Clinic Bay County Farm Bureau Bay Medical Sacred Heart Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County Port Panama City, USA
40 years Digestive Diseases Center Smith Miles & Company
45 years Dr. James Campbell, DDS, MS Tyndall Federal Credit Union
60 years Captain Anderson's Restaurant
PROFESSIONAL GRADE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
2019 GMC SIERRA 3500 HD
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“Rebuilding Better Together.” 5 Decades. 3 Generations. 1 Tradition. 2251 W. 23rd. St. Panama City, FL
850-785-5221
BillCramerGM.com @BillCramerPCGM @BillCramerGM
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