April-June 2016 Bay Biz by Bay County Chamber of Commerce

23rd Street FLYOVER

10 16 Departments 8 POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE

Fracking In Florida

DEFENSE INTEL

The Best Military Affairs Committee in The World

A Look Inside Bay High’s Digital Media Academy

16 EDUCATION 18 24 26 32 34

ECONOMIC PROFILE WORKFORCE CONNECTION BIZ LIST BYP MEMBERS TO KNOW

36 37 38

NEW MEMBERS MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES OUT & ABOUT

Features 10 COVER STORY

23rd Street Flyover Project

2016 ANNUAL BED RACES AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS BLOCK PARTY

PROGRAM AT BAY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TRAINS DOGS TO AID IN NATIONAL SECURITY

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PUBLISHER Carol Roberts EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brittany Cole CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carol Roberts Brittany Cole Brandi DeRuiter Erykah Bell Kim Bodine LAYOUT & DESIGN Sean Brosnan GORGEOUS (strategic branding + design) getgorgeo.us | 850-888-8GRG COVER 23rd Street Flyover by IA Aerial Photography CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Desiree Gardner Photography, Brittany Cole, IA Aerial Photography, FDOT, and Bay High School

The Bay Biz is published quarterly by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, 235 W. 5th Street, Panama City, FL 32401 850.785.5206 POSTMASTER send address changes to: Bay County Chamber, 235 W. 5th Street, Panama City, FL 32401 or email brittany@baychamberfl.com. The Bay Biz welcomes story ideas from its readers. Email to brittany@baychamberfl.com. To request additional copies, contact 850-785-5206.

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2016

the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce. Lance accepted a position in Paducah, Kentucky to move closer to his children. We periodically had lunch with our counterpart and my best friend in the Chamber industry, Shane Moody from the Destin Chamber. Pictured here, we met for our last lunch at Shades. I will sincerely miss our camaraderie and do wish him the best!

Spring has sprung and thank goodness we are on Daylight Savings Time! Have you ever wondered really what a Chamber of Commerce is? I wanted to spend some of this article on the basics of Chambers of Commerce. Most Chambers are stood up as 501c(6) business and professional organizations. Not charities. Many folks seem to think that Chambers are a part of city, county, state or federal government, but we are NOT. Many think that we report to the Florida Chamber or to the U.S. Chamber, but we do NOT. Chambers are independent organizations that report to their Board of Directors, and of course, the members at large. There is frequent confusion on issues addressed or stances taken by the state or national Chamber and that we endorse those decisions. We DO NOT. However, dependent on the issue, we will and do make our own decisions. The Bay County Chamber has a three step rule. Issues, no matter at what level, starts with the Governmental Affairs Committee (or another committee) to develop a recommendation; then it moves to the Executive Committee ;and then ultimately the Board of Directors has the final approval giving us a broad based opinion on the subject. My point with all of this is to inform the public that we are a membership based organization supported only by our dues paying members and not supported by tax dollars.

Medical Tourism? What the heck is that I asked? I’ve since been educated on the subject and it could mean big business for our community. Medical Tourism refers to the travel of people to another city, state or country for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment; medical related meetings and/or training and health/wellness treatments. How big is the Industry? $100 BILLION. An average medical tourist may spend 5 –10 times on tourism and lodging related expenses. VISIT Florida estimates hotel rooms booked for medical tourism purposes in 2012 created an economic impact of more than $23 million. Planning is underway as how to best market Bay County to these potential clients. Both of your Chambers, Bay EDA, Bay County TDC and the Panama City CDC are working on just that. Stay tuned as this exciting opportunity develops for our market. I could write a book on our Legislative session that has just ended. There were a lot of wins for our community and state but also lots of losses. Thank you to Representatives Trumbull and Drake and Senator Gaetz for continuing to fight to bring economic growth to our County and region. As we bid farewell to Senator Gaetz, Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst, Bay County Commissioners George Gainer, Mike Thomas, Sheriff Frank McKeithen, Callaway Mayor Thomas Abbot, and Tax Collector Peggy Brannon, I think we should all pause and thank them for their many years of dedication to public service. There is no glamour to these positions and for individuals like these to put their personal lives on hold to serve their community they deserve a huge round of applause for wanting to make a difference.

I had the pleasure of attending the Gulf Coast State College Distinguished & Rising Star Alumni Awards Dinner on March 3rd. Our former State Representative, Jimmy Patronis was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award for his work in public service. I’m truly honored to call Jimmy my friend and we all owe him a great debt of gratitude for his involvement, hard work and time away from his family to make our great county and state the best it can be. Congrats Jimmy! March was certainly full of highs and lows for me as I also had to say farewell to my dear friend, Lance Allison, President of 6

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In this issue we are highlighting the 70th Anniversary of our Military Affairs Committee. Tonight as I’m writing this, I’m about to head to the celebration. We hope you enjoy this issue and as always, we appreciate our members who invest in the future of our beautiful community!

Carol Roberts President/CEO

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Fracking in Florida by: Brandi DeRuiter, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

he majority of new gas wells drilled today use a process known as hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” Wells are formed by drilling a mile or more beneath the surface before turning horizontal and continuing for several thousand more feet. Once the well is drilled, a mixture of water, chemicals and a “proppant” (usually sand) is pumped into a well at extremely high pressures to fracture rock and allow natural gas to escape and migrate up to the well. Source rocks include coalbeds, shales, and tight sandstones. The gas these wells produce goes to processing plants to remove contaminants and make the gas ready for the pipelines that deliver it to commercial, industrial and residential customers. Transmission compression stations help move the gas through 1.5 million miles of natural gas pipelines across the United States.

Fracking Mixture

Chemicals are added to the water and sand mixture to limit the growth of bacteria, prevent corrosion of the well casing, and 8

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help dissolve minerals to initiate cracks in the rock. Some examples include hydrochloric acid, acetaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde. Fluids are used to create the fractures in the formation and to carry a propping agent (typically silica sand) which is deposited in the induced fractures to keep them from closing up. The characteristics of the water and shale being fractured determines what chemicals are used; there are typically between 3 and 12 additives. The overall concentration of additives for most fracturing is 0.5% to 2%; water makes up the remaining 98% to 99.5% of the solution. The amount of water used to fracture a well depends on several factors including rock formation, the operator, and whether the well is horizontal or vertical. Examples of average water usage per well include a range of 1.5 to 15.8 million gallons. At 2%, this amounts to 30,000-316,000 gallons of added chemicals required to fracture the well. Water usually comes from local sources: lakes, rivers, and municipal supplies. Some of the fracturing fluid flows back up the well and is stored on site in tanks or pits before disposal. Disposal of wastewater is dealt with in one

of several ways including but not limited to: disposal by underground injection, treatment followed by disposal to surface water bodies, or recycling for future fracking operations.

Potential impacts on drinking water resources

Negative impacts on our drinking water resources occur at all 5 stages of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. During the initial stage, water acquisition, our drinking water supply is reduced. The second stage poses threats through spills and leaks during chemical mixing. The solution is then injected into the well creating cracks; this can dislodge minerals and radioactive materials that can move into aquifers. Flowback occurs during the fourth stage when pressure in the well is released; a potential impact is a release to surface or groundwater. The last stage, wastewater treatment and disposal, poses threats through inadequate water treatment or hydraulic fracturing contaminants mixing with disinfectants at drinking water treatment facilities. Currently, hydraulic fracturing, except when using diesel fuel, is excluded from the definition of underground injection and not subjected to regulation under the “Safe Water Drinking Act.”

Other Impacts

Climate change is due to methane, the primary constituent of natural gas, a potent greenhouse gas – more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide when emitted directly into the atmosphere. Oil and natural gas production and processing accounts for nearly 40 percent of all U.S. methane emissions, making the industry the nation’s single largest methane source. Air impacts can affect respiratory health due to particulates, exhaust, and volatile organic chemicals. Horizontal wells generate greater volumes of drilling waste (cuttings) than vertical wells. The industry projections of the level of drilling has raised concerns relating to community character, including noise and visual impacts; adverse impacts on cultural and historic resources; agriculture, tourism, and scenic resources; and socioeconomics impacts.

Fracking and Florida

Both hydraulic and acid fracturing have been used in Florida, although not to the degree as seen in some parts of the country. Fracking has received increased attention due to concerns about the environmental impacts associated with the activity and increased efforts by the oil and gas industry to engage in fracking. Many state oil and gas regulatory programs, including Florida’s, have not been updated to address issues unique to the activity of fracking.

The Stages of Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle

Schematic illustrating the possible pathways for subsurface migration of fracturing fluids or hydrocarbons into subsurface potable water aquifers.

A hotly-debated bill this session that passed the House and died in the Senate would have directed the Department of Environmental Protection to study the impact of fracking on Florida’s aquifer and unique limestone bedrock, which geologists have described as a sponge-like rock, develop regulations based on the peer-reviewed study, and pre-empt to the state all local government control. Opponents of this bill state that there were not enough restrictions and that this bill would lay out the welcome mat for fracking companies. Although oil and mineral rights are property interests protected by the Takings Clause of the US Constitution, the Department of Environmental Protection requires permits and requires that permitted activities be conducted in a safe and environmentally compatible matter. Permits are not issued for Florida’s territorial waters, bays, estuaries, lakes, rivers and streams or within one mile of parks and preserves.

* The Bay County Chamber adopted a resolution on January, 21, 2016

that opposes a state preemption of fracking activities, opposes legislation that would create a public records law exemption for proprietary information, and supports a moratorium on all new well stimulation activities until an independent and comprehensive Florida-specific study has been completed and peer reviewed.

Shown here is a generalized landscape depicting the activities of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle and their relationship to each other, as well as their relationship to drinking water resources. Arrows depict the movement of water and chemicals. Specific activites in the “Wastewater Treatment and Waste Disposal” inset are (a) underground injection control (UIC) well disposal, (b) wastewater treatment and reuse, and (c) wastewater treatment and discharge at a centralized waste treatment (CWT) facility. Note: Figure not to scale.

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23RD STREET/FLY The 23rd Street Flyover construction project is underway to elevate U.S. 98 over 23rd Street, Collegiate Drive, Seaport Drive, and the Bay Line Railroad. These improvements will provide continuous movement along U.S. 98 and 23rd Street.

How will my com People across Bay County are curious about what this means for their commute and for the visitors coming into the area. It’s difficult to imagine not having to stop at the 23rd Street and U.S. 98 signal light. This is one of the greatest benefits the 23rd Street Flyover will achieve. The $67.9 million project is one-mile in length, from the east end of the Hathaway Bridge to west of Michigan Avenue. Project Improvements • The 23rd Street Flyover will improve safety, commerce, re duce travel delays, and allow better access to Port Panama City, Gulf Coast State College, and Florida State University Panama City. • The entrance to Port Panama City will be widened to accommodate truck traffic. • Additional improvements include bicycle lanes, sidewalks, drainage, stormwater treatment facilities, enhanced intelligent transportation systems, signalization upgrades, utility relocation, lighting, new signage, and minor side road improvements.

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If you want to:

Travel south on 23rd Street and turn east on U.S. 98 (15th Street) Travelers will go west to go east; however they will not incur traffic signals. Designated lanes beginning on 23rd Street will guide vehicles to travel west and loop under the flyover and then eastbound and fly over the rail road on U.S. 98. Travel south on 23rd Street and turn west on U.S. 98 Travelers heading south on 23rd Street will seamlessly travel west in the designated traveling lanes and, in effect, fly over Collegiate Drive and Seaport Drive without stopping as traffic flows continuously onto the Hathaway Bridge.

LYOVER/PROJECT

mmute be affected? Travel east from the Hathaway Bridge on U.S. 98 and turn north on 23rd Street

Travel east or west on U.S. 98 from Moylan Road to Michigan Avenue

Traffic will flow in designated travel lanes without having to stop because of the ramp systems. In effect, travelers traveling east on the Hathaway Bridge will fly over the traffic light at Collegiate Drive and Seaport Drive and continue traveling in designated lanes that merge onto 23rd Street.

Traffic will flow freely east and should make motorists happy. Travelers will not encounter traffic signals when traveling eastbound on U.S. 98 between Moylan Road in Panama City Beach and Michigan Avenue in Panama City. Once eastbound on the Hathaway Bridge, drivers will fly over the intersection at Collegiate Drive and Seaport Drive, and continue flying over the U.S. 98 and 23rd Street intersection, and train tracks. The first traffic signal drivers come upon is located at Michigan Avenue.

Travel west on U.S. 98 and turn north on 23rd Street Traffic will move in designated travel lanes without needing to stop. The travel lanes will fly over the rail road tracks and the U.S. 98 and 23rd Street intersection, continuing westbound. Upon passing this intersection, vehicles remain in their respective travel lanes and loop east where designated lanes guide traffic onto 23rd Street north.

Traveling westbound on U.S. 98 over the Hathaway Bridge, drivers will fly over the same intersections (U.S. 98 and 23rd Street, and Collegiate Drive and Seaport Drive) without having to stop for traffic signals until arriving at Woodlawn Drive and Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach.

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Travelers will use these alternate U.S 98 lanes while the flyover is being built. This is projected to occur winter 2017. During this phase, traffic signals at U.S. 98 and 23rd Street and the railroad stop bars will continue to be utilized. The good news for travelers is that alternate U.S. 98 will have the same number of east and west travel lanes as the existing U.S. 98, thereby maintaining a smooth traffic flow throughout the project. FDOT has gone to great lengths to alleviate the traffic slowdown by including the alternate route in the 23rd Street Flyover construction design. The remaining phases of the project will include the construction of the flyover and ramps, connecting the entire project. What Will the Ramps Look Like? The 23rd Street Flyover will have a unique look when completed. Existing features that are utilized on the Thomas Drive Interchange may look familiar, including precast concrete retaining walls (known in construction terms as Mechanically Stabilized Earth, or MSE walls) and columns that support the overhead ramps (commonly called Hammerhead Piers). Take a look around the next time you are sitting at the traffic light at U.S. 98 and Thomas Drive. Notice the roadway overhead, the supporting columns, and the retaining wall designs supporting the structure and roadway. Similar construction and the same style lighting fixtures will also be incorporated into the 23rd Street Flyoverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design. How will Gulf Coast State College and Florida State University Panama City Traffic be impacted? Signal improvements at the corner of 23rd Street and Collegiate Drive are part of the project. Once on Collegiate Drive, an extended left hand turning lane onto Collegiate Street is included. Improvements when exiting Collegiate Drive onto 23rd Street consist of a left turn bike lane, two extended left hand turning lanes, and a dedicated right hand turning lane leading onto 23rd Street. Gulf Coast State College and Florida State University Panama City students and faculty will have access to the college campuses throughout all phases of the construction improvements on Collegiate Drive. How will the Intersection at Port Panama City and Collegiate Drive on U.S. 98 Change? When travelling U.S. 98 to either Port Panama City or the U.S. 98 Collegiate Drive entrance, designated lanes will guide travelers to the signal light at U.S. 98 and Seaport Drive/Collegiate Drive. When exiting the port or the college, drivers can travel both east and west on U.S. 98 to get to their destination using the ramps and flyover design. Sequence of Construction Phase one of construction is underway. Storm drainage structures are being created, erosion control measures are being installed on the work site, and contractors are grading the roadway in advance of building the alternate route for the existing U.S. 98. 12

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Additional improvements: Work is scheduled to be completed fall 2019. Traffic on U.S. 98 will be maintained during construction, including access to driveways and business entrances. Side streets will be impacted. There will be no major U.S. 98 traffic impacts until winter 2017 when traffic will shift to the alternate U.S. 98 detour. 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. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Next? There are many ways to find out more information about the 23rd Street Flyover project, including several social media avenues. For more project information and the latest traffic advisories, visit and like Facebook.com/my23rdstreetflyover or follow on Instagram at my23rdstreetflyover. You may also 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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The Best Military Affairs Committee in the World by: Brandi DeRuiter, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

discussion was held during a Bay County Chamber Board of Directors Meeting on March 15, 1946. It was the consensus of opinions that since it was likely the Army and Navy were to make this community a permanent installation site for both forces, a committee should be appointed to handle Army and Navy relations. That discussion was the heart of what we now know as the Military Affairs Committee. The newly formed committee took its first action less than a week later on March 21st when a party of Army Officers came to Tyndall. The Officers were to survey the base as a possible permanent facility as they were deciding which World War II bases to retain. Housing was one of the main factors in making a decision. To fully understand the needs of the military, Chamber President Cecil Kelly and Army-Navy Committee Chairman, Jesse Cogburn met with these officers and Tyndall. A June 1st, 1946 statement issued by the Board of Directors details their strategic economic foresight and community involvements:

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“Panama City is most fortunate in being selected as the site of the Air Tactical School of the Army Air Forces. Its immediate, as well as long range effects will be of untold economic as well as cultural value. We must therefore recognize the vast responsibilities thrust on us as well as our good fortune.” “In all our conferences with Army officials we have assured them that this community would take care of their needs. We, the Board of Directors of the (then named) Panama City Chamber of Commerce, wish to ask for the wholehearted cooperation of this entire community in seeing that this pledge is kept.” And keep that pledge they did. Less than six hours after official announcements that Tyndall Air Field was the Air Tactical School, local businessmen organized a corporation, and raised $100,000 to build new homes for Army personnel. Average cost of homes at that time was around $4,000. With the population and payrolls, there must also be schools, parks, transportation, and sewer and water facilities.

Less than four months later, the Army-Navy Committee and Chair Jesse Cogburn, set the pattern of which we have come to expect 70 years later a committee sponsored party. This first party was a “Get Acquainted” informal dinner dance held for Military Officers. The party began at the Cove Hotel and then moved to St. Andrew’s Bay Yacht Club for dancing. Civic leader tours provided a wealth of information about the defenses of the United States. The briefings given to these business leaders provided understanding of the defense system, future plans, and vital needs. The tours also brought community leaders closer together and resulted in a committed community with close ties to our local bases.

Bay County MAC Generosity

During a 1971 Civic Leader Tour of the military facilities in Key West, 25 MAC Members were aboard the Coast Guard Cutter “Cape York” for a 2 hour cruise. The Panama City businessmen were enjoying calm waters and picturesque coastline view when the ship’s loudspeaker snapped a curt message from shore directing the cutter to divert several miles away where Coast Guard Aircraft spotted an old boat drifting with someone aboard, a possible Cuban refugee. Excitement ran high among the MAC members as they spotted the circling aircraft. As they drew closer, the young man shouted to the ship and one of the Coast Guard crewmen who could speak Spanish conversed and interpreted for the others. Their conversations revealed that he was not alone as a woman emerged from under a pile of clothes. The man explained that she was his wife and they had been drifting since their motor quit working during their daring escape from Cuba. The couple was taken aboard and was shown genuine Bay County hospitality; but as the MAC members learned of the Cuban couple’s bleak future, their excitement changed to concern. The couple was soon offered jobs, living quarters, and MAC members were digging into their pockets and pulling out big bills for their emergency fund. That’s when the Coast Guard Skipper stepped in. “It’s all a hoax,” he said ,staged for a learning experience. The girl was a Key West Chamber staff member and the young man was a member of the crew. The plan was to continue to the customs gate on shore and then reveal to the committee the hoax once they had been taken in and refreshments brought out. What the Key West hosts did not count on, was the true generosity demonstrated by our Military Affairs Committee. MAC gained worldwide recognition when its 1972 Beach Party made the Airforce Times as a full-page photo feature, a newspaper that goes to every Air Force base in the world. A fish fry, beer, live bands, and good people attracted more than 1,400 young airmen, commanders, officers, and MAC members to this annual beach party. Thatched huts, colored lights, and luau décor put everyone in a festive mood for this lively event.

In 1991 the Naval Coastal Systems Station appeared on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list. Bay County Chamber Chairman Jim McIntyre and a group of MAC Members testified at BRAC hearings in Jacksonville. As a result, the closure recommendation was changed to a realignment action which kept the base intact and led to its growth. That strong arm continued protecting these assets behind the scenes and formed the Bay Defense Alliance (BDA). The BDA was organized by MAC’s 1993 Chairman, Larry Dantzler, along with several former MAC Chairmen, in response to those events that indicated both bases could close under BRAC. This 30 member board made 25 trips to Washington DC during that time to work with key BRAC personnel, effectively keeping our bases off of the base realignment and closure list. This was done at their personal expense. They did this knowing that defense installations can only remain strong and efficient with the full support of the communities around them and the ongoing commitment of both military and elected leadership.

The Military Affairs Committee’s mission is to pro-

mote a cooperative working relationship and direct support to the military installations. The MAC host many social events recognizing new and departing leadership from our area bases, as well as being one of the sponsors of the Tyndall Air Show. MAC members are invited to participate in numerous changeof-command and special events at both installations. With over 260 members, MAC is the largest Bay Chamber Committee. Any member of either the Bay County Chamber of Commerce or the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce may join MAC at a cost of a one-time $50 fee to join and a pro-rata share for each event. Any member in good standing of a surrounding county Chamber of Commerce may join MAC for a one-time fee of $100 and a pro-rata share of each event. Corporate memberships are also available. The MAC committee is kept up-to-date with the quarterly e-newsletter “MAC Messenger”. To get involved with the MAC contact Brandi DeRuiter at 850.215.3759 or brandi@ baychamberfl.com. Much of the information in this article is due to the work of Mr. Hank Basham who served as Public Relations Chief at Tyndall Air Force Base from 19571983. In 1986 he published a book called “Legend of the MAC” a 40 year (19461986) pictorial history of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. The Chamber today maintains only two copies of the book that was published but hundreds of Bay Countians and others worldwide have copies on their bookshelves.

With MAC hosting all of the civic leader tours, farewell receptions, luncheons, and socials, this is the kind of activity that has brought the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee the reputation of being the “Best Military Affairs Committee in the World”.

Economic Importance

Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Panama City create 22,561 military, civilian, and contracted jobs making up 31% of Bay County’s economy. The average defense job in Northwest Florida pays 2.5 times the average NW Florida income.

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A Look Inside Bay High’s Digital Media Academy by: Erykah Bell, Digital Design Student Bay High School

“Alright everyone, turn off your monitors and come on over!”

class. The biggest lessons that we learned were how to actually make a brochure. Great opportunities can come around at any time, and the skills we learned in this project can help us in the future.

This is how Dr. Stacey Shanklin’s third period Digital Design 2 class starts a new design project. Students pull their chairs into a circle around the project table, where Dr. Shanklin introduces us to our client for our next project, Mr. Bullock, Assistant Principal of Guidance. This time, we were asked to create a brochure for Bay High’s AICE Physics program. We met with our client and wrote down his needs and ideas, then we asked questions to get a clearer idea of what Mr. Bullock would want to see in the brochure he requested. After our client left our meeting, we began making a rough draft of the brochure and everyone in our class was assigned a part to create. When we finished our project and sent it to the client, we had created a full color, tri-fold brochure that highlighted all the science program had to offer, introduced the physics teacher, and the benefits of taking the AICE Physics

Dr. Shanklin’s Digital Design 2 class is one of a few courses offered in the Digital Media Academy. An increase in the need for talented designers in the digital media industry led to the establishment of Bay High School’s Digital Media Academy in 2013. The goal of the academy is to prepare students to be proficient with computers both personally and professionally. Courses provide students with relevant content such as real-world, hands-on projects for actual clients integrated with academic concepts and workplace skills to create a well-rounded program that gives students strong insights into employment in related careers. Throughout their coursework, students will learn how to use Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and other supporting software programs. Additionally, students will work toward an industry certification in at least six programs.

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Why do students choose to take classes in The Digital Media Academy at Bay? Matthew, an advanced design student states, “I like this class because it’s a laid back environment, it is less stressful, yet still challenging. I get to learn about my future career field, and I get to be creative.” Other students agree; “Because it’s Better at Bay,” is a general answer people get when they ask why a student chooses to take a Digital Design course. Other students add, that they like all the community and real-life related assignments to “keep things fresh and interesting.” Students enjoy opportunities to create digital designs that allow them to express themselves in ways that they may not have otherwise been able to had they not learned how to use Photoshop. They also look forward to seeing their work used to share information around school, in the local community, and on the web.

business owners, organizing student internships, and building business relationships that will ultimately benefit her students who are Panama City’s future employees.

If you would like to be a guest speaker, request a design project or internship, or find out how you can be a part of Bay High’s Digital Media Academy, Dr. Shanklin invites you to contact her at Bay High School: shanksl@bay.k12.fl.us.

While students enjoy tapping into their creative abilities, they also receive valuable incentives toward college and career when taking digital media courses. Incentives include the Vocational Gold Seal Scholarship upon successful completion of specific course sequences, free industry certification exams, extra high school and college credit, and opportunities to meet and talk with industry experts from the local community.

What is in store for the future of Bay High’s Digital Media Academy? Dr. Shanklin teaches all of her Digital Design classes in an extraordinary way that is outside the box. Her class is interactive, and she is involved and listens to the students. When I asked Dr. Shanklin why she teaches the way she does, she said, “I believe it is important to model as close to real-world of an environment as I can for my students. By that I mean, I treat my students almost like they are employees. I expect them to be present, on time, and ready to work. Students are given assignments and expected to meet deadlines.” Dr. Shanklin likes to encourage real-world connections, community involvement, and the ability to show her students the bigger picture. Dr. Shanklin intends to see the Digital Media Academy continue to grow by adding courses that are relevant to students and the needs of technology-related industries in the local community and beyond. Dr. Shanklin also has a goal of including more of the local business community in her classroom by inviting guest speakers into the classroom, taking on design projects for B AY B I Z

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INSIGHTS: Bay EDA Update by: Becca Hardin, President current labor statistics for Bay County

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED RATE

FEB 16

85,875

81,544

4,331

5.0%

JAN 16

85,221

80,328

4,893

5.7%

DEC 15

84,898

80,522

4,376

5.2%

FEB 15

85,773

80,489

5,284

6.2%

JAN 15

84,949

79,357

5,592

6.6%

DEC 14

85,047

79,806

5,241

6.2%

real estate sales EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

FEB 16

257

$159,900

18,159

$200,000

JAN 16

188

$173,000

15,996

$199,000

DEC 15

256

$192,450

22,193

$206,265

SEPT 14

179

$170,000

18,078

$179,999

OCT 14

148

$176,750

15,762

$174,900

NOV 14

222

$184,700

22,030

$185,000

CONDO - TOWNHOME SALES FEB 16

$204,750

7,658

$150,000

JAN 16

$212,000

6,800

$150,962

DEC 15

102

$245,000

9,169

$155,000

SEPT 14

$191,500

8,099

$142,000

OCT 14

133

$132,000

7,174

$135,711

NOV 14

122

$199,000

9,390

$147,500

Bay County building permits

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

FEB 16

JAN 16

DEC 15

SEPT 14

OCT 14

NOV 14

Bay County sales tax collections

GROSS SALES

TAXABLE SALES

TAX COLLECTIONS

FEB 16

$449,301,670

$232,242,658

$14,417,289

JAN 16

$670,820,319

$291,236,921

$17,581,500

DEC 15

$510,109,698

$242,844,986

$15,404,846

SEPT 14

$415,980,518

$218,659,958

$13,771,058

OCT 14

$610,524,060

$267,706,425

$16,238,902

NOV 14

$415,211,069

$231,862,741

$14,361,366

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Spring is a time of change, transition, renewal. Recently, Florida Secretary of Commerce and President and CEO of Enterprise Florida, Bill Johnson, announced his resignation. That same day, Governor Rick Scott sent a memo to Enterprise Florida board members stating, “…we have no choice but to refocus the efforts and mission of Enterprise Florida.” It’s a difficult time in the economic development world right now in our state. As you may have heard, the Governor’s request for $250M in support of economic development project activity was shut down in both the House and Senate. We, as a state, are left to compete internationally for projects with only a basic statutory incentive toolbox. This will not include a Governor’s discretionary closing fund. However, now is not the time to be frustrated or disheartened. Now more than even we must resolve locally to take charge and push forward. We must not give up on the great opportunities we have before us. As you know, we are in final discussions with several high profile projects that would forever change Bay County and put hundreds of our citizens to work. Let’s take this opportunity as a challenge to prove that Bay County is different! We must continue to use our assets of the airport, port, educational systems as well as the great work from our CareerSource partners to continue to compete in this world economy. We must be creative in our solutions to meet the client’s needs for growth in our area. We certainly have assets that set us apart. We are special. We will be successful despite the seemingly dire circumstances amid the winds of change with our state partners. Let’s work hard to push these active projects over the finish line. We are indeed open for business. We will continue to work and see businesses grow and be successful in Bay County.

January - March 2016 Demographic Snapshot Bay County Population: 181,635 Median Age: 40 Labor Force: 87,575 Average Wage: $34,776

Households: 67,388 Household Income: $47,274 Per Capita Income: $24,937

Bay County bed tax collections

PANAMA CITY BEACH

MEXICO BEACH

PANAMA CITY

FEB 16

$-----

FEB 15

$-----

$78,155

% CHANGE

---

$62,080

JAN 16

$475,467

$22,651

$-----

JAN 15

$446,108

$17,982

$63,070

% CHANGE

6.58%

25.96%

$-----

DEC 15

$354,738

$15,940

DEC 14

$342,313

$13,594

% CHANGE

3.63%

17.26%

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport passenger traffic

TOTAL PASSENGERS

COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS

FEB 16

52,848

911

JAN 16

45,591

994

DEC 15

51,471

1,075

FEB 16

42,653

746

JAN 16

40,653

844

DEC 15

47,554

873

National, state & local unemployment rate (Jan 1990 to Jan 2016) 16.0

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.0

Florida

US Bay County 6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0

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1ST PLACE

2ND PLACE

3RD PLACE The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Bed Races was held in March at the Annual Board of Directors Block Party. Member businesses raced down 5th Street on a bed they constructed for a chance to win first, second, or third place prizes. Other prizes were awarded for “Best Bed Design”, “Craziest Bed Design” and “Best Team Spirit”. 1ST PLACE: “Sheets & Giggles” by SAIC 2ND PLACE: “Beach Bombs” by Harris 3RD PLACE: “The Game of Operation” by Bay Medical Sacred Heart Harris won best bed design. Best team spirit was awarded to, Goodwill Industries, and best team name went to SAIC. All received special Bay County Chamber Bed Race pillows.

BEST TEAM NAME

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated their time and sponsored this event: Bay Medical Sacred Heart, Ink Trax, Bay County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Junior Service League, Coca Cola, Spacewalk, Humane Society of Bay County, Southern Sunday, Ameris Bank, Nex Air, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center, Maritech Machine, Waste Pro, the Downtown Improvement Board, The Celebration Place, Dave & Busters, Bay County Chamber of Commerce Public Relations Committee & Ambassadors, and Jay Granberg Media, and GORGEOUS (strategic branding + design) for all their support.

BEST BED DESIGN

BEST TEAM SPIRIT

Bay Medical Sacred Heart Named Best Value Hospital Best Value in Florida for Quality & Cost Bay Medical Sacred Heart has been named a Florida Top 10 Best Value Hospital. The Best Value rankings evaluate cost in addition to key quality measures such as mortality rates, readmission rates and patient satisfaction. Even with good health insurance coverage, these rates can greatly impact your co-pays, so it is important to look at overall value. For more information and pricing on local facilities visit www.baymedical.org. These figures were taken from floridahealthfinder.gov.

Bay County Hospital Price Comparisons 2014 FloridaHealthFinder.gov reports hospital price ranges (low to high) for the most common diagnoses and procedures charged at all hospitals in Florida. The prices below are rounded to the nearest thousand (K). Â Procedure

Bay Med

FL Average

Heart Cath Heart Attack Heart Bypass Heart Failure Stroke Pneumonia Hip Replacement Hysterectomy

$27K - $40K

$36K - $71K

$23K - $40K

$27K - $65K

$91K - $141K

$136K - $268K

$14K - $32K

$20K - $49K

$19K - $40K

$27K - $65K

$16K - $34K

$21K - $51K

$43K - $55K

$57K - $97K

$23K - $34K

$27K - $65K

615 N. Bonita Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 769-1511 www.baymedical.org

Lower Is Better!

N PE

HIS SUM ING T ME R

A new-home community in Panama City, Florida

It’s beautiful outside. Perfect for a bayfront morning run, or a poolside brunch and mimosas with friends. Maybe some sweet tea on the porch with neighbors at sunset—sounds like the perfect way to end the day. Welcome to the SweetBay life. SweetBay is a new master-planned community at the water’s edge in Panama City, Florida. A place to get in touch with nature and neighbors. There are pathways, waterways, parks and pools to connect the community as well as an award-winning free public charter school, University Academy. Down the line, a future shopping district is planned to serve as the heart of the community. The best part? Everything is just a short walk from your front door. Our bayfront village is intelligently designed to foster a mindful, healthy, and relaxed lifestyle full of natural beauty and wellness.

Won’t you join us?

EmployFlorida.com: Cutting Through the Job Search Clutter by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast

t’s almost time for graduation, a major step in the lives of our younger generation. The time is now to launch that all-important search for a first job, and we’re here to help.

When you have completed the registration process, click “Job Search” to explore the vast database of posted employment opportunities. Search with keywords, job numbers, geographic location and more. EmployFlorida.com is the host of opportunities in the CareerSource Gulf Coast region and across the state.

CareerSource Gulf Coast is connected to a powerful, statewide network of workforce professionals who help job seekers prepare for and seize new career opportunities. Serving Bay, Gulf, and Franklin Counties, our staff has a proven track record connecting prospective employees to their next positions. A key component of our offerings is the Employ Florida Marketplace, a one-stop online resource for job listings, training opportunities, and career building assistance. Individuals may search for jobs, as well as research career data and current labor market information. The interactive website may be accessed via the internet at www.EmployFlorida. com, and it’s free of charge. You may visit as a guest as many times as you like without registering, but if you intend to use CareerSource Gulf Coast services, you must register. With registration, you will have access to full job listings/employer information. In addition, you can complete and save your job searches, receive automatic notifications of new job matches, create and upload professional resumes and letters, take and save a variety of skill and interest assessments, and maintain records on employers in which you have interest.

Here’s how to get started. Visit EmployFlorida.com and click on the text below the login area “Not Registered? Learn How and Why.” Go to “Option 2 – Create a User Account” then click on “Individual.” A step-by-step wizard will take you through the process and even suggest services that might benefit you. 24

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Help is always at your fingertips. Within the online tool, the “Assistance Center” contains useful tools to help you find the information you are looking for. Quick reference cards will help you learn how to access the main features in the system. We can also provide face-to-face assistance. If you wish, you may visit the Resource Room at the CareerSource Gulf Coast Job Center, 625 Highway 231, Panama City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Bay County services are also available at our satellite office in the Student Union on the campus of Gulf Coast State College, where our staff will be happy to assist you from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Additionally, you may visit us in Gulf County at the Port St. Joe Community Resource Center, or in Franklin County at 192 14th St., Apalachicola. To learn more about all of our locations and services, visit CareerSourceGC. com.

Skip the trip to the bank Deposit checks from your smartphone or tablet! Find out more at trustmark.com/mytrustmark DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP

TODAY!

MOBILE DEPOSIT

Member FDIC

B AY B I Z

APRIL - JUNE 2016

If you are a member of the Bay County Chamber and would like to submit your business news to be published, email a press release, logo or photo to brittany@baychamberfl.com

Healthy Start Coalition of Bay, Franklin and Gulf Counties Healthy Start Coalition of Bay, Franklin and Gulf Counties is excited to welcome Shawn Brooking, DNP, CNM, to the Coalition Board of Directors. Healthy Start provides free services to pregnant women and babies to age three in a statewide effort to improve pregnancy outcomes, reduce infant mortality rates and promote healthy growth and development in all children. Shawn was born outside Chicago and raised primarily in Min-

WMBB-TV Longtime local broadcast journalist Tom Lewis is back in the business. WMBB-TV has hired Lewis as the News 13 News Director. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s his third tour of duty at WMBB. His first job after graduating from FSU was as a new reporter at the station back in 1980. He then moved into advertising sales for several years before moving to South Florida in 1983. Lewis returned to

WMBB in 1989, working as a reporter, producer, and anchor before departing again in 2001. He continued working in the broadcasting field at other local radio and television stations before rejoining News13 in February. nesota and North Dakota. She attended California State University in San Bernardino and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She was awarded a Naval scholarship her sophomore year of nursing school and was commissioned as an officer upon graduation in 1994 and served four years as a Navy nurse at Camp Pendleton, California. She was a labor and delivery nurse for more than a decade before attending graduate school at Frontier Nursing University where she was awarded a Master of Science in Nursing in 2005. She was then certified through the American Midwife Certification Board in 2005. She received her doctorate in nursing from Frontier Nursing University in 2014. She is also a member of ACNM, AWHONN and the ANA. 26

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Harrison Sale McCloy Attorneys at Law Harrison Sale McCloy Attorneys at Law Partner, Robert C. Jackson has been

elected to the Business Innovation Center Board of Directors Northwest Florida. The mission of the Business Innovation Center is to foster entrepreneurship through a structured model that provides tools and metrics for success to emerging innovation-based enterprises. Bay County Water Treatment Plant For the fifth year in a row, the Bay County Water Treatment Plant has

been selected to receive the annual Plant Operations Excellence Award from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in recognition of outstanding treatment plant operation, maintenance and compliance. Bay County Utilities Director Benjamin Blitch said winning the 2015 Plant Operations Excellence Award is yet another testament to the professionalism and competency of his staff. BAYSOULTIONS BAYSOLUTIONS announces the recent promotion of Senior Associate

Jerry Smithwick to Vice President Governmental Affairs. Smithwick is an accomplished professional with vast experience in Federal, State and local government. Having served fourteen years as the Florida Chief of Staff for Congressman Allen Boyd, United States House of Representatives, he is thoroughly knowledgeable in legislative processes and resolution of constituent needs.

ness banking and $10 million $500 million for middle market banking. Advent Services

Applied Research Associates (ARA) The Telly Awards has named Applied Research Associates (ARA) as a winner of two bronze trophies in the 36th Annual Telly Awards. There were near-

Community Associations (CMCA®) by the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB). The board administers the CMCA examination, a rigorous test that measures knowledge of community management best practices. Siemens

ly 12,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries. ARA produced a video for the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) called “The FHWA 2015 Research and Technology Story.” This video highlights research conducted at the TFHRC to improve roads and bridges – saving lives, reducing congestion and advancing economic growth. Burg Management Company , Inc. Burg Management Company, Inc. is proud to announce the promotion of Tammy Mallory to Vice President. Mallory will be responsible for helping the company achieve financial goals while increasing operational performance. Her promotion to senior man-

With the potential to save millions of dollars in utility costs, the Panama City Commission took a step toward hiring a local downtown energy service company. During the March 8, 2016 Commission meeting, the Panama City Commissioners voted 4-1 authorizing City Manager, Jeff Brown to enter into a limited contract with Siemens Industry Inc. to pursue funding for energy efficiency projects. Savings would come through various upgrades throughout the city including new LED lighting, implementing a standard energy management system, automating buildings, using water-saving technologies, among many other changes.

Advent Services, a local Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, was recently awarded a contract by the Gulf Coast Workforce Development Board for the development and implementation of a process to transfer workforce data from three military installations in Northwest Florida (Tyndall Air Force Base, Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field) to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FL DEO), the state agency that collects, stores, and analyzes labor market information. This is intended to act as a pilot project, with future plans to gather workforce data from all military installations in the state of Florida. Bay Medical Sacred Heart The Board of Trustees of Bay Medical Sacred Heart elected Elizabeth J. Walters to serve as Chairman, and Amer R. Malik, MD, to serve as Vice Chair-

Hancock Bank

Hancock Bank, consistently rated as one of the country’s strongest, safest banks, has earned a record 19 national and regional 2015 Greenwich Excellence Awards for small business banking and middle market banking.

agement will position the company for continued growth with the expansion of new business. Ron Crowson of Burg Management Company has been named a Certified Manager of

The bank has won a total of 80 Greenwich Excellence designations for small business and middle market banking since 2005. Greenwich Associates base the awards on interviews with thousands of executives at companies with revenues between $1 million-$10 million for small busi-

man of the 13-member board. Walters is an attorney and partner in the Panama City firm of Burke, Blue, Hutchison, Walters & Smith. She represents clients in all areas of business law and commercial, resort and residential real estate law, from property acquisition, B AY B I Z

APRIL - JUNE 2016

presented the award to Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki, Human Resources and Risk Management Direc-

2015. This award is presented to an exclusive group of Honda dealerships, from among more than 1,000 nationwide, for exceptional performance in all aspects of operations. The Shrimp Boat design, construction to redevelopment and sale of property. She has been with Burke Blue for more than 20 years. Dr. Amer Malik is an internist practicing at Panama Internal Medicine in Lynn Haven. He has been on staff at Bay Medical Sacred Heart since 1999. He has held numerous leadership positions at the hospital including serving as a member of the Credentials Committee, the Physician Advisory Committee, Critical Care Committee, and the Medical/ Nutrition Committee. He has served as Chief of Medicine and on the Medical Executive Committee. He is also former Medical Director of Medical ICU.

tor Kim Pilcher and her team during a City Commission meeting. Awards were announced at the end of January. Panama City features 40 parks with ballfields, disc golf, walking trails, etc. Additionally, the city offers healthy vending machines in their facilities to make healthy options more accessible. The Write Place Two local business women/authors – Beverly Lewis of Beverly Speaks and Pat Sabiston of The Write Place – have been featured in the inspirational an-

Bay Medical Sacred Heart CEO Steve Grubbs and 2015 Chairman of the Hospital Board of Trustees Joey Trantham, MD, welcome car-

Great American Hotel Group, Inc. announced that they have assumed the management of The Shrimp Boat Restaurant operations, located at 1201 Beck Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401. Richard (Ricky) Irving has been hired to operate this landmark restaurant complex, featuring The Shrimp Boat Restaurant, Gracie Rae Bar & Grill, Lowe’s House of Bourbon, and The Salty Hawg Oyster Bar Restaurant. Irving is a seasoned restaurant general manager, most currently employed at Caribbean Jack’s in Daytona Beach, and previously responsible for overall operations at Cracker Barrel, TGI Friday’s, Granite City Food and Brewery and Lonestar Steak House. He is a business management graduate from Syracuse University obtaining his master’s in American History from Framingham State University. The Shrimp Boat Restaurant has been a staple seafood restaurant in Panama City. It is located in the historic St Andrews area since it was built in 1950.

diologist Amir Haghighat, MD, as the new President and Chief of Staff and plastic surgeon Phillip Nunnery, MD, as the new President-Elect at BMSH. The board thanks nephrologist Todd Minga, MD, for serving as Chief of Staff for the past two years. City of Panama City For the third year in a row, the City of Panama City is being recognized as a Healthiest Weight Community Champion. Florida Department of Health in Bay County Administrator Doug Kent 28

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thology FROM TEARS TO TRIUMPH: Tales of Transformation Through Jesus Christ, published by Beauty From Ashes Press. The title contains 24 stories of hope, redemption, and recovery.

Have a submission for the Biz List?

Honda of Panama City American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced that Honda of Bay County is among the recipients of its prestigious Honda President’s Award for

Please contact Brittany Cole at 850-215-3755.

Chase S., Student Sport and Fitness Management. Division I Athlete.

N I N E INNI NGS OF

WARR IOR SPI RIT TROY is more than a great education. It’s also screaming fans and the thrill of Division I athletics. We pride ourselves in providing everything you’re looking for in a college but delivering it on a personal level. Get a big college experience without feeling like a number. That’s the Trojan Warrior Spirit, and it’s alive and well at Troy University. Feel it at troy.edu/spirit or call 1-800-586-9771. © 2016 Troy University

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Program at Bay Correctional Facility Trains Dogs to aid in National Security by: Brittany Cole, Vice President of Communications, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

It’s not something you think you would see in a prison; Labrador Retrievers and inmates working together towards one goal. I recently had the opportunity to tour the Bay Correctional Facility, which is part of the GEO Group. I was told that I would get the chance to see dogs and I am always excited at the opportunity to interact with an animal. Upon arrival, we were served an excellent lunch that was coordinated, prepared, cooked, and served by inmates. This is one of the several programs that the prison provides to help train inmates for the workforce upon their exit.

come through the program at Bay. Bay Correctional was the first correctional facility to implement the Auburn's program.” says Casey D. Whittington, Canine Program Officer.

Rehabilitation is one of Bay Correctional’s main goals. Their programs include culinary, horticulture, and of course, their Canine program. “The Auburn Dog Program came to Bay Correctional in 2004; It received its first puppies on March 1, 2005. More than 300 dogs have

I noticed that all the dogs in the program are Labrador Retrievers. The reason is the specific traits this breed has. “The Labrador Retriever has many excellent traits essential to a detector dog … people friendly, very quick to learn, loves to work with a handler (from the dog’s view, the

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When we entered the room where the animals are held, I saw inmates preparing for their presentation. The dogs with their instructors showed how they can sniff out items to prepare them for finding potential explosives. While these dogs are just in training, their ultimate job is to help keep our nation safe, even when we don’t see them working. “Our canines have guarded our nation’s Presidential inauguration, defended our military personnel at home and abroad, and continue in everyday aspects such as riding Amtrak trains. Our canines have been deployed all over the United States with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and protect our nation from threats both domestic and foreign.” says Whittington.

detection work is play), strong physically and athleticly, very adaptable to new situations, and of course, the olfactory (sense of smell) ability is excellent.â&#x20AC;? says Whittington. Another reason this breed is used is the dogs appear approachable to the average public which puts people at ease in crowded situations. The program not only gives these animals purpose, but it also helps the inmates succeed following their release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In many instances we have found that this program encourages the inmates to complete educational programs within the facility to acquire their General Education Diploma in order to enter our Canine Caretaker Course as it is required to enter the program. Auburn University awards Continuing Education Units to the inmates that participate in the one year course which educates the inmates in Grooming, Basic First Aid and CPR, Handling, and Training basics. The inmates learn what being responsible is, what it is like to care about something other than themselves in a prison environment. The inmates within the program are more responsible in their behavior, they consider consequences for their actions, and for some of them this may be the first time they have actually done this. The inmates become invested in the health, care, training, and well-being of the canines while they are here, as well as when the canines go forth into bigger and better things.â&#x20AC;&#x153;says Whittington. Although it may not be a conventional program for a correctional facility to offer, it definitely is paying off for both inmates and dogs alike. The program is helping protect our nation and giving inmates lifelong skills that they will need following their release. A special thanks to Bay Correctional Facility, Auburn University, and the inmates that gave me an inside look.

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Many young professionals are enthusiastic about area business and community opportunities and are ready to get involved as new leaders. Bay Young Professionals (BYP) was formed by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce to specifically address the needs of this age group to enrich our community by uniting, developing and retaining our future leaders. If you are interested in becoming part of the Bay Young Professionals (BYP) group, contact Elizabeth Smith at 850-215-3761 or elizabeth@baychamberfl.com. Photos by: Desiree Gardner Photography

Erin Wommack Erin Wommack is a native of Panama City and graduated cum laude from Florida State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication. After graduation, Wommack accepted an offer from Simon Property Group and relocated to Longview, Texas, where she was the Leasing Manager of the Longview Mall. Later, she received a promotion to the Dallas Regional Office where she became the Leasing Associate Representative for the Southwest Region. This past summer she was approached by Hendon Properties about a marketing opportunity at the Panama City Mall. Wommack has served as the Marketing Director since July of last year. Wommack says Hendon Properties has given her the opportunity to be creative in ways that help give back to our local community. She is happy to be living back home near the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beautiful beaches, doing what she loves most.

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NOW SERVICING PANAMA CITY!

423.677.8022 Jim Cash, Sales Jcash@dluxprinting.com 850.457.8494 Darrell Jensen, General Manager Darrell@dluxprinting.com B AY B I Z

APRIL - JUNE 2016

For a complete and up to date list of all Chamber activities, including committee meetings, visit our website at www.PanamaCity.org

May

June

Tourism Appreciation Month

6th

20th

4th

FSU Panama City Holley Academic Center (4750 Collegiate Drive)

Bay Point Golf Club (4701 Bay Point Rd.)

FSU Panama City Holley Academic Center (4750 Collegiate Drive)

Networking: 7:15 a.m. / Program 8:00 a.m.

Registration: 11:00 a.m.

Networking: 7:15 a.m. / Program 8:00 a.m.