Bay Biz Fall 2022

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DIRECTION,

BIZ

The Board of Directors transition has started with the nominating committee selecting and recommending a slate of six new board members. An orientation for those new board members will be held soon along with the full 2023 Board of Directors planning session in October. Chairman of the Board Garrett Anderson is on track for a successful year and Kyle Shoots is gearing up for his tenure as Chairman in 2023.

I think you’ll enjoy this issue of Bay Biz as there are so many exciting and interesting things happening in Bay County. Specifically, be sure to check out the story on AMIkids Maritime Academy, Bay County’s newest charter high school.

As our organization works hard to develop an annual business plan, there are times issues and opportunities arise each year that warrant our attention. A few recent examples include:

> The Chamber’s efforts toward recruiting more volunteers for existing mentoring programs in our school system. We feel strongly that no child should be on a wait list. We have hosted two new mentor orientations in the Chamber boardroom and continue to share the message of the need for mentors. Visit panamacity.org/mentor and learn about the school based mentoring opportunities available in our community. Take it a step further and share with your employees, friends and family. We can knock out this waitlist together.

> As the business community continues to struggle with workforce needs, an opportunity presented itself with the Bay Correctional Facility. The Chamber, in conjunction with many other organizations, will work toward job fairs for local employers to promote themselves to those being released from local corrections facilities. Bay County Tax Collector Chuck Perdue and his team have stepped up to offer an onsite program for not only driver’s licenses but proper ID cards, as those are imperative documents for these individuals’ employment. It’s important to reduce barriers so these individuals can find a new pathway to success.

> Out of the same meetings with Bay Correctional teams, the need for a local CDL training facility surfaced. At this time, research and meetings are underway to determine strategies on how the community can support and find solutions. We look forward to sharing the progress made on this front as we work to identify needed funding along with identifying existing facilities, equipment and other resources.

It’s probably selfish of me, but I want to share a “little” milestone in my professional career and personal life. I’m not sure everyone knows my short story, but the summer of 1977 was very busy for me. In June of that year I turned 20 years old; in July I got married and in August, I was thrilled to be hired at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. To spell it out, I just hit the ripe old age of 65, celebrated my 45th Wedding Anniversary, as well as 45 years here at your Bay County Chamber.

Apparently, I’m not big on change in my personal life, but certainly am in my professional career as each year we identify new, improved and innovative ways to Build a Better Bay County. I’ve been honored to serve this organization and to watch so many positive changes in our community that have been influenced by the Chamber.

There is power in working together towards a common goal and our successes are surpassed by no other. Our members and our volunteer leadership give countless hours to this community. It’s the staff’s job to drive and support them along the way to assure not only their success, but to create positive change in the community.

As most know, the Chamber has a new Chairman of the Board each year. It is those individuals, along with new officers, board members and the membership at large that keep this organization fresh by bringing new ideas to the table. Technically, because one of our Board Chairmen served two terms, I’ve had fortyfour bosses during my tenure. The staff and I learn from the exposure to these talented individuals. We use their experience and knowledge to keep ourselves in tune with the needs of the business community. I’m proud to call each and every one of them my friends and thank them for putting up with me for so many years.

Cheers to 45 amazing years!

Carol A. Roberts President/CEO

The year is flying by and it’s hard to believe we are headed into the fall.

Paradise has arrived

political perspective

A Better Way for a Brighter Bay

by: Aimee Bright and Wes Johnson, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

Ensuring a quality public education is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Compounded with budgetary constraints, Bay County students have faced unprecedented obstacles over the last half decade, including a global pandemic and a Category 5 hurricane.

According to the Florida Department of Education, just 50 percent of the state’s students are ready for kindergarten. Only 49 percent of eighth graders are reading at grade level; and for third graders it’s 53 percent.

In Bay County, the numbers look even bleaker. Forty-six percent of students are ready for kindergarten, 49 percent of eighth graders are reading to level, and just 51 percent of third graders are achieving their reading standards.

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce, along with countless community partners, has pledged resources and support to aid Bay District Schools in improving the overall state of education in Bay County through an initiative dubbed A Better Way for a Brighter Bay.

Released in June, A Better Way for a Brighter Bay is an effort to rally the local business community to not only support improvements in the public education system, but pledge time and resources to the cause as well.

The mission of the initiative is clear: Quality education is important to the success of any community. Bay County business leaders must take the lead in supporting district leadership and insisting on the high standards in our public school system. A top-rated school district is vital in the recruitment of new workforce, ensuring the future of our military installations and for existing businesses to thrive.

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average spending per pupil K-12 in the state of Florida is $9,983, with $5,580 coming from local budgets. Public school spending varies greatly state by state, but for what it’s worth, Florida ranks 44th in the nation in the category. For comparison, Georgia spends $11,203 per pupil, Alabama spends $10,108, while Louisiana leads all states in the Deep South averaging $11,917 per student.

While these numbers can be a bit ambiguous when it comes to the actual impact it has on students, one can get a picture of what each state spends on salaries, supplies, and facility maintenance in relation to its student population.

In a grassroots effort to improve the overall student experience, the Chamber has taken multiple steps to foster involvement by the business community. In June, a mentoring resolution was passed and released by the Board of Directors aimed at making a difference by calling on local business leaders to actively commit to mentoring in schools.

Through local school-based mentoring programs like Elevate Bay, New Horizons Learning Center Mentor Program, Take Stock in Children and others, the Chamber believes the business community can have significant short- and long-term benefits for area youths.

“One of the top issues in the Chamber’s 2022 Business Plan was to address our public schools,” Bay County Chamber Chairman Garrett Anderson said at the organization’s monthly First Friday event in June.

“As our Governmental Affairs team did their deep dive into the data, it became clear that we needed to look at several issues. Business and community involvement in the school system is critical to our youth, who are the future of our workforce. Our schools are in desperate need for more community involvement, especially when it comes to mentors.”

The Chamber challenged the Bay County business community to sign up to become a mentor through one of the several schoolbased programs. Multiple events in the Bay County area have resulted in increased poverty, homelessness, mental health crises and deterioration in classroom behavior. This has led to increased violence within the student population, higher rates of absenteeism and a decline in student academic success. The Chamber believes structured mentoring programs like Elevate Bay, New Horizons Learning Center Mentor Program, Take Stock in Children and other programs positively impact student attendance, classroom behavior, academic performance and graduation rates.

In the short time since the resolution was released, school-based programs have seen an increase in mentor enrollment. Elevate Bay registered more than 100 new mentors in the two months immediately following the announcement, nearly doubling the program’s pool.

The resolution also opened doors for program leaders to present to local businesses. Companies like Trane and Think Real Estate have arranged presentations for their employees further expanding the reach into the area’s business community.

A second resolution from the Brighter Way for a Better Bay initiative was passed and released in July by the Board of the Directors. This resolution addressed fundamental skills and effective attributes of school board members.

Members of the school board are a crucial public voice entrusted with governing local schools and advocating for more than 26,000 students in Bay District Schools. The school board oversees a $500 million budget, 2,500 employees and over 40 facilities. The Chamber believes school board members with experience outside of the field of education are needed to create a diverse, dynamic school board. Specifically private sector experience with a proven successful track record of diverse fiscal and business operations, personnel management and facility administration have been identified as important skills. While the Chamber does not discredit school board members with experience in the field of education, it is not typical for educators to have proficiency with diverse and complex budgets, management of thousands of employees as well as oversee the administration of multiple offsite facilities.

Over the years, the Bay County Chamber has supported numerous community initiatives in support of better educational outcomes and firmly believes community involvement in schools has significant short and long term benefits that positively impact the overall success of the local school system. In 2001, the Chamber created Junior Leadership Bay for local high school juniors. The program stemmed from the Chamber’s Leadership Bay class. Since its inception, over 500 students have participated in the class. In conclusion, one student from the program is awarded a scholarship to attend GCSC and FSU Panama City. In fact, the return of driver’s education in Bay District Schools was a class project by the 2016-2017 Junior Leadership Bay class.

The Chamber has supported other initiatives as well. Of note, the Chamber supported the half cent sales tax; advocating for its membership to vote yes on the referendum. This half cent sales tax has raised millions of dollars which is utilized for safety and security, technology, construction and renovation in local public schools. Other initiatives the Chamber has supported include Educators in Industry, Career Connections, Innovations Federal Credit Union’s Mad City Money program implementation, Classroom to Careers and the formation of the non-profit organization, Alignment Bay County.

As the county continues to grow, the Chamber will continue to encourage the business community to step up and get involved.

“We have to continue to work together to influence change in our public schools,” Anderson said in a letter to Chamber membership. “The children in our community deserve it.”

defense intel Change of Command Season Brings New Faces to Bay County

by: Aimee Bright, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

The summer months are busy ones for local military installations. Not only is it a peak moving, or PCS, season, it is also “change of command season”. The Change of Command ceremony is a time honored military tradition to formally transfer command from one officer to another.

Tyndall Air Force Base, 325th Fighter Wing

On June 24, the 325th Fighter Wing welcomed Col. George Watkins as commander, succeeding Col. Greg Mosley. The Fighter Wing’s mission is to train and prepare F-22 Raptor pilots, intelligence officers, and maintainers for worldwide assignment to combat Air Force units. The 325th Fighter Wing flies F-22 Raptor and T-38 Talon aircraft and sustains ready forces for worldwide deployment in support of combat operations.

and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. Col Watkins was selected for the 2020 Senior National Security Fellowship program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Washington D.C., is a graduate of the Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course, the National War College, and is a Command Pilot with more than 3,000 hours in the F-16 and F-35A.

Tyndall Air Force Base, 325th Operations Group

Colonel Christian Bergtholdt assumed command of the 325th Operations Group (OG) at Tyndall Air Force Base on June 23 from Colonel John Echols. The 325th OG is responsible for directing the flying and support operations for the 43rd Fighter Squadron, the 2nd Fighter Training Squadron, the 325th Training Support Squadron and the 325th Operations Support Squadron.

Col. Bergtholdt received his Bachelor’s degree and commission from the United States Air Force Academy in May 2000. He was a distinguished graduate of Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas and graduated from the F-15C Formal Training Unit at Tyndall AFB. He has held a variety of flying positions to include F-15C and F-22 instructor pilot and flight examiner. Colonel Bergtholdt has deployed to Afghanistan and Southwest Asia in support of theater security and combat operations. He also served as United States Central Command’s lead planner for Syria during Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Prior to his current assignment, he was Chief, Combat Air Forces Division at Headquarters United States Air Force.

Tyndall Air Force Base, 325th Medical Group

Colonel Watkins comes to Tyndall with an impressive background. Before taking command of the 325th FW, Col Watkins was the commander of the 56th Operations Group at Luke AFB, AZ. He also served as the Commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron during stand-up of the Air Force’s first operational F-35A squadron and met the requisites for the historic declaration of Initial Operational Capability by Commander Air Combat Command on Sept. 2, 2016. He graduated Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training as a Distinguished Graduate, then graduated as an Outstanding Graduate and Distinguished Graduate from F-16 initial qualification training. Colonel Watkins has deployed on combat operations in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM,

The 325th Medical Group at Tyndall Air Force welcomed Colonel Kendra Warner as commander, succeeding Colonel Kathleen Brinker on June 14. She is responsible for ensuring more than 277 personnel assigned to the 325th Medical Group at Tyndall Air Force Base are medically fit and ready for contingency (natural disasters and wartime) operations. Additionally, she commands a staff of 170 active duty, 52 government civilians and 55 contract medical personnel, providing care for our active duty member’s, their families and our veterans. Colonel Warner is responsible for the medical clinic's $14.7 million annual budget and the execution of 4.2k annual specialty referrals to the local civilian network. She is also responsible for the facility infrastructure of both the main clinic and a temporary patient facility.

Col Warner is originally from Blissfield, Michigan and came to Tyndall from Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, where she served as the commander of the 61st Medical Squadron. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Health Care Administration and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

US Coast Guard, Offshore Patrol Cutter Project Residence Office

Captain Jeffrey Payne assumed command of the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Project Residence Office (PRO) from Captain Andrew Meverden during a ceremony on July 8th. The OPC PRO is responsible for oversight of construction, testing, and training of the Coast Guard’s highest acquisition priority, the Offshore Patrol Cutter fleet.

Tyndall Air Force Base, 601st Air Operations Center

Colonel Clayton Schaefer took command of the 601st Air Operations Center (AOC) from Colonel Greg Krane during a ceremony held on June 1. The 601st AOC, also known as “America’s AOC”, is responsible for detecting, deterring, defending and, if necessary, defeating any aviation threat to the citizens of the continental United States and to U.S. critical infrastructure.

Prior to commanding the 601st AOC, Col Schaefer served in several positions throughout the AOC including chief of the Combat Operations Division, chief of the Strategy Division, and as a Chief of Combat Operations on the AOC’s operation floor. He is a Senior Air Battle Manager with multiple deployments leading the Control and Reporting Center weapons system, and he served as an evaluator and instructor Senior Director/Mission Crew Commander at the 128th Air Control Squadron, Wisconsin Air National Guard. Colonel Schaefer has led operational missions in several theaters to include combat and combat support missions in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM.

Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center

The Navy’s premier diving school held a change of command ceremony on Friday, June 10, where CDR Erich Frandrup was relieved by CDR Troy Lawson.

Prior to taking command of the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, CDR Lawson was the Executive Officer, Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving in Panama City Beach. Prior assignments include: Director of Operations and Plans at Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces Central and Training Officer and Executive Office at Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal. He also served as Chairman on the Department of Defense EOD Technical Training Acceptance Board.

“Commanding at the world’s greatest diving and salvage training facility is a responsibility I won’t take lightly,” said Lawson. “It’s not about me, it’s about the men and women who pass through these halls. They will be the warriors we read about for generations to come, they will be doing our nation’s most dangerous work.”

CAPT Payne comes to OPC PRO following command afloat of US Coast Guard Cutter VALIANT (WMEC 621), one of the legacy RELIANCE class cutters that will eventually be replaced by the OPC class cutters, and has conducted National Defense, CounterDrug, Law Enforcement, AMIO, Search and Rescue, and disaster response operations throughout the Caribbean, Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. Prior to VALIANT, CAPT Payne was the Surface Forces Logistics Center, Patrol Boat Product Line Manager providing 24/7/365 emergency/CASREP support and all life-cycle engineering, logistics and supply support for the Coast Guard’s entire 134 WPB and WPC (Fast Response Cutter) cutter fleets world-wide at bases from Bahrain to Guam and Alaska to Puerto Rico. Capt. Payne holds specialty designations in Acquisitions, Naval Engineering and Operations Afloat.

US Coast Guard Station Panama City

Master Chief Mark Kannan relinquished command of US Coast Guard Station Panama City on July 29 to Master Chief Justin Irwin. Station Panama City has the largest Area of Responsibility (AOR) within the Eighth Coast Guard District and Gulf of Mexico. This area extends from Lake Powell to St. Marks and covers 3,900 nautical square miles of inland and coastal waterways. It extends from the coastline out to 50 nautical miles offshore, and contains 40 bayous, 18 rivers, 16 bays, three sounds and two lakes.

Master Chief Justin Irwin is originally from Nashville, TN, and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 2000. He comes to Bay County with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Master Chief Irwin has been stationed all over the United States, including serving on the Coast Guard Cutter ANACAPA in Petersburg, Alaska. As Executive Petty Officer of Station Grand Isle, La., he supervised and led a unit of 40 men and women responsible for conducting Search and Rescue, PWCS, and Law Enforcement missions throughout the biggest AOR in the Coast Guard of 11,800 square miles. Prior to taking command at Station Panama City, he was the Officer in Charge at Station Sheboygan in Wisconsin. Coast Guard Station Sheboygan's missions include Search and Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Ice Rescue, Recreational Boating Safety, Military Readiness, and Environmental Response.

Master Chief Irwin is a graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy Class 158, Excelsior College and the Senior Enlisted Leadership course where he earned the Alexander Palmer Haley Academic Excellence Award.

health

New 988 Hotline Aims to Improve Mental Health Response

by: Wes Johnson, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

This summer, dialing for help got a lot quicker. It was an nounced Americans could now dial 988 for assistance from the National Suicide Prevention hotline during a mental health crisis rather than dialing the previous 10-digit number.

Initiated by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 signed by President Donald Trump, states were allocated a com bined $432 million in federal funding to increase local call center staffing as well as Spanish-speaking agents.

“It was a 10-digit phone number so, in an effort to make it easier for people to get help, they have rolled out a 988 which is similar to the 911 system,” Kristina Williams, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Life Management Center, told WJHG in July.

“Having this 988 number that is easy to remember and it flows off your tongue, people will be able to access that and remember it. As you know, time matters in life or death situations.”

Currently, most mental health emergency calls are directed through 911, which typically involves law enforcement services. The new 988 number is designed to solve the need for an alternate response system with trained mental health service providers responding to the calls to ensure the individuals in need receive the necessary support during a crisis.

The Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (FLMHAC) uses a three pillar system in defining an effective crisis response system.

First, the 24/7 crisis call hubs provide well-trained responders versed in providing trauma-informed listening and response in mental health, substance abuse or suicidal crises calls.

Second, should callers feel that an on-site crisis response is needed, mobile response teams staffed by behavior health-trained professionals are available to de-escalate situations.

Finally, individuals in crisis can receive short-term stabilization services and be assessed at crisis stabilization centers.

However, the new hotline creates some concerns. According to the Disability Rights Florida blog: “The creation of 988 will have callers routed to one of Florida’s 12 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Centers. Currently, those centers operate with different funding levels, staffing capacities, and operational protocols. With the enactment of 988, call volumes for these centers is expected to increase from 300 percent to as much as 860 percent, which would overload these already extremely taxed response systems.

The suicide rate in Bay County is about seven percent higher than the state average, while in Florida the rate has grown faster than the rest of the nation. The CDC reported 13.6 per 100,000 Floridi ans committed suicide in the first half of 2021 alone.

On Tyndall Air Force Base, an ongoing effort is being made to foster a greater connection to nature and its natural processes, which has been linked to stress reduction, healthier lifestyles and reduced anxiety, depression and suicide rates.

In 2020, the Department of the Air Force released a video-based suicide prevention training for USAF and Space Force families. The online course educates viewers on different ways they can intervene and how to access resources at their disposal. It also emphasizes proactive ways to foster resilience such as proper diet, relationship building with friends and relatives, as well as cultivat ing spirituality.

“The Department of the Air Force knows the importance of resil ience and taking care of families, who are often the first to sense distress in their Airmen,” Air Force Integrated Resilience Director Brig. Gen. Claude K. Tudor Jr. said in a release.

“They are also the key to finding potential solutions to prevent suicide and other issues associated with interpersonal and self-di rected violence. By developing this inaugural family-based suicide prevention training, we are also enhancing the overall human performance of the family unit. This ultimately keeps our Airmen and Space Professionals mission-ready for whatever our nation requires us to do.”

Adults aren’t the only ones in need. The Children’s Hospital Asso ciation launched the Sound the Alarm for Kids initiative in Aug. 2021 urging Congress to enact legislation and increase funding to address a national mental health emergency in children and teens.

The rate of mental health emergencies among children signifi cantly increased during the pandemic. Nationwide, there was a 25 percent increase in overall mental health-related emergency department visits for 5- to 11-year-olds from 2019 to 2020 and a 31 percent increase in visits for 12- to 17-year-olds over the same period.

According to Heart of Florida United Way, its call center in Central Florida answered more than 11,000 crisis intervention/suicide calls in 2021, which is 30 suicide calls every single day.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has placed a significance on improving access to and awareness of mental wellbeing resourc es providing $120 million for district Mental Health Assistance programs and $5.5 million for Youth Mental Health Awareness and Assistance.

The new 988 hotline is aimed at making it easier for those in need to get help quicker. The more accessible three-digit number is a step toward a broader crisis response scale.

Every struggle is different. The national network of local crisis cen ters provide free and confidential emotional support to people in distress. Improved services and advanced best practices will help provide better support for those in need.

KNOCK KNOCK, YOU’RE THERE

education Hilton Family Donation Helps Expand Tourism Education Opportunities

by: Wes Johnson, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

Tourism is the lifeblood of Bay County’s economy, an indispensable influence that gives the area vitality and strength. So, it is self-evident a premiere tourism and hospitality program would greatly benefit the community and that is precisely what is happening at Gulf Coast State College (GCSC).

In May, Julie Hilton, President of Hilton Resorts in Panama City Beach, pledged $2.5 million to lift Gulf Coast’s hospitality and tourism-related programs to another level.

“In the past, a lot of the hospitality businesses over the years were developed by visitors rather than natives of our area,” Hilton told The News Herald at the time. “And to me, it seems that it

would be great for Bay County, for our local citizens, to benefit more. Education is the start and education can help us reach new heights.”

For spring 2022 alone, Visit PCB and Young Strategies, Inc. estimated quarterly visitor spending in Panama City Beach to be around $960 million. Bay County collected over $7 million in Tourist Development Taxes in June 2022 and it is estimated to receive nearly five million visitors each year.

The fabric of Bay County is interwoven with tourism and Gulf Coast State College has an eye towards developing the area’s tourism and hospitality workforce with homegrown talent.

In July, GCSC celebrated the dedication of the Charles Hilton Center for Advanced Technology and Hospitality Management. The facility, which was built in 2013, houses the college’s business, manufacturing, multimedia, and STEM programs. The gift from Hilton will help facilitate the growth and betterment of GCSC, and directly support the local workforce and economy through GCSC’s graduates.

provide scholarships for students in the tourism or hospitality field, which includes trade programs at Haney College that support the industry.

Neighboring Gulf Coast’s main campus, FSU Panama City offers a bachelor’s degree program in hospitality management and tourism. Housed under the Dedman School of Hospitality, the academic curriculum is enhanced through industry engagement, internships and student activities that prepare students for successful careers.

Gulf Coast State College and others in the area are positioning themselves to serve Panama City and the surrounding areas by providing quality programs in the top industry in Bay County. The gift from the Hilton family will help grow those programs, while honoring a man who had great passion for the community.

“We are really celebrating Bay County and Northwest Florida because Charles Hilton’s life reflects the growth of our community and the people who have built it,” said Ms. Julie Hilton. “What an honor for GCSC to host the dedication, and an even greater honor will be the continuation of the Charles Hilton family’s legacy with the development of a premier Hilton Hospitality Management and Tourism Program to support our number one private industry.”

"We are delighted to dedicate our Advanced Technology Center in honor of Charles Hilton and his family," Dr. John Holdnak, President of Gulf Coast State College, said in a statement. "His many efforts in promoting and growing this region resulted in the rich legacy we all continue to benefit from today. Thanks to the incredible generosity and ongoing vision of Ms. Julie Hilton and her family, we are delighted to rename one of our most prestigious and impactful buildings at the college after Charles Hilton."

In July 2022, an American Hotel and Lodging Association survey stated that 97 percent of its members nationwide reported a worker shortage, while locally CareerSource Gulf Coast says the demand for hospitality workers in the area is growing.

“The industry has grown by five percent,” Becky Samarripa, CareerSource Gulf Coast Communications Manager told WJHG. “In addition to that, we have a historically low unemployment rate of 2.1 percent. So that makes staffing a challenge.”

With an emphasis on hands-on learning and innovation, the Charles Hilton Center looks to help fill that void with its hospitality and tourism management program. The hospitality and tourism management degree covers a lot of ground from restaurant and hotel operations, to planning conferences and events. The purpose of the Associates of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management is to prepare students for immediate employment in an entry level position in the industry.

Currently, the college offers eight degrees or certificates in the hospitality, culinary, and tourism areas, including Chef’s Apprentice, C.C.C.; Hospitality and Tourism Management, A.S.; and Leisure Service Management, A.A.; to name a few.

Gulf Coast State College isn’t the only local institution looking to improve its hospitality workforce, however. Visit Panama City Beach announced in May it was building out a new program to

As your hometown utility, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is locally owned by those we serve. We improve quality of life by safely providing affordable and reliable power. We also promote job development and support education and healthcare. In doing so, we help our communities and the people we serve: our member-owners.

It’s another way your hometown electric cooperative is always here for you.

here for you

AMIkids Provides Unique Learning Experience

There is a new high school in Bay County. The AMIkids Maritime Academy opened its doors in August and offers possibly the area’s most unique curriculum.

Located on St. Andrews Bay near the City Marina in Downtown Panama City, AMIkids Maritime Academy has its own dock, beach, scuba locker, ropes course and fleet of training vessels. The free public charter high school is a unique learning environment and open to any eligible Bay County high school student (9-12).

The ocean is the classroom at AMIkids. The school addresses all aspects of careers associated with the ocean, including military, oceanography, marine biology, and recreation. The high school program provides multiple pathways to college and career. Each student has the opportunity to participate in a variety of areas of instruction including leadership, construction and food handling safety.

“After describing what we do, I can not count the number of times parents have said to me that they wished they had a school like this when they were a kid,” said Ron Boyce, AMIkids Executive Director. “Now it will be possible for their kids to use the ocean as their classroom.”

by Ronald Boyce

Director of Education Jaime Dahlin laid out the new course, which offers an exciting curriculum leading to a high school diploma.

“Our focus will be to get students engaged with careers of the future,” she said. “We have two curriculum tracks we call SEA and CTE. Courses range from world languages to construction certifications.”

The SEA track consists of sea cadets, environmental science, and aerospace. Classes include naval leadership, world languages, marine and environmental science, underwater robotics, seamanship, sailing, lifeguarding, scuba diving and aeronautical science. The CTE track includes construction and food service certifications for students steering towards the workforce right out of high school.

The aim of the Academy is to be a small school, holistic in its approach, while bringing an exciting, marine-themed educational opportunity to students in Bay County.

The Academy’s education model ensures a quality experience for all students. This means every student has access to the same rigorous courses necessary to prepare for college and career.

AMIkids started as a group of marine institutes in South Florida in 1969, providing vocational training in marine-related fields. The core curriculum is delivered in order to reintroduce basic marine elements throughout schools. AMIkids creates multiple standalone modules to expand on the basics provided in the core program, then develops the vocational training program through nationally-recognized certificates to equip students with the tools they need to enter the maritime workforce.

With help from a Triumph Gulf Coast grant, AMIkids offers classes in underwater ROV Operator certification. Free summer camps were held at the Academy in 2021 and 2022 to earn industry recognized certifications in operating the ROV’s capable of descending to 1000 feet. There is an expanding workforce in Bay County dedicated to underwater robotics and the classes at the Academy help introduce and prepare students for these emerging career paths.

AMIkids works with local and governmental environmental agencies to help clean and protect our valuable estuary system. The Academy’s marine science class is a hands-on experience as students participate in water quality monitoring, sea grass protection, scallop population support, coral studies, shoreline restoration, and many other projects designed to teach science while actually making an environmental impact.

The AMIkids Maritime Academy works with the United States Naval Sea Cadets to teach Leadership and Citizenship. The Academy has military inflatable assault boats, a scuba locker, a rappelling and rock-climbing tower and two 27-foot boats.

Responsibility and teamwork prepare students for the challenges of working in dynamic STEM careers.

The Civil Air Patrol also supports aerospace science instruction and industry recognized certifications taught at the Academy. The classes are designed to prepare students for flight lessons or drone pilot licensure. Through the use of simulators and hands-on practice, students work towards mastering the art of flight and applying that to industry uses such as agriculture and scientific research. The Civil Air Patrol provides exposure to careers in the aviation industry, as well as the United States Air Force, all while providing support to the community in times of need.

Graduates of the AMIkids program have a 77 percent success rate, three times better than those coming from other institutions and work with students to help them recover high school credits and to catch up with their peers academically.

AMIkids is accredited nationally by AdvanceED, the world’s largest education community, which speaks to the program’s emphasis on education.

“It’s a small, very focused school that is immersed in marine science and aviation fields,” Boyce said. “Our goal is to help our students achieve their full potential and become responsible leaders for the future and stewards of our environment.”

technology

ARA Licenses Novel Renewable Fuels Technology

by: Jennifer McCabe, ARA

Oil refineries have used organic feedstocks to produce renewable fuels for many years, but new technology developed by Applied Research Associates (ARA) makes even the most contaminated oil, fat, and grease suitable for creating renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The process is also cheaper and safer than traditional methods.

Replacing fossil fuels with renewable fuels—fuels produced from renewable organic material—can reduce some undesirable aspects of fossil fuel production and use, including pollutant emissions, exhaustible resource depletion, and dependence on unstable foreign suppliers.

Higher national and state targets for renewable fuels, favorable tax credits, and the conversion of existing petroleum refineries into renewable diesel refineries are driving up the demand for renewable fuels and energizing production. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. production capacity for renewable diesel could increase significantly through 2024, based on projects that are either under construction or could be in development soon.

As the renewable fuels industry expands, it creates significant competition for traditional feedstocks (sugar/starch/oilseed crops and animal fats). Increased demand means higher prices and the

potential for farmers and other suppliers to be unable to keep up. That is why some refiners are looking to use lower-cost alternative feedstocks such as waste fats, oils, and greases, but they must first pretreat these feedstocks to remove metals, phosphorus, and other contaminants. Conventional pretreatment technologies are inefficient, complicated, and expensive. They require separate operations such as degumming, bleaching, and deodorizing steps. Each step of this “pots and pans” process involves an array of equipment and consumables to remove the contaminants.

ARA’s Hydrothermal Cleanup (HCU) Pretreat technology is a simple, low-cost, high-yield approach to pretreating renewable feedstocks. HCU Pretreat is a single-step refining process that mixes fats, oils, greases (FOGs), and water in turbulent flow at high temperature and pressure and uses close contact between the molecules to remove metals and other inorganic contaminants from the FOGs. The result is clean, renewable feedstocks safe to use in most renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production processes.

The HCU Pretreat system looks like refinery technology. “It doesn’t look like a traditional vegetable oil clean-up technology like you typically see in an oilseed crushing facility that involves several steps, lots of labor, and considerable solids handling,” said ARA Vice President of Fuels Development Chuck Red. “It is a

continuous flow system with pumps, heat exchangers, pressure letdown equipment, and an oil water separator. The oil and water flow through, and you’re decanting off a very clean product at the end of the day. The remaining wastewater can go to a conventional wastewater treatment plant. You’re not handling tons of bleaching clay daily that must be loaded into filters, then unloading oil filled spent bleaching clay and figuring out how to dispose of it properly.”

No Waste

HCU Pretreat is superior to traditional pretreatment technologies because there is no loss of organic mass. Conventional pretreatment processes may lose 3 to 10 percent of the feedstock, depending on the level of contaminants. HCU Pretreat preserves nearly 100 percent of the organic molecules in the feed. No loss equates to feedstock cost savings for the refiner.

“We’re dealing with feedstocks right now that most people in the business would say, ‘That’s garbage. We’re not going to touch it,’” said Red. “But we can yield about 100 percent of the organic portion of these waste feedstocks as clean material. Our process “washes” the feedstock, moves the contaminants into the wastewater and retains all the good molecules in the product. We’re not throwing away any of the organic feedstock.”

Smaller Footprint and Improved Safety

HCU Pretreat technology costs half as much to build as conventional systems. It uses traditional refining equipment such as pumps, heat exchangers, and separators and requires only particulate filters to protect pumps. High-speed separation equipment, bleaching clay changes, and disposal used in the edible oil process are unnecessary.

Also, traditional feedstock pretreatment systems require a lot of hands-on labor—people handling bleaching clay and changing filters, which raises the potential for injuries. In contrast, the HCU Pretreat method is completely automated. “Rather than build a treatment facility that takes up an entire city block, our technology requires only a fraction of the footprint,” said Red. “The smaller unit is more efficient, less costly, and since it takes very little hands-on labor, is safer for operators and maintainers.”

Lower Operating Costs

HCU Pretreat offers refiners up to $0.07/gallon in operational cost savings compared to conventional pretreatment technology. The technology is scalable and uses the same pretreatment process regardless of the plant size or level of inorganic content. There's very little increase in operational costs when processing dirtier, less costly feedstocks.

So far, ARA has licensed the use of HCU Pretreat technology to companies that plan to incorporate the technology into new facilities. However, the cost advantage is so great that Red said companies could retrofit an existing refinery with HCU Pretreat technology and get a return on investment in just one to two years. “Then they can use cheaper, more challenging feedstocks and produce higher yields,” said Red.

Global Impact

With patents secured in the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Australia, and a patent pending in Europe, HCU Pretreat is expected to be a global gamechanger. “The companies we talk to are excited,” said Red. “The only people who have said no to our technology are the people who want to see a commercial unit up and running and proven at scale.”

The first HCU Pretreat unit with a capacity to treat 7,500 barrels daily is set to open in 2023 in Wyoming. Two other facilities are under construction in the U.S., and a fourth unit is licensed in Europe. “Everything we have under construction or licensed and in engineering equates to the ability to pretreat one billion gallons of renewable feedstocks annually,” said Red.

ARA leaders believe there’s a good chance HCU Pretreat will become the industry standard for cleaning fats, oils, and greases. “It has tremendous potential and a lot of benefits for future generations to come,” said Red.

economic profile

current labor statistics for bay county

LABOR FORCE EMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED RATE

April '21 90,473 86,803 3,670 4.1

May '21 91,783 88,320 3,463 3.8

June '21 93,482 89,496 3,986 4.3

April '22 92,738 90,837 1,901 2.0

May '22 93,633 91,643 1,990 2.1

June '22 95,155 92,626 2,529 2.7

real estate sales

EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

PANAMA CITY MSA FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES MEDIAN PRICE REALTOR SALES MEDIAN PRICE

April '21 506 $276,500 33,264 $336,525

May '21 521 $299,000 30,985 $344,900

June '21 577 $295,900 34,165 $351,000

April '22 463 $348,987 28,171 $410,000

May '22 461 $370,000 28,861 $420,000

June '22 497 $366,900 28,296 $420,000

CONDO-TOWNHOMES SALES

PANAMA CITY MSA FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES MEDIAN PRICE REALTOR SALES MEDIAN PRICE

April '21 348 $314,500 17,330 $250,000

May '21 285 $345,000 15,491 $250,000

June '21 273 $355,000 16,126 $256,990

April '22 205 $410,000 13,711 $310,000

May '22 189 $480,000 13,265 $322,000

June '22 165 $425,000 11,796 $324,900

GROSS SALES

March '21 $534.9M $318.6M $18.7M

April '21 $607.9M $324.9M $15.5M

May '21 $473.7M $249.5M 24.9M

March '22 $378.3M $412.9M $26.4M

April '22 $898.6M $553.9M $34.2M

May '22 $893.5M $561.3M $34.5M

Bay County

April - June 2022

BAY COUNTY, FLORIDA UNITED STATES

POPULATION

Population, Census, April 1, 2020 175,216 331,449,281

Population, Census, April 1, 2010 168,852 308,745,538

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

Persons under 18 years, percent 20.60% 22.30%

Persons 65 years and over, percent 18.60% 16.50%

Female persons, percent 50.40% 50.80%

White alone, percent 82.20% 76.30%

Black or African American alone, percent 11.30% 13.40%

American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent 0.80% 1.30%

Asian alone, percent 2.30% 5.90%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent 0.20% 0.20%

Two or More Races, percent 3.20% 2.80%

Hispanic or Latino, percent 6.70% 18.50% White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 76.60% 60.10%

Veterans, 2015-2019 21,135 18,230,322

ECONOMY

In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2015-2019 59.10% 63.00%

In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2015-2019 56.30% 58.30%

Total accommodation and food services sales, 2012 ($1,000) 565,165 708,138,598

Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2012 ($1,000) 1,034,384 2,040,441,203

Total manufacturers shipments, 2012 ($1,000) 1,473,839 5,696,729,632

Total retail sales, 2012 ($1,000) 2,728,227 4,219,821,871

Total retail sales per capita, 2012 $15,871 $13,443

BUSINESSES

Total employer establishments, 2019 4,673 7,959,103

Total employment, 2019 59,187 132,989,428

Total annual payroll, 2019 ($1,000) 2,440,506 7,428,553,593

Total employment, percent change, 2018-2019 -5.50% 1.60%

bay county bed tax collections

PANAMA CITY PANAMA CITY BEACH MEXICO BEACH

April '22 $178,916 $3,144,831 $48,125

April '21 $227,864 $3,284,909 $35,576

% Change -21.48 -4.26% 35.27%

May '22 $187,601 $3,917,156 $52,534

May '21 $270,372 $4,195,867 $43,934

% Change -30.61% -6.64% 19.58%

June '22 $259,006 $6,684,703 $108,609

June '21 $324,227 $6,586,740 $75,797

% Change -20.12% 1.49% 43.29%

northwest florida beaches international

airport passenger traffic

AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS (YEAR-TO-DATE)

2021 42,148 2022 40,025

% Change -5.04%

TOTAL PASSENGER ENPLANEMENTS (YTD)

370,016 2022 377,692

% Change 2.07%

TOTAL PASSENGER DEPLANEMENTS (YTD)

377,071 2022 380,904

% Change 1.02%

bay county compares nationally...

NOW HIRING ALL

workforce connection Update from CareerSource Gulf Coast

by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast

The Florida economy has witnessed a robust recovery, and the Bay County area is not an exception with its low unemployment rate and continued job growth. Even with this positive development in the state of our economy, we know many Floridians are still struggling to connect with the workforce, build their careers, and become self-sufficient.

Opportunities are available through Florida’s workforce development system to help residents of the sunshine state achieve prosperity through in-demand careers with great pay. Training, education, and career readiness programs are some of the many free workforce services offered through CareerSource Gulf Coast, the region’s state-designated workforce authority.

CareerSource Gulf Coast is pleased it can expand these career and workforce training services to serve even more individuals in the Bay, Gulf, and Franklin County areas. Funding was recently awarded to the region through the Get There Faster Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), provided through Governor DeSantis’ WIOA Reserve Funds in collaboration with CareerSource Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

The funding is earmarked for veterans, transitioning military, military spouses, low-income adults, at-risk adults who are receiving public assistance, and in-school youth whose families are receiving public assistance. The grant is designed to ultimately strengthen families and our community by ensuring economic recovery and prosperity is accessible to all.

With the additional funding, CareerSource Gulf Coast collaborates with our local education, business, and community partners to fund training in programs that lead to completion of a degree or certifications for in-demand careers with good wages. The funding also allows for on-the-job training and internships with in-demand industries and occupations.

In addition to paid tuition and books, participants receive supportive services, such as transportation, supplies, and childcare assistance. A case manager works closely with each participant to mentor and support them through successful completion of the program.

Once training is complete, clients will begin or continue employment in these high wage, high-demand careers. Youth who are participating while in high school will be able to move forward with post-secondary education or job placement upon program completion.

We are honored to help create career pathways for Floridians in high-demand, well-paying occupations, bringing economic prosperity to families and the community, much of which is a largely rural service area. We also consider it a privilege to support our hero veterans, transitioning active-duty service members, and military spouses, who have made sacrifices to serve our country and protect our freedoms.

Chad Overby ABC Supply Co.

Chad Overby has worked for ABC Supply Co. for the past ten years. For the last three he has served as an outside sales representative for ABC's Panama City branch. Chad started with ABC in Colorado and since has worked in Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas and Virginia. Chad started as an inside sales representative before transitioning to ABC’s National Response Team for four years. Chad received his bachelor’s degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&M University. He is the oldest of four children, the only son, and just recently became an uncle. He grew up in a military family which allowed him to travel and live in seven states and Germany.

Chad enjoys golfing, scuba diving, traveling and he dabbles in woodworking. He is currently trying to visit all 30 stadiums in Major League Baseball - he has been to 21 so far. He loves living in his log cabin on a 500acre spring-fed lake, as well as spending his evenings on his back porch watching the sunset with a cigar.

Go explore. Go visit monuments and mountains and make the mundane magical with adventure. Go forth to find new places and spaces. Go on to travel again. Because we’re still here—ready, willing and able to get you anywhere you want to go. iflybeaches.com/escape

Shining a spotlight on companies that help diversify Bay County’s economy, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce hosted its Industry Appreciation Celebration (IAC) during the month of September. The month-long celebration is designed to acknowledge existing businesses in appreciation for their involvement in the community and their contributions to economic development.

SPORTING

and Advanced Fire

Services;

INDUSTRY

of

Bank;

Cart: Berg Pipe; Cart Sponsor:

Coast State College;

Bank; Bay County

Business Expansion CWR Contracting, Inc.

CWR Contracting Inc. has had a successful footprint in Bay County for over 15 years. When presented with an opportunity to greatly expand in the area, they seized the opportunity. CWR purchased GAC Contractors and integrated them into their facility. The multi-milliondollar capital investment into the expansion has allowed the company to pursue more talent and expand the organization beyond the acquisition. The company has added 244 new employees through the expansion. CWR is now multifaceted; a general contractor can utilize them for all of their asphalt, grading, surveying, base and underground utility needs. The company is currently expanding its plant to handle present and future business opportunities they see on the horizon in Bay County.

Newcomer

Certified Roofing Solutions, LLC.

Certified Roofing Solutions, LLC. was created in 2018 after the owner, Titus Lea, a seasoned professional in the roofing industry for many years, saw the need for a roofing company that could set itself apart by striving for excellence in the industry. Throughout his career, he focused on consistently learning and updating his skills so he could provide his clients with the best roofing systems available and knew dedication would be something that many homeowners would benefit from and appreciate. Now with 18 employees, Certified Roofing Solutions, LLC looks forward to the future and expanding as Bay County continues to grow. The company believes it is essential for them to not only provide superior materials, but also keep roofing costs affordable for their customers.

Small Business of the Year

JM Phelps Construction

JM Phelps Construction was established in 2013 when a family owned gas station service company needed a construction company affiliation to build stores they serviced. The company started out with four employees and has since grown to 12, with sales/income quadrupling since inception. JM Phelps Construction is primarily a general contractor that has built many of the local gas stations and convenience stores being established around town, as well as multi-million dollar projects for St. Joe, CEFCO and Busy Bee. The company continues to reach out to increase its partner database to include more subcontractors who can grow with them and take pride in the end results as they do. They also take great pride in improving businesses in both Bay County and the entire panhandle region.

Innovation Reusable Respirators, LLC.

Shortages in medical supplies early in the pandemic highlighted supply chain limitations and the necessity to reuse masks not intended for reuse. Although reusable elastomeric respirators existed, they were not designed for healthcare workers. Not long after the 2019 H1N1 pandemic, Reusable Respirators LLC began working with industries around the world to come up with a unique solution to offer “advanced simplicity”. ElastoMaskPro is an air purifying N95 elastomeric respirator designed for public health workers but has application in all settings. It is three to five times easier to breathe through than many respirators and two to three times easier than many disposable N95’s. It has a 10-year shelf life and can be reused thousands of times. Reusable Respirators LLC is targeting hospitals for pandemic preparedness and will submit a proposal soon to the US Government to provide a large quantity to the Strategic National Stockpile. The ElastoMaskPro was officially launched in June 2022 and is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a huge accomplishment.

LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE CELEBRATIONS

Manufacturer of the Year Maritech Machine

Maritech Machine is a locally owned and operated entity that has continued to thrive for over 30 years. Maritech Machine provides large scale manufacturing capability to many Bay County companies and the various surrounding Department of Defense agencies. Their products range from very complex to simple sizes, shapes and lengths; and are all produced in Bay County. Products can vary in types such as hard metals/soft metals, composites and some wood products. Maritech’s expansion includes additional manufacturing that is funded and currently underway and will provide over 6,000 square feet. This, along with their new Defense Service Division, is anticipated to increase their employee count by up to 30 new employees in the coming year. The company’s current customer base includes Oceaneering, Miller Marine, Berg Pipe, Pall Aerospace, Naval Support Activity and both Air Force Bases in the region. Maritech Machine has recently been certified as in AS9100 and ISO 9001:2015 raising the level of standards by which they conduct their manufacturing and quality assurance.

Haney Technical College Welcomes Reese as Director

Angela Reese has been appointed as the new Director of Tom P. Haney Technical College. Mrs. Reese has recently served as the Assistant Director and has over

30 years of experience with Bay District Schools as an administrator and a teacher. She was born and raised in Bay County. Mrs. Reese is committed to bringing more awareness to the value of Career Technical Education including partnering with businesses and community members to build stronger pathways for Haney students.

Community Bank Names Ty Johnson Senior VP for Panama City Office

Ty Johnson has recently been named Senior Vice President in our Panama City office. A native of Graceville, Florida, Johnson recently served as Vice President and has been in banking for eight years. In his new role, Johnson will continue to focus on growing the Panama City office’s deposit and loan portfolios.

Johnson is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor in Professional Communications. He is also going into his Senior year at the Florida School of Banking at The University of Florida. Active in his community, Johnson is on the Development Board for FSU

PC, member of the Downtown Rotary Club of Panama City and serves on the Board of Directors for Boys and Girls Club of America. He is also active with the United Way of Northwest Florida and volunteers in other areas of his community.

Johnson is married to Molly, together they have one son, Baker.

Steve Bailey Named VP of Sales at Visit PCB

In addition to Panama City Beach, Bailey brings prior hospitality experience from locations including Destin, FL, Jackson, MS and Birmingham, AL. He is a graduate of Bay High School, The University of Alabama and The Bert Rodgers Real Estate School and is an active member of the local community. Bailey serves on the Board of Directors of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, Children's Home Society, Leadership Bay, Panama City Beach Chamber, and is a past board member and chairman for the Bay County Tourist Development Council.

Kretzer Receives Statewide Arts and Education Award

Bay Arts Alliance Executive Director Jayson Kretzer was recently named the winner of the Community Service/ Institution/Corporate Award by the Florida Art Education Association (FAEA).

Visit Panama City Beach industry-veteran Steve Bailey was named Vice President of Sales in July. A Panama City Beach native, Bailey previously served as Director of Sales & Operations for a local hospitality group for over 20 years, and has garnered extensive experience in the restaurant, hospitality and tourism industries.

FAEA awards recognize individuals who have achieved the highest level of professionalism in art education and show appreciation for individuals or organizations that have contributed their services to the association. Kretzer received the nomination from the Bay County Art Teacher Association.

Kretzer joined Bay Arts in 2016 before being elected as executive director in 2019. His efforts following Hurricane Michael helped relaunch the arts scene in Bay County.

Caleb McCurdy Earns Eagle Scout Rank

Caleb McCurdy of BSA Troop 321 Lynn Haven, Gulf Coast Council recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

A Scout for over 10 years, Caleb is among the 4 percent of Scouts that earn the prestigious award. His Eagle Scout project benefited the Arc of the Bay.

McCurdy led volunteers in constructing a sitting area with pavers and benches as well as planting barrier plants along the roadway to reduce noise so Arc of the Bay clients and staff can enjoy the sitting area.

McCurdy is currently a senior at Mosley High School and after high school he plans to pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Tyndall AFB Wins Emerald Coast Chef Competition

Airmen from Tyndall’s 325th Force Support Squadron represented the installation as they brought home a win in the first ever Emerald Coast Chef Competition hosted at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on June 30.

The Emerald Coast Chefs Competition served as a capstone for a regional shift leaders course. This course taught culinary Airmen from Tyndall, Eglin and Hurlburt fields how to lead shifts in the front and back of dining facility operations, the importance of minimizing waste during one’s shift, properly logging inventory and maximizing junior Airmen’s potential. The competition was an innovative way to provide Airmen an opportunity to showcase what they learned.

NSWC PCD Recognizes Two Sailors

The judges, who are local restaurant owners, were scoring based on presentation, taste, creativity and originality. Each category had a maximum score of 15 points. Only one point was taken off of Team Tyndall’s dish, putting them ahead of the two competing teams.

In under two hours, the group prepared potatoes as an appetizer and jerk chicken with coconut infused rice and peppers for the main course, a dish they say is Latin and Caribbean Island inspired.

NSA Welcomes Firefighter Troy Hope

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Commanding Officer Capt. David Beck recognized two superior performing sailors in August.

Electronics Technician Petty Officer

Second Class (ET2) Kory Olshefski, Expeditionary and Maritime Systems Test Engineering Branch, was awarded 2022 Junior Sailor of the Quarter, Third Quarter, for professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties as a second class navy diver.

Naval Support Activity Panama City welcomed firefighter Troy Hope as the newest member of NSA Panama City Fire and Emergency Services.

The mission of the NSA Fire & Emergency Services – Fire Prevention Bureau, is to save life and property from the devastating effects of fire. This mission is achieved through proper enforcement of codes, reviewing all construction projects to ensure proper fire engineering procedures are incorporated and educating occupants in ways to control hazards, in proper methods of evacuation and in overall fire safety practices at work and at home.

Steelworker Chief Petty Officer (SWC) Robert Marron, was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for meritorious service, in the superior performance of his duties as a navy construction diver.

new

Academy Sports & Outdoors

820 W. 23rd Street

Panama City, FL 32405 850-691-4135

Aflac 850-814-5793

Aldi 2260 S. Hwy. 77 Lynn Haven, FL 32444

America’s Mattress PC 411 E. 23rd Street Suite B

Panama City, FL 32405 850-396-0333 ext. 3

American Facilities Management LLC 850-468-0311

Ash & Stone Boutique 663 B W. 23rd St.

Panama City, FL 32405 850-624-8001

Beauty By LaBella 850-819-7595

Bridge Care Health Network 1213 Eisenhower Circle Lynn Haven, FL 32444 850-215-3480

Capital City Home Loans 10000 PCB Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32407 850-404-6068

Coastal Impressions Print Shack Inc 7099 W. Hwy. 98 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 850-230-0487

DADSRA 850-215-4024

Emerald Coast Shade Sails Inc 948 Jenks Avenue

Panama City, FL 32401 850-628-4118

Fazoli’s

2219 MLK Jr. Blvd. Panama City, FL 32405 850-252-6134

Florida Health Connector

P.O. Box 27969

Panama City, FL 32411 850-832-9282

Florida Panhandle Golf Therapy Alliance 303-882-2443

Green Tree Leadership

349 Confidence Way

Panama City, FL 32409 334-717-1524

Hampton Restoration Group

32 E. Park Pl. Ave. #602 Inlet Beach, FL 32461 850-866-9152

Harrison’s Kitchen and Bar 5 Harrison Avenue

Panama City, FL 32405 850-979-5550

Hospitality Cleaning Company 850-276-1087

Island Air Express

2310 S. Hwy. 77, Box 397 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 850-251-4181

Jet Boat Pilot

2743 Forester Trail Panama City, FL 32405 850-867-1410

Loan Depot 850-481-2063

Lockhart Storage 5668 Fishhawk Crossing Blvd. 331 Lithia, FL 33547 941-896-2266

Millennium DME 756 Harrison Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 850-215-7961

Movement Mortgage 2039 Center Pointe Blvd., Suite 101 Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-628-7447

NFG Consulting, Inc. 157 Martingale Loop Lynn Haven, FL 32444 850-890-0511

OfCourse

318 Reid Avenue

Port St. Joe, FL 32456 850-895-1990

Patch Boys of Panama City 850-866-4392

Point South Marina Bay Point 3824 Hatteras Lane

Panama City Beach, FL 32408 850-235-6911

Red Road Remodel & Gutter

4010 Thomas Drive #113

Panama City Beach, FL 32408 850-775-6364

Regina Piazza for Florida Senate

981 E. Hwy. 98, Suite 3 #279 Destin, FL 32541 850-830-4616

Scott Kirkman LLC 850-896-5052

Skidmore Consulting LLC 406 Canal St. #102

New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 757-285-8802

Slim Chickens

2915 Hwy. 77 S Lynn Haven, FL 32444 850-772-0444

Southern Sky Aviation KECP LLC 4255 East Lake Blvd. Birmingham, AL 35217 205-703-9737

Spine Care Plus 714 E. 4th Street Panama City, FL 32401 850-784-7800

Structural Restoration & Coatings 850-596-4074

The Landing at Seagrass Village 401 N. Alf Coleman Road

Panama City Beach, FL 32407 850-249-0707

The Right Move Senior Resource 770-856-4799

The Westmoreland Company Inc 200 Randolph Avenue Huntsville, AL 35801 256-539-5533

Wewa Films 850-819-4463

Whitehead Plumbing 1601 Frankford Avenue Panama City, FL 32405 850-785-9227

Witches of St. Andrews 817-996-6672

Xplorie

543 Harbour Blvd. Suite 301 Destin, FL 32541 850-240-4069

member anniversaries

years

Southeastern

C W R C O N T R A C T I N G