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BIZ LIST
Bay County Chamber of Commerce
Wes Johnson is now serving as the new VP of Communications at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. He came to us after serving as Director of Communications at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Wes has more than 10 years of experience in the communications field and has served in several roles in his time in higher education, including athletics communications, videographer, photographer, and publications editor. In his time in athletics, Wes covered Troy football’s 2017 Sun Belt Conference championship, Troy women’s basketball’s 2017 NCAA Tournament run,
as well as Northwest Florida State’s 2021 women’s basketball national championship. In his free time, Wes enjoys playing golf, watching baseball, spending time with his wife, Lydia, and hanging out on the beach.
HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital Announces Brittany Durr as Chief Nursing Officer
HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital announced in March the appointment of Brittany Durr, DNP, RN, as the Chief Nursing Officer. Durr most recently served as Vice President of Nursing Operations at HCA Healthcare North Florida Division in Tallahassee, Fla. Throughout her leadership in the field of nursing, Durr assisted in the development of the overall strategic direction for the practice of nursing and nursing operations across HCA Healthcare North Florida Division facilities and led the division patient and employee Care Experience efforts, coordinated improvement efforts in
conjunction with hospital-based care experience champions, fostered a culture of excellence in patient care. Durr previously served as the Director of Women and Children’s Services at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. Durr obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Capella University and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Gregory Stepp Joins Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Bay Family Medicine at Ocean Park
Family medicine doctor Gregory J. Stepp, M.D., has joined Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart’s regional network of doctors. Dr. Stepp is offering virtual appointments and will see patients at Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Bay Family Medicine at Ocean Park, located at 23040 Panama City Beach Pkwy. Dr. Stepp joins the office of Ascension Medical Group family medicine doctor Joshua Reams, MD, and nurse practitioner Cynda St. Cere, ARNP. The office is accepting new patients and most major insurances. Dr. Stepp graduated with his medical degree from the Florida State University College of Medicine. He completed family medicine residency training through Lee Health affiliated with FSU College of Medicine. Dr. Stepp served for six years in the U.S. Air Force. He is board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine.
CPAR Announces New Chief Operating Officer Kaydee Albritton
The Central Panhandle Association of REALTORS® is pleased to announce the promotion of Kaydee Albritton to Chief Operating Officer. She will be responsible
for assisting the CEO in the planning, development, and evaluation of the Association’s goals, programs, policies, and procedures. She will also aid in supervising staff and monitoring administrative processes and systems. The Association has benefited from having Kaydee on the team for over 4 years. She has been instrumental in professional standards
administration. She has and will continue to serve as liaison to the Leadership Academy, Professional Standards, Grievance, RPAC and Governmental Affairs Committees. Kaydee was born and raised in Panama City, FL and her family has been a presence in the community for many years.
By The Sea Resorts is happy to announce Sandi Roose has been promoted to Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing. She will be the new point of contact for all things sales and marketing related.
Progress Bank Florida Market Executive Dewayne Youngblood announced in March that Lane Redding has been promoted to South Walton & Bay County Market President.
“Due to our recent expansion into Panama City, it was the perfect time to grow Lane’s role to Market President of that area and the surrounding community. She has been instrumental in our success since she joined the Bank in 2020 and we are excited to watch her continue to prosper in her new position,” said Youngblood.
Redding graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and then went on to graduate from Eastern New Mexico University with her Master of Business Administration. She has 12 years of banking experience from major institutions in New Mexico, Texas and Northwest Florida, where her roles primarily involved the areas of credit analysis and commercial banking. Since December 2020, Redding has served Progress Bank as SVP Senior Lender in Inlet Beach and the surrounding areas. Active in the local community, Redding serves on the board for the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce and is the chairelect for the Destin Charity Wine Auction. She is also a member of the Destin Rotary Club. Redding was awarded “Best in Destin: Best Banker” by VIP Destin Magazine the past two years, named “40 Under 40” by United Way Emerald Coast, and was also recently named “Woman of the Year in Banking” by Scarlett Magazine. Redding currently resides in Santa Rosa Beach with her husband, Trevor, and their two sons.
Ascension Sacred Heart Expands Women’s Health Services with Addition of Breast Oncology Surgeon
Breast oncology surgeon Dr. Jonathan K. Smith has joined Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart. His office will be located at the medical office building at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, 7720 US Hwy 98, Suite 210 in Miramar Beach. He will perform surgery at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
“We are excited to have a fellowship trained breast oncology surgeon on our team”, said Henry Stovall, regional president of Ascension Sacred Heart. “This addition expands access to compassionate cancer care for women in the region.”
Dr. Smith is a board-certified general surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. He received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Dr. Smith earned his medical degree at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. He completed residency training in general surgery at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas. Dr. Smith completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Dr. Smith comes to Ascension Medical Group from practicing breast surgical oncology at OSF HealthCare in Peoria, Ill. He spent 14 years serving in the United States Army with his final assignment as the Chief of General Surgery at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky. He deployed twice as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was part of the Forward Surgical Team assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and the 772nd Forward Surgical team. He is a recipient of numerous awards including a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medical, and the Combat Medical Badge.
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