Bay Biz Summer 2023

THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FROM THE BAY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PUBLISHER

Carol Roberts

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Sydney Clifton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Aimee Bright, Kim Bodine, Sydney Clifton, Zachary Nordheim, Carol Roberts, David Sellick, Elizabeth Smith, and Missy Timmins

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sydney Clifton, Lockheed Martin, David Sellick, and Bay County Chamber of Commerce

COVER

Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft

As our team works to inform the community on the role of our Chamber, there are still people that don’t have a clue what a Chamber is or what its role should be within their community. Not long ago, I was leaving a Bay EDA meeting and we had a packed elevator going down. Before walking on to the elevator, I met a gentleman, we exchanged cards and then stepped in. After looking at my card, he looks at me and says, “What is a chamber of commerce?” I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. This was an adult professional, new to the community, but really had no idea. You’ve always heard about getting your elevator speech together about what you are selling or promoting, well I was put in that position with a captured audience.

I jumped into action explaining, “The Bay County Chamber of Commerce is a community development organization working to not only create a business-friendly environment through legislative issues but also preparing the community through support of building infrastructure to support growth. Without good bones, i.e. infrastructure, the community will not be ready to sustain and support job growth. Although all of that sounds boring, it is top of mind for our organization. Secondly, we’re supported by dues paying members that want networking opportunities to sell their products and services, we provide that too.” Whew! Thank goodness the elevator ride in the ATC is a slow go. Lol!

But it is true, our education system really doesn’t teach the youth about civic/professional related organizations that play a huge role in communities.

People often think we are a government entity and supported by tax dollars. We are not. We are not a part of the city, county, state or federal government and receive no funding unless government entities opt to join the organization. The Bay County Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit 501(c)6 organization, not a charity and we pay sales tax. Dues paid to the Chamber by companies are deductible as an “ordinary and necessary business expense”.

We answer to our Board of Directors, not any government entity, not the U.S. Chamber of Commerce nor the Florida Chamber. We are responsible to our board and our members.

When businesses join the Chamber, most are doing so to have a network to promote their products and services, not realizing they are also financially supporting our efforts to improve the quality of life, create a business-friendly environment for them to conduct and have a business in Bay County and fighting/ supporting issues affecting their business.

Don’t get me wrong, we like having fun too! Our various networking events i.e. First Friday, Business After Hours, Tourism Appreciation Month, Industry Appreciation Month, First Responders Appreciation, Annual Dinner, Ambassador program, Bay Young Professionals, Bay Business Connections groups, Military Affairs Committee, continuing education seminars, Leadership Bay and Junior Leadership Bay all provide those opportunities. Not to mention, the Governmental Affairs Committee and the many layers of involvement available.

The Governmental Affairs Committee surveys the membership annually prior to developing the Legislative Agenda that we address to determine from the business community what issues are affecting them most. The agenda and positions are written in house and/or by subject matter experts. The Chamber has a three-step rule before going public with positions. First it starts at the committee level with a recommendation and a draft, then the paper is moved to the Chamber Executive Committee and ultimately the Chamber Board of Directors has the final say. We ensure that many eyes and opinions are received before stepping out to support or oppose issues. We take it very seriously. This process has worked very well, for a very long time.

Many do not know that there is a paid staff that handles the day-to-day operations. The President, myself, reports directly to the Chairman of the Board and Board of Directors. The Chairman and Board have hiring and firing rights of the President. The staff reports to the President.

Our organization runs like a well-oiled machine, taking what we do in a structured environment seriously and not acting on a whim. We want our members proud of their organization.

I’ll get off of my soap box, but I hope you’ll share this knowledge and help us educate others on how we operate. We are a true business and professional organization, and have been doing so since 1913.

I hope you’ll take the time to check out the many stories in this issue as there are so many positive things happening in our beautiful community.

Be sure to follow us on all of the social media outlets and stay in tune with what your Bay County Chamber of Commerce is doing to Build A Better Bay County!

Carol A. Roberts President/CEO

Building A Better Bay has not only been the Chamber’s slogan for a long time, but is truly our mission.

Governmental Affairs – Advocacy at Local, State, and Federal Levels

by: Aimee Bright, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee has been buzzing with activity and productivity this year. From engaging with policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels to hosting events that bring together key stakeholders, the committee has been diligently working in its pursuit of advocating for the interests of the business community.

One of the committee’s first accomplishments in 2023 was updating the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda into a more concise document that communicates the Chamber’s legislative priorities in 2023. It identifies the Chamber’s six core focuses of advocacy: Business & Economic Development, Workforce & Education, Quality of Life, Military & Defense, Transportation & Infrastructure and Gulf, Bay & Fisheries. It also organizes each of the Chamber’s positions within a core focus. “I really like the new version of the Chamber’s legislative priorities,” says Bay County Chamber Board Chair-Elect, Joe Holt, “It presents a powerful message not only to the membership, but our community as a whole, of the Chamber’s commitment to the development and growth of the business community.”

January was a busy month as the Chamber jumped into action on the state and federal levels. Chairman Kyle Shoots, addressed and welcomed Senator Trumbull and Representative Griffitts at the Bay Legislative Delegation meeting and shared the Chamber’s legislative priorities. As reported in the last issue of Bay Biz, the Chamber also hosted a roundtable with U.S. Senator Rick Scott regarding military and veteran issues. Roundtables and legislative delegation meetings are important forums for lawmakers to discuss issues and priorities affecting their constituents. These meetings provide an opportunity for legislators to collaborate and coordinate their efforts, ultimately resulting in more effective and responsive government.

The Florida legislative session started in March and the Chamber had two opportunities to travel to Tallahassee to discuss issues important to Bay County. First, the Leadership Bay class had their annual session to learn about state government and how the Chamber advocates at the state level. The class experienced a Florida government 101 workshop with Eddie Thompson, Regional Director of External Legislative

Affairs for AT&T and past Chamber Board Member, learned the true process of our state legislative session. They had the opportunity to speak with Senator Trumbull, Representative Griffitts and CFO Jimmy Patronis surprised the group by popping in for a quick chat before heading to South Florida for his next engagement. The group also heard from

Panama City, CPAR and Bay EDA on this important tool for economic development, and was extremely pleased to see the referendum approved by voters.

The Chamber recognizes municipal elections are an important opportunity for communities to choose their local leaders and shape the direction of their cities and towns. This year, the Governmental Affairs Committee played an active role in promoting the elections by creating and presenting the Chamber’s first candidate survey to help Chamber members make informed choices in the Municipal Super Tuesday Election in April. The survey covered a range of issues relevant to local businesses, including taxes, education, infrastructure, and economic development as well as the candidates’ experience, applicable to the positions they were seeking. The Chamber also hosted stump speeches at its April First Friday event, providing candidates with an opportunity to share their views and positions with the local business community.

Department of Economic Opportunity Acting Secretary Meredith Ivey, Cody Farrill, Director of Cabinet Affairs for Governor Ron DeSantis as well as Missy Timmins of Timmins Consulting. The Leadership Bay trip to Tallahassee is an important session for these future community leaders. It provides exposure to how state leaders and the different departments of government interact as well as the impact of building those relationships so the Chamber can better advocate for the Florida Panhandle. As the Chamber continues to grow community leaders, sessions like this are crucial for strengthening their commitment to community involvement that will affect positive change in Bay County.

The Governmental Affairs Committee also took its annual trip to Tallahassee to have one on one conversations with our legislators as well as key officials with Northwest Florida Water Management District, Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor’s Office. Topics with these decision-makers included Enterprise Florida, VISIT Florida, tax policies, workforce development and infrastructure investments. These meetings provided a valuable platform for the Chamber to advocate for the needs of the local business community, and to ensure their voices were heard by those who shape policies affecting their operations.

On the local level, the Governmental Affairs Committee was very involved with voter education and civic engagement surrounding the municipal elections held in April. First, the Bay County Chamber partnered with the Central Panhandle Realtor’s Association (CPAR), and the Bay Economic Development Alliance (Bay EDA), to educate Panama City voters and encourage them to vote yes on the City of Panama City’s property tax abatement referendum that would authorize the city commission the ability to grant property tax exemptions to new and expanding businesses. The Chamber was proud to partner with the City of

When reflecting upon the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs committee’s activity thus far into his year as Chairman, Kyle Shoots says, “The Government Affairs Committee has been on fire this year. I’m really proud of the work we’ve accomplished and look forward to what we will achieve moving forward.” Chamber President/CEO Carol Roberts adds, “Governmental Affairs is where the rubber meets the pavement. This organization will always make it a priority and is really what sets us apart from other organizations.” The Chamber's Governmental Affairs committee will undoubtedly continue to be a critical voice in the conversation and will work to ensure that the business community remains a priority for policymakers at all levels of government.

Veterans in Flight: The Honor Flight Network

by: David Sellick

The Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization comprised of independent hubs working together to achieve the Honor Flight mission: “to celebrate America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials”. In furtherance of this common goal, we have the enormous privilege of showing our nation’s Veterans the appreciation and honor they deserve.

Participation in an Honor Flight trip gives Veterans the opportunity to share this momentous occasion with other comrades, remember the fallen, and share their stories and experiences with other Veterans. Honored Veterans always travel free of charge, thanks to generous donations. Over 125 hubs across the country form the Honor Flight Network.

These hubs and their volunteers truly make the mission a success. Through Honor Flight Network’s Lone Eagle program, we can serve those Veterans who live in areas with no local hub – furthering the reach of our impact!

The Honor Flight Network was created in 2005 by Jeff Miller and Earl Morse with a simple, yet powerful, mission by honoring our nation’s Veterans via bringing them to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials built to commemorate their service and sacrifice.

While initially focused on America’s World War II Veterans, Honor Flight Network has expanded its mission to include those who served during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Veterans of any service era who are critically ill.

Transporting approximately 22,000 Veterans annually, Honor Flight Network has flown nearly 275,000 Veterans to Washington, D.C. since its inception. The closest Honor Flight hubs to Bay County are Dothan, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida.

Many Veterans find it difficult to connect with organizations near Honor Flight Hubs, or are not able to make the trip because of physical conditions or other limitations.

In 2014, the “Honor Everywhere” Virtual Reality (VR) Veterans’ experience was developed by several organizations to fully execute the Vison of Honor Flight for those who could not attend: “ A nation where all of America’s veterans experience the honor, gratitude, and community of support they deserve.” The Central Missouri Honor flight, T-Mobile, Veterans United Foundation, Ohio Hospice, and Healium (a technology company) came together to make this vision a reality. If you cannot get the Veteran to the Memorial, bring the Memorial to the Veteran.

The number of living Korean and World War II Veterans is expected to drop below 150,000 in 2024. Most will never get the chance to see their memorials in person. Many of these 70-, 80- and 90-year-olds are too frail to travel to view the WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Memorials in Washington, D.C.

The VR experience is viewed with a special oculus headset which is brought to a Veteran’s bedside, wheelchair, or wherever they may be. These short films create immersive experiences for terminally ill and aging Veterans using Stereoscopic 360, 3D video. Regardless of their physical location, Veterans can experience the World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the Women in the Military Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and a Ride on the Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz as if they were there in person. The experience is available on the Meta Oculus VR app store. The non-3D version of the video about the World War II Memorial hosted by Gary Sinise can be viewed on YouTube, under “Honor Everywhere.”

The virtual tours provided by Honor Everywhere are facilitated through partnerships with various organizations and sponsors. The tours have been provided to Veterans in nursing homes, hospice care, assisted living facilities, private homes, VFW’s, American Legion Halls, and Amvets across the United States.

There are approximately 165 Veterans in assisted living, nursing homes, and independent living facilities in Bay County. Over the last six months, over 65 Veterans in these facilities and in their private homes have taken the “Virtual Honor Walk.”

Many of the Veterans who were assisted to “virtually” visit their memorials or take a virtual ride on the USS Nimitz, have appreciated the experience. Most said they felt a

reconnection with their military past, as well as gratitude from the Country, some interacted with 3D-crowds in the celebrations.

In addition to providing a sense of renewed camaraderie and recognition for Veterans, the virtual tours provided by Honor Everywhere also have the potential to improve the mental and emotional well-being of participants. Many Veterans who are unable to physically visit memorials and historical sites may feel isolated or separated from their military culture. Memorials, physical as well as virtual, can help combat these feelings by renewing a sense of community and connection to their time of service.

The Veterans assisted in their virtual journey have expressed various reactions. Some have refused, some have smiled, and some have shed tears.

Several of the Veterans have expressed a sense of closure after virtually walking through their memorials and celebration (especially Vietnam Veterans who as a group, at the time, were not shown appreciation from the Country for which they fought). For many Veterans this is a wonderful experience, for some a step toward wholeness and healing from previous soul injury.

The Memorials’ potential for healing functions have been studied in relation to trauma. Memorials provide intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and communal functions including: (a) a place for memory, (b) a place for mourning, (c) a place for reflection and healing.

Memorials serve as places to transform and contain painful experiences, including loss and trauma.

Helping our Veterans access these opportunities to process pain and take steps toward wholeness is an honorable endeavor for those who made and kept commitments for us.

For more information about this program, visit www. HonorEverywhere.com.

If you are a Veteran struggling and would like more information or help, contact the Bay County Vet Center at (850) 522-6102.

The Importance of Giving

by: Missy Timmins, Kidney Recipient

Kidney disease has been a major part of my life. I have watched loved ones fight the disease since I was a young girl, and I began my own fight in my early twenties. After graduating college, I went in for a routine screening for kidney disease, as it runs in my family. I was shocked to find out I had polycystic kidney disease at the young age of twenty three. I would love to say the diagnosis did not impact the choices I made in my life, but it influenced many if not most of them. I had seen what the disease could do. My grandmother was a champion for peritoneal dialysis and fought hard every day. Little did I know at the time, she was teaching me to become a fighter in my own right.

In 2016, at the age of forty six years old, I was told at a routine annual appointment I needed a kidney transplant, and I had lost half my kidney function within a year and a half. I

truthfully could not process how my life was going to radically change. All I could think about was how I was going to tell my family.

After a lot of discussions and prayer, I decided to pursue an organ transplant. I was truly naive to the process and thought I would be a great candidate to get a kidney transplant. I was surprised to find out the average wait time to get a kidney transplant was five years, and you had to pass medical tests to be placed on a transplant list. Not everyone gets activated on a kidney transplant list. I equate it to going through sorority rush and having people vote on you for membership. I went through a battery of tests and interviews by professionals, and they went into a room to vote on whether I would be a good candidate to receive a transplant.

I understood there is a shortage of available organs and a high demand for patients who are in desperate need of a life saving transplant. I was relieved when I received the call to be placed on a transplant list. Unfortunately, they do not prepare you to get medical tests every year to stay on that list.

My journey to get a life saving transplant was full of ups and downs. I was fortunate to have a close friend from high school agree to be a living donor for me. We were not a blood match but he offered to donate a kidney, so I could get a kidney. This is called a paired donation or a kidney swap. My friend flew across the country multiple times to be tested and to donate a kidney for me only to have three different surgeries canceled. Through these trying times, I did not give up and kept faith that “I did not want the first kidney, I wanted the right kidney”. As I waited for a transplant, I had to do dialysis. As disruptive as dialysis is, it kept me alive as I hoped and prayed for a kidney.

Even though I had multiple heartbreaks with canceled transplant surgeries, I also had many people offering to help me. Dear friends of mine did a public relations campaign to ask strangers to consider being tested to donate me a kidney. Numerous people from the community offered to get tested and submitted their paperwork to the hospital. This experience was humbling and inspiring. I am forever grateful to the kindness of strangers who were willing to donate a kidney. Such a selfless act.

Again, as I was beginning to get my hopes up, I received bad news. After my third canceled transplant procedure, I contracted Covid. I tested positive for Covid for six weeks. The virus impacted my heart function and I was no longer an active candidate on the transplant list.

I worked with my nephrologists, nurse practitioner, cardiologist and with their encouragement we began a journey to improve my heart function. After twenty long months of failed tests and tweaking medications and my exercise routine, I finally passed my heart tests and was approved to be placed back on the list. By this time, I had been on and off the transplant list for five years.

After meeting with the transplant team, we decided it was best for me to have a double nephrectomy to remove my native kidneys as

they had become too large. Polycystic kidney disease causes your kidneys to grow and impact other organ systems. The surgeon set up the surgery immediately and in December 2022 I had both my kidneys removed and continued dialysis.

As I began to adjust and heal from the double nephrectomy, my surgeon told me and my sister-in-law that I needed to have my bags packed. Due to the previous disappointments I did not want to put a lot of faith in his statement, but just in case I purchased some items for the hospital and recovery.

Two weeks after the surgeon told me to pack a bag, a call came in at 3 A.M. The name on the phone was UF Organ Offer. I accepted the offer and was on my way to the hospital in an hour. By 3:30 P.M. I was in an ICU room with a working kidney. Within twelve and a half hours my life had changed. To be clear, my life was changed by a family who made a difficult decision during a time of grief to donate their loved ones organs.

I am alive today and sharing my story because a family chose to donate life. I do not know who my donor is or anything about them. I hope to write to them in a year, share my story and let them know how much I appreciate their sacrifice. I want to spend this second chance to encourage others to consider organ donation and I want to give other patients waiting for a transplant hope and to encourage them to keep fighting.

If you are not an organ donor, please consider becoming one. If you are an organ donor, please let your wishes be known to your family. If you or a loved one has been a donor, I want to thank you so very much for being a hero!

For more information about organ donation or to sign up to be an organ donor please visit www. donatelifeflorida.org/register/ or https://www. flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/generalinformation/organ-donor/. If you are interested in volunteering to educate on organ donation or assist with advocacy to make the processes better, please visit More Transplants More Life, Inc. at https://www.mtml.org/about or Donate Life America at https://donatelife.net/. There are numerous groups and organizations promoting organ donation and every volunteer is very much appreciated.

Jennifer Bowman

Mark McQueen

Katrina McDonald

Bubba McCants

Missy Timmins Recipient

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Connecting Schools to the Business Community

by: Elizabeth Smith, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

Over the course of the past five years, our entire community has endured the profound impact of both Hurricane Michael and the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. It goes without saying these trying times have taken a toll, particularly on the wellbeing of our students, teachers, and support staff within the school district. Inadequate funding cause a lack of resources teachers need in order to provide a quality level of education. Overcrowded classrooms make it difficult for teachers to provide individualized attention to their students. Students feel pressured to perform well causing them to struggle academically. Home-life issues students face hinder their ability to focus on learning. All these reasons, and many more, are why the Leadership Bay Class of 2022-2023 felt a need to dedicate their class project to help alleviate some of these issues. The result, Partnership Bay.

Partnership Bay will serve as a connection between the Bay County business community and Bay District Schools in need of help. Lauren Del Toro, 2022-23 Class Participant said, “We picked this project because a majority of our class grew up in the Bay County School System. They have children in the Bay County School System. We have friends who are teachers whom we watch pay for things out of pocket they can’t necessarily afford because they prioritize making sure their students are taken care of. Some of us work in education or work with underprivileged children daily. We hear the cries of our local teachers and administration. They need help and are willing to accept it. We have local organizations who want to help but maybe don’t know where to go to do so. This was something we couldn’t deny needed to happen, and we had the connections and drive to make it happen.”

“Our shared vision is for this project to blossom into something remarkable—an organized endeavor that serves as a platform for ongoing initiatives, fosters new connections, and offers invaluable resources to our K-12 students, teachers, and staff. Through this collective effort, our ultimate ambition is to witness an improvement in the quality of life within the school district, allowing our children to solely focus on their education while enabling teachers to dedicate themselves to the art of teaching rather than mere survival,” said Brittany Weisensale, 2022-23 Leadership Bay Class Participant.

For example, a restaurant owner may be asked to provide a special cookie for students that have made a special achievement. If you do not specialize in desserts, maybe you can help facilitate a connection between a vendor and a school that could step in and help. This will build more and more connections with businesses that can assist our local schools and students.

Claire Sherman, Vice President and General Manager of Lamar Advertising said, “Lamar Advertising of Panama City is excited to adopt a local school. This type of partnership aligns perfectly with our core Mission Statement, ‘to be loyal to our customers and the communities in which we serve.’ Working with a local school, we have the privilege to help shape our future workforce, and while doing so help improve teacher-classroom experiences. We want to give back to our community and be a valuable community partner. As a local Lamar plant with 18 employees, we are vested in this community and always looking for innovative new ways to support others. These children are our future and we are blessed to be able to work alongside the school and teachers.”

About Leadership Bay

Between the day-to-day operations of school and ensuring that students have access to supplies, adequate food, clothing, and overall mental health leaves little time for teachers and administrators to look for business partners to assist in filling in the gaps to help students succeed. This is where Partnership Bay comes in. Direct contacts from the business community are given to the school so they may reach out when needed and the business is given direct contact with a school they choose to adopt. This allows schools, the business community, and teachers to take advantage of readily available resources to build a better Bay!

“We have a wonderful community that wants to lift our schools, but so often do not know how to start, “ said Carol Roberts, President & CEO of the Bay County Chamber. “This project will give our business community access by knowing who to contact, and who to speak with so they may offer their resources. In return, anytime there is a specific need, the school will have direct contact with someone who can assist them.”

Commitment

For managers and business owners, it can be scary to take a leap of faith to commit not knowing what the total commitment may be. Needs can vary from providing mentorships through programs such as Elevate Bay and Take Stock in Children or in-kind donations such as refilling snacks for students, supplies for teachers and students, providing encouragement for Teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, or monetary donations for field trips for students that typically would not be able to participate.

Leadership Bay is a nine-month program of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce with the purpose of offering potential leaders a curriculum in community leadership training. The class is composed of a diverse group of individuals throughout the community that will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with other emerging leaders. The goal of Leadership Bay is to identify and prepare Bay County residents to assume the demand for leadership roles in their community. The class meets for bi-weekly sessions with different topics of interest at each session. At the conclusion of the course, they must complete a project that benefits the business community.

For more information on how your business can become part of Partnership Bay or to apply for Leadership Bay, contact Elizabeth Smith at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce at elizabeth@ baychamberfl.com or 850-785-5206.

Inpreparation for the incoming F-35A Lightning II fighter mission, local civic leaders and Airmen from Team Tyndall had the unique opportunity to tour the Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility in Fort Worth Dallas, Texas, April 26, 2023.

During this tour, members were given briefings on F-35 capabilities, F-35 global impacts, and Lockheed Martin’s aircraft production process. During the briefing, the group learned about some of the features that make the F-35 the world’s most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world.

Following the briefing, participants were also invited to see the production line and fly an F-35 flight simulator.

“The purpose of the trip was to familiarize Bay County civic leaders with the F-35 so we can better prepare for the arrival of the aircraft and the personnel that will be coming to Tyndall Air Force Base to support the mission,” said Pamn Henderson, City of Callaway Mayor. “The trip also allows those civic leaders to be well-versed in the mission of Tyndall Air Force Base, and to help the community understand and support that mission as well.”

Understanding the economic impact gives civic leaders as well as Tyndall time to plan and understand the impact the incoming mission and personnel will have on the local community.

"As a military installation, we must connect and communicate with our local civic leaders in order to perform as an efficient community," said Col. George Watkins, 325th Fighter Wing Commander. “This trip not only allowed civic leaders to better understand the future mission of Tyndall, but also strengthened our support of one another.”

Slated for August 2023, Tyndall is expected to receive the first two F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

“This was a unique opportunity to learn first-hand the process of constructing the F-35,” said Henderson. “It provided a great deal of information to help us understand the F-35 aircraft and its capabilities, and its importance to our nation’s security.”

No matter the installation, community support is vital to mission success. The Bay County community provides Team Tyndall with a stable and supportive environment to continue projecting unrivaled combat airpower.

F-35 Lightning II Program Status and Fast Facts

Each guest signed the first jet that will be delivered to Tyndall AFB.

A Machine's Tale

by: Sydney Clifton, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

When we hear the words “artificial intelligence”, most think robots and self-driving cars, but it’s much different than what was illustrated in The Jetsons. Artificial Intelligence, (AI), is defined as, “a wideranging branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.”

Artificial Intelligence has been consuming the nation recently. Everyone is finding a way to benefit off it in their personal and professional life. One of the fastest growing AI programs is ChatGPT. This language model was developed by OpenAI to generate human like responses to text prompts. This means anyone can ask this program to write about anything; an 8-week fitness plan, a curated social media caption, a thank you message for a wedding gift and so much more. As beneficial

and time-saving as this program seems, there are concerns that can arise when using it. It’s important to be knowledgeable on the prompts you ask, because the response may not always be correct or fit what you want.

Benefits of Chat GPT

The best advantage is the amount of time ChatGPT can save people. It reduces the workload humans’ face, while allowing them to focus on more complex tasks that require human judgment and expertise. Instead of spending hours doing research, this AI program can generate the content needed in a matter of minutes. ChatGPT can help stimulate creativity by generating new ideas and perspectives users may not have thought of on their own. This can be especially useful for writers, content creators, and marketers who need to come up with fresh ideas regularly.

Another advantage of ChatGPT is its versatility. It can be used for a variety of tasks, including answering questions, generating text, and completing tasks. This makes it a valuable tool for a range of industries and use cases, from financial services to healthcare. Additionally, this program is highly customizable, which means it can be tailored to specific industries or business needs. It can be used to solve specific problems or improve specific workflows.

One of the key advantages of ChatGPT is its ability to understand and generate natural language. This makes it an incredibly useful tool for a wide range of industries, from customer service to education. By interacting with customers or students in a more human-like way, the program can improve the overall user experience and increase engagement. ChatGPT is a constantly improving technology. As it learns from vast amounts of text data, its performance continues to improve over time. This means it can become even more effective at understanding and generating natural language as it is exposed to more data. This can lead to even better user experiences and greater efficiency in industries that rely on natural language processing.

Concerns of Chat GPT

The magnitude of what AI programs are capable of can be frightening. One major concern is the ethical use of ChatGPT. It’s becoming an issue with students using ChatGPT to complete homework for them. Writing essays, answering

questions and even completing math equations. When students use ChatGPT to generate answers for their homework, they may be submitting work that is not their own. This can be considered a form of plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious ethical violation that occurs when someone presents another person's work or ideas as their own without giving proper credit. It can also lead to disciplinary action, such as receiving a failing grade on an assignment or even being expelled from school. In addition to plagiarism, using ChatGPT to do homework can also result in a lack of learning. Homework assignments are typically designed to help students learn and practice the material they are studying. When students rely on the program to provide answers, they miss out on the opportunity to engage with the material, understand the concepts, and practice applying them. As a result, they may not fully understand the material and struggle to perform well on exams and future assignments.

Another concern is the potential for bias and discrimination in AI systems. Machine learning algorithms that power AI technologies like ChatGPT are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on. This means if the training data contains biases or inaccuracies, those biases can be perpetuated in the AI system. It is important for researchers and developers to actively work towards reducing bias in AI systems and ensuring they are fair and equitable.

The Future of Chat GPT

Looking to the future, it is clear artificial intelligence will continue to play an increasingly important role in our lives. The development of intelligent machines like ChatGPT have the potential to transform many industries. However, as AI continues to evolve and become more advanced, it is important to consider the potential ethical and societal implications.

AI has the potential to have an impact on the job market in the future. As machines become increasingly capable of performing tasks that were once the domain of humans, there is a risk that many jobs could become automated. This could lead to significant unemployment and social disruption, particularly in industries such as manufacturing and transportation. It is important to carefully consider the potential impact of ChatGPT and other AI technologies on the job market, and to take steps to mitigate any negative effects. However, it is important to note that AI has the potential to create new jobs as well, particularly in industries that rely on AI expertise and development.

Whatever your opinion is on AI and its capabilities, it's important to stay aware when using any kind of AI program. It may generate results that do not align with your expectations or needs. For instance, ChatGPT wrote the majority of this article. Minor tweaks were made, but this truly is a Machine’s Tale. Can you determine what’s human versus artificial intelligence?

current labor statistics for bay county

real estate sales

177,854

41.7

95,075

$48,645

71,586

$65,614

$35,841

bay county sales tax collections

DATA VIA CENSUS.GOV

January - March 2023

how bay county compares nationally...

FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY FESTIVAL

Update from CareerSource Gulf Coast

by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast

The month of May featured Tourism Appreciation Month in Bay County, recognizing the importance of tourism in the area, and celebrating those who keep the industry strong and the community thriving—businesses, residents, visitors, and employees.

Not only does tourism have a major economic impact on the area, but it supports 14,500 jobs in the area as of March 2023, and it is the largest industry in the area. Bay County is considered a hot spot for its supply of talent in the industry.

Employment in the Leisure and Hospitality industry has surpassed pre-pandemic levels and is expected to grow, as Bay County is positioned as a year-round vacation destination.

Across the U.S., Leisure and Hospitality is driving job growth with employment trending up in that sector. Job growth and robust travel demand is supercharging the nation’s recovery and job growth. April saw another strong jobs report exceeding the expectations of economics. The Leisure and hospitality industry was among the largest job gainers in the U.S. in April. The April employment situation report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed notable gains of 31,000 jobs in the Leisure and Hospitality sector. Also of note, throughout 2022 an average of 79,000 jobs were added per month in the industry across the nation.

In the Panama City Metropolitan Statistical Area, Leisure and Hospitality is the top industry in over-the-year changes in employment, with 800 jobs added over the year in March, a 5.8 percent increase. Wages in this sector continue to grow and remain competitive as the demand for travel continues and competition for talent endures. The array of benefits offered continues to expand.

The outlook for the industry is extremely promising. The industry is on par to grow by 6.7 percent from 2022 to 2030. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research (WSER,) data show that the Food Services and Drinking Places sector is one of the fastest growing in the Bay, Franklin, and Gulf County Regions. Growth of 10.1 percent from 2022 – 2030 is projected. Some of the occupations expected to gain the most jobs include cooks, fast food and counter workers, and food preparation workers. These occupations are among the top 20 occupations gaining the most new jobs, as projected by WSER from 2022 to 2030.

Those who work in leisure and hospitality are the backbone of this fast growing industry. Here at CareerSource Gulf Coast, we wish to support the development of their careers in the industry and recognize their contributions to keeping tourism thriving. We are also here to support the businesses who work hard to make the industry a desirable place to work.

The team of professional employment specialists at CareerSource Gulf Coast connect employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities. From free job postings, candidate searches, screening, and hiring events to customized training programs, labor market data and available office space, we are here to help with our no-fee services.

We are here to support the growth and prosperity of Bay County and its key industries.

Amy Rainelli Paradise Adventures

Amy Rainelli is a lifelong Panama City resident who enjoys relaxing at the beautiful beaches we have to offer. She graduated from Florida State University in 2021 with her Bachelors of Marketing. While at FSU, she interned at Walt Disney World spring of 2019 as a part of their Disney College Program. Upon graduating she began working as the Marketing Director for Paradise Adventures Catamaran and Watersports. Paradise Adventures specializes in luxuary sunset sails, snorkel excursions, and everything watersports! She is currently in her second year in this role but has been with the company for 4 years. Amy is also the 2023 Bay County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Chairman as well as a committee member for Bay Young Professionals.

Amy’s true passion is traveling and creating memories, which is what drew her to the tourism industry. She loves seeing how excited people are while traveling to Panama City and wants to make their trip as memorable as possible.

Tourism Appreciation Month, presented by Destination Panama City, Mexico Beach CDC and Visit Panama City Beach, was a huge success! The Bay County Chamber of Commerce along with Bay County’s tourism agencies celebrated Bay County’s number one industry: Tourism.

During the week of May 7-13, the state of Florida recognized the importance of tourism in the state. The Chamber took it a step further to recognize the number one industry in Bay County for the entire month. This is the Bay County Chamber’s 12th year of celebrating Tourism Appreciation Month!

Because of Bay County’s assets for tourism and the economic impact it plays on the local economy, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce partners with the business community to celebrate the industry through numerous events. It is the Chamber’s hope, visitors and residents alike learn more about the history of tourism in Bay County, and take pride in its value to the area.

The month kicked off with First Friday with the Beach, sponsored by System Service & Engineering. Attendees were given an update on the importance of tourism in our community from Dan Rowe, President/CEO of Visit Panama City Beach. At the conclusion of Rowe’s presentation, Col. George Watkins of Tyndall Air Force Base

and Mayor Mark Sheldon of the City of Panama City Beach came to the stage to announce the return of the Gulf Coast Salute on May 4-5, 2024.

The Annual Spring Classic Golf Tournament was held at the Bay Point Golf Resort, where over 30 teams competed for the top spot. First Place was taken home by Herman Bell, Andrew Rowell, Shane Cook and Scott Eads; Second Place was awarded to Brian Hlebiczki, Johnny Mack Jones, Damon Calen and Chuck Hudson; and Third Place went to Nich Byers, Brandon Burg, Wes Mims and Collins Abrams. The event was sponsored by Bill Cramer Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC, Trustmark Bank, WOW! Business, Mr. Fence, Roberts & Roberts, WastePro, Peoples First Insurance and East Bay Flats. We’d also like to thank our media partner of Tourism Appreciation Month, Lamar Advertising.

The month wrapped up with the Tourism After Hours celebration sponsored by Destination Panama City and the Corn Hole Tournament sponsored by Jim Dickerson Insurance Agency.

Congratulations to our winners! First Place, the Money Bag$ (Allegiant Lending Firm), Second Place, We are Cornholio (Corcoran Reverie), and Third Place, the Fun Bag$ (Allegiant Lending Firm).

Thank you to all the participants and sponsors who helped us celebrate Bay’s number one industry!

Destination Panama City, Visit Panama City Beach, Mexico Beach CDC, Trustmark, Bill Cramer Chevrolet Buick GMC, WastePro, Lamar Advertising, WOW! Business, Peoples First Insurance, Roberts & Roberts, East Bay Flats, Mr. Fence, and Jim Dickenson Insurance Agency.

Bay County Chamber of Commerce / 2022-2023 Leadership Bay Class

40th Class of Leadership Bay Graduates

The Bay County Chamber is pleased to announce the 40th graduating class of Leadership Bay. This group creates a broadened network of well-informed leaders whose strengthened commitment to community involvement will

affect positive change in Bay County. Leadership Bay was founded in 1983 and is a community leadership development program of the Bay County Chamber Foundation. Based on the premise that people are our most important resource, the purpose of the program is to offer potential leaders a curriculum in community leadership training.

Interested in joining Leadership Bay?

This is an exciting program designed to cultivate a broadened network of well-informed leaders whose strengthened commitment to community involvement will affect positive change in Bay County. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with other emerging leaders. Please contact Elizabeth Smith at 850-215-3779 or via email at elizabeth@baychamberfl.com

Also thanks to the 20222023 Leadership Bay Steering Committee for all of their hard work and dedication: Chairman Claire Sherman, Lamar Advertising; Jeremy Bennett, Centennial Bank; Joe Chavarria, Applied Research Associates; Chad Evans, Color Press Printing; David Harless, Regions Bank; Devin Hayes,

Chris Berry Tricia Cottle

Kecia Crawford

Justin Croom Brileigh Daniels

Lauren Del Toro

Sean DePalma

Jim Elliot

Tammetrius Farmer Sean Fitzgerald

Jennie Frey

Joe Hark

Micaela Johnson

Angela Klopf

Mison Lukone

Holly Onda

Brooke Powell Maryann Roberts

Scott Seymour Danielle Streichert

Terry Tatum Therrita Walderon Brittany Weisensale

Panhandle Credit Union; Julie McConnell, Bay County/UF IFAS Extension; Harrison Moon, Visit Panama City Beach; John Moore, Panama City Police; Lauren Presser, Holy Nativity Episcopal School; Dr. Jeremy Pridgeon, First United Methodist Church; Cory Proctor, Trustmark Bank; Mohit Samtani, Maharaja’s Fine Jewelry; and Cecily Smith, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay.

Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Jeremy Bennett to the Board of Hearing Aid Specialists

recently served at the City of Lake Wales in Central Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from the University of South Florida. His experience includes time at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Volusia County Government. He is excited to be part of the team working to rebuild a resilient Mexico Beach.

The HBA was selected in its size category as the association with the nation’s highest Numerical Increase and Percentage Increase for 2022.

“On behalf of the BBIA Board of Directors and our full membership, let me express what an honor it is for our local association to be recognized on a national level. The board and leadership teams we have in place care deeply about our industry, but more importantly about our community,” Marty Perrett, 2023 BBIA President said. “I firmly believe that Stacy Watson, our association’s Executive Officer, is the best EO in the nation. A large part of our recent growth is the fire and passion she has for our community, as well as our local associations involvement on the State level. The energy is high, and the future is bright for the BBIA.”

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jeremy Bennett to the Board of Hearing Aid Specialists. Bennett, of Panama City Beach, is the Vice President and a Commercial Lender at Centennial Bank. He is a board member of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce and the Leadership Bay Steering Committee. Bennett earned his bachelor’s degree from Troy University.

City of Mexico Beach Welcomes

Michael Manning

The City of Mexico Beach is excited to introduce Michael Manning as the City’s new Development Services Director / Assistant City Administrator. Michael most

Bay Building Industries Association wins NAHB Grand Award for Outstanding Membership Efforts

NAHB’s Grand Awards honor local and state HBAs that have demonstrated exceptional achievement in membership growth and retention. These awards are given to the top association from each group size in several membership categories including: numerical increase, percentage increase, annual retention rate and highest increase in Affiliate members.

Bay Building Industries Association’s recruitment and retention efforts included several strategies, including community engagement, partnerships with local organizations, and membership networking events. These efforts helped foster a strong sense of community and attracted new members to the organization.

The National Association of Home Builders announced it has named Bay Building Industries Association as a Grand Award winner as part of the 2022 Annual Membership Awards.

NEW MEMBERS from Feb 27 to May 31, 2023

850 Prep’d 559-776-7644

850prepd@gmail.com

All County Diamond Property Management

130 Richard Jackson Blvd., Ste. 104C

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

850-821-1223

ArkTide

6315 Bayline Dr. Panama City, FL 32404

850-785-5726

BabyQuip 12202 Hutchison Blvd. Suite 350

Panama City Beach, FL 32408

540-560-2987

Bay Osteopathic Family Medicine

850-888-4035

Bay Point Billfish, LLC

850-258-0316

john@baypointbillfishopen.com

Baytowne Bridal

527 Jenks Ave.

Panama City, FL 32401

850-200-0493

Big Bend Area Health Education Center

2815 Remington Green Circle St. Ste. 100

Tallahassee, FL 32308

850-244-1177

Coleman Worldwide

334-405-8391

Cybersmetrics

239 Griffin Blvd. #U207

Panama City Beach, FL 32413

850-276-3686

David Adamson Designer Jewelry

732 Ohio Ave.

Lynn Haven, FL 32444

850-624-1681

El Weirdo

24 W. Oak Ave. Panama City, FL 32401

850-842-7685

Embassy Suites by Hilton

16006 Front Beach Rd.

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

850-328-5545

Employ U

215 W. 11th St.

Panama City, FL 32401

407-598-0202

Florida Building Code Compliance Authority

2405 Ruth Hentz Ave.

Panama City, FL 32405

850-733-7333

Ford Insurance

2611 W. 23rd St. Ste. B

Panama City, FL 32405

850-343-4006

Game Changer Sports Performance

2934 Transmitter Rd.

Panama City, FL 32404

850-896-3761

Gary’s Oyster Shack

1320 N. Tyndall Parkway

Panama City, FL 32404

850-348-1116

Granny Cantrell’s Kitchen

103 W. 23rd St. #E 9-11

Panama City, FL 32405

850-522-9933

Gypsy Willow 1310 Beck Ave.

Panama City, FL 32401

850-866-1165

HireQuest Direct 321 Magnolia Ave.

Panama City, FL 32401

850-522-9222

History Class Brewing Company 6 E. 4th St.

Panama City, FL 32401

850-801-2337

Hotel Indigo Panama City Marina

7 Harrison Ave.

Panama City, FL 32401

850-402-5100

Humble House Ministries

P.O. Box 35065

Panama City, FL 32412

850-628-1021

James Fletcher Construction 312 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Bonifay, FL 32425

850-658-3293

Lone Star Boil House

320 W. 5th St.

Panama City, FL 32401

850-775-5085

L2 Public Adjusting & Consulting, LLC

P.O. Box 1655

Lynn Haven, FL 32444

850-296-7978

Marco’s Pizza #8666

9722 Front Beach Rd. Unit D

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

850-804-1500

Momentum Image Agency

850-635-5080

momentumimageagency@gmail.com

Mr. Greg Wilson

Omega National Title Agency

221 E. 23rd St. Ste. F

Panama City, FL 32401

850-919-3601

Omega National Title Agency, LLC

12135 PCB Parkway

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

850-249-1100

OneBlood

1999 E. Nine Mile Rd.

Pensacola, FL 32514

850-785-9398

Panama City Ballet

404-944-9455

Panama City CRC

3609 W. Hwy. 390

Panama City, FL 32405

850-772-0650

Panama Cool Heating & Cooling

816 Ohio Ave.

Lynn Haven, FL 32444

850-276-6101

Paramount Construction Group

230 Highpoint Dr.

Ridgeland, MS 39157

604-427-5454 Ext. 209

PC Square & Round Dance Association

1105 Bob Little Rd.

Panama City, FL 32404

850-896-5798

Plan of Action Tactics

850-774-6227

Princesses of Paradise

125 Double Eagle Court

Freeport, FL 32439

850-635-5080

Professional Printers

1730 Old Dunbar Rd. West Columbia, SC 29172

803-796-4000

Rodeo’s Steak Pit & Seafood Restaurant 5904 Hwy. 98

Panama City, FL 32404

850-871-0034

Sherwin Williams

1220 Ohio Ave.

Lynn Haven, FL 32444 334-663-3836

SweetBay Realty

3204 Heartleaf Ave. E Panama City, FL 32405 850-424-6462

T-Mobile of PC 504 E. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32405

448-205-4186

The Blake at Panama City Beach 12219 PCB Parkway

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

850-860-1203

The Tabbaa Firm 475 Harrison Ave. Ste. 203 Panama City, FL 32401 850-270-2000

Trailhead Media Billboards Serving Bay County 423-618-8635

Trigo San Francisco Style Deli 119 Harrison Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 850-481-0132

Triple S Outdoor Maintenance 2476 Martha Lane Cottondale, FL 32431 850-693-9999

WFO Construction 1510 Bernita St.

Jacksonville, FL 32211 904-802-0942

Woods Kingdom Enterprises, LLC 801 Jenks Ave. Ste. E Panama City, FL 32401

850-630-3900

Wyndham Resorts

14700 Front Beach Rd.

Panama City Beach, FL 32408 850-636-8300

50 years

Credit Business Service, Inc.

30 years

Advanced Eye Care of Bay County, P.A.

25 years

Bill Hudson Video Productions

Ecological Resource Consultants

Manuel & Thompson P.A.

Science & Discovery Center of NW Florida

20 years

Publix Super Markets, Inc. #823

St. John Catholic Academy

15 years

St. Andrew Bay Land Co.

Suburban Extended Stay

10 years

Aaron Rich Marketing

Albert Sauline III, Attorney

Bay Building Industries Association

Bay County Branch of NAACP

Brookdale Panama City

Countertop Visions Inc.

Maritech Machine

Mercedes Benz of Dothan

Ms. Mildred James

Perry & Young Attorneys at Law

ReliantSouth Construction Group

Shepard Law

Sonic Drive-In #1045

5 years

BGen. James Browne

Capt. Jack's Family Buffet

Carter Pecan

Ellis Agency Insurance

Masonry, Inc.

MetroPower, Inc.

Mission BBQ

Presents of Mine

Royal Exteriors LLC

The First Bank

TownePlace Suites

United States Postal Service

Vertical Communications & Security

White Construction Company

Warm, inviting and thriving, Mathison is all you would expect from Panama City’s only faith-based nonprofit retirement community. You will quickly see why Mathison residents love their home!