Independent News | April 9, 2015 | Volume 16 | Number 15 | inweekly.net
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winners & losers 4
outtakes 5
news
buzz 8
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I think right now the nucleus of the club looks pretty good.
cover story 11
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a&e 29
publisher Rick Outzen
art director Samantha Crooke
Shelby Smithey, T.S. Strickland
editor & creative director Joani Delezen
contributing writers Jason Leger, Jennifer Leigh, Ben Sheffler, Chuck Shepherd,
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Farrar J. Barker
Keith L. Bell, Jr.
Gary W. Huston
Jeremy C. Branning
Charles F. James IV
H. Lee Strayhan III
William H. Clark
Ian S. Macdonald
Kirby H. Williams
Bruton M. Campbell-Work
Glenn E. Lovett
Scott M. Campbell
William E. Bond, Jr.
Harry B. Stackhouse
Daniel E. Harrell
Carolyn R. Ward
Now that’s what we call a Robert J. Powell
Michael J. Schofield
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Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell Given to less than 5% of attorneys nationwide. J. Chandler Waits
Power List! 16
Recognized as “Super Lawyers” and “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers Magazine Awarded to no more than 2.5% of the lawyers statewide.
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Florida Trend’s Legal Elite Fewer than 2% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida make the list.
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Board Certified as “Legal Experts” by the Florida Bar Fewer than 5% of Florida’s 93,000+ lawyers are board certified.
Congratulations to Firm President Scott Remington and all those named to the 2015 IN Power List!
Ryan P. Hatler
ATTORNEYS AT LAW PENSACOLA | DESTIN | SANTA ROSA BEACH | TALLAHASSEE
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Megan F. Fry
Judson C. Brandt
Stephen A. Pitre
Robert D. Hart, Jr.
William D. Stokes
Richard N. Sherrill
Dennis K. Larry
Bruce D. Partington
Melissa N. VanSickle
W. Christopher Hart
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Scott A. Remington
James R. Green, Jr.
Trevor A. Thompson
Douglas A. Bates
Jesse W. Rigby
Jason W. Peterson
William J. Dunaway
Melissa Holley Painter 3
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winners & losers
Edward Westmark
winners EDWARD WESTMARK One of the found-
ing physicians of The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart has retired from medicine after 52 years of service. Along with Dr. Reed Bell and Dr. John Whitcomb, Dr. Westmark was among the group of community pediatricians who first proposed to convert a former nursing school dormitory into the area’s only hospital dedicated solely to the care of children. This vision became a reality under the administration of the Daughters of Charity, and The Children’s Hospital opened at Sacred Heart in 1969. Dr. Westmark served as the founding medical director for neonatology at The Children’s Hospital.
ANGELA BOTTESINI Covenant Care re-
RETIREMENT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. AND IT’S REALLY HARD TO SEE AROUND CORNERS. Here’s the curious thing about change, we’ll evolve your plan along retirement. Given its enormous with them. So when it’s time to turn size, it has the surprising ability to the corner toward retirement, there sneak up on people. One aren’t too many surprises. minute, it’s 25 years down It’s time to find out what a the road. The next, you’ve Raymond James financial reached the corner of advisor can do for you. “Now what?” and “Where LIFE WELL PLANNED. to?” and you’re left facing complexities and Seeing what lies ahead questions you’ve never is a matter of preparation. faced before. We can And in some cases, magnification. help you find answers. Our rigorously disciplined, longterm approach to individualized financial planning means we’ll work to build a sustainable income plan, so you can do all the next things you want to do. And should your needs
cently announced Bottesini as the executive director of major gifts for the not-for-profit healthcare organization. Bottesini has been with Covenant Hospice for 13 years. In her new role, Bottesini will be responsible for development and management of the processes for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, obtaining and stewardship of major gifts to support the mission of Covenant Care.
INNISFREE HOTELS The company broke
ground on its ‘From the Ground Up’ sustainable garden in Pensacola. It is one of the first projects of The Hive, a formal corporate social responsibility program implemented by Innisfree founder and CEO Julian MacQueen and his wife, Kim. The volunteer-driven initiative will provide fresh food and employment opportunities to disadvantaged members of our local community.
losers NEWPOINT EDUCATION PARTNERS
The management company of two Escambia County charter schools, Newpoint Academy and Newpoint High School, is dealing with allegations that its local administration pressured teachers to falsify attendance records, delete overdue assignments, give answers to tests and change grades in order to pass Newpoint seniors onto graduation in May 2014. The school district and State Attorney’s Office are investigating the matter.
PENSACOLA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY The charity, which has been
this area’s top homebuilders over the past few years, is under fire after placing about 20 foreclosed houses and vacant lots up for sale at prices reported to be below market price to a for-profit group in Alabama, which is anonymous for now. Protesters picketed a recent Habitat board meeting to protest the sale of real estate without giving the public notice or the opportunity to bid.
STATE BUDGET The Florida House and
Senate cannot agree on how to deal with health care coverage for the poor and uninsured. The two houses are more than $4 billion apart on their spending plans. The split is over the Low Income Pool, a nearly $2.2 billion federally-funded health-care program that is scheduled to expire at the end of June. The state is trying to negotiate an extension of the program, but federal officials don’t appear to be in any hurry to discuss it.
Bob Alft - Wealth Advisor Bob Beargie - Wealth Advisor
400 W. Garden St. | Pensacola, FL 32534 850-479-9601 | TrustYourPlan.com Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and are not insured by FDIC, NCUA, any other government agency or any other financial institution insurance, are not deposits or obligations of the financial institution, are not guaranteed by the financial institution, and are subject to risks, including the possible loss of principal. Raymond James is not affiliated with the financial institution or the investment center. ©2013 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Raymond James® and LIFE WELL PLANNED® are registered trademarks of Raymond James Financial, Inc. 13-BDMKT-1093 KA 4/13
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outtakes
by Rick Outzen
THE BIG EXCUSE Whenever anyone is asked about the causes of problems facing this community, there is one reply I hear most often. •The Florida Office of Early Learning says on average 33 percent of Escambia 5-year-olds are not ready for kindergarten. Why? Bad Parents.
1,000 people, than Duval (9.14), Miami-Dade (3.85), Brevard (6.93), Orange (6.98) and Hillsborough (5.29) counties. Why? Bad Parents. •Over 40 percent of the households in Escambia County live paycheckto-paycheck and are considered ALICE (Asset-limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families, according to a United Way of Florida report. Why? Bad Parents.
Blaming parents doesn’t solve any of our issues.
•In Escambia County, nearly two out of every three students—25,983 children—are on free or reduced lunches. For many, the only meals they receive each week are those they eat at school. Why? Bad Parents.
•Escambia County Health Department data shows that 18 percent of the students are obese based on their body mass index and another 16 percent are considered overweight. In Santa Rosa County, 30 percent of students are considered obese or overweight. Why? Bad Parents. •According to federal standards, less than half of the African-American students in Escambia County public high schools graduated last year. The overall high school graduation rate is 64 percent. The state average is 75.6 percent overall. Why? Bad Parents. •Escambia County incarcerates more children per capita than any other county in the state of Florida, according to Northwest Florida ACLU organizer Keyontay Humphries. Why? Bad Parents. •In 2013, local enforcement reported 3,113 domestic violence offenses, including two murders and 32 forcible rapes. Escambia County has a higher rate for domestic violence, 10.33 per
•According to the Studer Institute’s Metro Report, five of top 10 jobs that are predicted to grow locally between now and 2020 are service-related—customer service, retail sales, janitorial services and food prep. The chances of improving on the ALICE statistics are slim. Why? Bad Parents. •This past month, Keshwon Stallworth, 16, was brutally killed. His body was found in a vehicle that had been set on fire on St. Catherine Avenue. The teenager had been shot, and the car torched to destroy any evidence. Why? Bad Parents. •Sheriff David Morgan and others in the criminal justice system are saying the area gangs are getting younger and more violent. Why? Bad Parents. I will concede that we may have a lot of bad parents in Escambia County, possibly more per capita than any place in the world. However, blaming parents doesn’t solve any of our issues and won’t move this community ahead. It simply gives us an excuse for doing nothing. {in}rick@inweekly.net
Congratulations to all of the 2015 Power List recipients
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GRADING FIXING ALLEGATIONS INVESTIGATED
By Rick Outzen Newpoint High, one of Escambia County’s high-performing charter schools, has been accused of fixing grades. According to documents received by Inweekly, the school district was notified last May of how school administrators pressured teachers to falsify attendance records, delete overdue assignments, give answers to tests, and change grades in order to pass Newpoint seniors onto graduation. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas did not notify the school board of the allegations or any problems at what had been portrayed as the model charter school. On March 16, Governor Rick Scott handed Newpoint High and its middle school, Newpoint Academy, checks for $11,392 and $15,861 respectively for their high performance during the 2013-14 school year. The Pensacola Newpoint middle and high schools are a part of Newpoint Education Partners, an education services provider with offices in Clearwater, Florida and Akron, Ohio. Newpoint Education Partners manages 10 charter schools in Florida. Its Pensacola high school was the only one that an A. Four had F grades, one had a D grade and four had C grades. The Pensacola high school has “earned” an A every year since it opened in Escambia County in 2012.
The grading fixing scheme came to light when School Board Jeff Bergosh was contacted last March 25 by a whistleblower, who was frustrated that conditions at the charter school had deteriorated and it appeared no one within the Newpoint organization or the School District seemed to care. The whistleblower sent Bergosh a 22page report that detailed not only the grade tampering, but also told of unqualified teachers and substitutes who stole school funds, watched porn in their classrooms, and inappropriately touched and interacted with high school and middle school students. Bergosh posted the next day a cryptic note on his blog. He wrote, “The worst example a public charter school can set is cheating. Cheating to boost graduation rates, which ultimately raises school letter grades, that ultimately assists a school in receiving funds from the state for bonuses–is about the worst example any school could set.” On March 26, Inweekly contacted Bergosh, who said he had given the documents to Donna Waters, the district’s attorney. We would have to make a public records request to get them. The newspaper received the 22-page document from Waters with the names of the students and their parents redacted on March 30 and posted an article regarding the allegations the following morning on ricksblog.biz. On “Pensacola Speaks” on News Talk 1370 WCOA, Bergosh talked why the allegations upset so much. “My interest, as a school board member, is always student safety. Number 1, I want to get to the bottom of these allegations, I want to get to the truth,” he said. “Number 2, I'm very, very concerned about money
going to an organization like this, because I'm a staunch charter school supporter. I'm a school choice supporter.” Bergosh said, “I've got a heavy heart. I just want to get to the truth. I want students to be safe. I want students to get what we're spending tax dollars to give them. I want anyone that's done anything wrong to be held to account. Again, I want to be able to move away from this and learn a lesson and figure out, how do we never allow this to happen again.” On April 1, Escambia County Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross told Inweekly that the district’s investigator – a former NCIS investigator – opened an investigation into Newpoint misconduct two weeks ago. Ross said, “I can assure you there is additional information.” He emphasized that the school district has no control over charter schools’ “dayto-day” operations. “We have no jurisdiction with the staff.” The piece of information that finally got the school district to act was information about fixing grades on tests. Ross acknowledged that Superintendent Thomas received the whistleblower’s information several months ago and the district looked into those allegations. “This company has had some problems throughout state,” he said. “It’s hard to say what level of cooperation we will get. We would like to put this to bed as quickly as possible.” Later that afternoon, Newpoint officials sent out a press release denying the allegations, calling them “baseless, unfounded and utterly false.” The school said that the insinuation that changing grades is the reason for the school’s A grades was also false and
misinformed. According to the school, the state grading formula is based only on the student’s scores on state assessments, and not related to classroom grades. “Therefore, there is no correlation between false allegations of grade tampering and the school’s success as an ‘A’ rated school.” The school officials said that it had not been notified of any formal investigation and had not been approached by the district for any documentation related to questions regarding grading. The school agreed to cooperate with district representatives. The school blamed the allegations on a “disgruntled former employee” whom the school said had been recruiting employees to spread negative messages to the district and others with the intent of getting the administrators fired. The memo ended with: “We encourage the district and the community to make sure that they have all the facts before drawing conclusions based on any misinformation spread with the sole purpose of harming the school.” On Thursday, April 2, State Attorney Bill Eddins told WEAR TV that his office had opened an investigation “because of the seriousness of the allegations that it would be appropriate to have us look into the matter to determine if there’s any basis for criminal charges.” Eddins said the charges could be theft or fraud, but also reminded viewers these are only allegations at this point. {in}
“I've got a heavy heart. I just want to get to the truth.” Jeff Bergosh
As of our publication deadline, Inweekly had not heard from Superintendent Thomas or the State Attorney’s office as to the status of their investigations. For updates, visit ricksblog.biz.
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CONGRATULATIONS MORT O’SULLIVAN, CPA Resourceful, inventive, accountable, spirited, and yes, competitive. Mort O’Sullivan’s entrepreneurial leadership has helped cultivate many of Warren Averett’s defining traits. Beyond the business fundamentals, Mort has a deep commitment to our company, our community and his family. We congratulate Mort for making Inweekly’s “Power List.” warrenaverett.com
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CBRE SILENCE The national real estate services company with the exclusive listing agreement with the City of Pensacola for the Community Maritime Park says its infamous Request for Proposal, which changed its fee structure, was done in “close coordination with CMPA and City staff over summer 2014.” Furthermore, the RFP was approved by CMPA and City staff, including the fee agreement, before it was released on Sept. 18, 2014, according to the timeline given to Inweekly. Who—at the CMPA and City—was aware of the fee structure change that made it possible for the listing agent, CBRE, to see its commission on a proposed development go from $446,326 to $2.53 million? CBRE’s spokesperson wouldn’t say, but Councilwoman Sherri Myers said CBRE told her it was former CMPA Executive Director Ed Spears, former City Administrator Colleen Castille, Chief Operations Officer Tamara Fountain and Chief Financial Officer Dick Barker. On March 18, CBRE presented to the
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CMPA Board of Trustees its draft of a Memorandum of Understanding that would make Miami-developer MCM-BAP the master developer of the remaining parcels of the Community Maritime Park. In the MOU, CBRE changed its commission on the deal. The next day, Inweekly contacted COO Fountain about the fee structure change. She said that she believed it was former City Administrator Colleen Castille who approved the RFP and the new fee structure. She blamed Spears for not following city procedures. Fountain said, “Ed Spears issued the RFP without having the CMPA Board approve it. I think CBRE assumed Spears brought it before the CMPA Board. This is the reason CBRE was surprised when they got push back from the CMPA Board yesterday.” Later that day, Spears was “separated” from the city.
The COO didn’t mention that she and Barker had also been part of the discussion on the success fee. In a statement sent yesterday to Inweekly, CBRE defended the success fee. The broker said the fee would be paid by the developer as part of their overall project costs and entirely eliminates out of pocket cost to the City of Pensacola. “In the event the project did not move forward CBRE would NOT be paid,” their spokesperson said. “CBRE has communicated the proposed success fee method of compensation since the beginning of the engagement. The arrangement is similar to those CBRE has for similar assignments around the country.” Inweekly reviewed the Exclusive Agreement signed in February 2014 by Castille on behalf of Mayor Ashton Hayward and by CMPA Board Chairman Jim Reeves.
“I think CBRE assumed Spears brought it before the CMPA Board. This is the reason CBRE was surprised when they got push back from the CMPA Board yesterday.” Tamara Fountain
It stated, “City and CMPA acknowledge that CBRE is a national brokerage firm and that in some cases CBRE may represent prospective sublessees…in the event that a prospective sublessee is also represented by CBRE, City and CMPA either (a) consents to CBRE transitioning from a single agent to a transaction broker, or (b) upon request and consent, authorizes CBRE to appointed designated agents.” In other words, the Mayor and CMPA chairman agreed to let CBRE change its fee structure to a success fee if they represented the prospective sublessee. Why all this melodrama? Fountain and Barker simply had to state when the controversy surfaced that the success fee was part of the listing agreement. Ed Spears did nothing wrong in this deal and clearly didn’t deserve to be fired because of the RFP and success fee arrangement. His bosses agreed to the success fee and approved the RFP. According to the listing agreement, the RFP did not have to be approved by the CMPA Board or Pensacola City Council. {in}
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Congratulations Jim Reeves
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for finishing in the Top 5 (for the 9th year in a row!) of The Independent News’ 2015 Annual Power List. We are also proud to recognize that you have been appointed by 5 different Governors to sit on the PRIDE Board of Directors.
your friends at
PRIDE Enterprises Brandon, FL www.pride-enterprises.org
438-9647 liberislaw.com
ATTENTION CURRENT & Pensacola, FORMER PROPERTY 212 West Intendencia St. FL WATERFRONT 32502 13700 Perdido Key Dr., SuiteOWNERS 223 Pensacola, FL 32507
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO FILE YOUR BP CLAIM
IF YOU OWNED WATERFRONT PROPERTY ALONG THE GULF COAST BETWEEN APRIL 20 AND DECEMBER 31, 2010 YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FROM THE BP SETTLEMENT FUND IF YOU ENTERED INTO A SALES AGREEMENT AFTER APRIL 2010 AND CLOSED BEFORE DECEMBER 31 2010 YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION EVEN IF YOU CANNOT PROVE LOSS OF VALUE CALL OR EMAIL US WITH THE ADDRESS OF YOUR PROPERTY FOR A FREE EVALUATION OF YOUR POTENTIAL CLAIM
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2015 POWER LIST for their efforts to make our community better —Including our own Ray
Palmer—
Thank you to the Pensacola Sports Association’s Board of Directors, Staff, Sponsors, Members and Volunteers in all they do throughout the year to assist the efforts
THERE IS NO CHARGE UNLESS WE MAKE A RECOVERY ON YOUR BEHALF
CONTACT: NA’SHANDA L. EDWARDS | BP SPECIALIST PARALEGAL EMAIL: NEDWARDS@LIBERISLAW.COM | 212 W. INTENDENCIA ST. PHONE: 850-438-9647 EXT. 110 | FAX: 850-433-5409 April 9, 2015
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2015
INWEEKLY
POWER LIST by Rick Outzen
I
nweekly readers love lists. The Power List is one that has attracted attention since the first time we published it in June 2007. Created on an Atlas Oyster House cocktail napkin, the first Power List was a halfhearted attempt to rank the most influential people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. No one had ever dared rank people based on their ability to get things done. The 2007 Power List was published under the title, “Who’s the Man?” Fred Levin topped the list, followed by Judge Lacey Collier, Ted Ciano, Jim
April 9, 2015
Reeves, Lewis Bear Jr. and included 45 other men and women. The list was published without fanfare, and we had idea how it would be received. Within hours of the paper hitting the newsstands, our phones began ringing. Some appreciated being on the list, others were upset they had been omitted. From the reactions, we knew that we had a hit. Over the past eight years, the list has grown to 100 people. We get more input from the community, asking past honorees and others to submit their top nominations. The screening process takes weeks as
people are moved and down the list as we get closer to publication. This year we broke out whom we consider the top most influential families—couples, siblings, parents and children. It gave us more spots for the Top 100 list, but it was difficult choosing only 10 families. The Power List has grown beyond the cocktail napkin and has become much harder to rank. The degrees of separation are slight and are what make this list fun to write and debate. We hope you enjoy reading the 2015 Power List edition.
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2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST
#1. Stan Connally: Taking A Team Approach
S
tan W. Connally, Jr., the president and CEO of Gulf Power Company, tops the 2015 Inweekly Power List. He controls the Pensacola-headquartered utility that provides energy services from Northwest Florida communities stretching from Perdido Key to Apalachicola and has over 1, 400 employees.
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Since arriving here in July 2012, Connally and Gulf Power have stepped up the utility’s role in economic development. Gulf Power launched the state’s first regional site certification program, Florida First Sites, to develop, identify and promote project-ready industrial sites in Northwest Florida. The first certified sites were announced last fall. In an interview last week in his office that overlooks Pensacola Bay, Connally said he sees economic development as a team sport in which no one entity can do it all. He believes Gulf Power should be a strong partner and raised the company’s profile in attracting businesses to Northwest Florida. “The hallmark of this company, for a long time, has been the feeling that when our communities are successful, Gulf
Power will be successful,” he said. “Coming out of the recession, economic development was a place that we needed to ramp up our efforts.” Connally also understands economic development begins at home, at kitchen tables across the region. “We’re a company that has remained committed to its community over time in terms of keeping local employment,” he said. “I think we've been relatively successful as a team across the region,” he told Inweekly. “There's more we can do; there's more we will do. I get back to the hallmark of this team, 1, 400 people that live and work here. They’re going to church here. They’re playing baseball with their neighbors, they’re in community groups. We have a team that wants to be involved and it's a great formula for us.” In an age when most utilities and big corporations do most of their customer service over the phone or on computers, Gulf Power still has storefronts. “I think that's important,” Connally said. “We only have a relatively small segment of our customers walk through those doors, but they’re the ones that need to talk to us and we need to be there. It’s us staying local, it’s us staying present, and I just think that matters when it comes to helping the communities be successful.” The Georgia Tech graduate began his career with Southern Company in 1989 as a co-op student at Georgia Power’s Plant Yates and has held positions in various functional areas, including Customer Operations, Sales and Marketing and Power Generation. He has managed plants for both Mississippi Power and Alabama Power. Before moving to Pensacola, Connally was Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer for Georgia Power Company. It hasn’t taken long for Connally and his
family to become a part of this community. He said, “This has been the most welcoming community that I have lived in my career. I'm 25 years into a career at Southern Company. My wife, Amy, and I have moved six times, all across the south, across four states, and by a long shot, this has been the most welcoming community we've ever been a part of.” The Gulf Power CEO credited the culture of Pensacola for the hospitality his family has been shown. “We’re a Navy town,” he said. “We’re used to people coming and going, we welcome them, we bring them into the community, we let them contribute.” Connally said the Pensacola is a town with plenty of heritage, but the heritage doesn't get in the way of people being willing to engage with you. “I've lived in other towns where if you weren't from that town, you’re never going to be from that town,” he said. “I have never sensed that here. Some people talk about other towns having old money or old heritage, that they want to run the show. Look, I haven't had anybody turn me away when I've gotten an idea or I wanted to get involved.” When asked what are the hot button issues we need to get done as a community, Connally didn’t hesitate. “Diversifying our economy,” he said. “I've been on the record and very public talking about an outcome from good economic development must be diversifying our economy. By that, I mean increasing the impact of the innovation space. You've got a group called Innovation Coast that's working to do that. Working to grow the impact of clean manufacturing. We've got a manufactures council now that's working on that.” Connally also talked about the importance of education. Innovation and manufacturing can diversify the local economy
inweekly.net
2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST and create jobs, but our schools need to about how Navy Federal Credit Union has create people who can fill those positions. raised the bar for other employers. “There are thousands upon thousands “It’s the total work experience out of jobs in this community and sometimes there I'm starting to hear more about,” he young people just don't know about [them],” said of Navy Federal’s campus in Beulah. he said. “They don't know how to progress “It’s how they treat their folks; they've got and matriculate through the school system, onsite facilities for health care, those kinds through high school or college or university of things. You don't see people doing that systems to go into those jobs.” anymore or have ever done it.” He said the region’s manufacturers He admitted Gulf Power has been council supports six sets of manufacturing forced to up its game to keep its good academies across Northwest Florida, with employees. “We have some of the same the intent of growing that talent here. kinds of people, customer service repre“We don't need to go to Louisiana to sentatives,” Connally said. “We’re relatively find the talent; we don't need to go to Atcompetitive on a lot of things, but I hear lanta or Birmingham,” Connally said. “Let's every now and again, ‘Navy Federal has got grow it right here, and the beauty of some a cafeteria, they have a good gym or they've of those jobs is got child care.’” they’re here, and Laughing, he “If there's anything that keeps I think there's a added, “Yeah, we me up at night, it’s making sure ought to think number of young people that want the team around me is the right about that a to stay here.” little bit. They've team.” Stan Connally He said the raised the bar for jobs created will a lot of us. The provide good wages to support families. people who moved here from Virginia, I'm A lot of them don't require anything more sure you've talked to them too, they love it than a high school diploma or two-year here. Absolutely love it.” certification. The students don't have to Connally shrugged off being called go rack up hundreds of thousands of dolpowerful or influential. He credited his lars worth of debt getting the necessary employees for any influence he may have. training. “We’re a big team, I think you know this Connally said, “I think that's part of about us, we’re a huge team,” he said. “I the educational conversation. I don't think think we’re all rowing in the same direction enough of our school systems are talking here and every now and again somebody about the jobs right here in our backyard. I gets tired, somebody gets real full. I think my think that's an element of things we got to legacy—whether I'm here 10 years, 20 years keep working on.” or however many years I'm here—has just He would like to see more career got to continue to strengthen this team.” counselors in our high and middle schools. Connally said, “I wish this recognition “They ought to be talking about how you was about Gulf Power Company and not can turn this education into a career, to about me. I just get the privilege of leadraise a family,” Connally said. “There are ing them. They’re doing all the work, and pockets of excellence in public education, I think that's got to be a big piece of my but we've got to grow that much broader legacy—making sure we’ve got people that than it is now.” are going to carry on.” He said another benefit in diversifying He said, “If there's anything that keeps the region is the improved quality of life me up at night, it’s making sure the team and work environments. Connally talked around me is the right team.”
How do you define power? It's the ability and judgment to exercise influence. Many leaders view power as something that comes simply by gaining a position. I see it as something that is earned from serving others and building relationships. How do you use your power to get things done? Selectively, timely and meaningfully. Power is finite—you've got to choose to influence the right things at the right time and in a mean-
April 9, 2015
SE RVAN T L E A D E R
OF BAPTIST HEALTH CAR E Mark T. Faulkner serves our community as chief executive officer and president of Baptist Health Care (BHC). Under his leadership, BHC has realized remarkable accomplishments, including our collaboration with Mayo Clinic, A ratings from top bond rating agencies and the growth of Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute and the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. Faulkner is focused on innovative solutions and resources to support BHC’s Mission to improve the quality of life for our entire community. We are proud to celebrate his recognition on this year’s IN Power List.
ingful way or risk having only marginal influence on too many issues. If you could have a super power what would it be? The vision to see clearly around the next bend. That vision would be very helpful in navigating through uncertain conditions. Who do you think is powerful? I think the most powerful people use their power to serve and advance the causes of others.
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2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST
#2. Julian MacQueen Founder/CEO, Innisfree Hotels How do you define power? I love the quote, “No one is as powerful as we make them out to be.” How do you use your power to get things done? What ever perceived power I have has more to do with being proactive, tenacious and sticking
#3. Teri Levin
with the business model behind the issue versus making it personal. Being collaborative with stakeholders is essential for success. If you could have a super power what would it be? In Pensacola I would break the cycle of poverty. And
of course, peace on earth. Who do you think is powerful? I resonate more toward passive power based on principle. Will Rogers always comes to mind when I think of influence and power.
#4. C. Edward Meadows President, Pensacola
#5. Ji m Reeves
How do you define power? Power can be defined by money, social status or fear; however I define power by honorable leadership that earns the respect of others.
How do you define power? Authority with the responsibility and opportunity to have a positive and meaningful impact, and the influential ability to persuade in a positive and meaningful way.
How do you define power? Power is the ability to persuade or influence through example based on experience and/or demonstrated hard work.
How do you use your power to get things done? I respect others and give them my attention, honesty and positive energy.
How do you use your power to get things done? Act as a facilitator and attempt to build consensus, with the authority to influence the speed and direction needed.
How do you use your power to get things done? Pick your battles and always keep your eye on the big picture! It's always helpful to allow others to take the credit for what has been done. Determine what is right, not who is right.
If you could have a super power what would it be? To help all achieve their potential.
If you could have a super power what would it be? The ability to be effective 100 percent of the time.
Who do you think is powerful? Those we love and those we fear.
Who do you think is powerful? Ronald Reagan was powerful because of his ability to communicate his ideas. He could influence Democrats although he was Republican!
Co-owner Levin Rinke Resort Realty
Attorney At Law
State College
If you could have a super power what would it be? The power to give every child a happy, healthy life. The power to abolish violence in the entire world. Who do you think is powerful? Superman, Mother Teresa , John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Oprah, The Fairy Godmother, Fred Levin, Lewis Bear, Quint Studer and Mayor Ashton Hayward.
April 9, 2015
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2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST
#6. John Peacock Financial
#7. Fred Donovan Jr.
#8. Tamara Fountain
#9. Martha Saunders
How do you define power? Power is often the result of credibility obtained through years of contributions to the community. Power is the ability to act or produce an effect.
How do you define power? The ability to make a difference. This extends beyond good ideas; there are plenty of creative thinkers in the world. Implementation is the key.
How do you define power? In my mind, power is the ability to influence people to consider your ideas and point of view.
How do you define power? Power is a person's ability to effect desired outcomes. The greatest test for the powerful among us is their willingness to help the least powerful.
How do you use your power to get things done? Any "power" or influence attributed to an individual is an extraordinary compliment earned over time. That recognition comes from demonstrating your commitment to the community above self and desire to do the right thing.
How do you use your power to get things done? I like to keep a mental list of good ideas and the corresponding obstacles. The opportunity to deal with an obstacle often develops very quickly, and always involves working on a well-integrated team.
If you could have a super power what would it be? Decrease the poverty level in Escambia County by increasing work and educational opportunities for everyone in our community.
If you could have a super power what would it be? According to my son, Charles: “To fly, because then I could see the earth.”
Advisor, CFP(R), Edward Jones
Who do you think is powerful? Lincoln, JFK, Reagan, Churchill, Thatcher and Clinton.
Principal, Baskerville-Donovan, Inc.
Chief Operations Officer, City of Pensacola
Vice President & Provost, University of West Florida
How do you use your power to get things done? I use my power to build strong teams and lifelong relationships. Working together, we then get to see our work come alive in a way that makes the community better.
How do you use your power to get things done? Like water or electricity, power is most effective when channeled. I use what I have to include and empower more people.
If you could have a super power what would it be? If I could have a super power it would be to add more time to the day!
If you could have a super power what would it be? Harry Potter’s Expecto Patronum. It protects you from dark forces.
Who do you think is powerful? Pope Francis
Who do you think is powerful? The American voter.
Who do you think is powerful? My wife, Leslie, is one of those evenkeel, super content people. It’s almost like a super power.
# 10. Clay Ingram
State Representative, District 1; President & CEO, Greater Pensacola Chamber How do you define power? I have always felt those with power have great influence. I would simply define power as influence. How do you use your power to get things done? Helping others begins by listening and intently trying to under-
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stand their needs. Whatever influence you may have can be used to meet those needs. If you could have a super power what would it be? The power of flight. It would make the trips to Tallahassee much faster. In the meantime,
I am trying to convince my wife to let me work on my private pilot's license! Who do you think is powerful? Outside of the Divine, political leaders with great courage in the face of tremendous odds have always intrigued me; Winston Churchill is one of my favorites.
inweekly.net
Join us on Sunday, April 12th from 11 am - 2 pm at Ever’mans Community Center as we welcome guest speakers Linda Young and Robert Randel. Linda will discuss our local waterways and Robert will discuss how we can all be (vegetable) gardeners.Lunch is being catered by Ever’mans and is free to attendees. There is a room size restriction and RSVP’s are required to mary.earthethics@cox.net.
Congratulations to President Ed Meadows and the 2015 InWeekly Power List Honorees! Pensacola State College is proud of our more than 65-year history of producing some of our area’s most powerful leaders. Associate Degrees | Bachelor’s Degrees Career and Technical Programs Adult Education and GED prep Continuing Education
Join us on Wednesday, April 22nd at Tree House Cinema in Gulf Breeze beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a reception to be followed by a viewing of Plastic Paradise. The film will be followed by a panel discussion discussing plastics in the environment, impacts, to other species, and our health. Tickets are required for this event and can be obtained at link: https://eventbrite.com/event/16344493821/. This event is being brought to you in partnership with Earth Day Pensacola, Taylor, Warren, & Weidner, Earth Ethics, League of Women Voters, and Florida Clean Water Network.
For more information about either event, visit www.earthdaypensacola.org
Go here. Get there. pensacolastate.edu | 850.484.1000 Pensacola State College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, gender/sex, age, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or genetic information in its educational programs, activities or employment. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Associate Vice President of Institutional Diversity at 850-484-1759, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., Pensacola, Florida 32504.
April 9, 2015
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2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST
CONGRATULATIONS,
IWP MEMBERS
ON THE POWER LIST!
#11. Bentina Terry Vice President, Customer Service and Sales, Gulf Power Company How do you define power? The ability to influence outcomes and to work through others—the hardest way to exercise power is indirectly.
Lois Benson Diane Mack Amy Miller Sherri Myers Melanie Nichols Women in leadership doing powerfully good work
www.iwpflorida.org
Ad paid for by Diane Mack Advertising, Inc. Design by Stephanie M. Powell Branding & Design
inspire others to have confidence in following my ideas and decisions.
How do you use your power to get things done? Through building coalition and where appropriate, consensus. If you could have a super power what would it be? Reading minds or healing powers.
If you could have a super power what would it be? The ability to help other people in need. Who do you think is powerful? Jesus. His life not only altered the course of history, but also the lives of people like me.
#14. Carol Carlan President, Sacred Heart Foundation
Who do you think is powerful? My first thought is Jesus. Mainly because of the power he has by giving others power and how much salvation influences those that believe.
#12. Grover Robinson, IV Escambia County Commissioner, District 4 How do you define power? The ability to make good things happen for a community or region. How do you use your power to get things done? I work hard to collaborate with other community leaders and citizens to see that good ideas for our community do happen. If you could have a super power what would it be? Be in multiple locations at the same time. Who do you think is powerful? Rick Outzen and any past recipient of the top spot on this list.
#13. Sandy Sansing President, Sandy Sansing Automotive How do you define power? Being able to influence others through words, deeds and actions. When I can be an influence, I want to be a positive one. How do you use your power to get things done? Hopefully,I live my life in a way to 818 1
benefit others.
How do you define power? I like positive power: those that add value to people rather than manipulating others or putting themselves first. Always thinking of ways to
How do you use your power to get things done? By valuing, respecting and understanding the strengths each person represents and recognizing the talents they bring to the table. It calls for leaving the ego at the door. Understanding what's in it for them. If you could have a super power what would it be? The power to stop fighting and end war. Everyone would value and respect each other for who they are. Who do you think is powerful? Some of my favorites are Daughters of Charity, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi; powerful and influential beyond measure, yet without personal resources.
#15. Troy Rafferty Shareholder, Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty and Proctor, P.A. How do you define power? The ability to convince others of your vision and then
the perseverance to use that vision to effectuate positive change in the community. How do you use your power to get things done? I try to surround myself with positive people and help give them the tools and support they need to be successful. If those around you understand your vision and are successful, everyone benefits. If you could have a super power what would it be? The ability to fly! Not only would it be cool but no more long security lines at airports or canceled flights. Plus I could be home to my wife and daughter a whole lot more! Who do you think is powerful? My wife, Ashley and daughter, Lilly. They have an incredible ability to positively change someone's mood with their smile and a few kind words.
#16. Ken Ford Director & CEO, IHMC How do you define power? In physics, power is the rate of doing work. In human affairs, those that aspire to power probably should not have it. How do you use your power to get things done? I do not think much about personal power. My three P’s of getting things done successfully are passion, persistence and persuasion. If you could have a superpower what would it be? I would like the apparently superhuman power of living this all too brief life as a fully engaged authentic human being. Who do you think is powerful? Seneca is said to have observed that the “Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power."
#17. Sunil Gupta, MD Physician, founder Retina Specialty Institute & Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems How do you define power? The ability as an individual to be able to impact other people's lives in a positive way. inweekly.net
2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST Greater the number, the more power you have created.
responses to humanity's hurts are powerful influencers.
How do you use your power to get things done? Fortunately I have been given the ability to help save sight for my patients, a critical sensory organ in determining quality of life. We are working on scaling that to the underserved populations of patients.
How do you use your power to get things done? I try to exercise personal influence by practicing "servant-leadership." I live three simple rules: Do no harm, do as mush good as possible, and trust God. I'm also inspired by Rotary's motto: service above self.
If you could have a super power what would it be? The ability to transfer knowledge and embed confidence in an individual to use it. With knowledge comes empowerment to achieve. Who do you think is powerful? Ben Franklin, a statesmen and an inventor. Mahatma Gandhi, seeking change, nonviolently.
#18. Debbie Ritchie COO, Studer Group How do you define power? Simply put, power is having the ability or capacity to make something happen. How do you use your power to get things done? I make things happen by making myself part of the solution. I prefer authentic leadership, which I believe is power derived through influence, inspiration and collaboration. If you could have a superpower what would it be? Superhuman intelligence. I often tell our team to find ways to work smarter not harder. With this super power, I could definitely help the team (and me) get more done! Who do you think is powerful? God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13
#19. Jerry Louis Maygarden Executive Director, Pensacola Chamber Foundation How do you define power? I suppose "power" is the ability to "influence" social interaction within a given community. Individual or personal April 9, 2015
If you could have a super power what would it be? Grace. Who do you think is powerful? William Wilberforce
#20. Susan Davis, RN, Ed.D,
President and CEO Sacred Heart Health System, Market Executive, Ascension Health Florida/Alabama/ Community Health Ministries How do you define power? I define power as the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Personal power begins with self awareness, demonstrating confidence, having passion and empathy for others as well as the capacity to tolerate conflict. How do you use your power to get things done? You get things done by having clear expectations, maintaining a focus, having drive and energy and most importantly making sure you develop others and help them be successful. If you could have a superpower what would it be? I would like an unlimited supply of focus and energy as my super powers. Who do you think is powerful? I think of God as the most powerful force in my life. He gives me purpose.
#21. Buzz Ritchie CEO, Gulf Coast Community Bank How do you define power? Power is using commitment, dedication, involvement and attitude to make positive changes occur. How do you use your
power to get things done? Gather the facts and articulate the cause. Be the first to volunteer, the first to take a stand, the first to praise others for their efforts and involvement. If you could have a super power what would it be? To bring peace to the world. To stop the hundreds/thousands of years of pain and suffering caused and justified by differing beliefs and ideologies.
Who do you think is powerful? God, of course. The all-powerful one who is creator and sustainer of all.
#24. Brian Spencer Architect, SMP Architecture How do you define power? Power is the ability to influence the behavior of yourself and others. It can alter predictions and expand expectations.
Who do you think is powerful? Anyone who has a special wonderful pet that gives unquestioned love knows the power of that gift. My little Yorkie , Millie, is powerful!
#22. Tad Ihns President, Avalex Technologies How do you define power? The ability to bring about change or to influence an outcome. How do you use your power to get things done? To build consensus among technology companies and members of Innovation Coast, and to further aerospace and technology initiatives for job growth. If you could have a super power what would it be? To cure disease. Who do you think is powerful? Elon Musk
#23. Mark Faulkner President and CEO, Baptist Health Care How do you define power? To me, power is the capacity to create influence in order to drive desired outcomes; a force to create and sustain movement. How do you use your power to get things done? I spend more time visioning a desired state or result than I do thinking about use of power. If we focus on the tool (power) instead of the outcome, I think we're missing the boat. If you could have a super power what would it be? The ability to travel forward and backward in time in order to shape and influence situations.
How do you use your power to get things done? By recognizing how immeasurably brief and fragile my life is, I feel compelled to act swiftly and with courage. If you could have a super power what would it be? To erase bias and prejudice thinking. Who do you think is powerful? All elementary grade teachers and coaches of youth sports.
#25. Michael Murdoch President & CEO, AppRiver How do you define power? Power is just the ability to make things happen. We all have it. What counts is how we use it. How do you use your power to get things done? I see my role at AppRiver as making sure that the collective power of our team is working toward productive, profitable and ethical objectives. If you could have a super power what would it be? Time travel would make it a lot easier to be all the places I want to be at once. Who do you think is powerful? People with ideas and the discipline to bring them to life are always powerful. AppRiver’s cofounder, Joel Smith, is a great example of someone who wields a lot of power based on the strength of his ideas and his ability to make them real. 19
SHOPPING, DINING & CULTURE.
THIS SATURDAY April 11 • 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Join the merchants of the SOGO DISTRICT, SOUTH OF GOVERNMENT at Palafox, for a day filled with shopping, great food, live music and fun.
SHOP
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AL FRESCO I BETWEEN I BODACIOUS BREW I BODACIOUS OLIVE I CARMEN’S LUNCH BAR I DON ALAN’S I EMERALD COAST TOURS I FIORE OF PENSACOLA I MAINLINE ART HOUSE McALPIN INTERIORS I NOM SUSHI IZAKAYA I O’RILEY’S IRISH PUB I PURE PILATES I SCOUT I SHUX OYSTER BAR I SO CHOPPED I SO GOURMET I SUSAN CAMPBELL JEWELRY I VOLUMEONE SALON
LIVE WEEKDAYS 7 – 8 AM & ON DEMAND AT BLABTV.COM
Tune in each morning to The Daily Brew on BlabTV and catch guest interviews and local stories from the Pensacola area.
Tune In & See Special Guests* Thurs. 4/9 - Wed. 4/15 *Guest schedules are subject to change.
Cyndi Warren • Jennifer Jackson • Frank Dailey Brian Freeman • Stacey Vann • Mark Klass • Brad Dennis Capt. Katie Higgins • Rick Outzen
Congratulations
to two of our own leaders named to the 2015 Power List! Bruce Baldwin
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Andrew Rothfeder President, Studer Properties
inweekly.net
4/6/15 10:54 AM
2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST
Top 10 Power Families
The Inweekly staff felt the need to create the Power Families division for the 2015 Power List because some are even more influential when they join forces with their parents, siblings and spouses. We limited the inaugural list to 10 families.
#1. The Bear Family
Photo by John Blackie, courtesy of UWF
F
ounded in 1876, The Lewis Bear Company is the oldest privately held corporation in Florida, as well as AnheuserBusch's oldest continuous distributor. Unlike many locally-started businesses that either merged or been sold, the company has remained family owned and has been operated by five generations of the Bear family.
The Bear Family Foundation gave $1, 482,272 to area organizations in the 2014, the largest being a $1 million to build a new downtown Pensacola YMCA. In 2013, the family gave $1,000,000 to the University of West Florida for its engineering department and to support an endowed professorship in Supply Chain Logistics. Belle Bear, co-founder of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay, attributes the fam-
Marital and Family Law New Location: 127 Palafox Place Suite 100 Pensacola, Florida | 466-3115 April 9, 2015
ily’s philanthropy and volunteerism to her husband, Lewis Bear, Jr. “I think it just goes from one generation to another, which I think is great,” said Belle. “I think that's where it all started—with Lewis.” Lewis, who topped the 2009 Power List, outlined how the family foundation determines where to make its donations. “Number 1, we're looking for immediate need from organizations that serve the
less fortunate people in the community,” he said. “Number 2, we're looking forward to the things that we can do for this community today that will pay dividends in the future.” He said all the family members and their spouses—Lewis, Jr. and Belle; Lewis, III and his wife Jennifer; David and wife Cindi; and Cindi Bear Bonner and husband, Chad Bonner—decide on the donations. “We all have different interests,” said Lewis, who chairs the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. “Mine is in making sure that we've got a great work force for years to come by educating young people. The toughest part of that is getting them ready to go to school. Then on the other side of that is understanding what the needs are going to be five or six years in the future. At the university level, you can't start today to get a workforce ready for next year.” The level of donations made by the Lewis Family Foundation has even surprised the patriarch. Lewis said, “We never dreamed of giving a million dollars to a single organization. We've done that twice now.” For Cindi Bonner, the family’s philanthropy and volunteer is natural for her siblings and her family. She said, “It's never dawned on me that we won't help people. It's what we know. It's what we do. It's what our children do.” Belle said, “My feeling is coming from doing volunteering, doing the work, seeing the results of what we personally, bodily do. That's the good part.”
Voted “Best Lunch” 2 years running! Lunch Bar 11-4 * Tapas & Wine Bar 4-8 * Open Monday-Saturday 407-B S. Palafox St. | 850-542-4334 | facebook.com/carmenslunchbar 21
2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST
#2. Quint and Rishy Studer The Wisconsin couple, who have made Pensacola their home for the past 20 years, have almost single-handedly launched the 21st century rebirth of downtown Pensacola, and they aren’t finished. Their focus has been on creating jobs and a vibrant downtown. Quint said, “Our Number 1 goal is absolutely to improve the quality of life in Pensacola.”
#3. Merrill Family The grandsons of lumber magnate Burney Henderson—Will, Burney and Collier—have leveraged their family's land holdings into condominiums, residential subdivisions and other properties along the Gulf Coast. They created the Great Southern Restaurant Group, which operates the Fish House, Atlas Oyster House and Jackson's Steakhouse. Their Merrill Land Company owns a number of historic buildings in downtown Pensacola, including Seville Tower and the Bass Building.
#4. Jim & Shirley Cronley Developer Jim Cronley and his wife Shirley,
the former executive director of the Pensacola Sports Association, give back passionately to the community. Shirley has spearheaded the efforts to create the Pensacola Sports Museum, and Jim has helped the county through the many hurdles to creating a firstclass commerce park at OLF 8. Jim said, “We don’t have much but we do our best to help those in need.”
#5. Switzer Family The Switzer brothers—John, Charlie and Bobby—were raised to give back to the community. Much of what they do is done anonymously, but the family announced recently a $500,000 contribution to the YMCA of Northwest Florida for its new downtown facility. Last year, Switzer family contributed a $1 million goes toward construction of the future Charles W. Lamar Studio at Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts on the Pensacola State College Campus.
#6. Corbett and Dee Dee Davis Pensacola’s odd couple could not be further apart politically, but are united in their love for Pensacola. The Davis family’s Jeweler’s Trade Shop has been a fixture of downtown
for more than 50 years. Corbett has been the anchor for downtown’s revitalization. Dee Dee, a former State Representative, is the champion of the little charities that don’t get attention. Together they have had a huge impact on Pensacola.
#7. May Family The late Rev. Theopolis and his wife Mary have created a family legacy that is reaping benefits not only in Pensacola, but also across the country. Lumon is the county commissioner for District 3. He and his wife Tammy run the Southern Youth Sports Association. Lutimothy is the pastor of his father’s church, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and the community outreach co-ordinator for Mayor Ashton Hayward. LaRuby, an attorney, is running for Washington, D.C. council seat once held by the late Marion Barry.4
#8. Woodbury/ Hess Family Charles Woodbury, a decorated Marine major and combat aviator, moved to Pensacola after World War II and created a financial empire. His family owns and operates American Fidelity, Bank of the South, Warrington Bank, and the Bank of Pensacola. Their Margaritaville Beach Hotel on Pensacola Beach has been very successful.
#9. Benson Family With all due respect to Dr. Scott Benson, the Benson women are a powerhouse. Mom Lois has served on the Pensacola City Council, in the Florida House of Representatives and currently is on the Emerald Coast Utility Board. Attorney Holly Benson served in the Florida House. In Governor Charlie Crist’s administration, Holly served as head of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Megan Benson Pratt served on the Pensacola City Council and is the founder of Pensacola’s MESS Hall.
#10. Beck Family Commercial real estate broker Gregg Beck and his children, Justin, who now heads the family business and Autumn, a family law attorney, take a divide and conquer approach to pushing Pensacola ahead, serving on various boards. Justin said, “We all three have pretty distinctly different personalities and so it ends up being our communication methods are different. Yeah, we reaching different people, but we are sending the same message.”
Congratulations to
Grover Robinson
for being named to the 2015 IN Power List. Your positive influence in the Pensacola and Northwest Florida area is leaving a lasting legacy. We are proud to have you as a valued member of the Coldwell Banker Commercial United, REALTORS® team.
cbcunitedgulfcoast.com 4475 Bayou Blvd. • Pensacola, FL 32503 • (850) 432-5320 222 2
CB0356_G-Robinson_IN.indd 1
inweekly.net
4/2/15 12:24 PM
Congratulations to
Danny Zimmern • C ommercial Realtor, Scoggins III Inc.
• P resident, Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc. • V ice-President, Pensacola Little Theater • P resenter, Pensacola Pelican Drop • P resident, NWF Florida Gator Club • D irector, Temple Beth El • M ulti-time Past Champion, Team Superstars • Y Power - Shooting Guard/Captain City-Wide Championship Team (YMCA) • Father to Hannah Zimmern
Danny Zimmern - INWeekly’s Power List 2015 April 9, 2015
23
Putting Pensacola First -Mary Hoxeng
THE LIST 1. Stan Connally, Jr., President/ CEO, Gulf Power Company 2. Julian MacQueen, Founder/ CEO, Innisfree Hotels 3. Teri Levin, Co-owner Levin Rinke Resort Realty 4. C. Edward Meadows, President, Pensacola State College 5. Jim Reeves, Attorney At Law 6. John Peacock, Financial Advisor, CFP(R), Edward Jones 7. Fred Donovan Jr., Principal, Baskerville -Donovan, Inc. 8. Tamara Fountain, Chief Operations Officer, City of Pensacola 9. Martha Saunders, Vice President & Provost, University of West Florida 10. Clay Ingram, State Representative, District 1; President & CEO, Greater Pensacola Chamber 11. Bentina Terry, Vice President, Customer Service and Sales 12. Grover Robinson, IV, Escambia County Commissioner, District 4 13. Sandy Sansing, President, Sandy Sansing Automotive 14. Carol Carlan, President, Sacred Heart Foundation 15. Troy Rafferty, Shareholder, Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty and Proctor, P.A. 16. Ken Ford, Director & CEO, IHMC 17. Sunil Gupta, MD, Physician, founder Retina Specialty Institute & Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems 18. Debbie Ritchie, COO, Studer Group 19. Jerry Louis Maygarden, Executive Director, Pensacola Chamber Foundation 20. Susan Davis RN, Ed.D, President/CEO Sacred Heart Health System 21. Buzz Ritchie, CEO, Gulf Coast Community Bank 22. Tad Ihns, President, Avalex Technologies 23. Mark Faulkner, President/ CEO, Baptist Health Care 24. Brian Spencer, Architect, SMP Architecture 25. Michael Murdoch, President/ CEO, AppRiver
PENSACOLA FIRST PENSACOLA FIRST PENSACOLA FIRST
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26. Debbie Calder, Senior Vice President, Navy Federal Credit Union 27. Steven Barry, Escambia County Commissioner, District 5 28. Ron Ellington, Executive Director of Strategic Planning, Innisfree Hotels 29. Jack Brown, Escambia County Administrator 30. Crystal Spencer, Attorney, Spencer Meador Johnson 31. Scott Remington, Attorney, Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond & Stackhouse, P.A. 32. Robert Rinke, Developer, Levin & Rinke Resort Realty 33. Julie Sheppard, General Counsel, IHMC 34. Scott Luth, President/CEO, CEDA 35. Stephen Sorrell, Executive Director, Emerald Cost Utilities Authority 36. Marcus Michles, Attorney, Michles & Booth 37. Brian Baumgardner, CEO, West Florida Healthcare 38. Jeff Helms, Vice President / Senior Practice Manager, Atkins North America, Inc. 39. Wilson Robertson, Escambia County Commissioner, District 1 40. Dick Appleyard, President, Appleyard Agency 41. Donnie McMahon, President, McMahon & Hadder Insurance 42. Michael Morette, President, Morrette Company 43. John Hutchinson, Chairman, CEDA 44. Ray Palmer, Executive Director, Pensacola Sports Association 45. Mark Proctor, Attorney, Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty & Proctor, P.A. 46. Malcolm Thomas, Superintendent of Schools, Escambia School District 47. Bryan Aylstock, Attorney, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC 48. Doug Underhill, Escambia County Commissioner, District 2 49. Pam Childers, Escambia County Clerk of Courts 50. Mark Lee, Broker, Levin & Rinke Resort Realty inweekly.net
THE LIST 51. David Peaden, Executive Director, Home Builders Association of West Florida 52. Justin Witkin, Attorney, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC 53. Ron Jackson, President, Saltmarsh Cleaveland & Gund 54. Henry Stovall, President, Sacred Heart Hospital 55. Lonnie Wesley, Pastor, Greater Little Rock Baptist Church 56. Patty Hightower, Chair, Escambia County School Board 57. Buck Lee, Executive Director, Santa Rosa Island Authority 58. Linda “Sonshine” Moorer, Radio Host, Magic 106.1 59. Chris Jones, Property Appraiser, Escambia County 60. Steve Hayes, President, Visit Pensacola, Inc. 61. Jay Bradshaw, Owner/President, Coastal Moving & Storage, LLC 62. Sue Straughan, Anchor, WEAR TV 3 63. Gloria Horning, Environmental Activist and Filmmaker 64. William Reynolds, Publisher, NorthEscambia.com 65. Ellis Bullock III, President, E.W. Bullock Associates 66. Melanie Nichols, President, North Hill Preservation Association, Inc. 67. Mort O’Sullivan, Managing Member, Warren Averett, LLC 68. Miller Caldwell Jr., President and Principal Architect, Caldwell Associates Architects, Inc. 69. David Stafford, Supervisor of Elections, Escambia County 70. Diane Mack, President, Institute for Women in Politics 71. Pete Moore, President, Pete Moore Chevrolet 72. Ryan Wiggins, Owner, Full Contact Strategies, LLC 73. Frank White, General Counsel, Sandy Sansing Dealerships 74. Charles Thornton, President, NAACP-Pensacola Branch 75. Bill Greenhut, President, Greenhut Construction 76. Andrew Rothfeder, Partner, Studer Community Development Group April 9, 2015
77. Andy Marlette, Cartoonist, News Journal 78. Gary Michael, Operations Manager, Levin-Rinke Resort Realty 79. Duane D. Thiessen, President/ CEO, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation 80. Danny Zimmern, President, Pensacola Mardi Gras, Inc. 81. Sherri Myers, Pensacola City Council Member, District 2 82. Ray Russenberger, Founder, Marina Management Corporation 83. John Griffing, President/CEO, NAI Halford 84. Bill Wein, President, IMS ExpertServices, Inc. 85. Charles Bare, Pensacola City Council Member, At-Large B 86. Neil Overholtz, Attorney, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC 87. Bernard Yates, Pastor, Zion Hope Primitive Baptist Church 88. Mary Hoxeng, Owner/General Manager, Cat Country 98.7 & NewsRadio1620 89. Nicole Dixon, Executive Director, Gulf Coast African-American Chamber 90. Connie Bookman, Founder/ Executive Director, Pathways For Change 91. Michael Carro, Broker, Sperry Van Ness Commercial Real Estate Group 92. Bruce Baldwin, Board Chairman, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 93. Aaron Watson, Attorney, Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty & Proctor, P.A. 94. Keyontay Humphries, Regional Organizer, American Civil Liberties Union 95. Amy Miller, Port Director, Port of Pensacola 96. Michael Lowery, President, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 97. Neal Nash, Vice President, Martine's Corp. 98. Robin Reshard, Filmmaker, Robert Robino Productions 99. Dr. Joseph Marshall, Pastor, St. John Divine Missionary Baptist Church 100.Ben Galecki, COO/Founder, Heretic Films 25
2015 INWEEKLY POWER LIST
Inweekly Power List Hall of Fame
O
nce you’re named the most influential, you deserve a special place. All top finishers earn berths in this prestigious hall of fame.
Fred Levin (2007)
The flamboyant and outspoken Pensacola trial attorney has the University of Florida law school named after him. His biggest achievement was helping rewrite legislation in 1993 that led to a $13.2 billion settlement by the tobacco industry with the State of Florida.
J. Collier Merrill (2008)
This developer and restaurateur works behind the scenes for the maritime park, downtown improvement and political candidates and causes. With his brothers, Will and Burney, Merrill co-
owns Merrill Land Company, a real estate development and holding firm, along with The Fish House, Atlas Oyster House and Jackson’s Steakhouse in Pensacola.
Lewis Bear Jr. (2009)
It’s difficult to find a charity or community organization that hasn’t been helped by the Lewis Bear family. Bear was the driving force behind the Greater Pensacola Chamber’s economic development efforts and does a masterful job at reining the many political forces at play.
626 2
(2011)
Pensacola’s young mayor came on in his first year as a superstar, accomplishing most of his top 20 campaign goals in his first year in office. In 2012 he tackled city pensions, getting the general employees and police unions to close their plans.
(2012)
The founder of Studer Group and co-owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos was the big champion for the Community Maritime Park. Autism Pensacola, Pensacola Business Challenge
When leaders endeavor to improve their communities, it can have a very powerful effect. Business, industry, the culture, the arts and all areas of life benefit. We salute Independent News’ top 100 most influential leaders who work tirelessly to make a better community for everyone.
Ashton Hayward
Dr. Judy Bense
Quint Studer (2010)
and the Pensacola Promise scholars have all benefited from his and his wife Rishy’s philanthropy.
She is the hero of every interim officer, turning what was originally only a 12-month gig into a full-time contract that was recently extended by her board of trustees. Bense is, by far, the best politician in the Pensacola area
and has substantial influence on the state level.
David Morgan (2013)
The Escambia County Sheriff handily defeated his opponents in the Republican primary and 2012 general election. His straightforward, direct approach to law enforcement has made him one of the most well-known sheriff s in the state.
Mike Papantonio (2014)
Considered the nation’s top trial attorney in the field of mass torts, Pensacola’s Renaissance man is a regular commentator on several news networks, author, jazz musician and co-hosts the nationally syndicated radio show “Ring of Fire” with Bobby Kennedy, Jr.
We’re especially proud of two of our own — Stan Connally and Bentina Terry, who were named to this list with many other deserving leaders. Together, we have the power to make our area a better place to live, work and play.
MyGulfPower.com
inweekly.net
April 9, 2015
27
FOURTH ANNUAL
Toasts of the Coasts A Food and Wine Series
THURSDAY, APRIL 23 3 wines, 4-course dinner with Larry Soble featuring wines from the Sean Minor Family of Wines
FAMILY OF WINES
Larry manages the sales and distribution of Sean Minor Wines in 19 states. He started in the wine industry in 1996, and broadened his expertise by working in a number of areas within the industry, eventually finding his passion with the Sean Minor Family of Wines. Seating is limited. Reservations required. $65 per person. Event begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. View the full menu online! (PLUS TAX AND GRATUITY.)
RESERVE YOUR TABLE TODAY AT 433-9450.
OPEN DAILY AT 11 A.M. · (850) 470-0003 · 600 S. BARRACKS ST. · FISHHOUSEPENSACOLA.COM
Congratulations Collier Merrill 2015 Power List Selection
Thank you for your leadership as the tourism industry and Visit Pensacola celebrated another successful year. Tourism is a multi-million dollar industry in our county. In 2014, visitors spent an average of $1,122 per trip, stayed an average of 7.3 nights and helped sustain close to 16,000 jobs. To learn more about activities, events and offerings for guests, please visit www.VisitPensacola.com
www.VisitPensacola.org 828 2
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WEEK OF APRIL 9-16
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
Batter Up by Ben Sheffler
said. "That's always a key to a good defense." With one of the top pitchers from last season moving up to the Louisville Bats or possibly the Cincinnati Reds, the Blue Wahoos are in need of an ace. "We’re really looking forward to Robert Stephenson stepping up," Kelly said. "I think last year he got a full year under his belt, he's got one of the better arms in the organization, and to start the year in Pensacola I think he's our number one guy." Kyle Waldrop and Jesse Winker are two more players Kelly said to watch. "I think those guys are two left-handed bats that should really do a lot for us offensively," he said. Although he said scoring runs is fun, Kelly is a defense-minded manager. "I think we’ve found through the years that pitching and defense, and especially in [Bayfront Stadium] with the prevailing wind coming in from the right field corner, it's a place where you've got to be able pitch and play defense to win ball games," he said. Having been a manager for so long, Kelly knows how special the community support is to the Blue Wahoos. "It's very exciting to come to a city that really supports the club like Pensacola does," he said. "Everybody seems to be a Blue Wahoos fan and very supportive, and in the minor leagues you don’t always get that." {in}
“Everybody seems to be a Blue Wahoos fan and very supportive, and in the minor leagues you don’t always get that.” Pat Kelly
New food. New partners. New parking lot. New manager. These are some of the additions to the Blue Wahoos organization for the 2015 season. "One of the things we want to do is make sure we're staying fresh and staying on top of everything, where it's not the same ballpark you came to last year," said Jonathan Griffith, president of the Blue Wahoos. Griffith said one addition to the stadium is the Wahoos Lounge, a private club area that will offer higher-end foods. Two-time Masters champion and minority owner, Bubba Watson is quickly making his presence known at the stadium. He will have his own food stop behind home plate—Bubba’s Sand Trap. "In that area you’re able to get close to 100 different beverages, as well as oysters, peeled shrimp and sushi," Griffith said. "It's just great for the entire community to have such a strong leader, good person [and someone with] good family values on your team and wanting the best for Pensacola, as well as the Blue Wahoos. It really has been a great partnership for everyone," Griffith said of Watson. A new parking lot on Main and DeVilliers streets, the site of the old ECUA plant, will hold about 500 cars, and a shuttle will take fans to the stadium, Griffith said. Season ticket holders will have priority, and others can pay $5 to park. Every game will now be broadcast on NewsRadio 1620 beginning opening day. April 9, 2015
"Everybody knows The Cat (Cat Country, NewsRadio 1620's sister station) and Kazoo, and having those two team up together, both familyowned and local, is really a great partnership for us," Griffith said.
THE TEAM
New to the organization, Pat Kelly will manage the Blue Wahoos this season. He has more than 20 years of managerial experience and is coming from the Bakersfield Blaze, where he led the team to the division finals last season. Kelly said he's looking forward to starting the season with a great organization at a great facility. "It looks like we're going to bring in a very solid team," he said. "I think right now the nucleus of the club looks pretty good." The Blue Wahoos finished in last place in their division in 2014, but Kelly is optimistic about the future. "I think last year they really had a very good starting [pitching] staff and then struggled with the bullpen holding leads," he said. “Hopefully we can strengthen that bullpen [to] give us a chance to win those games late." Kelly said he likes the look of where the team will be defensively, WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9 WHERE: Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. citing a solid infield with competiCedar St. tions taking place for shortstop and DETAILS: bluewahoos.com second base. "It looks like we're going to have a very solid defense up the middle," he
BLUE WAHOOS OPENING DAY 2015
Day By Day
2015 Weekly Promotions
GIVE BACK MONDAYS
Local nonprofits can sell fundraising tickets. The group that sells the most gets an additional $1000 from the Blue Wahoos.
FAT TUESDAY
New this year, fans will have a chance to buy individual tickets to the ThreeTier Party Deck for an all-you-can-eat buffet for 90 minutes.
WAHOO WEDNESDAYS
Beginning June 10, there will be midfireworks and “wacky” theme nights.
THIRSTY THURSDAY Drink specials in the park.
FANTASTIC FRIDAYS
Free premium giveaways to the first 2,000 fans at the game.
FIREWORKS SATURDAYS Once again, Saturdays will feature post-game fireworks.
FAMILY SUNDAY/ MILITARY APPRECIATION
Kids can run the bases post-game and play catch on the field. The Wahoos will also honor 200 military guests each game. 29
HAS BP DENIED June 8, 2015 – Deadline YOUR BUSINESS Have You Filed Your BP Claim? CLAIM IN THE OIL
SPILL SETTLEMENT? Has BP filed an Appeal of the amount you have claimed in the Oil Spill Economic Loss Settlement? Did you receive a Notice of a Deficiency when you filed your BP Oil Spill Claim? Did you file your own claim but have not yet had any response?
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Ears & Fingers by Jason Leger
RETROSPECT:
Wilco “A.M.”
A lot can happen in 20 years. Twenty years ago, Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb in Oklahoma City. Twenty years ago, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of killing his wife. Twenty years ago, Windows 95 and the DVD format were released. In the space between 1995 and now, we have lost Jerry Garcia, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer. Last month also marked 20 years since the release of Wilco’s debut album, “A.M.” In the era following this release, Wilco have risen to the rank of American treasure and have solidified their place in rock history. “A.M.” came just a short period of time following the break-up of alt-country innovators Uncle Tupelo, which was the brain child of Jeff Tweedy and Son Volt’s Jay Farrar. Their parting was tumultuous, and the race was on between the two to outdo each other. Time has shown that while Son Volt have produced several great
albums, Wilco have become legendary. “A.M.” is the starting point that would lead to “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” one of the greatest albums of all time, and even that early in the game, the elements that make Wilco great are there. Tweedy’s laid back baritone, the alt-rock nods, as well as the leanings upon George Jonesvia-Gram Parsons country and western overtones stimulate the entire album and make it still resonate and relate today. The songs of heartbreak, heavy drinking and run-ins with the cops don’t hinder making the whole album feel that much more real. “A.M.” proved to be a welcome opening act to a band that would be no stranger to change, struggle and success over the following two decades. Now, let’s cross our fingers for something new this year. “A.M.” has been out for 20 years via Reprise Records.
IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD:
SUSAN DUNLOP, MA, CHT
INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST
850-346-7865 EAST HILL
www.luminouslifehypnotherapy.com April 9, 2015
TRACK OF THE WEEK:
Alpine ‘Foolish’
We are already seeing the familiar bits of summer creeping in. The Florida heat and humidity. Bands on the Beach. Target bathing suits. The signs are all here. Last week, the first jam of summer made its way to me. Breezy, light, mildly discoinfused and catchy as hell, ‘Foolish,’ the first taste of the new LP, “Yuck,” from Australia’s Alpine is already a welcome addition to my seasonal playlist, and I highly recommend adding it to yours. “Yuck” is out June 16 via Ivy League Records. {in}
Hannah Cohen
New York based singer, songwriter, model and chanteuse Hannah Cohen comes from a long line of musicians, which means that while she has a ball to drop, the flip side is having a legacy to maintain. For her second full-length, “Pleasure Boy,” Cohen drew from personal experience following a break-up to make an album of painful songs with airy, reserved energy, while adding experimenta-
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FOREVER DIETING? TIME TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD. A LUMINOUS LIFE HYPNOTHERAPY
tion and ambition to her cache. Though obvious comparisons to Lana Del Rey can be made, they are wholly unfair. Cohen stands on her own with a vulnerability that Del Rey just doesn’t seem to be able to reach. Her most recent single, ‘Baby,’ was what caught my attention. Its stripped down to almost nothing sound provided an eased introduction to Cohen’s refined while not overdone resonance. “Pleasure Boy” is out now via Bella Union.
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www.fioreofpensacola.com 31
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Wine & Jazz By Emily Richey
JazzFest poster art by Nina Fritz Pensacola is celebrating spring this weekend with two festivals—Pensacola JazzFest and Bayfront Wine Festival. Start the weekend at the 32nd Annual Pensacola JazzFest, a free two-day
event in historic Seville Square. The festival, which is put on by the Jazz Society of Pensacola, will feature a slew of talented musicians, arts and crafts, and great food vendors. The line up will be composed of eight school bands from various middle schools, high schools, and colleges, as well as Gino Rosaria, Fred Domulot with the Guffman Trio, Holly Shelton, Steve Gilmore, John Link, Brent Purcell, Chuck Shwartz, Joe Occhipinti, DUKES of Dixieland and Roman Street. Kids are more than welcome at the fest, and there will even be a “Kiddies Harmonica and Kazoo Jam” on both Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. If you’re up for making a day of it on Saturday, head a few blocks over to the Bayfront Wine Festival. Located on the Pensacola Bayfront in Plaza de Luna and hosted by Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille, the festival will feature a bourbon tasting tent, a beer garden and plenty of wine.
“It will be a great way to kick off all of the wonderful outdoor activities that one can enjoy in Pensacola, and it couldn’t have a much more picturesque backdrop than our amazing Bayfront,” said festival director Jehan Clark. “There will be over 70 wines from all over the world. We will have wines to sample from Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Argentina, as well as some great selections from our own west coast, including Washington State and California.” In terms of what to taste, Clark gave some tips. “If you are a beer drinker, we will have some very unique and hard to find products from both New Belgium and Abita. As far as wines, I highly recommend some of the lesser-known, unique selections we will have. The Lea Pinot Noir, Cypher Anarchy, Big Easy Syrah or Patz & Hall Chardonnay are all great options depending on your varietal preference. Make sure not to miss the Papa's Pilar Dark, Jack
Daniel’s Single Barrel and Stranahan's at the craft spirits area.” {in}
PENSACOLA JAZZFEST 2015
WHEN: 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12 WHERE: Seville Square COST: Free DETAILS: jazzpensacola.com
BAYFRONT WINE FESTIVAL
WHEN: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 11 WHERE: Plaza de Luna, 997 S. Palafox COST: $30 per adult DETAILS: bayfrontwinefestival.com
VISAGE Entertainment:
Wayne Toups
Lost Bayou Ramblers The Daisy Dukes Hotel Oscar Blues Old Stand • Peek Voodoo Gumbo Naughty Professor
Cha Wa • Ryan Balthrop Band • Lee Yankie
Wayne Toups
An exhibition by BFA candidates that uses various media to portray the human form March 23-April 24, 2015 at Gallery 88
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Live Entertainment • Fresh Crawfish • Family Fun
Friday, May 1: Noon-11 p.m. Saturday, May 2: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday, May 3: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
UWF’s BFA exhibition Visage will feature student artists Jaime Diffee, Elizabeth Guerry, Jasmine Holmes, Kenneth Jordon, Lexie Reames, and Jenea Wood.
$5 per day/$10 weekend pass • Kids 12 and under get in FREE! Free for active duty military with ID (Friday only)
More info: www.FiestaofFiveFlags.org or 850.433.6512 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 88, Pensacola, FL | 850.474.2787 232 3
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Congratulations 2015 Inweekly Power List
Thank You
for the difference you make
www.studergroup.com April 9, 2015
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HAS BP DENIED Coming Back Stronger YOUR BUSINESS The law fi rm of Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Rafferty and Proctor, P.A. would like to congratulate
by Jennifer Leigh
CLAIM IN THE OIL
SPILL SETTLEMENT? Troy Rafferty Has BP filed an Appeal of the amount you have claimed in the Oil Spill Economic Loss Settlement?
Mark Proctor
& of a Deficiency Did you receive a Notice when you filed your BP Oil Spill Claim?
Aaron Watson Did you file your own claim but have notbeing yet had response? on partany of this year’s
YouPower may now List need the services of a lawyer toThe work your claim forList compensation honoron of topping the Power was previously in the BP Oil Spill Settlement for the economic losses of your business. bestowed upon
Fred Levin Look for a lawPapantonio firm that knows the & Mike
law and has experience working in the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Economic Loss Settlement process. Our thanks to the staff and readers of the Independent News
Call Today – 888-435-7001
Pensacola, FL
Scott and Molli Novota are asking the community to help bring back the Strong Street Studio. Last year glass-blowing artist Scott and his wife, Molli, moved their East Hill studio downtown, but their transition plans were stopped shortly after. “Approximately one week prior to closing on the new property, the roof collapsed on the building we were using for storage—an old window factory at Belmont and DeVilliers,” Molli said. “The brick wall blew out the side, the roof caved in. All of our equipment and electronics were ruined.” The owner of the old building didn’t have insurance. Molli said they tried to salvage what they could, but it wasn’t much. “We’re trying to repair what equipment we can after the salvage operation,” she said. “Nothing was unscathed, even the pieces we could recover will still need to either be rebuilt or replaced.” Since then Strong Street Studio has not been operating, but they’ve been brainstorming ways to get back on their feet. And that includes calling on the community with a creative Kickstarter campaign.
THURSDAY 4.9
WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Try some-
thing new every week at Aragon Wine Market’s regular wine tasting, only a few blocks from downtown. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com SUMMER GRILLING: THAI-STYLE 6-8 p.m. A cooking class focused on grilling with Thai flavors. Pensacola Cooks, 3670 Barrancas Ave. $30. pensacolacooks.com BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 6:30 p.m. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com
FRIDAY 4.10
WINES WITH HILARY: THE REGION 4-5 p.m.
Wine education and tasting gathering.
D0828132742
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Y • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE
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“We want to make sure everyone that helps us gets something in return,” Molli said. “Not only something, but something special. Our hope is that in doing so the community will feel invested and a part of Strong Street Studio.” Rewards for donating start at $10 and include the famous glass pumpkins, shot glasses, custom pieces and even studio experience packages. “One of the rewards gives you the ability to design and/or participate in creating a custom vase in which Fiore of Pensacola will provide a custom floral bouquet,” Molli explained. While the $20,000 goal of the campaign does not fully cover the losses, Molli said it will be enough for a functional—albeit bare minimal—studio for Scott and his brother Ryan. “It is our goal to make Strong Street Studio more accessible to the community in the new space,” Molli said. “We’re reaching out not only to get the studio back up and running, but to also engage with the community to feel invested in the future.” {in}
HELP REBUILD STRONG STREET STUDIO
Visit Kickstarter.com and search ‘strong street studio.’ The campaign ends April 30.
SoGourmet, above Bodacious Olive, 407 S. Palafox. $15. sogourmetpensacola.com WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Out and about in East Hill on Friday night? Stop by City Grocery for their free weekly wine tasting before settling in or heading out for the night. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. COAL CHAMBER 6 p.m. With Filter, Combichrist, American Head Charge, and Saint Ridley. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $30. vinylmusichall.com BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 6:30 p.m. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com COUPLES COOK: SUSHI TECHNIQUES 7-9 p.m. Learn how to make your own sushi with your partner. Feel free to bring your own wine. Pensacola Cooks, 3670 Barrancas Ave. $50. pensacolacooks.com inweekly.net
Congratulations to McMahon & Hadder:
2014 Florida Agency of the Year from the Professional Insurance Agents of Florida
PensacolaJazzFest 2015 April 11 – 12 • Seville Square Free admission • 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Holly Shelton
DUKES of Dixieland
Poster by Nina Fritz Roman Street
Also, congratulations
Donnie Mcmahon for making the Inwekely Power List again
484-7011 | QUOTEPENSACOLA.COM
April 9, 2015
Gino Rosaria
Guffman Trio
Joe Occhipinti Big Band
Music • Arts & Crafts • Kids Area • Food & Drinks Plus College, High School & Middle School Jazz Bands
The one for JAZZ on the Gulf Coast! jazzpensacola.com
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calendar
Singin’ in the Saenger by Jennifer Leigh
The “Grand Dame of Palafox” is turning 90 and you’re invited to the birthday party. Since opening in 1925, the Saenger Theatre has been home to countless productions.
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN 7 p.m. The Saenger’s
Classic Movie Series returns with “Singin’ in the Rain.” Saenger Theater, 118 S.
636 3
But one of the most popular events is its Classic Movie Series, which invites all ages to enjoy a classic film inside the timeless venue. In celebration of 90 years, Saenger will be showing “Singin’ in the Rain.” The 1952 musical comedy starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds, tells the story of a silent film production company transitioning to sound. The film showcases a time in Hollywood when stars were triple threats who could sing, dance and act. Songs featured in the movie such as “Good Morning” and “Singin’ in the Rain” have almost become more popular than the movie itself. Coincidentally, the film’s release date, April 11, is also the Saenger screening. You can call the $5 admission your
Palafox. $5. pensacolasaenger.com
THE DUPPIES 9:30 p.m. The Handlebar, 319
N. Tarragona St. $6. pensacolahandlebar.com
gift to the theatre, since proceeds will be donated to the Great Saenger Pipe Organ Capital Campaign. And don’t forget to be social with the Saenger and say ‘Happy Birthday’ by sharing your favorite moments at the Classic Movie Series on their Facebook page and give suggestions for future screenings using #90Saenger. {in}
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 11 WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox COST: $5 DETAILS: pensacolasaenger.com
AFTHENAYSAYER 9:30 p.m. Sluggo’s, 101 S.
Jefferson St. sluggospensacola.com $5
SATURDAY 4.11
EPILEPSY WALK 9 a.m. 1st Annual Walk the Talk for Epilepsy inside the Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Money raised benefits Pensacola’s Epilepsy Resource Center, our community’s only first-stop one-stop for those living with epilepsy and their caregivers. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques are just a few of the items offered at the weekly Palafox Market. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com PENSACOLA JAZZFEST 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Seville Square. jazzpensacola.com THE WISDOM OF MYTH 10:30 a.m.-noon. Ever wonder what stories of mythology really mean? Do they contain hidden insights? Come explore how the wisdom of ancient myths can affect you today. West Florida Public Library, 239 N. Spring St. mythos.sd@gmail.com BLUEGRASS AND FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Blue Angels Music is hosting their 2nd annual Bluegrass and Folk music festival, featuring Delta Reign and Alabama Gentleman. 657 N. Pace Blvd. BAYFRONT WINE FESTIVAL 1-5 p.m. Plaza de Luna, 997 S. Palafox. $30 per adult. bayfrontwinefestival.com
inweekly.net
April 9, 2015
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calendar PENSACOLA OPERA’S OPERAZZI BALL
6:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Pirate’s Promenade.” The evening will include a sitdown dinner, dancing to music by The Don Snowden Big Band with Holly Shelton, and special performances by Pensacola Opera’s 2015 Artists in Residence. Dress is blacktie. New World Landing, 600 S. Palafox St. $150. pensacolaopera.com BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 6:30 p.m. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com CABARET! TIMEWARP: A MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME 7 p.m. Pensacola Little
Theatre’s annual fundraising event will take place this Saturday. This year, “Timewarp: A Musical Journey Through Time” features five venues decorated with themes from different decades that will transform the entire building into a musical tour through time complete with signature drinks, entertainment, silent auction, gourmet goodies, and dancing. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets: $50, Bar Wristband: $25 pensacolalittletheatre.com SIR MICHAI ROCKS 9 p.m. With Robb Bank$ and Pouya. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $10-$50. vinylmusichall.com
SUNDAY 4.12
PENSACOLA JAZZFEST 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m.
Seville Square. jazzpensacola.com BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 4 p.m. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com J BOOG 7 p.m. With Innavision, Westafa, and Horizen. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $15. vinylmusichall.com
MONDAY 4.13
MEMPHIS 7:30 p.m. A new Broadway musi-
cal full of dancing, songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Saenger Theater, 118 S. Palafox. $48. pensacolasaenger.com
TUESDAY 4.14
TUESDAY NIGHT POETRY NIGHT 7 p.m.
Free open mic poetry event every Tuesday. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. facebook.com/TNPNS
BLUE WAHOOS BASEBALL 6:30 p.m. Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. bluewahoos.com BANDS ON THE BEACH 7 p.m. 13th Hourglass will perform at this week’s Bands on the Beach—which is a free outdoor concert series featuring regional artists held every Tuesday night through Oct. 27. Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach, 735 Pensacola Beach Blvd. visitpensacolabeach.com DANCECRAFT SWING CLASS 7:30-9 p.m. This class teaches the skills necessary to become a practitioner of West Coast Swing, a popular partner dance that can be enjoyed with virtually any kind of music. Additional classes and a social dance are held each Wednesday for a chance to put your skills to use. Tuesday class fee is $10 per person or free for people 30 years of age and younger. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com CELTIC WOMEN 10th ANNIVERSARY 7 p.m. Saenger Theater, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets start at $42. pensacolasaenger.com AER 7 p.m. With Jez Dior and Packy. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $15-$18 vinylmusichall.com
WEDNESDAY 4.15
GRANDMA’S KITCHEN COOKING CLASS 121:30 p.m. What secrets did your grandmother and mama share with you? Bring yours to share and our chefs will share theirs too. SoGourmet, above Bodacious Olive, 407 S. Palafox. $15. sogourmetpensacola.com COOKING FUN-DA-MENTALS 6-8 p.m. Learn how to deconstruct a chicken, stock your pantry, and employ basic cooking techniques such as boiling, poaching, simmering, and steaming. Pensacola Cooks, 3670 Barrancas Ave. $30. pensacolacooks.com WEST COAST WEDNESDAYS 6:30 p.m. Learn the West Coast Swing at this weekly class, which is followed by a social dance at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday classes are $10 per person and the social dance is $5 per. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS 7:30 p.m. With Paracosm, Conspiracy Effect,and 13th Shade. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. $12. pensacolahandlebar.com
—Creative Organic Vegan Cuisine, Coffee & Catering—
arts & culture
≥current exhibits
MODERN RETRO
Includes the work of Valerie Aune, Tammy Casperson, and Suzanne Tuzzeo, and incorporates the old and the new…with a twist. On display through May 30. Gallery hours and locations: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sunday 12:30-4:00 p.m. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St. bluemorninggallery.com
ARTFUL SISTERS’ SHOW AT QUAYSIDE
Mary Lou Nicolai, Joy Sims, and Dixie Ferrer, are three very different sisters but they have very strong bonds. Their art will be on display through May 2. Gallery hours and location: Monday– Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5p.m. Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zarragossa St. quaysidegallery.com ART EXHIBIT BY ALUMNUS PATRICK JACOBS AT TAG UWF Cur-
rently based out of Brooklyn, internationally-recognized artist Patrick Jacobs creates miniature dioramas which are installed behind the gallery walls. On
display through April 18. Gallery hours and location: TuesdayFriday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 12-4 p.m. TAG UWF, Pensacola Main Campus, Building 82, 11000 University Pkwy. tag82uwf. wordpress.com
ARTEL GALLERY PRESENTS THE GO SHOW On exhibit
until April 17. Gallery hours and location: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, Old County Courthouse. artelgallery.org FACES BY DOTTIE KING Also on exhibit
at Artel Gallery until April 17. Gallery hours and location: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, Old County Courthouse. artelgallery.org METAMORPHOSIS AT MAINLINE Cindy
Mathis (Lewis) is a self-taught, multidisciplinary artist with an extensive background in both visual and applied arts. Gallery hours and location: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mainline Art House, 442 S. Palafox. mainlinearthouse.com OBJECT: SCULPTURES, PRINTS, AND DRAWINGS AT PMA Michael Boles,
Pensacola State
College Professor of Art and active member of our community’s art scene, is exhibiting his body of work at the Pensacola Museum of Art through April 18. Exhibit includes work from the past ten years of Boles’s life. “Sketches of Spain” by Nina Fritz, also remains on display through April 18. Museum hours and location: TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for members, children 17 and under, seniors and active duty military. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org
≥call for art
FOR THE LOVE OF BROWNSVILLE The
Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), in partnership with Lamar Advertising and Artel Gallery, is proud to bring urban art to the Brownsville area. The theme of this year’s competition is “For the Love of Brownsville.” Artists are invited to create a work of art that shows a loving, artful and united side of the Brownsville Community.
Drop off deadline is Friday, April 10, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Artel Gallery. Submissions will be juried by a panel of artists, business leaders, and community leaders. Email info@ artelgallery.org for more information and guidelines, or call 432-3080. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, Old County Courthouse. artelgallery.org
GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FEST Artist
applications are now open for the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, to be held Nov. 6 - 8 in Seville Square. The three-day, juried art show draws thousands of visitors and more than 200 of the nation's best painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists, craftsmen and other artists. Cash prizes totaling $25,000 will be awarded. Jury fee is $40; deadline for entry is May 31. Artists can apply at ggaf.org/apply. ALMOST NOTHING: EXPLORING MINIMALISM A juried
show, judged by Rick Otoupalik, coming to Artel Gallery April 21-May 29. For artist guidelines and drop off information go to artelgallery.org.
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news of the weird WAIT, WHAT? An unarmed man, suspected of no crime, who three years ago was shot 16 times by police while lying in his bed, told a Seattle Times reporter in March that he bears no ill will for the cops who shot him. Said Dustin Theoharis, now 32, "Sometimes (police) make mistakes." Theoharis was napping in a friend's house in Puyallup, Washington, when police arrived to arrest the friend's son, and when Theoharis reached for his ID, one officer imagined a gun, and the two officers opened fire, hitting Theoharis in the jaw, both upper arms, both lower arms, wrist, hand, shoulder, abdomen and both legs. He spent months in a hospital and skilled nursing facility and today is largely immobile and unable to work. (He "won" legal settlements totaling $5.5 million, but one-third went to lawyers, and much of the rest has paid medical bills.) CAN'T POSSIBLY BE TRUE Update: According to the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, it appears that some of the 2016 Summer Olympics aquatic events will take place among floating household trash and raw sewage in Guanabara Bay (although Mayor Eduardo Paes noted to the Associated Press in March that the events are scheduled for the "cleanest part" of the bay). To acquire the games, organizers had promised a massive cleanup, but now, with 500 days to go, Paes conceded that the goals will not be met and that, indeed, infrastructure improvements still have not halted the sewage flow into the bay. •Despite the skepticism of a few tech writers, the Internet pornography super-site Pornhub insists that it is developing a wristband that stores energy (enough to power a cellphone) that can be generated by the "up and down" motion of masturbation. Pornhub announced in February that it will soon begin recruiting human testers for its Wankband. CULTURAL DIVERSITY Super-Protective Parenting: Standardized placement exams are typically far more determinative of student success in Asian countries than the United States, and in March in some testing centers
by Chuck Shepherd
in India's Bihar state, "traditional" rampant cheating became grotesque. Dozens of parents were seen climbing outside walls of one center (to pass answers and notes to the students), reminiscent of movie depictions of Santa Anna's army scaling the walls of the Alamo. The week-long secondary school exams, testing 1.4 million students, had early-on seen 400-plus students expelled, nine bags of cheat sheets confiscated, and at least seven parents arrested. However, officials admitted that their security forces were overmatched by parents desperate to assist their children. THE ARISTOCRATS! Police in Grandville, Michigan, arrested David Slovinski, 51, following a pair of January incidents in which he approached employees of Meijer stores and showed them cellphone photos of his genitals. Slovinski, already a "sexually delinquent person" under the law, was on a GPS monitor during the incidents. He later told a police investigator that he knew what he was doing was wrong, but that showing his penis to people "cheers me up when I'm feeling down." LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Recurring Theme: Perpetrators on the run frequently, unintentionally reveal their whereabouts by their need to show off on social media, but Christopher Wallace has reached legendary show-off status. Being sought in connection with a January burglary, he went to his home in Fairfield, Maine—and posted on the Snapchat site that that's where he was. Police arrived and, during their canvass, noticed a brand-new Snapchat post from Wallace— mischievously writing that police were in his home right then, searching for him, but that he was cunningly hiding in a cabinet. Police opened the cabinet and arrested him. {in}
From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2015 Chuck Shepherd
Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com
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Caps Off to All Who Make Our Community Better! The Lewis Bear Company and the Bear Family would like to thank everyone who shares our commitment to giving back. We are grateful and indebted to the members of our company and to everyone in the community who volunteers their time and talents to make a positive impact in Northwest Florida. It is only with your help and support that our Family is able to achieve any success or accomplish anything to help our community grow stronger.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE HONORED ON THE IN 2015 POWER LIST Independent News | April 9, 2015 | inweekly.net LB0180 Power List 2015 ad.indd 1
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