Inweekly Feb. 8 2024 Issue by Inweekly

RISING STARS 2024

Independent News | February 8, 2024 | Volume 25 | Number 5 | Photos by Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations)

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winners & losers

outtakes

news 6

Worrying only makes you suffer twice.

rising stars 11

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Joshua Encinias, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Dakota Parks, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2024 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

I’m not 99% of lawyers

There are 1,400 lawyers in our area* and less than 1% are Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice* by both the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

zarzaurlaw.com • (855)hirejoe • pensacola, fl *Board Certification by the Florida Bar Association and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy. Statistical information current as of November 2021.

inweekly.net

UWF STEAM Public Sculpture “Constellations”

Our constellation of stars shines BRIGHTER TOGETHER

The University of West Florida proudly celebrates our dynamic, future-focused rising stars. They inspire our community to challenge convention, embrace innovation and boldly envision the promise of tomorrow.

BRANDON “GROVER” BALLARD Instructor, Composition Program Assistant Department of English

February 8, 2024

uwf.edu

ANNA LOCHAS

ETHAN HENLEY

Board of Trustees Liaison Director of Public Policy Events

Director Undergraduate Admissions

winners & losers

Photo Courtesy of Cox Communications

winners

Leading the way in ER care When you need care quickly, doctors and care teams at Ascension Sacred Heart listen to quickly understand and care for your needs. Our ERs are open 24/7 and backed by leading heart, stroke, surgical and trauma specialists that are always ready to deliver expedited care for your symptoms and injuries. And before you leave, our ER care navigators connect you to follow-up care, including specialist appointments, labs, imaging and your preferred pharmacy. The ER at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola is a Level II trauma center, delivering advanced care for life-threatening and traumatic injury such as complex fractures, spine injury, brain injury, uncontrolled hemorrhages, and blood vessel injuries. And when your child needs immediate, advanced emergency care, the ER at Studer Family Children’s Hospital is a pediatric trauma center — specially designed and staffed for children with serious illness and injury.

To find your nearest Ascension Sacred Heart ER or chat with us, visit us at ascension.org/SacredHeartCare

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or dial 911. 44

Vivek Ramaswamy / Aaron of L.A. Photography / shutterstock.com

losers

COX COMMUNICATIONS EMPLOYEES

Through its Cox Charities Community Investment Grants program, Cox Communications employees have awarded $17,000 in grants to local nonprofits. Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, Inc. received $4,000 for the Young Learners-Brain and Body Development program. YMCA of Northwest Florida received a $3,000 grant to assist West Pensacola Elementary students get glasses.

SWIFTLESS Conservative media personalities from Vivek Ramaswamy to multiple Fox News hosts are fuming over a new enemy with substantial social media influence: Taylor Swift. They demand she stay out of politics. Some MAGA devotees have claimed her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is a deep-state plot orchestrated by the NFL and Democrats to have Swift publicly endorse President Joe Biden during the halftime show.

ROBERT BENDER Gov. Ron DeSantis ap-

ESCAMBIA SCHOOL SAFETY On the heels

P.C. WU The former city councilman received the God in Government Award at the 47th annual Governmental Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast was started by a group of ministers from the Greater Cantonment-Ensley Ministerial Alliance as a nondenominational, nonpolitical event to encourage moral and spiritual values in government. Wu served on the Pensacola City Council from 2004-2020. He was elected president of the Florida League of Cities in 2013.

ACHIEVE HEALTHY ESCAROSA The group responsible for assessing the health of Escambia and Santa Rosa residents and developing strategies to improve outcomes was hit with a jolt last week when innerbody.com ranked Pensacola No. 63 for U.S. cities with the highest rates for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The study was based on data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and collaborated with recent data from the Florida Department of Health, which rarely agrees with the CDC.

pointed the Escambia County commissioner to complete the term of Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, who resigned from the post on Jan. 15 for a job as a federal election security adviser for Homeland Security. Bender is active in his community and a current member of the Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors and the Gulf Consortium Board of Directors. He also is the secretary and treasurer of the Institute for County Government. Bender earned his bachelor's degree from Rhodes College and his master's degree in business administration from Emory University.

RYAN PINTO The Community Health Northwest Florida (CHNWF) resident pharmacist is a recipient of a $5,000 research grant that will be used to help patients in underserved rural North Florida use antibiotics to treat infections. Pinto is one of only eight people in the U.S. to receive the American Society of Health System Pharmacists® Foundation (ASHP) Pharmacy Resident Research Grant. The Pensacola native is working for one year at CHNWF as a resident as part of Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health. FAMU's Durell Peaden Jr. Rural Pharmacy Education Campus in Crestview has a partnership with CHNWF.

of a Pensacola High student being arrested for fighting with a school official and police officers, WEAR-TV discovered authorities were also investigating a series of fights at Pine Forest High School. The station reported that Escambia County Public Schools had more fights than 61 other school districts in the state, ranking 8th for "major disruptions" with 176 incidents, according to the Florida Department of Education. The state reported law enforcement has dealt with more than 2,100 incidents at Escambia County schools over the past five years. More than 150 of those incidents involved weapons.

SPRING BREAKERS Speaking at a Florida Sheriffs Association conference in Sandestin, Gov. Ron DeSantis told the sheriffs they have his support to crack down on spring breakers who get out of line, adding that spring break shouldn't impede "the functioning of businesses" or the "quality of life of our residents." DeSantis said, "You have our support at the state level to do what you need to do, to ensure that the quality of life of your residents is maintained, that order in the streets is maintained, and that businesses are able to function appropriately like they should always have to do." inweekly.net

COMMERCIAL LAND FOR SALE

outtakes

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By Rick Outzen

THE GAMBLING MAN On Christmas Eve, Pensacola lost another original when Dean Baird, 81, passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He boasted he was one of the best gin players in the world. A contemporary of Fred and Allen Levin, Dean helped turn Pensacola Beach from a collection of cinderblock houses into a tourist destination. He met with Walt Disney for ideas on developing and building the Quietwater Boardwalk. Dean also played a major role in San De Luna, Tristan Towers and Portofino Island Resort. His high-flyer lifestyle, which earned him the nickname "Capt'n Fun," came to a crashing halt when he was arrested for running an illegal sports betting ring. In August 1987, a jury found Dean guilty of one conspiracy and two racketeering counts. He fought the conviction and won on appeal, but the Florida Supreme Court later upheld the conviction. Once out of prison, he rebuilt his fortune. A good gin player can always find willing poker players. Last summer, I interviewed Dean. He wanted to talk about the cancer treatment that he was getting at a holistic clinic in Mexico, and I wanted to learn about a side of Pensacola's history that few discuss. I sat across from him at Salt inside the Hilton Garden Inn on Pensacola Beach. Dean wore his familiar sunglasses, hat and linen shirt. He talked about his wild teen years growing up in East Hill on Bayou Texar. "I was in jail at least twice for stupid things that I'd done, like putting a cherry bomb under an off-duty police officer's car. And then I got arrested for public drunkenness over on the beach." Dean almost got kicked out of Pensacola High School after he talked Connor Cagle, whose family owned The Coffee Cup, into skipping class and heading to Vegas. He briefly attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he started a catering business, which he later admitted was really running sports parlay cards and liquor. When his father learned of the illegal venture, he brought his son into his real estate business before he got arrested. In the 1950s,

no banks would loan money to Black families, so the Bairds borrowed from Pensacola Home & Savings to build the houses and then carried the mortgages. "My mother and father had about 600 mortgages, making probably about $400,000 a year back then," Dean told me. "Before I got married, I had $4,200 a month coming in, and I was 23. I was a millionaire at 27." The conversation rambled. He talked about poker. "I played a guy once for 56 hours and won a million. We had a million-dollar freezeout. You got to keep playing until the million dollars is gone." I asked him about Fred Levin's father, Abe. "My uncle and Mr. Abe were partners in the dog track. Everybody thinks that Fred made all this money. He didn't make all this money. I bet you Mr. A was probably one of the richest men in Pensacola." What about John C. Pace, the namesake of the UWF library? He shared how he met Pace at a dice game in Lillian, Ala. Pace was down $40,000 and asked Dean to loan him $10,000 to keep playing. Pace got the loan, went on a winning streak and left with money in his pocket. "Mr. Pace, he loved me to death," Dean said. "God dog, I got invited to all his events from that point on. We rode the railroad from Pensacola to Baton Rouge and back to New Orleans. I faded the dice and won everybody's money." Dean discussed his meeting with Walt Disney. "We had a big meeting. He introduced me to all of his staff and said, 'We'll come up with an idea, but we don't want to do it.' The island was too small. Walt Disney gave me the person who used to work for him who helped us lay out the boardwalk." His business dealings were challenging to follow when he talked about the beach development and his legal troubles. He had another series of treatments planned, and we agreed to talk again after I could do more research to create a timeline. Unfortunately, his health worsened, and the follow-up interviews didn't happen. However, I did get a peek into another side of Pensacola's history from the gambler who developed Pensacola Beach. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Unfortunately, his health worsened, and the follow-up interviews didn't happen.

February 8, 2024

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'PRICELESS' WORK FOR LOW PAY

By Tom St. Myer The Santa Rosa County School District ranks as one of the best in the state, with a graduation rate over 90%, but teachers wonder why their paychecks don't reflect the district's success. After six months of negotiations, teacher raises remain at a stalemate. The $1.3 million gap between what the union, Santa Rosa Professional Educators, requested and the district's offer shows no signs of narrowing. At its last negotiation session on Thursday, Feb. 1, the union asked for $6.3 million—a 4.86% pay raise, with 3.06% of that from the school district and the remaining 1.8% from the state's Teacher Salary Increase Allocation. The district countered with a performance-based offer of $5 million for an overall 3.805% average increase with 4.1% for highly effective annual teachers and 3.28% for grandfathered teachers. Each side rejected the other's offer, and they will meet again Monday, Feb. 12.

Union President David Godwin considered the district's offer an insult, because the district received at least $9.4 million in discretionary funds from the state. "How much of that $9.4 million is the school district going to use for teacher increases?" said Godwin, a Pace High School math teacher. "We think the district can do better because over 50% of operational expenditures are teachers' salaries and benefits." Santa Rosa's instructional staff numbers around 2,000. Teachers earn a minimum of $47,500 as mandated by the state. The salary increases to $51,340 for teachers with a master's degree. In an email, Dr. Tonya Shepherd, public information and family and community outreach officer, stated, "The district was clear in notifying SRPE that the School Board has no additional funds to offer. This is the best financial proposal that can be made." Shepherd wrote that the union's proposal would exceed the school board's authorized financial condition ratio, which the Florida

Department of Education uses to monitor the district's financial stability. It also failed to "address the statutory requirements of performance pay." Shepherd claimed the district's offer topped deals agreed in neighboring counties. In Escambia County, the teachers accepted a 3% raise, plus a performance pay component of 0.8% and a $1,000 bonus for the teachers. Okaloosa County teachers settled for a 2.5% raise for highly effective, 2% for grandfathered and 1.87% for effective. Concerns about what the Santa Rosa School District is offering its teachers have become a public topic on Facebook. Many people have voiced support for teachers they consider underpaid and underappreciated. Cassandra Hazelwood, the mother of a school district student, said, "Thank you, SRCS Teachers and Staff. Currently, our SRCS Teachers are in the 3rd Quarter working WITHOUT contracts and in the 8th mediation attempt. Shameful that SRCS Leadership came to the bargaining table with a 0 percent increase offer. ZERO. What a slap in the face." Godwin said Santa Rosa has 30 fewer teachers and more administrators, while enrollment has remained roughly the same since Karen Barber took over as superintendent in 2020. "It doesn't make any sense that you're creating 17 administrative positions when you're seeing no increase in your enrollment," he said. "It's a top-down approach to education. I believe you start with a classroom and build out from there." Barber declined to discuss the negotiations with Inweekly but issued statements through emails from Shepherd. "At each negotiation cycle, the School Board and I aim to ensure that our teachers and employees can receive fair wages with generous increases while also being fiscally responsible," Barber stated. The union sent a survey to teachers before the last round of negotiations, and 1,445 participated. Almost 1,300 teachers were not satisfied with the superintendent's current offer. Nearly 1,400 preferred "a better raise" over the remote planning days offered by the school district.

About half the respondents had no confidence that Barber puts educators first in negotiations. The district justified its Feb. 1 offer by reporting a $13 million increase in operational expenses. The district currently operates at a 5% financial condition ratio and aims for 5-10%, which means lower interest rates for funds borrowed from the state for capital projects. If the school district drops below 3%, the state requires a submitted plan on how to increase financial stability. If the percentage sinks to 2%, the state creates and enforces a plan for the district. "It is very challenging to be able to keep that fund balance, recruit and retain employees with the highest wages possible and the best benefits possible, be fiscally responsible, and cover the increased costs that, you know, everybody in society is facing," Barber stated. In 2018-2019, the district's instructional salaries averaged 1.03% below the state average. In 2022-2023, instructional salaries averaged 1.01% above the state average. "Since taking office in 2020, progress has been made," Barber stated. "Last year, we had a 92% teacher retention rate. Not only are we retaining teachers, but also attracting teachers now that we have met and are on track to hopefully surpass the state minimum for novice teachers." She added, "Our teachers, they're just second to none, in my opinion. They go above and beyond; their work really is priceless. I mean, I wish that we had so much discretionary funding that they could be paid what they're worth." Godwin pointed out the district has ignored salary compression. The district's latest proposal, which would have raised starting pay to $48,961, means teachers with 13 years of experience would earn the same as those without experience. "You take a principal with 13 years' experience, and they make considerably more than someone with no experience," said the union leader, adding it may take up to six years to fix the compression issue. Godwin said, "We're trying to deal with compression in a way that is most fair to all of our teachers. The district offer doesn't address compression." {in}

inweekly.net

2024

MARKEITTA GRAHAM CITY CLERK'S OFFICE

February 8, 2024

DOMINIQUE EPPS

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

Congratulations, Keila!

We are so proud of the work you do.

Robert Bender / Photo Courtesy of myescambia.com

SWITZERLAND On Wednesday, Jan. 31, former

318 N Alcaniz St. • 850.696.2291 www.healthystart.info

Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender was sworn into office as the county's Supervisor of Elections by Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford with his family by his side. The ceremony came less than a week after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Bender's appointment. In an Inweekly interview after the announcement, the former commissioner shared he had a little warning that the appointment was coming. "I heard about (the appointment) 40 minutes earlier," Bender said. "I had enough time to call my wife and my mom pretty much before it was out … And so (we) quickly had to change hats and start thinking in different mindsets." He won't make any immediate staff changes as the office prepares for the Republican presidential primary March 19. "We're going to keep everything as it is right now," Bender said. "I know that David had surrounded himself with great staff. Our focus is going to be on completing the election in March." He added, "I think my demeanor and David's are very similar. The staff and I are just trying to get some efficient, accurate, safe elections ready. I'll be learning a lot and ready to work, but it will probably be a little bit of just staying out of their way for the first few weeks and letting them continue to do what they do as I get under my feet." Bender fully understands he has big shoes to fill, coming after Joe Oldmixon, Bonnie Jones and David Stafford. "The security of our elections is something that the voters have come to expect out of us." Don't expect him to endorse anyone to complete his District 4 term. "I'm Switzerland from here on out."

FIBER SUCCESS Last month, Escambia River

Electric Cooperative (EREC) and Conexon Connect announced the completion of Escambia County's fiber-to-the-home project to provide high-speed internet access to homes and businesses in the rural areas of north Escambia County. "I'm very proud of all the hard work and long days everyone involved put into the completion of the Escambia County fiber-to-the-home project. A special thank you to our members for your pa-

tience as we constructed our fiber system, and we look forward to continuing to serve the needs of our community," EREC CEO Ryan Campbell told northescambia.com. District 5 Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry has been the driving force behind the project. "When you start thinking about opportunities for things you can accomplish during a term, I just would not have ever thought that it would be a possibility to finish the project in this term from 2020 to 2024," Barry said. He praised EREC and his fellow commissioners for their support. "Getting nearly 700 miles of it done in that time period was just fantastic. Access to the money that came through the CARES Act and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) was also great. And it's a good day for Escambia County." The commissioner shared, "I had a general contractor mention to me last week that they were doing work in the western part of Escambia County. They talked about the importance of having access to high-speed internet. They're able to access the equipment's computer and set the grade that you want the ground to end up being, but you must have a decent signal to be able to do it." The next step for the county is to extend high-speed internet through the rest of Escambia County.

POTTY PROGRESS At his weekly presser, May-

or D.C. Reeves announced that three of the five Portland Loos ordered will be shipped Feb. 21. "It'll be about two to three weeks once they arrive," he said. "We don't control how quickly they get here from the 21st, but once they arrive, it takes about two to three weeks to put the infrastructure in place to get them operational." The restrooms will be installed at MLK Plaza on North Palafox, the Blake Doyle Skatepark and Bruce Beach. The mayor also announced the city will open Phase 1 of the park at Bruce Beach earlier than initially reported. "You guys may recall I mentioned if there was some value in opening the first phase of Bruce Beach that we would consider it," Reeves said. "That is not finalized yet, but I would say we're progressing down that idea that we would. I wanted to make sure that there was a restroom in place there, but it's looking like right now, and again, this isn't final yet, that we could have Phase 1 open at some point in March, whereas Phase 2 would not be done until October." Phase 1 includes the playground and pedestrian bridge. The waterfront amenities will be completed in Phase 2. The Portland Loo's installation on North Palafox will end "Potty of the People," the 24/7 porto-let Inweekly has funded for the past two years.

BUCK PRE-FILES Several names have been

mentioned as possible appointees to serve District 4 on the Escambia County Commission until the fall election. The seat became open when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Commis-

sioner Robert Bender as the interim supervisor of elections. Pensacola City Councilman Jared Moore, Downtown Improvement Board Executive Director Walker Wilson, businessman Cris Dosev, attorney Jim Reeves and restauranteur Buck Mitchell have generated considerable buzz. Mitchell was the first to pre-file for the seat and has made it known he plans to run regardless of whom the governor appoints as the interim commissioner. He praised the commissioners who have held the spot over the past two decades, Bender and Grover Robinson. "Robert did a great job representing District 4, and we really feel that District 4 is one of the most important aspects of our county government, with Pensacola Beach being such a strategic place in our county," Mitchell said. "We're going to jump in and keep the momentum that Robert established – and before him, Grover – of looking out after our citizens." He plans to focus on safety and security. "When tourists come in town and don't feel safe, they're not coming back. When people drive around and see trash, blight and vagrancy, they don't feel safe. Then being a pro-business person, when they don't feel safe, and it's not clean, they might not bring their business here." He continued, "We're going to work on those issues and make sure that we are forward-driven in our business development. But safety and security certainly will be first."

MORE AMBASSADORS The Downtown Im-

provement Board (DIB) approved the addition of a full-time cleaning ambassador to help tackle street cleaning within the 44-block DIB district in Pensacola's urban core. Spotless Logistics Commercial Cleaning Services will add a fifth cleaning ambassador to its downtown team. The downtown cleaning program expansion is the second in less than a year. Last summer, the DIB doubled its investment in downtown cleaning, said Walker Wilson, DIB executive director. "An important part of the mission of the DIB is to maintain a clean and beautiful downtown," Wilson said. "Spotless Logistics employs locally, and the cleaning ambassadors work hard seven days a week to provide litter removal and sidewalk cleaning to help our downtown businesses and the district thrive."

SHORING UP COBB On Monday, Feb. 5, Mayor Reeves received the Community Redevelopment Agency's (CRA) approval to award Jobe's Dirt Works, LLC of Baker, the contract to demolish the Malcolm Yonge Gym for $59,079. The CRA also approved a full building assessment of the Cobb Center. Although the building was deemed safe for use after a preliminary inspection in September, staff felt a full assessment should be completed to gauge its overall condition and identify necessary repairs and pending maintenance. The full assessment is estimated to cost $125,000-$175,000 and would take four- six months to complete. inweekly.net

Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier lamented the demolition of the old gym and reluctantly voted for it. She didn't want to see Cobb Center face the same fate in the near future. "If we had shored up Malcolm Yonge a few years ago, at least minimally, maybe 10 years, it might've really secured that building," she said in an interview before the meeting. "But that's where we are right now with Cobb. We've got to stay focused. We've got to remember what's at stake." The councilwoman pointed out the Malcolm Yonge Gym hadn't been open to the general public for years and only offered a gym when it was available to residents. The Cobb Center is a more complete community center offering various services. The city didn't have the funds to pay for rebuilding the Malcolm Yonge Gym and repairing the Cobb Center. "Cobb has been being used and it's still used," Brahier said. "It's more important to keep that one up and running at this point, in my opinion. So I'm scared we're going to be spread our resources too thin instead of focusing on shoring up Cobb and making sure it stays in the use of the children that are using it now."

MAGICAL LEASE American Magic skipper

Terry Hutchinson will be in Pensacola on Mon-

day, Feb. 26. Mayor D.C. Reeves hopes to have the Port lease for its new headquarters finalized and approved by the Pensacola City Council before he arrives. "We're pretty much solid on terms for a lease," Mayor Reeves said on WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen." "We're still working on building costs, but obviously, both sides want to have an agreement in place in which we know everything's solidified." He continued, "Our hope is to bring that forward to council for approval in February— not this first meeting, but maybe the second meeting (Feb. 22)." Mayor Reeves said the lease will be for 10 years with an option for American Magic to extend for another decade. He added that he has tickets to see the initial competitive races in Barcelona, Spain, in August. "I have a refundable ticket for October. If they make the America's Cup final against New Zealand, I would definitely end up at least getting my calendar blocked.," the mayor said. "It might be the single greatest consequence of a sporting event in the history of the city. I would venture to say in terms of economic impact." If American Magic wins the America's Cup, Pensacola might be the site of the next competi-

tion in 2028. Regardless of the outcome, Pensacola could host several world-class sailing competitions in the future.

SAFE SPOT SKATE SPOT The City of Pensacola

and Upward Intuition have partnered to create public skate spots within city limits to increase access and improve safety for the skating community. Residents are invited to participate in an in-person community input meeting to guide the future planning and design of the city's first public "Safe Spot Skate Spot" park feature. The community input meeting is 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 24, at Bayview Community Center, 2000 E. Lloyd St. Attendees can share their thoughts, ask questions and provide feedback on draft elements to include in the skate spot. Visuals of the proposed concept design and supporting information will be presented at the meeting. The pilot Safe Spot Skate Spot installation will be in the East Hill Neighborhood District. Upward Intuition will collaborate with the City of Pensacola, East Hill Neighborhood Association, The Platform Group and community stakeholders to design and execute the first space at a city park. "Upward Intuition is excited to share the concept designs and receive feedback from

residents," Upward Intuition founder Jon Shell said. "Many youth are unable to regularly access the Blake Doyle Skatepark [located] downtown, and it is important for everyone to have access to safe places to skate in their area without having to cross busy roads." The "Dottie" Frist Foundation awarded the project grant dollars. This philanthropic trust invests in promising organizations with high ambitions of improving communities who share the goal of making peoples' lives "just a little better." "This project, as well as the generous gift from Dottie Frist, were inspired by Avery Stark, an 11-year-old skateboarder who lost his life after being hit by a car in April 2023 while skating," Andy Prince of Upward Intuition said. "We want to honor Avery's life with this [first] skate spot in his home neighborhood. We hope this project will be a catalyst to make more accessible skateparks throughout the city to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again." The primary focus of public skate spots will be to improve park amenities and address safety concerns by providing neighborhood parks with enhanced recreational, cultural and aesthetic improvements that avoid major throughways and public roads that pose a danger to skaters and pedestrians. {in}

INJURED?

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For decades, Pensacola struggled with how to keep its young talent. Kids would go off to college and never move back. Hurricane Ivan worsened the problem as hundreds fled to larger, more exciting and better-paying cities. At Inweekly, we wanted to change the narrative and create a paradigm shift for our families, friends and readers. We advocated for the Community Maritime Park after our research found our community's renaissance would depend on revitalizing our downtown. Downtown baseball parks had been catalysts in Montgomery, Ala. and Charleston, S.C. Under Evon Emerson's leadership, the Greater Pensacola Chamber partnered with our newspaper to facilitate the creation of the Pensacola Young Professionals, which helped convince voters to approve the Community Maritime Park referendum in August 2006. But we didn't want to stop there. We wanted to highlight the diversity and talents of young leaders, so more organizations would see the value of adding them

to their boards. In January 2007, we launched the Inweekly Rising Stars. We asked readers, business owners, supervisors and community leaders for their recommendations and received more than 100 nominations. Since then, we've published the Rising Star issue every winter, maintaining the high standards established in the beginning. Over the past 17 years, the Rising Stars have been a constant source of pride for this newspaper, the honorees, their companies and the community. Many have stayed, raised their families, opened small businesses, created nonprofits and run for public office. With the 2024 class, the Rising Stars list has grown to more than 950 up-andcoming leaders—attorneys, doctors, nurses, chief executive officers, educators, artists, cooks, entrepreneurs, state lawmakers and even a mayor. The 2024 Rising Stars, like their predecessors, will be game-changers, and we can't wait to see what they do next. {in}

Photos by Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations) February 8, 2024

Clark Partington congratulates

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RISING STARS 2024 BRANDON "GROVER" BALLARD

Adjunct Professor, University of West Florida; Community Organizer What makes your job 'click' for you? Working with first-year college students is one of the most rewarding endeavors I've ever taken on. I get the privilege of welcoming students to their college careers and helping them form the foundations of critical and creative thinking that the rest of their education is later built

upon. The UWF English department is incredibly dedicated to providing for its students and instructors, and being a part of that team makes a world of difference. What's the best advice you've ever been given? The best advice a mentor has ever given me was to pursue my passions in ways that benefit my community. Whether I am teaching, organizing events, booking shows or playing music, I always try my best to shift attention back to the communities that make it all possible. We must actively engage with and support our communi-

ties to keep them alive—neglect and disinterest can kill what so many have worked hard to build. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Being a part of the 309 Punk Project. 309 shows us alternative folks in Pensacola that we belong here—that we've always been here. In classic DIY fashion, 309 encourages us to take creative risks for our communities and to craft the future that we want to be a part of. My own punk house (Bugghouse) wouldn't exist without the beacon of light that is 309.

DEREK BENSON

SYDNEY BERCIER

What makes your job 'click' for you? The dynamic intersection of finance and healthcare fuels my passion. Analyzing financial data to optimize operational efficiency and support emergency care delivery aligns with my commitment to making a meaningful impact. The constantly evolving challenges in the healthcare industry inspire me to employ strategic financial insights, ensuring the organization's financial health while contributing to the broader goal of providing exceptional emergency care services.

What makes your job 'click' for you? When I create community. I love to find ways to help people in our area find a place to belong. Finding ways to promote products and brands is much more fulfilling when you show people you really care about them and their needs.

Financial Analyst III, Emergency Care Partners

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "Sometimes the best way to solve your own problems is to help someone else." This perspective guides my approach at Emergency Care Partners, emphasizing collaboration and empathy. By understanding and addressing the needs of others within the healthcare sector, I contribute not only to the financial well-being of the organization but also to the overall mission of providing exceptional emergency care services to the community. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. As a Financial Analyst III, spearheading the 2023 and

Marketing Manager, Running Wild

What's the best advice you've ever been given? God has given us all the same 24 hours in a day. Don't waste your time. It is up to you to use those hours to better the lives of everyone around you. 2024 budget at Emergency Care Partners was profoundly rewarding. Collaborating closely with department heads, I crafted meticulous fiscal plans that aligned with organizational goals. This strategic initiative not only fortified our fiscal responsibilities but also positioned us for future challenges. Successfully navigating this project ensured sustainable financial health, reinforcing our commitment to delivering exceptional emergency care services.

NATALIE BONIFAY

to work with clients in many different industries, and to help them understand how their business accounting works.

What makes your job 'click' for you? Client accounting services is much more than backoffice math and data. My favorite part of the job is building relationships with and assisting clients with their accounting needs. It is exciting

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Give at least 100% to every task you work on. You never know who is watching, and what a small assignment might lead to.

Accounting Services Senior Associate, Warren Averett, LLC

February 8, 2024

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. My favorite projects are when I bring community fitness experiences to our town. I get to work with Running Wild and brands like Lululemon, Hoka, On Running and more to help promote community and health here in our town.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. It is hard to pick just one project. Over the last few years, I have assisted several of our clients in converting their accounting software to updated or new programs. These are challenging projects, with many complex moving parts, but rewarding to be a part of.

RISING STARS 2024 AUTUMN CHERRY

Quality, Fidelity and Practice Improvement Manager, FamiliesFirst Network/LifeView Group What makes your job 'click' for you? LifeView Group's mission of "helping people throughout life's journey" aligns with my personal values. In my current role, I get to support the hardworking front line case managers and supervisors in child welfare and, by extension,

support the safety, permanency and well-being of children and promote strong families within our community. What's the best advice you've ever been given? "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."— Colossians 3:17

their most important memories makes each project incredibly special, meaningful and worthwhile.

teering. To use my skills to further the spirit of philanthropy while uplifting the underserved by empowering incredible nonprofits is an absolute gift and brings me so much joy.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "Worrying only makes you suffer twice." I am a worrier at my core and being entrusted with such important commissions is a huge honor. It also comes with a lot of pressure. Being confident in my skills is key, following my routine and formulas is vital, and ultimately, being kind to myself is without a question.

ERIN CLANCY

Maker and Owner, Blue House Curio What makes your job 'click' for you? Being given the chance to preserve my clients' treasures for years to come. The immense trust that my clients place in me to preserve

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I believe every Pride market I am able to participate in is the most rewarding. It's a chance to give back to our LGBTQIA+ community by donating a portion of our proceeds to various causes. It's also a chance to celebrate a beautiful, loving and inclusive community—with rainbows, sequins and sparkles, of course.

ELIJAH COOK

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Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I worked with a child on a difficult abuse case; years later, her adoptive mother contacted me because the now teenager wanted to reconnect. When we met, this young lady shared she could not remember what I looked like, but she remembered that I made her feel safe and happy.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? My mom is from Scotland and her family always comforts you after news, good or bad, with "what's for you won't go by you," though it's pronounced closer to "whit's fur ye'll no go by ye." My grandfather could have no idea why we were upset but would tell us this with such deep sincerity and simplicity that we immediately accepted it and found peace in our path and faith in our choices without fear.

LAUREN CLARK Public Relations Specialist, Gulf Winds Credit Union

What makes your job 'click' for you? After a career in fundraising for social services, I made the switch to corporate community relations. I always had a passion for nonprofits, too much for just one mission. Now I work with dozens of causes while facilitating the Gulf Winds Cares Foundation, sponsorships and volun-

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. When I worked for a senior services nonprofit, I wrote and received a grant to fund two tiny houses. One went to a senior client in need of housing. The other toured the city and was used as a model to inspire the use of tiny homes as Accessory Dwelling Units for one's aging parents. This initiative raised awareness of the stark need for housing units for everyone, but especially vulnerable elders.

Owner, Sauce Boss Burger Co.

ting out into the community and just meeting people, learning their stories, finding ways I can bring love and compassion.

impacts she left in others' lives—taught me that when you're blessed with the capacity to give, you are obligated to give.

What makes your job 'click' for you? Burgers have always been a passion of mine—both to eat and to cook. There is nothing better than tasting the creativity that comes forward in the perfectly balanced flavors on a well executed burger. In August of 2022, we created a collaborative program designed to showcase small businesses in our area. I've always loved get-

What's the best advice you've ever been given? The best advice I've been given was not in words, but in actions. Growing up, I witnessed my mom as one of the most gracious and giving people I have ever met. She would constantly volunteer her time and her passion for her community. These actions—and the countless

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The most rewarding project I've been able to be a part of so far was our partnership with the Serving the Hungry program. The perspective that you achieve when making such a monumental difference in the lives of so many is truly life-changing.

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RISING STARS 2024 KRISTY CRAIG

CALEB CUNNINGHAM

What makes your job 'click' for you? I truly consider my job to be passion work. I believe education is transformative for a child and sets the foundation for lifelong success. Many children in our community are behind before they even get started at no fault of their own. Our work helps to bridge that gap. The impact of a child having their own personal champion, their voice heard and equitable access to knowledge and books is profound.

What makes your job 'click' for you? The good I am able to do for so many people. LPR has a long history in Pensacola and the country for representing people against some of the largest corporations in the world. Every day I work with the best and the brightest helping people seek justice.

Executive Director, ReadyKids!

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Give yourself small daily goals and celebrate the little wins. It seems simple, but the way I approach a project and perceive my own progress changed significantly when I learned to step back, create bite-sized milestones and give myself grace. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, or as a friend likes to say, "progress, not perfection"—an important mindset that I'm still working on.

Attorney, Levin Papantonio Rafferty

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Leading the relaunch of Mentor Pensacola with Pensacola Young Professionals. In addition to finding joy and fulfillment in facilitating impactful connections for others, this project helped transform my career growth. It unlocked a new level of confidence, introduced me to talented leaders in our community and ignited my passion for mentorship and professional development.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? When I was in high school, I built a building on my grandfather's property. I poured the foundation, did the electrical, insulation, carpentry, all of it. As I proudly surveyed my work, my grandfather put his arm on my shoulder and told me, "You better be good at school because you're a terrible mason, electrician and carpenter." Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. All of the projects I have worked on with LPR have been

rewarding, but one of the most meaningful has to be the Exploited Teen Project. We represent children who were abused by facilities across the country. Being able to tell their story and help them seek justice is extremely rewarding. This work has allowed us to connect with others, including Paris Hilton, a survivor of the industry, to raise awareness and help survivors.

Congratulations to our

Rising Stars! Jeri Jo Fisher

Business & Leadership Development

February 8, 2024

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Tyler Johnson

Corporate Sales Executive Pensacola Blue Wahoos

1/16/24 4:25 PM

RISING STARS 2024 served, underinsured and uninsured population. I entered the healthcare field to help others and be an advocate for patient health. It is our mission to provide health and wellness services to anyone regardless of their circumstances. I also serve as a preceptor to pharmacy students and for our PGY-1 residency program as a way to give back to my profession.

care and services to our often-forgotten members of the Escambia County community. Knowing that I am making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families and helping to grow future child welfare case managers is my "why."

RUBI FOURNIER DE JESUS

Unit Manager, FamiliesFirst Network What makes your job 'click' for you? My job lights up my brain and heart, even on hard days. My team and the other teams we work alongside work diligently every day to protect the children in our community, and to provide

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What's the best advice you've ever been given? Never forget your humanity. I was fortunate to work for someone who modeled servant leadership for me. That person treated me like a human before she treated me like an employee, and now I try to bring that into my own leadership style. This advice has also helped me as a child welfare worker. We can never forget that we all have a story, and we all have a little baggage we're carrying with us. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I would have to say any time my unit or I have been able to successfully reunify children safely with their parents. Those will always be my favorite and most rewarding moments.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I approach every situation in an organized fashion with a sense of purpose.

MANDY DREW

Pharmacy Manager, Community Health Northwest Florida What makes your job 'click' for you? At Community Health, I have the opportunity to help provide affordable medications to the under-

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. My last year of graduate school, myself and two other students drove across the country to Browning, Montana to intern at the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. It was a great learning experience to serve the community by providing patient education and working in the reservation hospital.

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RISING STARS 2024 BRAIDON ENGLISH

cleaning the exterior of your home. The art of the deal is something that brings a lot of satisfaction to me which is why I do what I do.

What makes your job 'click' for you? The reason I love what I do for both businesses is the ability to provide a customer-oriented white glove service to all my clients. Whether that be placing a tenant in my landlord's building or

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Some of the best advice I've been given was from my father. He said, "Life isn't all about making money. It's about providing value or opportunity to others while also treating people how you would like to be treated."

Commercial Real Estate Agent, NAI Pensacola; Owner, D&B Exterior Cleaning Pros

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I got a contract to do a project on Eglin Air Force Base in September 2022. I was just 18 and was already doing military and federal contracts. On that day, I also made the most money I had ever made in a single day.

DOMINIQUE EPPS

ERICA EVANS

What makes your job 'click' for you? This is a rare jack-of-all-trades kind of job that allows me to explore all aspects of communication. It's basically public relations, graphic design, videography, marketing, event planning, media relations and content development all in one. As a PIO, you're able to further develop and hone all of these skills—which means every day is a different adventure and learning experience.

What makes your job 'click' for you? The people. I work alongside the most intelligent, driven, motivating, thoughtful and empowering group of individuals—and that applies to my team, my leader, my peers, our executives, our expert community and our clients. Everyone cares, everyone is engaged and as a collective we are unstoppable.

Assistant Public Information Officer, City of Pensacola

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "Your path is your own." There are many roads that lead to the same place. Although someone may have started down a road before you or their road may appear to be more luxurious, your journey is unique. It is what will develop your character. And remember, you are the main character in your story.

Senior Director of Expert Services, IMS Consulting & Expert Services

taneously planning, managing and executing a mixture of six mid-size and large-scale projects over the course of approximately six weeks. Looking back, it was really fulfilling to see the level of social media engagement and in-person attendance fueled by each campaign.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. One of my most rewarding experiences came from simul-

CAILIN FEAGLES

Director of Operations and Events, Pensacola Downtown Improvement Board What makes your job 'click' for you? I grew up in Pensacola and have spent my life enjoying all the city offers to its community members. Some of my fondest memories are attending the Palafox Market with my family and friends. Pensacola has established such a warm and in-

February 8, 2024

viting community with the Palafox Market at the center. It's been an amazing opportunity and honor to work in the management of the market and alongside the amazing, creative vendors. What's the best advice you've ever been given? Through my experiences working in events, I learned quickly the importance of taking initiative and always being willing to adapt quickly to avoid becoming stagnant. I continue to apply this advice each day.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Stretch outside of your comfort zone—that's where the real growth happens— and embrace discomfort. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. In 2022, my leaders and I planned for and implemented a major system change alongside collaboration with our developers. I found my team's preparation, change management and training

to be a huge success. They set the stage for the adoption of the system for our team and others in the company. What could have been a major disruption was minor in comparison due to the effort and thoughtfulness put into the rollout of the project.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Small businesses are the heart of Pensacola and the expansion of Palafox Market into Plaza Ferdinand allowed me the rewarding experience of working with over 100 new ones. The expansion is offering additional vendors the opportunity to participate in this wonderful community event. I am excited to watch Palafox Market continue to grow.

RISING STARS 2024 JERI JO FISHER

Building Jobs Program Manager, Studer Community Institute What makes your job 'click' for you? My main role at SCI is to structure programs and trainings that focus on building better jobs and leaders in our community. During this process I get to continuously learn and develop strengths towards my own personal and professional growth. Being able to combine the two makes my job truly fulfilling. I also love being able to work with such a mission-driven team.

FAITHE FRANKLIN, BS, CSCS

Science Instructor, Fortis Institute Pensacola What makes your job 'click' for you? I'm fascinated with the human body and its amazing capabilities. Being able to share knowledge about human anatomy and physiology to nursing students gives me a sense of fulfillment. It allows me to introduce the complexities of the body,

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Leading and planning SCI's annual two-day business and leadership conference, EntreCon® is both challenging and rewarding. Built for leaders of all levels, the conference provides attendees with a front row seat to both local and national speakers, practical knowledge and tools and first-class networking within our community. I love seeing the community come together to support each other and support our mission.

but in a creative way that helps them understand and visualize it. I also love the ability to create a sense of community with my students as they work towards a common goal.

Rotary Club, Pensacola Mardi Gras, Manna Food Pantries, USO, Gulf Coast Kid's House, Positively Pensacola, Pensacola Young Professionals and many other amazing nonprofits.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Some of the best advice I've been given came from Coach Ivey before starting my freshman season for UWF women's basketball. "Trust the process" is what she said and it moved me so much that I've adopted it as my lifetime slogan. It's a reminder that despite whatever I'm challenged with, it's only to make me better, stronger and prepared for what is to come.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? While serving in the Marines, our squad was trying to accomplish a daunting obstacle, and our leader said, "Nothing is impossible, even the impossible." It was true then and it continues to be true. The task may be difficult. It may have not been done before. We may not have the answers, or are missing a vital piece, but it is never impossible and it is always better together.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Currently, the most rewarding project I am working on is the development of Resilient Sports and Fitness. Although it's in its early stages, the purpose of this company is to provide athletes and general populations with evidence-based practices to meet their sporting or health goals. I also plan to continue bringing awareness to the relationship between physical activity, nutrition and health by offering informational sessions and clinics to the community.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. After Hurricane Ida, Seville Rotary Club was able to partner with multiple rotaries and organizations to send relief to Louisiana. Within 48 hours we were able to bring together people of action and resources for a convoy of supplies, provisions and a donated semi filled with $60,000 of roofing materials.

ANDIE GIBSON

Public Information Officer, Escambia County Board of County Commissioners What makes your job 'click' for you? I'm from Pensacola, born and raised, and my family has been here for generations. Working for the community I grew up in is a rewarding experience. I'm a storyteller at heart and I love getting to be part of a team that tells so many good stories about the work that goes on in the county.

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What's the best advice you've ever been given? I have worked with many great leaders, but Pensacola's finest, Quint Studer, has always said, "Never underestimate the difference you make." The impact can be as simple as a smile or handshake, all the way up to the way you serve or lead others. I make sure to share positivity and gratitude with everyone I come in contact with in hopes that my kindness can brighten their day.

JULIE FRANKLIN

Controller, Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund What makes your job 'click' for you? I have been blessed with a career doing accounting surrounded by a team that allows me to have an impact. It is very important for me to be in an organization with a focus on work-life balance for being mom to my two amazing kids and serving my community through Seville

Seeing how invested our staff is in their work really brings me a lot of joy. What's the best advice you've ever been given? Growing up, my mom always told me, "Everyone is doing the best they can." This applies both in and out of the workplace. Her words remind me to approach everyone with kindness and compassion.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. In 2022, our team worked on a video hiring campaign for Escambia County Corrections. Everything was done in-house—we developed a concept, wrote the script, and filmed and edited the video. Typically, that would have been outsourced, but there is so much natural talent here that we were able to do it ourselves. It was rewarding to shine a light on our corrections staff and show how fulfilling that career path can be.

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ROBERT GOODSPEED

Manager and Talent Buyer, The Handlebar and Night Moves Fest What makes your job 'click' for you? Giving thousands of musicians a place to play music in our quirky little town is something I would do for fun, so being employed to do that is a gift that just keeps on giving. What's the best advice you've ever been given? I'm not sure I've ever been personally given this advice, but I have made a living off of the "you never know until you ask" philosophy. Living without the fear of rejection keeps the world progressing from age-old habits. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Not just saying this because my bosses will see it, but helping them to revive The Handlebar and find a way to bring out more of its potential, all while keeping it true to the brand, is the most rewarding thing I've ever been involved with.

MARKEITTA GRAHAM Public Records Coordinator, City of Pensacola

What makes your job 'click' for you? I enjoy my job because of the constant learning opportunities it provides. Each day, I am exposed to new information and experiences that contribute to my professional growth. There's something about working with the public that I find fulfilling—building meaningful connections and relationships is important and rewarding to me. What's the best advice you've ever been given? My granddad said: "Live how you want your life to be. Seeking validation from others will only lead to your unhappiness." Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. This isn't necessarily a project, but rather a program that I am involved in. I participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Beyond School Walls program offered at my job, where I am a mentor for a high school student. This opportunity is very rewarding to me because I see it as a chance to help someone with tools that would have greatly benefited me when preparing for life after high school or college.

February 8, 2024

a family. After graduating from law school, I couldn't imagine myself working anywhere else. What's the best advice you've ever been given? "Walk with purpose." I take this advice both literally and metaphorically. Carrying yourself with confidence can change your entire attitude. I also use this advice to remind myself to find the "why" behind each project I work on.

SAVANNAH GREEN

Attorney, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz What makes your job 'click' for you? Being a lawyer allows me to give a voice to those who may not otherwise have one, especially up against large corporations. Working at AWKO provides a challenging and encouraging work environment and I think of my coworkers like

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Working on the 3M Combat Arms Earplug multi-district litigation is an experience that has been immensely rewarding. I began working on the litigation in 2019; the many sleepless nights and weeks on end spent in courtrooms across the U.S. to seek justice for injured service members and veterans is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved. This case has impacted the lives of over 250,000 individuals and keeps me motivated to continue the fight.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? It's a blend between "everybody knows something you don't" and "surround yourself with people smarter than you." You should find yourself learning from others and not expect yourself to be the subject matter expert all the time. Everybody has some value to bring that you can't provide yourself, and that's a good thing. Differing knowledge sets create a better and more whole resource.

TYLER GRIFFIS

AVP of Finance, Gulf Winds Credit Union What makes your job 'click' for you? I've always had an analytical mind and this job allows me to dive deep into that mindset to provide financial value to the credit union and our members. The nature of the job also allows flexibility to explore what I believe will bring value rather than a rigid path.

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Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The launch of our Money Market account. It started from a concept to provide our members with a valuable product to help themselves grow with the credit union to a finished product in a narrow timeframe. Our leadership saw the value it would bring and empowered the team to get it launched correctly and quickly.

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RISING STARS 2024 HUNTER HENDRIX

satisfaction I receive from helping people navigate the complexities of their legal challenges, while offering support during emotional times.

What makes your job 'click' for you? Early in my career, I was told that family law involves working with real people facing real problems. That resonated with me. What truly makes my role as a family law practitioner 'click' for me is the

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "At some point, if you're lucky, you realize you're not the story. You're part of the story. The story is much bigger than you."—M.J.K.

Senior Attorney, Autumn Beck Blackledge, PLLC

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Serving on the Board of Directors of the LegalAid Foundation of Tallahassee. During that time, I helped create the foundation's family law mentor program, Thunderdome, which provides pro bono representation to indigent litigants in family law matters.

ETHAN HENLEY

CAMILLE HENRY

What makes your job 'click' for you? The opportunity to interact with new students and their families through new student orientation or when they arrive on campus to begin classes is an annual reminder that the work we do matters. Seeing their excitement and apprehension while discussing their dreams and aspirations allows me to reflect upon my own collegiate experience, and I'm grateful to be in a position to play a small role in the journeys of so many new Argos.

What makes your job 'click' for you? There was a moment in school when I struggled with math. During after-school hours, my grandma taught me multiplication and division and there started my journey with numbers. My uncle, John B. "Shorty" Sneed, instilled my drive for what I now know is client service and authentic principles. I am thankful for the impact they both continue to have on the path to my chosen career.

Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of West Florida

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Never let failure or setbacks discourage you. While those moments are uncomfortable and frustrating, many times the lessons we learn through our most challenging experiences are the most influential. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. While not a single project rather than a culminating

Audit Supervisor, Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund

effort, this past year UWF experienced a record number of freshman applications and near-record freshman enrollment. The team I'm so fortunate to work alongside put in an incredible amount of time and effort across numerous fronts and never wavered in their resolve. I'm proud of our accomplishment and equally proud of my dedicated colleagues.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Better yet, the best advice to not follow is "fake it until you make it." It's not sustainable nor a trusted advisor's path. So "don't fake it until you make it." Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The most rewarding longtime project I've had the op-

DARIAN HERNANDEZ Executive Chef, Brother Fox

collaborations are key elements that bring joy and success to my role.

only the beginning of a new and exciting journey towards success.

What makes your job 'click' for you? As a chef with Michelin experience and the current executive chef at Brother Fox in Pensacola, specializing in Spanish-influenced live-fire cuisine, my job 'clicks' when I seamlessly blend culinary innovation with a commitment to exceptional quality. Crafting signature dishes that resonate with patrons, maintaining a consistent and elevated dining experience, and exploring local

What's the best advice you've ever been given? In the culinary world, every failure is an opportunity for growth. Embracing setbacks as catalysts for learning and innovation is the key to developing resilience, creativity and adaptability. With a commitment to continuous improvement, you'll be unstoppable in your pursuit of personal and professional advancement. Remember that failure is not the end, but

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Atlas in Atlanta, Ga. marked a pivotal phase. Collaborating with three-star Michelin chefs for four-hand wine dinners was a defining experience. Upon my departure, I was thrilled to witness Atlas receive a nomination for Atlanta's inaugural Michelin star, a testament to our collective culinary dedication.

February 8, 2024

portunity to be a part of is my commitment to ReadyKids! as a Reading Pal. Making a positive impact on a child's life, education and future is the most fulfilling and rewarding experience.

RISING STARS 2024 CHASE HORNE

Sergeant, Escambia County Sheriff's Office

working hard and trying to make a positive difference in people's lives.

What makes your job 'click' for you? The numerous opportunities of possible positive impact I have had. Occasionally, I encounter someone from a previous interaction who thanks me for my actions or tells me how I positively impacted them. In my field outcomes are not always known, but in those times when I get to hear my impact, it energizes me to keep

What's the best advice you've ever been given? When I first started at the agency, my field training officer gave me advice that I've carried with me and used to shape my entire career and mindset ever since. He told me that if I saw problems within the agency, I needed to put myself in a position to do something about them; work towards change, not just complain.

What makes your job 'click' for you? Being able to provide a fun and family-friendly environment for members of the Pensacola community to enjoy at Blue Wahoos home games and other events we host at the stadium.

ganizations tell the story behind their numbers and understand how to put themselves in the best position to receive the funding they need to provide sustainable operations. Auditing is the outlet that gives me the insight needed to best understand their challenges and to provide feedback on how they can improve.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? The best advice I have ever been given comes from my dad: "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." I try to apply this in both my professional and personal life.

TYLER "TJ" JOHNSON Corporate Sales Executive, Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. After Hurricane Sally, our front office staff volunteered our time to help Blue Wahoos season ticket members and partners recover after the storm. We were all able to come together to help our Blue Wahoos family in a time of need.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Create your own definition of success and shamelessly pursue it.

EMILY LALAS

Audit Supervisor, Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund What makes your job 'click' for you? I get to combine what I am passionate about with what I am good at. I love helping nonprofit or-

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Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The most rewarding part of my career has been the time spent as a field training officer. Working with the new hires allows me to effect direct change on the environment within the agency. I'm still incredibly proud to see the progress and accomplishments my former trainees have made.

ALEX LAMONTE

Chef and Owner, Lamonte Gelato and A Mano Panino

be more time-consuming and difficult, but it 'clicks' for me because there is a tremendous amount of meaning behind it.

What makes your job 'click' for you? Having the opportunity to create concepts that bring inspiration to the community keeps me driven. Creating memories for others through food makes it meaningful to me. Food made from scratch with high quality is always going to

What's the best advice you've ever been given? The executive sous chef of The French Laundry told me when I was struggling, "Focus on improving yourself by just one percent each day." It is amazing what one can accomplish when goals are set in small increments.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The past couple years I have delved further into community trainings. Working with Impact 100 and Pensacola State College Foundation's nonprofit program to provide nonprofit trainings to our local organizations has been a great opportunity to give back to the community. I love teaching others and helping to make complex topics a little less scary.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Launching Troubadour Dining with my talented wife, Ashley. Besides having a highly positive reception, Troubadour provided many valuable lessons for starting up a small business and growing organically without the need for loans or outside investments. It showed me how to be resourceful and make the best out of what we had while being dynamic and creative.

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ASHLEY LAMONTE

Owner and Operator, Lamonte Gelato and A Mano Panino What makes your job 'click' for you? Every time I am able to make someone's day brighter. It feels incredible to know that something that you put your time, energy and love into brings joy to others. I live for the smiles every time someone takes a bite of handcrafted gelato or house-baked schiacciata bread. What's the best advice you've ever been given? To "get out of my own way." My husband, the person who sees me at the core of my being, told me how much he believed in me and how much I would benefit from believing in myself. The moment I viewed myself from his point of view, my life changed. I was able to grow into the person that I was meant to become.

Pensacola. We participated in a donated event called The Big Scoop in 2023 where we donated scoops of our gelato to families in need. Our second donated event was for the ARC Gateway of Pensacola where we scooped gelato for their yearly gala.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The most rewarding projects we have gotten the pleasure of working on in our career were with Big Brother Big Sister of Pensacola and the ARC Gateway of

ANTHONY LEE

Field Sales Manager, Cox Communications What makes your job 'click' for you? I love being out in the community with my employees, meeting the customers where they are. I love providing information about Cox programs that can save the customer money and provide them with the opportunity to get internet for their children to do their schoolwork. I love how Cox allows me to find opportunities to be more involved in the community and is supportive of that endeavor. What's the best advice you've ever been given? Follow your passion and heart, then figure out a way to earn income doing it. A missed shot is the one you never took. In order to move forward you have to take a step. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Creating an event for One Hopeful Place shelter was one of my most rewarding projects. I was able to get the community involved by having a DJ, live band, caterers, painters and a host. The event was held specifically to raise money for the shelter. I was able to present a check in front of the chambers' audience. Helping the homeless and youth is my passion.

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collaborative and innovative community where we are continuously changing and growing. What's the best advice you've ever been given? Some of the best advice I have been given is to never stop learning and to stay curious. You need to continue to learn and grow in order to be innovative and strategic, and to better adapt to change.

ANNA LOCHAS

Board of Trustees Liaison and Director of Public Policy Events, University of West Florida

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. There are several projects and events that I have worked on at UWF that have been incredibly rewarding. Working at the UWF Historic Trust was definitely one of them. I enjoyed being a part of a team dedicated to preserving and sharing Pensacola's unique and rich history.

What makes your job 'click' for you? I appreciate the dynamic nature of the university. Every day brings new and diverse challenges and opportunities. I enjoy being a part of UWF's

Rising Star We are so proud of our

unaware of my role, is deeply fulfilling. It's the sense of making a difference, quietly yet significantly, that truly makes my job resonate with me. What's the best advice you've ever been given? The most impactful advice I've received is this simple yet powerful mantra: keep trying. Initially, it seemed trivial, but it taught me that true failure lies in not attempting at all. Over time, I realized how often I declined opportunities that could have been growth experiences. This advice has reshaped my approach, encouraging me to embrace challenges with an open mind and be more proactive in seizing opportunities that come my way.

Jennifer Shoaf Richardson Employment Law Attorney & Shareholder

VAL MARTINEZ

Financial Analyst, Pensacola State College What makes your job 'click' for you? The dynamic and ever-evolving nature of my job keeps me constantly engaged. There's always something new to learn, even outside my primary expertise, which I find both fun and intriguing. The most rewarding aspect is the behind-the-scenes impact I have on students' lives. Helping them graduate, even if they're

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I spearheaded a cloud-based software implementation at PSC, serving as the subject matter expert and functional lead. This nearly two-year project transformed my role, offering an engaging alternative to standard accounting tasks. The ongoing process optimization has been a rewarding challenge. Additionally, mentoring and training others in the software has been an unexpected and fulfilling aspect of my career development.

esclaw.com | 30 S. Spring Street, Pensacola | 850.433.6581 424 2

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RISING STARS 2024 CAESAREA MCCORD Mental Health Services Specialist, Pensacola State College

What makes your job 'click' for you? I have the ability to assist students during a pivotal moment in their lives. Often college comes with its own array of concerns, life lessons and stressors. My job is to promote and provide mental health services so students know that

they are not alone and have the support they need when they need it. What's the best advice you've ever been given? View every experience as a learning experience. No matter where I go or what I do, I try to learn something that can be beneficial to my own personal development and professional growth.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. One of the most rewarding projects I have ever worked on has been helping to create, curate and plan the PSC Domestic Violence Awareness Walk. Through this initiative, and with the help of our community partners, PSC has been able to spread awareness, give resources and provide support to the greater Pensacola area for the past two years.

HANNAH BLOUNT MCDONOUGH

ALEXANDRA MESSMORE

What makes your job 'click' for you? For me, it is important to work in a place where I have challenging and meaningful work, an opportunity to make a difference, and strong leadership support. I have dedicated mentors who value my career, which is truly invaluable.

What makes your job 'click' for you? The people. I love that my job gives me the opportunity to be in someone's corner, whether that is fighting their battles or simply listening to them talk about what is oftentimes the scariest moment(s) of their life.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? You never know what someone else is going through. We are all fighting our own battles—sometimes silently and sometimes very loudly. Be kind and have empathy.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Never pretend to be anyone else. Imposter syndrome is real and permeates the legal profession (and society in general, to be honest). The best version of yourself is you, not what anyone else thinks you should be.

Associate Attorney, Beggs & Lane

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I had the privilege of being a part of the Gator TeamChild Juvenile Law Clinic at the University of Florida Levin College of Law where we provided free legal services to children in foster care. We had an amazing professor and clinic social

MARY DEE MORALITA Chef and Owner, O.G. Lola's Vegan Filipino Kusina Food Truck

What makes your job 'click' for you? Liberation, joy, culture and serving the community. Healing our families with nourishing, soulful, ancestral foods and impactful knowledge is so important to me. Access to this type of medicine is almost nonexistent in the South. I feel blessed every day that I get to wake up and have the opportunity to get creative in the kitchen and change perspectives on what plant-based food looks, feels and tastes like. February 8, 2024

Associate Attorney, Zarzaur Law, P.A.

worker who spent countless hours investing in us both inside and outside the classroom. It was incredibly rewarding to be part of a clinic so devoted to making a difference.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Purpose is created, not found. Up until my 30th birthday, I endlessly searched for something external and outside of myself to 'click.' It wasn't until I realized that all of the answers I kept longing for were always sourced from within. You find your purpose when you're grounded in your most authentic self and when you explore your natural, unique, God-given gifts and create ways to share them by uplifting, supporting and serving others.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. A medical malpractice case that ended up going to trial in the fall of 2023. The case was tough, but my

boss, Joe, was fearless in his pursuit of justice for this family. It was such a privilege to not only be a part of the team, but watch as their family became part of ours.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Honestly, launching O.G. Lola's. Although chef/food truck life is a wild time and a tough journey, having the ability to serve the community wholesome food is the biggest blessing. With the freedom of running my own business, I get to be more active in my communities. Since opening in 2019, we donate food and essentials to the houseless on a daily basis and give a portion of our proceeds towards liberating others locally and beyond.

RISING STARS 2024 MELISSA MORLEY

Practice Supervisor, Ascension Sacred Heart What makes your job 'click' for you? Healthcare has always been present in my life and it is a complex and multifaceted industry. I enjoy navigating the challenges that are presented and ensuring that patients are at the center of those solutions.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? The only constant in life is change. Learn to get comfortable with it and embrace the changes rather than trying to resist it. I tend to be a creature of habit so this message has served me well in all areas of my life.

What makes your job 'click' for you? Seeing the connection that volleyball and athletics has with the overall Pensacola community and knowing that it positively impacts others.

my purpose in molding the lives of today's youth. I may not always see the fruits of my labor immediately, but when my former students come back years later and I see the growth and maturation in them, it means everything to me.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? You don't know what you don't know, until you know it.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? God has a plan for our lives. Regardless of our current situation, He can work through it to prosper us and give us hope and a future.

CAMERON PETERS

Teacher, Escambia County School District/ Bailey Middle School What makes your job 'click' for you? Being able to positively influence others through inspiration, mentoring and coaching all align with my passion for making a meaningful impact through my career. My job allows me to fulfill

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. One of the most rewarding projects I've been a part of and coordinated was the Back 2 School Health and Image Fair. Our objective was to inspire the youth to elevate their image and empower their future. We were able to give out free food, haircuts, grooming kits, clothes, backpacks and health checks. Being a blessing to the community alongside my Kappa League boys and fraternity brothers made the event worthwhile.

PATRICK PRICE Realtor, Kuhn Realty

What makes your job 'click' for you? As an everyday part of my job, I not only have the opportunity to meet new people, but I also get to reconnect and grow closer to past clients. Born and raised in Pensacola, being able to sell a piece of this town, especially to out-of-town buyers, is so special.

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Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Starting a physician practice from its inception. It required a lot of mutual trust, continuous exchange of ideas and teamwork that I learned a lot from. It is an experience I look back on fondly.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Spending six years on the UWF volleyball team was the most rewarding time I have spent. I graduated knowing that I was a part of a legacy in UWF Athletics.

KIERRA POTTS

Assistant Volleyball Coach and Assistant in Athletics Development, Pensacola State College

What's the best advice you've ever been given? My family always instilled in me the golden rule of treating others as you'd like to be treated. I find that in business, this is a virtue that leads you to not only success, but also strong relationships.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The most rewarding would have to be Habitat for Humanity projects. Being in real estate, I see firsthand the serious issue we have with the lack of affordable housing. Security and housing is a fundamental right all should have access to.

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RISING STARS 2024 JENNIFER SHOAF RICHARDSON

BETHANY ROBERTS Community Engagement and Patron Services Manager, Pensacola Opera

Shareholder, Emmanuel Sheppard and Condon

What makes your job 'click' for you? I have always been passionate about the arts bringing people together. In my role at the opera, I'm able to help bring new patrons to our shows, further our engagement in the community, coordinate our volunteer group and support the artists and other administrative staff. It's truly a unique opportunity to be a part of the action in so many ways.

What makes your job 'click' for you? We spend more waking hours in the workplace than we do at home. It is deeply personal and it is an honor to be involved in helping employers improve their employee relationships. Compliance with employment laws can be counterintuitive and this is an area where the law is very responsive to current events. I find helping small and local employers in their time of need to be especially gratifying. What's the best advice you've ever been given? I have been fortunate to benefit from mentorship from many legal legends throughout Florida, but some of my favorite advice came from a new attorney I was mentoring. She shared a Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quote: "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." I try to live up to it in my life.

February 8, 2024

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Early in my career, I handled a pro bono case for a 13-year-old girl who was banned from attending any public school in her county. We won her case and she was able to graduate from eighth grade.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? As someone who deals with anxiety and imposter syndrome, being told, "No one can be more confident in you than you are in yourself" has helped me tremendously. Whether it is walking into an interview, audition or board room, I have to remain confident in myself. I am still learning every day, but I am up to the task at hand.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Working with the Pensacola Opera Volunteer Group, Bravi!, has been incredibly rewarding. Growing our volunteer base, getting to know our volunteers and seeing them more confidently engaged in opera programming has been fantastic. It is wonderful to connect a passionate volunteer with a unique skillset to an essential task in the production process. Working with our volunteers, I've not only gained colleagues, I've also found many wonderful friends.

RISING STARS 2024 Year, collaborating with Pensacola's best on the EPHRC board or creating my own events for friends, I find such joy in creating space for people—especially marginalized communities—to come together and find purpose and belonging.

ent's outlook on their situation or prevented someone from giving up because they felt unsupported or alone. Healthy Start is for the community, and I take pride in advocating for my community. What's the best advice you've ever been given? If you have a vision of something you want to achieve that, at the moment, only you can see, keep working until that vision becomes a movie for all to see. Even if no one else supports it or believes in it, as long as you believe it is enough to make it happen.

LAKEILA ROBERTSON Community Liaison, Healthy Start

What makes your job 'click' for you? What makes Healthy Start right for me is the simple fact that I know I am constantly making a difference in someone's life on a daily basis. There's no other reward greater than knowing that I could have possibly changed a par-

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Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Although I cannot go into too much detail, I am currently working on a project in an area that is often overlooked or unseen that will remove barriers to access of resources and services for this particular community. I am very proud and honored to be a part of a project of this magnitude and I feel as though this will be one of the most rewarding projects I have worked on.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Somewhere along the way I finally learned that being your most authentic self is the path to true happiness, success and friendship. Stand in your own truth and you will attract and inspire others just like you to be their truest selves too.

SYDNEY ROBINSON

Freelance Writer; Community Organizer What makes your job 'click' for you? Creating opportunities for collaboration in my community is where I thrive. Whether it's volunteering on the board of an LGBTQ-focused organization, creating cultural moments at Gallery Night like Juneteenth or Lunar New

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Being on the board of PensaPride in 2023 was an incredibly rewarding opportunity. Our small team created a safe and welcoming space for thousands of people of all ages and lifestyles to come together and celebrate what makes them special. I am so proud to use my voice to protect and advocate for them always.

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RISING STARS 2024 ASHLEY SABA

Regional Business Development Coordinator, Buffalo Rock Company; CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, Revolve What makes your job 'click' for you? Relationships. God gifts me the opportunity each day to support and encourage the needs of personnel in various businesses and organizations to flourish with goods and services. Doing it with a positive outlook and genuine joy for their personal and professional growth is grati-

fying and fulfills the civic commitment I owe to Pensacola and the surrounding communities in Northwest Florida. What's the best advice you've ever been given? "Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is. Know your business and industry better than anyone else in the world. Love what you do or don't do it," as quoted by Mark Cuban. It resonates front of mind every day.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I had the honor to work alongside the Senior VP of Chief Business Operations as he and other officers collaborated on continuous improvement. This taught me a high-level perspective on how to improve culture, infrastructure, market development, strategic growth and key performance indicators. Learning how to measure levels of execution, while also adding personal touches of empathy, high emotional intelligence and awareness to merge it all for legendary overall business and community success was rewarding.

SHELBY SAVAGE

TREVOR SCHAETTLE

What makes your job 'click' for you? When I find a way to tell my client's story in a way that resonates with the judge, the jury, or the opposing party. My role is to advocate for my client, so when I successfully tell their story and get to be their voice in that moment, I remember exactly why I chose this career.

What makes your job 'click' for you? The relationships that I have developed in Pensacola and throughout the state have made my job what it is. As a transplant to Pensacola, this area was somewhere I never expected to start my career. This job continues to 'click' for me over the past four years because of my mentors and the people that continue to put their trust in me.

Attorney, Taylor, Warren, Weidner & Hancock, P.A.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "You can't pour from an empty cup." As much as I love serving, supporting and advocating for others, I can't be my best self for them unless I take time for myself as well. It took me a long time to learn that, and I'm still working on putting it into practice.

Legislative Aide, Florida House of Representatives

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. One of my first cases was representing a family whose home had been ravaged by a fire, leaving

them homeless. The insurance company wrongfully denied and delayed their claim. Fighting to hold that insurance company to their end of the bargain and helping that family put their lives back together was a humbling and rewarding experience I will never forget.

VERONICA SEYMOUR, CFRE

if it's getting processes streamlined. Watching my small part help an organization succeed in its fundraising goal is a win I always cherish.

Principal Consultant, Itinerant Communications

What makes your job 'click' for you? I believe in the power of community. Working in the nonprofit industry, you are in the business of connection, gratitude, organization and storytelling. I love being able to be a part of that journey— whether it's helping a nonprofit tell its story or

February 8, 2024

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "You are your own best advocate." You have to find your voice. No one is a mind reader. If you don't learn to speak up, even if your voice shakes, nothing will change—in your workspace and in your personal life. You have to be able to say what you want; it's truly the first step.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Take everything seriously, but not personally. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Working as the District Aide for Representative Andrade in 2020 and handling the hundreds of un-

employment claims that came to our office. Knowing people came to our office as a last resort and we were able to provide tangible help made it all worth it.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I started volunteering with America's VetDogs in February 2022. I am a Weekend Puppy Raiser and work with a potential future service dog for a veteran or a first responder. A little after a year, the dog went back to New York for more training and by July 2023, he was placed with a veteran. I am so honored to help out in a meaningful way for someone who has served our country.

RISING STARS 2024 CARIN SMITH

Community Outreach Specialist, Escambia Pensacola Human Relations Commission What makes your job 'click' for you? Being able to work within our community is exciting and humbling; it gives me the opportunity to serve others and to be a resource for the underserved population.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "You must tell yourself, no matter how hard it is, or how hard it gets, 'I'm going to make it.'" And that you can do anything you set your mind to.

progression of accessibility to the arts through the youth programs we offer. As an artist, I understand that access to diverse forms of expression is incredibly important in helping a community thrive and move forward.

to work with top-notch attorneys and experts in a variety of fields, which always gives me a chance to learn something new. What's the best advice you've ever been given? My parents instilled in me to be kind to others and always work hard for what you want. Do your best and you will reap the rewards.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "Progression over perfection." Accepting that the "right time" is an excuse to stand still is something I try to remind myself of in all areas of life. Time will pass either way and risking failure is more fruitful than holding back.

RAYLENE SOLIS

Director of Youth Programming, First City Art Center; Freelance Artist What makes your job 'click' for you? Working at First City Art Center, I have been able to share my love and knowledge as an instructor for the past few years, and now I get to guide the

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. As an undergraduate, I had a research grant opportunity to present a triptych of portrait paintings based on the dynamic of Spanish Catholicism and indigenous Filipino mythology. I merged visual iconography from both conceptually while using as little petroleum-based material as possible. It led to a deeper understanding of colonialism, symbolic visual language and sustainable art resources. It was rewarding to represent personal heritage using the likenesses of myself and my sisters.

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COURTNEY SPANN

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Recently, I've taken part in a variety of acquisitions and system integrations. With acquisitions, I love being able to develop relationships with new team members. They always have a different view, and it's rewarding when both ideas can merge and bring about a new, successful way of operating.

Accounting Manager, IMS Legal Strategies What makes your job 'click' for you? I enjoy being able to help our clients and partners. Working in the legal industry, you never know what you will encounter. I get the opportunity

YOMAIMA SZELIGA

ing on excellence and innovation to provide superior products for our clients.

What makes your job 'click' for you? I am passionate about what I do. I have had the opportunity to work on different projects and be involved in various phases of design and project management. I love the synergy within my team and take pride in providing quality work, focus-

What's the best advice you've ever been given? "Don't wait for the right opportunity, create it."—George Bernard Shaw

Senior Project Engineer, Mott MacDonald

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Aviation Community Day was such a rewarding experience. There were STEM activities, Black aviators, a helicopter demo and it was free to the community. Children were able to learn and interact with the Black aviators.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. It would be difficult to narrow this down to one project. All of the projects that I have worked on have been rewarding in the sense that I have gained knowledge through performing different tasks and taking on different roles. I've also been lucky enough to work amongst exceptionally skilled colleagues, not only locally but globally as well.

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RISING STARS 2024 LASHIEKA TAYLOR

RAVEN TAYLOR

What makes your job 'click' for you? I am able to help someone every single day that I come to work. I love the fact that I'm a trusted source and that people feel comfortable coming to me.

What makes your job 'click' for you? I am passionate about being a mother. I was taught how to be a strong and supportive mom by my own mother and mother-in-law. Nurturing does not always come naturally. My job allows me to teach other women how to be better moms so they can grow extraordinary human beings.

Human Resource Specialist, Community Health Northwest Florida

What's the best advice you've ever been given? If you do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. It's hard to narrow it down to just one. Anything that I have ever worked on has been rewarding because whether good or bad, it was a life experience and it shaped me to be who I am.

Healthy Families Program Manger, Children's Home Society

What's the best advice you've ever been given? Many years ago, a guidance counselor asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a social worker. She knew that I would impact more lives within our community if I carried my passion for helping children on to a larger format. Her advice to me about becoming a social worker truly sent me down a different path, and I have changed the lives of the children and families I graciously serve. Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Last year my family and I performed with First Dance

February 8, 2024

Ballroom Studio in the third annual Greatest Showcase benefiting CHS Healthy Families. The showcase exceeded my expectations by selling a record number of tickets, which grossed the highest amount of donations for CHS Healthy Families Escambia—and to top it off, my family and I won the mirror ball trophy for the showcase. We'll see you July 27 for the fourth annual Greatest Showcase.

RISING STARS 2024 lenges, creative expression and positive impact collectively make my work deeply fulfilling.

with memorable graphics that can be cherished for a lifetime. Event planning comes naturally and I believe in making everyone feel amazing and important.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? My mom emphasized that being different is a strength, not a weakness. Her wisdom encourages me to embrace diversity, fostering a curiosity to understand various perspectives. She instilled in me the value of constant curiosity, urging me to research and explore anything I don't fully understand. This advice shapes my approach to life, promoting an open mind and a rich appreciation for the uniqueness that each person brings to the world.

What's the best advice you've ever been given? The best advice I have ever been given is to always "be mindful of how you treat poor Lazarus." My godmother Mary May always encourages me to treat people better than I want to be treated. It is important to be mindful of everyone because you never know where your next meal will come from. I am who I am because someone thought enough of me to help me.

GREGORY THORNHILL Owner and Sole Proprietor, Gifted Handz Enterprises

What makes your job 'click' for you? God chose and predestined me to be a blessing to His people. I am grateful that I am able to assist others in their time of need. I work with families at their lowest times, and it is my duty to encourage, support and provide them

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. The best and most rewarding project that I have ever worked on was being selected as one of the co-chairs for Morehouse College's homecoming planning committee. I am always willing to use my gifts to enhance an event or production. It is in my heart to be a blessing. I am always honored to serve and assist. God gifted my hands, so I give back in any way I can.

ENIKO UJJ Artist

What makes your job 'click' for you? My job resonates on multiple levels—community building satisfies my social side, independence grants autonomy and diverse research fuels creativity. Applying these learnings to art adds a tangible dimension. Working hands-on and solving puzzles brings excitement. Teaching fosters collaboration, and using various mediums keeps tasks dynamic. Understanding my city enhances connection. In essence, chal-

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. I organized an International Women's Day fundraising event during my tenure at Odd Colony. Bringing together women from the local brewing industry, we collaboratively brewed a beer, which fostered community and education. The event featured a performance of "The Vagina Monologues," a fundraising raffle and a market. A portion of sales were donated to Lakeview Victim Services and Trauma Recovery, making it a meaningful and impactful initiative that combined creativity, community and social contribution.

Congratulations to Margaret, Hannah and all the 2024 Rising Stars!

Attorneys & Community Partners Since 1883 BeggsLane.com MARGARET E. ZINSEL 2024 Rising Star

HANNAH B. MCDONOUGH 2024 Rising Star

Beggs & Lane is a full-service law firm that provides legal advice and counsel to major corporations, businesses, and individuals. The firm has a diverse practice that offers the flexibility and resources to serve a variety of client needs.

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Congratulations HUNTER and all the 2024 Rising Stars! From all of us at Autumn Beck Blackledge PLLC MAGGIE VLASS

Physical Therapist, DPT, PRPC, Ascension Sacred Heart What makes your job 'click' for you? My job is incredibly fulfilling. I strive to provide treatment interventions that enhance the health and wellness of the individuals in my hometown. Over the years, I have become very passionate about developing effective, evidence-based pelvic floor programs, which has been a critically underserved need in the community. It's so gratifying to see firsthand the positive impact these services have on a patient's independence and quality of life. What's the best advice you've ever been given? "It matters to this one." People often think that in order to make a huge impact you have to do a grand gesture to a large group of people. However, I truly believe the best way to make a meaningful difference is on a personal, one-on-one level. I try to apply that advice not only at work but also within my personal life.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. My husband and I adopted our two amazing children, but honestly the processes were extremely difficult since each case is unique. Because of our hardships, one of my life's purposes is to share our story and mentor others. As an adoption advisor, I work alongside lawyers, social workers and agencies to facilitate the best match for everyone involved. It's incredibly rewarding to receive a beautiful picture from a family that I helped in their journey.

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 | (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com

CORY WILLIAMS

Owner, Asesinato Tequila and NTCR Beverages What makes your job 'click' for you? We're a musician-owned operation, blending passion, authenticity and a deep cultural connection from Jalisco and Pensacola. Our focus is on delivering a clean, additive-free tequila that simply tastes better than the competition, all at a competitive price point. Also, being the first national liquor brand in Pensacola. That's the real deal, no frills. What's the best advice you've ever been given? Imagine having a one percent chance of failure in whatever venture you're diving into—starting a business, making a career move or chasing a dream. If that one percent doesn't scare you, then there's no reason not to do it, regardless of the odds. It's about embracing the slim margin, recognizing that the potential for success outweighs the fear of that chance of failure. So, why not jump in with both feet and make it happen?

providing jobs for over 50 people in Pensacola, was undoubtedly rewarding. However, building my current tequila company tops the charts. Having an idea and growing it from a concept to a tangible physical product that I can literally taste is one of the most badass things I've done yet.

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Launching a drive-in movie business during the pandemic,

February 8, 2024

What makes your job 'click' for you? My primary practice comprises several different fields of law, with each discipline heavily dependent on an understanding of a specific area of taxation, the rules and regulations of which are ever-changing. Therefore, while challenging to stay current, my job will never be one that is monotonous. What's the best advice you've ever been given? You're not supposed to know everything, and sometimes "I don't know" is your best answer.

RHETT WILLIAMS Lawyer, Clark Partington

Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. Receiving a positive ruling from the IRS regarding its incorrect tax classification, the outcome of which was highly advantageous for our client.

What makes your job 'click' for you? The opportunity to work with, and more importantly learn from, incredibly experienced and skilled attorneys. Being so new to the field, I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn how to practice law from attorneys who are so skilled at what they do. What's the best advice you've ever been given? Your words matter. So much of the legal profession relies on written communication, and the words you pick to convey your argument or speak to others leave a lasting impression.

MARGARET ZINSEL Associate Attorney, Beggs & Lane

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Tell us about the best/most rewarding project you've ever worked on. While in law school I had the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for a first-year legal writing and research class. I really enjoyed mentoring firstyear JD students and teaching them skills that they would eventually carry into practice. It was especially rewarding helping them navigate their first year of law school. {in}

inweekly.net

February 8, 2024

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a&e happenings Feb. 13 at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

FLOW TRIBE PRESENTS: MARDI GRAS HANGOVER Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 at

Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Cost is $15. More information is at vinylmusichall.com

SPECIAL NEEDS MARDI GRAS Join in a Mardi Gras parade event for individuals with special needs hosted by The Starfish Project. Parade is around Navarre High School, 8600 High School Blvd. Line up is 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Parade begins at 11:30 a.m.

VALENTINE'S DAY EVENTS

MEOWENTINE'S MONTH AT COASTAL CAT CAFÉ Visit the Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Photo Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

MARDI GRAS EVENTS

KREWE OF LAFITTE ILLUMINATED PARADE The long-running parade rolls rain

or shine 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 in downtown Pensacola. Visit kreweoflafitte.com for details.

MARDI GRAS CRAWFISH BUD 'N' BOIL

Pregame the Mardi Gras parade at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. Enjoy a plate of crawfish at market rate and get a free Bud Light. More information is at orileyspub.com.

KREWE OF WRECKS DANCE PARTY AT BAMBOO WILLIES Get down at Bamboo Willies beach parade pre-party noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at 400 Quietwater Road.

PENSACOLA GRAND MARDI GRAS PARADE Catch moon pies, see local krewes

and more at the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade 2-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at Palafox and Government streets. Visit pensacolamardigras. com for details.

"MARDI GRASS" AT ODD COLONY Enjoy

pre- and post-parade free live bluegrass shows with The New Cahoots at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. The brewery and MI SU Street Food will both open at 11 a.m. for all your parade drinking and snacking needs. Details are at facebook.com/oddcolony.

MARDI GRAS WATCH PARTIES AT BODACIOUS Catch downtown Mardi Gras

parades and enjoy snacks from the Bodacious balcony 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $85 a person, per parade. Visit bodaciousshops.com for more information.

CELEBRATE MARDI GRAS WEEKEND AT PERFECT PLAIN Join Perfect Plain Brewing

Co., 50 E. Garden St., on Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10 for Mardi Gras parade celebrations with karaoke, DJs and live music. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

KREWE OF WRECKS BEACH PARADE The Pensacola Beach Krewe of Wrecks Parade is 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 running from Via de Luna to Gulfside Pavilion. Details are at pensacolabeachmardigras.com. MARDI GRAS CLEANUP Join Pensacola and

Perdido Bays Estuary Program to clean up beds from trees in Pensacola. All collected beads will be donated to Arc Gateway. Volunteers with the heaviest bag of beads collected gets a swag giveaway. Clean-up is 8 a.m.-noon Sunday, Feb. 11 at Plaza Ferdinand, E. Government Street and Palafox Street. Sign up at ppbep.org.

FAT TUESDAY AT SEVILLE QUARTER Pensacola Mardi Gras and Seville Quarter will host a Fat Tuesday celebration 5-11:30 p.m. Tuesday,

Garden St., during the month of February for a special Valentine's themed sessions featuring a hissing booth, cupid cats and more. For a $10 donation, you can also write your ex's name in the litterbox. Advanced booking is recommended. Visit coastalcatpcola.com/book to reserve your next spot.

GALENTINE'S COCKTAIL MAKING WORKSHOP Class is 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at Rich

Events Pensacola, 2 E. Intendencia St. Tickets are available at tapthecoast.hbportal.co.

STOP LIGHT PARTY Dress the part: green for

single, yellow for complicated and red for taken. Dollar Night on Valentine's Day is Wednesday, Feb. 14 at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road.

CAN YOU FIND THE LOVE TONIGHT?

Looking for love this Valentine's Day? Look no further than Sir Richard's Public House, where they're celebrating all day Wednesday, Feb. 14 with board games and brews and a Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt. Find one of the origami hearts in the pub and redeem for a mystery drink. Sir Richard's is at 2719 E. Cervantes St.

VALENTINE'S DAY AT THE WELL Enjoy specialty cocktails and aphrodisiac tapas menu 4-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. VALENTINE'S DINNER AT SALT Visit Salt on Feb. 14-16 for a special Valentine's dining experience with a three-course menu. Cost is $80

per person. Reservation spots start at 6 p.m. Salt is located at 12 Via de Luna. For a menu and reservations, visit opentable.com.

WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE? Enjoy this aphrodisiac dinner and overnight stay at Celestine B&B, located at 514 Baylen St. Cost is $175 per person. This special is offered Feb. 12-20. Visit eventbrite.com for details. SAKE & MAKI A Valentine's Day sushi rolling

class is 6:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Bonsai, 12 Via de Luna Drive. Cost is $150 per person. Make your reservations at opentable.com.

THE TRAGEDY: A GOTHIC VALENTINE'S BALL A gothic soiree inspired by Romeo and

Juliet is 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Court of DeLuna, 116 Gonzalez St. Details are on eventbrite.com.

CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY AT GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS All Great

Southern Restaurants will be open and offering a special Valentine's Day feature. Reservations are required for Jackson's Steakhouse and Angelena's Italian Ristorante. Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com for menus and locations.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS MILITARY RECOGNITION DAY The

Pensacola Council of the Navy League of the United States will host the annual Military Recognition Day luncheon and Margaret Flowers Civic Award Ceremony 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Cost is $20 per person. For reservations or to sponsor a military member, contact Pensacola Navy League at (850) 436-8552 or email pensacolanavyleague@pensacolanavyleague.org.

MASQUERADE BALL: FORBIDDEN ROMANCE Emerald Coast Victim Services fund-

raiser is 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at Heritage Hall, 1882 Coast Court in Gulf Breeze. Tickets are available at emeraldcoastvictimservices.org.

SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE ADOPTIONS

Paws Crossed Dog Rescue will be at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave., with adoptable dogs just in time for Valentine's Day. The adoption event is 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

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a&e happenings ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3

p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

ARTS & CULTURE

YOUTH ARTS FOCUS AWARDS AND RECEPTION Reception of PMA's latest exhibit

S. Alcaniz St. Visit iconmodernartgallery.com for more information.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME Enjoy a Pensacola Little Theatre production. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 9, 16; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 10, 17 and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 11 and 18 at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $10-$27. Thursday performances are half-off adult prices. Get tickets at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

MOVIE SCREENINGS AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART "The Promised Land" is show-

ing 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10 at Pensacola Cinema Art, 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are a $10 cash donation. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for details.

is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

OPERA AL FRESCO This free outdoor opera

FIRST CITY PENSACOLA PRESERVATION DINNER Pensacola Christian Women's Connec-

PENSACOLA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY LECTURE Jenni Baggett presents findings

tion will host its annual dinner event with guest speaker Ross Pristera, of the UWF Historic Trust 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Pensacola Country Club, 1500 Bayshore Drive. Contact barbaraudit111@gmail.com for tickets and information.

ICON MODERN ART GALLERY'S 'BETTER THAN ONE' RECEPTION Art reception is 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 at Icon Modern Art, 213

838 3

performance is 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at Rev. H.K. Matthews Park, 1200 E. Anderson St.

from her paper "Bridging the Non-Heterosexual, Non-Cisgender Identity and Archaeology Gap in Mobile." Discussion is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3400 Bayou Blvd. Visit pasfl.org for details.

MORNING AT THE MUSEUM The National

Naval Aviation Museum will celebrate "Morning at the Museum" 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in February

with a Chick-Fil-A breakfast, presentations from the curatorial staff and a movie in the theater. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door. Children younger than 4 get free admission. Tickets must be purchased in advance for Chick-Fil-A breakfast at navalaviationmuseum.org/tickets. Movie screening on Feb. 13 is "Rocky Mountain Express," and Feb. 20 is "Wings Over Water."

LIBERATION! PRESENTS: MASQUEERADE Music and entertainment celebrating queer culture and communities is 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Tickets are available at pensacolasubculture.com.

BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates. COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE

BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. The next date is 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. Visit pensacolalittletheatre. com for details. THE MARKET AT GARY'S BREWERY Mar-

ket Perdido Key vendors will sell fresh produce,

art, baked goods and more noon-5 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month from February to May at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Next date is Sunday, Feb. 11. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret

Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investiga-

inweekly.net

a&e happenings tion and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small

throughout the month. Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com for details.

YOU SCORE WE POUR Pick your team, grab a wristband and when your team scores, you get a free shot starting 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. BIG GAME POTLUCK AND WATCH PARTY Bring a dish and enjoy some drinks at

O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road.

and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids' crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave.

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY WATCH PARTY

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic

VINO MAGNIFICO The next Vino Magnifico

practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

CANVAS AND CLAY RECEPTION The new member show "Canvas and Clay" is at Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza St. Visit quaysidegallery. com/publicevents. Exhibit is on view through Feb. 12. 70TH ANNUAL YOUTH ART FOCUS The

Pensacola Museum of Art and Escambia County Public Schools presents artistic achievements from students in grades kindergarten through 12. The exhibition is on view through Feb. 25. An awards ceremony is 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

FIRE IN THE EVENING Enjoy a debut show from Louisiana-based painter Dan Charbonnet. Exhibition is on view at the Switzer Gallery at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., through March 8. THE FLUIDITY OF PERCEPTION Enjoy an exhibit from Chris Gustin and Nancy Train Smith in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society. The show is on view at the Switzer Gallert at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd., through May 17. A live panel discussion is 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8.

FOOD + DRINKS

FIVE SISTER'S BLUES CAFÉ CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH Five Sister's

Blues Café will feature Black culinary innovators and special lunch and dinner features. Feb.12-18 honors Leah Chase with the featured dish being crawfish etouffee. Feb. 19-25 honors Edna Lewis, and the featured dish is Hoppin' John. Other innovators will be recognized February 8, 2024

Watch the big game 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PAIRING Enjoy a

cookie and beer pairing 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at Coastal County Brewing Co., 3041 E. Olive Road. Ensure your treats are ready upon your arrival by going to coastalcountybrewing.com/ shop/ols/products/girl-scout-cookie-flight.

is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 at V. Paul's, 29 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $15 per person and available at vinomagnifico.weebly.com.

DINNER AND AN ARIA Jackson's Steak-

house and Pensacola Opera present a night of fine dining and fine music. Two seatings are 5 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Enjoy a full dinner menu, plus a special feature from Chef Miller available. Seating is limited, so make your reservations by calling (850) 469-9898.

GREEN THUMB WINE TASTINGS Join

Green Thumb Wines for a free wine tasting 6-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month at 9 E. Gregory St. For more information, visit greenthumbwines.com.

SATURDAY SIPS ON THE SIDEWALK Stop by Green Thumb Wines, 9 E. Gregory St., every Saturday for wine selections. Visit greenthumbwines.com for details. SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

GAMER/JACKBOX NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of Bingo 6-8

p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com. 39

a&e happenings BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for Bar Bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details. SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco for details.

Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $12$15. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

ROAD TO LAGUNA FEST: DARI$, DUGGS, ANDRA, ERROR 100, SPENCEB Show is 7

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowl-

p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Admission is free. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

CREMRO SMITH, COLEMAN LANE, FUNKY LAMPSHADES, MADLOVE, PANHANDLE PIRATES Show is 7 p.m. Saturday,

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA O'Riley's

PINE HILL HAINTS, BASILANTROS, CASPER Show is 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at The

edge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

Tavern hosts trivia 8 p.m.-midnight Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

TRIVIA AT WISTERIA Trivia is 6 p.m. Thurs-

Feb. 10 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Admission is free. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET, BROADWAY CALLS Show is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 at The

days at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $18$20 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

GLIXEN, SNOW HALO Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $12-$15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details. FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool and play bar bingo 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details at orileystavern.com.

LIVE MUSIC

JAZZ THAT MADE HISTORY Jazz Pensacola

and West Florida Public Libraries will have a special jazz program during Black History Month. Children's books and CDs will also be on display for patrons to learn more about the music and artists. Events are noon-2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12 at Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, 11 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Molino Branch, 6450A Highway 95A; 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at Tryon Library, 1200 Langley Ave.; noon-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Pensacola Library, noon-2 p.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24 at Pensacola Library with special programming for kids. Visit jazzpensacola.com for more information.

FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ Enjoy music from Jazz Pensacola and a catered meal. Dress is cocktail attire. Event is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. Tickets are $60 per person. Visit jazzpensacola.com for details. 040 4

SINKING SEASON, THE COLOR FRED, PALMMEADOW, YNICORNS, FEED LEMON Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 at The

QUEENS OF SOUL Pensacola Symphony

Orchestra presents music from icons including Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and more 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Featuring vocalists Tamika Lawrence, Kelly Levesque and Shayna Steele. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com or pensacolasymphony.com.

YVIE ODDLY Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets start at $25. More information is at vinylmusichall.com. LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ Visit Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St., for live music on select days. •Tuesdays: Greg Bond 5:30-8:30 p.m. •Thursdays: John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. •Saturdays: Glenn Parker Band 6:30-10 p.m. •Sundays: Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited

to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook. com/oddcolony for details.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues Society of

Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District 7 p.m. every Monday at 130 E. Government St. in End O' the Alley. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com. for more listings visit inweekly.net

inweekly.net

February 8, 2024

free will astrology WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In honor of the Valentine season, and in accordance with astrological omens, I offer you a love letter from an unpublished novel by an Aries friend. Consider saying something similar to a person who would be thrilled to hear it. Here it is. "We will seize the sexiest joy we can conjure. We will turn each other into boisterous deities in quest of liberation from all unnecessary limitations. We will tenderly shock each other with mysterious epiphanies and rivers of bliss. 'Wild' will be too mild a word for the awakenings we provoke in each other's futures." TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "The greater

the fool, the better the dancer." Composer Theodore Hook said that. Poet Edwin Denby agreed. He said, "There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good." Choreographer Martha Graham added, "Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body." I bring these thoughts to your attention because the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to get freer, more sensuous and more unconstrained. Dancing your inhibitions into oblivion will be an excellent way to pursue these goals. So will doing everything with a dancer's abandon, including love-making.

By Rob Brezsny

Pompilius, the second king of Rome. It's an intriguing theory that could help explain why my horoscopes are popular in Italy. What about you, my fellow Cancerian? Is there an aspect of your reincarnation history that aids your current destiny? Or are there past events in your current life that are becoming more influential? The coming weeks will be a good time to meditate on these possibilities. While you ruminate on your history, check in with the spirits of your ancestors and departed allies to see if they have any inspirational messages for you.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Kevin Kelly wrote the book "Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier." There he observes, "Listening well is a superpower. While listening to someone you love, keep asking them 'Is there more?' until there is no more." Dear Leo, this is excellent advice for you in the coming weeks. I urge you to specialize in gathering the deep revelations of those you care for. Opening yourself to them in unprecedented ways will boost your soul power and enrich your wisdom.

I urge you to specialize in gathering the deep revelations of those you care for.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Years ago, sa-

lon.com asked various critics to name the most preposterous sex scene to appear in a recently published novel. I was honored that one of the vignettes selected was from my book "The Televisionary Oracle." As I read the critic's review of my wild, funny and crazy erotic story, I realized he was a pedantic macho prude who thought sex isn't sex unless it's dead serious and joylessly intense. The characters of mine he regarded as preposterous were in fact playing, laughing and having goofy fun. In the spirit of my novel's kooky lovers and in accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to pursue uproarious amusement while enjoying the arts of intimacy—both in and out of bed. P.S. Playwright Rose Franken said, "Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly."

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): A psychic

told me that in one of my past lives, I was Numa

242 4

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Imagine you

are walking on a hill at night. You are headed to meet a person you adore, who awaits you with champagne and chocolate. The weather is balmy. The moon is full. You are singing songs you both love, announcing your arrival. The songs tell stories about how much you two love to yearn for each other and how much you love quenching your yearning. When you arrive, dear Virgo, what will you tell your beloved to make them feel supremely understood and appreciated?

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Has your ap-

proach to togetherness become infused with habit or numbness? When was the last time you got extravagant for the sake of love? Has it been a while since you tried a daring romantic move or two? I bring these questions to your attention, Libra, because now is an excellent

time to rev up your imagination as you upgrade intimacy, companionship and collaboration. I hope you will authorize your fantasy life to be lush, unruly and experimental. Spur yourself to dream up departures from routine that intrigue your close allies.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Author W.

Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) testified, "My own belief is that there is hardly anyone whose sexual life, if it were broadcast, would not fill the world with surprise and horror." Is that true about you, Scorpio? Even if it is, I'm guessing the horrifying aspects will be nonexistent in the coming weeks. There may be surprises, yes. There may be entertaining interludes. But from what I can tell, everything will at least be educational and colorful. What are your most exotic erotic fantasies? Now is a good time to ask a willing partner to explore them with grace and good humor.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The Valentine season is looming, and many of us are receptive to advice about togetherness. I'll offer some principles I believe are essential to you Sagittarians as you nourish all your close relationships, including your romantic bonds. They are from novelist Graham Joyce. He wrote, "Two people in love don't make a hive mind. Neither should they want to be a hive mind, to think the same, to know the same. It's about being separate and still loving each other, being distinct from each other. One is the violin string, one is the bow." CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Lately,

I have been intoxicated a lot. Not because I've ingested drugs and alcohol. Not because I have been doing three-hour meditations or studying sacred texts. I've felt so wildly free and euphoric because life has been dismantling some of my fears. Once it happened when my psychotherapist spoke just the right curative words at a pivotal moment in our session. Another time, I came upon a very large hare while strolling in the woods and had an epiphany about how to heal a painful trauma in my past. On another occasion, I dreamed of a priestess doing a banishing ritual to exorcize my abandonment fears. There were three other similar events, as well. I bring this to your attention because I suspect you may soon also get intoxicated through the loss of fears.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Reading through the annals of famous authors' quotes about love, I'm horrified by the relentlessness of their sour assessments. "Love is merely a madness," wrote Shakespeare. "Whoever is not jealous is not in love," said St. Augustine. "General incivility is the very essence of love," declared Jane Austen. "It is impossible to love and be wise," moaned Francis Bacon. "Real love always has something hidden—some loss or boredom or tiny hate," says Andrew Sean Greer. I am allergic to all that dour noise. Personally, I have been entangled in a lot of romantic love during my time on Earth, and most of it has been interesting, educational and therapeutic. I am deeply grateful for all of it, even the heartbreaks. Any wisdom I have developed owes a great debt to my lovers. What about you, Aquarius? Where do you stand on these issues? I suspect the coming months will provide you with ample reasons to embrace my attitudes.

There is always more to discover and explore about the mysteries of our desires. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Have you dis-

covered all there is to know about your sexual feelings and proclivities? Have you come to a complete understanding of what turns you on and how you might express it? I hope your answer to those questions is "no," Pisces. In my view, all of us should keep evolving our relationship with eros. There is always more to discover and explore about the mysteries of our desires. Always more to learn about what excites and inspires us. The coming days will be an excellent time for you to enjoy this research. HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Make a vow to express more love in a way that's fun for you. {in}

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news of the weird NO LONGER WEIRD It's that time of year again, and the Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in South Jersey is stepping up in a feline sort of way. NBC4-TV reported on Jan. 26 that as part of a Valentine's Day promotion, in return for a $50 donation, the shelter will name a feral cat after your ex, then spay or neuter it before releasing it back into the wild. Sporting the motto "Because some things shouldn't breed," the program is aimed at reducing the feral cat population and satisfying disgruntled former lovers, who are asked to supply only a first name or nickname. Love is in the air! IT'S COME TO THIS Looking for a cuddle in this season of love? Pop on over to Tokyo and the Mipig Cafe, where you can snuggle up with a petite porcine pal. The Associated Press reported that customers pay $15 for 30 minutes with the micro pigs, who are clean and odor-free. "Each pig is unique. Each one has his or her own personality," said Shiho Kitagawa, an executive at Mipig. People enjoy the interaction so much that they often don't bother with getting a drink. But Sachiko Azuma, head of an animal cruelty organization, isn't a fan. "The animals have become tools for a money-making business," she said. UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONRY Celia Barrett, 35, entered a gas station in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Jan. 28 wearing no clothing and wielding a vegetable peeler, with which she threatened to kill staff members, Fox35-TV reported. She told police she had consumed six shots of liquor before waving the peeler at workers and knocking over a display of Red Bull drinks. Deputies responded to the scene, and Barrett was taken into custody, where she remains. WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME David Richardson of Humpty Doo, Australia, was exonerated by Judge Therese Austin in late January after pleading guilty to exposing himself to a teenager worker in the drive-thru line at Hungry Jack's, the Daily Mail reported. The incident from last September took place a day after Richardson had consumed "Pit Bull Super," which combines Viagra with Cialis, and was suffering from an "extremely painful" result. "I wasn't trying to flash myself at anyone," Richardson said. "I just wanted to grab a feed and go home. (I)

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

honestly didn't think the workers would see me." However, the towel he had placed over his lap didn't conceal his situation, and the female worker said she was "reduced to tears." Judge Austin told Richardson he should have gone to the hospital rather than to Hungry Jack's, but she agreed that there was no sexual intent and let him off the hook. CRIME REPORT Bertha Yalter, 71, allegedly became enraged on Jan. 28 after her husband of 52 years received a postcard from a woman he dated 60 years ago, WPLG-TV reported. The couple from North Miami Beach, Florida, were at their home when Yalter attacked, trying to "smother him with a pillow, bit and physically battered him," police said. Remarkably, someone was taking video with a cellphone, which will be admitted into evidence. Yalter faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and tampering with a victim and was held without bond. WAIT, WHAT? A dried 285-year-old lemon fetched $1,780 at auction in Shropshire, England, United Press International reported on Jan. 31. The lemon was discovered in a 19th-century cabinet that was being prepared for auction. But here's the weird part: It was inscribed: "Given by Mr. P. La Franchini Nov. 4, 1739, to Miss E. Baxter." The cabinet sold for $40. BRIGHT IDEAS In Stevenage, England, police detained a man running with a small refrigerator strapped to his back, the BBC reported on Jan. 29. "One police officer wound down his window and said, 'You understand we've got to stop you. Is that a fridge on your back?'" the runner said. As it turns out, Daniel Fairbrother wasn't stealing the appliance but training for the London Marathon. Fairbrother told the officers he has named the fridge Tallulah after the bobsled in "Cool Runnings." He hopes to raise 10,000 pounds for Diabetes UK in honor of his friend Sam, who has Type 1 diabetes. A police spokesperson said they "wish Daniel all the best with training for the marathon." {in}

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