THE CIRCUIT DINING & ENTERTAINING UNwineD Festival, Dining Guide, Local Events & More
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 1
2
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 3
A
We’ve been awarded an
in patient safety By Leapfrog – the nation’s leading experts.
4
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
49 W 23RD STREET, PANAMA CITY, FL 32405 | (850)-864-0213 | GCMC-PC.COM
Live with clarity. A trusted eye care relationship provides peace of mind for a lifetime. And for nearly 20 years, the experienced physicians at The Eye Center of North Florida have helped bring your world into focus. From routine eye exams and disease treatment to our state-of-the-art laser and surgery center, we’re here to help you enjoy life with the best vision possible. Schedule an appointment today and see what we can do for you.
850-784-3937 | EyeCareNow.com | PANAMA CITY • PANAMA CITY BEACH • CHIPLEY • PORT ST. JOE WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 5
Delicious homemade breakfast
Intimate, yet casual fine dining
Latin inspired cuisine with a coastal twist lunch 11:30am-3pm happy hour 3pm-5pm dinner 5pm-9pm
5PM - 9PM
S PELL R ESTAURANT G ROUP Tapas and chocolate served in a relaxed setting by the sea
Casual fine dining with seafood, steak, and martinis SUNDAY-THURSDAY 4-9PM FRIDAY-SATURDAY 4-10PM s a lt waterg r i l lp cb. c om
Casual, yet sophisticated dining Lunch 11am - 3pm
Dinner 5pm - 9pm 6
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
www.georgesatalysbeach.com
1
#
Registration opens April 6 Live Here. Learn Here! Register Online 24/7 150+ Program Options
PANAMA CITY CAMPUS (850) 769.1551
GULF/FRANKLIN CAMPUS (850) 227.9670
www.gulfcoast.edu
NORTH BAY CAMPUS (850) 747.3233
TYNDALL EDUCATION CENTER (850) 913.2910
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 7
The Circuit TA B L E OF CONTENT
18
44
24 32
14
11 2020 Board of Directors
business spotlights
40 The Latest Updates from Businesses in Bay County
message from the chairman
12 From Matt Griffitts
air & sea
18 News from Tyndall Air Force Base & Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division
14 24 32 36 47
8
42 43 44 45 46
see & be seen
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
November 2019 Business After Hours 2019 Annual Christmas Party January First Friday with the Beach January Business After Hours 2020 Annual Awards Dinner
features
Calendar of Events Dining Guide UNwineD Beach Safety Emerald City / Beach Chamber Annual Awards Dinner
48
36
committees
50 HYPE 51 IdeaCamp 53 Ambassadors
around town
54 City of Panama City Beach, Mayor Mike Thomas 54 County Commissioners, Philip “Griff” Griffitts 55 FSU Panama City, Dr. Randy Hanna 57 Gulf Coast State College, Dr. John Holdnak 56 CareerSource Gulf Coast, Kim Bodine 57 City of Lynn Haven, Mayor Margo Anderson 57 Bay EDA, Becca Hardin 58 Bay District Schools, Bill Husfelt 58 Visit Panama City Beach, Dan Rowe
membership
60 Grand Openings & Ribbon Cuttings 63 Letter from Your Chamber Rep 64 New & Renewing Members
Photography by Richard Lombard
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 9
ON THE COVER It’s time to UNwineD on March 20-21 at Aaron Bessant Park. Presented by Southern Living magazine, this two-day event features superb craft beers, spirits and wine from around the world, plus culinary creations by Northwest Florida’s leading chefs, and live entertainment by Grammy nominated headliner Death Cab for Cutie and opening act Joywave. Photo by Pure7 Studios
The Circuit EDITORIAL TEAM Publisher Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce Executive Editors Tiffiney Carter, Kristopher McLane Production Hartley Press Advertising Sales Shannon Richmond Distribution The Print Center, Lewis Advertising Contributors Stefan Alvarez, Katherine Mapp, Ed Offley
The Circuit Magazine is designed and produced by the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce. All information in this guide is believed to be correct at time of production; the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. All unsolicited manuscripts become the property of the publisher and will not be returned. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. ©2020 The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce 309 Richard Jackson Boulevard, Suite 101, Panama City Beach, FL 32407 Phone: (850) 235-1159 | Fax: (850) 235-2301 | www.PCBeach.org 10
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Board Chairman | Sugar Sands Insurance
MATT GRIFFITTS
Past Chairwoman | Beachy Beach Real Estate
KAREN SMITH JEFF DIBENEDICTIS CATHERINE COLLINS PAUL SCHREINER
Incoming Chairman | BancorpSouth Secretary | Resort Collection Treasurer | Texas Roadhouse
Board of Directors JACK BISHOP
Capt. Jacks
JEAN CAPPS SHAY CATRETT
BAYSOLUTIONS
MARVIN COLLEY
Beach TV
TRAVIS CRISP
Counts Oakes Resort Properties/LSI
BRAD GRIFFIN
Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center
SAKE IRFAN
Gulf Power
RICK KOEHNEMANN
Koehnemann Construction
WILL LARK
Shipwreck Island Waterpark
LEE ANN LEONARD
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
JAKE MANN
Community Bank
SYARA PEREZ
Pier Park/Simon Malls
JORDAN ROSENAU
The St. Joe Company
JOE SORCI
Florida Architects
JIMY THORPE
A Superior Air Conditioning
Honorary Board RAMON DUVALL
Beachside Fellowship
DR. RANDY HANNA
Florida State University Panama City
BECCA HARDIN
Bay Economic Development Alliance
DR. JOHN HOLDNAK
Gulf Coast State College
PARKER MCCLELLAN
NWFL Beaches International Airport
DAN ROWE
Visit Panama City Beach
JOHN SKAGGS
Naval Support Activity Panama City
MAYOR MIKE THOMAS
City of Panama City Beach
CHAMBER STAFF KRISTOPHER MCLANE
President/CEO
JENA LILES
Chief Financial Officer
SHANNON RICHMOND Vice President, Director of Membership LYNSIE SISK
Director of Marketing & Events
TIFFINEY CARTER
Director of Communications & Design
MISSY HOLMES
Business Support Director
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 11
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
It is an honor to be the 2020 Chair-
munity in a different way: by protecting our family, friends, and
Chamber of Commerce! I was born
2018, however it is amazing to see the resilience and determination
man of the Panama City Beach and raised on Panama City Beach and have watched it grow from a
Having grown up in paradise, I truly have salt in my veins. The op-
The business community on Pana-
take advantage of them as often as possible. I encourage all of you
ma City Beach and in Bay County
continues to grow daily and be the jewel in the crown of Northwest Florida.
My pastor, Dr. Steve Taylor has a favorite saying and we truly try to live by those words. “Love Does.” With over 50 years of service, my family has shown that the beach holds a special place in our hearts.
My mother was a founding member of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and played a huge role in this group being
as strong as they are today. My dad was the Mayor of the beach for 18 years and my brother is a current county commissioner.
In 2015, after spending 20 years in the hotel business with my Fam-
ily, my wife Patrice and I ventured out on our own and opened Sugar Sands Insurance. We have been able to show our love for the com-
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
of the residents of Bay County.
sleepy beach town into a wonder-
ful place to work and raise a family.
12
clients. There have been many unique challenges since October of
portunities to enjoy the outdoors here are endless and we try to to take the opportunity to go outside and enjoy God’s handiwork.
Chamber President Kristopher McLane and his staff have done an
amazing job in the face of unbelievable adversity. They have worked hard to not only maintain membership numbers, but have grown the organization to record numbers. I want to thank Past-Chair-
woman, Karen Smith, and the entire board for their leadership and dedication to making the Beach Chamber the best in the Panhandle.
A special thank you goes out to our Chamber Members. Your commitment to this group is a vital part of our success and none of this is possible without you.
Looking forward to a great 2020! Matt Griffitts, 2020 Chairman of the Board Sugar Sands Insurance
C L A I M D E N I E D O R U N D E R PA I D? WE F I G H T YO U R D E N I A L / U N D E R PAYM E N T
Contact Us for a Free Consultation www.PolicyAdvocate.com | 850-403-0992
No Recovery, No Fee or Cost to You.
FIRE & SMOKE
STO R M
PI PE L E A KS
R O O F DA M AG E
MOLD
Local Offices Statewide Resources
More than $100 Million Recovered from Insurance Companies
THE MORGAN LAW GROUP Put Experience and Success on Your Side
850-403-0992 WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 13
Seabreeze Jazz Festival
Calendar MARCH
4 -7
everyday
Emerald Coast Cruizin' | Aaron Bessant Park
7-8
everyday
Panama City Beach Scottish Festival | Frank Brown Park
13
friday
Friday at the Beach | 7:30–9 am | Gulf Coast State College
17
tuesday
St. Patrick's Day
20 -21
everyday
UNwineD | Aaron Bessant Park
25
wednesday
IdeaCamp | 5–7 pm | Seagrass Village
The Gulf Coast’s Favorite Calendar! FREE
Take One!
ng
#850Stro
Sunset Serenade
Florida Bay County,
FREE
Take One!
Heron Sunset
#850Strong
Bay County, Florida
14 THE CIRCUIT March/April 2019 14 THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
UNwineD
SandJam
of Events APRIL
12
sunday
Easter
16
thursday
Business After Hours | 5–7 pm | Zoo World
17-19
everyday
Cajun Festival | Schooners
22 -26
everyday
Seabreeze Jazz Festival | Aaron Bessant Park
24 -26
everyday
SandJam | M.B. Miller County Pier
29
wednesday
IdeaCamp | 5–7 pm | St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club
29 -3
everyday
Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally | Panama City Beach
M O R E C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S : pcbeach.org | All information in this calendar is subject to change after publication is printed.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG
15
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 15
2020 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
A MID-ENGINE MASTERPIECE Reserve yours today.
2251 West 23rd Street • Panama City, FL 850-250-5489 • BillCramerGM.com 16
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
GOT PROPERTY DAMAGE? GO TO
Denied or Underpaid Property Claim?
Call us for a free consultation or visit us online at www.HurricaneDamage.com
¡Hablamos Español!
Our Panama City office is located at 3210 State Road, 77 Suite “B”, Panama City, FL 32405. Office hours available by appointment only.
Attorneys at Law
No Recovery, No Fee
Main Office: Boca Raton
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 17
A I R & S E A | tyndall air force base
TYNDALL HOSTS JOINT TRAINING AND WEAPON EVALUATIONS B Y S E N I O R A I R M A N S T E FA N A LV A R E Z | 3 2 5 T H F I G H T E R W I N G P U B L I C A F FA I R S
The 325th Fighter Wing often lends its
Defense and allied personnel, missiles, air
since we’re here to validate that our jets
flight line to units for something that can
frames, and their guns in realistic air-to-
and missiles are both combat capable and
only be done in Tyndall Air Force Base’s
air combat scenarios. On Feb. 3, 2020, this
also to train the pilot and maintainers on
unique airspace that it shares other mili-
week-long exercise started with aircraft
preparing and employing these weapons,”
tary installations nearby; live fire missile
from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mex-
said Capt. Michael Reid, 314th Fighter
testing.
ico, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and even
Squadron project officer. “For a lot of us
participation from the Royal Canadian Air
it’s the first time working with live mis-
Force.
siles so this is a great opportunity for our
The Weapons System Evaluation Program, ran by the 53rd Weapons Evaluations Group, is designed to test Department of
18
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
folks to familiarize themselves here in the “The exercise for us is kind of two-fold
United States.”
All of this training happens over the Gulf of Mexico which is a short flight away when you’re in the cockpit of a fighter jet. The Eastern Gulf of Mexico (EGOMEX) airspace is an irreplaceable asset for the DoD spanning over 101,000 square miles of airspace and a combined 465,000 acres of land from surrounding bases. It is the largest over-water DoD training area in the continental U.S. “EGOMEX is really a crucial location for this kind of training because we can’t do this anywhere else CONUS,” Reid said. “We have such a massive training field right here in our backyard and it’s not something we can replicate or move somewhere else, it really is one-of-a-kind and the types of training we can do here is invaluable.” Units all around the country have the ability to send aircraft and their weapons here to be tested for combat effectiveness. All types of Air Force fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15 Eagle, and even some unmanned aircraft come to Tyndall to be tested in air combat. “This week we have a few units here that are going to be shooting down some training drones, and we’re going to be evaluating everything,” said SSgt Wilfredo Western-Ortiz, 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron weapons evaluator. “It’s similar to a deployed scenario where they come here with all of their equipment and personnel to load up missiles, take off and fire them and see how everything goes start to finish.” The WSEP program is vital for the Air Force in maintaining combat readiness. Tyndall provides operational command and control for three fighter squadrons utilizing the range as well as exercises such as Checkered Flag and Combat Archer, leading the way for the growth and refinement of combat ready air dominance.
CAPTION (Left): A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., takes off for a training flight at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 4, 2020. Tyndall is one of the few bases in the Department of Defense that has access to the Eastern Gulf of Mexico training airspace, which is often used for air combat training and live missile testing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stefan Alvarez)
850.872.1800 12310 PCB Parkway | Panama City Beach, FL 32407 www.wasteprousa.com
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 19
A I R & S E A | naval surface warfare center panama city division
PROMISING NEW TOOL PROTECTS SHIPS, SAILORS B Y K AT H E R I N E M A P P | N S W C P C D P U B L I C A F FA I R S
Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City
slow or stop an on-coming target vessel.
standoff time and distance to de-esca-
Division (NSWC PCD) is developing another
The MVSOT team specifically focuses on
late a potentially threatening situation,”
way to protect naval assets and Sailors at
technologies that limit or remove the ability
said Dr. Michelle Kincer, NSWC PCD ma-
the pointy end of the spear.
of a propulsion system to provide thrust to
terials engineer. “MVSOT solutions may
a boat, but in a reversible manner.
provide the warfighter a new capability
Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Tech-
for their toolkit which will allow them
nologies, or MVSOT, is a promising non-
“These technologies are persistent but re-
lethal tool for the warfighter to significantly
versible, allowing the warfighter increased
more time to ascertain the intent of an oncoming vessel.”
CAPTION: The Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies, or MVSOT, team at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division investigates natural hagfish slime as an inspiration for a non-lethal capability. (Photo by Courtesy)
20 THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020 Photo Courtesy of NSA PC
See the difference a perfect partnership makes. Experience the simplicity and profitability of Vacasa full-service property management. And, with Vacasa’s purchase of ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, this marks anincredible milestone as we unite to manage over 25,000 vacation rentals around the globe. Visit Vacasa.com to learn more.
The MVSOT program is working with vendors to test commercially
NSWC PCD has recently collaborated with the University of Michi-
available drogue lines for a near term solution. These drogue lines
gan, Utah State University, and Chapman University to characterize
utilize lengths of rope with sea anchors to restrict forward momen-
occlusion properties and produce synthetic hagfish slime intermedi-
tum of a target boat using drag forces. Testing to date has shown
ate filament proteins, and recreate the natural slime-like behavior.
these products to be repeatable and reliable, although limited to only certain vessel types.
Kincer said hagfish secrete a slime substance as a defense mechanism against predator fish, and the substance swells 10,000 times
The program is developing next generation occlusion materials for
its original volume when it comes into contact with sea water. The
a more all-in-one solution. These next generation materials include
resulting slime can be compared to a fiber-reinforced gel made of
synthetic hagfish slime and spider silk proteins, which lend advanced
intermediate filaments, mucus, and seawater. This slime has shown
swelling, adhesive, and strength properties not available in current
to be persistent and effective at occluding propellers and intake sys-
commercial products. These materials are derived from natural
tems.
products and will be more environmentally compatible. “Looking at another material, spider silk rivals the strength of Kevlar “One of the common methods of occlusion is to utilize material to
and, on a weight comparison basis, steel,” said Kincer. “Our team-
wrap around the propeller blades, allowing the propeller to con-
mates at Utah State University have identified alternative uses of
tinue to rotate but disrupting the blades from pushing any water
synthetic spider silk proteins which have many properties that non-
and, thus, propelling the boat forward,” said Kincer.
lethal vessel stopping may benefit from, including robust sponges
CAPTION (Left): The Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies, or MVSOT, team at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division investigates natural hagfish slime as an inspiration for a non-lethal capability.
and underwater adhesives.” As these next generation solutions develop, the MVSOT team looks to integrate the different materials in a total solution package and test in scaled test tanks as well as in-water at-sea testing. WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 21
22
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
Your Tax Dollars At Work
www.pcbeachmosquito.org
Insuring Florida For Ov er 60 Years!
(850) 769-4828
www.Bro w ardHall.com
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 23
Dining Guide RESTAURANT DIRECTORY
The Gulf Coast is familiar territory to find some of the freshest seafood in the country, but Northwest Florida offers much more than that when it comes to dining. Whether you are looking for the fabulous flavors of Caribbean cuisine, the comfort of hearty Southern food, or the powerful punches of Cajun fare, you can find it all right here in Bay County. Bon AppĂŠtit.
The Grand Marlin
24
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020 Dick's Last Resort
Shaka Sushi and Noodle Bar
Alice’s On Bayview
Bayou on the Beach Cafe & Oyster Bar
1000 Bayview Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 640-4516
11115 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-3478
Angelo's Steak Pit
9527 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 234-2531
Beach Bagel and Bakery
Angry Tuna Seafood Company 701 Pier Park Drive, Suite 155 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-4632
Beau’s
2304 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 775-1828
Another Broken Egg
11535 Hutchison Blvd, Suite 100 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-2007
Back Beach Barbecue
19714 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 249-0822
Back Porch - Bay County 16220 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-1750
Billy's Oyster Bar & Crab House 3000 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 235-2349
Boricuba
Bar 72 Sheraton Bay Point 4114 Jan Cooley Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 235-6978
11206 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-0087
Bricks & Barley Pizza
Barefoot Hideaway Grill
11073 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-2442
11226 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 739-4647
14854 Bay View Circle (West Bay) Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 230-0005
10260 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 235-1576
Barefoot on The Beach
Beef 'O' Brady's
Boon Docks Restaurant
Back Yard Burgers
15405 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 249-2031
539 Richard Jackson Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 238-8992
8721 Thomas Drive, Suite A Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 775-1677
Buffalo Wild Wings
701 Pier Park Drive, Bldg. C, Suite 100 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 236-0325
C-Level Grill
8014 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 233-3564
Cafe Thirty-A
3899 E. County Highway 30-A Seagrove Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-2166
Cahall’s Deli
416 W. 23rd Street Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 769-7739
Capt. Anderson's Restaurant & Water Front Market 5551 N. Lagoon Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 234-2225
Capt. Jack's Family Buffet Thomas Drive 8208 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 236-8555
Capt. Jack’s Family Buffet Front Beach Road 12628 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 234-6457
Carrabbas Italian Grill
13820 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 230-4522
Chewie’s Kitchen
9952 Hutchison Blvd., Suite 200 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 234-3248
Chick-fil-A Panama City Beach Parkway 11428 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 234-9540
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 25 Flip Flops Restaurant Sheraton Bay Point
Wicked Wheel Bar & Grill
The Grand Marlin
Dick's Last Resort
Saltwater Grill
South Side Slice
Pineapple Willy's
Christo’s Sports Bar & Grill
Dirty Dick's Crabhouse
Freshii - 30A
CiCi’s Pizza
Dominos Pizza/DeBest Pizza, Inc.
Freshii - Pier Park
2903 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 708-1878 523 Richard Jackson Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-4400
Culver’s of Panama City Beach 11501 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-0709
Dee’s Hang-Out
529 Richard Jackson Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-4264
Dick’s Last Resort
16210 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 588-0631
Dickey's Barbecue Pit
100 S. Pier Park Drive Suite 125 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-2458
Diego’s Burrito Factory and Margarita Bar 15514 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 249-7373
Diego’s Burrito Factory (East) 6209 Sunset Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 238-8741 26
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
9800 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 230-3425
9528 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 819-3333
Dominos Pizza/DeBest Pizza, Inc.
272 S. Highway 79 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 819-3333
Edward’s Fine Food & Wine 66 Main Street Rosemary Beach, FL 32461 (850) 231-0550
Firefly
535 Richard Jackson Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-3359
Fishale Taphouse & Grill 7715 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 640-1410
Flip Flops Restaurant - Sheraton Bay Point 4114 Jan Cooley Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 236-6000
12805 Hwy. 98 E, Unit H101 Inlet Beach, FL 32413 (850) 213-2313 101 Bluefish Drive, Suite 145 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 708-3239
Freshzza
100 Pier Park Drive, Suite 115 Panama City Beach, FL 32413
George’s at Alys Beach 30 Castle Harbour Drive Alys Beach, FL 32461 (850) 641-0017
Guadalajara Mexican Grill 8730 Thomas Drive, Suite 1108 Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 235-3300
The Grand Marlin - Panama City Beach 5323 N. Lagoon Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 249-1500
Gulf Coast Burger Co. 10031 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 775-1312
Guthrie's Chicken
7905 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-5160
D I N I N G G U I D E | restaurant directory
Hang Five
15005 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 502-5555
Harpoon Harry’s
12627 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 234-6060
Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill
16201C Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-8232
Hooters
12709 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 230-9464
IHOP
15620 Panama City Beach Parkway, Suite 100 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 236-8200
J. Michael's Restaurant
3210 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 233-2055
Jersey Mike’s Subs 15750 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 588-5309
Jimmy John’s
La Crema Tapas & Chocolate
38 Main Street Rosemary Beach, FL 32461 (850) 534-3004
Longhorn Steakhouse
15721 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-4980
Lorrie Morgan’s Spicy Hot Chicken Coop 9902 S. Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 586-1991
Los Antojitos Mexican Restaurant 1236 Beck Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 784-6633
Marco's Pizza
16818 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 249-9888
Margaritaville
16230 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-7870
Mike's CafE & Oyster Bar 17554 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 234-1942
100 S. Pier Park Drive Suite 105 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 230-6301
Mission BBQ
Krispy Kreme
437 Richard Jackson Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 233-6033
La Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar/Grits & Grind
New York Pizza & Grill
465 W. 23rd Street Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 747-0097
10343 E. County Highway 30A Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 231-4021
508 E. 23rd Street Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 304-2140
Montego Bay
600 Pier Park Drive Suite 105 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 708-3355
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 27
D I N I N G G U I D E | restaurant directory Nick’s Slice of Brooklyn
Papa John's Pizza
Pompano Joe’s
Osaka Japanese Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Paparazzi Gourmet Deli, LLC
Runaway Island
Patches Pub and Grill
Saltwater Grill
Pelican’s Sheraton Bay Point
Salty Goat Saloon, LLC
Pescado
Sandbar Seafood and BBQ Joint
13528 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 708-3177
15533 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 588-8403
Outback Steakhouse Panama City 861 W. 23rd Street Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 784-9649
Outlaws Bar-B-Q
6804 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 215-3335
The Pancakery of PCB
13800 Panama City Beach Parkway, Suite 110 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 588-5077
Panera Bread
101 Bluefish Drive, Suite 100 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-6325
11160 Panama City Beach Parkway, Suite 406 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 230-3777 2810 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 867-7688 4723 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 233-8879 4114 Jan Cooley Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 236-6000 74 Town Hall Road, Suite 4B Rosemary Beach, FL 32461 (850) 213-4600
Pineapple Willy's
9875 S. Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 235-0928
Pokee & Ice Rolls
16202 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-1790 14521 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-3907 11040 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 230-2739 13006 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-5300
275 S. Highway 79 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 249-7200
Schooners
5121 Gulf Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 235-3555
11260 Panama City Beach Parkway, Suite 104 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 319-7884
Wicked Wheel Bar & Grill
28
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020 Pescado
Pineapple Willy's
Taziki’s
15463 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 257-5695
Temperley's British Eatery 280 S. Arnold Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 851-9050
Texas Roadhouse
15660 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 236-7448
Thomas Donut and Snack Shop 19208 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 234-8039
Tides Restaurant - Sheraton Bay Point 4114 Jan Cooley Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 236-6000
Triple J Steaks & Seafood Saltwater Grill
Shades Bar & Grill
10952 E. County Highway 30A, Suite 1 Inlet Beach, FL 32461 (850) 231-9410
Shaka Sushi and Noodle Bar 13625 U.S. Highway 98 East Suite 5 Inlet Beach, FL 32461 (850) 909-0030
Shane’s Rib Shack
10100 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-8111
Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant
15201 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-2420
Shoney’s Restaurant
101 Bluefish Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 234-1555
Shrimp Boat Restaurant 1201 Beck Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 785-8706
Shuckums Oyster Pub & Grill 15614 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-3214
Sisters of the Sea & The Dive Bar
3901 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 233-0334
Sonny's BBQ
2240 Highway 77 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 763-5114
Southside Slice
74 Town Hall Road, Suite 1B Rosemary Beach, FL 32461 (850) 213-4611
Sunrise Cafe & Bakery 10616 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 588-6795
Taco Bell on the Beach 559 Richard Jackson Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-1891
2218 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 233-9514
Uncle Ernie’s Bayfront Grill & Brew House 1151 Bayview Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 763-8427
Whataburger
11749 Panama City Beach Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 230-2508
Wicked Wheel Bar & Grill 10025 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 340-3052
Zaxby's
9960 Hutchison Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 233-6000
Zoe’s Kitchen
15620 Panama City Beach Parkway Suite 200 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 233-1993
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 29
, P U O R AM G E A T S A A S R A E E T EN E AV L
HALF OFF TEAM BUILDING *
CHOOSE FROM 4 ACTIVITIES!
PLUS COLOR-COORDINATED TEAM SWAG FOR YOUR WHOLE CREW
PLAN YOUR NEXT EVENT TODAY DAVEANDBUSTERS.COM/TEAM-BUILDING *PROMOTIONAL. OFFER EXPIRES: 5/3/2020. This offer must be referenced at the time of booking. Offer valid ONLY with events held between 2/3/2020 – 5/3/2020 excluding Saturdays. 50% discount applies to the following Team Building Exercises only: Dave’s Epic Quest, Mission Possible, Arcade Relay Racer & Midway Showdown. A minimum of 10 guests is required. Not valid with any other offers. A non refundable deposit and signed contract are required. Revenue minimums and other restrictions may apply. Subject to availability. Minor policies vary by location. Void where prohibited. See store for details. 30
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
EAT. DRINK. PLAY. WATCH.
®
BY M I C H A E L A D A M S Dave & Buster’s is an American restaurant and entertainment busi-
Have a special event coming up? Want to reserve a space for the team
ness headquartered in Dallas, Texas. As of February 2020, they have
or have a luncheon meeting? We have venue space and specialized
136 locations in the United States and Canada, with more locations
menu’s available! Advanced booking required. Please call Jen Jordan
coming soon!
for more information.
After opening in May 2014, the Dave & Buster’s in Panama City Beach
Come see what everyone is talking about! Don’t forget to add @dnb-
has been churning out big fun ever since. Centrally located between
panamacity on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming events, contests,
Bay and Walton counties and situated near the main roundabout in
and specials!
Pier Park across from the Grand Movie Theater, you’re only steps away from great shopping, the beach, Aaron Bessant Park, Sky Wheel, and Frank Brown Sports Complex. At Dave & Buster’s, there’s plenty of space for all-ages dining and a more sophisticated menu than you might expect – Pastas, burgers, steaks, seafood, chicken, and delicious desserts! From Lobster Alfredo to Cantina Nachos adults love our extensive options! Have no fear kiddos… you can still get your favorites like our yummy pretzel dogs or goldfingers; our hand breaded take on chicken tenders! The menu is frequently updated to reflect current trends and Guest favorites. All D&B’s offer a full-service bar with great happy hour specials! Our “Million Dollar Midway” is the only way we can describe our amazing selection of games! Ther is something for everyone, including Interactive Games, Virtual Reality, Simulators, etc. Most of our games operate using a Powercard, which can be purchased in the store or through the Dave & Buster’s app.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 31 BISTRO STEAK & SHRIMP WITH LOBSTER ALFREDO LINGUINE
32
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
POSTPONED TO FALL 2020
F E A T U R E | unwined
P H OTO S BY P U R E7 S T U D I O S
UW UNWINED RETURNS TO PANAMA CITY BEACH ON MARCH 20-21 AT AARON BESSANT PARK FOR A FUN-FILLED WEEKEND OF AMAZING CRAFT BEER, WINE AND SPIRITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. YOU CAN ALSO TASTE MOUTH-WATERING CREATIONS FROM MANY OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S RENOWNED CHEFS.
Panama City Beach is excited to announce the return
Priced at $175 per person, only a limited number of
of UNwineD, a premier two-day culinary festival held
tickets are available. VIP tickets also include entry into
in Aaron Bessant Park, presented in partnership with
Saturday’s events. Ticket holders must be 21 and over.
Southern Living. Taking place March 20-21, the fifth annual event will feature craft beer, wine and spirits
The Grand Afternoon Tasting takes place on Saturday
from around the world in addition to mouth-watering
from 1:00-4:30 p.m., offering guests the opportunity
creations from some of the area’s leading chefs and
to savor craft beer, spirits and wine paired with delec-
live entertainment. This year’s headliner, American al-
table cuisine, sure to satisfy all palettes. Visitors can
ternative rock band Death Cab for Cutie, will take the
also browse local shops and boutiques at the Art and
stage following opening entertainment from Joywave
Vendor Row or stop by the Southern Living tent filled
during Saturday’s concert in the park.
with home décor, cookbooks and more. Following the Grand Afternoon Tasting, guests are invited to bring
“We are thrilled to once again partner with Southern
lawn chairs and blankets for a concert in the park from
Living for this one-of-kind event,” said Visit Panama
5:00-7:30 p.m., with live entertainment by Grammy
City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe. “With Death
nominated headliner Death Cab for Cutie and open-
Cab for Cutie joining the lineup, all new cuisine and
ing act Joywave.
beverages and a brand-new art show juried by Beach Arts Group of Panama City Beach, this year’s UNwineD
Tickets to Saturday’s UNwineD Grand Afternoon Tast-
festival is sure to be the must-visit, regional event of
ing, including admission to the concert, are $75 per
the spring season.”
person. Concert-only tickets are also available for purchase at $20 per person.
The weekend’s festivities kick off on Friday at 6:00 p.m. with an elegant garden party presented by Southern
For more information about UNwineD and to pur-
Living. This exclusive, VIP event includes delicious bites
chase tickets, please visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.
from “Top Chef” winner and “Gulf Southerner” Kelsey
com/unwined.
Barnard Clark, custom cocktails, live music and more.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 33
F E A T U R E | unwined
ABOUT PANAMA CITY BEACH Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers. These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. In addition, Panama City Beach’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. For more information, call 850-233-5070 or visit the official website of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. Stay connected with Panama City Beach on Twitter (@Visit_PCB), Instagram (@Visit_PCB) and Facebook (@Visit_PCB).
ABOUT SOUTHERN LIVING Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, homes, gardens, and travel. Reaching more than 23 million people each month, Southern Living connects consumers to the region’s rich culture through a variety of print, digital, mobile, and event platforms. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, the rapidly expanding Southern Living brand is produced by Meredith Corporation.
34
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
BUILDING III – NEW CONSTRUCTION
NOW LEASING BUILDING III – NEW CONSTRUCTION
BECKRICHOFFICEPARK.COM Beckrich Office Park III Class A Office Space Fully Customizable Space Centrally Located in Panama City Beach at the intersection of Richard Jackson Boulevard and Back Beach Road
Lease@joe.com / 888-836-8353 JOE.COM / The St. Joe Company / 133 S. WaterSound Parkway, WaterSound, FL 32461 ©2020 St. Joe Commercial Leasing, LLC. “St. Joe®” and the “Taking Flight” Design are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company. All information depicted in this advertisement is subject to change without notice. This advertisement is not intended to be, and does not constitute, an offer for the sale, purchase or lease of real property. Nothing in this advertisement shall be interpreted as giving rise to or forming the basis of a contract, commitment or obligation. You and your advisors should conduct a careful, independent investigation of the property to determine to your satisfaction the suitability of the property for your needs.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 35
y et f a S h c Bea
A TOP PRIORITY FOR 2020 Increased beach safety has become a top priority for Panama City Beach in 2020.
BY E D O F F L E Y The year 2019 brought a painful lesson to the $1.8-billion tourism industry here: Not only is the 27-mile Gulf beachfront one of the most beautiful in the country, but it also can be one of the most dangerous: twelve beachgoers drowned. In response to the tragic spike in drownings in 2019, Panama City Beach City Council late last year ordered a comprehensive overhaul of its beach safety operations with the goal of putting more responders on the beach, improving public safety awareness programs and reducing emergency response time for potential drowning incidents. As a result, a substantial number of new public safety measures will be in effect along the city’s 9.5-mile Gulf beachfront when the 2020 tourist season kicks off on April 1, officials say. The new elements include:
Pier with a roving beach patrol of five fulltime personnel with another dozen firefighters certified in open water rescue as a backup force. For the past two months, the city has been recruiting hiring seasonal lifeguards to man the force. One benefit of the newly consolidated division is that all responders – lifeguards, roving patrols, Fire Rescue units and EMS personnel now share a common communications system, further reducing response time, Couch said. * The city also plans to launch a public-private partnership with interested condominium resorts and hotels that will create seasonal manned lifeguard stations at those businesses. The city will hire, train and certify lifeguards for open water rescue, while the participating business will pay the city for all personnel and equipment costs.
* The city will enforce a new ordinance enacted last fall that provides police and fire rescue officials with the means to enforce the removal of swimmers from the water during double red flag conditions. The ordinance authorizes fire rescue personnel to levy fines and for police to arrest swimmers who fail to obey a second warning to leave the water.
“The main goal is education and prevention” of risky behavior by swimmers, says Wil Spivey, director of the newly organized Beach Safety Division in the city’s Fire Rescue Department. The concept of manned lifeguards is to intervene with swimmers before they place themselves in danger, reducing the number of emergencies through education and prevention. “Our goal is to have as few rescues as possible,” he added.
* Another ordinance passed by City Council requires each beach vendor along the shore to have two Coast Guard Class IV flotation devices available for assisting distressed swimmers.
In a presentation to City Council on February 27, Couch said his plan is to steadily expand the seasonal lifeguard staff on the beach during each of the next four years, rising from eight this year to thirty in 2024.
* A consolidated Beach Safety Division operating under the city’s Fire Rescue Department will provide significantly increased safety patrols along the city’s beachfront, said Chief Larry Couch. This includes continuing to expand an existing program of eight seasonal lifeguards at the Russell-Fields
“The more folks we have out there on the beach, the more [drowning] preventions we will have,” Couch said. “The change [from previous years] is that this is going from reactive to proactive.”
36
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
F E A T U R E | beach safety
The One key long-term change is that for the first time, Panama City Beach plans to operate manned lifeguard stations along the sandy beach at selected commercial properties that participate in the lifeguard partnership – not just at the two municipal piers and Frank Seltzer Park. For more than two decades, the city and Bay County – each of which has about ten miles of beachfront – relied solely on the flag warning system to inform swimmers of the degree of hazard in current surf conditions. Placards at every public beach access advise beach-goers to pay attention to the colored flags flying along the beach at roughly one-mile intervals: Green flags signal safe surf conditions, yellow and single red denote moderate to serious conditions that still permit swimmers in the water, and double red flags warn that the Gulf waters are closed to swimming because of dangerous tides and rip currents. Brochures in hotel rooms and condos, public service advertisements on billboards and even banner aircraft further call attention to the warning flags. Since 2009, city and county officials have stationed seasonal lifeguards at three municipal sites along the beach – at the Russell-Fields and M.B. Miller Piers, and at the county’s Frank Seltzer Park. However, beach hotels and condominium resorts – confronted by sky-high liability insurance premiums for installing private lifeguard stations along their sections of the beach – demurred. As a result, most of the beachfront remained without manned lifeguard stations, relying solely on the warning flags to deter swimmers from danger. Bay County Sheriff’s Office beach patrols and a five-person beach rescue unit under the city Police Department provided emergency response for distressed swimmers.
What local officials learned in 2019 was that under certain conditions, this was not enough. The flag warning system and the limited response capability were twice overwhelmed by the forces of nature that can transform the placid Gulf waters into a maelstrom of pounding surf, and where dangerous rip currents can appear within a matter of minutes. In two periods of exceptionally heavy surf in mid-June and mid-July, seven of the year’s twelve fatalities occurred. With the toll rising, one national expert on beach safety warned the city last summer that manned lifeguard stations along the beachfront are the critical element of an effective beach safety program. The flag warning system by itself is insufficient, said Chris Brewster, a past president of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), the professional organization of professional lifeguards. “Preventing drowning is not about waiting for someone to get into distress and rescuing them, but, rather, preventing the distress in the first place,” Brewster said. “If lifeguards are not on duty, the preventive role – from warning to rescue – is lost and drowning deaths will continue to occur.” Following long-established U.S. Lifesaving Association guidelines, Spivey said his program’s top priority is to minimize the need for actual rescues by maintaining a strong presence along the beachfront: “Rove, respond and prevent.” The city is also recruiting volunteers “beach ambassadors” to help educate visitors and locals alike on the rip currents and flag warning system. Those interested in volunteering should contact city public information officer Debbie Ward at dward@pcgov.com.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 37
Panama City Beach is preparing to institute a program this year in which the city will contract with individual condominium resorts and hotels to provide open water-qualified lifeguards along their stretches of Gulf beachfront. The lifeguard stands will operate through Labor Day. The city Fire Rescue Department’s newly formed Beach Safety Division will hire, train and certify for open water rescue seasonal lifeguards who will operate one or more manned lifeguard stations at each property. The number of stations deemed necessary will be determined by a survey and assessment taking into account the beachfront footage and the projected “density” of the daily swimmer population. For two months, Spivey and his staff have been holding invitational tryouts for people interested in working as open water rescue lifeguards. The basic requirement is that an applicant must be able to swim 500 meters (550 yards) in under 10 minutes, and run one mile in the “soft sand” in under 12 minutes. Successful applicants then take 40 hours of USLA lifeguard training and another 40 hours of medical training. For more information on becoming a beach lifeguard, contact Spivey at wspivey@pcbgov.com.
PIZZA
DELI
CATERING Delivery by
t a u n e M l l u F
PaparazziDeli.com
8 5 0 . 5 8 8 . 8 2 4 4 2810 THOM AS DRIVE, PCB 38
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
Pregnancy Resource Center We are a 501c3 faith-based pregnancy center, delivering hope to Bay County since 1983. Below are the services we provide for our community:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Free Pregnancy Tests Limited Ultrasounds Parenting Classes (Earn While You Learn) Adoption Counseling & Referrals Post Abortion Classes (Healing Grace) Abstinence Education Abortion Reversal Pill (see our website) Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ All Services are FREE and ConďŹ dental
Three options are shared with our clients: Parenting, Adoption and Medical Information on abortion. We do not refer or do abortions. We do not give out birth control or condoms. We are funded by: ; Churches, businesses and individuals ; Spring Banquet ; Christmas Appeal Letter ; Golf 4 Life in the fall ; Baby Bottle Boomerang Campaign
Clinic Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday- 10-4 OďŹƒce Hours: Monday, Tuesday Wednesday & Thursday- 9:30-4, Closed on Fridays. Location: 701 Jenks Ave, Panama City, Florida 32401 WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 39
B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T S | featured chamber members
CAPT. JACK'S F A M I LY B U F F E T
G U LF C OA ST C H I LD R E N ’ S ADVOCACY CENTER
When locals think of crab legs, they think of Capt. Jack’s Family Buffet.
The Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is a local nonprofit
Now celebrating 20 years of being owned and operated by the Bishop
whose mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for victims
family. “Capt.” Jack Bishop is a legendary restauranteur on Panama City Beach, serving millions since 1971. Here’s a fun fact: Over 250,000 pounds of crab legs will be consumed this year alone at the two Capt. Jack's locations. The Dinner Buffet starts at 3:30pm daily and it’s what they’re famous for! It’s loaded with all you can eat #1 crab legs, sirloin steak, shrimp 5 ways, steamed, fried and boiled, fried and grilled fish, fried oysters, fried scallops, plus over 50 items on the salad and dessert bars. The Lunch Buffet is daily from 11am-2pm and it’s packed with endless shrimp, fried and grilled fish, chicken parmesan, fried chicken, daily specials plus over 50 items on the salad and dessert bars.
of sexual violence and child abuse in our community. Their team of over 75 professionals work diligently to provide a trauma sensitive, specialized approach to assess, identify, treat and prevent sexual assault and child abuse through the coordination of community resources. The CAC's model of on-site agency collaboration improves prosecutorial outcomes and facilitates safety and recovery for victims. The CAC is an integral part of the child protection system in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and serves as an umbrella agency encompassing several entities: the Child Protection Team, the Trauma Therapy Treatment Team, Victim Services, Community Outreach, Healthy Start, Parents as Teachers, the Department of Children and Families, local law enforcement, and State Attorney’s Office.
The “Rise and Shine” Breakfast Buffet at Capt. Jacks (only available at the Front Beach Road location) is from 8am-11am daily with Endless eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, omelets, pancakes, waffles, plus a 38 item fresh fruit & cereal bar. They love to say “You’re on Vacation - Eat Like It,” at Capt. Jack's Family Buffet, with 2 locations on the Beach.
40
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
All services are offered at no expense to those in need and a result of the generosity and support of our community. In 2019, over 20,000 individuals benefited from education or services provided by the CAC.
MR. SURF’S SURF SHOP
LOCAL FAV S
2020 a New Year; a New Decade; a New Beginning - Mr. Surf's has
Bay County Connection has been working with Bay County Businesses since 2009. We are a locally owned and operated company with many years of experience in advertising and marketing. Our goal has always been to keep our advertising rates as affordable as possible and to provide great service to our clients.
expanded and has had a complete makeover. Be sure to come see the new shop as well as the expanded Barista Bar inside. Coffee, Breakfast, and Brunch while you shop! What separates us from all other businesses in PCB is we have a 'Prayer Closet', as well as a 'Baptismal', and pray for and baptize many folks daily. We are Market Place Ministry. This is a house of the Lord first and foremost. We have a Passion Gift Shop with unique items and local art. We also have everything you need for the beach and surf whether it be gear, apparel, or accessories. The business is our ministry and supports it and sustains it locally and abroad. Come in and Sip - Shop & Surf. If you need prayer, we are always here. An experience that will change your life for eternity! Please follow us on Facebook (Mr. Surfs Surf Shop) for our Daily Beach Report and Word. See y'all here and be blessed.
Our Local Favs Magazine is split into 2 separate magazines to give business owners more options when trying to reach their customers. We have a (Panama City, Lynn Haven and Callaway) magazine that we direct mail to 22,500 households 6 times per year. We alternate our mail list to reach a total of 45,000 households in these 3 cities throughout the year. We also have a Panama City Beach magazine. It is directly mailed to 22,500 households throughout Panama City Beach, reaching 45,000 households throughout the year, with our alternating mail list. The PCB magazine also includes pick up locations along the beach in Condo’s, Hotels, Gas Stations and Restaurants, that local customers and tourists can conveniently pick up. We print 6 times per year so it is very easy to change your ad information, graphics and coupons as the season changes. Ad design is FREE and we continue to work on it until you approve it and it's perfect for you. In addition to our print and digital magazines, we also offer Online Reputation Management and Local SEO Services. When customers are looking for your product or service we make sure you can be found online. For more information, please contact our Sales Manager - Tracy Batye Roberts at tracy@getlocalfavs.com
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 41
See & Be Seen BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Alice's on Bayview — November 2019
For all event photos, visit our Facebook: www.facebook.com/pcbeachchamber
42
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
A N N U A L C H R I STM A S PA RTY Saltwater Grill — December 2019
For all event photos, visit our Facebook: www.facebook.com/pcbeachchamber
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 43
S E E & B E S E E N | continued
F I R ST F R I D AY W I T H T H E B E A C H FSU Panama City — January 2020
For all event photos, visit our Facebook: www.facebook.com/pcbeachchamber For all event photos, visit our Facebook: www.facebook.com/pcbeachchamber
44
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Pier Park Crossings — January 2020
For all event photos, visit our Facebook: www.facebook.com/pcbeachchamber
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 45
S E E & B E S E E N | continued
presented by noble public adjusting group — february 2020
2020 ANNUAL AWA R D S D I N N E R
1. Past Chair Award, Karen Smith of Beachy Beach Real Estate 2. Young Professional of the Year Award, Holly Onda of Edward Jones 3. Ambassador of the Year Award, James Johnson of Comcast 4. Business Excellence Award, The Bennett Family of Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant 5. Humanitarian of the Year Award, The St. Joe Community Foundation 6. Community Impact Award, PCB Entertainment
1
2
4
3
5
6
For all event photos, visit our Facebook: www.facebook.com/pcbeachchamber Photography by Avalon Photography & Elles Photography Studio
46 THE THE CIRCUIT CIRCUIT March/April March/April2020 2020 46
B E AC H C H A M B E R C E L E B RAT E S O U R C O M MU N I T Y & RE C O GN I Z E S S I X LO C A L L E A D E R S AT A N N UA L AWA RD S DI N N E R
T
he Panama City Beach Chamber of Com-
manitarian of the Year, Chamber Ambassador of the Year,
merce’s celebratory Annual Awards Dinner
Business Excellence Award, Young Professional of the Year,
took place Thursday, February 27, 2020 at Edgewater Beach
and a dedication to the Chamber’s 2019 Chairman.
& Golf Resort. The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Presenting Sponsor, Noble
The Past Chairman’s Award was given to 2019 Chairwoman
Public Adjusting Group; the Premier Sponsor, Edgewater
of the Board, Karen Smith of Beachy Beach Real Estate.
Beach & Golf Resort by Resort Collection; the Platinum Sponsors, Emerald Coast Orthopedics, Kanner & Pintaluga,
This year’s Young Professional of the Year Award went to
New Vantage Construction LLC, Panama City Toyota, Royal
Holly Onda of Edward Jones. Holly is a young professional
Exteriors, Sugar Sands Insurance, Trustmark; and the Pho-
who influences growth, prosperity and quality of life in our
tobooth Sponsor, Peoples First Insurance.
community.
This prestigious event recognized six of our outstanding
This year’s Ambassador of the Year Award winner went to
members for their dedication and accomplishments in the
James Johnson of Comcast.
community and with the Panama City Beach Chamber. These awards included the Community Impact Award, Hu-
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 47 47 WWW.PCBEACH.ORG
E M E R A L D C I T Y | beach chamber's annual awards dinner
CAPTION: The 2020 Annual Awards Dinner was beautifully set to this year's theme, "Emerald City." Photo by Elles Photography Studio
The Bennett Family of Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant won the Business Excellence Award for their contributions to our community and to the Beach Chamber. Our Humanitarian of the Year award was given to The St. Joe Community Foundation, for their generosity and commitment to improving our community and the lives of
HERE TO LEND YOU OUR EXPERTISE If you’re ready to make a major purchase, our financing specialists are ready to work!
1602 W 23rd Street | Panama City 850.250.3511 11341 Panama City Beach Pkwy. | Panama City Beach 850.775.1000
48 THE THE CIRCUIT CIRCUIT March/April March/April 2020 2020 48
others. The final award of the night was the Community Impact Award and was proudly given to PCB Entertainment for their innovation and economic impact from Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam and SandJam. Congratulations to all award winners and thank you to everyone who attended our Panama City Beach Chamber Annual Awards Dinner.
THANK YOU SPONSORS
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 49
C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E S | hype
HYPE H E L P I N G Y O U N G P R O F E S S I O N A L S E V O LV E
“The end of a year is very busy with the holidays so young professionals haven’t had a chance to network in a while. It’s important to get everyone together again and at Firefly you know you are going to have a huge turnout and delicious food.” - Kristopher McLane, President/CEO of the Panama City Beach Chamber.
HYPE, which stands for Helping Young Professionals Evolve, is a committee of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce. The
first monthly event of the year was a 2020 Kickoff Social on January 21 at Firefly restaurant. The social focused on connecting young professionals and welcoming in the new members of HYPE.
The HYPE Committee would like to thank Dave Trepanier for taking time to host us at Firefly. The Kickoff Social was a huge success and everyone enjoyed the venue and networking!
W H AT I S H Y P E ?
We encourage young professionals between the ages of 21 - 40 to get involved in the community. We host monthly events, such as: Socials, Professional Development Luncheons, Business Tours, Fundraisers, and more! This committee is open to both Beach Chamber members and future-Beach Chamber members. If you are interested in joining HYPE or for more information, please visit www.pcbhype.com or call (850) 235-1159.
Some upcoming events in 2020 include a community service event
in March, Social at Axe Throwing PCB in April, and an Etiquette Luncheon in May. We look forward to seeing you there!
CAPTION: Kristopher McLane, Richard Holt, JD Wood and Justin Best - HYPE Kickoff Social at Firefly 50
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E S | ideacamp
IDEACAMP INSPIRE • ENERGIZE • IGNITE BY MICHAEL CALIDONNA
IdeaCamp is the opportunity to come together and expand our busi-
Every IdeaCamp is different. There are panel discussions with lead-
ness horizons. The format is usually the same; we start with a little
ers in the community sharing how they developed and maintained
bit of networking time and then move to discussion of general top-
their successful business. Other speakers share how their attitudes
ics pertinent to expanding business and understanding obstacles in
influence their business and success. Sometimes there are work-
growth. All of this with great food, great company, and great speak-
shops aimed at how to “improv” and find your story. The focus is
ers. We are done in about two hours, and the results are beneficial
on sharing how to find solutions, and that is often in ways we never
and often unexpected.
thought of.
Our mission is to offer a setting where everyone is encouraged to
We limit participation based on the size of the venue to allow for
step out of their comfort zone and explore new ways of approaching
more open discussion. Each IdeaCamp topic and location is blasted
opportunities. To that end, each month’s topics are broad – from
through the Chamber’s website. Come join us for a fun filled and
how to communicate with multiple generations, to finding joy in ad-
exciting time, and be sure to register early.
versity, to developing your mission statement. The purpose is to get us thinking about novel ways to address problems which helps us succeed in our many types of business.
CAPTION: Gary White with High Definition Coaching (The John Maxwell Team) speaking at IdeaCamp. Hosted by The Shrimp Boat
W H AT I S I D E A C A M P ?
IdeaCamp is a forum to inspire, energize, and ignite the community through sharing, connecting, and cultivating of open-minded discussions supporting the free flow of ideas. IdeaCamp creates an experience to learn, engage, and expand your life and your business.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 51
SECURING PARTNERSHIPS WINNING NEW BUSINESS
THE BIG PITCH
NETWORKING
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP
With more non-stop, direct and connecting flights to anywhere in the world, getting you to your next meeting is easier than ever. See where we can take you today. Iflybeaches.com/escape
®
52
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E S | ambassadors
AMBASSADORS REPRESENT YOUR CHAMBER BY JAMES CLEMENS
For me, every view of our beautiful beaches holds a memory.
Connecting us all together is what membership in the PCB
I have a lifetime of memories here. Bay County is a cherished
Chamber of Commerce is all about, and the Ambassadors of
place for me, so I do what I can to make it a better com-
the PCB Chamber of Commerce are often the first point of
munity.
contact for new members. We are the welcome crew. We will
And one of the ways I do this is by participating as an Am-
happily go the extra mile to help someone settle in comfort-
bassador for the Panama City Beach (PCB) Chamber of Com-
ably.
merce. I’m actually a little more than a participating Ambassador—I’m the co-chair. It’s a responsibility I enjoy very much,
Already in this new year, your PCB Chamber of Commerce
because I want people who come to Bay County for business
has organized dozens of fun events to make our community
to find a welcoming community of kindhearted people who
better and stronger. Whatever your style of fellowship, we
know how to work together.
have an event to fit; from morning business talks to nighttime cocktails to weekend marathons and grand galas - just
We saw how important this was when we weathered the
to name a few.
storm of 2018, but we’d been working together as a commu-
Here on the beach we know that FUN can be part of the busi-
nity long before then. Strong relationships help solve prob-
ness equation. And we know that people can sharpen each
lems and create opportunities. These kinds of strong, familiar
other for the good. Come be part of our vibrant community.
relationships are what we strive for at the PCB Chamber of
And if you want to enjoy it extra-much… join the Ambassa-
Commerce.
dors for the PCB Chamber of Commerce!
CAPTION: Ambassador meeting at Rock'it Lanes
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 53
A R O U N D T O W N | community updates
city of panama city beach
MIKE THOMAS M AY O R
I have been in public service for 20 years – four with the city, 12 with the county commission and four more as mayor. Over the years there are several things I have learned. One of the main things is, you don’t get there – you don’t get elected – if you don’t work for the people and I have enjoyed the opportunity. If I left everybody with one message it would be: “Thank you for the opportunity to represent my community for this long.” I think we’ve made some great progress over the years with the City and the County. The City is also the face of Bay County. When first elected, I felt like our face was a little dirty, so we went to washing it off and improved it. We tried to do away with the MTV image and different things we had by bringing in Pier Park and Frank Brown Park, two of the things I am most proud of, and tried to move to more family friendly businesses. It has been a process. We had to come back and revisit what we were doing in the middle 2000s to try and change some things. Things are working and Panama City Beach with its transformation, has helped Bay County be a nicer, better place to live.
safety and public services, and it allows us to live ad valorem tax free in a great community. Sometimes I think we don’t appreciate that. Working with St. Joe to bring more family entertainment and shopping here has all been part of a 20-year plan to get us where we are today. I think we are standing on top of the mountain. I think we are in good shape. You can’t look like Panama City Beach looks without new people coming. We have been fortunate to make it through what I consider some pretty tough times and we popped out on the other end looking good. There have been mistakes made over the years by people with good intentions to help Panama City Beach. Through it all we have come out on top. We should be very proud of our community. There will always be a handful of people who are against everything; there’s going to be a handful of people who will accuse you of doing something wrong. I haven’t worked with anybody in this city that I thought wasn’t doing their dead-level best to make this a wonderful place to live. Thank you for the opportunity you have given me and my family and I can think of no higher honor than being picked to lead y’all. I have appreciated these 20 years. Thank you, and goodbye!
We don’t have an ad valorem tax in the city. We make money off tourism and it allows a community of 14,500 people to have a stateof-the-art shopping area, state-of-the-art entertainment, state-ofthe-art sports complexes for our children, state-of-the-art public
bay county board of county commissioners On April 1, the federal government will conduct the 2020 Census – a headcount of the country and, more importantly, of Bay County post Hurricane Michael. It is critical that anyone who calls Bay County home on that date make certain that they are counted. Not only will this effort give us a more accurate tally of where we stand post-storm, it will also help determine how federal dollars flow into our community every year for the next decade. Census results influence money for emergency preparedness needs, highway planning and construction, as well as grants for public transit systems, how money is allocated for schools and teachers; programs to restore wildlife, provide housing for older adults, prepare for wildfires, and much more. The Census will also determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and your political representation at all levels of government.
54
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
PHILIP "GRIFF" GRIFFITTS DISTRICT 5 We need your help in making sure that every Bay County resident is counted, and this year, for the first time, it is easier than ever. You can fill out the form online, by telephone or by mail. Beginning as early as March 12, residents will begin to receive notices in the mail that provide a Census ID and instructions for online participation. If you are unable to complete it online, there’s a toll-free number or paper questionnaire. You’ll answer a simple set of questions about yourself and everyone living in your household, including those who may have been displaced by the storm. We urge you to participate in the U.S. Census, and help us make sure that Bay County is fairly and accurately represented. #850Counts
fsu panama city
D R . RA N DY H A N N A DEAN
Last fall, we unveiled the FSU PC Promise as our commitment to offering our students all the resources they need to become the best version of themselves. We promise to be your partner, that you will be prepared, and you can set your own path. After you graduate, we promise that FSU will always be your home. Ultimately, each of our promises focus on one core value: success for students while they are enrolled at FSU and after they graduate. Once we had our core values set, we moved on to strategic and tactical plans to fulfill our promises to our students and the entire Northwest Florida community. Working with faculty, staff, students and other FSU stakeholders, we developed our mission statement for the next five years: Florida State University Panama City offers life-changing educational and social opportunities that prepare students, faculty and community members to achieve their goals, develop a richer culture of diversity and foster a spirit of lifelong learning. Partnering with area mili-
gulf coast state college
tary installations, industry leaders and other Florida State University departments and colleges, we tailor the educational experience to make higher education more accessible to the residents of Northwest Florida. Moving forward, faculty, staff and administration will be developing tactical plans and coming up with “big ideas” to ensure we are offering a quality education and serving as a cultural and informative resource for our community. Our Seminole family extends beyond our students and alumni. As one of the country’s Top 20 universities, we want to be a beacon of enlightenment for all residents of Northwest Florida. Once you are part of our Seminole family, we want you to continue to learn and grow as a person. We want you to become the best version of yourself, and we will do our part to offer the services and experiences to get you there.
DR. JOHN HOLDNAK PRESIDENT
Nights out on the town and fine dining are all complex activities with lots of moving parts. It takes a collaborative and orchestrated effort by many, along with a bit of serendipity and skosh of good luck, to make sure that these activities are remembered as great, fun, or fabulous, rather than being recorded for posterity as frustrating, unpleasant, or even disastrous. While things like weather, traffic, and crowds certainly affect entertainment and dining experiences in a major way – they can only be accommodated for, but not controlled. This lack of control or even influence is why serendipity and luck remain involved in your “enjoyment equation.” We’ve all been rained on but still had a good time, found the preferred entree unavailable but picked something even tastier, or found a show sold out but a delightful alternative nearby – it happens often enough to know that people can and often do make the best of things, even under difficult circumstances. It’s actually the things we bring to the mix, along with a few controlled by others, that really make the difference in whether our own “equation” ends up positive or negative.
Good customer service should be a given, but sometimes isn’t. Poor signage, incorrect information, distracted or frustrated employees, and poorly maintained or unclean facilities can all severely impact our perceptions of a good time. These kinds of things, often under the control of someone nearby, should be effectively addressed as soon as discovered or experienced by a guest or customer. Businesses that understand quality and perfection aren’t static events but rather fluid operations across time are often around for a long time, while those that fail to understand it’s not just “what you do” but “how you do it” that matters a lot aren’t often around for long at all. How you react to things can also be equally impactful. A positive attitude on your part will not necessarily guarantee your experience is a good one, but a negative attitude on your part destroys your adaptability and substantially diminishes the ability of those around you to adapt, as well. Not everyone gets it right the first time, but having a good attitude (even in a bad situation) and giving someone a chance to make amends often means the difference between whether you enjoyed the overall experience or not. We can train for “customer service” and “problem solving,” but we can only teach “attitude” by example!
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 55
A R O U N D T O W N | community updates
careersource gulf coast
KIM BODINE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bay County has been experiencing record-low unemployment, the lowest we have experienced in almost fifteen years. The December 2019 unemployment report marked our county at 2.8 percent; this is 3.1 percent lower than the reported rate from the previous year. As of late, we partly attribute our unemployment rate to Hurricane Michael and the loss of a small portion of the workforce, however as a nation we have a fifty-year low unemployment rate. We have both lost and gained employers and workers in Bay County, although it makes sense that we lost a portion of our workforce that has not been replaced, we won’t have data to support that premise until the census data is available. Local employers have been utilizing our services to recruit, train and retain employees. We have hosted a number of employerspecific hiring events at our Job Center, as well as assisted in the recruitment and screening of qualified job candidates. We recently co-hosted two large hiring events—the Annual Bay County Job Fair in February and the Career and Internship Fair in early March—with over 60 employers at both events. These opportunities are a vital opportunity for employers to connect face-to-face with area talent. We continue to see a job seekers market and employers have responded by raising wages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (under the USDOL) reported that Bay County Florida had the third largest wage increase in the nation (9.2 %) for the second quarter of 2019 versus the second quarter of 2018. For the third quarter of 2019, Bay County was listed for having the fifth highest wage increase in the nation. While this sounds somewhat alarming on the surface, our wages have historically been lower than many other areas in the nation. The BLS also reported that Bay County has shown decreases in employment (jobs) over the past year (August, September 2018). We have averaged a job loss of between roughly 2,300 and 2,600 jobs mostly in education and health services. This is not surprising as we continue to deal with the aftermath of the hurricane and how it affected our health providers and our student population. On the bright side, we are expecting an economic boost from the reconstruction of Tyndall Airforce Base and the missions that will be housed there in the future, some of which will bring hundreds of new military families to our area. Military family members, and especially military spouses are a rich source of skilled talent which we are promoting as great folks to hire. CareerSource Gulf Coast has proudly served military families for over 25 years and we are fortunate to be in one of the most military friendly states in the nation. Locally, Bay County has provided a warm welcome to military families and veterans who continue to be a strong workforce asset.
56
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
Factoring in all our temporary obstacles, the future of the Bay County workforce still looks very promising. We are seeing an increase in traffic in our center and online services. We continue to have individuals come in for sponsorship into training programs and are making daily connections between job seekers and employers. Finally, housing options are increasing which will bring many displaced workers back to Bay County. We know that Bay County is moving in the right direction every day. For additional information on Bay County’s workforce, we encourage you contact us! CareerSource Gulf Coast has a knowledgeable staff ready to help you with incentive programs, recruitment, current recruitment trends, hiring events, job postings and more. Whichever way you choose to connect, we are here for you! The CareerSource Gulf Coast Job Center in Panama City is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can reach us via email at customerservice@careersourcegc.com or by phone at (850) 872-4340. We also have offices in Gulf and Franklin Counties. For detailed information about all our offerings, please visit careersourcegc.com and connect with us on social media.
FULL GYM // ZUMBA // BODYPUMP // YOGA // PULSE TRAINING CYCLE // BUTTS & GUTS // PERSONAL TRAINING // KIDZ CLUB & MORE First Time Visitors // 1 Free Training Session + Fitness Evaluation
MENTION THIS AD & RECEIVE $0 ENROLLMENT!
city of lynn haven
MARGO ANDERSON M AY O R
The City of Lynn Haven is making huge strides daily in rebuilding the City. Most recently, the City re-opened the Lynn Haven Garden Club, located at 307 Ohio Ave. The now completely remodeled building suffered major damage in Hurricane Michael. The Garden Club now features a redesigned exterior, new flooring, new kitchen, renovated bathrooms, and will have a screen and projector available for guests reserving the center to use. Almost all the work was completed inhouse by the Facility Maintenance Department, allowing the City to maximize cost savings, while producing a beautiful end design for the community. Anyone interested in reserving the Garden Club may reach out to the Community Services Department via Evgeniya Stetsenko, estetsenko@cityoflynnhaven.com. The Senior Center is also undergoing massive renovations and restoration and will be opening soon. Stay tuned for updates! Park renovations are also being conducted throughout the City. Leslie Porter Park renovations will be completed by the end of March 2020 and will include new playground equipment, new restroom facilities, new pavilions, and refreshed landscaping. Cain Griffin Park construction is set to be completed by end of Summer 2020. The redesigned park will feature baseball and softball fields, walking path around the fields and an expanded Splash Pad, allowing for more recreational options for Citizens. New fields will also allow the City to offer youth baseball and other league opportunities again that are not currently feasible without these types of fields.
bay economic development alliance At our Bay Economic Development Alliance February Investor’s Meeting, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport Executive Director, Parker McClellan, presented the ‘2019 Year in Review’ of the Airport (ECP). From an economic development perspective, ECP is a major asset that we showcase to existing companies in Bay County and to business prospects throughout the world. In addition, the Airport has also become a major asset for our local residents and our tourism industry in the Region. In comparison to the previous airport in Panama City, the final full year of operation (2009) the Airport saw approximately 312k passengers through the doors. Just ten years later, in 2019, the final passenger count for ECP Airport was nearly 1.3M. Just this past year, the ECP saw over 20% growth. The Airport has also maintained a market share versus the other airports in the Florida Panhandle of approximately 20%. As a result of this growth, the Airport Authority is completing a major terminal expansion to increase the number of airplane gates for larger aircraft, seating areas, and passenger accommodations. This project is expected to be completed by the end of June and will provide needed space for passengers and airlines especially in the
The Spring is filled with free family friendly activities hosted by the City. The newly renovated Leslie Porter Park will also be the location for the inaugural Music by the Bay event on Friday, April 3rd from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. This event will include live music from Danielle Battistini and Stainless Steel, and food trucks under the stars. Attendees can pull up by boat or bring a chair or blanket to sit on the beach to enjoy the festivities. The 2020 Spring Concert Series will run from April 10th to May 29th every Friday night in Sharon Sheffield Park from 6-8 pm. Food trucks will be available for guests to purchase food and beverage to enjoy during the shows. The full line up will be available on the City’s social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and website. For updates on all upcoming events, you can subscribe for free alerts by clicking on the subscribe button on the City’s website: www.cityoflynnhaven.com and selecting the main calendar for alerts once you create an account. Have any questions, kudos or concerns regarding the City? Come to Table talk with the City Manager, Vickie Gainer. Table Talk will take place every third Wednesday of each month. Meeting times will alternate each month between evening (5:30 PM-6:30 PM) and afternoon (12:00 PM-1:00 PM) at the Lynn Haven Garden Club. All residents are encouraged to participate in these open meetings. More details can be found on the City’s website and social media channels. The City is proud of all the progress that has already been made and will continue to approach each day guided by the City’s mission statement; “Progressively enriching our community’s quality of life by providing consistent and transparent customer service to our residents.” The future is bright in Lynn Haven! #LynnHavenTogetherandStrong.
BECCA HARDIN PRESIDENT busy summer months of travel through the Airport. Another major project that is currently underway is a new taxiway and transient aircraft parking apron for larger aircraft. This improvement allows the further development of economic development sites at the Airport. Other developments surrounding the Airport that have come about since the move include three new industrial facilities in VentureCrossings and the beginning stages of a new 142-bed hotel on the entry road of the Airport. Additionally, to assist in the major traffic flow that occurs with ingress and egress to the Airport, the Florida Department of Transportation is moving forward with substantial improvements to Hwy 388, specifically with the large roundabout coming at the entrance. To further increase the developments at the Airport, the Bay Economic Development Alliance is working closely with the Airport Authority on several economic development projects at ECP. As a result of the current improvements underway at the Airport, several economic development projects are gaining traction. These projects include various maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations and other aviation-related facilities. In the months ahead, we look forward to pushing these projects forward and seeing how these projects can have a transformational impact at the Airport and even more success in the years ahead.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 57
A R O U N D T O W N | community updates
bay district schools
B I L L H U S F E LT SUPERINTENDENT
With potentially as much as $700 million in damages across the district, it’s no secret that our rebuilding process will take several years. While it will never go as quickly as I’d like, we are making progress and that’s exciting. As you probably know from your own experiences, or from friends, an intact roof is really the first place you have to go when repairing a building because everything you need to fix on the inside requires the water to stay on the outside! So, with that in mind, we’ve attacked the roofs in our district with a vengeance and I am pleased to report that we’ve currently got more than $16 million worth of projects either already completed or well underway. Roof replacements at Bay High, Haney Technical Center, Tommy Smith Elementary and Waller Elementary are all between 50 percent and 95 percent complete. The repairs and replacements at Hiland Park Elementary, Lynn Haven Elementary, Merritt Brown Middle, MKL, Rutherford High and Southport Elementary are complete. We’ve got projects in the design phase for Breakfast Point, Cedar Grove Elementary, Cherry Street Elementary, Hutchison Beach Elementary, Patronis Elementary and West Bay Elementary. Roofs for parts of A. Crawford Mosley High, New Horizons, Parker Elementary and Rosenwald are currently in the bid process. As roofs are replaced and/or repaired, the interior work can begin. We’ve got construction teams at schools throughout the county working to not only restore what we had before the storm but to
visit panama city beach
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
I truly believe that we will rebuild our entire district better than it was before the storm and I deeply appreciate the continued patience, support and understanding of our more than 25,000 students, more than 3,500 employees, countless family members and, really, our entire community. Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t thank me for opening schools as quickly as we did and for working diligently with our insurance and FEMA to get the reconstruction moving as quickly as possible. While I certainly appreciate their gratitude, I am always quick to talk about the amazing people we have in our district who have stepped up to help me lead the recovery process. Rebuilding something of this magnitude is an incredibly complex process, with many moving parts, but we’ve got a clear vision, a great team and lots of energy! What happened to us as a community is almost unbelievable but I hope you believe as much as I do that we’re #850Strong and we will always work together to do the right things for our children. I am excited about the progress we’re making and we’re all committed to seeing this through to the very end, one roof at a time if that’s what it takes, so that our children have the best educational facilities possible.
DAN ROWE PRESIDENT & CEO
Location, location, location, makes Panama City Beach the best destination to live or visit, year-round. But it’s the sunshine, sunshine, sunshine that offers Panama City Beach many opportunities to celebrate the Real. FUN. Beach all year long! Our perfect spring temperatures allow us to pack our weekends full of festivals, food and fun! Whether you’re attending the Seabreeze Jazz Festival or testing your taste buds at our fourth annual UNwineD event, we look forward to showcasing some of our destination’s boldest flavors and innovative blends for our visitors and locals to enjoy. Visit Panama City Beach is excited to announce the return of UNwineD, a premier two-day culinary festival held in Aaron Bessant Park, presented in partnership with Southern Living. Taking place March 20-21, the fourth annual event will feature craft beer, wine and spirits from around the world in addition to mouth-watering creations from some of the area’s leading chefs like delicious bites from “Top Chef” winner Kelsey Barnard Clark.
58
make improvements as we can. We’re in the process of installing electronic locks at many of our facilities which will assist us in both increasing security and enhancing access to first responders in a time of emergency. As we rebuild and improve, we’re upgrading lighting, audio-visual equipment and other infrastructure where possible to ensure that the classrooms we’re rebuilding are as close to state-of-the-art as they can be.
This year’s headliner, American alternative rock band Death Cab for Cutie, will take the stage following opening entertainment from Joywave during Saturday’s concert in the park. Bring your lawn chair and blankets! Moving into 2020, Visit Panama City Beach found it important to continue telling our community’s story of healing and recovery following Hurricane Michael, moving forward with events and entertainment for both locals and visitors to enjoy. Continuing a tradition that started last year, a portion of the tickets sold to our UNwineD event will go to the United Way of Northwest Florida and World Central Kitchen. We found it fitting to give back to the organizations that have helped our area throughout this past year, and what better way than at our favorite event. Whether you are interested in a taste of PCB, a sip of a fun cocktail or ready to jam out with your closest friends, we can’t wait to host you this March! For more information about UNwineD, March 20th and 21st, please visit our website at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/unwined. Tickets are on sale now!
Free Estimates Prompt & Professional
Chain Link Wood Vinyl Aluminum Electric
Female Owned & Veteran Operated Local Experts
Decks Trellis’ Seating The Nelson Family
Building Better Neighbors One Fence at a Time “As experts in fencing installation, we understand the value of using high-quality materials and providing peace of mind installation with everything we do. We are here to care for you!
Building futures. One home at a time.
www.HipSquareFence.com
MISSION STATEMENT With a BB&T construction-to-permanent loan — one loan with one set of closing costs – you’ll be covered from groundbreaking to housewarming. Talk with a BB&T lender today. Because here, all we see is you. BBT.com/CMathis2
Christy Mathis Mortgage Loan Officer 850-636-2992 CMathis2@BBandT.com NMLS# 594622
Mortgage products offered through Branch Banking and Trust Company, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Loans are subject to credit approval.
As your collections partner, we are dedicated to increasing your rate of recovery in a professional and ethical manner. HUDSON MANAGEMENT SERVICES IS HERE TO REPRESENT YOU BY BEING DEDICATED TO YOUR REPUTATION, WHILE HELPING INCREASE YOUR RECOVERY RATE. YOUR GOODWILL AND REPUTATION IS OUR PRIORITY. LET US GET THOSE INVOICES FOR YOU.
No Collection = No Fees Competitive Fee Schedule Bonded and Insured Adheres to FDCPA and HIPPA Regulations Superior Customer Service and Professionalism (636) 532-4494
hmscollections.net WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 59
Grand Openings & Ribbon Cuttings 1
2
3
4
5
6 60 THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
1. Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop | 2. Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center ER | 3. EXIT Sands Realty 4. Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort | 5. Lay's Insurance Agency, Inc | 6. MaineBPhotography 7. Blake at Panama City Beach – Sales Office | 8. Hilton Garden Inn - Panama City Airport 9. Carter Pecan – Retail Division | 10. Dee’s Hide-Out | 11. Stump Grinding by Steve 12. New Vantage Construction
7
8
9
10
11
12 WWW.PCBEACH.ORG WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 61 61
G R A N D O P E N I N G S & R I B B O N C U T T I N G S | continued
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 CAPTIONS: 13. T-Mobile | 14. Keep PCB Beautiful | 15. Legendary Marine Used Boat Supercenter | 16. We Insure Panama City - Antonius Barnes | 17. Brock Lawn and Pest Control | 18. Habitat for Humanity of Bay County, Florida 19. Fitness Junky | 20. Florida Department of Health in Bay County Children’s Dentistry Clinic
62
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
LETTER FROM YOUR CHAMBER REP 2020 is off to a roaring start for the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce AND our members! With more than 1,200 members this year, as we reach Bay County and Beyond, we are the largest we have ever been in Bay and the surrounding counties! We attribute our success to our “Members doing business with Members.” So, now that you are a member of the Beach Chamber – what’s next? (This can be a refresher for our seasoned members as well). Joining the Beach Chamber was a smart move! You have joined the most active Chamber, whose common goal is to keep the economy and quality of life in our area healthy and prosperous. Now it’s time to make sure you know what some of your benefits are, so you can take full advantage of your membership. Our members find the more time they invest in their Chamber, the greater the benefits of membership are to their business.
• Attend a 12@12 Luncheon in our Boardroom (this is a new member orientation that will introduce you to other new members on a more personal level) If you have not been to one, make sure to ask for an invite! • Keep track of upcoming events with our weekly e-blast - the Beach Buzz, Facebook and Instagram • Schedule a Grand Opening or Ribbon Cutting, this is a great way to get to meet several of our members and let them know who you are and what you do. I always enjoy sitting down with our members to discuss their Chamber benefits. If we have not done so already, lets schedule a time so discuss ways we can help your business grow!
• Connect at Chamber events to build relationships with other members…get that face time! We host many events for you to choose from like Business After Hours, Friday at the Beach, IdeaCamp and many more!
Here’s to Connecting the Dots!
• Join a committee like Ambassadors, Leads group (we now have expanded to two groups, one in town and one on the beach), or our young professional group, HYPE! (Helping Young Professionals Evolve)
Shannon Richmond shannon@pcbeach.org (850) 890-8069
Shop & Buy Online
Panama City Toyota Express Store
Quick. Convenient. Streamlined. — With you in control. express.panamacitytoyota.com
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 63
N E W + R E N E W I N G M E M B E R S | Nov 2019 – Feb 2020
NEW MEMBERS A Hand Up International GOM
Freshzza
Panama City Condo Vacations/VTrips
Aflac - Sandy Boswell, Agent
GCF, Inc.
Panama City Motorsports Park
Aflac - Tina Gates, Agent
Gulfside Pool Service, LLC
Parking Solved
Avalon Photo
Guthrie's Chicken
Phillips Energy, Inc.
Axe Throwing PCB
Handy on Demand, LLC
Pinch a Tako
BDSI Broadband Dynamics Services, Inc.
Hitchcock Real Estate, LLC - Camille
Pro-Am Sportz
Behar + Peteranecz: Architecture
Perkins
Red Road Remodel and Gutter, LLC
Blissful Mortgage, LLC
Insulation Panama City
Renae Brown, Agent - The Real Estate
Bowers Construction Services, Inc.
Jani-King
House Panama City Beach
Breeze Cleaners, Inc. - Panama City
Jean Capps
Reroof America Contractors
Breeze Cleaners, Inc. - Panama City Beach
Keith Kirkland - Voice Actor, LLC
"Riverman" Film Production, LLC
Cakes by Ricca
Keller Williams Success Realty - Randy
RJYoung
Carter Pecan
Baxter
Royal Exteriors
CAS, LLC/866-All-Dump
Kelly's Clear Pools
RV Mobile Repair & Services, LLC
Charrey Entertainment
Kimley-Horn and Associates
SCI Restoration Services
Chick-fil-A Panama City Beach Parkway
Kona Ice of Panama Paradise
Seabee Constructors, LLC
Coastal Cars and Carts
Lacey Photography
Shell Island Shuttle
Coastal Kenny Pool Services
Lawn Doctor of Panama City Beach-Port
Shield Environmental Solutions
Coastline Professional Services, LLC
St. Joe
Simmons Solutions of FL, LLC
Cole & Associates Marine Surveyors, Inc.
Legendary Marine Used Boat Super
Sinclair Construction
Demolition Pros
Center
Smart Simple Marketing
Dickey's Barbecue Pit
LEO Instructors, Inc.
Storage Pups
Dumpster Service. LLC
LessMess, LLC
Stubbs Construction, LLC
Emerald Coast Orthopedics
Lighthouse CPAs PA
Sunbelt Rentals - Climate Control
Energy Harness Corporation
LimeLife by Alcone - Nancy Wettstein,
Swat Team of Clean
Families Gone Green
Independent Beauty Guide
Team MVP, LLC powered by EXP Realty
Finishline Construction, LLC
Magnolia's Flowers
The Celebration Place
Fisher Brown Bottrell Insurance
Mary Kay - Cheryl Fulcher
The Eselin School
Fitness Junkie
Mayor Accounting & Consulting Services
The Snowbird Company
Flooring Depot of Panama City
Merrill Lynch - Kerry Denton
TPR Environmental
Florida Professional Law Group
MSC Industrial Supply
Vacasa Real Estate
Floridian International Adjusters - Hailey
My Happy Ass Life
W. F. Pinnacle Prosperity Financial Agency
Colgate
Paint Pro Florida
We Insure Panama City - Antonius Barnes
Food Truck Festivals of America, LLC
Palace Resort Realty, LLC
Wisefly Auto Glass
64
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
OCTANE CAN FUEL
YOUR START-UP. SMALL BUSINESS START-UP LOANS
THINK BIG. FUEL CHANGE.
CONTACT US TODAY TO GET STARTED.
DAV ID POW ELL
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
CARRIE INF INGER BUSINESS/MORTGAGE LOAN ADMINISTRATOR
Antonius Barnes Agency Owner Antonius.Barnes@weinsuregroup.com
KEL LY LIT TLEFIELD BUSINESS/MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO SPECIALIST
KENZY PEA KE
BUSI NESS LOAN OFFI CER
HOME | AUTO | BUSINESS 249.0803 • innovationsfcu.org Federally insured by NCUA
|
Equal Opportunity Lender
|
Equal Housing Lender
309 Richard Jackson Boulevard Suite 204 Panama City Beach, FL 32407
850.270.5051 WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 65
N E W + R E N E W I N G M E M B E R S | continued
R E N E WA L S 1 YEAR
3 YEARS
5 YEARS
Air Quality Assessors (AQA)
30A Media Corp 30A Television
McGhee CPA and Consultants PA
Above All Roofing Contractor, LLC Allstate Ins. - Nancy Ramsey Ins. Agency Artisan Construction Co., Inc. Bay County Tax Collector
Certified Roofing Solutions, LLC Daffin Insurance Services, Inc. EXIT Sands Realty GED Lawyers
Goldring Gulf Distributing Herc Rentals, Inc.
Keep PCB Beautiful Kelly's Clear Pools
Lighthouse Health Plan
Mary Kay - Elaine Williams
P & P Heating and Cooling Specialist, Inc. Paradise Adventures Catamaran Pier Park Crossings
Prine Orthodontics - Panama City Radke Consulting
Target Builders Construction Management & Roofing
The Morgan Law Group, P.A.
13 Hub Lane
America's Swimming Pool Co. Anchorage Children's Home Bank of England Mortgage Bark, Baths & Beyond PCB Beau's
Carpet Care Specialists Salty Goat Saloon SmartBank
State Representative Jay Trumbull West Bay Property, Inc.
Caldwell Enterprises dba Santa at PCB Gulf Beach Weddings
6 YEARS
Horton Outdoor Advertising
Epic Photo Co.
Gulf Coast Burger Co.
Los Antojitos Mexican Restaurant Marta Rose Productions
Mobile Communications
Nibbs and Associates Realty
Overwatch Risk Solutions, LLC
Paradise Properties Vacation Rentals & Sales Pregnancy Resource Center Rank First Media, LLC
Regency DRT Property Restoration Senator George Gainer
Serenity Spa at Sheraton Bay Point Resort
DSI Security Services Grand Floridian Builders, Inc. Hall Insurance & Payroll Patches Pub & Grill Pier Park North
Runaway Island Beach Bar & Grill
Smith & Associates Property Management of Bay County, Inc.
Superior Residences of Panama City Beach VIP Resort Properties, LLC Workout Anytime
Superior Productions Marketing The HOPE Project
7 YEARS
2 YEARS
The Pour Coffee House
Recreation
All South Drywall
Two Men And A Truck
The Pancakery of PCB Alice's On Bayview Almodovar Drafting & Design
Turnkey Vacation Rentals
Answer Marketing, Inc.
City of Panama City Beach Parks & EPS Corp
Florida Architects, Inc. Hare Taylor, LLC
Koehnemann Construction
Burg Law Firm, P.A.
4 YEARS
Mr. Trash II, LLC
Emerald Coast Clean Werks, Inc.
Bayside Design & Photography, LLC
Nu Wave Medical Center
City of Lynn Haven Fleetworx Flux Labs
Good Golden Creative Co.
Hook'em Up Charters, LLC Island Time Sailing John Lee Nissan Mission BBQ Optimal Life
Panama City Mazda SkyWheel
Recromax
Sign Erectors, Inc.
St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club The Public Adjusters
Universal Contracting of Florida
Art Construction of NW FL, LLC
Beach Properties of Florida LLC dba Berkshire Hathaway Home Services City Produce
Coastal Sun Realty
Destination Panama City
Noble Public Adjusting Group PCB Leasing Group LLC Shoney's Restaurants Shepard Law
Uncle Ernie's Bayfront Grill & Brew House
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Ink Trax, Inc.
8 YEARS
Pettys Tax & Accounting, Inc.
Classic Carpets Plus Color Tile
Lynn Haven Ledger/Gulf Coast Gazette Rainbow Pediatrics SouthernCAT, Inc.
Stanley E. Peacock, P.A.
Carpe Diem Community Solutions Community Bank
Emerald Coast Medical Association Georgia Tech Research Institute
Harley-Davidson of Panama City Beach Joey Kirkland Insurance, Inc.
Nichols & Associates of Bay County, Inc. Panama City Beach Timeshare Rentals Samuel Taylor Homes
66
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
9 YEARS
13 YEARS
20 YEARS
Miles Interiors, Inc.
First Choice Physical Therapy
Commissioners
Haney Technical Center Panama Beach Time Coastal Casuals
Seacrest Wolf Preserve Shane's Rib Shack
Bay Education Foundation Lowe's
JC Penney - Panama City Beach
Treasure Island Resort Rentals, Inc. Weller Residential
Bay County Board of County BB&T Bank FSBDC
Gulf Coast Regional Medical Care Panama City Beach
Hampton Inn by Hilton Panama City Beach Mr. Surf's Surf Shop
10 YEARS
14 YEARS
Barry Tate
Fowhand Furniture
21 YEARS
Florida, Inc.
15 YEARS
23 YEARS
Mid-South Lumber Co. of NW FL, Inc.
Comfort Suites
Grease Pro, Inc.
Animal Care Center Bay Economic Development Alliance
Centennial Bank - Panama City Beach
Beltone Hearing Center FSU Panama City
Hospitality Depot, Inc.
Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Herbafex
Prine Orthodontics - Panama City Beach Servpro of Bay County, Inc. WFSU
Clear Channel Airports Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. Dewberry Engineers, Inc.
Factory Direct Furniture LLC
Hampton Inn & Suites PCB Pier Park
VRI/Landmark
16 YEARS
Retina Specialty Institute
17 YEARS
Hidden Lagoon Super Racetrack and
McNeil Carroll Engineering, Inc.
Panama City Rescue Mission Waste Pro Panama City
CareerSource Gulf Coast
Scott Ingraham Real Estate Group
Kedrick Cerry, Inc.
Coast
Lori Bates Interiors
Panama City Beach Senior Center
Massage Envy
Pompano Joe's
Back Porch - Bay County
Shimmering Seas Jewelry & Gifts
Magic Broadcasting II, LLC
26 YEARS
18 YEARS
Ron Jon Surf Shop
PCB Map Company
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald
12 YEARS
Krewe of Dominique Youx
The Eye Center of North Florida
25 YEARS
Healthy Start of Bay, Franklin & Gulf
Golf, Inc.
24 YEARS
Gilmore Resorts/Driftwood Lodge
Area
Counties
Powernet
Seahaven Beach Resorts
11 YEARS
Emerald Coast Dale Carnegie Training
Angelo's Steak Pit
Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Gulf Coast State College
27 YEARS
Lewis Advertising & Distribution
SETCO Services, LLC
St. Bernadette Child Development Academy
Thunder Beach Productions, Inc.
29 YEARS
City of Panama City Beach
Buffalo Wild Wings
Reliable Copy Products
19 YEARS
Troy University - Panama City
Hidden Dunes Condominiums
The UPS Store 6067 Zaxby's
Hank's Fine Furniture, Inc.
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 67
$
Starting at
895
**
(one hearing aid)
Financing Offer
56
$
per month*
(one hearing aid)
Limited Time Only
Limited Time Only
Ask about our New Specials on
At Beltone, every pair of hearing aids comes with a partner included. Like if your new car came with a pit crew.
We’re in your neighborhood!
PANAMA CITY 1031 W 23rd St., Ste A PANAMA CITY BEACH 12234 PCB Parkway
For 80 years, we’ve been dedicated to partnership. • We take the time to get to know you. • Provide a lifetime care guarantee. • Recommend tailored hearing solutions to best suit your lifestyle. • Offer cutting-edge hearing devices developed with award-winning technology.
Right beside you,
Call: (850) 250-1990
Sharon & Greg
Valid at participating locations only. See locations for details. *Fixed monthly payments amount of $56.00 is based on amount financed of $2,000, financed for 48 months at 14.99% and subject to credit approval of qualified buyers through Allegro Credit. Not available where prohibited by law. **Promotional value good toward the purchase of a single Origin hearing Instrument. Cannot be combined with any other promotions or discounts. Benefits of hearing instruments may vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing evaluation and proper fit. ©2020 All rights reserved.
68
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
WINNER
beltone.com
Where the South Comes for Smiles!
*before
*after
Insurance accepted Award Winning Cosmetic Dentistry & Customer Experiences www. D est inD ent ist . c o m (850) 502-8122
309 Richard Jackson Blvd #102 Panama City Beach, FL 32407
WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 69
309 Richard Jackson Boulevard, Suite 101 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 235-1159 | PCBeach.org
70
THE CIRCUIT March/April 2020
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 50 PANAMA CITY, FL