The Circuit - The Industry Issue 2022 by PCB Chamber of Commerce

THE CIRCUIT the

INDUSTRY issue

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 1

Paradise has arrived ON THE EMERALD COAST

LIVE THE LIFE YOU’VE DREAMED AT LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE WATERSOUND! Sunshine and cool breezes. Palm trees and margaritas. Welcome to Latitude Margaritaville, a 55-and-better community inspired by the legendary music and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett, built on food, fun, music and escapism. Escape to the place where fun and relaxation meet. Escape to island-inspired living as you grow older, but not up. Escape to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, located on Hwy 79, less than 8 miles from the beach. New Homes from the mid $200s

Sales center and 13 models open daily!

Latitude Margaritaville Watersound (866) 437-6593

9201 Highway 79, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 Mon. - Sat. 9:00am - 5:00pm | Sun. 11:00am - 5:00pm

Visit online for more information LatitudeMargaritaville.com

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THE OFFERINGS. Latitude Margaritaville Kentucky Registration Number R-201. For NY Residents: THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS FOR THE SALE OF LOTS ARE IN THE CPS-12 APPLICATION AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR, LMWS, LLC. FILE NO. CP20-0062. Pennsylvania Registration Number OL001182. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118 and with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required and has not been completed. The facilities and amenities described are proposed but not yet constructed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans. Development plans, amenities, facilities, dimensions, specifications, prices and features depicted by artists renderings or otherwise described herein are approximate and subject to change without notice. ©Minto Communities, LLC 2022. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored, or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Latitude Margaritaville and the Latitude Margaritaville logo are trademarks of 2 Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and are used under license. Minto and the Minto logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. St. Joe and the St. Joe logo are trademarks of The St. Joe Company and are used under license. CGC 1519880/CGC 120919. 2022

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

St. Andrews State & Park AdventureS — Shell Island Ferry * Official

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Reservations: (844) 90-Shell StAndrewsShellIslandAdventures.com - Follow us on Facebook/Instagram -

@standrewsshellisland WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 3

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 4

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

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WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 5

Build your home. Create your future. Cover home construction to completion with one loan—and one set of closing costs. With a constructionto-permanent loan, you can build your home exactly how you envision.

Talk with a Truist lender today. Christy L. Mathis Retail Loan Officer 850-814-1201 christy.mathis@truist.com Truist.com/Christy.Mathis NMLSR# 594622

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

SAFETY | INTEGRITY | CUSTOMER SERVICE

Shaping a Sustainable Future. Whether you’re a homeowner cleaning out your garage, a hauler with mixed waste and recyclables, or a builder working on a major project, Coastal Waste provides effective waste and recycling solutions to meet your every need.

Coastal Bay County • Residential Service

1151 E. 15th Street Panama City, FL 32405

• Roll Off - Construction Waste Service

850-769-4304

• Commercial Service

coastalwasteinc.com

Coastal Waste & Recycling

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 7

The Circuit D E P A R T M E N T S & FE A T U R ES

16 A Letter from the Editor

11 From Tiffiney Castleberry

A message from the President/CEO

12 From Kristopher McLane

32 The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute 36 Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center

ASK THE DOCTOR

Upcoming Events

41 Insights Shared by the Emerald Coast Medical Association

Industry features

44 The Latest Updates from Businesses in Bay County

14 Community & Chamber Events from May–June 2022 16 News from Tyndall Air Force Base & Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division 20 Upcoming U.S. 98 Improvements 24 Florida Power & Light Builds a Stronger, Safer Grid 28 No-Cost Consulting for Your Small Business

36 8

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

business spotlights

46 51 52 53 54

see & be seen

2022 Annual Awards Dinner March Friday at the Beach March Business After Hours March IdeaCamp 13th Annual Golf Classic

32 committees

56 Ambassadors 59 IdeaCamp

around town

60 City of Panama City Beach, Mayor Mark Sheldon 61 Gulf Coast State College, Glen McDonald 61 FSU Panama City, Dr. Randy Hanna 62 Bay EDA, Becca Hardin 62 Florida Film Office, Julie Gordon 63 Bay District Schools, Bill Husfelt 64 CareerSource Gulf Coast, Kim Bodine

membership

66 Grand Openings & Ribbon Cuttings 69 Letter from Your Chamber Rep 70 New + Renewing Members

Casual Fine Dining Seafood, Steaks, Sushi

535 Richard Jackson Blvd Panama City Beach 850-249-3359 fireflypcb.com

Sushi and Gourmet Sandwiches To Go

An American Grill & Tavern celebrating the love of food & our country.

539 Richard Jackson Blvd Panama City Beach 850-249-2740 ontheflypcb.com

473 Richard Jackson Blvd Panama City Beach 850-238-8340 americancharlie.com

Photography by Richard o L mbard

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 9

Home equity rates that fit you to a

ON THE COVER FPL recently commissioned Cotton Creek Solar Energy Center in Escambia County, one of the first solar energy centers in Northwest Florida. The company has three solar energy centers in operation in the Panhandle and another 15 in development. Across the state, FPL has 50 solar energy centers in operation and is well on its way to having 30 million solar panels installed by 2025. Photo provided by Florida Power & Light Company

The Circuit EDITORIAL TEAM

Publisher

Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce

Executive Editors Creative/Design

0.98APR%

Production

introductory rate for

* the first six billing cycles

You’ve worked hard to build equity in your home. Isn’t it time to put it to work for you? Whether you want to build a dream pool or remodel your kitchen, our home equity rates were designed to fit you to a T. Visit trustmark.com/heloc or stop by your nearest branch to learn more.

*Offer is only available for new Home Equity Line accounts. Introductory rate and term are as follows: fixed APR of 0.98% for the first 6 billing cycles. Thereafter, your APR is a variable rate based upon the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal plus a margin based on your creditworthiness and other credit criteria. Rates are subject to change. Prime rate is 3.50% as of March 28, 2022. Minimum APR of 3.75%; maximum APR of 21.00% in MS and TN; maximum APR of 18.00% in AL, FL and TX. Required initial advance of $5,000.00. Minimum monthly finance charge of $0.50. If a new credit line is at least $20,000.00, but less than or equal to $250,000.00, Trustmark will waive all closing costs with the exception of any required surveys and appraisals on homes located on five (5) acres or more. Bank paid closing costs are limited to $500.00 in FL. Your credit limit will be based on the amount of lendable equity in your home, your capacity to pay and a review of your credit report. Other restrictions may apply. Subject to credit approval. Offer expires June 30, 2022.

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

Tiffiney Castleberry

Hartley Press

Advertising Sales Distribution

Tiffiney Castleberry, Kristopher McLane

Shannon Richmond

Lewis Advertising

Airman 1st Class Anabel Del Valle, Jeremy Roman, Florida Department of Transportation (District 3), Shane Boyett, Brooke G. Levesque, Jacob Fravel, Heather Kretzer, Emerald Coast Medical Association

Contributors

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. ©2022 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

A LETTER

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

from the editor

Executive Board Chairwoman | Resort Collection

CATHERINE COLLINS JEFF DIBENEDICTIS PAUL SCHREINER JOSEPH SORCI ROBYN EVANS

Past Chairman | BancorpSouth Incoming Chairman | Texas Roadhouse Secretary | Florida Architects Treasurer | By the Sea Resorts

n this issue of The Circuit, we get to highlight some of the exciting developments taking place with our members and in

our community. Not only are we a hot spot for tourists—we are a growing community with loving families, excellent schools, businesses, and

Board

Directors BAYSOLUTIONS

SHAY CATRETT MARVIN COLLEY ALLEN COTTON TRAVIS CRISP JEREMY HINTON SAKE IRFAN LEE ANN LEONARD JASON MOREHOUSE RYAN MULVEY SKIP STOLTZ JIMY THORPE SAMANTHA WALTON PAUL WOHLFORD

Honorary

Beach TV Beef 'O' Brady's LSI Innovations FCU Florida Power & Light Pier Park/Simon Malls Community Bank Bay Point Golf Club

Domino's A Superior Air Conditioning The St. Joe Company RC Hospitality Solutions

Board

RAMON DUVALL BRAD GRIFFIN DR. RANDY HANNA BECCA HARDIN DR. JOHN HOLDNAK PARKER MCCLELLAN DAN ROWE MARK SHELDON JOHN SKAGGS

Beachside Fellowship HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital Florida State University Panama City Bay Economic Development Alliance Gulf Coast State College NWFL Beaches International Airport Visit Panama City Beach Mayor, City of Panama City Beach Naval Support Activity Panama City

CHAMBER TEAM KRISTOPHER MCLANE JENA LILES SHANNON RICHMOND MISSY HOLMES TIFFINEY CASTLEBERRY CARLEY MORGAN LYNSIE SISK

President/CEO Chief Financial Officer Vice President, Director of Membership Business Support Director Director of Communications & Design Director of Marketing & Events

so much more! Looking at the past few years, it is astonishing to me how quickly Bay County bounced back from a Cat 5 hurricane and a pandemic that threatened the majority of our local businesses. Now we have an economy that is thriving more than ever, and we continue to expand with more plans on the horizon. In this issue, learn about the Florida Department of Transportation's plans to widen U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) to ease up traffic and provide better access to our roadways. Find out about all the exciting improvements Florida Power & Light is implementing with industry-leading solutions to improve our grid. Also, get introduced to the Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute, the Florida SBDC at the University of West Florida, and Ascension Sacred Heart Bay's new Women's Diagnostic Center! As you read through this issue of The Circuit, I hope you see how we are more than just beautiful beaches and a tourist destination. We are a community that is destined to thrive and forever expand into a place strong and vibrant.

Tiffiney Castleberry Tiffiney Castleberry Director of Communications & Design Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce

Marketing & Events

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 11

A MESSAGE

from the president/ceo T

he Industry Edition of The Circuit magazine is one of my favorite issues because we get to share important updates on community projects and news from our proud members with the readers. As our local economy continues to grow at a record pace, the largest drivers continue to come from tourism and the military but having a diversified economy is top priority for the County, municipalities, and Bay EDA. The Panama City Beach Chamber will continue to support these key partners to help strengthen our business community. May 4, 2022 was officially announced as National Tourism Day in Panama City Beach. A time of the year when we show our appreciation to all those that help make the PCB market a top destination with an economic impact of over $3 billion in Bay County. The Panama City Beach Chamber would like to say thank you to everyone that works in the hospitality industry and helps promote our destination.

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

Recent expansion announcements continue diversification of our economy, such as:

show

the

• Central Moloney Incorporated opening a new facility in VentureCrossings • TMH and FSU announced the future development of a health care campus in Panama City Beach • HCA Florida has already broken ground on a new freestanding emergency department in Panama City Beach • FedEx Ground recently held a groundbreaking for a new location at the Intermodal Distribution Center • Ongoing rebuild at Tyndall Air Force Base with a timeline of September 2023 for the arrival of the F-35 As Bay County grows, so does our Chamber with over 1400 members. We are blessed to live at the world’s most beautiful beaches and with a growing, diverse economy across Bay County. To prosperity and future growth.

Kristopher McLane, President/CEO Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 13

Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast

Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam

Florida Jeep Jam

Community Events 7 7 10-14

MAY

IRONMAN 70.3 GULF COAST @ PANAMA CITY BEACH With a buoyant saltwater swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a non-technical bike ride through the Florida pines, and a fast, spectator-filled run course along the coast, you will love the chill vibes you’ll receive in this iconic beach town. For more info, go to ironman.com.

TACOS AND TEQUILA FESTIVAL @ HAMMERHEAD FREDS Enjoy live music, lots of fun, and creative tacos and tequila cocktails made by local bars and restaurants all competing for the Best Taco and/or the Best Tequila Cocktail. For more info, go to www.grandlagoon.com.

FLORIDA JEEP JAM @ Aaron Bessant Park Get ready for an exciting beach vacation with thousands of Jeep owners and hundreds of Jeep clubs in Panama City Beach. Find out what makes Florida Jeep Jam the top Jeep beach destination location across the southeast. This four-day event also includes concerts, scavenger hunts, off-road excursions, bonfires and more. For more info, go to floridajeepjam.com.

JUNE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES BEGINS @ Aaron Bessant Park

2-5 4

Bring your chairs, blankets, coolers, and pets to these free live concerts ever y Tuesday from 7-9 pm, June through August at Aaron Bessant Park.

PEPSI GULF COAST JAM @ FRANK BROWN Park This 3-day event is the biggest family-friendly countr y music festival in the southeast, featuring headliners among today ’s top names in countr y and southern rock music. In the morning, live it up at the beach, enjoying sublimely soft sand, cr ystal clear waters and the best in outdoor recreation. For more info, go to gulfcoastjam.com.

JAM ON THE COAST 5K @ FRANK BROWN Park The 2nd Annual Jam on the Coast 5K presented by Visit Panama City Beach, in partnership with Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam, will take place in beautiful Panama City Beach, Florida. The race begins and ends in Frank Brown Park, with an after party at Texas Roadhouse. For more info, go to pcb5k.com.

COMMUNITY EVENTS For more community events, you may visit pcbeach.org, visitpanamacitybeach.com, or carpediem365.net. Events, dates, and other information in this calendar are subject to change after publication is printed. Please check the event website for any changes and more information. 14

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

First Friday with the Beach

IdeaCamp

Business After Hours

Chamber Events MAY

6 19 25 16 29

FIRST FRIDAY WITH THE BEACH @ FSU PANAMA CITY Join the PCB Chamber and Bay County Chamber and enjoy morning networking with the local business community.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS @ Friends of Camp Helen State Park Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while networking with fellow Panama City Beach Chamber members.

IDEACAMP @ HOUSE OF HENRY 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.

JUNE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS @ House of Bourbon Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while networking with fellow Panama City Beach Chamber members.

IDEACAMP @ TBD 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.

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A I R & S E A | Tyndall Air Force Base

s Tyndall Air Force Base’s renovation continues, a new modular fire station is coming in hot, providing a new workspace for 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Station One personnel. While Fire Station One was damaged during Hurricane Michael in 2018, the devastation provided Team Tyndall with the unique opportunity to design a new fire department. “Between the damage sustained from Hurricane Michael and the new Air Force requirement upgrades needed, a new facility was financially a better option compared to repair,” said Mark Blake, Air Force Civil Engineer Center military construction project manager. Since firefighters must remain operational and mission ready at all times, a modular facility was outlined to support crash and rescue missions during the new station’s production.

By Airman 1st Class Anabel Del Valle 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Photo by Staff Sgt. Stefan Alvarez 16

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

“The [transitory] Fire Station One campus is the single largest footprint for a temporary facility,” explained Scott Dubuque, 325th Contracting Squadron services flight chief. “This area cost just under $10 million of contracted efforts and is planned Photo by Ron Newsome to house personnel for around five years.”

(Left) U.S. Air ForceAirman 1st Class Kadin Edwards, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron fire truck operator, directs a fire truck into a bay of a new modular facility at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, April 11, 2022. The facility is fully equipped to continue mission capabilities with a gym, three bunk houses, three fire truck bays, an administrative office and an emergency response facility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Anabel Del Valle)

A few of the technological advances planned are a completely updated fire alarm reporting system to enhance emergency response capabilities as well as implementing new training simulators expected to reduce wear and tear on equipment, maximizing use and saving the Air Force resources.

The modular station is fully equipped to continue mission capabilities with no discrepancies. It provides personnel with a gym, three bunk houses, three fire truck bays, an admin office and an emergency response facility. “Having a new location, even if it’s temporary, will boost morale and provide a clean and sanitary work environment,” said Gregory Young, 325th CES fire inspector.

“The fire department’s relocation is a sign of progress,” explained Young. “As demolition across the installation comes to an end and new construction begins, it allows personnel at Tyndall, especially those that have been working behind the scene, to start witnessing the ‘[Installation] of the Future’ finally taking shape.”

In addition to providing a better equipped station for the firefighters, the modular facility marks progress towards building the “Installation of the Future.” The decision to construct a new station has motivated Tyndall to install innovative technologies.

As Team Tyndall and the local community work to restore Panama City and surrounding areas after the storm, Tyndall’s progress acts as a model for resiliency, turning devastation into innovation.

(Below) A fire truck belonging to the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron sits outside of a new modular fire station at Tyndall Air Force Base. The modular facility allows for Fire Station One personnel to remain operational and mission ready while the original station is demolished and a new station is built. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Anabel Del Valle)

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 17

NSWC By Jeremy Roman NSWC PCD Public Affairs

(Above) Huntington Ingalls Industries' Proteus unmanned surface vessel (USV) used for testing and development of autonomy capabilities. The 27foot Proteus USV was outfitted with Sea Machines Robotics’ SM300 autonomy system and completed a successful demonstration off the coast of Panama City, Fla. This is the type of vessel that will integrate with Threat Tracker. (courtesy photo)

or the first time ever, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) entitled Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)-Based Threat Detection and Intervention System on February 20, 2022. A CRADA, which is one of the tools that fall under Technology Transfer (T2), occurs between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties where the federal lab can commit resources such as personnel, facilities, equipment, intellectual property, or other resources—but not funds—to the nonfederal party. It allows the federal government to license technologies to private industry, academia, and state and local government while also allowing the CRADA partner to provide funds to the federal lab. “Allowing private industry to license federal technologies is good stewardship of taxpayer money and increases development of commercial technologies, which supports

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

the national defense and economy,” said NSWC PCD Technology Transfer Manager Paige George. “The benefit to the partner is access to federal resources which could lead to future partnerships/projects/firstcome-first-serve access to the technology portfolio, relationships, etc. The benefit to the government is agility because the time and cost it takes for the government to take a program from start to finish in most cases is much more expensive and time consuming than having a company come in and license a technology and manufacture on a large scale.” The U.S. Navy technology in this cooperative agreement is called “Threat Tracker,” which is an autonomous threat detection system developed by a small team of engineers and scientists within NSWC PCD’s Coastal and Maritime Security branch. Threat Tracker is an autonomous, multi-platform threat detection system that uses radar and sensor technologies coupled with video analytics and machine learning algorithms to detect, track and classify potential threats. This system will be integrated with HII’s advanced unmanned surface vehicle

to provide a fully autonomous USV escort capable of detecting and stopping a wide variety of threats. “What I enjoy most about the CRADA, is being able to use assets that my R&D [research and development] budget would otherwise never have access to,” said Jeremy Johnson, Threat Tracker project manager. “The CRADA allows

A I R & S E A | NSWC Panama City

Panama City HII reach R&D agreement through unmanned threat detection and intervention system Threat Tracker to not only leverage the latest and greatest autonomous platforms but also provide the opportunity to rapidly integrate our system onto the USV, which will help us to demonstrate how Threat Tracker will be utilized in the future of the fleet. This combining of resources enhances the R&D efforts and capabilities of our system for a faster transition to the warfighter.” HII echoes similar sentiment. “One of the reasons HII has invested in USV autonomous and artificial intelligence technology is to support the Navy’s distributed maritime operations,” said Senior Director of Technology at HII’s Unmanned Systems Business Group Brian McKeon. “We’re excited to collaborate with NSWC PCD to further enhance Threat Tracker by merging the capabilities of both organizations.”

(Above) Threat Tracker is an autonomous threat detection system developed by a small team of engineers and scientists within Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division’s Coastal and Maritime Security branch. Threat Tracker is an autonomous, multi-platform threat detection system that uses radar and sensor technologies coupled with video analytics and machine learning algorithms to detect, track and classify potential threats. This system will be integrated with HII’s advanced unmanned surface vehicle to provide a fully autonomous USV escort capable of detecting and stopping a wide variety of threats. (U.S. Navy graphic)

“At NSWC PCD, we are committed to ensure every effort here results in warfighting dominance in the littoral battlespace as well as to responsibly steward every resource we have been trusted with,” said Daniel Kucik, NSWC PCD Littoral and Mine Warfare Unmanned Systems director. “Maximizing the partnerships and collaborating together in these types of agreements allow us to achieve both of these goals.” The Threat Tracker system has been assigned a U.S. Navy case number meaning it is on the road to earning a patent but no patent license agreement has been developed as of yet. “One of the goals for a CRADA is to license a federal technology to the non-federal partner, but that doesn’t happen in all cases. Sometimes we just share equipment, personnel or other resources with a partner,” George said. “Ensuring every T2 agreement is within lawful bounds while maximizing efforts, these partnerships are an excellent way to collaborate with the private sector, as well as provide opportunities to license Navy technology!”

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 19

U.S. 98 Improvements

“

The widening of U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) corridor will provide local and regional businesses, residents, tourists, and commuters better access to and from local military bases, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Port of Panama City, and numerous area attractions.

Article and Images Provided by The Florida Department of Transportation (District 3)

ay County is growing. With growth comes new businesses, industry, and

tourists, along with roadway improvements. The Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) priority is always to plan and implement roadway upgrades easing traffic congestion and improving safety in areas experiencing growth. Many of the most congested areas in the county are either under construction or are being considered for future improvements. One such project that will make the beach life more enjoyable is the proposed U.S. 98

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

F E A T U R E | U.S. 98 Improvements

Mov ing Bay Count y into the Fut ure Corridor Widening project in Panama City Beach. This project will widen approximately

• Approximately 2 years to complete (weather permitting)

8.5 miles of U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) from Mandy Lane to the Hathaway

During construction, all travel lanes will

Bridge. This roadway is proposed to be

remain open. However, right-turn lanes may

widened from four to six lanes with seven-

close periodically during some construction

foot bike lanes, raised grass median, and

phases. The speed limit will be reduced to

6-foot concrete sidewalks on both sides.

35 mph for the safety of construction crews

Other upgrades to the corridor that will

and to keep drivers alert in the construction

increase traffic flow and safety include:

zone.

• Adding traffic signals at Mandy Lane, Gulf Boulevard, and North Glades Trail • Adding additional eastbound left-turn lane into Pier Park • Adding additional southbound leftturn on Alf Coleman Road • Adding one eastbound lane to the flyover toward the Hathaway Bridge • Previously locations

identified will

noise

wall

reevaluated

for

feasibility

U.S. 98 Widening Segment 4 from east of Nautilus Street to east of Richard Jackson Boulevard • 2.30 miles • Construction – Funded Spring 2023 • Approximately 2 years to complete

For funding of design, right of way, and construction

Section 2

efforts,

this

corridor

was

segmented into three sections as follows:

Section 1 U.S. 98 Widening Segment 3 Mandy Lane to east of Nautilus Street • 2.34 miles • Construction – Funded Spring 2023

(weather permitting) During construction, all current travel lanes and pedestrian and bicycle facilities will remain open. However, right-turn lanes and median openings may close periodically during some construction work phases. The speed limit in this segment will remain 45 mph throughout construction.

Section 3 U.S. 98 Widening Segment 5 from east of Richard Jackson Boulevard to the Hathaway Bridge • 3.9 miles • Construction – Unfunded in the current FDOT 5-Year Work Program • Approximately 2.5 years to complete (weather permitting) As with any project, all planned construction activities are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are always reminded to be aware of trucks and equipment entering and exiting the roadway and to pay attention to the reduced speed limit when traveling through the construction area. Speeding fines are doubled when workers are present. The widening of U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) corridor will provide local and regional businesses, residents, tourists, and commuters better access to and from local military bases, Northwest Florida Beaches International City,

and

Airport, numerous

Port area

Panama

attractions.

For more information on this project, go to www.nwflroads.com/217838-3. Also, follow the Florida Department of Transportation District Three on Twitter@myfdot_nwfl or on Facebook at Facebook.com/myFDOTNWFL.

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 21

Section 1: Segment 3 MANDY LANE TO HILLS ROAD/CAMBRIDGE BOULEVARD

Section 2: Segment 4 HILLS ROAD/CAMBRIDGE BOULEVARD TO CAULEY AVENUE

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

F E A T U R E | U.S. 98 Improvements (continued)

Section 3: Segment 5 CAULEY AVENUE TO THE FLYOVER TOWARD THE HATHAWAY BRIDGE

Images provided by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Grilling packages include marinated meats and veggie meals ready to grill! Sides come prepared and ready to eat!

Party platters from small bites to heavy hors d'oeuvre of your choice.

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 23

Florida Power & Light Builds a Stronger

& Smarter Grid By Shane Boyett | Sr. External Affairs Manager Florida Power & Light Company

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

F E A T U R E | Florida Power & Light

t Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), we understand how much you

depend on your electric service—that when you flip the switch, the lights come on. That’s why we’re committed to delivering cleaner, more reliable energy and investing in the communities where we live, work, and raise our families. We’ve

made

significant

investments

strengthen our electric system and make it more resilient to extreme events like the recent wildfires and tornados. We also continue to deploy innovative, industry-leading solutions to improve the grid, which are investments that are paying off every day for our customers with better service reliability. And, when outages occur, these improvements help us restore your power faster. In fact, our customers in Northwest Florida have seen a 58% improvement in the reliability of their electric service since becoming part of the NextEra Energy family in 2019.

to make the grid smarter, stronger, and even more reliable for you. This includes: Replacing

wooden

transmission

structures with new ones made of steel or concrete. •

Hardening main power lines to meet extreme wind loading criteria.

•

Installing more than 6,000 intelligent devices along the grid to detect and prevent power outages and minimize restoration times when outages occur.

•

Installing underground power lines in some neighborhoods where data

And we’re continuing to make investments

•

Maintaining vegetation to keep power lines clear and help prevent outages.

shows trees and vegetation cause the most problems for overhead lines. Locally, FPL has multiple projects planned and underway to continue to improve service for the Panama City Beach area. We’re adding a second line to feed one of our local substations, enhancing the reliability of this critical infrastructure for the region. We’re upgrading and hardening the grid in the Back Beach area, particularly near Moylan Road and JR Arnold High School. We’re also working with the Panama City Beach Community Redevelopment Agency to underground more than a mile of power lines around the intersection of Highway 79

FPL hardening the energy grid in Northwest Florida to ensure that it is stronger and more resilient when severe weather strikes (pictured left). Photos provided by Florida Power & Light Company

Reliability for customers in Northwest Florida has improved by nearly 60% since joining the FPL family three years ago, partially because of investments in smart grid technology like the automated lateral switch (pictured above), which help identify an outage and reroute power around the trouble spot, preventing more widespread outages.

and Front Beach Road. And these are just a few of the projects underway for this year. We’re also leveraging innovative technology in the field to deliver reliable service. We fly drones to inspect our power lines and assess the day-to-day health of the energy grid. Drones are also critical following a

hurricane or other event because we can use them to assess damage quickly – as we did after last month’s wildfires. Substation robots also give us an extra set of eyes at our substations. The autonomous rovers are equipped with four cameras and follow preset paths to inspect our equipment. FPL is committed to continuing to expand our use of cleaner, more efficient and lowercost sources of energy. We’re leading one of the largest solar expansions in the world with a goal of installing 30 million solar panels by 2025. And we just reached a milestone of 50

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 25

solar energy centers in the state, bringing us nearly 50% of the way

But solar doesn’t work as well when it’s cloudy or at night – that’s

toward completing our goal. These 50 solar farms generate enough

where batteries come in. We’ve built the world’s largest integrated

clean, emissions-free energy to power approximately 750,000 homes

solar-powered battery in Manatee County to deliver customers even

throughout the state annually.

more clean energy – even when the sun’s not shining. Charged by an existing solar energy center on the site, the battery increases the

Three of these solar energy centers are located here in Northwest

predictability of solar, extending its benefits even when the sun is

Florida, and we have another 16 in development across the

not shining. We’re looking to continue growing our investments in

Panhandle. And before these solar energy centers, we partnered with

battery storage at our solar sites, including here in the Panhandle.

the Air Force and the Navy in 2015 to build solar installations at NAS Pensacola Saufley Field, NAS Whiting Field, and Eglin Air Force Base.

At FPL, we understand how much you depend on your electric service and your provider. That’s why we’re working hard to build an

Solar energy centers make clean, quiet neighbors, generate zero

even stronger, smarter grid delivering cleaner, more efficient energy

carbon emissions, and provide economic benefits for the community.

that you can count on, day in and day out while continuing to invest

And because they do not use fuel, solar energy centers can help

in the communities that we serve.

lower fuel costs over time. In fact, the 30 million solar panels installed by 2025 will have generated approximately $2.5 billion in fuel savings for our customers and contributed more than $700 million in property tax payments.

FPL is always looking at emerging technologies to find new, innovative ways to deliver reliable service to our customers. This includes using drones to proactively assess thousands of miles of power lines and equipment and autonomous substation robots (pictured above) that enables FPL to inspect substations remotely to look for potential issues that need to be addressed before an outage occurs. 26

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

•Business •Commercial •RV •Auto •Workers Comp •Liability •Boat •Umbrella •Renters •Life •Homeowners’ •Condo •Church

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No-Cost Consulting for Your Small Business By Brooke G. Levesque Florida SBDC at the University of West Florida

mall businesses truly are the backbone of

Escambia to Jackson counties. We have three main offices

America - employing more than 60 percent of

(Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City) and more

all private-sector employees. Small businesses represent

than ten satellite offices nearby. Small business owners can

a large portion of our economy, enhance a community’s

benefit from our major service offerings:

part in American daily life, small businesses thrive by the support they receive from others. One local organization,

No-cost confidential one-on-one consulting.

the Florida SBDC at UWF (FSBDC at UWF), provides small

Consulting with small businesses is our core service.

business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with no-cost consulting services to help them grow and succeed.

From Humble Beginnings Seeing a need to provide small businesses with professional consulting services, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) started a pilot Small Business Development Center program to provide small business owners with oneon-one consulting services, research, and educational workshops. The FSBDC at UWF in Pensacola, Florida, was one of the first pilot programs in the nation. The program was so successful that the U.S. Congress officially created the Small Business Development Center program in 1980 across the nation. Today, there are SBDCs in every U.S. state and territory.

The Florida SBDC at UWF The Florida SBDC at UWF is one of the nine regions of the Florida SBDC Network, serving small business owners of Northwest Florida in ten counties, extending from 28

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

“Whether you need help filing business startup paperwork, need to create projections for a new location, marketing assistance, growth acceleration, or just need to talk to a

Taye Larry, Consultant

identity, and keep jobs local. For being such an integral

F E A T U R E | Florida SBDC at UWF

One local organization provides small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with no-cost consulting services to help them grow and succeed.

the Florida SBDC Network, nearly $57 is returned in the form of tax

and succeed,” says Kelly Massey, Regional Director. “Our consulting

revenue for the State of Florida. In 2021, the Florida SBDC at UWF

services are at no cost to the small business owner, strictly

helped small businesses achieve great results:

confidential, and always in your best interest.” ● Over $59.7 million in capital accessed (business loans and equity)

Training Workshops.

●

Over $561.7 million in sales growth

What do I need to know to start my business? How can I prepare

●

Over $35.5 million in government contracts acquired

my finances for a business loan? What are some ways I can recruit,

●

Over 16,698 consulting hours provided

retain, and engage my employees? The FSBDC at UWF has a wide

●

Over 2,000 local small businesses consulted

Florida SBDC at UWF

consultant, the FSBDC at UWF is here to help your business grow

range of low-cost workshops that focus on the various aspects of running a small business.

Research. Our partnership with the University of West Florida and the Florida SBDC Network provides our team of expert consultants with a

How To Get in Touch with Us

wide variety of databases that provide small businesses with the

To request a one-on-one consulting session or to register for one

latest marketing information, industry trends, financial ratios, and

of our workshops, please visit sbdc.uwf.edu. Be sure to visit our

demographic information needed to stay competitive.

Success Stories page to learn more about how we helped small

Our Impact

businesses near you!

The Florida SBDC at UWF’s performance is assessed based on the economic impact our clients achieve. For every dollar invested in WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 29

BETTER TOGETHER Tourism is a community effort. This Tourism Appreciation Month, we are grateful for our partners and loyal visitors who have contributed to the incredible momentum and growth of Panama City. The best is yet to come, with new attractions on the way and the return of old favorites in the works. Learn more about us at DestinationPanamaCity.com 30

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IT’S NO WONDER VISITORS #LOVEPC Jennifer Vigil, President and CEO, Destination Panama City We have so much to be proud of here in Panama City. In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, our community took a purposeful, collaborative approach to reimagining ways to rebuild our city. Panama City officials worked closely with local business owners and artisans, resulting in an urban revival of new businesses, cultural corridors, and more for our community to enjoy. Whether it’s discovering local artists who have made their colorful mark on the Panama City Mural Trail, raising a glass with a locally brewed IPA at History Class Brewing Company, or exploring St. Andrews Bay with a boat from Papa Joe’s Pontoons, Panama City is constantly brimming with new experiences. There’s even more to look forward to in the near future. For example, Historic Downtown will soon be home to the Grace District, home to local artists, chefs, musicians and other creatives and entrepreneurs; as well as Hotel Indigo, a waterfront hotel funded by The St. Joe Company that will offer a restaurant, public boat docks and an outdoor event space. Not far away in Historic St. Andrews, volunteers are rebuilding the Governor Stone, a nearly-145-year-old historical landmark that represents the industrious spirit of our community. The city is also continuing its efforts to repair major attractions like the Marina Civic Center, Martin Theatre, Downtown Panama City Marina, and St. Andrews Marina. Our locals aren’t the only ones who have noticed Panama City’s resurgence. Last fiscal year, Panama City attracted a record number of visitors, with nearly 385,000 overnight and day-trip visits made to the city. We anticipate that this trend will continue: The Expedia 2022 Travel Trends Report ranked the Panama City area one of five top destinations for U.S. travelers this year.

While this recognition is a tremendous honor, it shouldn’t come a surprise for us or our tourism industry colleagues in Bay County. As the Panama City News-Herald noted, “Good old Southern hospitality always is a winner, especially when traveling. Vacationers… want to get away to open spaces, to stress-free days on the beach or roaming the myriad shops and unique dining options.” The impact of visitors to Panama City’s and Bay County’s economies is remarkable. In the 2021 fiscal year, visitors to Panama City brought in nearly $46 million in short-term lodging revenue. These funds will give us the opportunity to invest in enhancements and improvements that can be enjoyed by our residents and our visitors alike. Panama City lodging partners alone employ more than 400 full-and part-time staff, paying $9+ million in wages. At a county level, the tourism industry employs approximately 1 in 8 residents. Tourism ignites job creation and prosperity in Panama City and Bay County, and it is our responsibility to continue to position our city as a travel destination. I’m grateful to the visitors who recognize Panama City’s charm, share their experiences with their friends and family, and often, return to the area. I’m grateful to our partners, who welcome these visitors with warm hospitality and make Panama City an even better place to live and work for our residents. Together, we are making Panama City the premier destination in Northwest Florida and are giving our visitors and residents even more reasons to #LovePC. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Jennifer Vigil is the President and CEO of Destination Panama City, the official destination marketing organization of Panama City and a division of the Panama City Community Development Council, Inc., a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit corporation

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 31

”

Alyssa O. of The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute Photos provided by CareerSource Gulf Coast

Arc of the Bay's ” The Culinary Institute gives

our students all of the tools they need to become "restaurant ready" and begin work soon after graduation. Judy D. and Chef Jacob F. of The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

The Arc of the Bay is continuing to support the local community in more ways than one...

F E A T U R E | The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute

The Arc

of the Bay's Culinary Institute By Jacob Fravel

Culinary Arts Trainer/Chef

n 2019, The Arc of the Bay began a new initiative in order to help people with disabilities find job

opportunities in the community — The Culinary Institute! Since its inception, The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute has graduated six classes with 34 students in total, with a seventh graduating in May of 2022. After graduation, our Job Specialist Team has assisted many of our students in finding jobs in the local community in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Of the 34 students who have graduated, we have helped 62% find gainful employment. The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute gives our students all of the tools they need to become "restaurant ready" and begin work soon after graduation. They learn the importance

sanitation

and

safety

when

working

around food and even earn their SafeStaff Certifications, giving them a leg up when applying for jobs. This certification is required for all foodservice employees in the state of Florida, and by having it before applying, our students demonstrate that they have the knowledge to get to work immediately. In the fall of 2021, Arc of the Bay was approached by Gulf Coast State College to take over the on-campus food service. We have since opened two locations for our !nklusion Coffee Shops, as well as our Empowerment Cafe. Since opening, we have employed over fifteen people between all three locations and have a staffing ratio of over 60%, being people with disabilities. This makes our business one of the few in the area striving for a truly inclusive and integrated

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 33

environment. All of our full-time employees are offered benefits and competitive wages, and we are growing every day.

Darcy S. of The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute

As the Arc of the Bay looks toward the future, we hope to be able to expand further than the Gulf Coast State College campus and have our food service operate in many new and different ways. We have begun small catering services with plans to expand further and offer a fullfledged catering program, as well as a food truck that will be at multiple locations weekly. Both of these new initiatives will also continue to strive toward an integrated environment, where people both with disabilities and without can work side-by-side and help not only to show that everyone can add value but to help change the public narrative on what people are capable of. As the area continues to grow and expand, The Arc of the Bay and the Culinary institute have made it our driving mission to change the public perception. Whether it's full-time or only a few hours a week, the people we work with add an invaluable presence to any workplace. Through the expansion of our food service, as well as our education program focused on the hospitality/restaurant industry, The Arc of the Bay is continuing to support the local community in more ways than one, adding valuable staffing to the area as many businesses still find themselves seeking employees since the pandemic. The Bay County area continues to recover, and we intend to make the people we work with a strong part of that recovery effort. 34

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

Megan T. (left) and Judy D. (right) of the Culinary Institute with Ron Sharpe, Executive Director of The Arc of the Bay, (middle)

F E A T U R E | The Arc of the Bay's Culinary Institute (continued)

WORK WITH A CAREER COACH

Find solutions that can work for you. Job listings & referrals Resume & interview assistance Resources & training Career development

careersourcegc.com

In compliance with the Steven's Amendment, CareerSource Gulf Coast must provide percentages of the total cost of programs/projects financed with federal money and nongovernmental sources as well as dollar amounts of the federal funds for projects and programs. You may find this information at careersourcegc.com

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 35

Ascension Sa Heart Bay By Heather Kretzer

Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast

scension Sacred Heart Bay recently opened its doors to a new women’s diagnostic center. The facility was

more than a $2 million investment. Ascension Sacred Heart is expanding women’s health services in the region and providing a higher quality of care for women at home. This commitment includes 3D mammography and the latest technology at Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center. “We hope to increase access to mammogram screenings for

“

When visitors enter the suite on the fourth floor of the Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Medical Office Building, they experience a spa-like atmosphere.

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

women in Bay County,” said hospital President Robin Godwin. “After looking at statistics, we know there are more women in our community who need regular screenings because early detection saves lives.”

F E A T U R E | Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center

acred

is Bringing Women’s Health Care Home

In Bay County, only 55% of women 40 and older

can improve outcomes and provide greater

received a mammogram in the past year, according

comfort and convenience for patients preparing

to Florida Health Charts. It is recommended that

for breast cancer surgery. The Magseed® device,

women ages 40 and up have a mammogram done

which is smaller than a grain of rice, is placed into

annually. Some women with risk factors, including

the tumor before surgery to mark the location

family history, may need to start screenings at

within the breast. The device gives off a magnetic

an earlier age. Many people are getting back to

signal that helps the surgeon accurately locate the

their regular screenings after missing them due to

cancer in the operating room and remove all of it.

COVID-19. Another thing that sets Ascension Sacred Heart Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Women’s

Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center apart is its

Diagnostic Center opened its doors in June of last

connection to care at home within the Ascension

year. Through its opening, Ascension Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart. Our care team takes the time to listen

has seen first-hand the impacts of delayed care

and works closely with Ascension Sacred Heart

due to COVID-19. More than 30% of women who

surgical and cancer care teams for patients in need

have been screened at that location had findings of

of treatment. The center has a nurse navigator

concern that needed additional follow-up.

to guide patients on their journey so patients

Tanya Graybill, MSN RN

Certified Patient Navigator

don’t have to put the pieces together alone. Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center was designed with a woman’s comfort and

“Getting a breast cancer diagnosis is devastating

convenience in mind. When visitors enter the suite

news to hear, but there is hope,” said Tanya

on the fourth floor of the Ascension Sacred Heart

Graybill, Patient Navigator. “My goal is to help our

Bay Medical Office Building, they experience a spa-

patients by eliminating barriers to care, identifying

like atmosphere. The center will provide a variety of

resources available to them, and keeping an open

women’s health services, including:

line of communication with a multidisciplinary team to ensure seamless care of the patient.”

• 3-D mammography • A patient navigator to guide and support women, provide resources and facilitate

Ascension Sacred Heart has the region’s only fellowship-trained breast oncology surgeon. Dr.

• Coordination among caregivers and patients

Jonathan Smith joined the Ascension Medical

• Bone density imaging and ultrasound to

Group team in February. He completed a fellowship

detect signs of osteoporosis

in breast surgical oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. He is an Army veteran

One new service is an advanced technology called

and a recipient of numerous awards, including

the Magseed® marker. This tiny magnetic device

a Bronze Star. Dr. Smith is located at Ascension

Dr. Jonathan Smith Breast Surgical Oncologist

Bayou onWWW.PCBEACH.ORG the Beach Cafe & Oyster37Bar

Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. A second breast oncology surgeon, Dr. Ashley Moody, will join the team in the fall and will be located at Ascension Sacred Heart Bay.

“Seeing what my patients in Alabama went through when they needed breast cancer care prompted me to want to grow my

expertise so that women can get the specialized care they need at home,” said Dr. Jonathan Smith, surgical breast oncologist. “I chose Ascension because they share this vision to bring highquality care to women where they live.”

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The center is located in the Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Medical Office Building

at 801 E. 6th St, Suite 404. For more information or to make an

appointment, you can call 850-804-3900 or visit ascension.org/ sacredheartmammogram.

Ascension Sacred Heart Medical Group Breast Surgical Oncology Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The clinic is located in the Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast

Medical Office Building at 7720 US Hwy 98, Suite 210 in Miramar Beach. For more information or to make an appointment, call

850-608-6490. Dr. Smith is also available for second opinion appointments.

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THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

Schedule today at our new diagnostic and imaging center for women

You can schedule important health screenings now — including mammograms — where it’s even more convenient for you. Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center is close to home,

Appointments available now. To schedule, call 850-804-3900

with a care team that takes the time to listen and understand you. Choose imaging, testing and care that’s designed and personalized for women:

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Women’s Diagnostic Center 801 E. 6th St., Suite 404 Panama City, FL 32401

• 3D mammograms and breast ultrasounds • Bone density testing • Pelvic floor rehabilitation • A nurse navigator who connects the dots for any additional care

A 3D mammogram may require an additional fee if your insurance carrier does not cover the full cost. Please check with your carrier to determine if you will be responsible for any of the costs.

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 39

The good life is within reach. Vacasa’s professional, full-service property management makes the vacation rental experience easy and rewarding from end to end. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful place to make vacation memories, or a solution to simplify renting out your home, our local team in Panama City Beach is here for you. Visit Vacasa.com to learn more.

17314 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-4101 | maninthesea.org 40

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

A S K T H E D O C T O R | Insights from the Emerald Coast Medical Association

Decisions, decisions, Decisions. Insights shared by The Board of Directors of the Emerald Coast Medical Association

But what if your health depends on it?

e want to share information to help you make your decisions about one of your most valuable assets: your health and the people making decisions about your care.

1. Insurance

companies will sometimes try to make your decisions for you. Your insurance company is NOT your Doctor. And when we say Doctor, we mean your physician, an M.D. or D.O. Other health care providers with the title of Doctor hold a Ph.D. in their field of study, such as Nursing or Physical Therapy, and are not to be confused with the rigor it takes to become an expert and hold a degree in Allopathic (M.D.) or Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). Nothing is more important than having a say in who your physician is and having the ability to see the specialists you need. Your physician will at times have to fight your insurance company on your behalf to get approval for the right medication or procedure to treat you. If that time comes, you will want someone who has trained for over a decade of their life fighting for yours. Remember that an insurance company provides financial aid for the costs incurred for your health care. They may deny coverage, no matter the consequences, as it is not their responsibility to take care of you, just help pay the bills. Only

you and your doctor are responsible for your health. An insurance company has a contractual responsibility to cover some health care items incurred and no more.

2. When

it comes to your health, a highly trained physician should be leading your care team. Managing your health and that of your loved ones is difficult, not to mention frightening, when you’re facing a complex medical diagnosis. There is limitless information to process. It is important to establish a relationship with a primary care physician to lead WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 41

a team of professionals who can treat every aspect of your health.

never get the chance to use their skills and assist in the win.

one with the most education and training to lead your healthcare team – a physician.

Ok football fans, let’s look at this analogy. Every good football team has a strong quarterback who makes the decisions for the whole team. Especially when things don’t go as planned, the team needs to have a leader who knows all the options and is able to see every option on the field. Winning teams have a quarterback who has studied the plays and is willing to make tough decisions in the blink of an eye to lead the team to victory. Without a good leader, some team members

Your health is far more important and complicated than the game of football. Yet sometimes, we unknowingly turn life and death decisions over to someone who only has the skills to run the ball when a field goal was needed to keep us in the game.

There is a strong group of physician leaders who spend countless hours outside of their own practice planning, advocating, and learning to take the best possible care of you! Contact Emerald Coast Medical Association by visiting www. emeraldcoastmedicalassociation.com to access our Physician Directory or call us at (850) 784-2090. We’ll be happy to guide you to the best physician for your needs.

Before choosing your primary care provider, take some time and learn the differences in training and education required for each person on your healthcare team. Choose the

There is no replacement for the years of training a physician receives.

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A S K T H E D O C T O R | Insights from the Emerald Coast Medical Association (continued)

Ask the Doctor brought to you by

Everyone is invited to Ask the Doctor a question regarding a specific diagnosis or treatment options, trends in medical treatment, and the latest healthcare breakthroughs. The Emerald Coast Medical Association will match your question to a physician member whose specialty is aligned with your question. The question is intended to prompt a brief informational article for the public to gain knowledge regarding a health condition. This is not a place to share patient-specific personal information or to request a diagnosis or treatment plan. It is a request for public information regarding a specific topic. Email your request for health information to michelle@flmedical.org. The Emerald Coast Medical Association is a physician member organization with a mission of Empowering Physicians to Promote the Highest Quality Patient Care. ECMA Physician Members are committed to staying connected, involved in our community, and advocating for their patients beyond the required call of duty. Our members have the ability, desire, and compassion to care for you and your family, just like their own, together on the Emerald Coast. Visit www.emeraldcoastmedicalassociation.com to find your physician in our ten-county area.

OUR LOCAL TEAM IS HERE TO LEND YOU OUR EXPERTISE

Jason Morehouse

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GOLF PLUS

OLF+ PCB is the premier golf shop on the gulf coast. Featuring nationally recognized custom fitting, tour van quality repairs,

and a wide array of retail products, we offer a modern approach to the game with the experience and technology to help golfers of all skill levels. GOLF+ is based in Dothan, AL, and has been in business for over 33 years in Alabama and now a year and a half in PCB. With top brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, Graphite Design, FootJoy, Mizuno, Tour Edge, GolfPride, Winn, Fujikura, Skechers, and more, GOLF+ has something for everyone. We have a large in-stock inventory, from bags and balls to shoes and accessories. Combined with our parent store, we stock a lot of products to get you what you need quickly. Owner Alan Watson has been custom fitting and building golf clubs for over 25 years and he and his staff are fun, informative, and helpful. GOLF+ uses the latest technology like Foresight Sports GC Quad and Mizuno Swing DNA shaft analyzer to take the guesswork out of custom fitting. The fitting bay is outfitted with Club Conex shaft and head adaptors as well as many manufacturer-specific fitting pieces so you can try before you buy.

LAVISHED MINISTRIES

Golf+ is located at The Shoppes at Edgewater on the corner of R Jackson Blvd. and Front Beach Road next to Firefly. You can reach them at (850) 249-2726 or on the web at www.golfplusdothan.com.

avished Ministries exists to affirm hope and restore a positive future to women impacted by the commercial sex industry. Since 2014,

Lavished Ministries has been serving women in the local community by offering emergency assistance in times of crisis, trauma-informed mentoring, and faith-based support groups that serve as a safe space for women to learn and grow together. The resources Lavished Ministries provides could mean one less sexual encounter performed for basic survival. In June, Lavished Ministries will host their annual Love Overcomes Banquet. The Love Overcomes Banquet is a night where women, whom their ministry has served, will enjoy a 3-course catered meal, an inspirational speaker, and have an evening filled with hope, joy, and empowerment! This evening is the highlight of the year for Lavished Ministries and the women who attend are always deeply moved and impacted by this event. To learn more about Lavished Ministries and the work they do in our community, please visit www.lavishedministries.com.

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T S | Featured Chamber Members

PERRY & YOUNG

ounded by Larry Perry and Chris Young, Perry & Young is an awardwinning personal injury law firm that has been serving Northwest Florida, Alabama and Georgia since 2008. What started as a small firm with humble beginnings has grown into one of the largest personal injury law firms in Northwest Florida due to hard work and dedication to their clients. With nine highly experienced personal injury attorneys, Perry & Young has a reputation for bringing justice to clients and their loved ones who have been wrongfully injured. Since their inception, Perry & Young has collected in excess of a hundred million dollars in compensation for their clients who have been involved in cases originating from auto or commercial vehicle accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, wrongful death, negligence, liability, abuse, and more. In addition to their busy schedule, the attorneys also appear and host the LAWCALL television show that airs on WMBB News 13 every Sunday night at 10:35 CST. LAWCALL is a live call-in television show, where attorneys answer legal questions on various topics. The show is also simulcasted through WDHN Channel 18 in Dothan, Alabama. The Perry & Young law firm is licensed to practice in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama with physical office locations in Panama City, Panama City Beach, Marianna, and Tallahassee. To enhance their ability to serve you, they offer free consultations by phone or Zoom and even make house calls when needed. To schedule a free case evaluation, call (850) 215-7777 or visit them at perry-young.com or email intakes@perry-young.com. They have “GO TEAMS” on standby available 24/7 to serve you when you need them most.

SHANE'S RIB SHACK

hane's Rib Shack (Shane's) is a true American rib shack known for its slow-smoked ribs, hand-chopped pork, chicken, and

many southern sides to complement each plate. Founded in 2002 in McDonough, GA, Shane Thompson started The Original Shack featuring his grandfather's secret BBQ sauce. Since becoming a franchised restaurant in 2004, Shane's has grown to become one of the country's model fast-casual barbecue concepts. In 2011, Chris and Dana Gerkin opened the first Shane's Rib Shack in Bay County. They are located on Hutchison Blvd across from Walmart. Along with their two daughters, Ashley and Kristy, it truly makes Shane's Rib Shack a family-owned and operated business. Both girls attend college while working at the store. Our goal is to provide "Great Food & Great Service." We believe if you take care of the community, the community will take care of you. In 2015, Shane's Rib Shack was named one of the Daily Meal's Best BBQ Chains and was also featured in the Wall Street Journal. Shane's was recognized in the Top 100 Movers and Shakers by FastCasual.com, and for two years in a row, Nation's Restaurant News ranked Shane's customers among the Top 25 most loyal in the country. For more information, visit shanesribshack.com.

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See + Be Seen ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort | March 3, 2022

Photos by Elles Photography Studios

46 46

THE THE CIRCUIT CIRCUIT May/June May/June 2022 2022

THE PANAMA CITY BEACH CHAMBER CELEBRATES OUR COMMUNITY AND AWARDS SIX LOCAL LEADERS AT THE 2022 ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER

he Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce's

This year's Ambassador of the Year Award winner was Jenna

recognition as they honored six of their outstanding members

ribbon cuttings or volunteering her time, Jenna goes above

celebratory Annual Awards Dinner was a night of

on Thursday, March 3, at Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort.

Hall of Hallin Hearts. Whether attending Ambassador events, and beyond for the Chamber.

"It was great getting the membership together to recognize

Kristian Millirons of 3P America won the Business Excellence

and Community," said President/CEO Kristopher McLane.

Beach Chamber. 3P America continues to evolve and recently

business leaders for everything they do to help the Chamber

This prestigious event recognized local leaders for their

dedication and accomplishments in the community and with the Panama City Beach Chamber. These awards included the

Award for their contributions to our community and to the

launched a state-of-the-art testing, vaccine verification, and compliance platform as the intelligent solution for employers navigating Coronavirus mandates.

Pioneer of the Year Award, Community Impact Award, Business

Our Community Impact Award was given to Larry Thompson

Young Professional of the Year Award, and a dedication to the

encourage growth and prosperity in Panama City Beach and

Excellence Award, Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award, Chamber's 2021 Chairman.

of Grand Slam Sports Tournaments, which continue to Bay County year after year.

The Past Chair Award was given to 2021 Chairman of the

This year's Pioneer of the Year Award was given to Richard

service and commitment to leading the Beach Chamber.

dedication, and lasting influence on our community and to

Board, Jeff DiBenedictis of BancorpSouth, for his dedicated

This year's Young Professional of the Year Award winner was

Sanders of Visit Panama City Beach for his leadership, the Chamber.

Lauren Hopkins of Coastal Waste & Recycling. Lauren is a

Congratulations to all award winners and thank you to

quality of life in our community.

success.

young professional who influences growth, prosperity, and

everyone that made the 2022 Annual Awards Dinner a huge

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 47 47

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FIND YOUR

YOUR NEXT INVESTMENT PROPERTY

INVESTSHORTTERM.COM

Fresh Seafood Daily RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL

The Grand Marlin features seafood so fresh we print our menus daily to take advantage of the local catch. Come for mouthwatering dishes, island cocktails, relaxed atmosphere, and beautiful views!

For reservations call 850-249-1500 5323 N. Lagoon Dr. | Panama City Beach | Serving Dinner Daily | Sunday Brunch 10-2

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 49

We’ll Buy Your Car!

SAFE. FAST. CONVENIENT. Sell us your car and avoid the hassle of Craig’s List or Facebook Marketplace. Get a firm offer on our website in minutes.

panamacitytoyota.com • 850-769-3377

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S E E & B E S E E N | continued

FRIDAY AT THE BEACH Capt. Anderson's Event Center | March 11, 2022

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BUSINESS AFTER HOURS SkyWheel PCB | March 17, 2022

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S E E & B E S E E N | continued

IDEACAMP LaQuinta Inn & Suites | March 30, 2022

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S E E & B E S E E N | continued

13TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC Bay Point Golf Club | April 21-22, 2022

Photo sponsor:

For all event photos, visit our Facebook: 54

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www.facebook.com/pcbeachchamber

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Ambassadors R E P R E S E N T YO U R C H A M B E R BY JAMES CLEMENS

Ambassador Meeting | Travelodge by Wyndham

pringtime is such a gentle time of year for Northwest Florida.

summertime is always welcome in our community. The Panama City

The warm sunshine and cool breezes are perfect for porches

Beach Chamber of Commerce is a massive business directory of nearly

and picnics. So we enjoy these sweet, hopeful days to the fullest,

1400 members who are ready to meet you.

knowing that hot summer nights are on the way. Summer officially begins June 21, 2022 at 4:14 a.m. with all the excitement of water fun

If your business or professional self is not reaching a friendly and

and vacationers and that sugar-white sand between our toes.

active audience, I would encourage you to get involved with the many events taking place each month. It’s already been a fabulous year and

I am honored to be the Chair for nearly 150 ambassadors, each

there is always something Beachy Beautiful happening with us.

representing a network of people and businesses knitted into the community. These special people have caring hearts for Northwest

That’s what we do. We’re your ambassadors from the Panama City

Florida, and the work they do for the Panama City Beach Chamber

Beach Chamber of Commerce – serving Bay County and Beyond!

is important. They stay busy welcoming new businesses into our chamber at ribbon-cuttings and making introductions that will help them grow and succeed. Truly, the care and esteem exchanged between the personnel of the businesses and our ambassador team is beyond beautiful and inspiring for us. And these new friendships, paired with a better understanding of local businesses, will increase the kinds of successful business transactions that will fuel the livelihoods of our neighbors and strengthen our community. We know that serving each other through business is vital to the quality of life in Bay County. And that’s why the busy tourist season of

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WHAT IS A BEACH CHAMBER AMBASSADOR? Panama City Beach Chamber Ambassadors attend Groundbreakings, Grand Openings, Beautifications, and Ribbon Cuttings and work with staff at networking events such as Business After Hours, Friday at the Beach, Annual Golf Classic, Women’s Work-Life Symposium, and much more. Ambassadors get the opportunity to network and meet fellow Chamber members. There is no cost to join the Beach Chamber Ambassadors! If you are interested in becoming an Ambassador, please email Missy@pcbeach.org.

C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E S | Ambassadors

AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHTS Barry Tate Book That Condo

arry Tate is devoted to community, a sure and steady presence in many volunteer organizations, and we are delighted to have him on our Ambassador team. Professionally he is proud to be a part of the dynamic team offering fullservice management solutions with a personal touch for

eghann is from the Panama City Beach Chick-fil-A that sits right around the corner

Book That Condo, a local property management and vacation rental company in Panama City Beach. Barry is also driven by thoughts of automobiles and, more directly, the restoration and ownership of classic cars. It’s as much a part of Barry as serving, caring and working. If you see him be sure to ask him which one is his favorite. LOL! After hours, Barry can be found motorcycle riding or enjoying time with family and friends. With so much continuous fun underway, he always has something new to share a smile over!

Meghann Pipes

from our PCB Chamber office. Her goal is to provide exceptional service to guests, and I think we can agree that Chick-fil-A is well-known for that. Serving people day in and day out, six days a week adds up to thousands of community touchpoints. Their well-trained, polite employees are much appreciated and always a joy to interact with! Meghann’s fun side is all wrapped up in school activities and events for her children and family. They are a happy crew and her smile shows it.

Chick-fil-A

Meghann enjoys our sugar white beach sand and roaming about North Florida shopping, eating out, and seeking out adventures. But if you cannot find her here, she may have escaped to the mountains for some hiking and exploring!

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C O M M I T T E E U P D A T E S | IdeaCamp

Jan 2022 IdeaCamp | Fat & Weird Cookie

IdeaCamp INSPIRE • ENERGIZE • IGNITE BY GARY WHITE

usic has seven major notes. Music, by definition, is

Take advantage of the opportunities for discovering the best that life

all songs exist within seven notes. Every note has within its inherent

laugh until the morning hours. Take advantage of the opportunities

complete. There are variations of music, genres, etc., yet

relationships two other notes that, when played together, become one with the original note, thus creating harmony.

Just like music, there are also three important values in your life that will create harmony every time and will be involved in every aspect

has to offer. Take advantage of the opportunities to enjoy friends and to give the hugs, kiss the grandkids, and renew those vows.

The notes you play have their greatest impact when played at the right moment. - Timing matters!

of your life song as you write it. These harmony-producing values are

The notes you play are written from the experiences you have in the

Living, laughing, and loving are in harmony with one another, and this

Your song is still being written, and the Master Composer isn't

to live, laugh, and love.

harmony draws the whole world to listen in. It's as refreshing to them as water and as nourishing as bread. It uplifts the soul like nothing else

life song of others - Listening matters!

finished with you yet. - You matter!

can do. Is it any wonder that harmony is preferred in every relationship?

At the Beach Chamber, you matter. This is why we have inspiring

their customers? Is it any wonder that the heartbeat of teamwork is

to a new level of impact. Join us at the next IdeaCamp and be

Is it any wonder that businesses thrive when they are in tune with based on their ability to sing off the same sheet of music? Living is giving. (receiving, forgiving) Laughing is lathering and lifting. (good medicine) (expression of the soul) (evidence of overflow)

Loving is loving life and loving people. (preferring one another)

events like IdeaCamp. IdeaCamp exists to lift you and your business inspired!

WHAT IS IDEACAMP?

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.

(patient, kind, focused)

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MarK ShelDon

Mayor, City of Panama City Beach

he City of Panama City Beach

• Committed City resources to pursuing state and federal funding

year. The tourist season is ramping

improvements, construction of a fire training tower, construction

is off to an extremely busy

up and more visitors are returning to or discovering the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches for the first time.

We see tourism growth in the form of

high occupancy rates, increased traffic, large crowds for special events, an

increase in enplanements, increased business sales and more. But a

lot of behind-the-scenes progress toward the betterment of our area is also going on.

Here’s a quick look at some City accomplishments and ongoing projects:

• Selected a firm to manage the Front Beach Road Community

Redevelopment Area (CRA) to keep the rehabilitation of Front Beach Road moving forward. Construction on Phase 3 in the

area of South Arnold Road is ongoing, with engineering and property acquisition ongoing on Phases 4.1 and 4.2.

• Continuing to install odor control measures at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and several lift stations

• Planning construction of a new fire station by City Hall (with a $3.6 million appropriation) and eventually replacing Station 32 on Hutchison Boulevard

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resulting in millions of additional funding for infrastructure of an offshore outfall project to reduce beach erosion and control flooding, construction of Alf Coleman Road project to raise the road out of the flood plain, and expansion of the City’s sewer system

• Contracted for a new master plan for Frank Brown and Aaron Bessant parks to include more amenities

• Expanding our footprint at Russell-Fields City Pier to include new amenities

• Adding more lifeguards and established a public-private beach safety partnership with Resort Hospitality Enterprises to provide additional lifeguards on the eastern end of the City

• Expanding communication efforts with the community, with a social media reach that includes 114,000 Facebook followers

• Launched a plan to replace streetlights along Front Beach Road, identified crosswalks that will be signalized to improve safety, and working with Florida Power & Light to add more lights in our neighborhoods

When I first started, I learned the hardest part of this job is that GOVERNMENT IS NOT FAST. Bear with us as the improvements and projects come to fruition. God bless you all.

A R O U N D T O W N | Community Updates

GLEN MCDONALD

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives & Economic Development, GULF COAST STATE COLLEGE

Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) and the Gulf Coast State College Foundation created the Gulf Coast Guarantee to allow all recent high school graduates an increased opportunity to attend college. This scholarship program was designed to address critical regional workforce needs and support economic development. Research shows that 70% of students who attend their first two years of college in their community stay and work in their community. The Gulf Coast Guarantee is the most ambitious campaign in our Foundation's history. The Guarantee is designed as a "first dollar" scholarship in the sense that GCSC will contribute $1,400 per student

per year, regardless of other funding and scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are awarded to all high school graduates from Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties who have maintained a 2.0 GPA, regardless of income. Students must enroll full-time (12 credit hours/semester) to qualify. Over 500 Guarantee scholarships were provided to local high school graduates in Fall 2021. The GCSC Foundation is committed to accessibility and, therefore, has removed the barrier of the arduous Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and does not require an application in order to receive the Guarantee funding. Many local industries have seen the immense value of this scholarship program, and over $2M has been raised from industry and our communities to support and

DR. RANDY HANNA

give our local students the opportunity to attend college and work locally. Please join us and contribute to this wonderful campaign to support our local high school seniors. Gulf Coast State College holds students and the community of central importance. The College provides many learning opportunities and offers a range of programs and services to help students become well-educated, productive citizens. The College is equally dedicated to collaborating with the community to help create or improve economic well-being and to offer the space of the College for social dialog, events of art and culture, and other moments that enhance our quality of life. To this end, GCSC faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees participate and fully engage with the Economic Development Alliance (EDA), Gulf County Economic Development Coalition (EDC), Bay Defense Alliance (BDA), both Chambers of Commerce, CareerSource Gulf Coast, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), and Port Panama City.

Gulf Coast State College is proud to be this community's college, and we continue to work hard to produce the most qualified, trained employees to meet employer needs. One way we stay in step with community workforce needs is through advisory committees. The key goal for advisory committees is to better prepare students for today's jobs by promoting greater cooperation between the educational environment and the private sector. The goal is to help ensure that the career programs are high quality and that the educational system is responsive to the job market.

Dean, FSU PANAMA CITY

e were proud to honor our graduating class with a commencement ceremony on May 1 at Tommy Oliver Stadium that celebrated the students' achievements. As alumni, FSU PC will always be their home. That's the FSU PC Promise.

In April, we welcomed Shirley and Bernard Kinsey, cultivators of the Kinsey African American Art & History Collection, back to FSU Panama City with a grand opening weekend of events. The Kinseys' world-renowned exhibit was originally scheduled to exhibit at our university in the spring of 2019, but Hurricane Michael, followed by the pandemic, prevented that until now. We are honored to host an exhibit of this caliber that celebrates African American achievements spanning 400 years. During the past 15 years, the Kinsey Collection has been seen by more than 15 million people in nearly 40 cities around the world at places such as the Smithsonian, SoFi Stadium during the 2022 Super Bowl, and now here in Panama City. The community is invited to

come see this important part of U.S. history at the Holley Academic Center, where it will be on display in the Allan Bense Atrium through mid-July. The exhibit is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and also by appointment. School groups and other organizations are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. Thank you for our generous exhibit sponsors, including Panama City Toyota, the St. Joe Community Foundation, Walborsky Bradley & Fleming, Visit Panama City Beach, the Charles A. Whitehead Foundation, anonymous donors, and individual sponsors such as Dr. Carrie Baker. FSU Panama City is committed to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the spring, we began our Illumination series featuring guest speakers sharing different viewpoints to engage the community and our students in meaningful conversations. See the schedule of events at pc.fsu.edu/illumination. Community partnerships are so important to the success of our mission. Thank you for your commitment to Florida State University Panama City. WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 61

Becca Hardin

President, Bay Economic Development Alliance

The Bay Economic Development Alliance blasts into the New Year!

he Bay Economic Development

On January 12th, the Bay EDA, along with the Bay County Commission,

The Bay Economic Development Alliance

welcomed 2022 with a “Bang”! During

expand its manufacturing operations. Central Moloney Inc. (CMI), headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is a key supplier to a number

Alliance blasts into the New Year!

the first two weeks of the year, the Bay EDA announced that two new projects

will be coming online in Bay County, Florida this year. On January 4th, 2022, the Bay EDA, along with the Port Authority of Panama City,

Bay County Commission, and the city of Panama City, announced that FedEx Ground has chosen Panama City as the new home for a

distribution center. The distribution center, which will serve the area from Pensacola to Tallahassee, will be built in the Port of Panama City-owned Intermodal Distribution Center on Highway-231. FedEx Ground will operate a 251,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility

on 33 acres in the park. The project will support a mix of full and part-time employees that will adjust to seasonal demand, and the

announced that Central Moloney Inc. has chosen Bay County to

of large investor-owned utilities, distributors and original equipment

manufacturers (OEMs) throughout the United States. The company

designs and manufactures electrical distribution transformers and transformer component parts. Central Moloney is preparing to open this new manufacturing operation in Bay County, Florida that will

produce single-phase pole-mounted transformers. Central Moloney

Inc. will be leasing an existing 140,000 square foot facility owned by The St. Joe Company. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is

located in VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre. The company will

make a capital investment of more than $20M and will create 200 new jobs in Bay County.

company will make a significant investment in this operation. This

As we continue to blast through 2022, we are looking forward to

strategic foresight of the Port Authority, City, and County.

hosting more prospect visits in Bay County. There are more exciting

project would not have been possible without the leadership and

more recruitment and marketing trips around the world, as well as

initiatives coming as we all continue to work hard to make great things happen in Bay County every day.

Julie Gordon

Film Commissioner, Florida Film Office, Inc. his

issue

the

Circuit

dedicated to “INDUSTRY, New

projects and exciting things happening in our community.” It is a most fitting definition

the

FILM

generally feature photos or videos. From real estate to reality shows,

they all started out with someone operating a camera and providing creative storylines to make the magic of what you are seeing.

INDUSTRY.

One recent project rented box trucks, cargo vans, over ten locations,

beds, and has a hefty economic impact.

caterers, drivers, greens men, hair and makeup artists, and people of

Productions create jobs, put heads in

In the first quarter of this fiscal year, the

Film Commissioner reported just over four million dollars in economic

impact. The excitement cameras add to a visitors’ experience is a bonus.

The locals are equally enthralled when a project chooses their

home or business as a filming location. The businesses that are directly engaged with the industry have been adding equipment

to their inventory, expanding their staff and crews, searching for bigger facilities, and getting a wide variety of filming requests. Film

plus local and out-of-market crew. Other “industries” such as

many trades are folded into the industry as a whole. The Advanced Technology Center at Gulf Coast State College is contributing to the industry in a big way with their film programs which include

storyboarding, scriptwriting, audio, video, drone operations, and of

course, the performing arts. Without the initial education component, some of these people may not get to realize their dream of being in the Film Industry.

Industry is also a broad term that includes television commercials,

If your home or business is asked to be used as a filming location,

photography (i.e., catalogs, pamphlets advertisements), and so much

4694 or email floridafilmoffice@knology.net. They need to provide

series, music videos, political campaigns, digital media, print work/ more. Everywhere you look, there are marketing techniques that

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please contact the Film Commissioner, Julie Gordon, at (850) 819specific documentation for your protection and theirs.

A R O U N D T O W N | Community Updates (continued)

BILL HUSFELT

Superintendent, BAY DIST. SCHOOLS

s we end one school year and prepare to begin another, it’s

a great time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together. When I think

about the amazing things happening at all of our beach schools, I am

immediately reminded of the incredible community support those schools enjoy. Our schools don’t make our students

successful, it’s the students who make the schools successful and the support of the families of those students is critical.

Without exception, I can say that ALL of our beach schools are grateful for the overwhelming support they receive from beach

families, business owners, and community leaders. Our schools are

OCTANE CAN FUEL

YOUR BUSINESS.

the direct beneficiaries of so many incredible financial donations and, even more importantly, donations of valuable time. The beach is invested in our schools and it shows! We have Elevate Bay mentors

at our elementary schools and J.R. Arnold High School students are

THINK BIG. FUEL CHANGE.

also mentoring younger children. Many beach business leaders

also donate their time as mentors and school volunteers and their commitment of time is so valuable.

The beach is booming when it comes to development and all of

those additional housing units mean more children than ever before

are calling the beach “home.” Enrollment is up throughout the beach community, and we’re currently in conversation with the St. Joe Company about land that may be donated for ANOTHER new school on the beach (similar to the incredible new A. Gary Walsingham

DAV ID POW ELL

BUSINESS LENDING MANAGER

Academy) to accommodate the additional growth expected. The

CARRIE INF INGER BUSINESS/MORTGAGE LOAN ADMINISTRATOR

million-dollar donation from Mr. Walsingham and his family in

support of A. Gary Walsingham Academy is the second-largest

single donation to the district and is an excellent example of how committed our beach families are to their schools and community.

It’s exciting also to see the community garnering national recognition

for this commitment to education and overall growth. Southern Living Magazine recently declared Panama City Beach one of the

top 20 best beach towns (www.southernliving.com). Clearly, others are starting to take notice of all of the positive things happening on

KEL LY LIT TLEFIELD BUSINESS/MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO SPECIALIST

KENZY PEA KE

BUSI NESS LOAN OFFI CER

our beach.

• Business Equipment/Machinery Loans • Business Vehicle Loans • Business Lines of Credit • Business Credit Cards • Business Start-Up Loans • Business Real Estate Loans

I am so grateful to our beach business leaders for always stepping

up when asked. From sports team sponsorships to snacks for state-

mandated testing sessions to help for Project Graduation, the beach community continues to go above and beyond for our schools and it’s greatly appreciated.

Thank you for all that you do to support our students, our employees and our schools.

249.0803 • innovationsfcu.org Federally insured by NCUA

Equal Opportunity Lender

Equal Housing Lender

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 63

KIM BODINE

Executive Director, CAREERSOURCE GULF COAST

ith a record-low Bay County unemployment rate of 2.4%

in March 2022, local employers are challenged to fill open positions in a

booming local economy. Employers are deploying creative strategies to compete for candidates.

of 17 and 24 who completed their studies in the Spring. Eligibility

may also be based on income. There is no cost for employers to participate.

Here’s how interns will benefit:

• 5–8-week program starting in early June

• 20-30 hours per week gaining valuable work experience at an employer in Bay, Gulf, or Franklin Counties

One of these effective strategies is

• In addition to regular pay, students can earn at least an

students. This Spring, thousands of newly graduated High School and

• Soft skills and career-readiness training provided by

are ready to get their foot in the door in their desired industries and

• Career counseling to assist with employment and/or college

experience employers are looking for.

• Mentors to guide them through their journey

A solution? A Summer Internship. Internships are an ideal way to gain

• The potential to continue employment at the worksite after

tapping into a direct talent pipeline of enthusiastic and motivated

college students, as well as those completing certification programs, occupations. Yet, many find they don’t always immediately have the

the technical and career-readiness skills for success in the workplace. Employers train and carve a career path that can lead to permanent employment for these up-and-coming young adults.

The CareerSource Gulf Coast paid Summer Internship Program has

opened registration for youth and young adults between the ages

additional $500 for meeting performance and program goals CareerSource Gulf Coast enrollment

• Building a network to establish professional connections the internship concludes

Here’s what participating employers can expect: • 5-8-week program starting in June • 20-30 hours per week per intern

• Wages covered by CareerSource Gulf Coast through a payroll agent

• CareerSource Gulf Coast recruits and screens the interns

• Employers interview the screened interns, create the job

descriptions and intern schedule, and provide meaningful work

• Interns have received basic training on soft skills and employability skills by CareerSource Gulf Coast

• Interns have access to ongoing life skills coaching and supportive services to cover costs associated with transportation, uniforms, and tools.

Employers benefit from a program that is of no cost to them, with a potential for permanent hires. Ultimately it creates a positive

impact in the lives of young professionals for the betterment of our community.

Young adults and employers who wish to participate in the Summer

Internship Program should call (850) 872-4340 right away to start a

conversation with an employment specialist who will determine their eligibility for the program.

We encourage employers and young adults to embrace the incredible opportunities available to them locally. For more than 25

years, CareerSource Gulf Coast has been connecting employers with

qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities. There is no charge for our services, and

we have highly skilled staff to assist. Please reach out to us at (850) 872-4340 or visit our website at careersourcegc.com.

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A R O U N D T O W N | Community Updates (continued)

Specializing in James Hardie, Color Plus, Vinyl Exterior Siding, Board & Batten, & Shake for Residential & Commercial Customers.

dreams come true! Let us help make your

850-249-0309 Proudly serving Bay County residents since 2007! #850Strong | PCB Chamber Member | FL: RG291104057

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 65

Grand Openings and

Ribbon Cuttings 1. Progress Bank & Trust | 2. Ascension Sacred Heart Bay, Women's Diagnostic Center 3 . Watermark at Urban Blu | 4. Any Lab Test Now | 5. Flooring Depot PCB 6. Keller Williams Success Realty (West End) | 7. My Massage Clinic 8. Homewood Suites by Hilton Panama City Beach | 9. Well Rooted 10. Exchange at the Beach Apartments | 11. Sherwin-Williams PCB | 12. Daybreak Market & Fuel

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12 WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 67

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. Jute & Palm | 14. WILDgrace 15. Cubez Tropical Seafood & Oyster Bar | 16. Florida Neuro Pain & Spine Center 17. Investor$ Gone Wild Realty | 18. Posh & Posies

18 The Panama Cit y Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Ambassador Committee welcomes the newest members of the Beach Chamber. If you haven't scheduled your business' Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutt ing, or Ground Breaking, contact our Director of Membership, Shannon Richmond, at (850) 890-8069.

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A LETTER

from your chamber rep

s your Chamber representative, you will always hear me encouraging you to network. But what is networking, exactly? Networking is not about collecting contacts—networking is about planting and growing relationships.

street. Offer to help wherever you can, be genuine about it, and you never know what kind of great things will evolve from that. If you offer up a useful contact and help someone out, they will be grateful and will remember and respect you for it.

All of us are wired for friendship, so why not put that to good use and start business relationships within the Beach Chamber of Commerce? After all, “Members Do Business with Members” while reaching “Bay County and Beyond”! I highly recommend business networking as a way to gain new clients and build a worthwhile business. It’s not always who you know; it is who knows YOU!

You are closer to getting what you want and meeting whoever you need than you think. Your Beach Chamber membership benefits are endless because of members like you. Take advantage of what we have to offer, stay connected, and grow those relationships!

If you want a successful business, then you need to have a great source of connections in your network—it really opens the door to talk to people that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to easily talk to or find. It’s not just about who you are networking with directly either—that person you are talking to will already have a network that you can tap into as well.

Here’s to new relationships continuing to connect the dots,

People want to help those who help others, and people want to help those who help them! So don’t just take, take, take. You won’t continue getting for long—your Chamber relationships should be a two-way

Everyone should build their network before they need it! and

Shannon Richmond Shannon Richmond shannon@pcbeach.org (850) 890-8069

WWW.PCBEACH.ORG 69

N E W + R E N E W I N G M E M B E R S | February 25, 2022 - April 27, 2022

New Members THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE PANAMA CITY BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR CHAMBER FAMILY! 4Repeat

George Smead Handyman Services

RELAX and Eat Cake

Arctic Air and Refrigeration

Gulf Jazz Society, Inc.

Schmaltzy Success Coaching

American Charlie Grill & Tavern Balanced Beauty

Bay Breeze Bait & Tackle Beach Yard Cards Body Exhibit

Camala's Catering Company Coach Kami

Coastline Productions

Condo Land Real Estate

Daybreak Market & Fuel 7 Dockside Bar

Emerald Kush Farms Empowerment Cafe

EXP Realty – Susan West FloridaRentals.com

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022

Gulf Coast Dewatering & Concrete Health Supply 770, Inc. Heart Power, Inc.

HOMESTAR Financial Corp.

Hyatt Place Panama City Beach I Gotta Guy Florida

John Douglas Insurance Juan Taco

Jute & Palm

Lulu's Bar & Grill Marco's Pizza

North West Florida Health Network PCB Coins and Cards Posh & Posies

Red Alert Diving

Rent & Relax Vacation Rentals SchoepfNet designs Sherwin Williams

Southern Skin and Electrology Springhill Suites By Marriott Sunspot

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare

Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs Tool Time

Trailhead Media

Twisted Roots Stump Grinding Vacation Life Properties WalPro

Wildgrace

Xtreme Roofing and Construction

Renewals THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. 850 Clean Crew

Edward Jones, Inc.

Anchorage Children's Home

Emerald Coast Medical Association

Angelo's Steak Pit Balconista Furniture Bay Building Industries Associates

Epic EPS

REALTOR®

The ServiceYou Deserve, The ExperienceYou Expect. THINKING ABOUT Buying

Factory Direct Furniture

Selling

Bay County Alzheimer's Alliance

Flip Flops Restaurant

Primary Residence

Bay Credit Union – Panama City

Florida Cancer Affiliates #1

Bay Families with Dogs, Inc.

Friends of Camp Helen State Park

Beach Properties of Florida/ Berkshire

GC Auto

Beachy Beach Real Estate

Grand Slam

Boomer's Aviation Inc.

Gulf Coast Children's Advocacy Center, Inc

Bruce's Heating & Cooling Buddy's Seafood Buffalo Wild Wings Capital City Bank Carpe Diem Community Solutions

Gulf Coast Laundry Services Gulf Coast State College

Investment Property Contact Me Today!

251.605.7037

Let’s Talk About WhatYou’re Looking For!

Gulf World Marine Park H & R Block Hampton Inn & Suites PCB

Carpet Care Specialists

Hank's Furniture, Inc.

CasaNoah

Hare Taylor

Chorus SmartSecure

Heartland Payment Systems

City of Lynn Haven

Hidden Lagoon Super Racetrack, Inc.

Classic Carpets Plus Color Tile

Second Home

Clear Channel Airports

Horizon Rentals & Horizon Self Storage

Cloud 9 Tobacco Shop

House of Henry

Dedicated Service Award 2022

Cook Girls' Bakery

Hungy Howie's #1

Country Inn & Suites

Innovations – Thomas Drive

GRI, RSPS, SRES

Culver's

Innovations – PCB Parkway

DiBacco Importing & Distributing

Innovations – 23rd Street

Dickey's BBQ Pit Diver's Den

Innovations – Harrison Avenue Innovations – Tyndall Parkway Innovations – Highway 77

Over 7 years experience

EileenTShaw@gmail.com EileenShaw.com ©2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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N E W + R E N E W I N G M E M B E R S | continued

First Federal Bank

Now Open in Panama City 700 West 23rd St. Our local Panama City team can answer all your questions and find the right account or loan for you or your business.

Intellichoice Builders

Resort Collection

JC Penney

Ron Jon Surf Shop

John Lee Nissan

Roussos

Keep PCB Beautiful

Salty Goat Saloon

Keller-Williams – Randy Baxter

Samuel Taylor Homes

Koehnemann Construction

Shepard Law

Larry Mason

Sheraton Bay Point Resort

Lowe's

Shore Thing Grooming

Mary Kay – Cheryl Fulcher

Shuckum's

Mayor Accounting & Consulting Services

Sinclair Construction

McDonald's/David Costa Enterprises, Inc.

SMRT Florida

Mid-South Lumber

Southern Brass

Miles Interiors, Inc.

Southernista Fashionista

Mission BBQ

Special Olympics Florida

Meet Our Team

Mooring Construction

St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Inc.

Move It Storage

Sundew Solar

Clint Mizell

Mr. Surf's

Sunshine Capital Solutions

notarynearme.cc

Superior Residences

Optimal Life

Tassels

Palm Pilates Studio

The Blake at PCB

Panama City Toyota

The Blind Co. FLA

Panama Jack

The Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

Commercial Lender

Priscilla Hagler

Branch Manager

Paradise Adventures Paradise Properties Vacation Rental/Sales

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The Hope Project The Little Mustard Seed

Pink Narcissus

The Morgan Law Group, P.A.

Powernet Co.

The Real Estate House

Pregnancy Resource Center

Tide's Restaurant

Present of Mine

Uncle Ernie's Bayfront Grill & Brew House

Prine Orthodontics – Panama City

850-257-0231 ffbf.com/panama-city

The Highland Group

Pelican's Restaurant

Prine Orthodontics – PCB

SkyWheel PCB

Uniti Fiber WMBB - Channel 13

Reliable Copy Products

Your Accountant My Accountant

Reroof America Contractors

Zaxby's

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309 Richard Jackson Boulevard, Suite 101 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 235-1159 | PCBeach.org

THE CIRCUIT May/June 2022