850 Business Magazine Fall 2021 by Rowland Publishing, Inc.

SPECIAL REPORT

BAY COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL

GULF RUSH Coastal real estate market is superheated SHARKS Philanthropist makes toothy lessons possible WAIT TIME Restaurants deal with persistent worker shortage

Tapping History

While celebrating the past, startup brewpub places bet on downtown Panama City’s future

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IN THIS ISSUE

Steve Roden in his Tallahassee home. Roden, the CEO of Guy Harvey Enterprises and a co-chairman of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, is an avid fisherman who cut his teeth on stream trout. These days, his focus is on big water as he works with Dr. Guy Harvey and his team to promote appreciation and responsible stewardship of marine environments.

FEATURE

PHOTO BY DAVE BARFIELD

Saving Our Seas Steve Roden readily concedes 50 that he is a failure at retirement. After a career spent

as a knowledge entrepreneur pioneering distance learning and launching and turning around businesses, Roden has aligned himself with artist, philanthropist, businessman and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey in an effort to start a movement aimed at conserving marine life. To do so, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is working to install a marine science curriculum in public schools throughout Florida and beyond. Generate enthusiasm about the oceans among the young, and they are sure to influence their parents, Roden believes. By Steve Bornhoft

SPECIAL REPORT

ay County Business Journal Despite 25 a Bturbulent economy roiled by a pandemic and the

lingering effects of the most powerful hurricane ever to hit Northwest Florida, Bay County’s pulse is strong. The St. Joe Company, headquartered in Panama City Beach, is partnering in diverse projects on both sides of the Hathaway Bridge, including the development of a community for active seniors expected to eventually total 170,000 homes. That development has led to plans for a new hospital and has spawned new retail development. Becca Hardin of the county’s Economic Development Alliance reports a strong project pipeline.

ON THE COVER: When Jorge Gonzalez, CEO of the St. Joe Company, addressed a groundbreaking ceremony for the Hotel Indigo currently under construction in downtown Panama City, he gave a shout-out to Allan Branch, an owner along with Tim Whaler, of the History Class Brewing Co., located just a few blocks inland from the hotel site. Gonzalez thanked Branch for supplying fine beer and, importantly, for investing in his hometown even as it picked up the pieces scattered by Hurricane Michael. His brewpub may be the perfect representation of a community working to reinvent itself while respecting its past. Photo by Michael Booini

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850 Magazine Fall 202ı

IN THIS ISSUE

In This Issue 10 From the Publisher 78 Sound Bytes 82 The Last Word from the Editor

Special Sections DEAL ESTATE 58 Available for sale or lease in the Marcus Pointe Commerce Park in Pensacola is a 20,000-square-foot office building, strategically located just one mile from U.S. Highway 29 and less than three miles from Interstate 10. Formerly used by a single tenant as a call center, the building features multiple entry points and concrete-block construction that makes for a clean and contemporary appearance. The building sits on 3.93 acres that would allow for future expansion. The landlord is offering attractive tenant improvement packages with affordable rents.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES 69 For providers of professional services, a solid reputation may be their most important asset. Successful relationships among bankers, lawyers, health care providers, Realtors and other professionals and their clients are grounded in trust that is earned as a product of courtesy, competence and care. In a special advertising section, we profile trustworthy businesspeople who reliably meet or exceed the expectations of their customers.

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BUSINESS ARENA

18 While the COVID-19 pandemic waxes and wanes, restaurants and hospitality businesses, in particular, are finding it difficult to get back to where they were prior to March 2020. Many workers who used to report to kitchens and hotels have moved on in the course of the pandemic to find employment in other fields, making for an employee shortage and setting up strong competition for the available workforce. Some employers are increasing wages in order to attract employees. Others have scaled back their operations.

Corridors FORGOTTEN COAST 60 After two-plus decades of dormancy, the port at Port St. Joe is showing signs of revitalization, giving the seaside community hope that the facility may soon return to its former viability and deliver on its economic promise. Two Staten Island ferries built by Eastern Shipbuilding at its Allanton shipyard in Bay County created a stir when they arrived for outfitting at Eastern’s auxiliary yard, which it opened in Port St. Joe in February. “You couldn’t believe the excitement when all of sudden the ferries arrived,” said Jim McKnight, director of the Gulf County Economic Development Coalition. “They were just big and bold! Some people thought they were in a time warp. What is a Staten Island ferry doing here?” When the St. Joe Company closed its paper mill some 20 years ago, the loss of its major employer crippled Port St. Joe. Now, the former paper mill site was alive again with activity.

“Workers go to lunch every day and spend money,” McKnight said. “And every day that goes by, some more of our folks get employed.”

CAPITAL 62 Allen Boyd is a fifth-generation cattle rancher and a longtime member of Florida’s cow-calf industry. Historically, he sold calves to finishing operations in the Midwest. But when the pandemic shut down those operations, Boyd found himself with calves that he was unable to move. So, like countless other businesses, Boyd performed a pandemic pivot by turning to the Florida Cattlemen’s Association who helped Boyd find a processor in Florida. He is now bringing his calves to finishing weight, taking the cattle to slaughter and selling cuts of meat directly to consumers from a refrigerated truck that travels throughout an area that he used to represent in the halls of Congress.

EMERALD COAST 66 Owing to dramatic changes in the world of work and other factors, desirable communities throughout the country are experiencing real estate booms. Nowhere is that more true than the Emerald Coast where the superheated market is too hot for the average person to trust. People no longer tethered to offices are trading less temperate climes for Northwest Florida’s subtropical delights. California has emerged as a significant market for Realtors along the Emerald Coast as left-coasters increasingly flee the hightax climate there. Anecdotally, Realtors talk about sales of multimillion-dollar properties made sight unseen to buyers. Will the demand subside over time, or is it part of a new normal? Time will tell.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BOOINI (66) AND SAIGE ROBERTS (62) AND COURTESY OF BIT-WIZARDS (14)

Departments

CUSTOM CONTENT WINNING WIZARDS

14 Bit-Wizards, a Northwest Florida based tech company, is collecting international awards. Owners Vince Mayfield and Louis Erickson are military veterans turned entrepreneurs who are exercising their passion for software engineering.

OUT FOR BUSINESS

16 Santa Rosa County is becoming a hub for businesses in aviation, manufacturing, logistics and distribution spaces. With three industrial parks ready for development, the county’s economic developers have room for more.

SAFE AND SECURE

20 Networker and event facilitator William Loiry lends his knowledge of military contracting and construction to two summits focused on Northwest Florida security and infrastructure.

VACAY EVERY DAY

30 Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is a 55-and-better community redefining retirement as a permanent vacation with outstanding amenities,

daily activities, shopping, dining, music and more. Thirteen fully furnished model homes are on display.

SEEDING BUSINESSES

32 TechFarms Capital is a venture capital fund investing in early stage technology companies throughout the Southeast. Owner/investors Kelly Reeser and Steve Millaway are strategic thinkers with an appreciation for entrepreneurial spirit.

TRIED AND TRUSTED

38 ReliantSouth Construction Group has provided full-service commercial general contracting and construction management services for over 38 years. Owner Richard Dodd helps his Northwest Florida clients repair, rebuild and re-envision properties.

MITIGATING RISKS

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WE ARE HIRING SEEKING A SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE REPRESENTING: Tallahassee Magazine, 850 Business Magazine, Northwest Florida Weddings Magazine, Tallahassee Newcomer Guide, Tallahassee Innovation & Technology Magazine, Official Visit Tallahassee Visitors Guide and more. Media sales experience required and generous commission offered. Visit rowlandpublishing.com/careers to submit your application and upload your resume.

Fall 2021

850 THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA

Vol. 14, No. 1

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BRIAN E. ROWLAND ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER MCKENZIE BURLEIGH EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Steve Bornhoft SENIOR STAFF WRITER Emma Witmer STAFF WRITER Hannah Burke CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lazaro Aleman, David Ekrut, Ph.D., Al Krulick, Karen Murphy, Riley O’Bryant, Rebecca Padgett Frett CREATIVE VICE PRESIDENT / PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY Daniel Vitter CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Ekrut ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Lindsey Masterson SENIOR PUBLICATION DESIGNERS Sarah Burger, Shruti Shah PUBLICATION DESIGNER Jordan Harrison GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sierra Thomas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Barfield, Michael Booini, Matt Burke, Mike Fender, Scott Holstein, Saige Roberts SALES, MARKETING & EVENTS SALES MANAGER, WESTERN DIVISION Rhonda Lynn Murray SALES MANAGER, EASTERN DIVISION Lori Magee Yeaton DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, EASTERN DIVISION Daniel Parisi DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WESTERN DIVISION Dan Parker ADVERTISING SERVICES SPECIALIST Tracy Mulligan ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Julie Dorr, Darla Harrison DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Zandra Wolfgram SALES AND MARKETING WRITER Rebecca Padgett SENIOR INTEGRATED MARKETING COORDINATOR Javis Ogden ADMINISTRATIVE & CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST Renee Johnson OPERATIONS CUSTOM PUBLISHING MANAGER Sara Goldfarb CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE/AD SERVICE COORDINATOR Sarah Coven CUSTOM PUBLISHING EDITOR Jeff Price PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST Melinda Lanigan STAFF BOOKKEEPER Amber Dennard

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850 Magazine is published quarterly by Rowland Publishing, Inc. 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. 850/878-0554. 850 Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. 850 Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor. Copyright September 2021 850 Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Member of three Chambers of Commerce throughout the region.

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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 the Emerald Coast on Florida’s Panhandle. New Homes from the mid $200s

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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 2021. 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 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. 2021

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From the Publisher

Be Considerate; Get Vaccinated

As we take a step forward, let’s avoid taking steps back The news, as I write this, is dominated by reports of the resurgence of the COVID pandemic due to the Delta variant. I have unpacked and washed my masks and today will begin wearing them again when in crowds and indoors.

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Dr. Harvey and his organization are focused on instilling a marine conservation outlook and ethic in generations of school children. With the endorsement of the state Department of Education and in partnership with Bay District Schools and the St. Joe Community Foundation, newly developed and engaging curriculum was kid-tested at two elementary schools last spring. Having survived that test, it is being extended to schools district-wide in Bay County this fall. Ultimately, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation plans to install the curriculum across the state and country and much of the world. To the extent that it succeeds in educating leaders of tomorrow about the critical importance of our oceans, we can expect that they will make decisions that will protect and perpetuate this foundational natural resource for centuries to come. Steve has engaged Rowland Publishing as a strategic partner with Guy Harvey in the production of their magazine and in the procurement of financial support from people and corporations that share similar values. I could not be happier to help lead this charge. In this edition of 850, you will also find a story about plans by the St. Joe Company, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the FSU College of Medicine to develop a hospital north of Panama City Beach near the Latitude

Margaritaville Watersound development for active seniors. That development is the largest contemplated by St. Joe’s West Bay Sector Plan and is projected to eventually total ı70,000 homes. St. Joe, which once liked to call itself a “placemaker,” is now in the process of bringing about a new midsize city. Check out, too, our Bay County Business Journal, which details the economic development efforts of Becca Hardin and the Bay County Economic Development Alliance. Hardin and her team are contributing to the diversification of the region’s economy in ways that will have lasting benefits. One more reminder as I close: Please get vaccinated and be safe. We look forward to doing business with you for many years to come. Be well,

BRIAN ROWLAND browland@rowlandpublishing.com

PHOTO BY SCOTT HOLSTEIN

Having to take those steps is disappointing, but there are times when we must set aside emotions. My educational background is in microbiology, and my thought processes are always based on facts, logic and science. That’s just the way I roll, professionally and personally. Today, just less than 50% of the American population is fully vaccinated, and about 95% of the new cases of COVID are occurring in unvaccinated people. When newly infected people are interviewed on the evening news, they almost without exception express regret for not having gotten vaccinated when the combined efforts of federal, state and local governments, the scientific community and businesses made it so easy to do so. Trusting in science, logic and statistical facts as I do, I encourage everyone to get their shots. At this point, a fixation on “your rights” is not logical. We are talking about your life and those of your family members and friends. Let’s be mindful that polio and smallpox were eradicated because people got vaccinated. The pandemic notwithstanding, lots of exciting developments are happening in Northwest Florida. I invite you to read our stories about Steve Roden, the new CEO at Guy Harvey Enterprises, and the rollout in Bay County schools of marine science curriculum developed by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

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P RO M OT I O N

850businessmagazine.com EIGHTH ANNUAL PINNACLE AWARDS Join us virtually on Thursday, Sept. 23, at noon as we hear keynote speaker Marjorie Turnbull and honor 12 outstanding women from across Northwest Florida. Learn more at 850BusinessMagazine.com/ pinnacle-awards.

TALLAHASSEE INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

The premier business and entrepreneurship conference in Northwest Florida plans to return as an in-person event in Pensacola, Nov. 17–18. If you’re curious about the latest trends in leadership or are looking for advice on how to launch and grow a business, EntreCon will prove invaluable. Learn more about this gathering of expert, inspirational presenters by visiting 850BusinessMagazine.com/calendar/ entrecon-business-and-leadership-conference.

A S

FUTURE IN THE MAKING

Future Making

Check out Tallahassee Innovation & Technology 2021 to learn exactly how Florida’s capital city is positioning itself as a magnetic center of innovation. 850BusinessMagazine.com/ digital-edition.

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

ENTRECON BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

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Florida’s capital city positions itself as a magnetic center of innovation

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Northwest Florida Economic Summit Save the date for this inaugural event, slated for March 14–15, 2022, at the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort. Learn more at 850BusinessMagazine.com/calendar/ northwest-florida-economic-summit. 12

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CUSTOM CONTENT CUSTOM CONTENT

The The Magic Magic Wand Wand of of Bit-Wizards Bit-Wizards Award-winning Award-winning local local tech tech company company leverages leverages expertise expertise to to build national brand build national brand reputation reputation

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FOUNDED ON FRIENDSHIP … FOUNDED AND PIZZAON FRIENDSHIP … AND When PIZZA local childhood friends Vince When local friendsoutlined Vince Mayfield andchildhood Louis Erickson Mayfield Louison Erickson outlined a businessand concept a napkin during aa business concept onata the napkin during kids birthday party Chuck E. aCheese kids birthday party at the Chuck across from the Santa RosaE. Cheese from the Santa Rosa Mall in across 1997, neither imagined their Mall in 1997, neither imagined their fledgling plans would unfold into fledgling plans would unfold into a magical 20-year entrepreneurial aventure magical of20-year grit andentrepreneurial relentless venture of persistence.grit and relentless persistence. These military veterans fully These military veterans—fully leveraged their expertise Mayfield, leveraged their expertise — Mayfield, animated and spontaneous, a Notre animated andgraduate, spontaneous, a Notre Dame MBA mathematician Dame MBA graduate, mathematician and software engineer — Erickson, and software —aErickson, reflective andengineer analytical, math reflective and analytical, a math and computer science whiz — to and computer science whiz — to become bootstrap entrepreneurs. become bootstrap entrepreneurs. Over three years, they thoughtfully Over three years, they laid the foundation forthoughtfully a software laid the foundation for a“innovation software engineering firm where engineering where “innovation and creativityfirm would flourish, and and creativity would flourish, and

proven engineering methods would proven engineering methods would deliver quality solutions ‘on time’ and deliver quality solutions ‘on time’ and ‘on budget.’ ” ‘onInbudget. ’ ” 2001, Mayfield and Erickson In 2001, Mayfield and Erickson incorporated Bit-Wizards as a Florida incorporated Bit-Wizards Florida corporation, becoming oneasofa the first corporation, becoming one of the first technology companies in Northwest technology companies in Northwest Florida. Mayfield serves as the Chief Florida. Mayfield as the Chief Executive Officer,serves and Erickson is Executive Officer, and Erickson is Chief Operating Officer. Chief Operating Officer. “While in the military, we saw “While in the military, wecorps, saw how camaraderie, esprit de how camaraderie, esprit de corps, a sense of purpose and a mission abonded sense of purpose and a mission everybody together as bonded everybody together as part of something bigger than part of something themselves. It was bigger almostthan like a themselves. It wassays. almost a family,” Mayfield “Welike knew family,” Mayfield says. “We knew that people who like one other, have that people who like one other, have fun and do things well together are fun and do things well together more successful and productive.are more successful and productive. And we wanted to create a business And we wanted to create business with an environment likeathat. ” with an environment like that. ” For 12 consecutive years, For 12 consecutive years, Bit-Wizards has ranked in the Top 10 Bit-Wizards has ranked in the Top 10

CUSTOM CONTENT CUSTOM CONTENT

“We come on as a partner, an extension on ”assays a partner, anofextension of “We yourcome business, director digital of your business, ” says director of digital marketing Heather Ruiz. “We assess the marketing Heather aRuiz. assess the problem, assemble team“We of experts to problem, assemble a team of experts create a solution and then ensure we to create a solution then ensure we properly prepare and the company to take properly prepare the company to take ownership of it, or if invited, we will ownership it, or ifit. invited, we will continue toofmanage ” continue to manage it.”

(Left) Top-performing Wizards enjoy the fruit of their hard work at the Bit-Wizards Annual (Left) Top-performing Wizards enjoy the fruit of their hardawork Bit-Wizards Annual Awards Banquet. (Above) To build camaraderie, annually Blueat vs.the Gold sporting event Awards Banquet.by (Above) To build annually a Blue vs. Gold sporting event is held followed wings and beer.camaraderie, Recently, they have had to take it down a notch to is held followed by wings andasbeer. theyWizards have had to take it down a notch kickball and ultimate frisbee someRecently, of the older were trying to relive theirto high kickballand andcollege ultimate frisbee as some of the older Wizards were trying to relive their high school glory days. school and college glory days.

of Florida Trend’s best places to work, and ofconsistently Florida Trend’s bestInc. places to work,list and it makes magazine’s it consistently makes Inc. magazine’s list of the Top 5,000 fastest-growing privately of thecompanies. Top 5,000 fastest-growing privately held In addition, Emerald held In addition, Emerald Coastcompanies. Magazine readers this year voted Coast Magazine readers this year voted Bit-Wizards as the Best Computer Service/ Bit-Wizards as the Best Computer Service/ Tech company. Tech company. WIZARDS IN THE MAKING WIZARDS IN THE What’s in a name? As MAKING Erickson tells it: What’s in a name? As Erickson tells it: “I had a UWF professor who would “I had a UWF professor who would ironically say, ‘Then you stir the magic ironically stir the magic smoke.’ So,say, we‘Then startedyou joking, ‘That’s why smoke. ’ So, we started joking, why we’re wizards!’ In the end, we ‘That’s conjured we’re wizards!’ In the end, we conjured the idea of being wizards because we’re the idea ofmagic. being”wizards because we’re spreading Ultimately, the name spreading magic. ” Ultimately, the name Bit-Wizards captures that irony with the Bit-Wizards captures irony withtalent. the tagline: It’s not magic,that it’s dedicated tagline: It’s not magic, it’s dedicated talent. Bit-Wizards is spreading even more Bit-Wizards spreading more magic with the islaunch of itseven Be the Magic magic with the launch of its Be the Magic Foundation. Formed in May 2021, its Foundation. Formed in May 2021, its mandate is to give back to the Northwest mandate is to givecommunity back to the through Northwest Florida nonprofit Florida nonprofit community through time, talent and monetary donations. time, anda monetary “Wetalent believe rising tidedonations. floats all boats,” “We believe a Mayfield says. rising tide floats all boats,” Mayfield says. TRIPLE THREAT TALENT TRIPLE THREAT TALENT Though Bit-Wizards is a famously fun Though Bit-Wizards famously fun place to work, it is notisaafootball franchise place to work, it is not a football franchise

… yet. That said, it does actively recruit … yet. threats. That said, it doesare actively “triple ” “These peoplerecruit who “triple threats. ” “These are people who are self-motivated technology experts are self-motivated technology experts and are self-managed,” Mayfield explains. and arecan self-managed, Mayfield explains. “They do the job, ”work effectively with “They can do the job, work effectively with teammates and communicate effectively teammates and communicate effectively with customers.” with customers. ” A managed Microsoft Gold Partner, A managed Microsoft Partner, Kentico Gold Partner andGold HubSpot Kentico Gold Partner and HubSpot Partner, Bit-Wizards hires only top-shelf Partner, Bit-Wizards hires only top-shelf talent. The knowledgeable staff is highly talent. The knowledgeable staff is highly trained, receives continual education and trained, receives continual education and maintains the latest technical certifications. maintains latest certifications. Those whothe make thetechnical cut and join this elite Those who make cutbeand this elite 57-member team the must ablejoin to deliver 57-member team must be able to deliver “white-glove service consistently.” “white-glove service consistently. ” never “In our 21-year history, we have “Ina failed our 21-year history, we have never had project, ” Mayfield assures. had a failed project,” Mayfield assures. AN EXTENSION OF YOUR AN EXTENSION OF YOUR BUSINESS BUSINESS Bit-Wizards began as a software Bit-Wizards began as abut software engineering company, it now has four engineering company, but it now has four core service pillars: software development, core service pillars: software development, managed IT, technology infrastructure managed technology and digitalIT,marketing. If infrastructure you want to and digital If you wantatobrand, develop an marketing. app, build and market develop an app, build and market brand, secure your computer network or amove secure your computer network or move data to the cloud, Bit-Wizards can do it data to the cloud, Bit-Wizards can do it and more. and more.

A TRUSTED PARTNER A TRUSTED PARTNER There’s a reason Anheuser-Busch, There’s a reason Anheuser-Busch, CSX, Step One Automotive Group, CSX, Step One Automotive Mitsubishi, TSA ConsultingGroup, Group, Mitsubishi, TSA Group, Publix, Bealls andConsulting other national name Publix, Bealls andentrust other national brand businesses this Fortname brand entrust Fort with Waltonbusinesses Beach-based techthis company Walton Beach-based tech company with their business. their business. “Professional service is about the “Professional is about the transfer of trust.service Any time you provide transfer of trust. Any time you provide a professional service, it’s all about adelivering professional service, aboutgoing on what youit’s sayallyou’re delivering on what you say you’re going to do,” Mayfield says. “At Bit-Wizards, to do, ” Mayfield says. “At Bit-Wizards, we strive to educate our clients to make we to educate our clients to surestrive that they fully understand ‘themake why’ sure that they fully understand ‘thework why’ behind our recommendations. We behind our recommendations. We work to earn each customer’s trust so that to earnnot each customer’s trustbusiness so that but they’ll only give us their they’ll givetrusted us their business but also seenot us only as their technology also see and us aslettheir trusted advisor us do what technology we do best to advisor and let us do make them successful.what ” we do best to make them successful.”

Vince Mayfield (left) and Louis Erickson Vince Mayfield (left) and Louis Ericksonin (right) at the 2011 Inc. 5000 ceremony (right) at the 2011 Inc. 5000 ceremony in Washington, D.C. Bit-Wizards has ranked Washington, Bit-Wizards has ranked nationally fiveD.C. times in its 21-year history. nationally five times in its 21-year history.

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Whiting Aviation Park

Santa Rosa County Economy ready to soar as new jobs touch down

anta Rosa County is on the map and on the move as one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. This influx in population and economic success has a lot to do with the area’s increased presence in aviation, manufacturing, logistics and distribution and the desirable, highpaying careers they bring with them. The Santa Rosa Economic Development Office acknowledged the impacts of these sectors and set out to introduce three industrial parks geared towards catering to the region’s strengths. In the past year, Whiting Aviation Park, I-10 Industrial Park and the Milton Interchange Park have garnered considerable interest. “With commercial and residential growth booming in the area, these three parks provide something for our target industries and are suitable for a variety of company needs,” said Erica Grancagnolo, associate director of the Santa Rosa Economic Development Office.

The I-10 Industrial Park’s proximity to I-10 has helped the Santa Rosa EDO enter into conversations with several companies. Right down the road, and with interstate frontage, the Milton Interchange Park boasts approximately 200 acres of industrial sites. With ideal locations right off I-10, these parks are geared towards distribution and logistics tenants. Whiting Aviation Park, a topic Grancagnolo discusses with pride, celebrated a ribbon-cutting in July for a temporary helicopter hangar for Leonardo Helicopters, the park’s first tenant. The hangar, located at Peter Prince Airport, will be their interim shop and customer service space while their permanent 100,000-square-foot facility is being built. The company recently won a $648 million contract with the U.S. Navy to replace the aging fleet of helicopters at NAS Whiting Field. As a result of a strong partnership with the U.S. Navy, phase two — taxiway construction — is underway, which will

Erica Grancagnolo

allow civilian tenants of Whiting Aviation Park access to the runways and towers. Grancagnolo emphasized the importance of the military presence on the everstriving region. Alongside the military, Santa Rosa EDO credits Triumph Gulf Coast and Space Florida as economic development tools that consistently set the region apart and are keys to success in the Panhandle. “The goal of Santa Rose Economic Development Office is to make the vibrant visual renderings of these parks a reality,” said Grancagnolo. “We want to see companies built to fruition, workers bustling about and business happening in the parks and throughout the region.”

SANTA ROSA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 6491 Caroline St., Suite 4, Milton | (850) 623-0174 | SantaRosaEDO.com

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Executive Mindset

Business Arena WORKER SHORTAGE PERSISTS

Waiting on Waiters Hotels, restaurants hurting for help

rive down any major road in Tallahassee this summer, and you will have difficulty finding a restaurant without some variation of “We’re Hiring” plastered on its windows, doors or roadside signage. Walk up to the front door, and you may find a note asking for patience — they are understaffed that day. Get a table, and you may wait longer than you would like for someone to take your drink order. Such is the state of the local restaurant and hospitality industries. Business is back, but the labor to handle it is not. It is not an issue of poor quality or high turnover. Those are normal, manageable concerns. According to Matt Thompson, managing partner of For The

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Table Hospitality, an entity that owns Madison Social, Township and other local establishments, you are always looking for “bigger, better, faster, stronger.” This is different. No one is walking in the door for an interview. For those in the business, the effect has been crushing. “This calendar year has been, by far, the most difficult year of my career,” said Bo Schmitz, general manager of Hyatt House Tallahassee Capitol-University. His hotel is running below capacity but not for a lack of bookings. “We have the rooms available,” said Schmitz. “We just don’t have the people to clean them. We don’t have people to manage breakfast in the morning. That’s become the norm.” By all objective measures, Schmitz and Thompson

PHOTO BY MADAMLEAD / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

BY RILEY O’BRYANT

have excelled. Each manager led a major opening this year, and both were successful. Schmitz opened Hyatt House in February. The hotel reached 50 percent occupancy in its first month, which, according to Schmitz, is “unreal for this brand.” Thompson led the opening of Charlie Park, the upscale rooftop bar overlooking Cascades Park, in May. They reached 30 percent of a revenue goal for the year in 30 days. “We are exceeding all of our projections. Which is great, but it’s also exhausting,” Schmitz said. To Thompson, that success is the root of the issue. “Demand spiked so fast at certain points that labor couldn’t catch up,” he said. Indeed, both Schmitz and Thompson trace the origin of their staffing woes to the various spikes in commerce that occurred during stages of the COVID-ı9 pandemic. Like many others, Thompson and Schmitz were forced to lay off most of their hourly workforce in March 2020. On April ı, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a statewide stay-athome order and demand flatlined. Then, on June 5, the state entered Phase 2 of its reopening, and demand spiked. Again, in the fall, demand rose when the state lifted nearly all pandemicrelated restrictions and students returned to Tallahassee. When vaccinations rolled out in the early months of 202ı, demand rose to pre-pandemic levels. At each stage, the workers that undergirded the industry did not return en masse to reassume their old positions. Even now, deep into the summer, they are absent. Where they are, what they are doing and why they are not there is a subject of fierce scrutiny and speculation. The first concession is an obvious one: fear of exposure to COVID-ı9 may deter people from working in food service and hospitality. “People wonder, am I going to put my family at risk?” acknowledged Schmitz. But as vaccines became broadly available and the pandemic began to trend in a positive direction, fear alone did not account for the massive worker shortages. Then, there is the reality that the pandemic made the jobs more challenging. The labor shortage itself applies pressure. “Everyone is getting pulled to do more than their job,” said Schmitz, who, at times during the pandemic, has

performed line-level work for Hyatt House. “Normally, there are hard days, and there are easy days. All the easy days have evaporated.” Thompson believes that the implications of working at a restaurant during a pandemic deterred people from the job. “The restaurant industry was vilified,” he said and joked that, at the start of the pandemic, he felt like an elected official. That public pressure was also on his employees, who faced the task of enforcing the local mask mandate. He explains the impact that pressure had on staff: “Working in a restaurant is already hard. You have one time to make it right,” he said. “Food is personal to people. I’m putting it in my body. So, you’re already in an environment that people are highly scrutinizing, you throw all that into it; would you want to do that job? I don’t think I would.” Fear and difficulty make sense as deterrents. But there is one explanation that lurks in the background of both conversations. “There’re the stimulus checks,” Schmitz said. “You can’t ignore that. Not to get political, it’s just that when you’re paying people more than you would if they worked, it’s a pretty easy decision to stay at home.” There are optimists and there are pessimists. “Maybe I’m naïve,” Thompson says. “I believe in the good of people. Everybody is talking about how people are lazy and they’re sitting on their asses. OK, sure. Maybe. But if you’re thinking that, then you think everybody steals from you, too. That’s not true. There’re a lot of hardworking people out there.” Worth noting is that, due to proximity to the center of Tallahassee and its universities, as well as good pay, Thompson’s restaurants are not struggling as much as others. “We don’t have as many labor problems as someone that’s in northeast Tallahassee right now,” he said. Meanwhile, Schmitz and his team are still toiling away just to service a fraction of their hotel rooms. “There’ve been some very difficult days when I’ve come home and just collapsed,” he said. “You know, emotional breakdown, just not knowing how you can pick it up and start over again the next day. It’s been that bad.” However their experiences might color their perspectives on the labor shortage, employers are all waiting for one thing: its end.

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Two Summits Geared Toward Putting Northwest Florida Into High Gear Events Poised to Shore Up Northwest Florida Security and Infrastructure 20

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s a business leader, defense and security facilitator, and philanthropist throughout his life, William Loiry has possessed the keen skill of seeing needs and opportunities and then gathering the resources to address them. His latest ventures include organizing influential summits that directly benefit the Northwest Florida region. Since 1996, Loiry has had a considerable history of organizing large homeland and global security and defense energy summits in Washington D.C. In 2013, based on attendee feedback from small and mid-size businesses, he decided to broaden the focus on both the summit subject matters and locations. From this came a series of first-ever Air Force Contracting Summits beginning in Northwest Florida. Now in its ninth year, the annual summit will take place Feb. 8–9, 2022, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Yearly, this event brings together hundreds of contracting officers, contracting experts, military officials, defense agencies, subcontractors and business leaders. Speakers from local bases Eglin, Tyndall and Hurlburt — alongside the Pentagon and military bases throughout the United States — have made this event nationally renowned. The summit covers a vast array of topics pertaining to the Air Force,

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including budgets, financing, and subcontracting as well as contracting priorities for aircraft, weapons, facilities, technology, cyber protection, and more. Next year’s event will again take place both in-person and virtually. Inspired by the success of the Air Force summit and cognizant of the region’s continued and accelerated growth, Loiry decided to host the first Northwest Florida Economic Summit on March 14–15, 2022, at the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf & Spa Resort. “Being here in Northwest Florida, I have a desire to see the region expand into other sectors that will sustain the region, so it is not so heavily dependent on tourism,” said Loiry. “The goal is to have all areas and sectors of Northwest Florida included in order to come up with a more comprehensive plan of where we want to go as a region.” Loiry states that another contributing factor to launching the summit is the likely passage of massive federal spending on infrastructure throughout the United States. That will be a game changer for the next generation of roads, bridges and energy — and result in substantial new contracts and jobs.

The summit’s topics of discussion will revolve around new technology initiatives, Northwest Florida as the “Cyber Coast,” regional economic development programs, regional infrastructure priorities, regional energy resilience, military base construction, military-community partnerships, strategies for winning new business contracts, public and private financing sources and more. Both summits have a precise focus on helping businesses, especially small and mid-sized businesses, identify and obtain contracts. The summits work to gather resources, connections and funds all in one location for continued relationships and future business prospects. “We want the region to expand in such a way that Northwest Florida is truly diversified in different sectors with high-paying jobs that keep up with the fast-paced expansion we are already experiencing,” said Loiry.

» WANT TO GO?

For more information on the 2022 Air Force Contracting Summit and the 2022 Northwest Florida Economic Summit, visit usdlf.org and northwestfloridaleadershipforum.org, respectively.

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Northwest Florida Military Report BY WILLIAM LOIRY

Major news on the arrival of the F-35A: Eglin Air Force Base will be the location for a second F-35A squadron, doubling the number of F-35A fighter jets at the base from 24 to 48. In addition, Tyndall Air Force Base will be the location for three new F-35A squadrons, totaling 72 jets. 325th Mission Support Group: On June 4, 2021, U.S. Air Force Col. Elizabeth Harwood became the new 325th Mission Support Group Commander at Tyndall Air Force Base. Harwood now oversees the group which is responsible for contracting, civil engineering, security, communications, manpower, personnel, services, supply, fuels, logistics and transportation support. 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing: On June 25, 2021, the Air Combat Command activated the 350th Spectrum Warfare Center at Eglin Air Force Base. “The activation of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing is the latest step the Air Force has taken to maintain our competitive advantage in electromagnetic warfare,” said Maj. Gen. Case Cunningham, the Air Force Warfare Center Commander. The Wing will enable, equip and optimize

capabilities to give the U.S. and its allies a sustainable, competitive advantage over adversaries in the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes everything from radio waves to visible light and relates to personal cellular phones, Wi-Fi and advanced technology used in military applications. 325th Munitions Squadron: On June 29, 2021, the U.S. Air Force activated the 325th Munitions Squadron (MUNS) within the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base. Maj. Justin Cassidy assumed command of the 325th MUNS, along with more than 80 personnel and $275 million in munitions. “The activation will streamline our efforts to support the 325th FW, the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group and other mission partners,” stated Cassidy. “In the last two years, Air Combat Command has activated five munitions squadrons as they

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HUB International Florida 1117 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32303 850-386-1111

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WILLIAM LOIRY

William Loiry is an American business leader, defense and security facilitator, and philanthropist. More than 100,000 government, military and business leaders have attended his conferences on defense, homeland and global security, and disaster reconstruction. For more information, visit WilliamLoiry.com.

move toward providing better support to Agile Combat Employments.” U.S. Navy Blue Angels Fall Schedule: Flying brand new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, the Blue Angels’ fall 2021 air show schedule at Naval Air Station Pensacola is as follows: Sept. 8, 14, 15, 21; Oct. 20, 26, 27; and Nov. 2 and 3. The flight line at the National Naval Aviation Museum opens at 9:30 a.m. each day, and the Blue Angels begin their show at 10:30 a.m.

EMERALD DOLPHIN, PENSACOLA

CALL US TO LEARN HOW WE CAN PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND

“Throughout the years, I have worked with Phoenix Coatings on the Starboard Village, Portside Villas, Tristan Towers, Emerald Dolphin and Santa Rosa Dunes properties. George (Atchison) teaches his skilled foremen very well, and they are all respectable, family-based people. They address every problem head-on and get it rectified right away. They are willing and ready to work alongside you for however long it takes to get the answers and complete each project. I was most impressed by their response to Hurricane Sally. The entire time, we had open lines of communication no matter what time of the day or night it was. The next morning, they were out on the beach surveying all of the properties, when they had their own home damages to deal with. They put their customers first, always.” — Linda Watson, owner of Beach Condo Management, Inc.

PHOENIX COATINGS 900 INDUSTRIAL COURT, PENSACOLA | (850) 857-4740 | PHOENIXPENSACOLA.COM 850 Business Magazine

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Helping you achieve your goals has always been ours Congratulations to Robert J. Dick and Felton Wright for being named to the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” 2021 list. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Robert J. Dick, CPFA Managing Director Wealth Management Advisor 850.599.8969 robert_dick@ml.com

Felton Wright, CPFA, CPWA®, CFP® Senior Vice President Wealth Management Advisor 850.599.8978 mfelton_wright@ml.com

Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, February 11, 2021. Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC. Data as of June 30, 2020. The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings and recognition from Forbes are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Investment products:

Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed

May Lose Value

The Bull Symbol is a registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation. CPWA® is a registered service mark of the Investment Management Consultants Association dba Investments & Wealth Institute. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S. © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. MAP3540669 | AD-06-21-0225 | 471003PM-0420 | 06/2021 24

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SPECIAL REPORT

2021 Bay County Business Journal AN 850 BUSINESS MAGAZINE SPECIAL REPORT

LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER | HISTORY CLASS PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BOOINI (HISTORY CLASS), MIKE FENDER (ATC) AND COURTESY OF SUZUKI MOTORS

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Bay County Business Journal SPEC I A L R EPORT

FILLING AN URGENT NEED

We knew that Watersound wanted to be a unique community and that they were really interested in healthy lifestyles for a continued healthier life. And it certainly was attractive to us because we have as one of our mission focuses the care of the aging, along with the underserved and underrepresented.” — Dr. John Fogarty, Dean of the FSU College of Medicine

Partnership is bringing community-based hospital to PCB BY AL KRULICK

hen the St. Joe Company began planning a massive new development to be called Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, the third iteration in musician Jimmy Buffet’s collection of retirement communities, the word went out that Jorge Gonzalez, St. Joe’s president and chief executive officer, would be looking for a health care partner to better serve the new community’s residents. “A person in our community, Ed Canup with Capital City Bank, had worked with St. Joe and Jorge Gonzalez for years and said, ‘You have to meet this guy,’” recalled Mark O’Bryant, president and CEO of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), a private, not-forprofit community health care system that serves a ı7-county region in North Florida and South Georgia. “What St. Joe recognized was that to attract that population — folks who want to find a lifestyle community who are 55 years of age and older — there were certain quality-of-life components that they wanted to make sure were available to their residents,” O’Bryant said. “And one of the components that they’re wanting to have available to them, in particular, is a high quality of health care services. I became very intrigued about the project, and the more we discussed it with Jorge Gonzalez and the St. Joe folks, the more we recognized that we had a lot of

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commonality in outlook and certainly a great synergy in where we both saw the community headed, especially on the health care side.” According to O’Bryant, St. Joe was looking for a partner that had a strong understanding of community-based health care, not just in the provision of services, but with a level of governance that was also community-based.

Community input “We have a strong history of being a community asset and engaging the community,” O’Bryant said. “And the governance of our institution is something that we discussed with them in creating an organization that would have a strong community level of input. A lot of health systems — if you’re a part of a system that’s a large profit, or even a not-for-profit system — your decisions are often made in other locations. And everybody who works in health care knows that the health care of your community is unique to that community, and there’s very rarely a cookie-cutter program that really can best address that. “So, what we do at TMH is build strategic plans based upon the needs of our specific community; we engage the community in those discussions; and we tailor what we do to best meet the needs of the community. That’s where being community-based and not system-based has a play. And what

St. Joe and Jorge Gonzalez recognized is that sense of tailoring services to meet the specific needs of a particular population is something that we have experience in doing a little better than systems that tend to be a little bit more generic in their approach.” Another aspect that O’Bryant says was a key differentiator in St. Joe’s decision to partner with TMH was that the hospital could bring with it an educational and research component via its relationship with Florida State University’s College of Medicine and its Department of Geriatrics and Institute for Successful Longevity. “We were very interested in looking at a new community and whether we could begin to develop something that would be truly unique in terms of both the clinical approach and

Photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

also research opportunities for the future,” said Dr. John Fogarty, dean of the FSU College of Medicine. “We knew that Watersound wanted to be a unique community and that they were really interested in healthy lifestyles for a continued healthier life. And it certainly was attractive to us because we have as one of our mission focuses the care of the aging, along with the underserved and underrepresented. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm for FSU in the Panhandle, and TMH has a good reputation in the Panhandle as well. And the fact that we were talking about local governance and local control as opposed to a national corporate structure for a health care system — I think it seemed like it would be enthusiastically approved over there. So the opportunity for us to potentially

expand our educational programs there by building a medical campus close to Panama City Beach, just a couple miles north of U.S. 98 and pretty close to the new Latitude development, I think was exciting for the Panama City Beach community.” Construction of Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, a joint venture between the St. Joe Company and Minto Communities USA, is currently underway with work completed on the community’s first 248 home sites, including ı3 model homes. Located in the heart of St. Joe’s vast Bay-Walton Sector Plan, the community site encompasses approximately ıı0,500 acres with almost ı5 miles of frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway near Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Bay County. Approximately 3,500 homes

are planned for the first phase of the development, which will also include, at buildout, a Town Center with stores, bars and restaurants, recreational activities and a full-size concert stage, among other amenities. The nearby health care campus is to be located on an 87-acre parcel near the intersection of State 79 and Phillip Griffits Sr. Parkway, just minutes from Margaritaville. It will initially comprise an ambulatory and urgent care center with groundbreaking as early as 2022. Future plans include the construction of an emergency center and a ı00-bed inpatient facility offering services such as gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, cardiology and general surgery, among others. “One of the things we’re working on right now is really programming

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Bay County Business Journal SPEC I A L R EPORT

that campus so that it’s built in the right direction and at the right pace,” Fogarty said. O’Bryant agrees. “We recognize that the campus has to be developed for the long term,” he said. “What we anticipate is a series of buildings that will include, within five to six years, a ı00-bed hospital. As we ‘chase rooftops’ and as St. Joe builds out, that campus is going to become larger; it will likely end up being several hundred beds in the future. So, we have to plan out that campus, anticipating that level of growth. We’re looking at a long-term structural design that will allow for growth in stages. “We’re also looking at how we can bring health care to the members of that community through their town centers — how we can make health care not only high-quality but convenient. So, we’ll be looking at ways in which

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we can provide health care services in a ‘golf cart proximity’ to patients, but also how we can use technologies, especially virtual technologies, to create health care services in the home.”

FSU Health “TMH will provide a lot of the backbone — the infrastructure for the practices,” Fogarty said. “But we’re really hoping that we are branding this as FSU Health and that people will see that as a really positive brand. The teaching hospital is probably a few years down the line. As we develop, we will be able to actually start to send medical students, residents and PA students to the campus to begin to train there.” The FSU College of Medicine, at just 20 years old, is a relatively small medical school without a big clinical presence. “So, this St. Joe partnership actually comes at a really, really good time

because it allows us to build both the clinical and the research infrastructure over there,” Fogarty said. “The College of Medicine is very excited to be partnering with TMH and St. Joe on this project as it is something unique for us.” “We appreciate the vote of confidence that St. Joe has provided us,” added O’Bryant. “I think that Jorge Gonzalez, Dan Velazquez (SVP, Commercial Real Estate) and the whole St. Joe Group have a really clear vision, and the one thing that they have made very clear is that they expect quality; they expect to provide an outstanding service to their community, and they want to make sure that all partners have that same commitment. “This is starting off as a small project, but as we look ahead ı0, ı5, 20, 30 years, people are going to be amazed and see a whole change in how health care is delivered in that community. And that’s all starting here and now.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOE COMPANY / LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE

Development at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, a joint venture of the St. Joe Company and Minto Communities USA, is underway. The community’s first 248 home sites have been prepared and 13 model homes are on display. The nearby health care campus is planned for an 87-acre parcel near the intersection of State Road 79 and Phillip Griffits Sr. Parkway, located minutes south of Margaritaville.

Meet Holly. For more than a decade, Holly Onda has focused on leveraging financial tools to help her clients work toward realistic and achievable goals. She understands no two clients’ financial lives, needs or goals are the same and, therefore, takes a tailored approach to planning and selecting tools to serve the individual. Call Holly today to schedule your no-obligation financial plan review.

Holly Onda Financial Advisor, LPL Financial holly.onda@lpl.com 850.404.6059

Serving Bay and Walton Counties www.capitalcityinvestments.com Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Capital City Bank and Capital City Investments are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Capital City Investments, and may also be employees of Capital City Bank. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Capital City Bank or Capital City Investments. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

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A CHANGE IN LATITUDE Every day feels like a vacation in Latitude Margaritaville Watersound

elcome to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, a 55-and-better community inspired by the lyrics of legendary singer, songwriter and bestselling author Jimmy Buffett, whose songs evoke a passion for tropical escape and relaxation. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound has captured the imagination of today’s vibrant 55-andbetter homebuyers who are growing older — but not up. Offering an irresistible concoction of food, fun, music and escapism, this dynamic all-new community for active adult living is redefining how pre- and active-retirement living is viewed forever. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is a distinctly happy place where every day is like an island vacation. Colorful coastal-themed architecture, walkable neighborhoods and golf cart-friendly streets create a setting where neighbors wave to neighbors and visitors are made to feel right at home. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is located on Northwest Florida’s gorgeous Emerald Coast between Pensacola and Panama City, near Panama City Beach. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is being developed in partnership with master developer Minto Communities, global lifestyle brand Margaritaville Holdings and the St. Joe Company, one of Northwest Florida’s largest real estate development companies.

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ISLAND COLLECTION Aruba Floor Plan

13 FULLY FURNISHED MODEL HOMES

Island-styled homes are designed to capture the “no worries” tropical vibe that is so much a part of life at Latitude Margaritaville Watersound. There are four distinct home collections: Conch Cottages, Caribbean Villas, Beach and Island single-family homes. Conch Cottages offer convenient two-bedroom/twobathroom living, ranging from 1,204 to 1,466 square feet. All Conch Cottages have a two-car garage, and select floor plans offer a den or hobby room. Prices start at $239,990. Villa homes range from 1,503 to 1,862 square feet under air. All have two bedrooms, den or hobby room, two baths, covered lanai and two-car garage. Villa pricing starts at $281,990. Single-family homes range from 1,684 to 2,568 square feet under air; they feature two to three bedrooms plus den, two- to three-car garages, two- to three-and-a-half baths and a covered lanai. Pricing for single-family homes starts at $337,990.

For more information about life in Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, visit the sales center, open daily Monday– Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. You can also call (866) 223-6780 or visit LatitudeMargaritaville.com.

LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE WATERSOUND (866) 223-6780 | LATITUDEMARGARITAVILLE.C OM

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TechFarms Capital Starting up the American dream

here is no absence of dreamers when it comes to those with an entrepreneurial spirit, but it sometimes takes the beliefs of investors to turn that dreamer into a doer. TechFarms Capital, a venture capital fund investing in early stage technology ventures, is helping companies throughout the Southeast turn dreams into realities. Prior to TechFarms Capital, Kelly Reeser and Steve Millaway, general partners of the firm, were working at separate entrepreneur incubators, Reeser in Pensacola and Millaway in Panama City Beach. Both were engaged in strategic planning involving how the region of Northwest Florida can sustain transformative economic development. They found one of the most apparent gaps was access to capital for early stage technology entrepreneurs. “Growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Northwest Florida resonates with the heartstrings of the firm and coincides with our backgrounds,” said Reeser. “It is our personal passion to deploy capital, provide resources and solve problems by raising funds to invest in companies throughout the Southeast. On some level, we hope to attract companies specifically to Northwest Florida.” In creating TechFarms Capital, Reeser and Millaway see

the two-sided advantage of benefitting both the startup and the investor. The startups receive initial funds to grow their company and have access to resources to help them thrive, such as potential customers, industry advisors and subject matter experts. For investors, the result is a diversified personal portfolio with a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity in technology, an industry that contains four of the largest worldwide companies. Currently, TechFarms Capital has funded the early stages of six companies: Perceptive Sensor Technologies, Chaos Audio, Sfumato, Healing Innovations, OneScreen.ai and Instant Financial. Each is a technology or tech-enabled company, ranging from Chaos Audio, a music industry app and hardware device, to Healing Innovations, a developer of robotic-assisted gait training technology, to OneScreen.ai, a market network for the out-of-home advertising industry. “We have set up a firm, not just a fund,” said Reeser. “A fund has a finite cycle, where a firm is there for the long haul in order to create sustainability. The best validation has been writing those six checks to startups at the height of their optimism for what their business can be.”

TECHFARMS CAPITAL 100 RICHARD JACKSON BLVD., SUITE 120 A, PANAMA CITY BEACH (850) 384-0962 | TECHFARMSCAPITAL.COM

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ANTICIPATING THE FUTURE ATC builds workforce for tomorrow BY DAVID EKRUT, PH.D.

ollege students in Northwest Florida have a unique opportunity to become part of a scholastic setting that offers more than just traditional degrees. Gulf Coast State College provides an accredited program, certainly, but its services go far beyond that which can be found at many major universities. Student housing at Seminole Landing is shared by FSU-PC and GCSC students. The fully furnished waterfront apartments have a resort feel, each equipped with a kitchen, washer and dryer, living room and one to four bedrooms. The communal space has an infinity pool that overlooks North Bay. There is also 24-hour access to the on-site fitness facility, and residents can book time in a private study room. And if students need a break, they are just a walk or a quick ride away from a plethora of coffee shops and other restaurants, or they can find a quiet spot on the beach to read, study or watch the Gulf of Mexico. Beyond such extraordinary amenities, one of the greatest resources available to GCSC students is the Advanced Technology Center. At a cost of $35 million, the 80,000-squarefoot ATC opened in October 20ı3. The facilities have many resources typical of any student center such as computer labs and study rooms. But setting it apart is the ATC’s goal to remain market-centric. “One of the strengths that we have,” said Prof. Melanie Boyd, Ed.D., the chair of the business and

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technology department, “is that we do a great job working with the Economic Development Alliance, the chambers of commerce and local government in providing a regional effort for business development.” Boyd is responsible for coordinating all of the programs at the ATC — ıı associate science degrees and ı4 college credit certificates, as well as associate of arts degrees that align with the ATC. These programs differ from the traditional university model in the United States in that they focus on developing skills beyond the classroom. To ensure courses are incorporating new technologies and remaining consistent with accredited

Prof. Melanie Boyd, above, inspects an autoclave, a container used for chemical reactions and other processes involving high pressure and temperatures. Boyd, at right, stands before Gulf Coast State College’s Advanced Technology Center, which was opened in October 2013. Photography by MIKE FENDER

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Prof. Melanie Boyd, the chair of the Business and Technology Department at Gulf Coast State College, smiles while touring a lab at the school’s Advanced Technology Center and inspecting mechatronics, equipment that is developed through the use of multiple disciplines including mechanical, electrical, computer and robotics engineering.

standards, the ATC has a faculty senate, curriculum review committee and an academic council to approve new courses and course changes, and is constantly working to be certain it is responsive to the needs of Northwest Florida. “We are training students for jobs today that don’t even exist yet,” Boyd said. Her goal is to work with manufacturers and local entrepreneurs to determine what industry needs will be ı0 years from now so that she and the ATC can make “sure that we have the programs in place, the tools in place, we need to educate the workforce that they will need.” Also, students are encouraged to take part in Entrepreneur Institutes, where they can connect directly with local businesses to develop entrepreneurial skills. This hands-on learning approach differs greatly from most mainstream universities and sets GCSC apart from other colleges; however, with the rise 36

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of the pandemic, this level of student engagement became a challenge. Like all businesses, the ATC adhered to CDC mandates and state guidelines. Many courses remained online, but to give students the full GCSC experience, the ATC offered hybrid courses, where students were able to engage in person for labs and other hands-on learning experiences. In Boyd’s words, “We are keeping on carrying on.” Boyd is proud of student success stories, the most notable being Chaos Audio. Landon McCoy, founder and CEO of the company, got his start as an engineering technology student at the ATC. Their product, the Stratus, is a programmable pedal for electric guitarists. Looking forward, GCSC is ready to move back with a future-forward model to fully engage with students. “You don’t want things to get stale,” Boyd said. “The world is changing, so they have to change to keep up.”

The ATC relies heavily on partnerships as it pushes students to the next level of success. Beyond local business, they also work with the Navy. Currently, they are developing a cyber competition as part of their cybersecurity department to offer a regional “Hack-a-thon that will give ethical hackers a chance to practice their cyber-penetration skills.” Recently, the ATC has secured grant funds for a project in the unmanned vehicle program called TEMPEST — short for Training, Education, Management and Planning for Emergencies using Scenario-based Training and Technology Solutions. They are working with FEMA to train law-enforcement personnel to effectively use unmanned technology before and after an emergency. “Whether it’s a natural disaster or any kind of an emergency,” Boyd said, “first responders have to be able to communicate and deploy unmanned vehicles to aid in rescue and relief operations to meet the needs of the situation.” Also, the grant is helping to develop a training rescue program to use and deploy rescue devices called EMILY (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard). The canoe-sized vehicle can be guided out to save a life without risking the safety of a lifeguard. The grant would help to train officers with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and other first responders. More than a degree, these programs show that the ATC at GCSC provides training and education that goes beyond the classroom, preparing students and the community for the ever-changing environment of real-world problems. Photography by MIKE FENDER

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ReliantSouth: A Commercial Contractor You Can Trust

ased in Northwest Florida, ReliantSouth Construction Group has become a much sought-after contractor that provides full-service commercial general contractor/construction management services. Led by professional engineer Richard Dodd, ReliantSouth has completed various exemplary projects throughout Northwest Florida and the Southeast. Having started his construction career 38 years ago, Dodd has been leading successful and award-winning construction companies in this area for more than three decades. What makes ReliantSouth stand out from its competitors is its adherence to one primary mission: “We provide solutions and value to our clients while working collaboratively with all our stakeholders,” Dodd said. The past two years — first with Hurricane Michael and then the pandemic — have dealt some unexpected hardships all across Northwest Florida. Contracting has certainly been anything but ordinary. However, ReliantSouth has both persevered and excelled. So, what’s their secret? “I believe it’s our perspective,” Dodd explained. “Because you see, life is truly a gift and should be appreciated all the time. Perspective helps you appreciate the little things.” ReliantSouth takes great pride in adapting to circumstances, remaining

steady in uncertainty, and building quality projects that exceed client expectations. Perhaps that stability comes from the fact that the firm is blessed with a rich legacy. Also, seasoned, integrity-filled construction professionals make up the team who have worked together for years. And then there are the grateful ReliantSouth clients: Hurricane Michael decimated Southerland Family Funeral Home. Steve Southerland, principal in the business and former member of Congress, felt contracting with ReliantSouth was an excellent decision. “When Hurricane Michael completely destroyed our family’s business structure, we were devastated,” Southerland said. “However, we knew that in order to pick up the pieces and build back better, it would require contracting with the best commercial contractor we could find. In our mind, there was only one choice — Richard Dodd and the ReliantSouth team. “They didn’t just meet our expectations — they far exceeded them and did so under budget as well as with the highest professional standards,” Southerland said. “Quite simply, we believe they are the ‘gold standard’ in construction, with their team of

honest, respectful, and competent experts. When businesses are searching for a builder that will serve as a trusted advisor, who will also deliver value that exceeds price, look no further than Richard Dodd and ReliantSouth. It was one of the best decisions our family has ever made.” This proven track record is also why Bay District Schools chose ReliantSouth to build their $37 million elementary school in Panama City Beach, and why other business entities rely on this ethical firm to build their projects. Wayne Lindsey, owner of Sonny’s BBQ, shared why he chose ReliantSouth to handle his restaurant construction. “I’ve been in the restaurant business for more than 35 years, and I was looking for a contractor who was honest and had my best interests at heart,” Lindsey said. “Once I found ReliantSouth, I knew I could quit looking. They do business the right way, with attention to detail, which is second to none.” Richard Dodd explained what sets ReliantSouth apart within the industry. “It all boils down to ReliantSouth’s corporate culture and engrained core values,” Dodd said. ReliantSouth has the expertise and values to make any dream a reality.

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RAISING GLASSES AND PROFILES Pub toasts unsung heroes of Panama City’s past BY DAVID EKRUT, PH.D.

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At the History Class brewpub, owned by Allan Branch and Tim Whaler, locals raise glasses to a past that includes pioneer Hawk Massalina and a shipyard that turned out liberty ships during World War II.

t a safe remove from tourist attractions, resorts and souvenir shops exists a quiet place where Panama City locals kick back, savor craft beers and immerse themselves in the past. Keeping It Weird stickers dot many downtown Panama City storefronts; the theme is reflected in public art, including a mural of a cobra with various artists each contributing a part of the snake. Locally owned coffee shops, restaurants and bars are reinventing the historic district. At least, that is the goal of entrepreneurs Allan Branch and Tim Whaler, who co-own a brewpub called History Class. Branch was raised in Panama City and moved away for college to study graphic design and play football. After college, he wound up in software development, where he and his partners built LessAccounting.com — a “better than QuickBooks” app. After

Photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

selling that software, he dabbled in many ventures. “I’m a serial hobbyist,” Branch said. He’s done some brewing, built sailboats and is always looking for his next adventure. Tim Whaler went to high school with Branch and also moved away for a short time but was drawn back to his hometown. He is licensed with the American Institute of Certified Planners and has a background in city planning, regional zoning districts and grant writing. And though a brewmaster now, he began brewing as a hobby in his garage. “I was the worst homebrewer on the planet,” he said and held no delusions that anyone would buy his beer. “I was like, ‘Humor me and taste this.’ ” In the beginning, he started with minimal equipment and nothing more than a desire to brew decent beer. Branch and Whaler had not spoken since high school but ran into one

another and found that they shared passions for beer and Panama City. They recruited Dan Magner — who was homecoming king in high school and had a background in the culinary arts — to run their day-to-day operations as house manager, and the rest, as they say, is history.

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A wall at the History Club Brewing Co. is dedicated to a display of memorabilia from the three senior-most public high schools in Bay County: Bay, Rutherford and Mosley. Owners Tim Whaler, at left in photo above, and Allan Branch toast their success.

Together, they wanted to find a way to revitalize Panama City after Hurricane Michael devastated the city. History

Dan Magner, a one-time homecoming king with a background in culinary arts, is the History Club Brewing Co.’s front-of-the-house manager. 42

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Class became one way they could give back to the community. “This is their bar,” Branch said, referring to the locals. Stepping through the front door feels like stepping into the past. All the decor carries weight with the locals. Out-of-towners might not recognize the Marie’s Hotel sign on the wall behind the bar, but it has meaning to Panama Citians. It, like much of the early 20th century, black-and-white photos, was donated to the bar. After Hurricane Michael ripped through the Panhandle, Branch and Whaler dug through the rubble and found mementos from their neighbors. “People just brought us stuff,” Branch said. Even the tables are made of gym flooring taken from the high school. The wall divider was made from broken basketball goals. Many of their seats came from church pews. The founders believe that history is the great equalizer and brings people of all ages together, and they wanted to

make a local museum for people in their community to share ales and tales. “The stories are so timeless,” Branch said of the local people they highlight. “And our beers tell their stories.” Whaler enjoys crafting beers that aren’t “made with marshmallows or cereal,” and feels that many brewpubs create novel and flagship beers for marketing purposes. To maintain the integrity of each brew and to honor each story the right way, he avoids such gimmickry. Branch added, “If Officer Wilson’s beer had cereal in it and marshmallows in it, we couldn’t serve that for ı0 years and that would be disrespectful to the story. We want to create things that are timeless.” Officer James Calvin “J.C.” Wilson was the first African American to become a police officer in Panama City and served for 22 years. Prior to joining the police, he had served in the Army in ı942 and studied law at Florida A&M. He was a champion of the African Photography by MICHAEL BOOINI

American community in Panama City, long before the civil rights movement. Wilson and other unsung heroes are the sort of local “everyday people” Whaler and Branch want to remember. “We aren’t Gettysburg. There aren’t bullets in the ground,” Branch said, but there are still people who have been significant to the town. Pub regulars supply stories and more good reasons to celebrate Panama City history with a good ale or craft beer. Beyond the brewpub, Branch and Whaler have a desire to revive the historic district and reinvent downtown Panama City. Whaler wants to explore “what needs to happen downtown to set off — not really a renaissance — but to get it on the right track for redevelopment.” One way Branch and Whaler do that is with their Pouring Love campaign. They donate 25 cents to local charities for every beer they sell. In such a way, raising a glass to the past means rebuilding Panama City, one mug at a time.

A surviving portion of a sign from an old downtown Panama City landmark, the Marie Hotel, graces a wall at the History Club Brewing Co. Missing letters were added with paint of a matching green.

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A NEW WAVE Industries’ interest in Bay County is spiking BY HANNAH BURKE

ven as the pandemic ebbs and flows, many organizations are optimistically looking to expand their reach and get back to business stronger than ever. Bay County, said Bay County Economic Development Alliance

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president Becca Harden, is reaping the benefits. “Now that the vaccine is out, our project activity is out of sight,” Harden said. “It’s like someone turned on the faucet, and we’re doing the best we can to keep our heads above water.” For the seven years Harden has headed the Bay EDA, she’s never seen project activity and construction as robust as it is now. Visit the region today, she said, and you can feel the energy. In August, Florida State University Panama City wrapped up construction of a student housing project that will, for the first time, allow for the recruitment of students who will live on campus. Students from both

Gulf Coast State College and FSU PC will live in the complex known as Seminole Landing. The St. Joe Company continues the development of initial phases in its Latitude Margaritaville Watersound retirement community north of Panama City Beach off State Highway 79. St. Joe, in cooperation with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Inc. and the Florida State University College of Medicine, announced plans this summer to develop a health care campus just minutes away from Margaritaville, which is projected to total ı70,000 homes at build-out. Too, the private developer is partnering in a ı24-room boutique Indigo Hotel on St. Andrew Bay that

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDA (VENTURECROSSINGS) AND SUZUKI MOTORS

SPEC I A L R EPORT

Rendering at left depicts a waterfront Hotel Indigo whose development is being spearheaded by the St. Joe Company. It figures prominently in redevelopment plans for downtown Panama City. Illustration above depicts a testing and training center planned for a 20-acre site on St. Andrew Bay by Suzuki Marine.

will provide some much-needed love to Downtown Panama City. Construction of that project is underway. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg as to what’s in store for Bay County. Harden said four projects related to aviation, defense, logistics and distribution are “on the bubble of completion.” She said in June that official announcements could come as early as this fall. “Many companies have been sitting on growth plans for over a year now, so a lot of the people we talk to are ready to implement them quickly,” Harden said. Due to last year’s travel restrictions, the Bay EDA relied on digital marketing plans and virtual site visits. Domestic

project activity fared far better than those of international companies, said Harden, as “companies aren’t going to make multimillion-dollar decisions about property they’ve never visited.” Other projects have picked up where they left off. Before the pandemic arrived, the Suzuki Motor Corp. secured a 20-acre site on St. Andrew Bay that will house Suzuki Marine Technical Center USA. The research and development integration facility represents a $25 million capital investment that will create an estimated 35 jobs for starters. According to Harden, Suzuki has completed a master site plan and is in the process of obtaining DEP permits for the site’s infrastructure. Suzuki has

already begun testing activity and will temporarily utilize another building as construction continues. Port Panama City has more to offer on the international front, serving as “a huge economic driver not just for Bay County, but our entire region,” said Harden. “They recently opened the new east terminal and warehouse and are in the process of building another one, so they are blowing and going.” The $60 million East Terminal project, comprising a 900-foot berthing area, 260,000-square-foot warehouse and 40-car rail yard, will process an estimated 350,000 to 400,000 tons of cargo each year. With plans underway for more berthing space and an additional warehouse by 2024, it is the Port Authority’s largest project to date. U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Panama City, headlined a dedication ceremony for the new terminal in the spring and said the project will “provide a huge opportunity for growth in the region and generate over 300 direct jobs.” The EDA has been marketing certified industrial sites at the Panama City Port Authority’s Intermodal Distribution Center on U.S. 23ı and is currently in talks with a potential

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tenant who will “take most, if not all of our certified sites,” Harden said. “We’re very excited to move that along.” Too, Harden is excited about strides being made in Bay County’s manufacturing sector. In partnership with Gulf Coast State College and local manufacturers, the EDA recently launched the Gulf Coast Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) Chapter, a program that hopes to bring about an appropriately tailored talent pipeline. Recruitment for the fall semester program, designed to give students insight into the manufacturing industry and real-life work experience, began in the spring. Harden called it a “win-win” for both students and participating companies.

LOCAL FIRM, NATIONAL RESOURCES With 13 locations across the Southeast and over 800 employees, we pride ourselves on having the vast resources of a national firm, yet our approach is rooted in a strong local presence. Beyond tax and audit services, our advisors can guide you through every business situation. From business continuity planning to technology upgrades to managing staffing needs, Warren Averett can provide you with a broad range of innovative solutions tailored to your specific needs. We’re here for you. Contact Jay Moody today to see how we can help you. Jay Moody, CPA Panama City Managing Member 850.252.1001 Jay.Moody@warrenaverett.com

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Headquartering Early-Stage Venture Capital in Northwest Florida Gain access to early-stage investments in tech & tech-enabled startups throughout the Southeast United States

Kelly Reeser 850.384.0962 capital@techfarmscapital.com @TechFarmsCapital

PHOTOS BY MIKE FENDER (AIRPORT) AND COURTESY OF EDA (VENTURECROSSINGS)

Left: An intermodal distribution center located north of Panama City on U.S. 231 is among assets touted by the Bay County Economic Development Alliance in its recruiting efforts. Traffic at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport was heavy this summer when Panama City Beach welcomed record numbers of tourists.

“This is an opportunity for local manufacturers to have a student on their payroll and, for lack of a better word, test-drive their employees before they hire them full time,” she said. “A key question for companies is always, ‘How are you going to meet our workforce needs?’ This is an answer we can provide.” Harden said the EDA will continue leveraging the region’s assets to diversify its economy. Visitation via the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is almost back to its pre-pandemic numbers, Harden said, and is a big factor for prospective business. The reconstruction of Tyndall Air Force Base as the base of the future and the region’s ever-growing military presence continues to result in an influx of defense-related projects. For Harden, some elements of the shutdown were a blessing in disguise. “The pandemic and the opportunities we had throughout caused us to adjust the way we do business, but it also helped us catch our breath after the devastation of Hurricane Michael,” Harden said. “You could feel the emphasis on rebuilding our community, and now, coming out of COVID, we’re hitting the ground running.”

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Cox Business Connects and Protects Navigating Cybersecurity in a Digital Landscape

ith many companies migrating to remote work driven by the impact of COVID-19, the current workforce has proven to be adaptable and resilient. Yet, with any vast and sudden change came challenges. Cox Business quickly assessed that such a reliance on digital communication led to increased cybersecurity risks. Cox Business has been working diligently to ensure their customers working digitally are protected and wisely managing threats. Cox Business provides business internet, phone and television alongside security systems and managed cloud services. In the past year, organizations have experienced an increased rate of security threats because the digital landscape has accelerated — what was expected to take place over five years happened in one. Thus, it has become more difficult for IT departments to support the needs of employees. Jared Ruth, with Cox Business, cites that the majority of incidents stem from an opened email that contains an attack. Typically, a hacker sends out emails in hopes that it will be clicked on. Once clicked, the hacker gains access to the network, spending weeks infiltrating the network and making it as complex as possible for the company to recover. This is especially the case in ransomware attacks, which 6 out of 10 companies are likely to suffer. According to Mimecast Threat Center, since the onset of the pandemic, employees are clicking on three times as many malicious emails than before. To put this into perspective, from 2019 to 2020, there has been a 64% rise in threat volume. Fortunately, ransomware attacks can be combatted with education and proper protection in place. While it is impossible

to be aware of every threat, Ruth advises companies to be educated themselves on what’s inside their network, what’s at the perimeter and what’s outside. Identifying a threat starts with educating employees on what they should and shouldn’t be clicking on and helping them to understand and identify the defining qualities of a threat. When working remotely, identity also comes into play when assessing security risks because companies need to ensure the person on the other side of the device is a trusted individual. “The more you have on a device, the more exposed you are,” said Ruth. “You don’t want all of your data on a physical device, because if it’s lost or compromised, that can create a threat. What’s great about a cloud environment is the data isn’t on the device, but you have access to that data at any time, on any device, in any location.” Whether it’s a work desktop or a personal laptop, Ruth advises migrating all services to the cloud because it’s the most secure and protected location that helps meet compliance requirements for an array of companies, from a local clothing store to healthcare industries operating under HIPAA. Looking towards the future of the workforce, there is no turning back as a majority of companies are opting to continue remote work in some capacity, and digital communication is throttling ahead. Instead, companies must invest in their digital security to secure profitable futures. “Cox Business Cloud Solutions is a one-stop shop delivering connectivity and applications then securing them,” said Ruth. “With a reliable reputation and a diverse understanding of many security scenarios, you can trust in our ability to protect you.”

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SAVING OUR SEAS ST E V E R O D E N WO R K S TO S PAW N C O N S E R VAT I O N M OV E M E N T

Steve Roden at his home in Tallahassee. The selfdescribed knowledge entrepreneur, in his new role as co-chairman of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, is working to increase students’ appreciation and knowledge of the world’s marine environments.

BY STEVE BORN HOFT

PHOTO BY DAVE BARFIELD

HIS ASTROLOGICAL SIGN IS PISCES, AND HE GREW UP

in St. Augustine, where he swam and surfed and worked as a lifeguard. Steve Roden moved inland to attend Florida State University, completed undergraduate studies in economics and earned, in 1978, a master’s degree in business administration that helped launch his career as an entrepreneur, consultant and virtual learning pioneer. But he never lost his fondness for the water, fish and fishing. So it is that Connie Harvey had no trouble talking Roden out of the retirement he began when he left what he thought would be his last job as a vice president and general manager for Conduent, a company that offers digital platforms for government and businesses. Harvey had facilitated the acquisition by the Xerox Corporation of LearnSomething, an online learning and knowledge management company that provided solutions to pharmacy and grocery operations. Roden established the company in 2004 and headed it for 13 years. He then worked until his “retirement” for Xerox and for Conduent, which was a divestiture from that parent. Harvey had a Guy that she wanted Roden to meet — her brother-in-law and an internationally well-known artist, scientist and conservationist, as it happens. 850 Business Magazine

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PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE RODEN (HARVEY AND RODEN) AND COCHICCAYMAN.COM/2020/07/08/DIVE-INTO-SHARK-SCHOOL-WITH-JESSICA-HARVEY (WHALE SHARK)

As a product of that meeting, Roden said, “I failed at retirement.” A Tallahassee resident, he is now the CEO of Guy Harvey Enterprises and the co-chairman of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. He is working to establish a global movement aimed at saving marine habitats and the oceans of the world — one that will begin with the young. “We have been working to build out a formal marine science curriculum for middle and high school students in Florida,” Roden said. “That really is a response to the fact that environmental education instruction in the state doesn’t cover the marine environment, even though Florida is surrounded by water.” On this day, he is fresh from a meeting with former state senator Bill Montford, the CEO at the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. “We have made an investment to bring about a very fine marine science curriculum, and some school districts are already piloting it,” Roden said. “People like Sen. Montford can help us with the next step, getting it into broad distribution throughout the state.” When Roden hooked up with Dr. Guy Harvey, he became familiar with the vast wealth of assets that Harvey possessed — videos, articles and papers resulting from decades of scientific research. He immediately recognized their potential as instructional materials. Long before schools turned to online instruction as an alternative to classroom instruction, corporate America did. Large, far-flung entities had a hard time assembling employees in one place for onboarding, compliance training or other tutorials. “So, corporate America moved to the virtual learning world, and I was in the dead center of that,” Roden said. “I created companies that were some of the first to operate in that space.” With Guy Harvey, Roden has enthusiastically moved from the corporate environment to scholastic ones. “I was advised a long time ago not to add anything to teachers’ plates in Florida,” he said. “They are already overflowing, so instead of building something new, we are taking assets from multiple sources and republishing them inside of Florida standards. We are taking marine science and environmental science and making it remarkably better and more engaging.” As a result, students will take virtual field trips with Dr. Guy Harvey’s daughter Jessica as she goes diving with whale sharks. They will visit mangrove environments, witness sea turtles nesting and see the impacts of pollution, climate change and overfishing on the marine world. “All of these things you hear about, but very few people ever get to experience them,” Roden said. “We’ve captured these experiences virtually, and we’re making them available to kids as part of their overall learning. This program would become the tip of the spear to get kids understanding and excited about the ocean and doing something about conservation and improving the future of mankind.”

Jessica Harvey, above, documents an encounter with a whale shark, the largest shark species on the planet. She uses her recorded adventures to virtually introduce students to the underwater world. Steve Roden of Tallahassee, at right in lower photo, and Dr. Guy Harvey are working as heads of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation to instill a conservation ethic in students across Florida and beyond. The mission was compelling enough to tempt Roden out of retirement.

Roden anticipates that schools will supplement virtual lessons with hands-on fieldwork that may include water testing or even shark tagging. “I was an Eagle Scout, and looking back, I think my mom and dad probably worked harder than I did in getting me that honor,” Roden said. “If we have activities in the classroom that the students take home, and they are the kinds of things that mom and dad help them with, then we can advance our goal of spawning a movement of people committed to being good stewards of the marine environment.” Roden and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation are shrewdly going about bringing on strategic partners in that effort. In Northwest Florida, they include Florida State University, Bay County Public Schools, the Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach and the St. Joe Company. Gary Ostrander, once the vice president of research at FSU, is joining Dr. Guy Harvey as the science advisor for the marine education program. “We are very proud of what we are trying to make happen in Florida, but we are also trying to make this thing go worldwide,” Roden said. 850 Business Magazine

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Jessica Harvey obtained footage of a sea turtle for inclusion in her Virtual Expedition notebook, which introduces students to marine environments and the animals and other life forms that inhabit them. Sea turtles evoke an emotional response in children like that triggered by bottlenose dolphins. 54

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIN BRACK (SHARK WEEK) AND GUYHARVEYOUTPOSTBLOG.COM (EXPEDITION NOTEBOOK / TURTLE)

To that end, the foundation has partnered with Discovery Education, an extension of the Discovery Channel. “They are very large and private-equity backed,” Roden said, calling Discovery Education the “800-pound gorilla in virtual learning with 50 million students and 5 million teachers across the world.” That relationship, Roden said, may provide for the dissemination of a full array of classroom assets throughout the Water Planet. “I’m working with people from all over,” said Roden, who described a Facebook live meeting that united him with participants from the California-based Schmidt Ocean Institute, which is doing deep-water coral research in Australia, and people from Greece, Grand Cayman, Boston and South Florida. “We’ve got so much going on, and it is being driven from the 850 region,” Roden said. Roden is a longtime fly-fishing enthusiast who graduated from brown and rainbow trout in freshwater to saltwater bonefish and redfish. In Dubai, he caught queenfish — “They’re like a jack crevalle on steroids,” Roden said — on a fly. At this writing, he was looking forward to a trip to Panama with Dr. Guy Harvey and hoped to add a sailfish to the list. Time spent on the water has given Roden a refined appreciation for what the world stands to lose. He influenced Florida to get out of the shark fin trade. He is concerned about the activities of factory ships that are decimating fish populations to meet the demand for protein in China. He is acutely aware of the effects of nutrient pollution on Florida waters and is repulsed by the huge plastic garbage patches floating atop the Pacific. “I am passionate about ocean conservation,” Roden said. His middle name is Lamar, which when separated into two words, means “the sea” in Spanish.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PA R T N E R S H I P I S WO R K I N G TO B R I N G S E A S TO L I F E F O R ST U D E N T S BY STEVE BORN HOFT

The St. Joe Community Foundation is advancing efforts by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) to ensure that students in Florida are exposed to marine science — in depth. Executive director April Wilkes called the St. Joe Community Foundation’s award of a matching $99,500 grant to GHOF a perfect fit. “Our pillars are environmentalism and education, and of course, we are right on the Gulf of Mexico,” she said. “Plus, the art component that Guy Harvey can bring to this is very cool.” The grant funds will be used to provide Guy Harvey STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) curriculum and professional development workshops to science teachers in Bay County non-charter elementary, middle and high schools — 34 schools in total. In some cases, teachers who are science leads will relay lessons learned to colleagues, but all will receive some direct training. Former state legislator and Panama City mayor Scott Clemons introduced the two foundations to one another. For nine months before she received a grant application, Wilkes monitored the progress that

GHOF was making with its education initiative. She gained an appreciation for the void that GHOF is working to fill. “We quickly discovered a real lack of marine science curriculum in Bay County schools,” Wilkes said. While chapters in biology textbooks may address the subject, there have been no classes devoted entirely to marine science in Bay County. Wilkes has become familiar with the Guy Harvey curriculum pertaining to identifying sharks and to efforts by the Guy Harvey Research Institute to track movements of the apex predators. On a trial basis, two Bay County schools, Breakfast Point Elementary and Northside Elementary, tried on lessons and activities revolving around sharks — they’re not dinosaurs, but they’re close — in 2020–2ı school year, ending with their own Shark Week. Students inspected shark teeth; learned how far-ranging, especially whale sharks, can be; found out how

Erin Brack, the elementary science specialist for Bay District Schools, fascinates students by leading them through a comparative anatomy lesson involving a shark dissection. Brack kid-tested marine science curriculum during “Shark Week” activities at two Bay County elementary schools last spring. 850 Business Magazine

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the age of sharks is determined; and visited the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation website. To add to it all, Erin Brack, the elementary science specialist for Bay District Schools, paraded about in a shark costume. “I’m all in,” Brack said about herself. She credits Deniece Moss, the principal at West Bay Elementary School in Bay County, with introducing her to the idea of transforming classrooms to align with units being studied. “At Breakfast Point, we made it so that when you walked

Erin Brack’s daughter Emery photographed humpback whales engaged in bubble-net feeding off the coast of Alaska. The whales form a net with exhalations from their blowholes, drive prey fish to the surface and chow down. 56

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into the fifth-grade hallway, it was like walking underwater,” Brack said. Walls were decorated with representations of a coral reef. She suspended the bottom of a boat from the ceiling. In her role at Bay District Schools, Brack works with teachers on techniques for delivering hands-on experiential learning. “We go beyond the textbook to get our kids ready for life in general and for the state assessment we take in fifth grade,” said Brack, who focuses most of her attention on schools where the need for her services is greatest. In addition, Brack, who holds a master’s degree in biology from Miami University in Ohio, has written curriculum for GHOF. A friend who was aware of marine research that Brack has done for the Vermillion Sea Institute brought her to the attention of GHOF. Brack spent part of this past summer in Alaska, where she and her daughter Emery witnessed humpback whales engaged in bubble trap feeding, and then made her way to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, where she documented whale shark sightings. The trial Shark Week runs at Breakfast Point and Northside enabled Brack to “kid test” curriculum and presentations before rolling it out more widely. “If something doesn’t work for them, the kids will let you know very quickly,” she said.

A K-5 “Dive Overview,” otherwise known as a lesson plan, specifies instruction on shark anatomy and physiology, marine habitats and marine food webs and prescribes related activities such as:

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIN BRACK (SHARK WEEK AND WHALES) AND GUY HARVEY (MARINE LAB)

TROPHIC PYRAMID JENGA Divide Jenga blocks into the different layers of the trophic pyramid (from primary producers to predators), and color in each block to represent their trophic layer. Now, build a Jenga tower with primary producers at the bottom and predators at the top. One student at a time, select a problem card, read it aloud to the group and remove the piece indicated by the problem card. Discuss the threats that the marine food web faces and how they affect the environment. The teacher development workshops made possible by the St. Joe Community Foundation grant are designed to ensure that teachers are confident and empowered to teach the marine science material and engage students. The grant covers costs for transportation, lunch, dive bags, teaching resources, field trips and travel expenses for a GHOF consultant. The dive bags double as a swag bag and contain Guy Harvey signature items; items supplied by other project partners; classroom activity materials; and gift cards for teachers to use in purchasing curriculum project supplies. Amanda Martin, GHOF’s director of development and operations, said in June that the foundation was at work developing an “Educator Professional Learning Experience” for presentation to middle and high school teachers in Bay County in October. She said seven to nine workshops in total eventually would be developed, including sessions for elementary school faculty. The workshops will entail both classroom instruction and field training designed to prepare teachers to deliver 150 hours of marine science instruction. A limited number of Bay County teachers, those who serve as science leads, will travel to the Guy Harvey Marine Lab in Key Largo for an “immersive” three-day workshop that will include boat trips and a visit to mangrove environments. Those lead teachers will share what they learn with fellow teachers in Bay County. “We want to make their experience fun and unforgettable,” Martin said. “Because, at the end of the day, if teachers are excited about what they are teaching, students are going to be impacted more.” Brack will participate in the train-the-trainer activity in Key Largo by facilitating instruction. She said field training back home would take place at St. Andrews State Park, given the diverse ecosystems it presents, and quite possibly at the National Marine Fisheries Lab in Panama City Beach. Martin said Bay County is the first county in which all science teachers will directly receive some training. “The St. Joe Community Foundation grant made that possible,” Martin said. “We feel blessed and are grateful for their support. The environment will be protected when people are educated to understand its importance.” “I hope it is a continuing relationship,” Wilkes said of the St. Joe Community Foundation/GHOF/Bay District

Students visiting the Guy Harvey Marine Lab in Key Largo, Florida, study marine specimens with the aid of microscopes. In lower photo, a student displays a bottom-dwelling urchin, a member of the Echinoida class of animals.

Schools partnership. “Teachers are changing all the time, and it’s a great program because it focuses on teacher development. I don’t think teachers have enough opportunity for that these days. They are told what to teach, not how to teach it.” Wilkes said the St. Joe Community Foundation is hoping to host a visit by Guy Harvey to Bay County and is working to establish a marine science program in Walton County public schools. 850 Business Magazine

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P RO M OT I O N

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Listed Price: Sale Price: $2,500,000 Lease: $13 sf/year (NNN) Address: 5020 Commerce Park Circle, Pensacola Square Footage: 20,000 Year Built: 1997

Appeal: 5020 Commerce Park Circle offers abundant parking and multiple access points of ingress/egress. The landlord is offering aggressive tenant improvement packages with affordable rents. Contact Information: Stacy Taylor, (850) 972-0156 or Justin Beck, (850) 972-0142 Beck Partners 58

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BECK PARTNERS

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Questions? Contact Rachael Gillette, RGillette@studeri.org Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 850 Business Magazine | FALL 2021 |

FORGOTTEN COAST CORRIDOR

Gulf, Franklin + Wakulla Counties

Like a Time Warp Ferries and a flurry of activity excite Gulf Countians By Lazaro Aleman

fter two-plus decades of dormancy, the port at Port St. Joe is showing signs of revitalization, giving the seaside community hope that the facility may soon return to its former viability and deliver on its economic promise. “There’s been a flurry of activity that hopefully will continue,” Port Authority board chairman Guerry Magidson said in June. “It’s gathered great interest from other

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companies that now see us as a possible outlet for their products.” Magidson was referring to the large boatload of woodchips that the Twin Rivers Company (TRC) had shipped to Honduras in May. Biomass plants in that country power its textile industry. The shipment — the port’s first in 20-plus years — generated headlines across the region, signaling not only the port’s return to business but to international trade. The

CAN’T MISS ’EM Three Staten Island ferries, built by the Eastern Shipbuilding Group at its Allanton yard in Bay County, are being outfitted by the company at its Port St. Joe facility. Jim McKnight, inset photo, is the director of the Gulf County Economic Development Coalition.

Photography by MIKE FENDER

TRC, which has established a wood-chipping yard on the grounds of the former paper mill site, expects the shipments to continue, with the woodchips coming from the innumerable acres of timberland devastated by 20ı8’s Hurricane Michael. The other happening to stir a buzz, Magidson said, was the arrival of two Staten Island ferries at the auxiliary shipyard that the Eastern Shipbuilding Group opened at the port in February. Eastern is building three 4,500-passenger ferries for the City of New York at its Allanton home base in Panama City and outfitting them at its Port St. Joe facility. “You can’t believe the excitement when all of sudden the ferries arrived,” said Jim McKnight, director of the Gulf County Economic Development Coalition. “They were just big and bold! Some people thought they were in a time warp. What is a Staten Island ferry doing here? The news is that Eastern competed nationally and got the contract.” McKnight expounded on the significance of Eastern’s shipyard, noting that when the St. Joe Company closed the paper mill some 20 years ago, the loss of its major employer had crippled the community. “People who were used to making really good money had to take jobs making half of what they made,” McKnight said. “It was catastrophic.” Now, he said, the former paper mill site was alive again with activity. “These are workers who go to lunch every day and spend money,” McKnight said. “And every day that goes by, some more of our folks get employed.” Additionally, he said, the school district initiated a welding program at its two high schools in anticipation of the shipyard opening. “They’ve already graduated two classes of young people with the basic skillsets to work at the shipyard,” McKnight said. “So, we’re helping to create a workforce.” Eastern, moreover, already has a contract to build four Coast Guard offshore patrol cutters, with an expected 20 to be built over a ı5-year period.

“These cutters will be built in Allanton and outfitted here,” McKnight said. “It will mean more job opportunities.” Lastly, McKnight mentioned construction of a floating dry dock, a project still in the planning stage and for which state and federal funding is being sought. “It would be a great asset,” McKnight said. “It would complement the Coast Guard cutter project, allowing other ships to be brought here and repaired.” A major issue that these activities have accentuated, however, is the critical need for deepening of the shipping channel, a longtime goal of the Port Authority. Because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains only active waterways, Port St. Joe’s long inactivity has allowed sedimentation to accumulate in the channel, making it too shallow in places. To dredge it to its ideal 37-foot depth, the Authority is seeking a combined $45 million in local, state and federal funding, with the St. Joe Company to contribute $ı2.5 million in land value. All told, the dredging project is estimated to cost nearly $59 million. Port St. Joe officials are excited about

what they see happening both at the port and their city. “Anything that brings jobs and diversity instead of just service jobs is welcome,” Mayor Rex Buzzett said of the port activities. In terms of the town, Buzzett enumerated the many positives happening, including reconstruction of the city marina and a planned seaside hotel; downtown businesses thriving; some 500 homes going up; tourism booming; and several grant awards for infrastructure upgrades, a new city complex and the rehab of the historic Port Theatre. “It will be the jewel of downtown Port St. Joe when it’s completed,” Buzzett said of the theater. City Manager Jim Anderson agreed that things were looking up. He noted that after Hurricane Michael, the town had lost 400 utility customers, a heavy toll for the small community. “Today, we’re up 200 customers to the good,” Anderson said. “So, bad as the storm was, our little community is recovering.” “There’s definitely a lot going on,” said Buzzett, echoing McKnight. “We’re excited about our future.”

DRY DOCK The increasingly diversified St. Joe Company is building a boat house at the Port St Joe Marina. The company is contributing land valued at $12.5 million as part of a channel dredging project.

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CAPITAL CORRIDOR

Gadsden, Jefferson + Leon Counties

ROAD SALES Former U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd, a fifth-generation cattle rancher, and his wife Jeannie have been hitting the road, selling beef produced by Boyd Farms in Greenville directly to consumers from his refrigerated truck.

Meat and Greet Allen Boyd reconnects with the people he once served By Steve Bornhoft

he sky was starting to spit a little bit, and the farmers market, held at a green space adjoining Scipio Creek in Apalachicola, was shutting down early. Allen Boyd Jr. gathered up some folding furniture, a receipt printer and a cash box and stowed them in a refrigerated truck that was prominent among the few vehicles remaining at the scene. Boyd, a fifth-generation cattle rancher located in Greenville, has begun for the first time to sell cuts of beef directly to the consumer and, in the process, has eliminated several links in a traditional supply chain. On a given day, you might spy his

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truck in Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Panacea, St. George Island, Port St. Joe, Panama City, Crawfordville or Tallahassee. He calls his stops “Meat Ups,” and one suspects that his daughter Suzanne, a broadcast journalist turned public relations agency owner, may have had something to do with that. “I never mean to criticize any retail grocer,” Boyd said. “They buy meat in a supply chain where they can get the quantities they need. But, and most people don’t realize this, when you purchase a piece of meat out of a grocery store, you become the eighth owner of that meat.” Boyd represented Florida’s 2nd Congressional District for ı4 years and

was a state legislator for seven years before that. He has retained the same shock of white hair that made him readily recognizable during his years as an elected official. And, he still wears a blue ball cap emblazoned with a dog, a reminder of the years he spent as a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition while in Congress. It’s been great fun, he said, to reconnect with people from Tallahassee all the way to Panama City while running his meat route. In Boyd’s system, the consumer becomes just the third owner of the beef, after buying it in a face-to-face transaction with “a guy I think I know from somewhere.” “We’ve enjoyed a fantastic reception,” Boyd said. The pandemic dictated the dramatic change in Boyd’s business model by forcing the closure for a time of harvest plants (where cattle are killed) and fabrication houses where carcasses are reduced to steaks, ribs, loins, briskets, ground beef and roasts. Those plants are located primarily in the Midwest, Boyd explained, “because the feed is grown out there and it is cheaper to ship calves to the feed than it is to ship feed to the calves.” Florida is a state given to cow-calf operations, and when the pandemic hit, beef supplies got short, prices went up and Boyd couldn’t sell the calves on his farm. “My wife and children said, ‘Dad, stop fussing about it and do something,’” Boyd admitted. “We put our heads together and figured it out.” Boyd found a state-of-the-art, USDAcertified harvesting/fabrication plant in Florida and became a member of the Florida Cattle Ranchers Association. “We put our calves in with theirs,” Boyd said. “We all feed our cattle the same way, and they go through the same feed lot and harvest plant.” Here is the way Boyd’s three-owner system works …

Photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

■

Boyd puts bulls on cows. Nine

months later, calves happen. ■ Cows nurse their calves, which eventually begin also to graze. ■ W hen the calves are weaned, they are moved to a finishing yard, where a contractor feeds them a high-protein, high-energy ration until they attain finishing weight as cattle. To this point, Boyd has been the cattle’s only owner. Next, he sells them to the harvest/fabrication operation. That business retains byproducts, including hooves, heads and hides, and markets

them and meanwhile sells the butchercase cuts back to Boyd. He then sells them off his roving Meat Up truck. As involved as that may sound, it is less complex than the eight-owner chain that includes the farmer; a pre-conditioning yard; a finishing yard; the harvest plant; the fabrication house; a wholesale distributor; the retailer; and, finally, the consumer. “Our prices are comparable to grocery store prices, but we offer a better product because of its freshness,” Boyd said. He went to his phone and showed me a video of cattle about to be loaded onto a truck for the trip to the harvest plant southeast of Gainesville.

COVID PIVOT A Boyd Farms truck has become a familiar sight at farmers markets throughout a region that Allen Boyd used to represent as a U.S. congressman. Boyd historically has been a seller of calves, but adopted a direct-sales approach after the pandemic slowed beef processing operations in the Midwest. The Florida Cattlemen’s Association helped Boyd find a processor in Florida near Gainesville.

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CAPITAL CORRIDOR

MINDING THE MOBILE STORE Boyd Farms team member Ebony Stone prepares to assist a customer taking advantage of daily specials offered by a seller of calves turned to a seller of cuts.

Getting Beef to Market A traditional industry proves flexible REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH PANDEMIC

protocols, including the social distancing of workers, beef processing operations in the Midwest became less efficient. With workers no longer able to work in close proximity to one another, fewer cattle were processed each day, and the typical flow of beef from farms to restaurants and retailers was obstructed. “Cattle were being held up at the feed lot and not going to slaughter as soon as they reached their finish weight,” said Dusty Holley, field services director at the Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) in Kissimmee. “The effect of that trickles all the way down to ranch operations in our state because there is an oversupply of cattle waiting to be processed.” Throughout, the demand for beef remained high.

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“There was no liquidation of animals,” Holley said. “Our cattle were just kept on feed a little bit longer or staged out differently.” Other ramifications of the pandemic also affected the beef industry. When restaurants were forced to close or operate at limited capacity, processors that were accustomed to preparing 50 percent of their product for food service operations had to shift gears and prepare the lion’s share of their beef for retail sale. The manner in which beef is cut and packaged for retailers differs substantially from how it is processed for restaurants. Uncertainty about the future complicated matters by depressing margins. When it comes to cattle operations, Florida is primarily a cow-calf state. That is, buyers purchase weaned

calves from Florida ranches for finishing elsewhere, a process that consumes eight to 10 months. In March 2020, Holley pointed out, those buyers, no more than anybody else, could not know what the world was going to be like in that length of time. Calf prices fell. Florida ranchers, including former congressman Allen Boyd of Madison County, pivoted away from selling calves, opting instead to find a way to bring them to finishing weight and get them processed in Florida and then sell meat directly to consumers — in Boyd’s case from a traveling refrigerated truck. Boyd credited FCA with helping him to make that change. Holley and Boyd, as it happens, are well acquainted and have service in Washington in common. Holley was at one time a legislative aide and senior policy advisor, working briefly for Tim Mahoney of Florida and then for a North Carolina congressman, Larry Kissell. “Some folks have started doing direct selling recently, and others were already

Photography by SAIGE ROBERTS

PHOTO BY MATT BURKE / ROWLAND PUBLISHING FILE PHOTO (COWS)

“Those cattle were harvested Friday a week ago, and next week I will be marketing that meat,” Boyd said. “And part of that time, the carcass will have been hanging to let it age a little bit.” Boyd, 76, was an Army infantry officer in the Vietnam War. He thought, but not for long, about a military career.

“I realized that what I really wanted to do was come home and farm,” he said. “And when I left public life (he was defeated by Republican Steve Southerland in 20ı0), that was OK. Then, I got to devote more time to the farm.” For years, Boyd favored straight Angus bulls but found at some point that his calves’ weaning weights had plateaued. “With climate change, my wife and I decided that we probably needed to put some Brahman influence in our cattle in North Florida,” Boyd said. They bought Braford bulls, which are a cross between a Hereford (white-faced) bull and a Brahman cow. The Brahman breed, usually associated with South Florida, is known for its heat tolerance. “We bought those (hybrid) bulls, and that’s really worked,” said Boyd, who has retained the same fascination for animal husbandry that he had as a 4-H kid who raised rabbits and chickens and had his own steer. “It’s upped our weaning weights significantly.”

doing it and maybe made it a bigger part of their business if they saw it as an opportunity to grow,” Holley said. Commerce, even if in new ways, carried on, and animal husbandry and

“NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE MAKING OUR FIRST TEST SHIPMENTS. I AM SURE IT WILL GO WELL, BUT SHIPPING FRESH BEEF HAS ITS OWN TRICKS.” ALLEN BOYD JR. Boyd said he thinks he is in the directto-consumer approach for the long haul, but the refrigerated truck may be retired. “My children want to move to shipping rather than running product out of the back of a truck,” he said in mid-June. “Next week, we will be making our first test shipments. I am sure it will go well, but shipping fresh beef has its own tricks.” Off the truck, I bought a strip steak and a bottle of habanero hot sauce. Good stuff, I can attest. Boyd and I had promised each other we wouldn’t go there, but our conversation drifted into the political realm. “When I first came to Congress after the ı996 election, there were about ı5 or ı8 of us in the Blue Dog Coalition — Republicans

day-to-day ranch operations went on as usual. “We are starting to see prices get back to pre-pandemic levels,” Holley said in early July. “They’re on the upswing.”

and Democrats — and we grew it to over 50 and then in 20ı0 after the Tea Party movement took hold, most of the ones who went out (Boyd included) were moderates. “When you get a national wind, the people who lose are the centrists. Not the folks that are crazy left or crazy right. They are in districts that have been gerrymandered so that they can’t lose. But the moderate is always in play.” We talked about the death of bipartisanship and could have gone on for a while that way, but we were interrupted by a gravelly voiced fellow in a noisy pickup truck. “You the guy I hear about on the radio?” he barked. “Yessir.” “How much for a ribeye?”

FCA, established in 1934, is a statewide, nonprofit organization focused on promoting and protecting the ability of its members to produce and market their products. Florida’s cattle industry is one of the 15 largest in the United States. “Florida’s cattlemen are dedicated to the preservation of Florida’s green ranch land,” FCA notes on its website. “As a large industry within the state, cattle ranchers significantly support Florida’s interstate economy and provide jobs as well as beef. The cattle industry supports a vast network of associated businesses. These allies include feed companies, heavy machinery corporations and fertilizer manufacturers.” While cattle operations are a traditional activity in Florida, they can’t afford to stand still. With a nod toward Boyd’s plan to expand his direct-to-consumer operation to include shipping online orders to consumers, Holley said simply, “Our industry is changing every day.” — Steve Bornhoft

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EMERALD COAST CORRIDOR

Coastal Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa + Walton Counties

The Gulf Rush Real estate sales hit historic levels on the Emerald Coast

he Florida Panhandle’s Emerald Coast is, well, a gem. With impossibly clear, blue-green waters, white sugary beaches and glorious sunsets, this area is a treasure, and people are rushing to claim their little piece of it. Much like the Gold Rush in the midı800s, people are coming from all over to this stretch of coastline, seeking to enrich their lives — not just monetarily, but with less commuting, less taxes, more beauty, more peace and, especially following the pandemic, more freedom. New homes in the northwest part of the Florida Panhandle are as sought after as gold 200 years ago and can be almost as hard to find.

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“20ı9 was our biggest year ever with $5.9 billion in residential sales,” said Keith Dean, CEO of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors (ECAR), which covers Okaloosa, Walton and parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Bay counties. “Even with the pandemic and everything shut down for the whole month of April, we still did $8.4 billion in 2020.” He said by mid-May 202ı they were already at $4.5 billion and on track for a $9 billion year. “Everything is happening so fast,” he said. “It’s unbelievable to see.” The neighboring Realtors association is seeing equal activity. According to the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors (CPAR), which is the multiple listing service

for five counties in the Florida Panhandle — Bay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington — the residential sales volume as of June 7 was $ı.99 billion. Sales for June were already up 60.8 percent over last year with three weeks left in the month. Figures for March showed closed sales of residential property in just Bay County were $255 million, an increase of ı00.8 percent over March 2020, which was up nearly 5 percent from the year before. Residential listings are on the market an average of only 2ı days. Many of the homes are sold as soon as they are listed. CPAR President Amanda Corbin said, “People are putting the offers in before they come to town because by the time they can drive here or fly here, the property’s gone.

Photography by MICHEAL BOOINI

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH DEAN

By Karen Murphy

HOME BEACH HOME A number of factors have brought about an Emerald Coast real estate market too hot for people to touch. Texans and Californians are exiting those states in droves, and Midwesterners newly accustomed to working remotely are migrating south to Florida.

So, I recommend to all my people to put the offer in and then come because, if they don’t do that, they’ve lost it before they could ever even get in the car.” She said a buyer put in an offer more than $5,000 over the asking price on a home as soon as it came on the market. By the time the Realtor got the offer written up and submitted to the seller, they had already sold the property for way above the asking price. That Realtor’s buyer wasn’t even in the running. Dean said this buying frenzy is different than those during past real estate bubbles. “Before buyers were very speculative — buying property, hoping they would flip it for a nice profit in a matter of months,” he said. “But what we’re seeing now is people buying primary residences. They’re selling their other home and moving here. Homes are selling for well above asking price within 24 hours.” CPAR CEO Debbie Ashbrook said this strong demand is due to several factors. Interest rates are very low and will remain low. And, even though prices in the Panhandle are going up, homes are still priced at a good price point compared to a lot of other beach areas. Panhandle residents devastated by Hurricane Michael a few years ago are just now receiving their insurance money and are looking for new, larger homes. Also, because of Hurricane Michael, Tyndall AFB is rebuilding and growing, which increases demand for new homes even more.

The Florida Panhandle is rated the top location for vacation investment by several rating groups. Ashbrook said the area’s ability to attract tourists draws real estate investment dollars in addition to tourism dollars. She said with the pandemic, people realized they can work remotely and are coming from across the country to live and work at the beach. Ashbrook said the pandemic also created a demand for smaller towns and rural areas. “Because they can work remotely, we get a lot of people moving here from states like New York and California. I’m not meaning to bring politics into it, but I think because

“WHAT WE’RE SEEING NOW IS PEOPLE BUYING PRIMARY RESIDENCES. THEY’RE SELLING THEIR OTHER HOME AND MOVING HERE. HOMES ARE SELLING FOR WELL ABOVE ASKING PRICE WITHIN 24 HOURS.” KEITH DEAN 850 Business Magazine

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EMERALD COAST CORRIDOR

are inventory; their issue is labor and materials. The only thing slowing down building in this area is the availability of labor and materials.” The Realtors said low inventory has played a large role in the inflated prices but believe once there is more inventory and more competition, it should level off. But Dean does not expect demand to drop much at all. “They’re peeling out of the big cities. We’ve got people from New York, tons of people from Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, all over everywhere — all are moving to this area because, you know, it’s taxes, it’s a beautiful beach and the prices even though they’re much higher than they’ve ever been, they’re still relatively low compared to some areas,” he said. “People can live where they want to live, and they want to live here.”

PHOTO BY MICHAEL BOOINI

we have a governor who’s opened our state back up, I guess you could say, they’re coming here because of his leadership in the state,” she said. Driving up prices even further is a lack of inventory. In Bay County, there are only 630 homes on the market. That’s down 7ı.ı percent from the year before. Dean said the only reason ECAR may not hit $9 million in sales this year is inventory. He added not only was the inventory very low, but affordable housing was even more scarce. He said he believed there were only three houses in South Walton that were under a half-million dollars. Builders are trying to keep up with demand but are being slowed by a lack of building materials. The increased costs of those supplies are also driving up costs. Dean said, “Builders are just as busy as our Realtors are. Our issues

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

Successful relationships between business professionals and their clients rely upon trust. But trust, as is often said, must be earned. We expect professionals in fields including health care, banking, insurance, real estate and even travel to be competent and to extend toward us active goodwill. As evidence of their trustworthiness, we look for professionals who are courteous, experienced, reliable and passionate about what they do. In this special advertising section of 850 Business Magazine, we present Northwest Florida professionals who are prepared to meet and exceed your expectations.

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

PHOENIX COATINGS

GEORGE ATCHISON What services do you provide? We are a structural restoration company that offers two modes of operation — non-catastrophe restorations and post-catastrophe restorations. For non-catastrophe, we limit our scope to the exterior, which includes anything structural, from the roof to the foundation. For post-catastrophe, we often hire subcontractors to cover the entire building, from interior to exterior work. What sets your company apart? The people, without a doubt. Many of the employees in management, administration and fieldwork have been with the company since its beginning in 1988. That kind of longevity often makes other companies envious because I can ensure the quality of each job will be reliable and held to the same high standard. How did you get into this business? I am a third-generation construction worker, and after spending some time in the Marine Corps, I returned back to my roots. My wife Louise and I have remained the owners for over three decades. What is your company’s mission? To be the area’s leading contractor for concrete rehabilitation, waterproofing and building reconstruction services. To maintain our leadership edge by providing

excellence in products and services and by anticipating the future needs of our clients. To be fiscally responsible in the management of our company. How do you define success? Getting up every day and going to work, whether I feel bad or good, whether things are going wrong or well. It is all about perseverance. Calvin Coolidge said of all the traits in the world, one that is never wasted is perseverance. If you have perseverance, you can overcome anything.

What do you hope people experience from working with your company? A respect for work ethic. If we can impart a strong work ethic into our younger generations, then they will be better business people, fathers, mothers and citizens. What impact do you hope to make within your community? I hope my legacy will be that I was fair. Whether I am working with an employee, a community member or a client, they should be treated with fairness and respect.

900 Industrial Court, Pensacola | (850) 857-4740 | PhoenixPensacola.com 70

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COLDWELL BANKER HARTUNG: YOUR REALTOR FOR LIFE

ince we opened our Tallahassee office in 1979, our mission has never wavered. Each day, our agents help clients find “home.” Whether selling or buying, the sense of home is one of the most important things in our lives. It’s the place we long for at the end of the day — the place that holds all that we love and everything we cherish. It is our goal to bring the joy of home to every one of our clients with unrivaled expertise, passion and energy. Coldwell Banker Hartung is a full-service real estate company

specializing in residential and commercial real estate throughout North Florida and South Georgia for over 40 years. We operate with only full-time agents. This provides our company with highly experienced agents who are both committed to their career and helping our customers, whether it is selling their property or finding them a place to call their own. Our partnership with the Coldwell Banker brand gives our brokerage a national platform, which helps attract high-quality agents, clients and customers.

We hold integrity to the highest standard at Coldwell Banker Hartung. This was one of the founding principles when Coldwell Banker began 115 years ago, and it still holds true today. Our success is due to doing the right thing for our clients all the time and every time. We want to make sure that you know we are here for you. Our relationship continues long after we walk away from the closing table. If you have questions about your home during this time, call your Coldwell Banker Hartung agent. We are your realtor for life.

Coldwell Banker Hartung | 3303 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee (850) 386-6160 | cbhartung.com 850 Business Magazine

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

What do you love most about what you do? Although we offer design/build services, where we are responsible for designing, permitting, and construction, we absolutely love the actual construction portion of a project. This process entails taking a vacant parcel or dilapidated building and improving it to meet our client’s objectives.

Richard Dodd (R) with his partners John Meyer and Dalton Parker

RELIANTSOUTH CONSTRUCTION GROUP RICHARD DODD, P.E. — PRESIDENT What services does your company provide? We are a commercial general contractor and construction manager that builds projects ranging from a $36 million school to $250,000 restaurant remodels. Although licensed in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, we predominantly operate between Tallahassee and Pensacola, with offices in Panama City and Miramar Beach. Three words that best describe your firm? Solutions – Values – Trust. Being a customer-service business that happens to excel at construction, we pride ourselves on being a trustworthy solution

provider that adds tremendous value to the process. What sets your company apart? A lot of our work is for repeat customers since they appreciate our reputation for building quality projects on time and economically. Faith is a pillar in our company; as such, we’re called to always do the right thing. We believe construction and life go much smoother when you’re blessed with a servant’s heart and treat people like you want to be treated. All these processes contribute to our success and distinguish us from other construction companies.

What advice would you offer about success? To keep your eye on the bigger picture; work, grow, and strive for success in every facet of your life. For example, we expect our teammates to be exceptional builders in addition to being great parents, spouses, and role models who are deeply invested in their community. What lessons did you learn from recent hardships? Within the past three years, we have overcome a Category 5 hurricane, the third most powerful storm to ever hit the U.S., and are currently navigating through a global pandemic. Our greatest takeaway from both is: perspective. Life is truly a gift, but sadly we sometimes take things for granted. Perspective makes you appreciate the little things.

230 W. 5th St., Panama City | (850) 215-5540 | ReliantSouth.com 72

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From left to right: Kristi Holland, Service Specialist (Killearn); Alex Gonzalez, Service Center Manager (Governor’s Crossing); Traci Poucher, Regional Manager; Kendalyn Gordon, Service Center Manager (Mahan).

CAMPUS USA CREDIT UNION

AMPUS USA Credit Union is a people helping people type of business. As a not-for-profit cooperative, they are owned by their members to best serve the interests of their members. With 18 service centers in North Central Florida, they serve over 100,000 memberowners as a full-service financial cooperative offering a multitude of consumer and business services — such as checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, investment services and more. Their shared vision is to empower their employees to make a positive difference in the financial lives of their members and in the communities they serve.

What sets your business apart? At CAMPUS, you’re not just a member — you own the place. Profits are returned to member-owners in the form of no- and low-fee financial services and best-of-market rates on deposits and loans. Since our members own CAMPUS, we can never be bought, nor can we merge with another institution without our members’ approval. What impact do you hope to make on the community? We want to be seen as a committed partner in the communities we serve. CAMPUS invests hundreds of thousands of dollars every year — these funds are donated directly to local organizations that impact the community in a positive way.

What do you hope customers gain from interacting with your company? Most members are surprised that when they bank with us, it feels more like being a part of a big family rather than just “banking.” We hope our members always call us first when making big financial decisions — that’s why we’re here. Most people don’t know this but … CAMPUS started like many small businesses — by a group of people who wanted to make a difference. The Credit Union started with nine members who each bought a $5 share account, which is the same price as a “share” today when a member opens an account.

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE

his fall semester, Northwest Florida State College will soar to new heights with the addition of the Aviation Center of Excellence at the Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview, Florida. With the aviation industry thriving and everexpanding from Panama City Beach to Pensacola, the college decided an aviation program would benefit students, the community and the local economy. The aviation department will begin by offering the following programs — unmanned vehicle systems operations, professional pilot technology and aviation airframe mechanics, and an aviation mechanics power plant program to follow the next year. “As the aviation field continues to progress in this region, the demand

for airframe and powerplant mechanics grows,” said Dr. Michael Erny, Dean of Career Education with Northwest Florida State College. “These programs will create a trained workforce with the skills needed for these high-wage and in-demand careers.” The programs are geared toward preparing students to pass the FAA airframe and powerplant mechanics exams, allowing them to receive licensure to work on aircraft that range from small private planes to large commercial jets. Once licensed, students become professionals in everything from aircraft repair to building and manufacturing new planes. Even from the conceptual stage, the program has received tremendous support and positive reception from local businesses that have provided

curriculum input and planning assistance with the hopes of hiring graduates. Dr. Erny expressed just how important input from aviation experts is to shaping the future of students. Aviation is a fast-moving and growing industry. There is a great need to have skilled personnel to maintain and fly aircraft and to ensure the air transportation system runs smoothly on a global scale. Over the next 10 years, air travel traffic is expected to increase by 4% with the addition of 2.1 million jobs in operational fields, according the 2020 Boeing Commercial Market Outlook. “Our primary goal is preparing students for success, and we do so by offering quality curriculum and relevant aviation industry certifications. We make a difference in student’s lives so they can make a difference within the community.”

100 E. College Blvd., Niceville | (850) 678-5111 | NWFSC.edu 74

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INTELLICHOICE BUILDERS, LLC JUAN GONZALEZ AND ROBERT YANCHIS, OWNERS

s technology has become infused in almost every aspect of life, many of us have gravitated toward smart homes. Ever on the cutting edge, Intellichoice Builders, LLC has believed in building smarter by integrating technology into construction since their inception in 2017. Intellichoice Builders is a general contractor that specializes in new constructions and remodels of both residential and commercial buildings. Their custom construction work can be seen throughout Bay, Gulf and Walton counties. With over 40 years of combined experience, the team knows the value of traditional construction work while also investing in the future by educating themselves on the

newest technology products, building materials and methods. “Our big focus is individualized projects that are catered and customized to the client’s needs and desires,” said Robert Yanchis, owner of Intellichoice Builders. “None of our buildings are cookie cutter, and we try not to do the same thing twice.” Clients are highly receptive to this personalized approach because they are assured their build is a one-ofa-kind. In the process of a design build, the team sits down with the client and listens to their wants in order to use 3D design software to accurately depict the project. From this assessment, the team can educate clients on the technology options that are best suited for them.

The Intellichoice team enjoys helping clients find the proper building materials to construct their home and then the interior technology to bring ease into your home or business. The owners credit their associates level of professionalism and quality work for the company’s success. The employees care not only about the tangible end product but also the relationships that they form with each client throughout the process. “We want each client to have nothing but a pleasant experience when hiring us,” said Mr. Yanchis. “There are so many great people in this region, and we want to continue to build our reputation and serve the community by becoming a pillar and the go-to name in construction.”

Serving Bay, Gulf and Walton counties | (850) 427-2727 | IntellichoiceBuilders.com 850 Business Magazine

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

ADVANCED FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES DANA SUDHEIMER

locally owned family business, Advanced Fire Protection Services was founded in 1989 by Mike and Linda Brown with the vision of becoming the most respected life-safety company in the Southeast. Now 30 years later, their daughter, Dana Sudheimer, serves as president and is continuing their legacy. “I grew up watching my parents build AFPS into the well-respected company that it is today, so it was natural for me to join the business. They built a legacy that I want to sustain across generations,” Dana said. After graduating from the University of Florida and working in marketing for a few years, Dana made her way back to Fort Walton Beach and the family business. Since taking over daily operations in

2018, she has been keenly focused on growth while also maintaining the quality of work AFPS has become known for. Under her leadership, AFPS has continued to expand and diversify services, opening a third office in Tallahassee in 2020. What started as a fire extinguisher service provider in 1989 has now become the trusted life-safety partner for some of the largest condos, apartment complexes, restaurants, retail establishments, industrial and health care facilities in Northwest Florida. “Our family culture and customercentered approach to business has been key to our success,” Dana says, “and maintaining those values is very important to me.”

37 Tupelo Ave. SE, Fort Walton Beach | (850) 244-2026 | WeSaveLives.com

EMERALD COAST COMPOUNDING PHARMACY REGINA K. JAQUESS, PHARM.D. Tell us about your background. I received my doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2009. I have received post-graduate training in pharmaceutical compounding, which is my passion. I am a member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and a member of Professional Compounding Center of America (PCCA). What is your business philosophy? When it comes to patient health care, I believe there should be a connection between patient, physician and pharmacist. At Emerald Coast Compounding Pharmacy (ECCP), we strive to develop a comprehensive plan to improve each patient’s overall health and quality of life. Our connection with

our clients has earned us for the past five years (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016) the “Best of the Emerald Coast” award for “Best Pharmacy.” What services does your company offer? At ECCP we formulate your prescriptions to meet your individual needs. Our facility addresses a range of medical concerns including: anti-aging, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, dental, dermatology, gastroenterology, infertility, pain management, pediatric, podiatry, sports medicine and veterinary. What about your interests outside of work? I am currently a USA Water Ski team member, 10 time World

Champion and 13 time World Record Holder in both Slalom and Overall. I am also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), West Florida Chapter.

1719 S. Co Hwy 393, Santa Rosa Beach | (850) 622-5800 | ECCPharmacy.com 76

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BUSINESS NEWS

SOUNDBYTES

CAPITAL

LOCAL HAPPENINGS

» Stearns Weaver Miller introduced four new employees to its team. Christopher R. Clark is an associate in the Litigation Department. He represents clients in trust and estates litigation, government and administrative litigation, and commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court. Douglas L. Kilby is a seasoned litigator with over 30 years of industry experience, including as a Florida senior assistant attorney general in the Economic Crimes (Antitrust) Division. He focuses his practice on class action, antitrust, business litigation and government investigations, particularly matters involving the Attorney General’s office. Robert J. Walters is an associate in the Government & Administrative group. His practice focuses on administrative litigation, civil litigation, appeals and Florida administrative law, including regulatory compliance, licensure, administrative complaints and disciplinary proceedings, as well as election law, election compliance and nonprofit association formation, compliance and management. Jennifer E. Hyde serves as an in-house Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst for the firm, with over 20 years of industry experience in the private and public sectors. She supports all practice areas through comprehensive GIS analysis, data modeling, high-quality map exhibits, data conversion and manipulation, research/forensic mapping and web mapping. » Capital City Home Loans welcomes Jay Ralstin as branch manager for their Tallahassee office. RALSTIN Ralstin is a leader in the mortgage industry and a past president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Florida. In a complex and changing industry, he makes it his mission to guide his clients through the process and help them become confident, successful homebuyers.

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» Vistage Florida welcomed Becky Tolnay as chair. Vistage Florida is a group of CEOs and business leaders in the Tallahassee area. Tolnay has 30 years of experience with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and 25 years of experience in leading continuous improvement strategies. As a Vistage Florida Chair, Tolnay will serve as a mentor to group members, will facilitate group meetings, and meet one-on-one with each member to surface issues, solve problems and foster accountability in enabling them to live their highest and best lives. Vistage Florida provides a forum where business leaders can confidentially discuss issues that they face both in the office and at home. » Tallahassee Community College named Steven Outlaw as its next executive director of the OUTLAW Florida Public Safety Institute (FPSI). Outlaw has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement. He recently retired from the Tallahassee Police Department where he served as the interim chief of police. As interim chief, Outlaw directed all facets of police operations of the largest, full-service policing organization in the region by maintaining a budget, overseeing hundreds of sworn members and building community relationships. » Two students were recognized

by Bank of America as 2021 Tallahassee Student Leaders. They participated in a paid, seven-week summer internship conducting data/ analytics research with the Second Harvest of the Big Bend to further their mission of addressing the urgent problem of hunger across 11 counties of the Big Bend. Ishrit Gupta, a junior at James Rickards High School, is the lead tutor for Roseland Public Speaking and Debate and teaches public speaking, debate and other classes to 140+ students. He has started a fundraising program called BIKE 100. He bicycles

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miles in response to pledges with proceeds going to food banks. Benjamin May, a junior at Leon High School, does volunteer work in connection with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides walk. He also participates in the Florida Junior Classical League, a regional group focused on classical history/languages, mythology and Latin, and is secretary for his Latin program.

LOCAL HONORS

» The 16th annual Best & Brightest Awards Ceremony took place at the Leon County School’s Aquilina Howell Building and awarded scholarships to deserving high school graduates based on their leadership skills, academic accomplishments and community-service involvement. This year, 161 seniors were carefully selected from local public and private high schools to be finalists in each of 15 categories. From the finalists, three are chosen to be winners in each category, resulting in 45 winners. See wcsleon.com for a full list of this year’s winners. » The Florida Banker’s Association presented awards to a select group of deserving bankers at its 132nd annual meeting. The lifetime achievement award was presented to Kim Davis, CFO of Capital City Bank, who was joined by retired Valley National Bank president and chief banking officer Rudy Schupp, with whom he co-chaired the FBA in 1998. The winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2011, is determined by the FBA Executive Committee and presented on a periodic basis to an individual or individuals who have dedicated their professional lives to the banking industry and who have had a significant impact on the Florida banking industry. Davis and Schupp served as FBA co-chairs in 1998, the first year after the FBA merged with the Community Bankers of Florida. » Thomas Howell Ferguson, P.A., CPAs, a professional accounting, assurance, tax

and government consulting services firm, headquartered in Tallahassee, won the Working Well 12-week weight loss Jackpot Challenge through Healthy Wage. Working Well is a notfor-profit organization whose mission is to provide resources, information, education and events to improve the well-being of the community’s workforce. Working Well, Inc., partnered with Healthy Wage to provide a 12-week weight loss Jackpot Challenge. Fifteen teams of four to nine members signed up for the challenge with the goal of losing 6% body weight overall as a team. THF was the only team to complete the challenge losing a total of 6.27%. The members of the THF team, Let’s Get Fiscal, were Megan Townsend, Matt Walker, Lindsey Gregory, Jimmy Kropelin, Madeline Ruttenbur, Bridgette Sanchez and Phillip Bealor.

NEW & NOTABLE

» Downtown Tallahassee is home to the new AC Hotel Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol. The 150-room hotel is located in the heart of popular Cascades Park. The one-, two- and three-bedroom suite options feature contemporary designs with luxury amenities. The property includes the AC Lounge and AC Kitchen offering European-inspired food and beverage options, 5,500 square feet of meeting space and a fitness center. » REI Co-op, a specialty outdoor retailer, opened a new store in Tallahassee at Market Square. The co-op offers a wide assortment of apparel, gear and expertise for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling and more. The store also offers a full-service bike shop. As a member-owned co-op, REI shares annual profits with its members and invests in the local communities where they reside and recreate. The co-op will support nonprofits in the local outdoor community. » Tallahassee Lenders’ Consortium, Inc. (TLC) held a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for its inaugural Community Land Trust (CLT) home in the Tallahassee

Highlands Neighborhood. The City of Tallahassee and Leon County Government established the CLT to develop and preserve affordable housing, as recommended by the adhoc Tallahassee-Leon County Affordable Housing Workgroup. The purpose of the CLT is to promote homeownership by acquiring and/or developing affordable single-family and multi-family housing for qualified residents.

EMERALD COAST LOCAL HAPPENINGS

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY INDIVIDUALS

» Christen COWGILL Cowgill of Destin has been named to the board of the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC). Cowgill is the director of events at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach and has worked with community events such as the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and the 30A Songwriters Festival. Also, Cowgill is co-leader of Shoreline Church’s Sisterhood and, in that role, helps people grow, learn and reach their goals. She is an active member of Business Empowered and the Florida Public Relations Association. ECCAC CEO Julie Porterfield said, “With her all-around experience and passion dealing with people and life in general, Christen will certainly be an asset to our efforts and the children we serve.” » Zachary Seabolt has joined the Santa Rosa Beach office of Progress Financial Services, the wealth management SEABOLT division of Progress Bank, as a financial advisor. Originally from the Atlanta area, Seabolt graduated from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He spent nine years with Merrill Lynch/ Bank of America in Jacksonville before relocating to Destin. Seabolt is a chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), who holds a number of security registrations as well as his Florida Insurance license.

» Heartland BancCorp, parent company of Heartland Bank, has announced the establishment of a Northwest Florida regional loan and deposit production office led by Ashley Vannoy, senior vice president. The addition of the Destin market is part of a focus on strategic growth for the bank. “Our new Loan and Deposit Production Office in Destin is a fantastic opportunity to enter a business-friendly growth market. Fortunately, we have a community banker in Ashley Vannoy with roots in the area to carry out our mission and share our commitment to value,” said G. Scott McComb, chairman, president and CEO. Vannoy brings over 30 years of banking experience and expertise in financial analysis, client management and customer service in the Northwest Florida market to the Heartland team. » Acentria Insurance has

welcomed a new employee benefits agent, Mike Carraway, to its Destin office. Carraway joins Acentria Insurance as a vice president of employee benefits with over 33 years of industry experience. He specializes in employee benefit insurance solutions for employers throughout Florida and the Southeastern United States. As a licensed agent and Life Underwriter Train Council Fellow (LUTCF), Carraway understands and assists employers through the myriad of laws around ACA, ERISA, COBRA and AARP compliance.

» ServisFirst Bank’s parent company, ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. recently announced that it is transferring the listing of its common stock to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) from The NASDAQ Global Select Market. ServisFirst Bank is a full-service commercial bank in Pensacola focused on commercial banking, correspondent banking, cash management, private banking and the professional consumer market, emphasizing competitive products, state-of-the-art technology and a focus on quality service.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida (BBBSNWFL) recognized Navarre Big Sister Samantha Mortimer with Santa Rosa County’s Big of the Year award. She is a member service representative at Eglin Credit Union in Mary Esther. Every year, in each county that BBBSNWFL serves, a Big who has made a significant influence on the emotional growth and development of their Little is presented with the Big of the Year Award. Mortimer has provided mentorship and friendship to her Little Sister Kamilla for over two years. Together, they spend time cooking, baking, going to workshops, attending the ballet and having tea parties.

» Several new additions have been made to the management team at the Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club. Zach Phillips will be taking over as the new director of golf and managing the operations at the club. Carter Murchison, former director of golf, has moved to PGA director of instruction. With a new trackman system in place and enhancements being made to the teaching building, it will provide for the ultimate experience for individuals seeking to learn golf for the first time or simply wanting to step up their game. Other additions to the team include Dan Drake, the new food and beverage director, and Jessica Clark, the new director of member experience. Drake will be responsible for ensuring the award-winning team at Vue on 30A continues to bring excellent culinary services to club members and guests, fostering the restaurant’s growing success. He will oversee all aspects of the club’s food and beverage planning to include cost management, inventory, preparation and presentations among other items. Clark’s role will focus on member benefits, including social events, member communication and marketing. “We are building my dream team,” said Michael Bickett, general manager for Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club. “Each person

and each role they play is crucial to the membership experience at Santa Rosa.”

LOCAL HONORS

» Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida (BBBSNWFL) presented Big Sister Cindy Kahl with the Okaloosa County Big of the Year Award. Kahl and her Little Sister Gaby have been matched for two years. Kahl, having been a mentor in the past, decided to become a Big Sister because she wanted to support local children in need and make a positive one-to-one impact.

KAHL

» Walton County resident Bill Fletcher was recognized as the second annual Zeke Bratkowski Advocate Award winner by the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) at

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SOUNDBYTES

PORTER AND FLETCHER

their signature gala. Fletcher has served on the board for many years, serving as president twice. He spent 23 years in coal ash management and was the president and CEO of JTM Industries in Kennesaw, Georgia, one of the largest companies in the country dealing in coal combustion by-products. Since 1998, he has resided in Walton County and worked in the building industry until 2009. In addition to being active on the ECCAC board for years, he

is also active in other areas in the community. They include being a board member of the Kiwanis Club in Freeport, the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, a citizen volunteer for the Walton County Sheriff’s Department, member of the Institute for Senior Professionals at Northwest Florida State College, and a volunteer for Alaqua Animal Refuge. He is currently chairman of the Walton County Republican Executive Committee (WCREC) after serving several years as state committeeman.

» Five local charitable or nonprofit organizations received grants from the Gulf Power Foundation, totaling nearly $53,000 to support communities throughout Northwest Florida. Each quarter, the Gulf Power Foundation accepts grant applications from charitable and nonprofit organizations across Northwest Florida. The most

recent quarterly grant recipients are: Audubon Florida, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Goodwill Industries of the Gulf Coast, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, Northwest Florida State College and St. Andrew Christian Care Center.

» The Gulf Power Foundation gave $210,000 to the HSU Educational Foundation’s new HSU Innovation Institute North campus located in Crestview at the Northwest Florida State College campus. The investment will help the HSU Foundation expand its Sparks Scholars program, an afterschool, weekend and summer youth training program reaching out to over 1,400 students to help “spark” their interest in STEM education through hands-on experiential activities learning about robotics, cybersecurity, energy, aviation and coding.

Guy Harvey’s at Tropic Star Lodge

Twenty-five anglers each trip will have the opportunity to join Guy and Jessica Harvey on a 5 day/5 night VIP experience at the world-famous Tropic Star Lodge in Piñas Bay, Panama.

For more information and available expedition dates, contact browland@GuyHarvey.com 80

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NEW & NOTABLE

» The fiscal year 2021–22 state budget includes $650,000 in funding for the extension and widening of a runway at the DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport. The additional length will enable larger planes to fly into DeFuniak Springs increasing passenger volume at the airport and expanding economic growth.

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LOCAL HAPPENINGS

» Mark Smith has been selected as the interim chief of the Panama City Police Department, replacing outgoing chief Scott Ervin. Smith is a 17-year veteran of the Panama City Police Department who served as the deputy chief of operations. Smith obtained his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and is currently working on his master’s degree in law enforcement intelligence. — COMPILED BY REBECCA PADGETT FRETT

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The Last Word

A Distinctly Human Feature Trustfulness allows commerce and conversation to proceed In 2005, the novelist David Foster Wallace delivered a commencement address at Kenyon College, a small Ohio school with tall admission standards. The speech subsequently was published in book form and has come to be for freshly minted college graduates much as Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go is for high school grads.

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Trust survives, even thrives, unseen and sufficient to allow commerce to proceed. Meanwhile, however, we have seen trust in institutions, including government and the press, drop off precipitously. According to the pollster Gallup, 75% of Americans said in 1964 that they trusted the federal government. What do you think that figure is today? Nope, lower. According to Gallup, only 40 percent of U.S. adults today have a “great deal” (9%) or a “fair amount” (31%) of trust and confidence in the media to “fully, accurately and fairly report the news.” In the 1970s, trust ranged between 68% and 72%. What’s going on? Tr u s t d e c l i n e s w h e n g e n u i n e engagement falls off. Politicians don’t engage with voters as they once did. Too many do not pledge fealty to ideals, ideas, the Constitution or constituents but to bombastic pretenders. The media, to a great extent, deliver all the news that’s fit to print — so long as it aligns with corporate philosophies, goals, advertisers and targeted niche audiences. Interaction between reporters and sources tends to be superficial and guarded. Under today’s circumstances — and, mind you, I started writing and reporting in the halcyon days of 72% trust — I make sure to take a conversational approach to interviews and begin by making it clear to sources that I have taken time to research them, their passions and what they do. From there, I proceed without a prepared set of questions, preferring instead to let the conversation take its own course, like water released from an impoundment. Recently, I interviewed the poet, FSU professor and amputee Jillian Weise,

one of whose legs is computerized and surveys the surfaces she traverses, preventing her from falling. Amazing. We found ourselves talking about efforts to destigmatize or soften the word “disabled” by employing alternatives. I had referred to “people living with disabilities.” “If I may,” said Jillian, “I don’t like ‘with’ language. I have no problem referring to myself as a disabled poet or a disabled professor.” “Sure, I see what you are saying,” I said. “As someone in his 60s, I would not refer to myself as a ‘writer with years.’ ” “Yes!” Jillian laughed. “I am so glad we are collaborating.” And, silently, I recognized that collaboration results from trust. In a story for today’s magazine, Matt Thompson, the managing partner of For the Table hospitality in Tallahassee, commented to writer Riley O’Bryant about how personal food is to people, how restaurants have but one chance to do it right. Interviews in which a person is asked to share of himself and trust that a writer will “accurately and fairly” report the conversation are even more personal. Thank you, Dr. Weise, for using that word, “collaborate.” Perfect. Two heads are better than one. Believe you me,

STEVE BORNHOFT, EDITOR, 850 MAGAZINE sbornhoft@rowlandpublishing.com

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Wallace opened his remarks with a story about two small fish that encounter an older fish as it swims toward them. “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” the senior fish asks. Some moments later, one small fish asks the other, “What the hell is water?” The fish, you see, are so immersed in something intrinsic to their existence that they have no awareness of it as a separate reality. I read Wallace’s speech the other day after seeing a reference to it in an article by The New Yorker’s Idrees Kahloon about trust as an essential and often overlooked element in commerce and economics (“Believe You Me,” July 26). In modern economies, “… everything is predicated on its existence,” Kahloon writes. “(Economist) Adam Smith concluded that trust was a fundamental feature of humanity.” Smith wrote, as Kahloon notes, “Nobody ever saw a dog make a fair and deliberate exchange of one bone for another with another dog.” Kahloon finds that the modern sharing economy heavily relies on trust and cites as an example people who rent homes or condos listed on Airbnb or Vrbo. I am newly returned from a family vacation spent at a home in the mountains of western North Carolina. We found the spot on Vrbo. About its owners, I know nothing. Based on an area code, we think they may live in Atlanta. About me, the owners, upon furnishing me with the combination to a key lockbox, knew only that I was good for a deposit. The transaction was enveloped in trust, something I did not think about. It was as water to fish.

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