View This Issue - Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce

Transcription

Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce
your connection
to the beach
Community
Workforce
Education
Florida Film
Commission
See & Be Seen
Grand Openings
Eye View
Some Like it Hot
July / August 2011
PCBeach.org
58003_Circuit Cover Jul-Aug.indd 1
7/6/11 11:11 AM
Community
Workforce
Education
Florida Film
Commission
See & Be Seen
Grand Openings
Eye View
Some Like it Hot
58003_Circuit CoverWrap Jul-Aug.indd 1
7/6/11 11:16 AM
keeping u in touch
58003_Circuit CoverWrap Jul-Aug.indd 2
© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
With or without wires, it’s what we do. Always.
att.com
7/6/11 11:16 AM
7/6/11 11:11 AM
Beautiful Legs.
Beautiful You.
The Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center
www.SkinAndVeinS.Com
12238 Panama City Beach Pkwy | Panama City Beach, FL 32407
Telephone: (850) 233-0264 | Fax: (850) 233-3113
58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 3
7/6/11 1:12 PM
PA N A M A C I T Y
TOYOTA
Where Relationships are born.
Thanks to our customers, we’ve just received the 2010
Toyota President’s Award. It’s one of the highest honors
for a Toyota dealership. It’s also a symbol of our continuing dedication to satisfying our customers - from the day
that you buy a Toyota and for as long as you own it.
From every department and every person at our dealership, we thank you. Please stop by soon and see the
award our customers helped us receive.
Panama City Toyota
4
959 W. 15th St.
Panama City, FL
850.769.3377
panamacitytoyota.com
THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011
7/6/11 1:12 PM
Sure you remembered the
paper, pencils, and new backpacks,
but did you get their eyes checked?
Poor Vision can interfere with learning, school performance,
participation in sports, and self esteem.
Models: Jill Johnson & Graysen Gladden
COSTA
Kate Spade
Flexon Kids Wear
David Yurman
BCBG
Dior
School aged kids who come in for their
back to school eye exams
during the months of July and August
can enter for a chance to win a $150.00
gift certificate to our optical shop.
www.eyecenterofnorthflorida.com
784-3937
Nine Doctors 1 Vision Yours!
5
7/6/11 1:13 PM
Chairman’s Message
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ity Beach
Panama C
THE CIRCUIT
COMM
UNITY
EDUC
ATION
WORK
FORC
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Sp E
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TDC UP D
Din
DA
TE
MEMB
ER NE
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GRAN
D OP
ENING
CALE
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OF EV
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Resere Your
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od tion
Swimay To
With
Dolph
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sh
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and m eptiles
uch m
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This co ark Ad
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March/April 2011
Wee sstarted our July 4th activities with
W
he ceremonial
c
the
changing of command
N
at NSA
PC, with Commander Jessica
Pfe
ff
fe
Pfefferkorn
heading to Belgium being relieved by
Com
om
omm
Commander
Anthony Anglin.
Witnessing these
accolades
and specific attention to detail in every facet
accola
was
wa an incredible experience. Our military presence
all
allows
all of us to enjoy the freedom that not everyone
t world can relate to. Their dedication to our
in the
ccoun to preserve that freedom is admirable, and I
country
CUIT
r of
Com
mer
you
r
to tconnec
he b
t
eac ion
h
d Ope
S
ummer is in full swing, and we are off to one of
our busiest tourist seasons ever. Airport traffic
is up and the roads are full, long
lines
line can be seen at the restaurants, and
the
the Gulf
G is full of adventurers. Seeing
thiss brings
b
this
excitement to all of us in
he business
b
the
community, knowing that
Paa
Panama
City Beach is the place to be
rigg now! We are grateful for all of
right
he tourists
t
the
who continue to vacation
u and look forward to your
withh us,
ret
retu
return.
ce
salute you for the daily sacrifices that you make. Thank
you to all of our soldiers and veterans as we celebrate this
great nation.
On the 4th, we enjoyed the Panama City
POPS Orchestra’s Salute Our Troops,
and veteran’s celebration at Aaron
Bessant Park, prior to the fireworks
display. Watching a display of that
magnitude with my two daughters and
beautiful wife made me take the time to
realize how lucky we are to not only live
in such an amazing community, but in
this great country. We all get so caught
up in the day-to-day business of saving
the world that we sometimes forget the
reason for the hard work, and that is for our families.
I look forward to seeing you at upcoming Chamber
events, such as the upcoming Second Annual Poker
Tournament at Ebro on July 21, our monthly Lunch &
Learn workshops, and Business After Hours events. I
wish you all a prosperous and safe summer.
PCBeach.org
2011
January/February .org
PCBeach
r 2010 1
/Decembe
WORKF
OR
HEALTH CE
“AIR & SE
“SEE & BE A”
“SOME LIK SEEN”
GRAND E IT HOT”
OP
“OUT & ENINGS
OF EVENABOUT” CALEND
TS
AR
Robert Carroll
THE CIRCUIT November
THE CIRC
UIT Nov
ember/D
ecem
ber 2010
1
May/Jun
e 2011
PCBeach
.org
Are
rree Y
You
ou
Connected
to the
Beach?
Advertise your
business in
The Circuit!
For Rates &
Information
Contact:
Skip Alford
(850) 628-3490
Cyndi
Ainsworth
(850) 691-6259
6
President’s Message
President’
G
rowing up and living all over the U.S., when
people used to ask me “where are you from?”
I would usually have some
nonchalant answer or say, “Hilton
Head.” But in this past month that has
changed. For the first time in almost
47 years, I know that Bay County is
sincerely my home.
On June 7, my mother Sara Kathryn
Vallely Culley passed away. It was her
birthday; she was 75. Mom was one of
the smartest women I have ever known,
and she is absolutely my role model.
My open-mindedness and spirit comes
from my mother. The desire for my children to see the
world, and see that people from all colors, races and places
have been created equally….that comes from my mother.
I’m very proud to be her daughter, and proud to be the
youngest sister to three beautiful older sisters.
This has been such a hard time for me, but I’ve received
a large amount of love, support and understanding from
everyone in our community – from our
Chamber businesses to parents to board
members. If there’s anything good to
come out of this experience, it’s realizing
that we all need to find a way to try to
make the world just a little bit better
place. We need to feel compassion;
we need to enjoy our life, and the
people in it. Life is very short. I want to
make sure my children and co-workers
and community know how much
I love them.
I think Mom would be so happy to know that my husband,
children and I have real roots here. And knowing how
proud my Mom would be of me makes this a little easier
to swallow.
I’m going to miss her.
Beth Oltman, IOM
7/6/11 3:33 PM
309 Richard Jackson Blvd., Panama City Beach, FL 32407
Phone: (850) 235-1159 Fax: (850) 235-2301
PCBeach.org
2011
Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board Robert Carroll, McNeil Carroll Engineering
Past Chairman Philip Griffitts, Jr., Sugar Sands Inn & Suites
Incoming Chairman Paul Wohlford, Resort Collection of PCB
Treasurer Karen Blackerby, Magnum Capital
Secretary Derrick Bennett, Law Offices of Derrick Bennett, P.A.
CPA John Johnson, Segers, Sowell, Stewart, Johnson & Brill, P.A.
Legal Council Steven L. Applebaum
The Board
Lisa Adams, Thrive Partnership
Jack Bishop, Breakers
Mike Burke, Burke Blue Hutchison Walters & Smith, P.A.
Ryan C. Davis, Regions Bank
Ramon Duvall, Beachside Fellowship
Pam George, Gulf World Marine Park
Jorge Gonzalez, The St. Joe Company
Darren Haiman, Nations Real Estate
Amy Harris, Royal American Hospitality
Annie Holcombe, Oaseas Resorts
Kenny Jett, Bonefish Grill
James Johnson, Knology
Jayna Leach, Sterling Resorts
David Lee, Pier Park
Pete Mallory, L3 Communications
Procter McInnis, McInnis Builders
Dan Rowe, Tourist Development Council
Cil Schnitker, Comcast Cable
David Sheets, Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa
Claire Sherman, Lamar Advertising
David Southall, Innovations Federal Credit Union
Honorary Board Members
Mayor Gayle Oberst, City of Panama City Beach
Dr. Ken Shaw, FSU PC
Dr. Jim Kerley, GCSC
John Skaggs, Naval Support Activity PC
Janet Watermeier, Bay County Economic Development Alliance
Chamber Staff
Beth Oltman, IOM
Marta Rose
Jena Kimmel
Skip Alford
Cyndi Ainsworth
Lindsay Dring
Kristopher McLane
Catherine Collins
President & CEO
Vice President Communications
Vice President Finance
Director of Membership Development
Vice President Member Services
Events & Programs Coordinator
Systems Coordinator
Executive Assistant/Member Services
7
7/6/11 1:14 PM
THE CIRCUIT
2011 GOLD
your connection to the beach
july l august 2011
16
20
31
38
32
AIR & SEA
10 Air & Sea
l Scientist to Receive Naval Research Award
l Navy Teams Up with Local Academia
l Unmanned Systems Success
FEATURES
Business Spotlights
Eye View
“Some Like It Hot” Restaurant Review
Local Retailer Wins 2011 Retailer of the
Year For Leadership
32 A Few Minutes with John Wheat
42 A Few Minutes with General Browne
45 Health Update, Kristy McKinney
12
16
26
31
NEW TRENDS IN BUSINESS
18 Top 5 Business Apps for your Phone
18 Ten Business Trends for the New Future
19 Hottest Small Business Trends
8
26
19 Top 10 Biz Tech Trends for the 21st Century
20 The F-Factor
20 Top Entertainment Trends
SEE & BE SEEN
37 Airport’s First Anniversary
40 After Hours at Boatyard
41 After Hours at Wyndham’s Sky Bar
COMMITTEES
44 Committee Updates
l Navigator
l H.Y.P.E.
l Connections
MEMBERSHIP
54
54
55
55
Ambassador Update
Ambassador Spotlights
Ribbon Cuttings
New & Renewing Members
42
AROUND TOWN
46
46
46
48
48
48
50
50
Bay District Schools, Bill Husfelt
Bay County Commission, Bill Dozier
EDA Update, Janet Watermeier
TDC Update, Susan Estler
Florida Film Commission, Julie Gordon
Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Kim Bodine
FSU Panama City, Dr. Ken Shaw
Gulf Coast State College, Dr. Jim Kerley
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial/Creative: Marta Rose
Contributing Writing: Catherine Collins
Staff Photography: Skip Alford
Online Content:
Kristopher McLane
Social Media:
Lindsay Dring
Production:
Boyd Brothers Printing
Advertising Sales: Skip Alford
Cyndi Ainsworth
Distribution:
Coastal Communications
7/6/11 1:14 PM
WARM SUN.
BARE SHOULDERS.
AND A DRESS TO
TEMPT THE BREEZE.
It all awaits you at Pier Park, conveniently
located across the street from the beach
and directly across from the City Pier.
600 Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
7/6/11 1:14 PM
u
Air & Sea
Panama City Scientist to
Receive Office of Naval
Research Award for
Scientific Achievement
Navy Teams Up with Local Academia to Put Science in
Hands of Students
N
avy scientists and
engineers, teachers
and students from
he Office of Naval Research has seBay, Gulf, Holmes and Washlected Naval Surface Warfare Cenington counties gathered June
ter Panama City Division (NSWC
8-24 at Florida State UniverPCD) Scientist Dr. Ted Clem as the recipisity Panama City to usher
ent of the 2010 Captain Robert Dexter Conin new methods of learning
rad Award for Scientific Achievement. The
at the 2011 STEM Sumaward ceremony is scheduled to take place
mer Camp
July 19 at the Office of Naval
Structured
Research’s (ONR) Manageto revitalment Information Center.
ize students’
interests in
The Conrad Award is named
the Science,
in honor of the primary archiTechnology, Engineering and
tect who initiated the Navy’s
Mathematics (STEM) career
scientific research program
studies, this two-week camp
at the end of World War II.
challenges rising eighth and
Captain Conrad’s efforts ultininth graders to solve probmately led to the creation of
Dr. Ted Clem is the Naval Surface
lems
with a no-holds-barred
the ONR as the first federal Warfare Center Panama City Dihands-on
approach.
sponsor of science, and to the vision’s lead scientist for Magnetic
Sensing
and
Buried
Mine
creation of the National SciIdentification. Dr. Clem conducts “Basically, we challenge
ence Foundation.
research, development, testing
students through what’s
and evaluation for NSWC PCD’s
‘Inquiry-Based
Dr. Clem was chosen for his Intelligent Sensing and Irregular called
Learning,’” said Ed Lininnovative achievements in Warfare Branch.
senmeyer, Scientist and
the field of magnetic sensing as applied to the detection of underwater Community Outreach Coordinator at Namines and underground facilities. He also val Surface Warfare Center Panama City
continues to excel in translating novel con- Division (NSWC PCD). “Inquiry-based
Learning is a teaching style where instruccepts into technological prototypes.
tors act more like facilitators allowing stu“I have had the fortune to work for the U.S. dents to explore their questions and ideas,
Navy in the development and testing of un- often through hands-on activities, experimanned systems for undersea sensing,” said mentation and research.”
Clem, NSWC PCD’s lead scientist for Magnetic Sensing and Buried Mine Identification. Life Science Masters Teacher Linda Yori
“The accomplishments recognized in this said this method of ‘hands-on’ activity-based
award represent the culmination of superlative learning not only helped to more effectively
efforts by a number of professionals at NSWC capture students’ curiosity, but also develPCD and other research facilities throughout oped a deeper understanding of how their
the country over a number of years. I am hon- subjects of study impacted their lives.
ored to accept the award on their behalf.”
“For our Life Science part of this year’s
The Captain Robert Dexter Conrad Award STEM Summer camp, we have students usconsists of a gold medal and a citation signed ing what are called seine nets to drag some
by the Secretary of the Navy. It is an annual of the larger invertebrates and fish to shore
award granted to an individual who has made for temporary storage in fish tanks. Here
outstanding contributions in the field of re- they can record data about the different spesearch and development for the Department cies they’re collecting,” Yori said, adding the
of the Navy.
intent of the lesson was to impress upon stu-
T
10
Rising eighth and ninth graders pull a seine net
containing samples of local sea life to the shoreline
at Florida State University Panama City’s campus
as part of the 2011 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp.
dents how the lives of humans and sea creatures are interdependent – essentially, learning about the food chain.
“The late animal activist/environmentalist
Steve Irwrin said, ‘You can’t preserve what
you don’t love and you can’t love what you
don’t know.’ Teaching students like this may
inspire them to find different ways to preserve our food sources and oxygen,” Yori
said. “These students are learning so much
by doing this first-hand. For instance, how
the phytoplankton in our oceans gives our
planet more than 50 percent of its oxygen,
which is more than the rain forests provide.”
FSU Panama City STEM Institute’s Executive Director Ginger Littleton said this was
the fourth year that the Navy lab had assisted
with procuring funds through NDEP. “The
students also continue to enjoy the hands-on
learning and love working with Navy engineers and scientists who become mentors
in their classrooms,” Littleton said. “These
STEM projects don’t end at the camp’s
completion either. The engineers and teachers are partnering throughout the school year
to ensure the spark of interest is kept ignited. Because of this our students are gaining
mentors with whom they can share interests
about their projects, but also about their journey to become a STEM professional.”
7/6/11 1:14 PM
u
Air & Sea
LCS Sailors Declare
Unmanned Systems
Software Suite a Success
T
he Littoral Combat Ship Mine
Countermeasures Detachment declared the SUMMIT program a
success at the Office of Naval Research
Mine Countermeasures Science and Technology Demonstration on June 15. SUMMIT stands for Supervision of Unmanned
Vehicles (UxVs) Mission Management by
Interactive Teams.
According to MNCS Robert Olson, SUMMIT basically consolidates multiple software suites, combining them into one
user-friendly interface similar to a MS
Windows-based operating system.
“We have a seven-man watch team and
this just gives us the ability to better manage our people while we’re on watch,” said
Olson. “Basically SUMMIT allows us the
opportunity to take the tasks that have been
assigned to our seven-man team and share
those tasks.”
NSWC PCD Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Sam Taylor said SUMMIT was successful when tested and used to replace the
Navy’s present technology which is a set
of individual operator control systems that
require one dedicated operator per system.
“For the past three to four days, we’ve been
demonstrating the ability to use SUMMIT
to control multiple vehicles with several
operators on different control stations,”
Taylor said. “SUMMIT has effectively allowed tasks to be handed off among operators which have been done successfully
dockside during this unmanned demonstration. We’ve successfully done that here
in St. Andrew Bay.”
According to Taylor, the goals of SUMMIT
don’t stop with success in shallow waters,
but extends to deeper waters. SUMMIT
can be used to control both unmanned and
autonomous unmanned vehicles.
v
v
v
TOP: 2011 Office of Naval Research Mine Countermeasure Science and Technology Demonstration participants prepare to deploy the Reliant project into the Gulf of Mexico waters on June 13 - the first day of
the 2-week, in water demonstration testing the latest MCM Future Naval Capability technologies; hosted
by Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (Photo by Ron Newsome). CENTER: The MK18
sonar prepares to launch off a RHIB. Active duty and reserve Sailors are working with civilian scientists
and engineers to demonstrate the latest and Future Naval Capabilities in mine countermeasure warfare
(Photo by Craig McDonnell). BOTTOM: The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Countermeasures (MCM)
Detachment, pause for a group photo June 15 at the Office of Naval Research MCM Science and Technology Demonstration. LCS MCM Detachment Sailors, pictured from left: MNCS Robert Olson; MNC
James Knott; MN1 Chris Thompson; MN1 Daniel Gwilt; MN1 Kevin Harris; MNZ Alnesugi Rivera; and
MNCS Chris Bender (Photo by Dan Broadstreet, NSWC PCD Public Affairs).
11
7/6/11 1:14 PM
BUSINESS
Spotlights
Thrive Partnership
The Institute for Sustainability, a division
of Resource Associates Corporation, is
pleased to announce Shane and Lisa Adams
of Thrive Partnership, LLC have recently
become certified members.
Shane and Lisa partner with organizations
to help solve business problems and achieve
higher levels of success by implementing
a sustainability strategy. “Sustainability is
greatly misunderstood and often misused,”
says Shane. “Many simply view it as a
green initiative. That’s part of it, but it’s
much more. When done correctly, it will
improve your bottom line while helping the
environment. Innovation, employee loyalty,
stakeholder loyalty, improved effectiveness
and efficiency, and a stronger bottom line are
some of the documented and proven results
from a successful implementation.”
This improvement process quickly allows
clients to become more successful in meeting
their sustainable business goals. The Adams
are uniquely qualified to help enhance and
develop the people and business potential
that already exists within a company, while
helping an organization achieve its Corporate
Social Responsibility. Lisa can be reached at
[email protected]; more information
can be found at mythrivecoach.com.
v
v
v
Nuts About Southwest
O
n April 21, 2006, the awardwinning blog Nuts About
Southwest landed on the blog
scene, among the first Fortune 500
Companies to establish a digital presence.
12
Nuts emerged on the heels of the hit A&E
show, Airline, which followed Southwest
Employees as they navigated through crises
and exhibited the best customer service
in the business. Nuts About Southwest
created a place for Southwest Employees to
continue telling their own stories, in addition
to major announcements and contests. The
blog has been redesigned three times to
keep up with the constantly evolving digital
space. It’s still a hub for stories, but serves
as a Corporate newsroom; a platform where
we release videos and photos, in addition to
prose. We then share that message on our
social channels, and our customers hear from
us directly. Nuts About Southwest has been
named Corporate blog of the year several
times, and was also inducted into the PR Hall
of Fame.
v
v
v
Harbourage Yacht Club
T
he Harbourage Yacht Club and
Marina is located inside the gated
community of Dolphin Bay in a
secluded inlet off St. Andrews Bay and West
Bay. This is a water lover’s and boater’s
paradise, featuring sugar white sand and
emerald green waters. Surrounded by
wetlands, the Marina offers a serene private
environment and convenience to the entire
Bay and Gulf of Mexico, which is just a
short 15 minute trip from the dock to the
jetty. The wetlands offer protection from
storm damage because minimal wave action
protects the docks reducing vessel damage.
Visit TheHarbourageYachtClub.com or
HYCMarina.com.
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Panama City Health Club
P
anama City Health Club (pictured
above left) is the premier fitness
destination in Bay County. They
have been in the health industry since 2002,
so they know that achieving personal fitness
is a unique journey for each individual. They
provide a variety of fun and easy ways to
attain your fitness goals. The club offers a
24-hour access co-ed gym with free weights,
touch screen TV cardio equipment, and top
rated strength training machines. They also
have a women’s-only gym, innovative group
fitness classes with dynamic instructors,
certified personal trainers, an unbeatable
child care center, and a smoothie bar. The
staff truly cares about the wellness of each
individual who walks through our door. Let
Panama City Health Club help you achieve
your goals, whether it is losing 20 lbs for a
reunion or just being able to climb stairs in
your house when you get older. Stop by for
a tour today and receive a 5-day VIP pass
when you mention this article. For more
information call (850) 914-BFIT (2348).
v
v
v
Hope Abbott
H
ope Abbott (pictured above, opposite page) is excited about the increase in our local real estate market this year, and wants to yell from the roof
tops, “Come and buy NOW!...prices are great
and deals are moving fast.” The hardest part
of selling real estate, she says, is when you
put so much effort into finding the perfect
home or condo and customers say “we need
to think about it;” and low and behold, the
7/6/11 3:02 PM
realizing it’s not the same buyer’s market
as it was last year. The tides are turning and
properties are moving at a rapid pace. Inventory is down and Hope is looking for new
listings to sell.
Hope, an International Property Specialist, describes herself as a visionary, unique and rare
individual/REALTOR®. She has travelled to
foreign countries for the past three years, sharing with investors the best kept secret in the
world: Bay County, Florida. Hope has a passion to see the area develop and prosper.
In addition to working hard in her business,
Hope and her husband Lewis are planning
another international event being held here
in October. Hosting realtors and developers
from around the world, they feel, will increase
future business and tourist development in
Bay County. You can view their website at
InternationalWorldSummit.com.
v
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Panama City Rescue Mission
T
he Panama City Rescue Mission
has adopted a new strategy (among
nonprofits) in the way they do
outreach to the over 1,000 children identified
as homeless by Bay District Schools.
While many back-to-school programs seen
nationwide lack the diginity needed to
add value to the lives of those served, the
Mission’s Klothes for Kids is different.
In the old model, which has never been
followed, either clothes were piled on
tables where families had to dig for what
they need, or sets were already made up
and delivered to the families in assembly
line fashion. In the new model families
have the freedom of choices. Starting
with the beginning, they can register
themselves using an online system, or they
Continued on Page 14
13
7/6/11 1:14 PM
BUSINESS
can call or drop by to sign up. The Mission
collects uniforms and after school donations
and sets up a free store organized by color
and size. Families are given shopping
appointments and paired with a personal
shopper to help them choose and pick out
just what they need. It is all done with
dignity and true hospitality. More info at
pcrmission.org/k4k.html.
v
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Better Business Bureau
Y
our Better Business Bureau is
the trusted resource for unbiased
information
on
businesses,
providing the most reliable evaluations in
the marketplace. Millions of consumers
and companies rely on BBB to research
local businesses. The power of BBB is
now available at your fingertips when
traveling or on the go with a mobile website.
Coming soon, the official BBB iPhone app
will feature the ability to search for local
businesses. You can do this via your current
location, display search results in list or map
views, share a business’ BBB listing via
email, Twitter or Facebook, read the latest
BBB Consumer News on your iPhone, and
provide the BBB Business Review. (The
latter comes complete with BBB rating,
contact info, BBB Accreditation status,
consumer complaint history and more.) For
additional information about the iPhone app,
start with bbb.org.
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Dr. Myra Reed
D
14
r. Myra Ancelet Reed (pictured
above, left) specializes in Internal
Medicine and total health care. As a
member of the American Society of Bariatric
Physicians, she has received special training
in the medical treatment of diet, nutrition,
exercise and behavior modification. In
January 2011 she began offering additional
medical weight loss programs; with the HCG
Diet and Low Carb Diet, patients can choose
a plan that meets their needs. Vitamins are
available in the clinic including B12, Vit-D,
Magnesium and CO-Q10.
Additionally, Dr. Reed performs popular
cosmetics procedures such as Botox,
Dysport, Restylane and Juvederm, and she
carries Obagi, Glytone and Skinceutical
cosmetic products.
Dr. Reed and her colleagues Barbara
Lubin, MD and Marqueta Seeuws,
ARNP provide complete physical exams
for women and men, and school/sport
physicals. The practice also provides EKG,
Skin Biopsy, Mole Removal and Bone
Density Screening for Osteoporosis. For an
appointment call (850) 249-5000 or email
[email protected].
v
Brent Garrison
B
v
v
rent Garrison (pictured above,
center) is a local financial advisor
with Merrill Lynch. He and his
wife, Francine, moved to Panama City
from Atlanta after spending six months in
Argentina and Peru learning Spanish and
South American culture. You are most likely
to meet them playing tennis, golf, or eating
at one of their favorite local restaurants. You
might also spot them and their dog, Ramona,
sailing St. Andrews Bay or anchored at
Shell Island. Brent is the president elect of
the Panama City Beach Kiwanis club and
through Kiwanis volunteers monthly with
local organizations including Beach Care
Services, the Boys and Girls Club, and the
Beach Library and Library Foundation.
At work, Brent’s passion for education and
personal service drives his focus on 401k plan
administration. He works with local business
owners and their employees to insure they
understand their investment choices and how
they correlate to today’s environment.
He offers active wealth management to
include 401k plan administration and
rollover, individual retirement planning
and banking services including loans and
mortgages. You may contact him at Brent.
[email protected] or (850) 913-2819.
v
v
v
Carr, Riggs & Ingram
C
arr Riggs & Ingram (CRI) clients
receive a full range of innovative,
customized solutions – including
accounting, auditing, business consulting,
litigation support, tax and technology
assistance. With industry specializations
in manufacturing, construction, healthcare
services, governmental auditing and
compliance, and employee benefits plans
– the Panama City team anticipates and
exceeds your business’ specific needs. From
start-up companies to entities with billions
in assets and revenue, their team is focused
on improving your organization’s financial
performance. In this ever changing economy,
you need accountants who are available,
accessible, and understand your unique
7/6/11 1:14 PM
needs in order to help your business grow.
Like you and your business, those at CRI are
a part of this community. It has been said that
“Teamwork divides the task and multiplies
success…” Don’t do it all yourself, partner
with CRI. cricpa.com.
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A Gift Gallery for
all of your Senses!
Book That Condo
A
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system whereby owners pay a monthly flat
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guest reservations, marketing, accounting,
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Vacation renters will find multiple options
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BookThat Condo is committed to giving each of
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info visit their office location at 11828 Front
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com or call (850) 588-7414.
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Snelling Staffing
O
wners Ruth and Larry Burton
are proud to show the citizens
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in the economy of the area by investing
so heavily in their business. Snelling
Staffing has been a part of Bay County
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They can also help small businesses with
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Snelling is proud to be Bay County’s only
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15
7/6/11 1:14 PM
Eye View
What’s on your mind?
N
ew trends in business appear
to revolve around technology.
Though we are said to be in the
Middle Ages of the techno-era, nearly every
businessperson has a smart phone, every
business has an app, and every individual
has a social networking account. Facebook
and Twitter are a time- and cost-efficient
way for businesses to virally promote events,
products and people. In one instant, you can
market your business to millions of people
all over the world. It is truly remarkable
what the World Wide Web has done for businesses and the advertising/public relations
world. But how about the ways these new
trends affect our personal lives?
My close friend, not
to mention roommate, is getting
married later this
year. After work
one day, she tells me,
“I’m going to Paris
on my honeymoon!”
Where the normal
reaction would be
along the lines of,
“How exciting, you’ll have a great time,” my
response was, “I know, I read it on Facebook.”
Social media websites like Facebook and
Twitter have given people the impression
that everyone else in the world actually cares
about what they are doing…all the time.
CNNTech produced an article describing
the 12 Most Annoying Types of Facebook
Users*. Everyone knows exactly who these
friends are on their news feed. They include
the let-me-tell-you-every-detail-of-my-day
bore; the self-promoter; the town-crier; the
TMIer; and, my personal favorite, the poor
grammarian. The author of the article put
it perfectly when he said, “Yes, I know the
punctuation rules are different in the digital
world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi
schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.”
Granted, this qualifies him for Facebook
classification as the crank, someone who
constantly complains about others’ inad-
16
equacies. I will fess up to my Facebook
persona – the lurker. I don’t post information
as much as I admittedly stalk others.
Status updates are only the beginning. I
personally think Twitter is a better outlet for
posting every thought and action of your
day. On the other hand, Facebook, or as I
affectionately call it Stalker.com, has literally
morphed from a social networking site limited to college students to this unstoppable
vortex of personal information available
to anyone who wants it. The irony is that
Facebook has completely dissolved personal
relationships. You post all of your private
information to develop impersonal associations. Take, for example, friends’ birthdays.
It used to be that you had a little black book
or calendar to write them down, or if you are
like my mother, you have a keen ability to
memorize them. Thanks to Facebook, you
will know all 1,200 of your closest friends’
birthdays at the click of a mouse. This way,
it makes it much easier to know when to pick
up the phone and wish your friend a happy
birthday…
Only no longer do we actually take the time
to call our friends and celebrate their being
born. These days it is perfectly acceptable
to post “happy birthday” in all-capitalized
letters with one-million exclamation points
and an emoticon smiley face to your friends’
Facebook wall. Somehow it has become
gratifying to log on and see 462 new notifications on your birthday; clearly, love in its
sincerest form.
Speaking of love, one of my personal favorite Facebook updates is seeing that little red
heart next to someone’s name telling me they
By Catherine Collins
are “now in a relationship with” so-and-so.
Then 3 minutes, hours, days later that little
red heart breaks in half and tells me that the
relationship has ended. It is not the fact that
the relationship ended that cracks me up;
it’s that people feel the need to display it so
boldly, especially when you’re a serial dater.
There is always that one person who is in a
new relationship what seems like every other
day, further creating quite the reputation for
themselves. But when the affection lasts, in
life and on Facebook, there is no limit to the
potential bizarreness.
In May of this year, an Israeli couple who
were so engrossed in Facebook decided to
name their newborn daughter Like. For the
non-Facebook users
out there, instead of
saying, “hey, I like
what you said here,”
all that is required
of you is to click the
word “like” beneath
the post. The father
explained that they
chose the name
“because it’s modern
and innovative.” He stated that after much research, he found that no one else in the world
is named Like, which was a major condition
upon naming his baby. As if that weren’t
twisted enough, the father says that “like” is
the “modern equivalent of the name Ahava
(Love),” further explaining that it is his “way
of saying to my fantastic daughter, ‘love.’”
He named his daughter Like to say that
he loves her? This girl has a world of issues ahead of her. Simply for giggles: the
couples’ other two daughters are named
Pie, for their love of cooking, and Vash, the
Hebrew word for honey.
To each his own, I suppose. I only hope you
“like” what I have to say.
*http://articles.cnn.com/2009-08-20/tech/annoying.facebook.updaters_1_facebook-users-friendonline-social-networks?_s=PM:TECH
Catherine Collins is the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO of the Beach
Chamber. Eye View is her observations of
everyday life in Bay County, Florida.
7/6/11 1:14 PM
17
7/6/11 1:14 PM
New Trends in Business
Business and technology have fused into one system, one conversation, and one strategy
for one world. This is central to understanding the New Future. The era of the tech-savvy
executive has arrived; new business models, processes and strategies are emerging, and
the dot-com debacle is the first stage of a massive technology transformation in business.
Will you be ready to meet the changes and challenges in this New Future? As you prepare
for the next year, here are Ten Business Trends for the New Future.
Courtesy of the Institute for Global Futures, globalfuturist.com
Ten Business Trends for the New Future
Top 5 Business Apps for your Phone
Technology has provided a new world of opportunity to get us away from the desk and
out in the world to have face time with your
associates – and it sits right in the palm of
your hand. Here are the current top five mobile phone applications to help you get business done when you’re on the move.
1. Splashtop Remote Desktop ($1.99). You
can carry your
desktop
with
you on your
phone
when
you download
this application.
Gain access to
all of your Microsoft Office
files, Flash videos, music and more remotely with your mobile phone.
2. ScannerPro ($6.99). This app allows your
phone to scan hard copy documents and send
them in a readable format while you’re on the
go. Whether it’s a business card, receipt, or
notes on a classroom whiteboard, you can adjust the scanner to fit various sizes and produce
18
the clearest document possible without using
an actual scanner.
3. Documents To Go® Premium – Office
Suite ($16.99). Just like you’re used to doing at your desktop computer, you can create,
edit and view documents in Microsoft Word,
Excel and PowerPoint on your smartphone.
4. WorldCard Mobile ($5.99). Manage
your business
life more easily.
With this app,
not only can you
scan business
cards directly to
your phone but
it recognizes,
organizes and
syncs directly to
your mobile contacts.
5. iSchedule ($2.99). This app is perfect for
employees of a busy office. Staff members
are given the ability to check, release or swap
shifts, and make schedule requests directly
from their phone. This allows more freedom
for happy employees and less stress on the
boss.
1. Innovations are about new business models, enterprise and marketplace collaboration,
new leadership and knowledge engineering.
2. Knowledge engineering, the formation
and networking of knowledge-that which
creates results, is the true asset of the 21st
century.
3. The capture and analysis of customer information about product/service use, needs,
wants, desires and behavior is mission-critical to the enterprise.
4. The integration of customer touch points
across all channels is essential to future success. Watch out for the breakdowns.
5. The capacity of an organization to understand the key trends that will shape the
future of technology, customers, society and
the marketplace will determine the survival
of the enterprise.
6. More disruptions are coming in the form
of emerging markets, electronic exchanges,
security breeches, and changing customer
demographics.
7. Human capital, the value of talent will be
the most valuable resource in the 21st century.
8. Entirely new industries will be formed
by innovations yet to be brought to market.
Look for the health enhancement, interactive
TV nanotech, and on-demand supply chains
to emerge.
9. The New Future will need new leaders
that are aware of how to attract talent, manage innovation, set high visions and execute
profitably. There is a new paradigm about
leadership that is emerging.
10. Sales Knowledge Management: Getting
the right information to the right people at the
right time so they can make the right buying
decision–will be mission-critical to sales.
7/6/11 1:14 PM
Hottest Small Business Trends
about.com
Trends are far easier to observe than time. Timing of entering into a
growing trend market can be costly if the trend has yet to enter public
consciousness. The best time to enter the market is when the trend is
entering mass awareness so educating a market is less expensive.
The following four trends were selected for longevity, market awareness and potential profitability.
1. Managing the convergence
of 21st-century Power Toolscomputers, networks, biotech, and
nanotech-will create the highest
yield market opportunities for
future business.
2. Shaping customer relationships
and enhancing customer satisfaction through the use of technology
innovation will be business-critical
for every enterprise.
1. YOUTH MARKET
The Y generation
is a market force to
be reckoned with.
This power is why a
small-town pop sensation, Avril Lavigne, can go from
obscurity to the 5th
most searched word
on the Internet and
move to the number
two music spot on
Billboard’s Top 200
charts. This power
is also why the auto
industry can expect
peak numbers from
27 million teen
car buyers, and 4
million new buyers,
a year for the next
eight years.
A quick, trendspotting technique
is to take a stroll to
your local magazine rack. You can
get a fast take on a
market by looking
at the thickness of
the publication.
Computer and business magazines,
Red Herring and
Fast Company, have
thinned from an absence of advertisers.
Take a look at the
huge size of Muscle
Magazine and
Muscle & Fitness as
the teenage bodybuilding markets
have grown, so has
the advertising.
TOP 10 BUSINESS
TECH TRENDS FOR
THE 21ST CENTURY
3. Every business that wants to
survive in the future must learn to
evolve into an E-business: communicating, servicing, distributing,
and marketing on the Net.
4. The convergence of the TV,
computer, Net, and telephone will
result in new business models,
markets, and electronic channels
that will revolutionize business.
5. The social impact of leadingedge technology on a longer-living, digitally savvy, globally connected marketplace will provide
many new opportunities.
6. Real-time agility-how fast an
enterprise can embrace leadingedge technology-will determine
the efficiency, speed, and costeffectiveness of its operations.
7. High-performance education
about leading-edge technology
solutions will become a central
strategy for all companies.
Opportunities
Serving the teen
auto aftermarket
with customization
should be hot. Try
the Classic Driving
School, a unique,
teen driver training
experience with a
Porsche. Youth sport
supplements should
continue growing but with fierce
competition. Look
for avenues in fitness
mixed with extreme
attitudes.
2. GREEN POWER
The environment
trend has been
around and been a
struggle for many
companies, such as
automakers with
electric cars trying to
capitalize on green
awareness. The care
of Mother Earth is
still a big concern of
society. Over 73%
of U.S. citizens approve of the Kyoto
agreement for countries to limit their
carbon monoxide
and greenhouse gas
emissions. Although
the United States
has not signed the
accord, countries like
Canada that have
accepted the accord
will be a watch place
for the impact.
8. Managing rapidly emerging
technological change within an
organization will be one of the
central capabilities for everyone
across the enterprise.
9. Technology-enabled products
and services that incorporate deep
customer contact, on-demand
choices, and intuitive interaction
will drive business success.
10. Learning to celebrate technology innovation, risk taking, and
out-of-the-box thinking will be
business-critical for the 21st-century enterprise.
19
7/6/11 1:14 PM
The
“F-Factor”
That’s F for Friends, Fans & Followers
who influence consumers’ purchasing
decisions in ever-more sophisticated
ways.
smallbiztrends.com
Consumers are increasingly
tapping into their networks of
friends, fans, and followers to
discover, discuss and purchase
goods and services, in ever-more
sophisticated ways. As a result,
it’s never been more important
for brands to make sure they too
have the F-FACTOR.
Why is the F-FACTOR important to consumers? It offers the
promise of a consumption arena* that is more efficient, more
relevant, and more interesting
than before, where consumers
either had to spend endless time
and effort on trying to discover
the best of the best, or had to rely
on sources that were distant, unknown or untrusted (read: branddriven), and therefore potentially
unreliable or irrelevant.
Of course, consumption has always been social: people have
forever been influenced by what
those around them think and buy.
KellerFay, a U.S. word of mouth
marketing research consultancy,
estimates that there are nearly
one trillion conversations about
brands every year in the US
alone. But, just as with so many
consumer trends, while the core
consumer behavior isn’t new,
technological developments are
unlocking new manifestations
of that behavior, which here amplify its importance and impact.
Indeed, the F-FACTOR is being
fueled by new tools and platforms available to both consumers and brands, and by the sheer
numbers of people now using
and contributing to these tools.
Just a few recent stats demonstrating the reach and power of
the F-FACTOR:
• The F-FACTOR is currently
dominated by Facebook, as over
500 million active users spend
over 700 billion minutes a month
on the site.
Top Entertainment Trends
New digital technologies will reshape the
economics, production, distribution,
and marketing of the
entertainment industry.
Traditional media enterprises must learn to
adapt new Internet and
computer technologies
to maintain competi-
20
tiveness. The convergence of the Net with
TVs, telephones, kiosks,
autos, and wireless devices will create many
new media channels.
On-demand interactive
entertainment content
that is personalized for
our preferences will
be a standard feature.
• And its impact isn’t just on
Facebook itself. Every month,
more than 250 million people
engage with Facebook across
more than 2.5 million external
websites.
• The average user clicks the
‘Like’ button 9 times each
month.
And a couple of brand-related,
F-FACTOR stats:
• Three quarters of Facebook users have ‘Liked’ a brand.
• Over 50m users ‘like’ brands
every day.
• Juicy Couture found that their
product purchase conversion rate
increased by 160% after installing social sharing features.
• Incipio Technologies, a gadget
accessory retailer, found that referrals from Facebook had a conversion rate double the average.
But it’s not just about Facebook.
Take for example the explosive
rise of the daily deal site Grou-
Advanced virtual reality
bundled with digital
agents and holographic entertainment
worlds will transform
our experience of
entertainment. Movie
theaters will receive
digital broadcasts and
satellite downloads of
movies, video con-
pon, which used referrals from
friends and colleagues to drive
sales of over 40 million deals in
the two and a half years since it
launched in November 2008, via
email.
So, here are just five of the ways
that the F-FACTOR influences
consumption behavior:
1. F-DISCOVERY: How consumers discover new products
and services by relying on their
social networks.
2. F-RATED: How consumers
will increasingly (and automatically) receive targeted ratings,
recommendations and reviews
from their social networks.
3. F-FEEDBACK: How consumers can ask their friends and
followers to improve and validate their buying decisions.
4. F-TOGETHER: How shopping is becoming increasingly
social, even when consumers
about.com
ferencing, and other
interactive programming. Faster, smarter,
and more powerful
multimedia communications devices will
enhance our capacity for producing and
distributing entertainment. Digital TV will
provide new programs
where we will experience real-time participation with the media
content, personalities,
and shows. Edutainment, the merger of
entertainment and
education, will offer a
new genre of programming that will be
greatly in demand.
7/6/11 1:14 PM
Continued from Page 19
Opportunities: This trend will be supported by businesses reducing
reliance on oil & gas with new forms of energy like wind power.
Wind power experienced a 1.7 billion dollar increase in new equipment during 2001 (American Wind Energy Association). Also, look
to companies helping companies reduce energy consumption with
new forms of energy saving products. For example, one small business is profiting from installing energy efficient shipping doors for
corporate shipping operations.
3. QUALITY OF LIFE
The wellness and health trend shows no sign of slow down since
it’s early infancy during the 80’s fitness movement. This trend is the
convergence of rising health care costs in all developed countries, the
aging of the baby boomer, the desire to keep our youth, and growing
life expectancy.
Paul Zane Pilzer, world economist and entrepreneur, who predicted
with accuracy the U.S. Savings & Loans crisis, foresaw the wellness
industry would be worth a trillion dollars by the year 2010. Wellness
encompasses: looking good, feeling great, being healthy, and fighting
aging and disease.
Opportunities: A wide range of products and services such as; botox
and energy drinks, to nutraceuticals and wrinkle creams, to serve this
large and steady trend. The energy drink market alone grossed $275
million in 2001, more than doubling the profits from the previous year.
Introducing a
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• Affordable health insurance
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4. INTERNET
The Internet meltdown was a period of shakeout for capitalists wanting to make a quick million. At the beginning of the century, many
companies were formed to take advantage of the birth of the auto
industry. Only a handful of players emerged to become household
names but opportunities were plentiful in the area of building roads,
suburban communities, and restaurants. The Internet represents a
similar venue.
Internet usage continues to grow. Pollster, Ipsos-Reid’s Internet usage survey, shows 72% of Americans go online at least once during a
30-day period. Canada has the second largest usage penetration with
62% of Canadians online. With increased usage comes more online
spending. According to the Internet measurement firm, comScore
Networks, total online spending has grown to over $117 billion.
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Opportunities: With billions of dollars of goods sold online, many
businesses will need assistance in website rebuilds and search engine
optimization. Look for growing markets in e-learning and online
gaming. Don’t forget computer security. Gartner Group estimates
only 35% of small & medium businesses have disaster recovery.
The impact of these long-term trends will continue to shape markets
and industries. For new entrepreneurs, gauge the market closely.
If you are expanding a business, look for complementary markets
to those you are currently serving. For existing businesses with no
growth plans, observe and plan for how these trends may impact
your industry.
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The amount of benefits provided depends upon the plan selected and the
premium will vary with the amount of benefits selected. These policies have
limitations and exclusions. For costs and complete details, contact your local
insurance agent. *Our Networks are made up of independently licensed
health care professionals. ****Dental Insurance is offered by Florida
Combined Life Insurance Company, Inc. an affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue
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21
7/6/11 1:14 PM
and their peers are not physically together.
5. F-ME: How consumers’ social networks
are literally turned into products and services.
* This Trend Briefing is about the impact of
consumers’ social connections on how they
find, decide and purchase, i.e. what happens
when consumption is increasingly social,
rather than the personalized retailing opportunities on social networks (which is currently still the main focus of F-COMMERCE).
1. F-DISCOVERY
Consumers’ ongoing obsession with owning
or experiencing the best of the best and their
desire for serendipity, excitement, interaction
and community explains the pull of F-DISCOVERY. People are curious and interested
in what their friends and contacts think, do,
eat, read, listen to, drive in, travel to and buy,
because often this will be similar to how they
want to think, act and buy.
No surprise then that consumers are embracing communities, tools and apps that allow
them to dive into and discover selections
from friends, fans, followers and so on. Just
a few examples:
• Polyvore bills itself as ‘a community of
22
tastemakers’, where users can clip products
from around the web and compile them into
virtual ‘looks’ or sets which can be shared
across social networks. The site also features
sets from brands and celebrities, with users
able to follow, like and buy desired items.
• Boutiques.com is a personalized shopping
site from Google where users can establish
their own collection of favorite items from
around the web.
• Users of TheFind, the shopping search engine, can ‘Shop Like Friends’ and view their
Facebook friends’ tastes and preferences.
• A number of extensions make it increasingly easy for consumers to see exactly what
their friends ‘Like’ around the web: check
out Likebutton.com, which shows users what
their friends have liked across a number of
the most popular sites, or LikeJournal, which
stores users’ and their friends’ likes.
• Belgian magazine Flair launched their
fashiontag Facebook app in March 2011.
The app enables users to tag photos of friends’
clothes and ask them where they had bought
them. Within a week, the magazine’s number of fans increased by 35%, from 17,000
to 23,000.
• Kaboodle, Svpply, Fancy and Nuji all help
users to discover new products from apparel
to art that have been selected by fellow consumers.
• Canadian shoppers can use ItSpot’s iPhone apps to discover what fellow shoppers
nearby are buying. The apps cover a number
of cities, and include details of local promotions as well as shopping tips from local
Shoppingistas.
In November 2010, Gifts.com and Hunch
joined forces to create their GiftFinder app,
which logs into Facebook and suggests suitable gifts for friends based on the information in their profile pages. The company said
the conversion rate was up to 60% higher
than when users were shown generic recommendations.
2. F-RATED
While consumers sometimes enjoy finding
the best of the best through discovery, they
are increasingly able to access personalized
recommendations and reviews on something
they know they want to purchase. In fact,
expect more and more sites to automatically
serve up friends’ recommendations, ratings
and reviews* next to goods and services that
people are researching.
7/6/11 1:14 PM
In April 2010, Levi’s was the first big brand
to integrate its online store with Facebook, allowing shoppers to view which products their
friends had ‘liked’, interact with them and create a ‘like minded shopping’ experience.
Facebook’s Instant Personalization project
moves this beyond Facebook itself, by enabling users to have content that their friends
have liked or recommended highlighted on
other websites. Partner sites include local
review site Yelp, music site Pandora, Microsoft’s search engine Bing and travel site Trip
Advisor. The Trip Advisor tie in, launched
in December 2010, means that visitors to the
travel site who are logged into Facebook see
their friends’ reviews first, as well as being
able to quickly view which of their friends
have been to particular cites. Friends can also
message each other quickly for additional
travel tips.
Amazon launched a feature in July 2010 that
allows users to integrate their Facebook and
Amazon accounts. The feature allows Amazon to connect through to a user’s social network and base recommendations upon the
information found in his/her Facebook profile. Moreover, the feature also informs users
of friends’ most popular books, DVDs and
musicians and also reminds them of birthdays and gift suggestions.
In February 2011, Microsoft’s Bing rolled
out their “Liked Results” feature to all users. The update brings Facebook ‘likes’ and
search preferences of friends into the search
engine’s algorithm.
Similarly, Google’s +1 feature, launched in
March 2011, brings personalization to search
results, by allowing users to ‘+1’ results.
These are then shared with an individual’s
Google contacts, and highlighted in their
search results. Google’s stated aim for the
project: enabling users to help each other
out in choosing the best and most relevant
results.
* Privacy concerns are of course the elephant
in the room here. Ensuring that consumers maintain control and choice over when
and where their information ends up is one
of the big challenges for brands. Check out
the Wall Street Journal’s excellent (if scary)
What They Know feature.
3. F-FEEDBACK
Over the last decade, online reviews have
greatly empowered consumers. But anony-
mous reviews aren’t always what consumers
need or want; they can lack relevance and
context, and consumers with many options
sometimes just want an unambiguous, or finite opinion.
Which is where F-FEEDBACK comes
in: consumers actively disclosing their
purchasing intentions and reaching out to
their friends and contacts for personalized
feedback.
Some indicators:
• Product recommendations from family
(63%) and friends (31%) are the most trusted. However, 81% of U.S. consumers now
go online to do additional research, with 55%
looking for user reviews, and 10% soliciting
advice from their social networks. Amongst
people aged 25-34, this figure rises to 23%.
• 90% of people trust the recommendations
of their Facebook friends.
• 31% of daily Twitter users ask their followers for opinions about products and services.
• One more key driver here: with more and
more consumers increasingly viewing their
online reputation as something to enhance
23
7/6/11 1:14 PM
as well as just protect, the quality of answers
on Q&A services is rapidly improving.
Some examples:
1. Facebook Questions was recently redesigned to focus on helping people ask their
friends (rather than the whole Facebook
community).
2. Sites such as StackExchange and Quora allow users to follow topics and other users, building detailed databases of questions and answers
that are tagged and publicly searchable.
3. LoveThis is a user review website for
people to write tips and recommendations to
share among friends on their network.
4. Travel Q&A sites Gogobot and Hotel Me
are trying to bridge the gap between known
friends (who are trusted but
may not have the answer) and
wider audiences.
There are also a whole host of
sites for consumers who want
tips and recommendations
about which products and services to purchase, rather than
more general Q&A:
1. Visa’s RightCliq is an online shopping tool that enables
consumers to save potential
purchases in their ‘Wishspace,’ which can be shared
with friends for feedback.
2. Shopsocial.ly offers consumers a platform to connect
with their friends and others
who wish to share product
recommendations or purchases. The website enables
users to ‘shout’ out a question
regarding a product in order to
receive feedback from their community of
trusted advisors.
3. Online price comparison site Twenga
launched a feature in April 2011 that allowed
users to instantly pose questions to their social networks.
Due to the continued spread of smartphones,
F-FEEDBACK can happen in real-time too:
MyShopanion and Scandit are just two iPhone apps that allow consumers to scan
items while out shopping and not only see
online reviews but get instant feedback via
Facebook and Twitter.
Check out these examples of how friends can
now come into the fitting rooms:
• The Tweet Mirror enables customers to
send snaps of themselves to friends and fol-
24
lowers directly from the fitting room.
• In Spain, Diesel hooked up cameras in their
stores to Facebook, allowing customers to
post photos of themselves trying on clothes
to their profiles for instant feedback from
their friends.
• From September to November 2010,
Macy’s Magic Fitting Room enabled shoppers at the brand’s New York flagship store
to virtually ‘try on’ items via an augmented
reality ‘mirror’ and then post the results to
Facebook.
• Go Try It On takes this concept one step further, by providing a platform for users to ask
not just their friends for feedback, but the site’s
community for their opinions on their outfits.
More and more online consumers are also
sharing and discussing potential purchases
with their friends in real-time:
1. WetSeal, the U.S. fashion retailer, has a
‘Shop With Friends’ feature, similar to toy
retailer Mattel’s ShopTogether.
2. Shop With Your Friends, a Dutch startup
has developed a tool that enables consumers to shop online together in real-time.
3. Quorus Discuss is a plugin that any online vendor can install that allows users to
chat and discuss products with friends.
4. In November 2010, Cisco encouraged
consumers to use their WebEx tool to
share their desktops with friends on Cyber
Monday, the post-Thanksgiving day when
many U.S. retailers launch online promotions.
4. F-TOGETHER
While group-buying platforms such as
Groupon are revolutionizing local retail,
consumers usually don’t know the other
members of the group that they’re buying
with. So, while consumers get to leverage
the power of the web to benefit from better
deals, the actual shopping experience frequently lacks the F-FACTOR.
Consumers, of course, have strong incentives to share certain purchases, especially
for F-FACTOR-friendly experiences such as
buying event tickets; what’s not to like about
automatically inviting friends to a concert or
movie right after purchasing a ticket?
• 83% of consumers state
that they tell their friends if
they get a good deal.
• Facebook announced in
April 2011 that every time
a user posts on Facebook
about buying a ticket from
Ticketmaster, the company
estimates they receive an
extra $5.30.
• Eventbrite, the event ticketing site, found that users
are 10 times more likely
to share details of events
they have bought tickets to
(than those events they are
still considering whether to
buy). The ticket sales generated by people who share
details of purchased events
are 20% higher than if they
haven’t yet bought tickets.
The site estimates that the
value of a Facebook share is $2.53.
Expect to see more tools that help consumers
easily share and coordinate relevant purchases with their close friends and family, but for
now we’ll just highlight a few:
1. Disney’s Tickets Together Facebook app
enables users to buy theater tickets directly
from Facebook, posts details of the screening
on a user’s wall and enables them to invite
friends to buy tickets.
2. Indian consumers can do something similar with ticket site BookMyShow’s Ticket
Buddy Facebook app.
3. Ebay’s Group Gifts feature, launched
in November 2010, allows users to invite
friends to split the cost of a gift. The application integrates with Facebook to allow
friends to be privately invited, while infor-
7/6/11 1:14 PM
mation from the recipient’s profile can even
be used to suggest suitable gifts.
4. In April 2011, Facebook piloted ‘Deals
in Facebook’ in various U.S. cities including Atlanta and San Francisco. Facebook
users in these cities can find local deals and
then easily share, buy and plan them with
friends. Users are alerted to deals through
email, Facebook notifications and, if their
friends buy the deal, through their News
Feed. Also, when users see deals from
a business that their friends frequent (i.e.
check-in at), this information will be included in the deal.
5. F-ME
The F-FACTOR also makes possible personalized products and services based on
the activities and output of one’s social network:
• Flipboard is an app that integrates tweets
and updates into a single, personalized online magazine. Launched in July 2010, the
free app automatically creates a magazine
from the user’s social content, letting readers quickly flip through the latest stories,
photos and updates from friends and trusted
sources. Links and images are rendered
right in the digital magazine, so users no
longer have to scan long lists of posts and
click on link after link; instead, they instantly see all the stories, comments and images
in one place.
• March 2011 saw the launch of LinkedIn
Today, a socially curated news homepage
for users that rounds up the stories and links
that are being read, shared and discussed by
a user’s network.
• Newsle is a tool that launched in public
beta in April 2011 that alerts users to public
news articles about members of their social
networks from Facebook and LinkedIn.
• ‘Personal search engine’ Greplin launched
publicly in February 2011. The search engine scans across a user’s personal and social accounts including: Gmail, Facebook,
Twitter and Google Docs, enabling users to
locate any desired information that may be
scattered across their social media network,
whenever they want it.
• U.S. based PostPost, launched in December 2010, is a free application that turns
one’s Facebook page into a digital newspaper. Users connect the application via
the PostPost site, which enables it to link
to Facebook and create a presentation of
their news feed in the traditional format of
a newspaper.
Check out these very sign of the times
F-ME examples of consumers literally turning their friends and followers into actual
physical products and services:
1. Twournal enables users of Twitter to
transform their tweets and pictures into a
real-life published journal. In addition to
creating their own ‘books,’ users can also
buy and sell publications from other users.
2. U.S. based CrowdedInk offers an app
that allows users to generate mugs filled
with pictures of their Facebook friends or
Twitter followers. Users only need to enter
their username and a preview of the mug is
automatically generated in minutes.
3. Social Print Studio can provide the analogue equivalent to the online album. The
site creates posters generated from Facebook friends’ profile pictures, Facebook
photo albums, Twitter followers, and even
Tumblr accounts.
4. Kunst Buzz, a Dutch art company, has
started producing Twitter art where users’
tweets make up their portrait.
OPPORTUNITIES
With the F-FACTOR a growing force in
the consumption arena, ultimately the only
way for brands to succeed is to be liked, if
not loved, and this liking and loving comes
from superior performance. In that sense,
the Perform or Perish theme is stronger
than ever, and underscores that while the
F-FACTOR is currently playing out in the
online arena first and foremost, this is in
the end about business at large.
The F-FACTOR is about being so exceptional that consumers will find and
ultimately choose you, without you as a
brand having to do anything extra. It’s not
about bribing or even compelling people to
“Like” yourFacebook page. This is something, of course, which brands that truly
have the F-FACTOR don’t have to worry
about.
So, for all F-entrepreneurs, this space is
still wide open: simply come up with new
tools and platforms that help consumers
help each other to discover, discuss and
buy the best of the best. For B2C brands,
it’s time to deliver innovations, products,
campaigns and experiences that truly have
the F-FACTOR.
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25
7/6/11 1:14 PM
“SOME LIKE
IT HOT”
All of our steaks & seafood
are grilled over open pit charcoal
The Beach’s Most Unique Salad Bar
Here at Deadeye Dick’s Steak House we make almost
everything from scratch including our soups, sauces, sides,
desserts, salad bar items & even our french fries & ice
creams!!!
We cut most of our meats in-house & use USDA choice, aged
mid-western steers (quite a mouthfull, literally). We also
grind our own meats for burgers, turkey burgers & even
make our own veggie burgers.
At Deadeye’s we know a thing or three about fine seafood,
just ask Deadeye’s twin brother Dirty.
We are proud of these efforts and you will see them
mentioned over & over again throughout the menu.
y
11:00 am -2:00 pm dail
Initial order
uity
grat
8%
....1
2pm
in by
ed
added to bill. All serv s.
with choice of two side
“MEAT UP” for SUNDAY BRUNCH
at Deadeye Dick’s Steak House featuring our magnificent food bar with
savory items including soup, salad, breads, rolls, breakfast items/breads,
desserts, and much more changing everyday.
We also feature a chef attended carving station, omelette, waffle, and grits
Hey, It’s a Class Joint
martini bar.
Horses Must Be
$
Mimosa or Bloody Mary
Champagne
$
But only with purchase of brunch!
2.99
2.99
Kept Outside
Tied on the Railin’...
YES YOU!
9802 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach,
Florida 32407
deadeyedickssteakhouse.com
850.249.3425
We also feature a
FUNCTION ROOM
Multiple rooms to meet any party size
State of the Art Audio Visual Experience
26
Once upon a time there were two twin brothers who were
separated at birth. One grew up on the West Coast, and
the other grew up on the East Coast. The brothers reunited as adults, and now run restaurants sitting next to each
other in Panama City Beach, Florida: Dirty Dick’s Crab
House and Deadeye Dick’s Steakhouse. Both serve food
that is fresh and made from scratch. Both offer unique
and distinctive dishes with a twist, like fried crab lasagna
and creamy cheese smoked brisket grits. The locals and
visitors of Panama City Beach are fed well, and the brothers are living happily ever-after. The End.
A
native of New Orleans, Beany Macgregor has been in the restaurant business since college. “I was the former Executive
Chef for Stephen & Martins Restaurant/4141 Club in the Garden District of New Orleans,” he explains. After leaving this upscale
establishment, he became Worldwide Corporate Executive Chef for
both Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood. Both enterprises are
headquartered in Orlando, and Beany travelled extensively all over
the world.
When Beany left Planet Hollywood, he was introduced to Jack Frestel
and Ken Hersey, lifelong friends, through a mutual friend. The two
were were doing restaurant consulting work and were opening a new
restaurant in North Carolina. “We all hit it off, and I decided to help
them,” he remembers. “I ended up buying out the person who introduced us.”
Jack, an attorney who is now retired, is originally from Chicago and
now lives in Sarasota. He was the senior Vice President of US Air in
charge of Human Resources, and also served on the board of directors
of the Santa Fe Railroad. Ken, who hails from the Washington, DC
area, now lives in Ft. Myers, FL. An executive with Converse Shoes,
he knows the retail and marketing business as well the construction
and building world.
Upon vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (the vacation hub for the DC area) Ken noticed no one was selling crab. He
was retiring anyway, so he opened a little take-out place on the beach
and started selling T-shirts and crabs by the bushel. This venture was
wildly successful. Next, he opened Dirty Dick’s Crab House in Avon,
7/6/11 3:03 PM
OT” Restau
rant Review
NC. After opening Avon, Jack - who was also retiring - joined his
friend in the business. Together they opened another Dirty Dick’s
in Nags Head, NC, and finally a third in N. Myrtle Beach, FL. The
fourth Dirty Dick’s was opened in Panama City Beach, Florida.
You got it!!
ALL of our fish is
FRESH, not FROZEN.
“Dysfunctional but functional partnership!”
he says with a big smile. “We don’t know
how it works, but it just does.”
Served with
Served
with corn
corn on the cob, red
red potat
pot atoe
oes,
s, our
famous hush puppies
puppies and drawn
drawn butter
butter..
Available for lunch ‘til 2:00PM year round.
Available
Availabl
e for
for lunch & dinner Oct
October
ober-January
-January..
-January
Dinner orders
orders must
must be placed by 8:00PM.
The three partners each have their area of expertise at the restaurants.
Beany, who now lives in Panama City Beach, manages all front and
back-of-house operations. Jack oversees legal, financial, corporate
contracts and location scouting. Ken oversees the buildings and marketing. “We get together quite often,” says Beany. “We visit the properties together throughout the year, continually revamping things and
changing out the menus.”
Deadeye Dick’s is a traditional steak house with lots of things on the
menu that you won’t find in other places. Everything is fresh and
made from scratch, and the USDA choice steaks are all cut on site
and cooked over an open pit grill. The French fries and ice cream are
even made from scratch, and the meat entrees range from Kobe beef
to grilled BBQ meatloaf. Every entrée comes with two sides from a
choice of 16 (try the grilled fresh peaches with balsamic glaze and
honey roasted pecans); appetizers include Thai duck wings, homemade lobster sausage served over Creole corn pudding with lobster
sauce, and fried green tomatoes with a fresh corn relish. Deadeye
Dick’s offers easily the county’s most unique salad bar. “It’s more
of a food bar than a salad bar,” says Beany. Even the chopped salad
contains a delicious bacon brittle.
No Sharing • No T
To-Go
Try Our Big Boats
$
v
v
9
59
L
ECIA
P
S
CH
Fri
LUN specials Mo$n5.9- 9!
4
If you’re impressed by now with Deadeye Dick’s, you’ll love his
brother’s establishment as well. Similar to a New Orleans crab house,
Dirty Dick’s serves up seafood with a Cajun flair. Everything fresh;
everything cooked to order.
“Deadeye Dick’s and Dirty Dick’s are places you can be very comfortable without getting dressed up or spending a lot of money,” explains
Beany. “We’re all about fun; the only thing we’re serious about is the
food.” Deadeye Dick’s Steakhouse is located at 9802 Front Beach
Road. Right next store is Dirty Dick’s Crab House. For reservations,
call (850) 249-3425 (DED) or (850) 230-3425 (DD).
#1 SNO CRAB
SPICED SHRIMP
DUNGENESS CRAB
g at
in
st art
“Seafood with a New Orleans Accent”®
W
9800 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL
(850) 230-DICK (3425)
v
27
7/6/11 3:03 PM
Her first word.
Her first step.
Are you ready for her first emergency?
You’d do anything for your children.
So why not make the right choice in health care?
When it comes to caring for children, we know
kids aren’t little adults and that they need specialized care
when it comes to treating injuries.
That’s why we’re here with the area’s only Pediatric ER.
Sick?There’s an app for that. iTriage now available free on iPhone, Android and more.
28
Go to
www.itriagehealth.com/get-mobile
THE CIRCUIT July/August
2011
316-056 GCMC_PED_ER_Circuit_Mech.indd 1-2
D O W N LO A D N O W
7/6/11 1:15 PM
EMERGENCY PEDIATRICS
AGES 0 UP TO 18
• Pediatric triage
• Pediatric-friendly rooms
• Pediatric-specific beds
• Labor & Delivery
• Area’s only Level 2 NICU
• Area’s largest Pediatric
Specialty Unit
• Area’s only Pediatric ER
• More Pediatric specialists
and subspecialists on staff
than any other area hospital
449 WEST 23RD STREET
PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA 32405
(850) 769-8341
WWW.GCMC -PC.COM
The Area’s Shortest Average ER Wait Times
12/22/10 6:43 AM
7/6/11 1:15 PM
7/6/11 1:15 PM
L
aurie Olshefski, owner of four local businesses, was recently named
the “2011 Retailer of the Year For
Leadership” by the Florida Retail Federation
(FRF). Olshefski was urged by President
& CEO Beth Oltman of the Panama City
Beach Chamber to enter the competition and
nominate her four businesses, as she was
previously awarded a Small Business Person
Award by the Beach Chamber in 2010.
Local Retailer Wins 2011
Retailer of the Year For
Leadership
“Laurie exemplifies true leadership, in not
only the community but in her profession,
her church and her family,” said Oltman.
“She has been a positive force through the
tragedies and economic downturn of the past
few years, and has always kept an optimistic
attitude. We are extremely proud of her.”
A retailer for 18 years, Olshefski earned a
B.A. in Economics & Business Management, and started her first business at the age
of 27. She owns and oversees four busy retail businesses: Shimmering Seas Jewelry &
Gifts in Pier Park; Jake at the Beach-Life is
Good Shoppe in Pier Park; The Fitness Fetish-Sport & Beach Shoppe in Seaside; and
Shimmering Seas Jewelry & Gifts in Seaside. Olshefski has been a Certified Fitness
Instructor for over 20 years, and has taught
fitness and yoga classes in the community
for past 19 years. She has been happily married to her husband John for 25 years, and has
two children: a son Landen, 10 and daughter
Alina, 6. Laurie’s life goal is to inspire others
to lead happy and healthy lives.
In additional to honoring the winners’ accomplishments, the Retailer of the Year For
Leadership award brings recognition to the
entire retail industry and raises the public’s
awareness of the importance of retailers in
local communities, as well as the entire State
of Florida. Winners attended several events
at the Caribe Royale in Orlando in June,
including an awards presentation luncheon
and the FRF’s mid-year meeting reception
and dinner. These events were held in conjunction with the nationally acclaimed Retail
Smarter Symposium, held at the University
of Florida’s David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research.
Sponsored by FRF since 1999, the statewide
Retailer of the Year Award for Leadership
(ROYAL) program recognizes outstanding
retailers from all types of businesses who
have demonstrated a blend of effective business practices with a commitment to their
communities, customers and employees.
v
v
v
Pictured top: Rick McAllister, Jesse White,
Laurie Olshefski, Norman Love and Dan
Doyle. Right: Laurie and husband John with
her award.
31
7/6/11 1:15 PM
a few minutes
with
john
wheat
Interview by Marta Rose
J
ohn Wheat came to visit the Panama
City Beach Chamber on a hot June
afternoon. The Northwest Florida
Beaches International Airport’s new Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) just relocated to
Panama City Beach six weeks ago from
Tampa, and he has been acclimating to the
area. Already, as one from a more metropolitan area does, he is noting the distinctions
and unique facets that define our small slice
of heaven. “I’ve been impressed with the
open arms I’ve been greeted with,” he says
with a smile. “This is a very relaxing and
fun community, and the people here are delightful. I’m looking forward to meeting and
greeting everyone in the area.”
A Salt Lake City native, John attended the
University of Utah and majored in Biology.
“I had no idea what was next,” he says. “I
was one of those kids that went to school,
enjoyed the sciences but didn’t have a pure
vision of what I was going to do with my
major.” So he went to work for the Salt
Lake City Corporation’s Business License
Department. Within three years he had risen
to director of the department, and ultimately
moved up to Chief of Staff for the City’s
Chief Administrative Officer where he was
responsible for City finance and administration. After working for the City for 10 years,
he transferred to the Salt Lake City International Airport and served as the Director of
Finance and Administration and the Chief
Operations Officer (COO) for the next 16
years. There he was responsible for the day
to day operations of the airport: finance,
administration, operations and maintenance
functions, real estate functions, planning and
development.
John had worked with Lou Miller, who hired
in him in 1983 at the airport. Lou had spoken
to John several times throughout the years
about coming down to Florida and working
as COO for the Tampa International Airport.
In 1999, John decided to make the move.
The newness of Panama City Beach by no
means compares to the culture shock John
experienced when relocating from Salt Lake
City to Tampa. The pace was slower. The
32
attitude was more laid back, the local population more diverse, and
the summers hot and balmy. “In
the first six months I didn’t meet
anyone who was a native. It’s a
melting pot of transplants.”
Regular activities changed, from
fishing, hiking and hunting to beach
outings and “everything-warm -living-related. “I thoroughly enjoyed
my time there,” he remembers.
“Lots of things to do and places
to see. I took advantage of all the
places to visit in the region.”
After almost 12 years in Tampa, an
opportunity presented itself. “The
(Panama City Beach) Airport Authority reached out to see if I was
available.” He was, and he made
the move to Panama City Beach,
previously only having been in the
area once, eight years prior, for a
few days.
***
John is a professed world traveler who likes
to read and learn. Five years ago, he married
his great friend of 25 years, Theresa. Combined, they have four grown children, two in
Salt Lake City and two in Florida. “My wife
and I love to travel and explore,” he says,
noting one of the most fun trips the family
took was to Italy for a couple of weeks. They
rented an apartment in Rome, in a farmer’s
market area. “We spent ten days walking,
giving ourselves tours and getting to know
Rome. We made a game of it. Everyone had
to pick two sites, do the research and lead the
tour for the family.” Another recent trip he
took with Theresa several years ago was to
Istanbul, Turkey, where he received an IATA
(International Air Transport Association)
award. Only two awards had ever been given
to airports in the U.S., and this was the third.
“When we researched the restaurants, there
were only ever three mentioned,” he laughs.
“Alcohol is highly taxed in the country as we
found out our first night when we ordered
two martinis,” John remembers. “They came
in 2 oz. glasses with two olives each, and the
bill was $60, not including tip!” They did
enjoy the Turkish Baths and Spice Market.
Three other travel venues at the top of John’s
list include Napa Valley (“we are wine fans
and love wine tasting”); Walla Walla, Washington (“an up-and-coming place for great
wine tasting”); and Vancouver, BC (“such
diversity of people”).
As CEO of the Northwest Florida Beaches
International Airport, John oversees everything associated with marketing, building
and operations. “The first year is focused on
solving several challenges,” he says, “such
as bringing the construction issues to closure
and improving our financial performance.”
Into 2012 the emphasis will shift to growing the market, air service and possible new
carriers. The outgrowth of that is stimulating new markets in addition to current markets. “It’s much more fun to fly someplace,”
he says. “Less stressful, it doesn’t cost a lot
more, and time is important to people. Air
travel provides everyone an opportunity in
enhancing how they utilize their time.”
He also observes that Panama City Beach
seems to be the area for future growth potential, both for commercial, industrial and residential. Destin is built out, and there’s not a
lot of available land to the north. “The airport
can play a key role in helping that happen,”
he maintains. “When businesses relocate, air
transportation is one of the first things they
will evaluate. Our tourism industry is dependent on getting people here as efficiently and
cost-effectively as possible.”
So what is in store for John Wheat? “We plan
to be here for five or six years, then retire to
Bonners Ferry, ID, population 10,000,” he
says. (Sandpoint, ID, where Sarah Palin was
born, is nearby.) “My wife’s parents moved
up six years ago, and it’s breathtaking.”
v
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7/6/11 1:15 PM
LaketownWharf.com
9902 South Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, Florida 32408
850.628.1490
10th Floor
sky-level Pool
12 month leases available
there’s very little
Between you and living well.
experience extraordinary living on a grand scale.
· 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom floor plans
· Gulf, lake & golf course views
· Private lake with dancing waters
· 5 Amazing swimming pools
· Restaurants & retail shopping
· Advanced fitness center
· Theater, pier & boardwalk
· Kids playground
· Controlled access entry
· Covered garage parking
· Convenient beach access
7/6/11 1:15 PM
COVERED AIRPORT PARKING
Yes, it is finally here! Covered Airport Parking for
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
in Panama City, Florida. You won’t ever have to
worry about how far you will need to walk from
your car, what the weather may be like when carrying your luggage, or how to get your luggage
from your car to the terminal. Park with Covered
Airport Parking (CAP) and you will be directed
to a specific spot where a designated shuttle will
come to you every time. The shuttle drivers are
friendly and will be more than happy to help you
with your luggage. Customer service is CAP’s
top priority.
CAPCare Car Services
Do you have a dirty car and don’t want to waste
time out of your busy day to wash it? Have a ding
in your car and don’t have the time to take care of
it? Well, Covered Airport Parking offers services
that can take care of almost all your car care needs,
and they do it while you are away. Covered Airport Parking, or CAP as the employees like to say,
offers a wide range of services including multiple
types of hand car washes, paintless dent removal,
windshield chip repair, and engine cleaning. Oh,
and don’t worry if your tire goes flat while away,
CAP will fill your tire for you and even jump your
battery if it dies. And on your way out, don’t forget to grab your free ice cold bottle of water, which
they offer to every customer.
Discounts & Pricing
Guess what? You can get all this for only $10.00
a day! That’s $1.00 per day LESS than the airport’s short term parking. But it gets even better!
When you join CAP’s Frequent Parker Program
every dollar spent on parking converts into valuable points which can be used for FREE PARKING! Plus, check out their website, www.CoveredAirportParking.com, for seasonal discounts.
Their current discount is 10% off your parking stay
with the CAP coupon you download from their
website. And, if you are an active member of the
military, all you have to do is provide your military
ID and you get 10% off too. CAP even offers a
discounted rate for long term parking; if you are
gone for 30 days or more you will receive 30% off
(discounts cannot be combined, however).
Give CAP a chance on your
next airport visit and enjoy
the ultimate airport parking
experience. The CAP team
looks forward to enhancing
your travel experience.
Visit
CoveredAirportParking.com
today and learn more!
34
Scan barcode with
your smartphone barcode app reader to
link directly to our
website.
7/6/11 1:15 PM
It’s FINALLY Here!
COVERED AIRPORT PARKING
Convenient off-airport covered parking with shuttles every 3 to 5
minutes to and from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport .
With quick and easy check in/check out, you’ll never have to
worry about where to park!
Relax in our air-conditioned shuttles while we get you to the
terminal quick!
Earn points towards free parking by joining CAPClub, our frequent
parker program. It’s free to join!
We're open around the clock, 365 days a year!
5540 Enterprise Center Drive | Panama City | Florida 32409 | 850.236.7275
35
7/6/11 1:15 PM
Sugar High
7/6/11 1:15 PM
SEE
& be seen
1





AIRPORT FIRST ANNIVERSARY May 23, 2011
4
4
1. Southwest Airlines helped the Northwest Florida Beaches International
Airport celebrate it’s first anniversary at a recognition luncheon held at
Edgewater, with (from left): Robert Carroll, Beach Chamber Chairman;
Dawn Moliterno, Executive Director Walton County TDC; Sherri Hull,
Southwest Airlines; Dan Rowe, Executive Director Bay County TDC; Carol
Roberts, Bay County Chamber President & CEO; Beth Oltman, Beach
Chamber President & CEO; John Wheat, CEO of Northwest Florida
Beaches Int’l. Airport. 2. From left: Carol Roberts; Janet Watermeier,
EDA; KJ Rice, Southwest Airlines; Beth Oltman.






2
37
7/6/11 1:15 PM
SEE & BE SEEN
2
1
1. Jayna Leach and Laurie Olshefski at the June
Business After Hours at Wyndham’s Sky Bar.
2. Beth Oltman, Commander Jessica Pfefferkorn and Brigadier General Browne at the MAC
Farewell Party for Cmdr. Pfefferkorn on June 21.
3. Dr. James Dever presents “Success through
the Competitive Advantage” at the Small Business
Conference at GCSC on May 18. 4. Cute critters
were on hand at Kritter, Inc.’s grand opening, May
18. 5. Gene Mitchell performs at the Wyndham
Sky Bar Business After Hours. 6. Calypso’s Grand
Re-opening on June 3, with (from left) Marsha
and Ramon Duvall, John Reichard and Capt. Jack
Sparrow. 7. Navigator’s “Social Media II,” presented
by CyberSytes, covered advanced social media
tactics (turn to page 44 for details on upcoming
Lunch & Learn workshops). 8. Ambassadors enjoy
lunch at C-Level Bar & Grill on Thomas Drive.
3
4
5
6
7
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8
7/6/11 1:15 PM
www.sunglassworld.net
7/6/11 1:16 PM
SEE & BE SEEN
Business After Hours on May 19, 2011
1. The Beach Chamber held its annual May Business After
Hours at Boatyard. 2. As always, Chef Konrad wowed the
crowd with a delicious buffet spread. 3. Sylvia and Mike
Smith enjoyed the late afternoon mixer, held upstairs on the
second level. 4. Mills Heating & Air sponsored the event
(from left): Bill Masek, Kevin Swanson, Lisa Smith, Danielle
Riley, Beth Canterbury and Jason Killion.
1
2
40
3
4
7/6/11 1:16 PM
SEE & BE SEEN
Business After Hours on June 16, 2011
1. The Beach Chamber held its June Business
After Hours at the beautiful Wyndham Sky Bar,
sponsored by Bay Bank & Trust (from left): Cyndi
Ainsworth from the Beach Chamber, and from
Bay Bank & Trust Kristie Canaday, Ron Bryan,
Cindy Schwartz and Bill Nazaruk. 2. Guests
enjoyed the Sky Bar and delicious catering by
Dee’s. 3. From left: Zachary Coleman, Rikki
Hughes Coleman and Patti Hughes. 4. From left:
Mayor Gayle Oberst, LeeAnn Leonard and Mel
Leonard.
1
2
3
4
41
7/6/11 3:03 PM
a few minutes
brigadier
general
browne
R
ecently, I had the opportunity
to meet and talk with Brigadier
General James Browne, the 325th
Fighter Wing Commander at Tyndall Air
Force Base.
It was a truly memorable and enjoyable
meeting as the General and his wife Alison
spoke, explained, laughed and elaborated on
military life and their time serving as Tyndall’s first family. It was evident in the short
time we spent together that these two are
best friends and partners. Alison’s comment
early on that, “We have lived and loved life
all over the world,” attests to this.
General Browne loves to fly and is a command pilot with more than 3,300 flying
hours which include over 700 combat
hours. His current assigned aircraft is the
F22 Raptor, “the world’s greatest plane,”
and until its recent deferment, the general was able to fly about twice a week.
When I asked why he loves this plane
above others he explained, “The F22 flies
twice the speed of sound and higher than
60,000 feet, ten miles above the Earth.
So high, that you can see the curvature of
the earth and stars shining in the middle
of the day.” The plane, he notes, is so
complex…it is like a human being, with
similarly interwoven veins and systems.
Initially operational since 2005, Tyndall
currently has 29 of these jets and is the
only training base in the Air Force that
teaches pilots how to fly them.
Born in Woodland, Northern California,
the Browne family moved to San Diego
when he was very young, so the general
calls San Diego home. He attended Christian High School and later entered the Air
Force Academy (class of ‘86), receiving
his B.S. in Engineering Mechanics. The
first in his family to become involved with
the military; his younger brother, Bruce,
followed him at the academy and is now
an F16 pilot.
Upon graduation the general was selected
and offered a Guggenheim Fellowship at
Columbia University, where he received
an M.S. in Flight Structural Engineering.
However, according to the general, while
Columbia was a tremendous opportunity
for him, flight school was always on his
mind. So after completing the M.S. he
was off to Williams Air Force Base in
Arizona where, in 1988, he received his
pilot wings.
42
7/6/11 1:16 PM
Opposite page, top: General Browne in
his office on June 22, 2011; Bottom: Alison
and General Browne at the MAC (Military
Affairs Committee) Farewell for Commander Pfefferkorn on June 21. Left: The history
of Tyndall, displayed in the entrance of the
Wing Headquarters Building.
something totally unique is their shared
birthday of September 26.
Discussing the couple’s hobbies and current
interests Alison said, “Right now we do a lot
of golfing at the base’s course. But depending
on where we have lived, our interests varied
and have included snorkeling with tropical
fish in Okinawa, Japan, fishing and ice climbing in Alaska, biking, jogging and running
two marathons together in Washington, DC.”
Alison admits that she loves to cook Thai and
Cajun cuisine, and “Jim is great with barbeque,” she brags. They both enjoy eighties
rock and new wave music, and cite “Moments
in Love” by Art of Noise as their song.
When asked what their favorite assignment
has been, Alison hesitated and said each has
been unique and special in its own way. “We
have truly loved our time here in Bay County.
The people are so genuinely nice…it’s that
Southern hospitality…” says Alison. “We
absolutely love our Airmen here and leaving
them will be very hard,” she says sadly.
What does the future hold for the Browne
family? In September, the two will relocate
to Air Force Global Strike Command in Louisiana. But beyond that the General said, “In
ten years I believe we’ll be doing something
different than the Air Force. Maybe we’ll
tour the country in a motor home, or just
live in a van down by the river…” The two
laughed, Jim more than Alison. Although he
cites his favorite U.S. cities as Washington
D.C. and Denver, he qualified the comment
with, “For long-term living, it could very
well be right here!”
Until assuming command of the 325th Fighter Wing, General Browne had not been permanently assigned to Tyndall. However, he
has been at the base many times for training,
the first of which was in 1988 to qualify as an
F-15 pilot. General Browne’s military career
has taken him to many places, where “every
assignment came out of the blue,” he offers.
After leaving Tyndall he transferred to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, where he
and Alison married.
When asked how she and the General
met, Alison explained that she and “Cadet” Jim Browne met at a health club in
Denver where she was working. He was
in town playing handball on the Academy team when their paths crossed, and
it was love at first sight. She smiled as
she explained that their first date was to
the movie, Top Gun, together in 1986.
While the two discovered many common
interests during their varied ventures,
v
v
v
43
7/6/11 1:16 PM
u
Committee Updates
CONNECTIONS
Greetings from the members of Connections, your Chamber of Commerce membership committee. Our job is to find ways to
increase the value of your membership, and
we have been hard at work gathering input
and implementing new programs. Among
these new programs are Connect for Cash,
and the Member Roundtable.
Connect for Cash enables you to earn a $50
credit to your membership account by referring potential members to the Chamber
sales staff. Simply promote the Chamber to
your business associates, and refer those interested in membership to Cyndi Ainsworth
or Skip Alford. If the prospective member
joins within 60 days of your referral, you
will earn a $50 credit which can be used to
purchase any Chamber service except membership dues.
Navigator
You asked for it, you got
it! Navigator, the Beach
Chamber’s small business initiative, has been
focused on Social Media as the core subject for its monthly Lunch
& Learn workshops. In April and May, Jason
Koerge from CyberSytes dove into the subject, first at an introductory level and later followed by a session on mid-to-advanced tactics. Both sessions were such a huge hit, with
attendees asking for more on Social Media.
On June 30, Chris Peer and Jason Pence from
LocalEdge, a Hearst Media Services Company, presented “Reputation Management &
Behavioral Targeting” at FSU-PC. Today’s
“word of mouth” is the “world of mouth,”
and attendees learned how to utilize Online
Reputation Management to manage and control their businesses online profile. Attendees
also became familiar with Behavioral Targeting, referred to as “waste-not advertising,”
which is all about sending the right message
to the right audience at the right time.
On July 27, LocalEdge will present “All
About Smart Apps” (did you know 400 new
smart apps are created each day, worldwide?).
Cost is $30 per person ($25 per person for
H.Y.P.E. members) and includes a catered
lunch. Pre-Registration is required by calling
the Beach Chamber at (850) 235-1159.
Pictured top left: On June 16 Deborah Evers
from Demajo Resources LLC presented a
free workshop, “Enhancing Your Leadership
Charisma” at the Sky Bar. Top right: Jason
Pence teaches attendees about Reputation
Management on June 30.
44
H.Y.P.E.
May and June have been eventful months
for H.Y.P.E. In May, Ray Green from the
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association spoke about what it means to have a
“balance” personally and professionally.
His knowledge and career experience
helped deliver a powerful message to our
young professionals. We would like to
thank Kingfish restaurant, Bay Bank &
Trust and Ray Green for making this event
a great success.
Our June social at Hofbrau in Pier Park was
well attended, and four new H.Y.P.E. members joined the committee. The new additions
bring total membership to over 35 members in
only five months of being active. We extend
thanks to Hofbrau for their support.
Our next event includes a tour of the Lewis
Bear (Anheuser Busch) facility at 4:00 pm
on Thursday, July 21. This tour is being held
in conjunction with the Chamber’s Business
After Hours & 2nd Annual Poker Tournament at Ebro Greyhound Park, at 5:30 pm.
We look forward to making a strong push
this fall to recruit more young professionals to join this great group of future leaders.
For more information about H.Y.P.E., please
contact Kristopher McLane at the Beach
Chamber, or visit facebook.com/pcbhype.
Our last Member Roundtable was a resounding success. Input from those who attended have enabled us to address the needs
of many of our members. If you have suggestions or concerns regarding your Chamber membership, we invite you to the next
Roundtable on August 16 at 4:00 pm in the
Chamber Boardroom.
Are you looking for a way to become more
active and connected with the Panama City
Beach Chamber of Commerce? If so, join
us the 1st Tuesday of each month at 11:30
am in the Chamber Boardroom for our Connections committee meeting. We have a
place for you to serve, and have a lot of fun
doing it. Call Catherine at (850) 235-1159
to make your reservation!
2nd Annual
Beach Chamber
Poker Tournament
Thursday, July 21
Ebro Greyhound Park
7/6/11 1:16 PM
u
Health
Update
We invite
you...
By Kristy McKinney,
Gold’s Gym
B
usinesses are
finally catching on to the
FACT that exercise
during the workday
improves job performance. In fact, studies have proven that
after exercising, participants returned to work
more productive and in a much better mood.
Their work performance was consistently
higher, as shown by better time management
and improved mental sharpness.
mckinneyfitness.com
Workplace exercise programs benefit more
than just the workers. They give companies
more efficient employees who work better
together. Health care costs can be expected
to go down for employees who exercise regularly, resulting in fewer sick days, better attendance and more cooperation between coworkers.
Do you know whether your employer offers
any type of reimbursement for your health
club membership? This new trend in business is happening all over America. In fact,
many local businesses will pay for your gym
membership up front, so you have no expense
whatsoever. Some local businesses require a
certain number of visits to the gym per month
and if you meet that number, they will reimburse you for half of your dues. Other businesses even develop a “Biggest Loser” type
of challenge amongst the staff and pay for a
trainer to take them through a group training
session several times a week and provide nutrition counseling and weigh ins.
Check with your employer and see if they are
willing to help out with your gym dues. And
if they will, make it worth their while and actually USE the gym! After all, your increase
in exercise could easily convert to a pay raise
if it increases your job performance!
Contact me anytime for help getting your
corporate memberships or goals started, at
[email protected].
v
v
v
Gold’s Gym
11205 Hutchison
Blvd.
850.233.2111
...to start your lifelong
health plan today!
Kristy & Michael McKinney, Owners
Sharon and Gregory Yordon, HAS,
BC-HIS, MS
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2633 Highway 77, Suite A
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In Healthpoint Medical (next to Cox Pools)
Call for appointment:
850-763-0801 or 877-608-4327
45
7/6/11 1:16 PM
a
round Town
Updates on Community, Education, Workforce & Government
Bay District Schools
Bill Husfelt, Superintendent
Bay District Schools
Media
headlines
about budgets are
generally grim these
days, but we have
something to smile
about in Bay District
Schools. In passing
the half-cent sales
tax, our community
gave the green light
to technology and
capital projects that provide the best possible
learning opportunities for our students.
Thanks to your support, there is exciting news
in a time when good news is hard to find.
Throughout our district, our classrooms will
be equipped with new 21st century technology and learning software to provide a first
class learning environment in every school.
SMART boards, mounted projectors, student
responders, document cameras, and audio
enhancements will be standard, and proven
software applications will be available to all
students. Students will be taught in an environment that more closely resembles the
world in which they will eventually work.
Along with these new technology tools, we
are deploying fifteen instructional technology
teachers to the schools to train all classroom
teachers to integrate the new technology into
the classroom curriculum. These technology
trainers will be located in schools and will
work with groups and individuals to ensure
effective and immediate implementation of
these new resources.
A consistent trend for the past few years for
businesses and school districts has been doing more with less. In an era of belt-tightening, we are punching new holes to cinch
our belts tighter and tighter. School board
members and I face each new funding cut
with the understanding that all businesses
and individuals are experiencing the same
budget-cutting realities.
However, we also understand that we cannot
cut back on the quality of the education that
our students receive. We cannot eliminate
46
the third shift or decline to serve more “customers.” We are in the process now of examining everything we do to determine how
we will cut spending yet again and maintain
quality. We welcome input from our community as we address these painful realities.
Engen, LLC, the Waste-to-Energy plant is
now an asset rather than a liability.
Engen has also implemented a host of costsaving measures that have helped the facility
run more frugally and efficiently, and that’s a
business trend we can all be proud of.
Bay County Commission EDA Update
Bill Dozier, Chairman
Bay County Commission
Janet Watermeier, Executive Director
One of the newest
business imperatives being undertaken locally not
only brings Bay
County closer to
paying off the debt
at the Waste-toEnergy facility – it’s
also great for the
environment. Did
you know that if you live in Bay County, you
recycle simply by setting your trash out for
pickup?
We commend the
Bay County Board
of County Commissioners for passing an
economic incentive
plan as an attraction
tool for high-impact,
diverse industries
with quality jobs
looking to locate or
expand to an area
with a favorable business climate. This is the
first plan of its kind in Bay County’s history.
The Bay County Waste-to-Energy facility creates from our everyday garbage enough electricity to power 4,000 homes, while reducing
the trash that goes into our landfill 90 percent
by volume and up to 60 percent by weight.
The incinerator burns trash at extremely high
temperatures, using steam emitted to create
electricity. The byproduct of the process –
ash – is trucked to the landfill.
Until now, the ash included both ferrous metals, such as steel and iron, and non-ferrous
metals, such as silver, aluminum and copper.
Metals are the most valuable recyclable materials in any marketplace, and we now have
a new component in place at the plant that
will extract the metals from the ash for recycling before it goes to the landfill.
It’s a $1 million venture that is expected to
pay for itself in less than two years and provide an estimated $500,000 per year in additional revenue for the county thereafter. If
you’ve lived in Bay County longer than a
few years, you’ve heard what a boondoggle
the incinerator was in years past, but that’s
not the case anymore.
Thanks to a partnership with our operator,
Bay County Economic Development Alliance
The Bay County Economic Partnership is a
comprehensive, flexible, performance-based
plan that acts as an inducement for companies
that bring high-skill, high-wage jobs into Bay
County. This incentive is in addition to Bay
County’s property tax abatement program and
other various incentives offered by the State of
Florida.
To be considered for the economic incentive,
the applicant must meet certain criteria established by the Bay County Board of County
Commissioners in partnership with the EDA.
The County Commission has the final authority to approve or deny any applications for the
incentive.
The company must meet the following criteria:
• It must operate in a target industry sector designated by the EDA or State of Florida.
• It must create at least 150 new, full-time,
permanent Bay County jobs paying an annual
average wage that is at least 115 percent of Bay
County’s average annual wage.
• It must make a cumulative capital investment
within Bay County over the life of the project
that is greater than the amount awarded through
the incentive program.
Continued
7/6/11 1:16 PM
Outpatient Surgery and Procedures
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NWFSC is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
Seared Ahi Tuna
47
7/6/11 1:16 PM
a
round Town
• The company’s share of sales or revenues of
products or services derived from outside of the
region must exceed 50 percent.
We are especially thankful to our County Commissioners for their leadership in taking such
a meaningful step in making our community
more business-friendly. We would also like to
give special thanks to the county’s administrative team for working diligently to create a viable plan and seeing it to fruition.
which helps us publicize Panama City Beach in a way that
potential and returning visitors
respond well to.
Mark Your Calendars
The EDA will host another Economic Development 101 Session on July 20 to provide an
overview of the economic development process and available job creation incentive programs. Also, the EDA will host its 2nd Annual
Celebration of Industry Excellence Awards
Luncheon on September 23. Be sure to check
our website for updates and applications for the
Community Impact Award. For additional information on any of these events, call the EDA
at (850) 215-9965 or visit BayEDA.com.
Fresh and ever-changing content is equally as important,
which caused us to recently
reskin the destination website, VisitPanamaCityBeach.
com. While maintaining the
core messaging, we changed
the existing website to reflect
TDC commercial shoot at the Shores of Panama
the look and feel of our new
and to the myriad of workers at the City Hall
advertising campaign. Additionally, we have launched a new mobile for helping us get parking for 50 people on a
site, which can be viewed by typing in the Friday afternoon at Pier Park to shoot on the
normal website address in any smart phone’s City Pier.
web browser. We are pleased with the re- Thanks to the Panama City Beach Police Desult, as the mobile site has the look and feel partment for not only helping us with our huge
of an app but offers all data that is available trucks, trailers and motor homes, but for being
on the website. From maps to events to spe- on site and making sure we all made it to the
cial deals, all things Panama City Beach are locations safely. Thanks to the local media for
available any time of day, anywhere.
the coverage on the casting, as well as the pro-
TDC Update
Florida Film Commission
Susan Estler, Vice President Marketing
Tourist Development Council
Over the last year,
the TDC has embraced several new
trends to promote
visitation to the
destination.
Our
outreach via social
media, namely Facebook, has been
particularly
successful. Thanks to
user-generated content, timely responses and
constant interaction, we recently surpassed
200,000 fans. For those who have not seen
our Facebook page, it can be found by typing
in Panama City Beach in the Facebook search
bar. I encourage you to take a look at all the
positive comments from loyal PCB visitors
and perhaps even post your own tip for a
must-see restaurant, activity or attraction.
The new trends in tourism suggest people
are seeking user-generated content that is fast
and simple to access. Facebook has a newly
designed website with a separate mobile site
48
Julie Gordon, Film Commissioner
Florida Film Office, Inc.
There were a couple
of commercials shot
in Bay County last
month, but this update is focused on
one in particular.
Thank you to everyone who played a
part in the filming of
the CVB/TDC’s latest commercials.
There are no “small parts” in a production; every person is so valuable. From Kathy Rentz,
resident hair & makeup artist, to Sharky’s
Beach Club for letting us take over their extra
space and turn their fundraising fish-fry into a
spectacle. Thank you to the Shores of Panama
for not only hosting much of the production,
but also providing casting/auditioning space;
to the Barefoot Beach Café for reserving
much-needed patrons’ tables for the commercial so that the perfect time of day could be
caught on film; to Bay Point Marriott golfers
for letting us set up on your favorite “hole,”
duction itself.
A special Thank You and “Atta’ Girl” to Susan Estler, VP of Marketing at the TDC, who
was on location and spent days in post production to see the Marketing Committee’s vision through to the end. Here’s a big kudos
to the production company who went to great
lengths to hire as many local crew members
and talent as possible.
It feels great to be appreciated by the people
we so proudly represent. Keep those headshots and resumes coming…we are always
working on “the next one.”
Florida’s Minimum Wage
Increases
Kim Bodine, Executive Director
Gulf Coast Workforce Board
On June 1, 2011,
Florida’s minimum
wage increased to
$7.31 per hour, with
a minimum wage
of at least $4.29 per
hour for tipped employees, in addition
to tips. This is up
Continued
7/6/11 1:16 PM
49
7/6/11 1:16 PM
a
round Town
six cents from the $7.25 per hour and makes
Florida’s minimum wage rate higher than the
federal one. The annual calculation is based
on the percentage change in the federal Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and
clerical workers in the South Region for the
12-month period prior to September 1, 2010.
In deciding whether the federal or state minimum wage applies, federal law directs that
businesses must pay the higher of the two.
an evening reception. It was serendipitous
yet very fitting that the meeting held on our
campus was former Speaker of the Florida
House of Representatives Allan Bense’s first
meeting since he was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Trustees. We, along
with our community, are excited that Allan
was appointed to the Trustee Board as he has
been a strong supporter of both FSU Tallahassee and FSU Panama City.
On November 2, 2004, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment which created Florida’s minimum wage. The minimum
wage applies to all employees in the state who
are covered by the federal minimum wage.
Many good things continue to happen at FSU
Panama City. Summer enrollment is up over
last summer. Middle school and high school
students are once again on campus doing incredible and fun things in the summer STEM
camps. In fact, while preparing this article
for submission, the students were launching
rockets outside my window! We very much
appreciate our Naval Surface Warfare Center
Panama City Division partner and the work
they have done to provide funding from the
National Defense Education Program to
sponsor the FSU Panama City STEM Institute’s summer activities. In addition, the
FSU Panama City STEM Institute was recently selected as the only statewide provider
for Project Lead the Way, a national program
designed to help teachers engage students
in critical thinking skills through hands-on,
project-based learning and prepare students
to take on real-world challenges.
Florida Statutes require employers who must
pay their employees the Florida minimum
wage to post a minimum wage notice in a conspicuous and accessible place in each establishment where these employees work. This
poster requirement is in addition to the federal requirement to post a notice of the federal
minimum wage. Florida’s minimum wage
poster is available for downloading in English and Spanish from the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s website at floridajobs.org/
workforce/posters.html.
The federal poster can be downloaded from
the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s website at dol.gov/
whd/regs/compliance/posters/flsa.htm.
FSU Board of Trustees
Visits Panama City
Dr. Ken Shaw, Dean
FSU Panama City
What a privilege it
was to host the Florida State University
Board of Trustees
on June 2 and 3 for
their regular meeting and workshop!
Accompanying the
Board of Trustees
was FSU President Eric Barron,
Interim Provost Robert Bradley, university
vice presidents, and many other dignitaries.
Our guests were warmly welcomed to Bay
County by over 150 community members at
50
an education, but a prestigious university and
campus where students obtain high quality
bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Gulf Coast State College
Expands its Mission
Dr. Jim Kerley, President
It’s finally official –
we are Gulf Coast
State College! With
the governor’s approval, we became
GCSC on July 1,
2011. This is a tremendous opportunity for our students
and
community.
The launch of our first bachelor’s degree
program in Technology Management was
a great success, and now it’s time to keep
moving forward. We have listened to area
business and industry leaders in order to determine where we should focus our time and
effort next. The healthcare industry has told
us through professional advisory committees
and needs assessment surveys that there is
definitely a community need for a Bachelor’s
of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
Trustee Allan Bense and President Eric Barron at the Community Reception
Once that need was communicated, our faculty and administrators researched economic
development data on the growth and future
potential of nursing professionals for this region. Once the research identified a gap in the
number of skilled nurses and the growing demands on our aging population, then faculty
began developing a BSN curriculum to serve
the needs of hospitals and healthcare providers. It is this combination of long-range planning and rapid response that is the hallmark
of GCSC. Most universities take years to add
programs -- our BSN degree will launch next
year in August 2012.
Florida State University was recently ranked
20th in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public
Colleges in 2011. Florida State University
is also ranked in the top 50 for all public universities in the United States. These rankings
make Florida State University Panama City
not only a very affordable option to pursue
We continue to serve the community in many
other ways, such as our recent International
Fair. Over 40 countries from around the world
shared their cultures with over 350 students,
K-12 students, civic groups and community
members. The purpose was to provide an opContinued
Florida State University was recently ranked
20th in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public
Colleges in 2011. Florida State University
is also ranked in the top 50 for all public universities in the United States. These rankings
make Florida State University Panama City
not only a very affordable option to pursue
an education, but a prestigious university and
campus where students obtain high quality
bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
7/6/11 1:16 PM
Top 100 Overall Excellence (USA)
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Summer is here...
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Weekends by Appointment
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51
7/6/11 1:16 PM
a
round Town
portunity for exploration of the countries of
our world, through art, educational displays,
food and entertainment. It was the first event
of its kind on our campus and we are looking
forward to making it even bigger and better
next year.
Lastly, another highlight of Gulf Coast is our
Kids’ College, held each summer for the last
few years. Previous years were for middle
school kids only, but this year the curriculum
expanded to include elementary school age
children and transportation was provided for
kids who reside in Gulf and Franklin counties.
It is always a joy to see so many children at
the college who are learning and building their
skills through fun activities. Making a difference in the lives of everyone in this community is what we do best, and we are fully committed to doing just that in the coming years as
Gulf Coast State College.
v
v
Left: Chefs in training at GCSC’s Kids’ College. Above: Children learn tech skills at
GCSC’s Kids’ College.
v
Freedom
Fight the bite against the mosquito.
Remember to repair or replace old screens.
Exercise caution. Wear long sleeve shirts and pants.
Escape mosquito bites at dusk and dawn hours. Go indoors.
Drain standing water around your outdoor environment weekly.
Only wear insect repellents containing the ingredient DEET or Picaridin.
Mosquito Control Districts appreciate your assistance by doing your part.
For Free Inspections, Treatment or Assistance in Panama City Beach, Florida
Contact: Beach Mosquito Control District
(850) 233-5030 or www.pcbeachmosquito
United we can prevent the spread of mosquito diseases.
52
7/6/11 1:17 PM
7/6/11 1:17 PM
Ambassador Update
Terri Hugghins, Ambassador Chairman
Hello Ambassadors
and thank you for
your commitment
during the first half
of 2011. We have
some new Ambassadors I would like
to welcome: Alex Locke from LocalEdge,
and Alicia Perez from Great Clips. What
great additions to our Ambassador Group.
There is a special recognition to Ambassadors in each Circuit edition now called Ambassador Spotlight. It highlights one of our
Ambassadors and their accomplishments.
Please make sure you thank the staff; what a
great way to recognize the hundreds of hours
the Ambassadors put in every year.
We’ve had some really great Grand Openings, thanks to the new members who make
such a great effort to introduce your business
to the Ambassadors. Summer is here, the
beach is buzzing with activity, and we are so
grateful to be a part of it.
As Ambassadors, our mission is to support
and encourage new and existing Chamber
members. If you are not an Ambassador, and
would like to become one, the procedure is
simple. All you need to do is obtain an application at the Panama City Beach Chamber
office, fill it out and turn it in. Ambassadors,
thank you for all the time and talents you
contribute.
v
v
Denise began her
Real Estate career in
Bay County in 2001
and is currently with
Pelican Real Estate.
She earned a B.A. in
Liberal Studies majoring in Business
Management. She is
an active volunteer
in Bay County participating as an Ambassador with the Beach
Chamber for over 10 years, as well as volunteering in the Bay County Association of Realtors as past Director, Leadership Chair and
Communications Committee Chair. Denise
assists customers in buying and selling Real
Estate along the Northwest Panhandle in Bay
County and Walton County. She specializes
in the purchase or sale of primary homes, vacation homes, land purchases and commercial property.
Denise Fitchben
Realtor, Pelican Real Estate
Practical Solutions & Strategies
for Creating Work-Life Balance
Productive Sessions
Motivating Speakers
Innovative Ideas
Straight Answers for the
Professional Woman
v
I would like to give a special thank you to Linda
Kirk, Coldwell Realty, for volunteering to help
with the Ambassador collection of points.
Ambassador Spotlight
m
u
i
s
o
p
m
y
S
e
f
i
L
k
r
Wo
Contact Lindsay Dring for details
at (850) 235-1159.
Ambassador Spotlight
As the president of
LifeInsuranceLarry.Com, I provide
the smallest companies with the
biggest benefits. It
is my intention to
bring
affordable
health and life insurance
benefits
to everyone who
works on the beach. I have been marketing
insurance products on Panama City Beach
for five years specializing in the hospitality
industry.
I started with the Ambassadors in 2006.
My affiliation with the Chamber has created substantial business and social relationships for me. Take it from me: everyone
should be active in the Chamber! Ask me,
I’ll show you how.
Larry Deutch
LifeInsuranceLarry.com
NEW MEMBERS
Anderson Brothers Deep Sea
Fishing
Arias Artifacts
Bay United Soccer Club
Book That Condo
Chop Shop Hair Studio
Covered Airport Parking
Coyote Ugly Saloon
Crown Shuttle & Resort
Transportation/30A
Emerald Coast Rheumatology
Fresenius Medical Care - PC
Front Beach Laundry
G. Miles Interiors
Great Clips/JALR Enterprises
Hippie Market and Cafe’
IZIGG Mobile Media
Oilspill Recoveries
PCB Embroidery
POSabilities
Reich & Binstock
Resort Vacation Properties
Soap Opera Laundry
Stepping Stones
Tacky Jack’s Panama City
Tadlock Roofing & Solar
The Sterling Sun
Zoom Tan
RENEWING MEMBERS
Renewals - 1 Year
Capt Anderson III
Gulf Coast Business Intermediaries
Foundation
Smok “N” Butts BBQ
WonderWorks
Renewals - 2 Years
Bay County Audubon Society
Bookit.com
Castaway’s Coastal Furniture
Consignment
Feathers Shoe Boutique
Junior Service League of PC
54
7/6/11 1:17 PM
m
embers
Ribbon Cuttings . New & Renewing Chamber Members . Membership & Ambassador Updates
Ribbon Cuttings
Gulf Coast Chiropractic, 5/12
Kritter, Inc., 5/18
Shane’s Rib Shack, 5/26
Calypso, 6/3
C-Level Bar & Grill, 6/11
Zoom Tan, 6/15
Military Media
Miracle Strip Carousel
Regions Bank @ Pier Park
Soldiers’ Angels/NW FL Brigade
Sting Ray
Sunsations
Waste Pro Panama City
Renewals - 3 Years
Ernest M. House
Jos A. Bank
Jubilee Foods, Inc.
Ocean Reef Resort Properties
Southern Coastal Management
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
The Vein Center @ Vascular Assoc.
Renewals - 4 Years
C.W. Roberts Contracting
Cellular Sales/Verizon Wireless
Disaster Response Team (DRT)
The Grand Theatres
Nova Engineering and
Environmental
Panera Bread
Sunjammer’s Watersports
Toys for Kids Foundation
Treasure Island Resort Rentals
Wine World
Renewals - 5 Years
Charles Heyman
Gift Basket Designs
Gulf Coast Dermatology
Jimmy Phelps
Keller Williams Success Realty
Stephen Wilson
Sunglass World of NW Florida
Renewals - 6 Years
Carillon Beach Rentals
Interspace Airport Advertising
Laguna Beach Christian Retreat
Penguin Parlor
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum
West Florida Regional Planning
Council
Renewals - 7 Years
Belvedere Commons of PCB
Betsy Ann Riverboat Tours
Chick-fil-A Panama City
Beach Parkway
CK’s Secrets
Emerald Coast Dental Spa
Los Rancheros Mexican
Restaurant
McDonald’s/David Costa
Enterprises
Mike’s Cafe & Oyster Bar
Miss Charlotte’s
Renewals - 8 Years
Dale E. Peterson Vacations
Labor Ready
Legacy By The Sea Resorts
McDonald’s Restaurant/
Zeebest
ResortQuest
Renewals - 9 Years
Bay Credit Union
Calypso Restaurant
Carpet One Floor & Home
Condom Knowledge
Frimet to Z Auto Center
Merrimac Resort
Nature Walk Golf Club
Optimist Club of the Beaches
Pelican Real Estate
UCI Communications
Renewals - 10 Years
ACE Cash Express
Brown & Brown Insurance
Coastal Parasail
Corporate Accommodations of
N.W. Florida
Peaden Air Conditioning,
Heating & Plumbing
Science and Discovery Center
of Northwest Florida
Sonny’s Bar-B-Q
Venture Out at Panama City
Beach
Renewals - 11 Years
Barbara Fraley
BB&T Bank
Capt. Jack’s Family Buffet
Coral Reef Condominium
Renewals - 12 Years
Better Business Bureau of NW FL
Segers, Sowell, Stewart,
Johnson & Brill P.A.
Renewals - 13 Years
PCB Convention & Visitors Bureau
Renewals - 14 Years
Burke, Blue, Hutchison, Walters
& Smith, P.A.
Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort
The Original J. Michael’s
Musgrove Florist
Plumb Better
Zooworld
Renewals - 15 Years
Liz and Jane Clothes
Lollye On The Beach
Renewals - 16 Years
Brian D. Hess Attorney At Law
Magic Broadcasting II, LLC
Mariner West Owner’s Assoc.
Princess Condo Rental
Renewals - 17 Years
Early Education and Care, Inc.
Renewals - 18 Years
Culligan Water Services
First National Bank of NW FL
Half Hitch Tackle Co.
KLW Enterprises, Inc.
Naval Support Activity Panama City
Naval Surface Warfare Center
Panama City Division
Seltzer Management Group
Great Clips, 6/21
Renewals - 19 Years
Billy’s Oyster Bar, Inc.
Blowin-N-The Wind Mgt.
Gulf Glo Banners & Signs
Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise
Renewals - 20 Years
Ace Home Helpers
Buffalo Rock Pepsi
City of Panama City Beach
Club La Vela
Hooter’s/Gulf Coast Wings
SunTrust Bank
Treasure Island Marina
Renewals - 21 Years
Bay Point Marriott Golf
Resort & Spa
Beach Mosquito Control District
Breeze Animal Hospital
Capt. Anderson’s Marina
CET Management
Commodore Condominiums
Ebro Greyhound Park and
Poker Room
Gulf Power Company
Jubilee & Treasure Island Deep
Sea Fishing
Stephen Myers, D.M.D., PA
Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf
Schooner’s
Spinnaker Beach Club &
Paradise Grill
United Way of Northwest
Florida
Renewals - 22 Years
Fisher-Brown, Inc.
Gulf Highlands Beach Resort
Homeowners Association
Waste Management
WJHG TV Channel 7
Renewals - 23 Years
Boyd Brothers, Inc.
Walmart Super Center
Renewals - 24 Years
Bay Bank & Trust Co.
Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant &
Water Front Market
Chateau Motel
Continental Condominiums
Dunes Of Panama Management Association
Edgewater Beach Realty, Inc.
Hancock Bank
Lamar Advertising
Palmetto Inn & Suites
Regions Bank
Signal Hill Golf Course
Summerhouse Condominiums
TECO/Peoples Gas
55
7/6/11 11:11 AM
we Take Care oF you.
Cosmetic and General Dentistry on the Beach
smile make over
nuTriliTe viTamins
PorCelain veneers
BoTox
JuveDerm
essix orThoDonTiCs
Crowns & BriDges
in oFFiCe whiTening
laser DenTisTry
oBagi skin Care sysTem
Cleaning
DigiTal x-rays
Tara m. griFFin, D.m.D. P.a.
Healthy Happy People Spread Smiles
pcbden TexT
t t to
9021
for cisu
specia rrent 0
emeralls from
DenTaDl CoasT
sPa!
850.249.9311
3135 T h o m a s D r i v e , P a n a m a C i T y B e aC h , F lo r i D a 32408 •
w w w . ecdspa.com
7/6/11 11:11 AM
MobilizeEverything.com
Better together
Bringing AT&T customers a stronger network faster.
AT&T customers, including those who join us from T-Mobile, will see significant
service improvements from the merger. The addition of T-Mobile’s spectrum
resources and thousands of cell sites will quickly increase capacity and coverage,
resulting in better call reliability and data speeds.
Mobile data traffic on AT&T’s network has grown 8,000% over the last four years.
With tablets, cloud computing, and a new generation of bandwidth-hungry devices
on the horizon, demand is expected to increase an additional 8-10 times by 2015.
Integrating T-Mobile’s network resources, while continuing AT&T’s network
investment, is the surest, fastest, and most efficient way to meet this challenge.
Continued innovation for T-Mobile customers.
Through the integration with AT&T, T-Mobile customers can continue to enjoy
innovative technologies, devices, and services for many years to come. They will
have the freedom to keep their existing pricing plans and phones, and will benefit
in the future with expanded capabilities.
T-Mobile customers will also benefit from network enhancements — such
as improved coverage in remote regions and access to AT&T’s planned next
generation networks.
Reaching more of Florida with LTE.
LTE technology is a super-fast way to connect to the Internet. The combination of
AT&T and T-Mobile will allow AT&T to expand its LTE wireless broadband network to
cover over 98% of Florida residents. That means one million more people in Florida,
many in small towns and rural areas, will get access to LTE due to the merger.
Our customers will get a stronger network. The state will get a new choice for
broadband. And more of Florida will get access to a cutting-edge wireless network
and all the opportunities it brings.
© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
7/6/11 11:11 AM
309 Richard Jackson Boulevard
Panama City Beach, FL 32407
PCBeach.org
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO 50
PANAMA CITY, FL
7/6/11 11:11 AM

View This Issue - Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce

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